On a personal note

Dear Friends and Family,
My sincerest apologies for not writing in such a long time. You see, I find it difficult to articulate what it is I love about the time I have spent here in Barcelona. No list of activities or written description of recent occurrences can communicate well enough how I feel. I guess there is just something about being a young adult in Europe! In essence, I don’t feel like I am “on my study abroad experience” but rather I am living my life of choice. I have chosen to study in Barcelona during this time, I have chosen to live with a family, and everyday I chose how and with who I wish to spend my time. Five weeks into my stay here, I have developed some incredible new relationships as well as built on some old ones.
This past week, I found myself deep in self-reflection and universal thoughts. Perhaps this has something to do with the topics I study in class (archeology, art, history, and culture in Spain), the movies I have recently gone to see (Revolutionary Road, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), or just because this is something I do. Whatever the cause of these thoughts, I have concluded that in order to achieve a life I define as personally successful all I need is: to know and love good people, enjoy what I am given, feel a sense of independence, and work to make the changes (or maybe just one change) I wish to see in the world a reality! It has never been so clear nor seemed so simple to me. I strive to live according to these objectives during the rest of my time here and where ever I may venture in the future.
At this point- I consider myself very fortunate with the life I have lived!

Thank you for being a part of it <3
Tess