My last night in Italy was hard because there was this air of finality around everything I did, even though I’m coming back. Mary, Erin, and I left for Florence, exhausted and sad, but at the same time happy. We all, regardless of whether or not we were ready to leave Italy, have had some pretty amazing times.

1.02 Uhr

The lights dimmed and the conductor took his place on the podium. As the overture rang out, my goose bumps rose. It was my third time seeing Mozart’s Zauberflöte, but the beginning notes always give me chills.

At this point, I have come home from Tokyo, and I am at last writing a blog post in my room, with my speakers blaring, and my dog at my feet. It’s been quite a journey, and I’m glad to have been able to participate. So, what made Tokyo so special for me?

Preparing to leave your study abroad location is possibly one of the easiest and hardest things you’ll find you have to do during your program. By the time things are said and done, you will most likely to be longing to see your family, hang out with your dog or cat, and just generally settle down from the sensory overload you’ve been experiencing. However, the fact that you will be leaving all the new relationships you’ve forged over your time abroad will be in the back of your mind, so be prepared!

After a long day of travel on Sunday in which I emotionally said goodbye to my host family and flew home with IES friends Emilie and Steve, here I am three days later with my family on the morning of Christmas Eve. It has been really weird being at home again in the sense that nothing has changed, but I have so much. I am still thinking partially in Spanish on a daily basis, and I’ve been waking up in my own bed thinking I was waking up in my homestay in Madrid. My family is super excited to have me home, and I am excited to be home.

Home sweet home. My family is running around the house as usual, making  last-minute Christmas preparations as I sit in front of the TV, sipping hot chocolate and taking in the warmth from the crackling fire in the living room. I look out the window, in a trance from the whistling wind. Snowflakes gracefully sprinkle on the lawn, creating an eerie feeling of a muffled world. I begin to reflect on my time in Morocco when I suddenly hear a cacophony of car honks and vendor solicitations.