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A14 LOCAL
Thursday 25 april 2019

Student Affairs

By Louedska Maduro
Reflection & Experience

COLUMBIA, S.C. — It is official! This is the last week of classes. I
cannot believe it. As soon as classes end, finals week will start.
Which means that I will be spending endless hours in the library
studying, accompanied by other students and I will be need-
ing plenty of coffee to get through the long week of finals. It
has been an overall great experience being an exchange stu-
dent for the spring semester at the University of South Carolina.

The time has come for me to return back to the beautiful is-
land of Aruba. It is a bittersweet feeling. I remember writing
my first article for Aruba Today, where I elaborated on how my
first week went and the things that I look forward to doing in
Columbia. Now, here I am, writing about going back home in
less than two weeks.
I really enjoyed my time here in Columbia. Over these past few
months, I have learned a lot. Many things that will surely con-
tribute to the development of my professional and personal
life as well. However, I have to admit, that I do miss my home.
Moreover, I would definitely like to see and spend time with
my family and friends again. This exchange semester abroad
experience made me see a lot of things differently and also
made me appreciate the island of Aruba way more. The ex-
perience gave me somewhat of a perspective of how it feels

to be a student at such a large university in some things that I should work on to improve While on the topic of traveling, Last weekend
the United States. I use the word somewhat, myself and made me realize some strengths I decided to go to Savannah with the Interna-
because I believe that four months does not and skills about myself that I did not even tional Student Services. Since this was one of
specifically give you the “all time” experience know I had before. the last few trips that the International Student
that everyone talks about. This is, because Another thing that I am really grateful for, is all Services will be doing, I definitely did not want
right after that you are starting to get accus- the opportunities where I got to travel and vis- to miss out. We decided to walk in the down-
tomed to the place, you have to prepare to it new places during this exchange semester. I town area and then go grab a bite. While we
leave and go back home. However, this can managed to see a lot of new places and try a were walking, we started to notice how cold
actually be seen as a good thing too. A bene- lot of different and new foods. Which is some- and windy it was getting, so we ended up
fit of an exchange semester is, that it does not thing that I really enjoy doing. I am pretty sure going to this really nice café to get some hot
tie youin the case of the United States, to a that I not would have done all these trips if chocolate and tea. I had the most delicious
four-year long stay. It gives an exchange stu- I decided to stay back home in Aruba. Last tea, called Savannah Fog. We also visited the
dent the idea, during their couple of months week, I got the opportunity to see one of my beach, however, I believe that it does not
there, as to how everything works. If a student favorite artists live, which is the band of SOJA. even come in comparison with the beaches
enjoyed the experience, they can always re- I have been listening to SOJA since I was 16 back home.
turn back there to pursue another degree or years old. When I saw their tour dates online, There is still one trip left, which is the Atlanta
even a career. I could not believe that they were coming trip and I am still supposed to go to Myrtle
On a personal note, the exchange semester to Columbia to perform. I immediately pur- Beach this upcoming week. Therefore, I have
abroad experience made me understand chased the tickets and went to the concert to make sure to finish all my school work and
certain things about myself a little bit more. with some friends. SOJA was amazing live and make sure to start packing before going on
The experience helped me be more aware of we had a great time. these trips.q

Louedska Maduro, 25 years old, is currently a third-year student at the University of Aruba in the program of Orga-
nization, Governance and Management. Louedska takes part in an exchange abroad during the spring semes-
ter. She is now attending the University of South Carolina for the upcoming four months and will take this experi-
ence as her inspiration for her column Student Affairs. The column will be in the newspaper every other Thursday.