Hello! My time abroad so far has been wonderful. It's been great to get out of my comfort zone and explore Europe. The first part of my experience — Politics in London — was easy to adjust to because everyone I met was really friendly and kind. I felt that four weeks was a perfect amount of time to adjust and get use to a new place. By the end of my program, I started to feel really confident exploring through the city on my own. I learned to trust myself more and to step out of my comfort zone so I can take advantage of the time I have here in Europe.
Adjusting from a 4 week program in the city to a 2 week program hiking through the Dolomites was a bit nerve wracking but was manageable with the help of my family in Germany. I had a week in between the programs where I was able to spend some time with my sister and her husband, and it was a wonderful reset before a busy and exciting program to follow. I was fortunate enough to have family here in Europe; I'm not sure what I would've done about my luggage situation otherwise, since both of my programs required vastly different packing methods. I was able to easily transition from being in a city to backpacking through the mountains because of the home base I had available to me in Germany. Being in Europe for two months is a huge endeavor. I've taken on a lot of homesickness, but having some time with family in Germany and staying connected to my family and friends back in the States has helped me push through and be more appreciative of the opportunities I've been given.
The greatest part of this journey has been getting to know my group mates and sharing this experience with them because they are a little part of home. It's a relief knowing we are all in this together. I've been loving this summer so far, and it's hard knowing that it has to come to an end soon.
Nathalie Valenzuela, Diverse Ducks Ambassador