Holy Crap!!

In exactly three months and 12 hours I will be in the San Francisco airport waiting to board my plane to India. Mon Dieu!!

My feelings about going to India have become much more complex. When I talk with people about my trip, I get excited and can't wait to leave. But when I'm alone in my room and think about the fact that I am actually leaving and all the stuff I need to do before January 9th I start to freak out. Then, when my thoughts lead to money, I go into a full-blown panic attack. I start wondering if this is really a good idea. I know it will be a wonderful experience but I can't help but think that I can't do it. I'm the type of person who has terrible buyer's remorse. Before and immediately after any big purchase or big decision I start having second thoughts. I wonder if I made the right decision. I'm almost always happy with my choice, but there is always some initial hesitation.

As the days count down there will be more to say and more posts (finally). Until then, bon voyage.

Erika

Changes

It has been an interesting month. Everything has fallen apart. I can't go to Morocco, I have to move back home to work, I almost lost my scholarships and the stupid ATM machine destroyed my debit card. All in about two weeks. It is being worked out and things are being put back together again, but in the process I have changed. During this time my entire future was crumbling around me and while I was scared, I found that I didn't really care. This path that I'm on, I don't know if it is the right one anymore. Every anthropology class I take makes me feel more confused and more discouraged. I want to travel and learn about different cultures. I don't want to respond to every comment with a question like "Is that really how it is?" "How do you know?" or "Where does this problem come from?" Getting nothing but unanswered questions as responses is really annoying!

I've looked a bit at different majors but it would only mean starting over again and I can't afford that. Besides, I'm one foundational course away from a minor in anthropology and two foundational courses away from my International Studies major. So I might as well stick with it so I can get my degree. But this has left me with the question of what to do next. If anthropology isn't right, what is?

I know I want to travel. I want to finish learning Arabic. I want to see something for what it is, not for the pieces I end up with after analyzing it to death. I would love to be a travel writer or photographer. Seeing the world and helping others see it as well. But where is the security in that? There aren't many full-time careers for travel writers. What would I do in-between?

The answer is: I still don't know. At least now the question has been asked. An answer will come with time. Until then, maybe this blog can be my practice round before I attempt to battle the big, over-crowded world of travel media. Thanks for letting me vent a bit. I know that isn't technically what the blog is for, but get ready for it. My first couple weeks in India will probably result in a lot of posts like these. Until next time.

Bon voyage

Welcome

اهلاً وَ سَهلاً

Welcome everyone!!! I am Erika and I am leaving America. I am a student at Seattle University and next year I am planning on spending a semester in Meknes, Morocco and a semester in Bangalore, India. I knew I wanted to write a blog after leaving, but I've decided to start early. For one, I just really don't want to wait until September to start writing and I don't have any other topics to write about. Also, I thought it would be interesting to write about my entire experience studying abroad. For any of you who have never studied or traveled abroad before, it is a long process. There are a lot of steps and a lot of emotions behind the entire process. So, I want to share my experience with all of you from the very beginning. The excitement, the applications, the panic attacks, the culture shock, and everything else that might come my way. Hopefully my journey will inspire some of you to travel abroad and give you all some advice along the way! Yay!