Everyone told me before going abroad that my time would fly by and the semester would be over before I knew it, and they were right. Even though I made the most of my time and experienced everything I could have hoped for, I was in disbelief that the semester was over when it was time to fly home. One of the hardest parts about leaving was saying goodbye to my host family and life in Trujillo, Spain. Three and a half months anywhere is enough time to establish a routine and become accustomed to a new way of life, making it especially difficult to leave. After spending so much time in Trujillo, I did not even realize how settled in and at home I felt, or how close I had become with my host mom. Also, I made good friends with the group of study-abroad students, so I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to them after sharing unforgettable experiences abroad together. Although it’s hard to leave, I’m incredibly grateful even to have had the opportunity to experience it all.

Another aspect that has been challenging in the transition back to normal life is returning to my usual routine in the U.S. After spending nearly every weekend traveling to a new city or country, or experiencing new things in Trujillo, it felt a bit boring to come back to a less exciting and overall more stable way of living. I found it exciting to always see and try something new, and therefore becoming reacclimated to regular life can be a hard pill to swallow. On the other hand, having the chance to rest after being out and about for so long has been comforting, especially in the company of my family, friends, and pets. Also, the conveniences and comforts of the American lifestyle have been nice to return to, and being back in my own house is the best. The minor differences in lifestyles, such as having to tip again in restaurants or getting complimentary water with ice, have been interesting to compare and realize.

Overall, maximizing my time abroad still did not prepare me to leave my host family, town, or group of new friends, but there are so many comforts at home that helped soften the sadness of leaving. One thing that has helped me keep my mixed feelings of returning in perspective is the realization that I am lucky to have had this life-changing opportunity and that I am happy to have enjoyed it so much that it was hard to leave, rather than counting the days waiting to return.