Grant Gussman '09- Today is Friday, August 29th 2008. Classes have begun in what will be my final semester as an undergraduate student here at Wabash College. In the midst of working 2 jobs, helping out with freshmen orientation, and gearing up for the semester, I realized I had overlooked writing any sort of final entry for this blog, something I knew I had to rectify. Then again, I think right now is the perfect time to reflect on my trip.

As I immerse myself with readings, short essays, syllabi, dropping and adding classes, meeting new professors, and meeting all the new freshmen, it's easy to forget that just one month ago, I was in another country. I was on another CONTINENT, actually. It seems so long ago now, since I've been devoting my time to all things Wabash, but for 2 months this summer, I was living, taking classes, speaking, and even dreaming in another language, amongst people with a very different outlook on life. My only regret is that, since I've been back, everyone's been asking, "How was Spain?" And although I would love to explain all the relationships I had (with people from all over the world) and the culture and what it's like to interact as a foreigner, etc., the people who ask are usually looking for a small-talk conversation. I can't blame them... for me to give any sort of pseudo-accurate description of my trip would take 2 more months of talking. But hopefully this blog can do some justice to explaining what this trip meant to me. I know I’ll be going back in the future to re-read my entries, but that’s easy because I lived through all of this. But I also pray someone else can read what I’ve written here and relate to something that happened to me… traveling to an unknown city alone, staying in a hostel, eating incredibly strange food… anything! Because even though I didn’t enjoy everything I experienced, I’m glad I had this chance.

As this will be my final post, let me say this one final time: Thank you, Rudolph family. I can’t possibly explain in a few hundred words here what your generosity has ultimately given me. Living abroad, even for a short time, has changed me in some small way. It’s made me more introspective and more tolerant of others’ ideas and cultures. It’s given me a fresh perspective on education, and especially on Wabash. And it’s made me much more aware of the rest of the world.

Even though I never had the chance to know your son, Ken, I want you to know that in the wake of the tragedy that led to his passing, you have helped 3 Wabash men so far fulfill a dream and gain a new outlook on life. I can’t say how much I appreciate what you’ve done for me, and I know I’m speaking for Brent and Ryan, too. So in closing, thank you again, and I  pray you’ll continue offering this amazing scholarship so that future generations of Wabash Men might have the same opportunities I have had.

Grant Forrester Gussman