Hi Everyone,
There are only 21 days left before leaving for Espa�a~ It’s time for me to share some information about myself with you guys and girls. I told myself several times to do this entry in the last month. However, I was too “busy” with many reunions and shopping trips.
Haha~~ anyway~ My name is Tianyu Wang. I usually go with my English name, Sapphire. Well, it doesn’t mean that the meaning of my lovely Chinese name is sapphire. I got this English name from my high school English teacher, Brian, who is a British guy. He loves to name girls after jewelries. I am going to Seville, Spain for the Fall semester of my junior year in this September. I’m an international student from Beijing, China in Smeal. (double major in Finance and Spanish, and minor in International Business). I am in Beijing right now for my last month of summer vocation. Recently, I’m working as an intern in an insurance company. After my internship (last day is on the 19th ), I will get to more preparation for the coming adventure.
So now, time to get to the regular questions for this very first entry:
1) Why study abroad? Why Spain?
– When I told my friends, “Hey, I am going to Spain for the fall semester”, they went, “That’s wonderful. You are studying abroad! But… wait, aren’t you studying abroad now?” I said, “Oh yeah! Ha~ so I am going to
(study abroad)2“.
– Little background info: I have studied in U.S. for more than 4 years since my junior year in high school. I understand deeply about the benefits from studying abroad experience. When I first came to America four years ago by myself, I was fifteen. My English speaking was terrible. I stayed with an American Family in Kentucky. After one year, my English was boomed and I fit into American culture pretty well. Being away from my family and my comfort zone has helped me growing up. Many of my views and values have changed in positive ways.
– This is exactly what I expect from my Spain experience as well. I want to learn as much as I can. Since I am ready to major in Spanish, I hope that this coming semester will help me with this language (especially, listening and speaking). At the same time, I am extremely excited about living with a local family. I have two American families. Although they are not my “real” family, they treat me as one part of them. They help me with all my college experience. My parents are so relieved because of them. They are my family and the forever connection with U.S. I hope that my homestay in Seville will be my forever connection with Spain. And by living with this culture, I will be able to understand more about the civilization of Spain. What’s more, I can also experience how European people live and think. I have enjoyed myself a lot with the American style of living, and it is time for me to get some taste of European style. I will “absorb” every precious bit in this beautiful country to work my way to become a “World Citizen”!
2) Am I nervous? What am I gonna miss the most?
� Well, I thought that I would not be afraid about anything at all for this studying abroad. But I was wrong. As the day getting closer, I am getting nervous. After all, Spanish is my third language. So far, the speaking and listening parts are my pain. And this is a completely strange country to me. Although I am confident to do well, I still worry about if I can adapt everything quickly or very well.
� I gonna miss my family for sure. It always hurts to say goodbye to my parents at airport. I believe that every international student feels that way. Every time, I am afraid to turn around and look at my parents when I pass through the custom. Also, of course, I gonna miss my boyfriend. We will be apart for next five months. I gonna miss my friends in China, my friends in State College, my American families. I love you all. Homesick will always be there. However, I know one semester will pass so fast that I will not have time to homesick too much.
3) What is my plan for Geoblog?
� Topics: living, classes, people, travel, food, flamenco, bull-fight……
� Many pictures and videos (if any)
� At least one entry per week, keep everyone updated with all my experience in Sevilla
� Welcome and love to see everyone’s feedbacks!
Guess this is all for now~ I will talk to you guys soon!!!
BTW, Oh! Have everyone watched Harry Potter 7 part 2 yet? If not, go watch the movie. You won’t regret it. I went to the movie on last Friday. It was awesome! However, I also have kinda mixed feeling, because it is the real real last one. It is the mark for me to say goodbye to my Harry Potter books!
Location: Beijing, China