by Axelle
I can’t believe I’m already halfway through the Civic Semester. My interview still feels like yesterday, me nervously smiling through the screen, trying to imagine what this journey would be like. Yet here I am, reflecting on all that I’ve accomplished so far.
Two weeks ago, before we moved from the city to the village, I was honestly nervous. I didn’t know how to ride a bicycle, and I had already heard from our instructors that in the village, biking would be our main way to go anywhere. In my head, I had already decided that I’d just stay home whenever my peers went anywhere.
Then came the second day in the village. Our instructors lined up all the bikes, one for each of us. When they handed me mine, I couldn’t help but laugh and wonder what they were thinking since I had made it very clear in the pre-program survey that I couldn’t ride. But they stayed behind with me, patient and encouraging, and taught me little by little.
By the end of the day, I could actually ride. I mean, sure I hit two trees in my friend’s yard (sorry, trees), but I was riding! And now, guess who bikes uphill to the reservoir every morning? That’s right—me.
Learning to ride a bike might sound simple, but for me, it meant stepping out of my comfort zone and proving to myself that it’s never too late to learn something new. I learned that when I say “I can’t,” what I really mean is “I can’t YET.” My instructors’ belief in me helped me see that difference.
That’s the same mindset I bring to my Thai class every Monday and Wednesday.
As I look ahead to the second half of the semester, I want to keep saying yes to new challenges. I want to connect even more deeply with my host family, get better at speaking Thai, and keep showing up for every opportunity that scares me just a little bit because that’s where all the magic happens.