The Countdown...

ONLY ONE MORE MONTH till I take on Australia!! While I'm waiting patiently for my journey to begin, I've been contemplating whether or not I'm really ready for this next step in my life. There are many reasons I'm excited for this adventure, but there are still a few reasons that make me sad to be leaving home for so long.

Reason #1 to stay: I don’t know anybody in Australia. All of my people are right here in the United States. Why would I want to leave them for a whole semester? Can I really abandon my parents for three months? I can’t miss Thanksgiving with my family! And what about my friends and new roommates? They’ll be making memories and having fun without me. I don’t want to miss a second of the lives of the ones I love.

Reason #1 to go: Well hey, I can meet new people—people from all over the globe! We’ll share in new experiences. An adventure will be around every corner! My family and friends will be here when I return in December. I can’t wait to hear about their lives when I get back, and I can’t wait to tell them all about my time in Australia!

Reason #2 to stay: I’ve wanted to travel for as long as I can remember, but I never saw it as something that I could reasonably do. I told myself, “Traveling is something that rich people do. I don’t have the money… I have to spend mine wisely on important things (or those late night trips to the Seward McDonald’s with friends.) I have to save to pay back my student loans when I graduate… Can I really afford this?”

Reason #2 to go: The time is now. I’m young and I’m able. What will I want to tell my grandkids when I’m 75 years old? Will I entice them with my stories of laying in my dorm room watching Netflix? The medium fry and large sweet tea I got that one Tuesday night in October? I would rather tell them about the time I explored white sand beaches with new friends… When I hugged a koala bear at an Australian nature preserve… When I met a hunky surfer and he taught me how to catch a wave (I can dream! J) This opportunity has given me a whole new mindset. Even if I’ll be paying out of my ears till 2032, I’d rather spend my money, and more importantly my time, doing something that I know will grow me as a person and teach me new things about the world.

Reason #3 to stay: Do I really want to miss a whole semester at Concordia?

Reason #3 to go: My four year plan allows for one semester off—why not make the most of it?! I’ll be able to take exciting classes at a new school and experience a culture different from my own. I will also learn first-hand what a DCE’s life is like in Australia from Chris Podlich, a Concordia Seward alum who is serving the Lord in Brisbane. God only knows what I will do for Him during my time Down Under!

And finally…

Reason #4 to stay: Nebraska. Football. (GBR!) It’s a rebuilding year and our first season with Coach Riley… I can’t miss that!

Reason #4 to go: Chill out crazy Husker lady! You can live stream the games and you’ll be back by bowl season. The boys can survive without you.

So maybe the fourth reasons weren’t all that important. J Regardless, this has been a hard decision for me. The extra stress while I make travel arrangements and fill out endless amounts of paperwork has not been easy to deal with. I’m nervous, I’m scared, I don’t want to be eaten by a giant snake or bitten by a deadly spider… But I’m ready. I’m ready to test my limits and expand my point of view. I’m ready to take off on my own and see this marvelous world God has created.

Thanks to the support of my many generous friends and family members, I was able to afford my flight to Australia and pay for a student visa. I cannot thank you all enough for your thoughtfulness and love. You are all truly a blessing from Heaven! As I spend my last month in the US working, packing, and finalizing this adventure, I find comfort in knowing that God has blessed me with a truly incredible support system. I can’t wait to keep you all updated with my adventure this semester!

Kenzie