Nikolas and I met when I was an exchange student in Sinton, Texas for a year in high School in 2000. We dated for a year and we broke up because my exchange program was over and I needed to go back to Brazil. We always kept in touch for the 2 years I stayed in Brazil. I was fortunate enough to be able to come back to America to study at UNI in 2003 but we were still apart because he was living in Texas at the time. Last summer, we talked and realized that a long distance relationship for us would not work any longer so he decided to move to Iowa and go to school here.
I believe, nowadays, there is a necessity to know other languages, and in some cases that is what sets you apart from other candidates. I do not know if German will make a difference in my resume but I do believe that it will be useful one day.
Yesterday, Nikolas and I sat down and talk about my trip. He does not want me to go because we spent year’s away form each other and he does not want to go through the long distance relationship and neither do I. I also suggested for him to come with me to Austria, but he is not the type of a person that would quit his job and leave everything behind to go to another place.
One of the things he asked was why I would leave my house, my car, my friends and job stability to live out of two pieces of luggage? I do not have a logical answer for this but down the road I believe that it will payoff. This question makes me think why do international students leave home, parents, lovers and come to a different culture and language? In my case it was for better opportunities professionally, and curiosity to see how people live in other places. I guess everybody has different reasons to study (travel) abroad.
