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Ellie Mortenson
What is one of your favorite memories from studying abroad?
We had three day weekends and over one of the weekends, my friend Jen and I took a trip to Prague. We ended up meeting British people at dinner one night and explored the rest of the city with them the entire night. We were on Charles Bridge at 4:15am watching the sunrise and then raced up the hill to the top of the castle, overlooking the city. It was one of those moments that made you want to stop time and keep the memory in your mind forever. To this day, I wish I was back to that moment sometimes. It was so fun getting to know new people while traveling and share such a wonderful memory with them!
What was your living situation like abroad?
We lived in dorms outside the main city center which was about a 15 minute bike ride away. In our little dorm complex was a nice, quiet neighborhood of apartments where families lived. They had a soccer field in the complex and one day a couple of us placed soccer with little Dutch kids! My roommate was named Reyna. We had mutual friends before the program, but never met prior to the trip. We had the best time rooming together. Seriously, too many laughs!
How do you think study abroad changed you? What did you learn about yourself?
I think study abroad changed me because it forced me to be truly independent. At home, I rely a lot on my friends to go places with me and do certain certain things with me. While I was in Amsterdam, I hopped on my bike a lot and did my own thing quite often. Because I knew no one in my program prior to the trip, I felt really lonely at times. I feel like back home there is so much to distract us and keep us busy from the loneliness. I really had to face up to the loneliness and find ways to cope with it; go for a bike ride, read my book, write in my journal. I had to sit with the loneliness and really explore what it was inside me that felt that way. What I find really interesting about my time abroad is that I felt very content, very full constantly. My heart was happy and I didn't have to try hard for that pure joy- it came to me simply and naturally. I think I learned what true contentment is and how to obtain it. I said yes to so many possibilities, I lived so openly. That is something I have tried to bring back home with me too, be open and say yes to many beautiful opportunities because you don't know where they may take you. Study abroad also changed my traveling self. Before coming on the trip I had never been to Europe. Now I am saving my money, waiting for the next opportunity I have to go back. Study abroad gave me the travel bug for sure...but I'm not unhappy about it. :)
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