I recently returned to my hometown from my European adventure. Being home and around all of my friends and family who knew me prior to my many life changes which came with going to Rollins is a peculiar thing. Coming back into an environment where most people still see me for who I was in the past is a tough transition. Throughout the Fall semester I experienced so many new places, cultures and met so many amazing and inspiring people it is truly shocking how much I have changed over the course of one semester. Coming home from this new and broadened way of living, I am so excited to share my stories and memories with those from my past. However, it is not the same to share tales of visiting Italy or Amsterdam with people who do not have these opportunities, which for them my tales may seem pretentious. Before going to Rollins I had always hoped to study abroad, this however was a far fetched dream. For many people in my rural hometown, these thoughts of travel continue to be something only done in day dreams. With this it is difficult to merge my two worlds, as I want to share my new life with those from my past but I also am stuck trying to keep the communication alive with those who I left in Europe. Studying abroad and traveling has been an experience which has helped me to grow exponentially as a person, in experience, knowledge and confidence. However, along with the change in culture and a the creation of a new part of life, comes leaving a part of myself in Ireland with my new family. I am 21 years old and I currently have three homes: Bellevue, Ohio, Maynooth, Ireland and Rollins College. Trying to balance three families and three completely different cultures is a job in it’s own right. But the amazing people that are a part of my life at each of my homes makes all of the effort of keeping communication alive worth it. I can honestly say that my study abroad experience has shown me new dimensions of myself and who I can and want to be.