As the countdown to my study abroad program gets shorter, everything is starting to feel real in a way it didn’t before. When I first learned about the opportunity to study in Greece, something about it just felt right. I can’t fully explain it, but the program, the location, and the timing all aligned in a way that made me feel like this was the path I was meant to take, both personally and for my future career in nursing. It felt like a gentle pull in the right direction, and I knew I needed to follow it.
Preparing for this trip has been a whole adventure on its own, especially because I’ve never been on a plane before, much less an international flight! Packing was easily the most intimidating part. Thankfully, our instructor gave us a packing list, which became my lifeline. From there, I added advice from friends and family, plus a few essentials I knew I couldn’t survive without: lots and lots of gum, earbuds, and anything that might help calm my nerves during takeoff and landing.
Getting my passport was probably the most stressful part of the entire process. Everyone says “the sooner the better,” and they are absolutely right. Waiting for my passport to come in was probably the most time consuming part of the process! I also decided to get TSA PreCheck, and the process was surprisingly quick, just fingerprints and done. I’m hoping it makes the airport experience a little smoother.
Right now, I’m more nervous about the logistics of flying, like boarding, finding my seat, getting off the plane, than I am about the trip itself. But the closer we get, the more that nervousness is turning into excitement. I’m ready to experience something completely new!
My biggest goal is to learn about other cultures and people groups in a way that broadens my perspective. I want to come home with a deeper sense of humility and appreciation for the world around me and for the things I often take for granted. More than anything, I’m excited to grow, learn, and step into an experience I know will stay with me for the rest of my life.