by Tansy Quesada

Created on: August 16, 2008

Currently I am on my second stint of living abroad. Depending on the country you are living in and your frame of mind or attitude, calling another nation your home can be a fun adventure.

The first time I left my home country of the United States, I was young, courageous and a tad bit nave. I lived in a developing country in Central America for two years. I was a cultural exchange student and had a job working as a social worker in a boy's Christian orphanage. The entire experience was life changing and really opened my eyes to the entire world around me and my ability to influence or make a tiny but meaningful impact on my part.

It seems like every day brings something new while living in a foreign country. I forgot how surreal the smallest details can appear in this way. When I am comfortable and familiar with my surrounding there is so much I take for granted. For example, of course, language plays an important role in life abroad. My ability to communicate and get by in society is the biggest obstacle for me in living in a foreign country. If you do not understand the language around you, it can be very isolating and frightful. But keep in mind; this can be just temporary if you put your mind to Learning the language.

I vividly remember the first morning I was so cruelly jolted awake to a blaring Spanish radio program. It took a few moments to all come back to me, I wondered, what on earth am I doing here? Did I make a big mistake or what? I often think back to that first day and wonder how I managed to get by. Language definitely can be a challenge when in a foreign country. But preparation, good study habits and determination can go a long way to making significant inroads in this area. It is an awesome thing when you can actually dream in another language. This usually means you have conquered a language.

The second obstacle for me living in a foreign country is culture. I never realized how ingrained culture is in a person and society until I am forced outside of my box (country) and made to endure strange traditions, customs and ways of life. At first it seems like I am starring in a TV show and they gave me the wrong part, in the wrong movie, and I can't seem to make heads or tails of anything. It's kind of like stage fright or being stuck in exams for which you have not studied a single second. It feels like all eyes are glued on me, the spot lights are blinding and I am sweating bullets. This can take place anywhere, but especially in public. There

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