Hi everyone! My names Kirby McThompson from a small town outside Austin, Texas. Growing up, my father always said his biggest regret in life was not studying abroad. Since I was little, he and my mom urged me to choose a school that encouraged and promoted the idea of studying abroad. I've always been someone who is a little bolder than my britches and when looking at colleges, I chose to look at Champlain by throwing a dart at a map. I chose to go 2000 miles from home, needing to spread my wings to find myself.
At the end of my first year of college I met some friends who had just gotten back from their study abroad journeys and from that moment on I was pumped and ecstatic about my journey happening in 3 semesters. When looking at where to go, I really thought about what would push me. What would inspire me. What would give me the most impactful stories to share and to keep close to my heart. I'm a very type "a" person and realistically minded, so I understood that with my job (business administration focused in event & logistics management) I would have the chance and I had enough desire to travel Europe later in life. But to have the time, money & be in the right life mindset to travel in South Africa later in life, probs not.
I have always wanted to travel to Cape Town, to go on safaris, along with exploring the different cultures, traditions, socioeconomic issues and more. I had a teacher in middle school who had family members from there and when we studied world history, it was south Africa's apartheid history that caught my eye. So when the application came my way, I knew Cape Town was for me.
I'm not going to lie to you, I was terrified to go 9000 miles from home, with no friends joining me, in fact all my friends were together in Dublin, Ireland with our schools campus program. It was the biggest leap of faith I've ever taken (so far) and it was one of the most rewarding, life changing (cliche I know), extreme & fun experiences of my life.
My future posts with the Abroad Agenda will give you insight on my time in Cape Town, the ups & downs of my experience as well as the general ups & downs of study abroad, the best of the best lists, as well as some general pointers for study abroad (the insider tips & tricks we all wish we had before we boarded the plane) and more!
I'm so excited to get to continue sharing my abroad experience with the world and I hope you get something out of my posts. If you ask any of my friends, neighbors or family members, they can attest to how excited I am about this chance to blog for the Abroad Agenda. And hey, I get to do it with one of my besties, Rachel Hatem (Dublin '15)!
Until next time y'all!
"Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
Love,
Kirbs
At the end of my first year of college I met some friends who had just gotten back from their study abroad journeys and from that moment on I was pumped and ecstatic about my journey happening in 3 semesters. When looking at where to go, I really thought about what would push me. What would inspire me. What would give me the most impactful stories to share and to keep close to my heart. I'm a very type "a" person and realistically minded, so I understood that with my job (business administration focused in event & logistics management) I would have the chance and I had enough desire to travel Europe later in life. But to have the time, money & be in the right life mindset to travel in South Africa later in life, probs not.
I have always wanted to travel to Cape Town, to go on safaris, along with exploring the different cultures, traditions, socioeconomic issues and more. I had a teacher in middle school who had family members from there and when we studied world history, it was south Africa's apartheid history that caught my eye. So when the application came my way, I knew Cape Town was for me.
I'm not going to lie to you, I was terrified to go 9000 miles from home, with no friends joining me, in fact all my friends were together in Dublin, Ireland with our schools campus program. It was the biggest leap of faith I've ever taken (so far) and it was one of the most rewarding, life changing (cliche I know), extreme & fun experiences of my life.
My future posts with the Abroad Agenda will give you insight on my time in Cape Town, the ups & downs of my experience as well as the general ups & downs of study abroad, the best of the best lists, as well as some general pointers for study abroad (the insider tips & tricks we all wish we had before we boarded the plane) and more!
I'm so excited to get to continue sharing my abroad experience with the world and I hope you get something out of my posts. If you ask any of my friends, neighbors or family members, they can attest to how excited I am about this chance to blog for the Abroad Agenda. And hey, I get to do it with one of my besties, Rachel Hatem (Dublin '15)!
Until next time y'all!
"Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
Love,
Kirbs