Saying goodbye is always the hardest part, especially when it comes to the people you have become such good friends with throughout the semester. After finishing our last final, everyone celebrated at the Center for Japanese Studies’ farewell party. Although I am coming back to Japan for another semester, there are so many friends who are returning to their home countries and will not be back for spring. For me, I think it is not truly a goodbye, but more of a see you later.

Once I finish up and submit the last of my work tonight, I will be officially done the semester. Finals week came and went, and while it was anything but stress-free, I am suddenly thrust into the Act of Goodbye. I leave on Sunday, and I’ve already said goodbye (and forgotten to say goodbye) to some people with whom I’ve spent the last four months.

Well, I arrived back into the states a few days ago and jet lag has certainly been getting the better of me. I’m convinced that traveling from east to west is worse for sleep patterns because for some reason whenever I travel in an eastbound direction, I can get comfortably into the new time zone’s sleep pattern, but going westbound always takes forever. I suppose a good thing that comes out of it, though, is waking up early, which is meant to be good for you or something. Anyway, I should probably discuss how it has been different being home.

My last week went by really fast! We had five days of class and reflected upon our journey in Costa Rica. In addition, we received advice for the possible culture shock we may experience in the United States. The final week, also meant last-minute souvenir shopping for friends and family. On the last day of class, we presented our final projects that focused on the internships we had just finished.

Trying to summarize a semester abroad in a few short paragraphs is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. There are so many stories to tell, food to describe, places to summarize, and had to have been there moments that I can’t even put in to words. The memories I have made are unforgettable and the people that I have met along my journey are some that I will keep close for the rest of my life.

Tomorrow is my last full day in Milan…What?! Where has the time gone? My days have been spent traveling to different cities and countries while taking in all Europe has to offer. It has been a whirlwind experience, and definitely an invaluable one. I have learned so much about Italian culture, and Milan was a huge part of that. Milan specifically was amazing because it is so easy to travel and it is very modern, however it is also very metropolitan and busy. There was always something new to do in Milan, which kept us really busy!

When you go to study abroad, the lure of being in another country is sure to pull you out of the typical student mindset at times. Personally, with everything that Tokyo has to offer, that ended up happening quite a bit. Between themed restaurants, two Disney parks, all you can eat sushi, and arcades, I was pretty much concerned with anything but studying for a large portion of the time I have spent here. However, studying abroad is exactly that, STUDYING abroad.

I am a mere sixty hours away from landing in the Philadelphia Airport, and, while I of course want to see my family, I just don’t want to leave this place.

These last few weeks have been incredible. Throughout this entire program, I’ve never felt more connected with the people on it than the past two weeks. Mary and I stood on top of the Duomo Facade the other day, on top of Siena really, and looked around at the city that’s become our home for the last four months.