August 15th: The Beginning of Something New
Inspired by the BRIC acronym, Babson created a one-of-a-kind semester abroad program 8 years ago. Since then, students have travelled to Russia, China, and India to expand their global mindset (The “B” from Brazil was replaced by “B”abson’s, I wonder if it was to reduce costs…). These 24 students would walk around the streets that cover over 25% of the world’s territory and would be surrounded by citizens from countries that combined host over 40% the world’s population. Babson would send professors to each country to teach students the liberal arts as well as the business environment of each country, supported by visits to museums, universities, companies, and more. One of the main goals of this program is to expand the student’s global mindset. Today, I am part of this group.
Little did I know that I will be spending the following three months, from the very moment that I wake up till the moment I go to sleep, with another 23 people that I never met before the program began. I wonder what does this mean when your personal goal is to use this trip as an opportunity for self-discovery (as if being with oneself for 23 years was not enough).
In the following posts I will be writing about my personal journey. I will share the experiences I live with these 23 people and all the others we’ll be meeting (intentionally and unintentionally) as the trip goes by. From the most insignificant to the most memorable ones, it is my intention to write down the bits and pieces of the journey I began on August 15th.
Little did I know that I will be spending the following three months, from the very moment that I wake up till the moment I go to sleep, with another 23 people that I never met before the program began. I wonder what does this mean when your personal goal is to use this trip as an opportunity for self-discovery (as if being with oneself for 23 years was not enough).
In the following posts I will be writing about my personal journey. I will share the experiences I live with these 23 people and all the others we’ll be meeting (intentionally and unintentionally) as the trip goes by. From the most insignificant to the most memorable ones, it is my intention to write down the bits and pieces of the journey I began on August 15th.
@Saint Isaac's Cathedral - Saint Petersburg
I have been with these 23 awesome people for the past weeks, and it is impressive all the things I have learned from them. Now more than ever, I reaffirm myself that every person is a world in and of itself. I am sure that if I manage get of know each and every one of them, I will be learning more than I would in any other semester abroad program. Whether you call me selfish or empathetic, I believe that my curiosity for knowing more about their stories will help me arrive to a better understanding of who I am.
I never thought that I would find myself travelling so far away from home with the intention of getting closer to myself. I am curious and excited to see how this journey evolves, but I am sure it will be an enlightening experience. Although I am using this blog as a tool for me to write down and internalize the teachings from this journey, perhaps you also find this helpful. Whether you read this to give yourself a break of your busy day, to kill some time, to learn something new (hopefully I can help with that), to join me in this journey, or some other creative reason, I hope this space becomes as purposeful as I hope it becomes for me.
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself”
- Leo Tolstoy (Russian writer regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time).
- Leo Tolstoy (Russian writer regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time).
