Travel Makes One Modest

"Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Scott Cameron

This is the quote that inspired the URL of my blog. I have grown up in a bubble. First, the bubble of Manhasset, then the Kellenberg bubble, and now the Siena bubble. People know who I am. They recognize my name. I can walk across campus at Siena, and say hi to more than half the people that walk by me. 

I have stretched the bubble a few times. Sometimes it is on a trip somewhere exotic, South Africa being one example, and sometimes is right in the state of NY. But now, as I prepare to embark on a four month journey to somewhere completely different, it is time for the bubble to pop. As I am writing this post, one particular lecture from my genetics class comes to mind. It was the lecture where we talked about David Vetter*, also known as "Bubble Boy". We talked about him in class, and I was so fascinated that I looked online later that day to see what else I could learn about him. This is an excerpt from Wikipedia. "When David was four years old, he discovered that he could poke holes in his bubble using a butterfly syringe that was left inside the chamber by mistake. At this point, the treatment team explained to him what germs were and how they affected his condition. As he grew older, he became aware of the world outside his chamber, and expressed an interest in participating in what he could see outside the windows of the hospital and via television." I feel as if this parallels my current situation (without the whole dying when I leave my bubble aspect). These life lessons that I've learned over the years have been holes in my bubble. I have expressed many interests in participating in the outside world, where life is not defined by saga cups of coffee or hours spent in the library. 

Now is the time for me to burst my bubble. 

I am going to Quito, Ecuador first, and then to the Galapagos Islands. The time has come for me to learn a new language, meet people who do not look just like me, see animals I have never seen before, to snorkel, to scuba dive. All of my problems have always felt so big. I didn't get a great grade on an orgo test; I had a bad diving practice today; I don't know the right time to take the MCAT and GRE. When I step back and think about my problems compared to those of the world, I am humbled. I am about to see just how small of a place I occupy in the world, and I am grateful that I have the opportunity to do it.

*If you want to read more about David Vetter, check out this article!

http://www.houstonpress.com/1997-04-10/news/bursting-the-bubble/full/

"To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." - Albus Dumbledore

I know I'm not going on an adventure to death. But re-reading (for the 150th time, if I may add) the Harry Potter series brings light to new insights each time.

Spanish for Gringos

Today, I got to register for classes. It is hard to register for classes at Siena. All biology majors want to take the same classes with the same professors! However, registering for classes completely in Spanish was a new level of difficulty. I did manage to get into all the classes I want though! Here is my schedule (for non-gringos). 

I really need to start reading the "Spanish for Gringos" book my mother got me. I am excited to have the world as my lab next semester!

What Ships Are Built For

I have been reading my friend Maggie's blog as she travels through Cuenca, Ecuador. Part of the URL for her blog is "whatshipsarebuiltfor". I always liked that, but never really gave much thought into what it meant until I started a blog of my own and had to pick a name for it. I really wanted "lostintherightdirection", but someone already had it. Sad. Anyway, I found the John Augustus Shedd quote that had inspired her so many months ago before she departed for Ecuador. He said, 

"a ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for"

I loved it. I felt the sense of wanderlust that Maggie had probably felt before she left for Ecuador. I can relate. I am 20 years old and at Siena College. I am safe here in my bubble. I know the professors, I know how the school works, I am comfortable here. I am in my harbor. However, I am destined for so much more. I have a sense of adventure. I love to learn, I love to laugh, I love to live. I am built for so much more than staying in my bubble at Siena College; and that is one of the main reasons I knew I had to go abroad. Exploration. New people. New experiences. A different culture. A different language. This is what ships are built for.

Reminiscing

A photo from the last time I was in South America. Peru was a great time...it really gave me my sense of discovery, and my wanderlust. I will go back to Inotawa one day.

Pre-departure thoughts

Today, at my study abroad meeting, the study abroad director was explaining how in Denmark, everyone waits for the light and doesn’t jaywalk. He says it gives pedestrians a sense of freedom because they do not have to worry about what to do, when to go, if they could be hit by a car. Freedom in the USA, or in New York more specifically is getting from A to B as quickly as possible. Jaywalking is a must. Why wouldn’t you go if that car is down the road? Waste of time, duh. I think my fellow classmates were bored as he explained all this, but it really left me thinking. What is freedom? Having the power to make your own decisions, but being responsible for the consequences, or letting others make decisions for you, but not having to worry. Of course, I am just talking about traffic lights…