After some searching online, I found an awesome scholarship program through the U.S. Department of State called YES Abroad, which sends 65 high school students each year to study in non-traditional locations around the world for one academic year.
I eventually won the scholarship to go abroad to Thailand for my senior year. During that year, I lived with a host family, attended a local school, and participated in many tranditional Thai cultural activities such as rice-planting, fruit-carving, Thai massage, and meditiation. It was the most transformative year of my life, and I truly found a second home in Thailand.
After my year in Thailand, I began university. I knew exactly what I wanted to earn my college degree in. I studied International Relations and Political Science as my majors. I studied History, Psychology, and Romance Languages as my minors. During those four years of college (which I am just about to finish after my time in Brazil), I studied abroad for another year in Thailand, a semester in Rome, Italy, and currently a summer in Brazil. I traveld to about 50 countries worldwide. I learned and improved several different foreign languages. Most importantly, I forged new friendships and connections with wonderful, fascinating, multicultural friends all around the world and at my university. Going to college was one of the best decisions I ever made.
My life isn't all travel though. So, here are some random fun facts about me:
I am obsessed with cats (sorry, dog people). I have three of them: Stella, Riri, and Koguma.
I collect money and coins from around the world. I want to make a cool collage one day of my collection!
I like fall and winter more than spring and summer.
