Hello,
Today I’m writing from the library catching up on homework. I’ve had so many art assignments it’s crazy. I’ve completely lost motivation to do any work for school. But every chance I get I want to draw my surroundings. I’ve been so inspired with all my traveling that I want to draw everything I’ve seen.
Spring has come and León is so beautiful and green. The weather is perfect, and I have a huge park right next to my house where I like to go to draw. I had a picnic with my friends, where everyone cooked a different dish from different countries. I think even if there wasn’t much to do here I would still be happy simply because of the environment I’m in. The people that live here consider León a small town, but coming from Russellville this place seems huge. There are so many restaurants, bars, clubs, stores, and nature places to keep me busy all the time. I am happy to have friends to go out with on the weekends, it makes life so fun when you have people to share it with. The friends I have met in school have so many differences from me but we also share so many similarities. It’s great to hang out with people who are studying abroad because we are all craving an adventure and new friendships. Everyone is rebuilding their life in a way. When you move so far away you get to start over and choose who you want to be. I haven’t changed from who I am, but I have grown more as a person in the last few months than I have in a few years. A lot of it is because I’m 20 years old and just now figuring out adulthood. But most of the process of studying abroad is learning how to be independent. Overall I’m learning how to live. In the U.S. I was unhappy and stressed all the time. Here I’ve been able to deal with my anxiety much better. A huge part of it is getting out of bed every day to walk back and forth to school. Being able to socialize at school and go out in the evening has helped me a lot. I also don’t have as many financial concerns because the prices here are much more affordable. Not that I can’t do a lot of this in the U.S., but I really needed a change of scenery. I honestly don’t ever want to go back.
