Semester Recap- 1 Corinthians 3:9

Semester Recap

"But, as it is written, What eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him."
-1 Corinthians 3:9

This is just a little something I wrote at the end of the semester. This basically describes the entire Austrian semester in a nutshell. It was an incredible journey, but it sure was a rollercoaster. 

"Life is a rollercoaster. It’s a crazy ride filled with ups and downs. Sometimes it’s scary. Sometimes it’s thrilling. And when it’s all over you kind of feel like you want to throw up. But that’s life. 

It’s an incredible journey from one place to the next and you just have to make the most of the in between. People will come into your life and change it in an instant and the effects will last forever. You will go to a place where you don’t know how you got there or what you are doing, but you are there and that’s all that counts. You are there, enjoying the view and taking in the absolute splendor and glory of that exact moment in time and it is then, that you know you are living. 

Life is crazy. It’s something that no amount of words can even begin to explain, but through it all, through every single moment and memory and second in time, you are there. Living. Loving. And just being. In a chaos of emotion’s that create a whirlwind in your mind and heart that take you to heights that you can’t even imagine. And you lift your mind and your heart to the one person who matters most. The one who is almighty, all knowing, all kind, all loving, and ever lasting. The one who made you and formed you and created you with his bare hands for one specific purpose that only you can fulfill. 

And then He died for you. He laid down his life for your life and for all of the amazing incredible glorious breathtaking experiences that he gave to you and for you and for everything about you. He has loved you and showered you with his grace and mercy until all that is left is a drop in the ocean of love and sorrow and nothingness that exists in the world. In our world, not His. And we can not even imagine, what he has prepared for those who love him in return…"

Travel Tips and Tricks

           

Travel Tips and Tricks 

A few tips and tricks that I've picked up through my time in Europe

          So I know I haven’t really kept up with my travel blog as much as I had planned, but this space was meant to share experiences and situations that inspired me and that I hoped would inspire you. As the end of the semester approaches (only 7 more days!!!), I decided to write this blog with a list of some practical tips and tricks about traveling in Europe for those with a disability and without.

• As I have said in the past, my number one tip for travelers is plan to travel with those you trust and you know will have your back. (See blog #1)

• Restore your faith in humanity (See blog #2)

• Know thyself and act accordingly. (See blog #3)

• Recognize that there are many obvious signs we are Americans.
• For example, Americans are often very loud and rambunctious. Be aware of this in public places, such as restaurants and public transportation.  

• If you look like you are lost, people will take advantage of the situation, do not let them. Always have some sense of direction and even if you don’t, act like you do.

• Learn common sayings in the native language of the place you are traveling (Hello, goodbye, bathroom, elevator, thank you, excuse me).
• The natives will respect you more for trying to communicate and for recognizing and respecting their culture.

• Learn the exchange rate of currency and how to use the various currencies in each country.

• Always keep valuables on you, especially when using public transportation or in large crowds.
• If you use a purse, keep it towards the front of your person. If you use a backpack, it may be beneficial to invest in a luggage lock and/or a slit proof backpack.

• Always travel in groups of three or four and always be open to accepting some more. Traveling in a group of four to five is beneficial to everyone. There are more people to split costs and traveling in a group is generally safer then traveling alone or in pairs.

• When planning a trip, keep in mind the location of hostels and the costs of transportation.

• Use websites such as Airbnb. Sometimes it is cheaper for a large group to rent an apartment rather then booking a hotel room. They are often nicer and bigger and there is usually a full kitchen. We did this in Spain and it worked out wonderfully. It helps to read the reviews to decide which hostel is the best choice.

• Sometimes it can be cheaper to rent a car if you are planning to travel to several places over a short period of time, rather then taking public transportation. 
• If you choose to go this route, beware of tolls. Some places have several tolls of varying costs and they can add up quickly. 

• The grocery store is your best friend. Don’t feel like you have to eat out every night. Sometimes it can be fun (and cheaper) to make your own meals.

• Always travel with a deck of cards. They are fun to play and easy to transport. You never know when you will have extra time on the train, on the bus, in the airport, or just some downtime in the evening to play a few games.

There is so much more to traveling then these simple tips, but these are just a few things I have learned in my semester abroad and I hope they will serve you well! Good luck on your travels!

The Final Countdown- Semester In Review

    The Final Countdown 

Semester In Review 

Sometimes situations do not turn out the way you expected. Sometimes God works in your life in ways that you might not see or understand in the moment. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything there.

This semester has been a crazy four months and I cannot believe that we only have 7 days left in our semester abroad! One week from this moment I will be landing in Washington D.C!

As I reflect back on these past few months, I can see some incredible memories and experiences that I never dreamed I would ever encounter, but it also wasn’t what I was expecting. People who have studied abroad in Austria in the past claim that this was the "best semester of their life" and they "wouldn’t change it for anything," and although this may be true, it is not always sunshine and roses.

