Why Am I Going Abroad? (and goals)

Here it all begins.

There are a lot of reasons I am studying abroad.

From the beginning, my interest in travelling came from my sister. She has travelled the world rather extensively for someone her age, has studied abroad multiple times, and I know for a fact she would not be the person she is today without those experiences. She has been a huge motivator for me to do this, whether or not she knows it. (you do now, eh? ;D) She takes big footsteps, but I think I might hop on the same trail. . .it seems like a good one!

Another big motivator for me is my interest in the French language, which as grown in magnitude since I first learned to say "Au revoir!" from Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure, to my 7th and 8th grade Pre-French 1 and French 1 classes, to four years in high school, to now two more in college. I've learned and read a lot. . .I'm ready to go use it!!! I still don't feel like I have the language in the bag yet, after all these years. I really want an opportunity to finally feel like I can really USE this language. After this year, I am very confident I will be able to do just that.

In college, I study Mechanical Engineering. I love it. It is one of the greatest choices I've made. I love learning about the way the world works, about different forces and materials, about why and how materials break or deform, about how to really solve problems. It's great. But it is a very focused track. Besides my french classes, I don't have any room to grow out and learn about life a little bit. Learn about people, about new ways to think, about philosophy and art and religion and history. . .I will never get the chance to learn these at home. And so I am studying abroad in order to get this opportunity to learn in a new language, in a new culture, new things that I would never have learned before.  Much excite!!

A big goal of mine is to really focus on being 'open to outcomes' this year, a term I have adopted from Adventure WV. What this means is I will hold an open mind and heart, be receptive to new ideas and ways of thinking, not be uncritically judgemental, accept that people do things differently than I, have empathy, and be open to change. I will be open to outcomes. This is an important part of my studies, to me. I will use the classes I take and the people I meet to challenge my perceptions on the way things are. I want to ask 'Why?' I want to ask 'How?' I want to be open to the answers I receive, but make my own decision on how those answers affect me. This is how I will shape myself into the person I want to be.

I like rocks. A lot. Since college, I have become quite the outdoorsman. I have the Adventure WV Freshman Outdoor Orientation Trip program to thank for that. I participated on two trips, one as a freshman (the Explore model trip) and one as a sophomore (S.O.A.R.). I have also lead the Explore model of these trips that past two summers. I'm a different, better person after these experiences for many reasons, but I'd say most have to do with the people I've met and the fantastic training I've received from the program. Anyhow, I was sitting in a SOAR class underneath the Sentinel in Zions National Park, Utah, and my leader, Bob, said "Study Abroad!" I don't know what about that moment hit me so hard. . .but I told myself right then that I was going to do it my Junior year. And here I am!

But I digress! So. . .I like rocks. A lot. On my Explore trip my freshman year I was first introduced to rock climbing and instantly fell in love. I got on a 5.10c at Cooper's Rock State Forest called 'The Nose' at Roof Rocks. And I could not do it. At all. It was literally impossible. I tried so hard. . .for so long. . .with the best power belay you could ask for. . .I wasn't getting up that thing. But man, I WANTED it!! So badly. . .it was unbelayvable. I had never in my life been so instantly hooked on anything. So I came to college and went to try it at the wall one day in October with my friend Foster after drumline practice. . .and never stopped. I went on a week long trip to the New River Gorge that Spring Break with the WVU Climbing Club and had probably one of the best weeks of my life. And I just can't stop. I can't lose the stoke, man. I'm all about it. SO. A big part of why I chose Grenoble, France to study is, well, the rocks. Grenoble is nestled in the heart of the Alps where the "amount of climbable rock is staggering." [mountainproject.com] Well, hell, I gotta go there! I'm also an avid snowboarder and budding cross-country skiier, as well as a mountain biking, hiking, and extreme outdoor sports enthusiast. I think I'm going to fit right in.

I plan on really challenging myself as a climber this year.  In some ways, one might consider climbing a selfish act. One where you climb to satisfy your wants without real consideration to how it affects other. The only thing that matters is you on the rock. The only thing that changes after the climb is you. Nothing else. But I don't see that as selfish. One might climb to better themselves, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. One might climb to see new things, meet new people, get to places no man or woman has been, to gain the experience to save others, to share what they've seen and know with others, to get to these places with the help of friends and comrades, to experience the world in a new way with new people. To live. This year, I want to see the Alps. I want to meet a community of climbers in Grenoble that share my passion and push them to go with me to places that neither of us would have gone before. I want to learn from everyone. I want to share what I know, share my love of this sport (or whatever you call it, lifestyle, maybe), share my freakin' stoke!! And while I do this and learn - always learn - I will be thinking about my big project. . .

As an engineer, I hope to design equipment in the future to help people go where they couldn't before. Help climbers protect themselves faster, easier, more efficiently. Create ways for construction workers to be fastened safely via harnesses while working on bridges, large structures, oil rigs out at sea. Help explorers go under or above untraveled ground and come back with stories, excitement, and new maps. I want to push the limits of where our hands can take us on this great Earth!

And I will.

I wrote this blog as a starting point for this year. I wanted, honestly, to make sure the dang thing works, first of all. I wanted to outline some of my goals for myself. I wanted to share why I'm here and there. I wanted to shout-out to those people that have gotten me where I'm at! And I wanted to get the first post of the way so I can start delving in with the nitty-gritty here on this next one. . . Only kidding. I do intend on doing some reflection on the study abroad process so far before I leave, maybe creating two or so more blogs before I depart on the 31 of August. I think it will do my good to get some practice writing, build routine, and also document this aspect of the experience, which is certainly an important one.

With that, I'm signing off. I hope you enjoyed reading this and I will keep them coming!

Much love. -Hy