Deciding to pursue an internship in Lisbon was a big step for me, especially as a college student with very little experience being away from home. Ever since I received the news in January that I would be living in a new country for almost the entire summer, I had been mentally preparing myself for this journey, constantly questioning why the process of packing up and leaving for another country on your own seemed so natural and effortless for others.

Those anxious questions began to fade when I landed in Lisbon, a few days before the program started. I was grateful that my dad has offered to come with me to explore the city and help me ease into my new environment. The most memorable moment from those first few hours was tasting a classic Portuguese espresso alongside a pastel de nata– a delicate custard pastry unlike anything I had ever eaten. However, the exact moment I fully realized my semester abroad was actually happening was when I stood at the top of the bell tower at the church of Castelo de São Jorge. I saw the most beautiful view of Lisbon, the Tagus River, and endless terracotta rooftops, realizing this would be my home for the next couple of months. I was overwhelmed with a mix of excitement and feeling entirely unprepared.

The reality of that unpreparedness hit me shortly after, when my dad helped me move into my student apartment and we said our goodbyes before his flight back to Pittsburgh. Those last few minutes were a peak moment of realization and reflection for me. I was not just on a vacation exploring castles and eating pastries with my dad; I was about to live and work in a place that I was barely familiar with. 

Saying goodbye was particularly emotional because, just 3 years before this, my dad was battling stage 4 cancer. I wasn’t sure if he would be able to share memories like this with me. I didn’t know if he would be able to see me graduate high school, start college, or watch me grow up. Despite those times of unrest, prayer, and breathtaking strength wielded from my dad, he survived and returned to doing everything he loved. Because of that scare, I chose a college just 30 minutes from my hometown to ease my anxieties about missing out on precious time with my parents. While that proximity brought me comfort, it also meant I never gained a true sense of independence or felt what it was like to live entirely on my own.

I chose Lisbon to step out of my comfort zone and engage in the vital experiences that it is to live on your own and develop a sense of self. These reflections on the past few years of my life are not meant to be emotional, but to express gratitude for being able to participate in an opportunity that I did not think could be an option for me, and to have my dad experience it with me. The past 2 weeks in Lisbon have been filled with late nights, new friends, and exposure to the vibrant Portuguese culture, and I am looking forward to making more memories to share!