In the summer of 2018 I had the privilege of studying abroad in Italy for a month at the Florence Academy of Art. This was my first time living abroad on my own without a group of people with me, and it was a blast. I learned so much in that one month and grew a lot as a person. I fell in love with Italian culture, language, and food (duh) almost instantly. It was amazing how at-home I felt in a completely strange place where I barely even spoke the language.
I returned for another month in 2021 to learn the language so I could move there long-term, but the Pandemic had significantly decreased the opportunities available at the time and I had to return to California earlier than expected. |
In 2013 I co-lead a team of volunteers to go to Israel for 3 months. We lived primarily in the city of Nazareth and provided humanitarian aid wherever possible. This included refurbishing the local elementary school, packing boxes of supplies to be sent to refugee camps, and providing a little extra manpower for some local ministries. Personally, my favorite part was getting to know our neighbors and spending time with their families during our "off time." The Arabic culture is so warm and welcoming. They truly made us feel like part of the family from the very start, and it was an honor to be part of their lives even for a short while.
|
I have lived in Kona on and off over the years while working with an organization called Youth with a Mission. YWAM trains young Christians in how to have a grounded and well-balanced faith that puts an emphasis on loving others well and practicing what you preach. It was an enriching time to sow into my students' lives, and a beautiful place to call home for a while.
|
|