I climbed Las Setas, visited Plaza de España, tried gazpacho, saw the Game of Thrones cast filming a scene, struggled through classes in Spanish, bonded with my Spanish family and got to travel around Europe. I was a little nervous, slightly uncomfortable and having the time of my life.
So, filled with wanderlust and a desire to keep pushing myself, I applied for a Fulbright scholarship. Fulbrights are grants supplied by the US government to facilitate cultural exchange. I received funding to study happiness in the Netherlands. For the next year, I will be completing a master’s program in Behavioral Economics at Erasmus University in Rotterdam and doing research at the Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organization (EHERO).
Rotterdam is different from Wisconsin, but in a few important ways, it still feels like home. There is water everywhere between the port and the canals. I’m living in a crowded apartment where I’m one of five roommates. The university I’m attending is challenging and interesting and I hope to learn a lot. I’m far from where I grew up, but I still feel at home.
I can’t wait to start sharing more about my journey with you!
