Summer is usually the time of year that I spend with my family and friends, going on vacations, and just enjoying being home. It is that time of the year when I don’t really leave my comfort zone. It had always been this way for me, until this summer.
This summer, I got into a summer program where I met people from all over the world. Going into it, I really did not know what to expect. I knew I would be surrounded by people I had never met before, many of whom came from different countries. I was worried it would take me a while to adjust, get comfortable, and actually get to know everyone.
But the unexpected happened. Instead of taking weeks to get comfortable, I found myself spending most of my free time just talking to these people and getting to know them on a deeper level.
Learning About the World Through People
One of my favorite parts of the summer was hearing what everyone’s life looked like back home. It was very fascinating to hear about the holidays they grew up celebrating, their traditions and culture, and what their day to day life looked like. I found myself learning so much through the millions of questions I asked out of curiosity. There is something so different about learning about another culture from someone who actually grew up in it.Â
The World Cup Made It More FUn
The World Cup was happening during the summer too. After we were done with everything for the day, we would go watch the matches together. Who we were cheering for usually depended on who was playing and whose country was represented in our group. But the most fun was when two countries represented in our group played against each other. I would just say it was very fun to watch! But seriously, those were the evenings that we were always looking forward to, because we got to spend time together, laugh, and cheer for each other’s countries.
Another one of my favorite memories was our potluck. Everyone brought something that represented home, and I got to try so many dishes that I had never had before. Food is already something that brings people together, but there was something special about everyone bringing a little piece of their culture to share with the rest of us.
From Strangers to Friends
It has been months since the program ended, but we’re still in touch. Sometimes I’ll open LinkedIn and see what everyone is doing since we left, and it always makes me happy. Everyone went back to their own lives, continuing to grow and succeed in their own ways. We still check in, celebrate each other’s accomplishments, and cheer each other on.
Leaving My Comfort Zone
This summer made me realize that sometimes the experiences we are most unsure about become the ones we are most grateful we said yes to.
Being around people who grew up differently from me made me realize how much there is to learn from other people. I found myself becoming more curious, asking more questions, and wanting to understand more about their lives and where they came from.
This summer taught me that there is so much of the world I still don’t know. And instead of being intimidated by that, I think I’m more excited to discover it.
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