Mauricio Gonzalez here: your one and only source (more like your one of many great sources) into the adventurous lives of Berlin’s Northwesterners.
If you didn’t quite catch that reference, I’ll forgive you this time. I’ve been at home in Chicago for the past ten days and have spent a grand portion of that time not only going on friend-dates, but also have binge-watched a lot of my guilty pleasure shows (e.g. Gossip Girl) before I jet off to Berlin Saturday afternoon. Perhaps I watched Gossip Girl to find inspiration to write my first post, but that’s one secret I’ll never tell. Sorry, I’ll stop now.
All jokes aside, I’m Mauricio, and I’m a rising junior in Weinberg studying economics, perhaps pursuing a minor in psychology, and am applying to the Integrated Marketing Communications program in Medill, but allow me to discuss who I am beyond my academics. After completing half of my Northwestern career this past quarter (say what?), I’ve come to realize that community-building is at the core of my involvement on campus. This past year, I served as a Peer Adviser (PA) to a group of new students (shout-out to Cougar Hotline 144) and the Wildcat Welcome community became and continues to be my favorite community of genuine and kind-hearted individuals on campus (#dubdubluv), and I will be a PA for another group this coming year. I also am a co-president of Alianza – The Latinx Student Alliance (#mrpresident #loljustkidding) and am the Talent Development and Outreach Chair (aka the community-building chair) for Ballet Folklorico Mexicano: Ritmo de Mis Ancestros (a traditional Mexican Folkloric dance group #BalletSquad). While my commitments can be overwhelming, I love every second I spend with these communities because they are where I found home.
Saying goodbye for now to some friends for an adventure on my own (I’m the one in the v hip sunglasses shirt) (Photo Credits: Justin Barbin Photography)
Home: somewhere I had never been more 22 miles away from for over two weeks. For me, while I had been set on my study abroad program since September 2015 (an actual dream come true to say the least) and have been thrilled and planning for this moment for forever, in a matter of hours, I will be boarding a plane to a new country for nine weeks away from home and all my wonderful friends; I’m a little nervous to say the least. I do not speak more than the two words of German that Frau Meuser taught me during our brief meeting (she’s the kindest and greatest by the way). I cannot help, but think of how my parents must have felt when they moved from Mexico to Chicago; just like them, I have a grand idea of Germany, but will not know what to expect.
As I think of the courage they had to immigrate to the U.S. to provide my brother and I better lives with more opportunities, I can’t help shaking off my nerves and feeling pride in my family. Being at college and studying abroad in a country like Germany are beyond their and my own wildest dreams, and yet, it’s all actually happening. All of my friends have told me that I will have the time of my life abroad; and now I know, they are absolutely right. I’ll miss them and my family, but I know and hope Berlin will become home too.
I’m boarding my plane in thirteen hours so I should sleep now (after I get my laundry out of the dryer #lastminutepacking). Can’t wait to see what Berlin holds for me, and thanks to all those reading! Next time you need this blog, I’ll truly be in the Global City in the Center of Europe (Berlin for those who didn’t get that part)~