My experience studying abroad
By Isabel Rosario | November, 23 2021
I am my family's Christmas story. I was born on Christmas day in La Vega, Dominican Republic shortly after Hurricane David a category five storm almost completely devastated the island. When I was born there were still many places in my hometown without road access or electricity.
Growing up I had a happy childhood with a lot of love and many economic deficiencies, I am the fourth of five siblings (four sisters, one brother). At the age of 18 I was awarded a scholarship which granted me the opportunity to spend two years studying in the United States. Coming from the small town of Jarabacoa, where at that time there were places where there was no electricity, no running water, few color televisions, let alone internet access; getting this scholarship was like a dream come true.
Traveling for the first time (getting on a plane) was a magical experience. Arriving at a large airport was like being in another world. Traveling to the Berkshires to start school and learn English was something I have no words to describe. Being part of a cohort of 21 international students for those two years enriched my life in an unimaginable way. I was not a tourist, I lived with a family, I took buses, we traveled to about 12 states, we shared with many locals and other foreigners who lived in the areas where I was able to visit. I ate deer meat for the first time, rode the train, enjoyed every day coffee with milk and tried iced coffee for the first time. I played in the snow and every bone in my body froze. I discovered that not all beaches had hot water and I understood why people sunbathe by the beach and do not go into the water. I camped out in a motor home and ate homemade blueberry ice cream; I can still feel that sweet and different taste in my mouth. I tried to cross country ski, the truth is that it is more difficult than it seems, and all the trees collided with me.
I returned to my country with a broader mentality, with a desire to continue traveling and get to know more places and people. For a long time, I could not leave the country because I did not have a visa, but I dedicated myself to getting to know the island of the Dominican Republic from the inside. Being able to travel has awakened in me the desire to know many other cultures, ‘’tomar un baño de pueblo’’ (“bathing in the people” , the Dominican saying when you meet with the locals). I don't think I can describe in words how traveling has changed my life, but one thing I can say is that every moment, every place, every person that I met is like a beautiful photograph that I keep in my heart and encourages me to get back on the next opportunity to continue knowing and enriching my life.
