To introduce myself, my name is Marissa Paananen and I just graduated from the University of Minnesota with a double major in Family Social Science, Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Deviance, and a minor in Spanish. It’s a mouthful, I know. Some of my hobbies are swimming, watching movies, hanging out with friends and, you guessed it, traveling!

As I am minutes away from going to the airport, my nerves are beginning to kick in. Will I make it to my flight on time? Am I forgetting something? How will I communicate with people when I get there? I have been to other Spanish speaking countries before where I am able to ask questions, but I have never been somewhere entirely foreign to me. While this is somewhat nerve-racking, I think it is also exhilarating!

I envision so many new experiences, environments, and interactions and I just cannot wait! I wonder if it will actually be as hot as they say or if the beaches will be as beautiful as the pictures. Well.. I guess you’ll just have to wait and see how my journey and first impressions go in my next blog! Sorry to leave you at a cliff-hanger 🙂