Wednesday, May 27th, 2015: Today's date. Location: Clearwater, Florida.
Yikes.
As I think everyone knows by now, I have made it back safe and sound to the states. I think I've been putting off writing this last blog of my European life because its unbelievable that this whole experience is actually over. From gearing up to leave, securing a visa, flights, living in France (and Belgium, and London), learning french, driving a manual car, traveling my butt off and above all else gaining the patience and tolerance it took to take care of those little twin boys...all over. And that is so hard to believe.
Flying home I was definitely feeling every emotion in the book; excited to see my family and friends, already missing the friends I made in France and my host family, uncertainty about how going home would feel, nostalgia for all the beautiful places I saw abroad, relief, sadness, anxiousness, joy...and hunger. IcelandAir does not give you a meal, even on international flights. Word to the wise.
The week prior to leaving, my mom came to join me in London, and we enjoyed a great few days in England together, and even a 3 day cruise, stopping in both Bruges, Belgium and Paris, France. I think given the chaos of those 8 days, I didn't have a chance to process that I was actually about to leave Europe until I was actually in fact leaving Europe. The 4 months after Christmas went by much faster than the August-Christmas time period.
It's still nothing short of a miracle that I even got myself and all my things home. It took my mom and I upwards of an hour to rearrange luggage and throw unnecessary items away in the middle of London Heathrow Airport to get all my bags at the proper weight limit. (I am sure bystanders were amused by this.) And I ended up getting extremely lucky with IcelandAir allowing me to check 3 bags for free (two included, and one extra because my flight was full and they were checking extra carry-on items for free that day. This doesn't completely make up for the lack of food, but it certainly helped.)
The morning we were leaving England, we stopped back by my host parents apartment to get all my luggage and say goodbye one last time. I was not totally shocked but still a little surprised at how sad I felt leaving them, and I think they felt the same way; tears were definitely shed on both ends. But we have already been in touch a couple times since I left and I'm sure we will stay that way.
Now that I'm home people keep asking me a lot of the same questions, so let me try to wrap up a few of those...
1. What was your most favorite place you visited/favorite thing about living abroad?
I don't know! Okay, I just don't know. Please stop asking. I loved everything! I went to so many places and saw so many different things, for me it is truly impossible to pick just one. But, if I had to choose, my top highlights would probably be Oktoberfest in Munich, the Christmas Markets in Colmar, France and the overall vibe and energy of London. And I was extremely lucky to live near the cutest town of Annecy, France. But I don't think I went to one place I wouldn't go back to. (Except maybe Geneva, that place offers quite little.)
As far as living abroad, every day was an adventure. Every day I was going somewhere new, trying something new, meeting someone new. Nothing ever got boring and I will miss that lifestyle just as much as the places I went.
2. What did you miss the most from the states and now what do you miss about Europe?
This one is a little easier, and yes, they are both food based. From America I missed Chipotle and Dunkin' Donuts and now I miss the quality of french bread and wine.
3. Would you do it over again?
I wouldn't necessarily do it over again, because one year was enough for me, but there are things I would have done differently. But at the same time, I wouldn't have traded the 9 months for anything. I learned so much about myself, people in general, and another part of the world that I may not have ever learned had I not put myself through this experience.
For example...
- I am organized. I am efficient. I like to have a plan. And not everyone operates the same way I do.
- Navigating public transportation, reading maps, and following signs in a foreign language in a foreign country is not easy, but it is possible.
- There is a big difference between being 3 hours away from home for college and being a plane ride away over the ocean. I am so lucky to have a home and a family that I truly missed.
- It is not easy to live with someone else's family, even if you get along with them.
- No matter how cute, kids are demanding little things that require an overabundance of patience, time, and energy. And I have no need for that in my life for quite a few more years.
- Good friends are not just important, they are necessary, and I couldn't have made it through my year without a few of those.
- But at the same time, you are your own best friend, and learning to enjoy your own company is essential.
There's no good way to sum this whole thing up. I don't have any profound advice, and even if I did I would feel snobby and pretentious sharing it. I've always loved to travel and see new things, and this experience has certainly fueled that fire even more. I have already successfully secured myself a new job however so I can start to save up for my next adventure, wherever and whenever that may be. This world is so big and complex and I will certainly always have a running bucket list of things to see and do. But for now I am content, happy to be home and getting back into a new routine.
Adventure is out there, and I have no doubt that I will find it again.
P.S. - Should I keep this blog going?! I know my life will probably never be as fascinating as it was this past year, but sometimes I do have thoughts I want to share, and I do really love to write. And maybe some of you guys might still like to follow along. It's still up for consideration...I'll have to create a new title I guess. But Chasing the American Sun doesn't have quite the same flair now does it?
