Mikaela Vournas
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Mikaela Vournas is an anthropology and geography senior and Mustang News study abroad columnist.
- The world is really big. It is still mind-blowing to me that I was able to fly 8,000 miles away from home only to be dropped in a seemingly random place on this huge planet. Looking at where I am on a world map never ceases to amaze me. There is still so much to see in this beautiful world. I am convinced I could spend my entire life traveling and I wouldn’t even scratch the surface.
- The world is also really small. Buzzwords such as “globalization” are constantly thrown around when describing the modern world. It is important to consider what this phenomenon truly means and what its consequences are. Studying abroad puts an image to the word “globalization.” For me, it is as simple as being able to video chat my mom from a café in Cambodia. It is a Thai rendition of Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball.” It is a Hmong tribe woman leaving her traditional dress in the closet in favor of jeans and a T-shirt that reads “American Youth Soccer League.”
- Everyone has his or her own ideas of how life should be lived, and that is okay. It took a while for me to adjust to the slow paced-lifestyle of Thailand. Once I did, I found myself much more relaxed and able to enjoy every moment. This kind of lifestyle does not suit everyone, just as the busy and fast-paced American lifestyle doesn’t suit everyone. This is part of what makes the world balanced.
- Everything is relative. Thirty to 60 baht — approximately $1-2 — for a meal is average in Thailand, yet I would still be happy to eat out in the United States for less than $10. Similarly, a woman dressed in short shorts and a tight shirt would be shocking in Chiang Mai, but normal in Bangkok.
- Being flexible is essential to enjoying travel. After experiencing hours of delays on a bus to Bangkok due to flooded roads, I missed my connecting bus to Chiang Mai. Staying the night in Bangkok was the only option, but my travel companions and I made the most of it and enjoyed a night at Khaosan Road.
- You know next to nothing. The classic saying, “the more you know, the more you don’t know” is especially true when you study abroad. Living and studying in a foreign country will make you more aware of the global environment while simultaneously making you realize how little you actually know about anything. This is enhanced by the many different kinds of people you meet at varying levels of success and stages of life.
- Being happy is a choice, and the key to it is not through material items. I have seen Thai children having way more fun helping their parents care for their younger siblings or leisurely biking down the street than kids who supposedly have the best quality of life. A group of Thai children playing soccer on the beach at sunset seemed much more content than any child I ever saw holding an iPad.
- Experiences such as miserable travels or eating bizarre foods make for the best stories. That time it took me 29 hours to get from Koh Pha Ngan to Chiang Mai, or that time I ate a grilled scorpion whole? Those stories are the ones I tell people when they ask me how my trip is going. Experiences that put you out of your comfort zone build character. You will laugh later, trust me.
- Who you are. Or, at least, you will get a better idea. Being in a foreign land and removed from the comforts and familiarities of home helps to put things in perspective. You realize what you care about and whom you care about. Studying abroad helped me significantly narrow down what I wanted to do with my life. It also helped me realize my family is the most important thing to me.
- Home is where the heart is. But home can be anywhere. For me, home is not a geographical location, but rather a feeling. It is being comfortable and familiar with the environment and surrounded by people I love.