This has been the most wonderful, amazing, inspirational trip. I have just so many positive things to take home with me after this and I am beyond grateful for being able to experience this. I was super nervous to go on this trip as it is my first time out of the country, second time being on a plane, and I have bad anxiety . But I truly feel like a brand new person with so many new insights on the world and myself overall. From the classes and many excursions I have connected with the Mayan culture and history in a lot of ways and it is something that I appreciate a lot. I wanted to take this study abroad opportunity because I was excited to learn in a more immersive way. And from this I have learned more than I would have if I would have taken the regular Intellectual heritage class. Learning in a normal class setting is difficult for me because I have trouble paying attention and I am always too scared to ask questions or share my opinions. But the excursions really changed my outlook on learning. While lectures are very important for success, I truly have thrived a lot more during each tour of the Mayan sites. I felt more comfortable asking the guides questions and I was overall much more enthusiastic to pay attention since I was able to see these beautiful places first hand. And I feel overwhelmed with gratitude to be able to do something that many many people don’t have the opportunity to do. My mom herself wished she was able to learn about the Mayan ruins when she was in college and it is something that I almost feel guilty for myself being able to go and not her. But I’m taking all of the things I have learned home and am going to try my best to make her feel like she went on this trip too. Aside from that, I am beyond grateful for the people I have met on this trip. I think that was the thing I was most afraid of. Being so far away from home with people I have never met before and not being able to escape it. But I have made many new friends that have shown me so much love and kindness and I couldn’t be more proud of myself for proving myself wrong. Last year I looked at this study abroad trip and thought to myself I wish I was capable of doing that. I felt most comfortable being by myself and surrounded only by my family and very close friends. And look at me now! I really got out of my comfort zone and did something I will remember for the rest of my life. However I am really excited to go home and see my family and get to lay in my own bed and sleep for a good 15 hours:).
