Before I came to Japan, my Japanese language skill had atrophied significantly. Despite studying the language for years, I had not taken a Japanese course for at least a year. I told my friends about one of my greater fears: that when I arrived, I would struggle to communicate well. Invariably they would reply by saying, “Don’t worry, your Japanese will definitely improve a lot because you will be living there!”

Six years ago, I persistently asked my family to let me study abroad as an exchange student in a Japanese high school—even though I knew the answer would always be no. My family upheld tight-knit values: don’t move out until after at least undergrad, don’t leave the house without saying exactly where and how long I’ll be gone, and text or call every time I come to and am just about to leave campus. I understood these measures, and I also understood it was just out of love for me.

I have officially been home in the United States for a month after four beautiful months living, studying, and growing in Dublin, Ireland. Sitting in my bed, binging new episodes of Kimmy Schmidt and eating handfuls of Pringles, it can sometimes feel like that entire span of time was just something I made up in my head. It’s crazy to think that a little over a month ago I was laying on the beach in Nice, watching people stroll by on the Promenade des Anglais.

Well hello there, it's nice of you to stop in. Prop your feet up, stay a while. I have a feeling we're gonna be great friends. 

In the spirit of new friendship and the beginning of a great adventure, I think maybe I should introduce myself properly. 

It's absolutely insane that after years of dreaming about this trip and months of planning, the time has finally come to pack up and get on a (very long) plane ride to Sydney, Australia!  The Pre-departure jitters are definitely a real thing, and my first of three flights tomorrow morning can't come soon enough.  For some reason that I can't even explain, I've always been fascinated with everything about Australia, I even have a canvas painting of the harbour and iconic Sydney bridge above my bed.

I had set my alarm for 7:45am, having been informed that the painters would arrive at eight and I’d need to be out of bed. The renovation of my old bedroom marches along with no regard for which country I am in and during these few, fleeting days at home I’m forced to accommodate it. In January I left the bedroom I had slept in for almost ten years. Last week, I returned to find it transformed, supplemented by a half-finished extension on top of our sun porch and a walk-in closet that had replaced our guest room.

Hello from Santiago!

I am just starting my third week in Chile and I can’t believe it’s already been this long. Honestly, time does really fly by when you are studying abroad. Sometimes the days may individually feel really long, but overall, things zoom by.

If you have the chance to live with a host family while abroad, go for it. It may be nerve-wracking to commit to living with a family in another country, especially if you have the more comfortable option of living with your peers who are having similar experiences, but living with a host family is well worth it.