My name is Emma and I am 22 years old. I am studying Spanish and Global Studies at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. I have been living in Springfield for three years, but I grew up in State College Pennsylvania. I spent some time in New York City when I was younger, and I always had fun exploring the big city. If I had to choose, I think I would prefer to live in the city as opposed to the countryside. That is why I chose to study abroad in the capital of Chile, Santiago. Where would you choose to study away if you had the chance, and why?
There are five million people in Santiago—just three million less than New York City. Ever since I was young, I had a desire to travel and learn more about different cultures and languages. I also really loved to draw, paint and be creative. After high school, I lived for a year in Warsaw, Poland as an exchange student. It was my first time leaving the United States and I was so nervous. In Poland, I lived with a Polish family and they hardly spoke English. Imagine leaving home for the first time and being unable to communicate with anyone! As it turned out, I loved it! I found new ways to communicate through body language, and, eventually, I was able to communicate in Polish.