Don’t get me wrong, I had a great semester filled with unforgettable memories and irreplaceable people, but I also did not experience the drastic change that everyone described to me. I may have grown in maturity, I may have become more confident in my traveling abilities, and I have learned things about myself that I did not know when I arrived. However, there are so many parts of me that I feel have not changed after this semester. But that’s the funny thing about God. He works in His own time. He may have been working in me all semester and I might not realize it now. But as I look back on the semester in the future I may see how my experiences and my adventures affected and formed who I am. He may have been using me to affect the lives of those around me, without me even realizing it. Maybe that is the problem with the world. We are so focused on ourselves and what we can “get out” of an experience or a relationship that we don’t stop to realize the impact we may have or could have on those around us. We might be so blinded by what we want or how we benefit from a situation that we might not even realize that He is using us to benefit another who needs it more then we do.

          So yes, this semester isn’t what I was expecting. To those studying in Austria next semester or in the upcoming years, I am telling you that it’s going to be great, but it’s going to go fast and it may not be how everyone describes it to be. You’re going to miss home, you’re going to get stressed, you’re going to work hard, things aren’t going to work out how you want, you’re going to struggle, there may be drama, and sometimes you’re going to regret even going to Austria in the first place, but you will have a good semester and you will be where you are supposed to be at that moment in time. You may have doubts about going to Austria, you may arrive and realize you have no idea what you are doing in a foreign country, but trust God, realize that you are where you are supposed to be, and recognize that even if you’re semester isn’t the “best semester of your life”, you will learn, you will grow, you will struggle, and your experiences will affect you and those around you, even if you don’t realize it in the moment. 

TIP #3

Know Thyself and Act Accordingly

The importance of recognizing your limitations, but not being defined by them

In my Ethics class this semester, we discussed the Greek idea of knowing oneself and acting according to this knowledge. Aristotle believes that in order to become a truly virtuous, and therefore “happy” person, one must know and recognize their desires and limitations and be able to make decisions that do not surpass these boundaries. (Shout out to Dr. Carreño!)

           

This idea applies not only to philosophy, but it is also necessary for any European traveler to grasp, especially one traveling with a disability. While preparing to set off on my adventures, I had to assess myself and my limitations. In doing so, I had to recognize that I would need accommodations and come to terms with the fact that there may be certain activities in which I could not participate (such as ice skating or hiking for hours up a mountain).As difficult as it may be to admit and accept limitations, it is extremely important to come to terms with the fact before beginning your journey. Because I knew my limitations before hand, I was able to make plans that would help accommodate them. For example, I was able to bring a scooter to Austria with me in order to provide easy travel when walking long distances. Also, I knew that I needed to live on the first floor of the building because there is no elevator. Simple ideas such as these can make or break a trip for a little person or any person with a disability.

           

It may seem as if these limitations hold a negative connotation. When you are limited it is seen as something you cannot do and something that cannot be overcome. And although it is important to be aware of your limitations, I am here to tell you that it is possible to overcome them, when it is appropriate. (Although this may be confusing with Aristotle’s idea that you should not surpass your limitations, if it is detrimental to your moral virtue. But, in this situation pushing beyond your limitations brings you closer to the moral virtues of courage and perseverance and therefore Aristotle would encourage these acts!)

I had the opportunity to overcome my limitations (and grow in virtue) while I was visiting Rome. As a little person, it is difficult to walk long distances, and it is also difficult to climb stairs. However, in the adrenaline of a moment and the encouragement of a good friend, I climbed the 330 spiral stairs up to the top of the dome (cupola) of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. I never thought I could accomplish such a colossal victory, (due to the fact that it can be difficult to climb a normal set of stairs), but I did it for myself because I knew I needed to experience being on top of Rome. I’m not going to say it wasn’t difficult, because it was, however, I pushed beyond the limitations that I had set on myself and I persevered through the pain and difficulty to reach my goal. And even a month later, that moment is one of my favorite memories from this semester because I did not think I could do it. But I did, despite all odds, and I came down a stronger and a more       confident person, in my self and my abilities.

I am not simply telling this story in order to brag about my accomplishments (because that wouldn’t be very virtuous!), but I want to use this story to encourage others that limitations should not stop you from challenging yourself and from achieving what you want.

           

              Robert M. Hensel, a man who was born with Spina Bifida and holds the Guinness world record for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair, said “my disability has opened my eyes to see my true abilities.” And this is so true for me and for many people with a disability, because if I wasn’t a little person, if I didn’t have my disability, I would not be the person I am today. And because of this, I have the strength and the courage to achieve my goals, however small, like climbing the cupola, and to tackle Europe one city at a time.

So please, I want to encourage and challenge all of you to not let your limitations define you. Even people without disabilities have limitations or set limitations for themselves. They may not be physical limitations, but people often constrain themselves to their knowledge or their fears. Don’t limit yourself! Push beyond what you know and push beyond what you fear and tackle the world, even in small tasks, like climbing 330 stairs, or climbing to the top of a mountain, or jumping into the Gaming creek! It is okay to be scared, but don’t let those fears define you and don’t let them limit you from experiencing and learning from the world around you.