There were many moments where I wanted nothing more than being where I am right now: sitting on a plane headed back to Dr. Pepper, Chick-fil-A, and Target (just to name a few). Now here I am doing exactly that wishing I could have just one more day in Portugal.
Don’t get me wrong, there were many moments that I was frustrated with the academics, longed for the familiar and was tired of waiting way too long for a check at a tourist trap restaurant. But it’s funny how as the time came to an end the sadness set in. I found myself romanticizing even the lowest moments of my experience and longing to hold onto the routine I had settled into.
The satisfaction of becoming familiar with a new place, laughing with new friends, finding hole in the wall restaurants, and heck, even riding the metro to class everyday became some of the best moments.
Experiencing a study abroad trip was truly a once and a lifetime opportunity to step outside of everything I knew and embrace the new (both exciting and challenging). As I’m about to graduate this year, this was probably the only study abroad experience I will ever have and I am so thankful for it. It taught me a lot of what I have to be grateful for, showed me parts of myself I can grow in and brought to light strengths I didn’t know I had.
On that note, happy start to the fall semester and Roll Tide!