A Beautiful Year

I don't even know where I should begin. This year (or I guess technically 8.75 months but you know what I mean) has been the most amazing, challenging, exciting, frustrating, and beautiful year of my life. When I arrived in Toulouse in September I remember thinking that 9 months was a long time and I didn't know if I would be able to do it. Homesickness was a constant those first few days/weeks but eventually it faded away and I came to embrace my european life. With a blink of an eye it's now May and I'm sitting in Heathrow about to fly home to New York. Life is weird.

In 9 months, I took 24 flights, explored 12 countries, visited tons of cities and regions, and learned more about myself and the world around me than I ever thought that I could.. and there's still so much more to see! If there's one thing that I've taken away from this year more than anything, it's the fact that the world is a big, huge, gigantic place and we tend to stay where are and not explore as much as we should. You never know what you'll take away from visiting a new place or living in a different area for some time. For me personally, I feel as though I know myself much better after this year and I know what I'm capable of and I have a better idea of what I want out of my life. It's cheesy to say it but being abroad really is a life changing experience, at least for me it was.

Thanks to everyone who has followed my journey over this past year, whether it was here on my blog, on Facebook, on Instagram, by email, or by snail mail, your support and encouragement meant the world to me and I can't wait to see you all so soon. 

France and Toulouse specifically will always hold special places in my heart. It wasn't always easy, but I'm so glad that I spent my junior year here. I can't wait to come back and see my incredible host family in the future. 

I have such a different perspective on the United States and what it means to be an American after spending 9 months away from home and I'm really excited to get back and experience it all with new eyes. 

Bittersweet is how this all feels right about now. I'm more than ready to be home and at the same time I am so sad to leave.

See you soon, America!