Being away from my home for 3 months brought out the best and worst in me. I’ve been the most independent and strong that I’ve ever been. I’ve learned to be kind to the strangers that call me not-so-nice names, learned to smile when I was tired of being stared at on the streets, and taken care of myself when sick as a dog (that’s when I missed mama the most). I’ve learned to take charge of how I react to the situations I’m placed in. I won the battle when there was the humongous cockroach attack of June the eight with only one little shriek-and it went straight for the face.
I’ve learned how to ride a bike on the main street in a foreign country (which is terrifying by the way). I’ve also been the most vulnerable and dependent that I’ve ever been. I’ve missed the bus and had to ask someone to help me translate to find a new route, navigated buses in Spanish without sleeping the night before, and learned that it’s okay to look ridiculous the first time you try new things.
Traveling has taught me to find my own peace. To find home in just being me.
Brooke participated in an International Internship in Belize during summer 2016
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Read more from Brooke at https://brookeswanderings.wordpress.com/
To find more internship and study abroad opportunities within Walton College, visit http://walton.uark.edu/global/index.php
