Feeling out of balance

By:

Ruth Solano-Cardel

Published:

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Ruth Solano-Cardel

<i>"Hello" in your host country's language:</i> Hej do & 12 others <i>Home Institution (your U.S. University/College):</i> Arizona State University <i>Expected graduation year:</i> 2023 <i>Destination city & country:</i> 13 countries <i>Program provider:</i> Semester at Sea <i>Major/minor:</i> English Language & Literature <i>Demographics:</i> First-Generation, Hispanic <i>Future career aspirations:</i> I want a career in international business where I can leverage my language skills and exercise my passion for liberty and free markets. <i>Top 3 goals for your time abroad:</i> 1) Develop a new framework for understanding the world 2) Practice my language skills 3) Build an international network of friends and professional contacts

February 12, 2022

We are currently in Valletta, Malta. It was a beautiful country. I enjoyed the field programs because I could learn more in-depth about this beautiful island.  Even though I learned many things, I would like to share with you another reflection. This is the first time I am writing my journal on the day the I am submitting it. I don’t have internet on the boat, so probably you have realized that I archive my journals and post them when I have access to Wifi.

Well, we are leaving Malta today, and I realized it had been nearly a month and a half since I am on this voyage. Time is flying past at such a breakneck pace that I’m losing track of it. We don’t have a regular routine on the days we are on board the ship. We have A, and B days, which means that regardless of the day we have classes (yes, even Saturdays and Sundays!)

It has been difficult for me to maintain a sense of balance in my life. Right now, I feel like I’m in here, but I also feel like I’m back home. I’m expected to graduate this semester, and then I’ll need to find employment. Having all of these thoughts in the back of my mind is exhausting. I get stressed out sometimes because the internet access is so limited. I was given about 50 mg every day. Just enough to let my family know I’m OK. I’m in ports for 3 to 5 days; it’s stressful because I want to learn as much about the culture as I can, but I also feel limited since five days isn’t long enough to truly understand centuries of history.

I believe that in order to stay on track throughout the upcoming ports, I must establish priorities. It is all too easy to become immersed in what we are experiencing and to be impacted by our sentiments, which might be positive or negative. Whatever the case is, we need to remember that there are times for everything. There is a time where is okay not to be okay, but also there are times when we have to keep going and be strong. Our actions determine our destiny; it is crucial that we think critically about every step we perform.

Down below you will see some pictures from Malta 🇲🇹

The first picture is Saint John’s Co-cathedral.

The second picture is San Lawrenz.