by Olivia Gonzalez| Fall 2024 |
This semester, I studied abroad in Montevideo, Uruguay. Coming into this school year, everything felt like a whirlwind, and I did not have time to try and imagine what my time in South America would truly look like. Now, being at the end of my time abroad, it is so mind-blowing how much I realize that I feel at home. The culture of this country and the people of South America have taught me to endlessly appreciate this life. I came to this country through the Study Abroad program at ACU, and now I have the gift of having a home in Montevideo, the beautiful capital of a small country 5,440 miles away from Abilene. Because of this program, I have people who have become family to me here, people whose stories I am now a part of, and people who are now in mine.
I want to share with you some of the places that have most impacted me during my time here. First, there is a strip by the beach 20 minutes away from our house called “La Rambla”, in this place, people talk and sit for hours, they play games, eat, drink mate, run, bike, etc., and I spent many evenings here watching sunsets and speaking with local friends. After finding a place to sit in the grass and watching the waves and seeing those around me, I noticed the emphasis on deep and meaningful relationships, peace, and gratefulness. Wherever I looked, I saw people embracing each other, I saw smiles, I saw people in awe of the beauty in front of them, I heard words of such genuineness come from my friends, and in all of this, there seemed to be no rush at all, and no hidden agendas. I felt an unspoken understanding between everyone that we all share something in common, we are all humans experiencing life, and these people have chosen to live their lives by that truth. I saw people who value life, time, and love, sometimes seemingly unknowingly, but in the most profound way I have ever experienced.
In addition to this, during this trip we were able to go on an excursion to Peru, and here as well I was profoundly reminded of the simplicity that life derives from. I chose to use the word simple to describe life, but this in no way means that I believe simple means easy or artificial. Simple here means living with the understanding of our purpose on Earth. As I saw Machu Picchu and heard about the Incan people, I was in complete awe of their way of life. I saw buildings that took decades to make, yet those years and days were worth it to those people. They understood that good things do take time, and that was worth the unbelievable work they did. I heard about how they cared for the land and raised their families, how they acknowledged the “Invisible God” and saw His goodness all around. I believe that this is lacking in our world today, but there is the possibility of it flourishing once more.
Studying abroad in South America taught me one of the most valuable lessons I could ever take away from any place I go to, and that was to TRULY appreciate every moment and person I encounter in this life. The pace of life here, the people in this place, there is nothing like it, and I hope that so many more can experience this beauty.
Thank you, Montevideo, thank you for the pure beauty of your people. Thank you, Uruguay, though you are small, your example can change the world. Thank you, South America, you have not had it easy, but you have always kept fighting, and you have so much to teach this world.
Thank you ACU for this opportunity, thank you for finding this gem.
