It is amazing to me that the past three months went by so quickly. Nothing had ever felt weirder to me than stepping off the plane in Orlando and sleeping in my own bed that night. Since getting home I have been in a constant state of reflection and awe, thinking about everything I experience and everything I learned; about the world, and even more so everything that I learned about myself. I think that traveling on my own was one of the most important and formative experiences of my life and I am still thankful every second of the day that I was able to go to London.
Getting to travel with my best friend is also one of the things about studying abroad that I am most grateful for. Seeing the world is special no matter what, but getting to share those memories with someone who knows you so well and who you will always get to keep them with is so irrevocably important.
I am thankful to be home, though. I think that being away for so long gives you an appreciation for the fundamental pieces of what makes your life your life. I am more thankful for my routine, for the friends and family that I get to see everyday. It’s not until you are not exposed to your norm that you realize how much you’re thankful for your norm. I know at least for me, I was so tired of doing the same things everyday, seeing the same people – but I have realized that the reason I do things over and over and hang out with specific people so much is because those things and those people are what I love about my life, those things, those people, my places, they’re my home.
This was a time in my life that brought forth challenges, heartache, adventure, laughter, and everything in between. It was an opportunity I never thought I would be able to have, and it was more crucial to me becoming who I am than I would have ever thought. I am entirely thankful, and I don’t think there will be a day that goes by that I won’t think about this experience.
