From the Other Side of the World

From the Other Side of the World

Blog Post 10 - Photo 1

12,047. That number represents the distance, in kilometers, between Loyola and the place I previously called “home.” It translates into 8,543 frequent-flyer miles and two days of travel time in each direction, with over 20 hours in-flight, traversing more than one-quarter of the earth’s circumference. Needless to say, this makes visiting my parents on the weekends, impossible. And this year, for the first time, my seat at the family table will be empty on Turkey Day and I won’t be in able to enjoy my mom’s cornbread-sausage stuffing and sweet potato casserole. With a majority of LUC students being from Illinois, or neighboring states, and going home on weekends and holidays, staying on campus can get a little bit ‘lonely.’ Although attending college so far away from home can feel like a mental endurance test, particularly during the first semester, it does come with its own unique ‘perks.’

For one, I was able to start a new chapter of life within a completely new setting. Throwing oneself into an unfamiliar environment is both exciting and scary. But, while it wasn’t easy in the beginning (awkwardly introduce myself and make myself make new friends, or, eat lunch by myself?), this on-my-own experience has allowed me to grow and mature and get to know myself, so to speak.

On the downside, I’m not able to have the comforts of home whenever I want. Even though I can occasionally fly down to Atlanta to visit my older sister, a sibling still isn’t quite the same as parents. Moreover, for the next several years, I will be living out of cardboard boxes and storage bins, having no permanent place to store my seasonal belongings, so every time I move in and out, I will have to move, literally, everything.

Nonetheless, technology makes communication convenient. Like thousands of study abroad students around the world who use the internet to “call home,” I can ‘skype’ my parents. But talking through a computer is definitely not the same as giving them a hug in person. Then, there’s the 14-hour time difference—a Sunday night chat with someone who is about to have lunch on Monday feels eerily close to time travel. The worst part of not getting to go home on weekends?  I can’t take my laundry home and ask my mom to do it for me!

Kidding aside, staying on campus during breaks has distinct advantages. On weekends, the whole campus quiets down, transforming into a sanctuary of time and space in which to relax and simply enjoy its spiritual ethos. And, if you’ve had enough ‘calm’ and want to socialize, or find a meaningful way to engage, LUC offers a number of programs and activities that will give you plenty to do over breaks. For example, Rambler Outdoors regularly plans fun outings during the weekends and over breaks as well. This year, I plan to use the 4-day holiday to go visit a relative, but, it’s nice to know that the University offers a Thanksgiving dinner for all the students who stay on campus.

Being from the other side of the world comes with not only logistical, but also personal, challenges.  I am fortunate to have found a wonderful home-away-from-home. This is definitely going to be a worthwhile endeavor.

 

 

Image from http://www.staff.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/other-side1.png

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