Hello! Now in English because I’m officially done with my study abroad semester and back in the United States. It’s pretty crazy that it’s all over, it went by CRAZY fast. For my blog back home I think I’ll just talk about my overall experience and what it’s been like to be back home. First, I just wanna say my study abroad time was amazing and easily some of the best months of my life. I know, everyone talks about studying abroad and traveling in general and says how it opens up your mind and changes your perspective.

Alexander Graham Bell famously said, “When one door closes, another opens.” Surely we’ve heard this popular quote and cliche. But most do not know that he added, “...but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”

Four months later, I am sitting alone in a hotel in Amsterdam writing about my experiences. The program officially concluded not even a week ago at this point. As overwhelming as the past few days have been, a great period for reflection is upon me. 

Thursday night and I’m back in the local John McBryne pub for our weekly karaoke night soirée. Everyone is jammed in the back corner of the pub sharing seats and squeezing into the booths. It’s crowded and clammy and our ears are plugged up with the sounds of people scream-singing to ABBA’s iconic "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" song. My fingers curl around the demi-pint glass holding my cherry red Monaco drink (I order it everywhere I go because it’s only 4 euros and tastes like Shirley Temple but just with a tiny splash of beer).

I am officially leaving for London in less than three weeks. After months of questioning whether study abroad is actually happening, and years of anticipating this semester, it feels surreal to think about how close I am now. Like everyone else, I’ve spent hours fantasizing about the places I want to explore in London and the people I hope to meet. I’m the kind of person who thrives off of being in a city, so it’s hard to contain the excitement I have about moving to London for the whole semester.

Wow—it feels so weird writing my blog from the States rather than in Spain or elsewhere in Europe. It’s odd and surreal that I’m not waking up and beginning my day in Barcelona. I feel really lucky though because I got to spend an extra week in Barcelona after the program ended. My sister came to visit, and we spent Christmas together. During the extra week, I got to visit Christmas markets, various museums, as well as Zaragoza.

There was Emily in Paris and there’s about to be Brooke in Siena, and I will be the first to tell you that real life requires a lot more paperwork. These past few weeks have been dominated by early preparations for study abroad: applying for a visa, determining housing, and registering for classes.

I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to write for my last blog post. I feel like I’ve learned so much these past few months and met so many great people. I’ve been back in the states for a couple of weeks now and when everyone asks me how my time was abroad it feels wrong to just say “It was amazing!” and maybe elaborate on a few bits because that truly is the biggest understatement.

Doing extracurricular activities outside of school—whether it’s community service, clubs, or sports—has been something I’ve done for as long as I can remember. Not only can extracurriculars introduce you to new people, but they can expose you to new causes, lifestyles, and challenges. Together, these things can result in a rewarding experience that leaves you feeling more well-rounded and proud of yourself. 

It’s been a full three weeks since my program in Ecuador ended and I’m officially back in snowy Minnesota. The Christmas lights are hung up along the streets, the cold air has resumed its favorite hobby of biting my fingertips, and I have rediscovered my closet of warm, winter sweaters.