Kindred Spirit

Well here it is almost the end of my first semester in Nicaragua. Amongst all the stress of writing papers and studying for finals there is one experience that I did not account for, saying goodbye to great friends. If someone would have told me three months ago that I was going to make some of the best friends I have ever had in such a short period of time I would have said they were crazy! But, here I am saying goodbye to amazing people who I could not imagine my experience in Nicaragua without. I cannot seem to find a reason for these rapid “friends”. My only theory is perhaps while experiencing study abroad you naturally meet people that have the same qualities that made you take the leap and study in a far away place. Maybe it is because the other students you meet are also adventurous, curious, and friendly people. Whatever it is, it is a wild ride that will leave you with a few extra amazing people in your life.

kindred spirit
noun
1. a person whose interests or attitudes are similar to one’s own.

-James Nash

Life Is A Beautiful Struggle

It seems like not that long ago that I first arrived in Managua, and maybe on one hand it was only 3 months ago, but in that amount of time I have stories that could fill up way more than any 3 months I would have spent at school in Arkansas. I cannot perfect the experiences I have had into writing, but I will try because what I have learned is not solely my own. I do not know too many people my age who understand the significance of circumstances and series of events that come to make who they think they are actually who they have become. Living away from home has given me the freedom to choose who I want to be. Of course I have the backbone of the most amazing family and friends I could be graced with, but they are all people I had to be away from at one point or another to know how much I appreciate them. So, my circumstances led me to adventure far away to the land of lakes and volcanoes in Nicaragua.

- Gracie Bronson