Take Time to Reflect
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Intentionally Documenting Life Abroad
I have always loved writing and knew that I wanted to be intentional about how I recorded my time abroad. And, trust me, with only two weeks left here in Spain, I am so grateful for the ways that I’ve documented my experiences here. It’s wild how quickly things that felt new to me have become so normal!
Below are four practices I have used abroad to intentionally capture my time in Spain. You are undoubtedly different from me, and how you process your experience will look different. But, I hope these four ideas can inspire you to start thinking about how you want to document this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study and live in a new place!
- Articulate Your Hopes. Before you leave for your time off campus, spend some time thinking about what your hopes and desires are for the experience. And write them down. While I had many goals, one of my biggest hopes was to learn more about myself and the world. And, as the semester went on, I made a list of things that I was learning. Now that we’re in April, the list is long! It’s cool to think about how my time in Granada has aligned with my hopes for it, and I have a tangible reminder, too.
- Make a “Magically Mundane” List. When I arrived in Granada, I found it daunting thinking about everything that I could do in the city. So, pretty early on, I sat down and made a bucket list of things I wanted to do/experiences I wanted to seek out in Spain. Most things were simple, like trying a specific food, painting in a park, or going to a new grocery store. It became such a sweet way to recognize the magic in the mundane things, and it gave me a fun way to make memories. My friends came to love it, and we all made bucket lists specifically for our last month in Spain. And it has been so fun!
- Collect Something. In every city or town that I traveled to during my time abroad, I bought a postcard and wrote a short note about what I did in the city. What you choose to collect doesn’t have to be a postcard (though they are easy and inexpensive), but I’d encourage you to pick something to make your keepsake! I promise that at the end of the semester, it will be sweet to look back on everywhere you’ve been.
- Journal. Everyone recommends it, and I have to at least put it on my list. For me, journaling abroad didn’t look like lots of extensive writing… But, I tried to write a sentence or two each night before bed, and I will say it’s been fun to look back on how much I’ve grown here.
As I get ready to head back to the United States, I can confidently say I have learned so much about myself and the world. And one of those things is that noticing goodness is a choice. It takes intentionality. I’m eager to maintain some of the practices I started here in Granada when I’m back in Michigan. I can’t wait to make another “Magically Mundane” list and see what unexpected memories come from it this summer, as well always have postcards, bucket lists, and late-night journal entries to remind me of my time here in the city I’ve grown to love.
Here’s to learning to notice the beauty around us—in the big moments and in the mundane.
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