On The Move Yet Again [across the pond I go!]

How Come? Studying Abroad?

Ever since I was a young girl traveling and experiencing new cultures has always been a passion of mine. Just at five years old I was sent to live in a small African country named Eritrea for five months! I continued to travel to various states and countries across the world from that age on. Before I came to Iowa State University, I knew I wanted to travel even more because there is still so much that I haven’t seen yet! When I went to my meeting with my then advisor Chris Wise she introduced me to the programs within the Apparel, Merchandising & Design program and the minute I saw “London”, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. Even though my parents had some concerns about letting me go across the world for several months, they supported my decision. Being in college is great, but isn’t there more out there in the world that MAYBE a classroom just can’t teach you?

My Background

I am from the city of Saint Paul in Minnesota, home of the beautiful Twin Cities. I came from an average sized high school of about 1,200 people. My family is from a small country in eastern Africa called Eritrea, so I have already been immersed in more than one culture my entire life. All my family members are independent, strong willed, and motivated individuals who have always taught me to be my best. I appreciate everything they did and still do to give me a life with all the opportunities in the world. Iowa State is about 3 ½ hours away from my hometown, did that scare me? Not at all, I chose this school for many reason but an added bonus was that I got to be away from the environment I grew up in and got to start over. Not always being home really taught me how to be disciplined and strong all on my own.

Left: My mom, my inspiration, the strength behind me that has given me the greatest life possible. I come from a large family, alone my mother has 7 siblings.

Where Have I Been?

I have been out of the country multiple times, the biggest trips would be going to my family’s home country of Eritrea three times. My most recent time I went out of the country was a high school trip to Costa Rica during spring break 2014. The most recent time that I have traveled overall was in July 2015 when I traveled to Los Angeles, California for the first time with my mother, and two cousins. Traveling is something that I am very comfortable with, however Europe will be a new experience since I have not spent too much time there (well does the airport count?). Many students that I know that have went said that it was a life changing experience and wish they could go over and over again. I feel that I would regret not taking this opportunity and putting myself in a new environment to grow as a person (yet again, life involves a lot of growing apparently).

Right: This was taken my first day in Costa Rica (I must have been really excited about the fact that I could barely read the names of the food in Spanish).

I am a major planner, I probably plan out everything in my life more than the average person (I know it’s a little weird but we are all). When I was younger, I would plan family events and I even planned the trip I took to Los Angeles without the help of my parents (and finally got to go to a Disney theme park, my camera has never been more useful). I haven’t even reached my destination yet and I have already planned 3 trips to visit other countries. Getting to know new cultures, languages, history are all aspects of studying abroad that excite me.

Right: a picture of a Disney parade that went down the main road at Disneyland (featuring my main girl Minnie Mouse in the front).

Below: My first time at the Santa Monica Beach (I don’t see many of those coming from a state that sometimes feels colder than Antarctica).

Socializing? Yes Please!

Social media is a tool that I will greatly utilize to document my time across the pond (literally all the moments). People sometimes forget to stop and enjoy all the moments of a trip because you always want to get to the next cool place. A big goal and lesson I want to finally teach myself is to slow down (just a bit) and really enjoy these moments that I may not get the chance to experience again. Any trip I go on I always take what seems like hundreds of photos to remember my time there, I originally started with an my IPad taking photographs and now I have upgraded to a Canon Rebel. Social media is always been an interest of mine, and to get the chance to become an social media intern would be an amazing opportunity for me to try something new (I am even taking a social media class at my abroad university). I also have a YouTube channel that I started when I was 16 called “Dream Studios” (always was a daydreamer) and documented many life moments there (including my trip to Costa Rica). I hope revamp my channel completely and highly document my time in video blogs as well. Through all my traveling experience and artistic style, I feel that I can create engaging content with strong visual to accompany them.

Come Along With Me (It’s Okay If You Get Hooked)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zenobia.afeworki

Twitter: @CutieZenobe14

Instagram: @cutiezenobe15

YouTube: www.youtube.com/zenobiaafeworki

Goals

Traveling is one of the first valuable life lessons I have been taught. Being sent from state to state, country to country showed me how to independent, organized, patience, and appreciate a culture outside of one I grew up with. I like to challenge myself because that has helped me become a stronger person and to come out of my shell. Going to a new country for the first time is almost like talking to someone new you see on the playground in kindergarten, at first it seems scary but once you take the plunge is more rewarding (why hold on to the fear when what’s on the other side is so much more exciting?). It’s time for me to see something new, experience something new, and dare I say it but become challenge again?

Right: Zip lining for the first time in the Costa Rican forest, probably one of the scariest things I have ever done! But see the smile on my face? In the end it was an experience that I will never forget.

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

-Zenobia Afeworki

#travel #London #Spring