April 23, 2006

Things have come to a conclusion here and there are many things I have learned from it. I wouldn’t quite label it as the greatest thing I’ve ever done, but I would certainly name it one of the most educational. My classes were fun and interesting, but I learned far more outside of the classroom, and I believe that is largely the aim of the study abroad programs.

The biggest thing I’ve learned is to not take things as a given. Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is my family. I miss them greatly and, honestly, I didn’t expect to be this homesick in the seemingly brief three months I’ve been here. It’s not like I can just hop in a car and get home in an hour and a half. The familiar support network is not here, so it has been important to learn how to deal with stress in other ways and seek out new people for comfort. Of course, I miss my friends at home as well, but, as I have mentioned before, I’ve made friends here that will stand the test of time.