Por lo que, a America del Sur vamos ... casi

Translation: "So, to South America we go...almost"

There's your Spanish lesson for the day. It is inconsequential that I used google translate for that.

The time is almost upon us all. Mallory is going on another adventure, this time soló me. Just kidding there will be others, fifteen to twenty to be vague and unsure. I'm headed off to another study abroad trip, this time in the summer, and this time with academic goals, not just with wanderlust. I am headed to Montevideo, Uruguay for seven to eight weeks with the Global Healthcare program with some of ACU's finest speech path, biology, and biochem majors. Those are literally the only three going. Plus one of my brilliant and amazing speech path professors Dr. Austin and the Mr. And Mrs. Dr. Powell. That's right. Three PhDs. Two of them are a married couple.

Translation: lots of really smart people. 

Little intimidated, but I enjoy a challenge. Bring it on. No, but really, they all seem really cool from the dinner/meeting we all attended about a week ago. I'm looking forward to meeting new people, making new friendships, seeing new things, taking tango lessons, practicing my mediocre Spanish, EATING new things, and seeing a new set of stars! I've only been below the equator one other time, but it is so cool to see what the other side of the world sees. Also, since it's summer in the states it will be winter there. So that'll be weird but awesome.

What I'm really excited about though is what we will be doing in Uruguay. Yes, it is technically summer school, but I feel like that doesn't really count because of the whole I'm-in-another-country thing. BUT we get to visit clinics, visit the NICU, visit other areas of hospitals, wear scrubs (whuuuuut), volunteer at various places like a school for kids with special needs and I think an older ladies and gentlemen center. Basically, a little taste of everything I can and want to do after grad school. So it might be school to you, but for me it's getting to have hands-on practical learning about my passion and meeting new people! That's fun folks, not school.

We fly out Tuesday afternoon. What I ask from all you, my I'm-sure-avid-readers, is to please pray for me and the rest of us going on this trip. Pray for safety, peace, friendships to be built and strengthened, and for The Lord to use us in each and every way possible to touch lives we encounter every day. Let Him be glorified in every thing, in every way. 

Here's to the summer.

Hasta luego,
Mallory