An Aggie Family Abroad

“From the outside looking in, you can’t understand it. And from the inside looking out, you can’t explain it.”

I’ve been at Texas A&M University for three years and I never truly understood the meaning of this phrase. Although I have many friends here in College Station, they were all bonds that were formed over time.

Study abroad experiences are unique. You are thrown in a new environment with a group of people that you may not know very well or may have just met. With no cell phones or Internet to steal away your attention, you are forced to interact and get to know these new people.

Our newly formed bonds were immediately tested. Early on in our trip, a friendly game of soccer broke out with a few of the local children in Chajul. A full-force kick launched the ball into the air, which landed on a nearby resident’s roof. The impact knocked multiple clay shingles off and they shattered on impact. An upset homeowner quickly came out.

Being a student who couldn’t speak Spanish, I was at a loss for words. That was when my newly formed Aggie Family stepped in. Not just professors, but fellow students were there to help me out in a possibly bad situation. Frowns quickly changed to smiles and anger quickly changed happiness.

The incident quickly became the talk of the village. Interested children rapidly surrounded us, and we spent the rest of the afternoon interacting with them.