Fruit Punch Diary

The beginning…

This is my first year being a student studying abroad and living on my own. And I must say for the past seventy-eight days that I have been here in Curacao it has been quite challenging. There are days that I wish to just give it all up and return back home, but with the coaching I have been giving it’s not easy for me to give up.

My first week there was good, because I spend it with my aunt and my parents getting my things together for school, and also going out. The first week of school also went good, even better then I expecting, for I was making friends just like that.

After a month, I had a class room full of friends, saying short sentences in their language “papiamentu”, taking the big bus “konvoi” to go to town and other places, and also taking the small buses to go back home. So I got accustom to the place very fast. I was not afraid to try new things, or to get lost. And if I did I would just ask around.

Moving forward with my new life…

Right now everything is going fine, what good would it make if I was to complain. I leave that for the ones who seek nothing out of life but the bad. I came here for a purpose and no matter how bad things might get, I won’t stop until I have succeeded. I was thought that every bad has good hidden somewhere inside.

I won’t lie to you and say that I don’t cry and that I don’t miss my family. But I will say that I don’t cry that much, for too long anymore. I miss my family very much, there isn’t a second that goes by that I don’t think on them. But I think happy thoughts, on the good times we spend together, and how much more we will spend when I see them again.

Life goes on, whether we want it to or not. You just have to know how to control your thoughts with everything that happens. You have to know how to remain strong no matter how tough things will get.

A good idea is to have a happy thought; about something that happened to you in the past. That whenever you think on it, it will make you laugh. Just think on nothing but positive, and never show people you’re weakness or that you’re having a bad day from your facial expression. Always smile no matter how much you want to cry.

Tips on making it out there…

It’s my first year and I have made a few mistakes where it is concern, but I am learning in the process. To make it on your own while being a student there are some things you should do and stick to them so you won’t end up like a lot of other students.

These tips are not only for you, but I too am going to use it. I want to enjoy my student life the best way that I can, for those are the best years of your lives. Those who have been through it knows, and that is why I want to make sure that we all get that feeling. But also not forgetting why we are here, to make something out of ourselves. To be someone, and make all those dreams come true that some people are trying to turn into nightmares.
1. When you get your money, first put aside the money you would need for school fee, rent,electricity and grocery.

2. Make a list of what you think you will spend monthly on bills, calculate that amount for the next year and save it.

3. Always save some extra money on the side, you never know what can happen. I call it emergency cash.

4. If you’re living with someone, make sure that you both share the house choirs and split the groceries in half (if you decide to shop together). Learn to live together and not like you’re still living with your parents.

5. Always pay attention in class, and start studying in advance. Getting good grades (especially in the beginning) will pay off at the end.

6. Save all your receipt in a safe place. Everything that you buy, ask for a receipt. Even for rent and electricity you need to get a receipt. So you have 100% proof, and no one can say otherwise.

7. Don’t rush into shopping, the clothes will always be there. If you can afford it then you should now and again, but don’t make it a hobby.

8. Shop wisely, buy things that you can make a meal out of and not a bunch of junk food. And then later down you would have to be eating fast food every minute. Learn to balance your money. It’s okay to give yourself a treat once in awhile.

9. Be careful with the people you associate with. Don’t go out there letting people know how much money you have, or even that you have money. That will only attract all the wrong people, and you don’t want that.

10. If you think that you could use a little bit more money, to just have as spending change. Then I suggest you get a job, only if you can manage. But if you notice that it’s starting to inter fair in your school work, then I would say to drop it until you get a hang of things.

11. Getting a boyfriend/girlfriend isn’t advisable to me. I rather you settle in first, and focus on your studies and think about those kind of things in your second year or even third. Those kind of distractions aren’t needed right now. School comes first at all times!!!

That’s about all I can tell you right now. I hope I’ve helped in some way or fashion. And if you have some tips for me as well in how to make it as a student, then don’t be afraid to share them with me.

I wish you all the best of luck out there. It’s the best time of your life, so enjoy every second of it. Even the times when you will be bushing your brains out on studying. It will be all worth it in the end. I give you my word on that.