Well, I've hit the one-month mark in my study abroad adventures. It's strange to think that I'll be returning to the world I left in just 4 short weeks. So much has happened, and so many things have caused me to change. I know the world to which I return is going to be a familiar, yet different, one. Still, I can't wait to return.
First, I'll start with the rest of my break. Mainland Europe is amazing! As soon as I arrived in Marseilles, I was taken aback by the beautiful, coastal city. This goes for all the places I've visited in April, as all included ports (I went on a cruise, for those who aren't in the know.) Absolutely gorgeous!
The cruise itself was a lot of fun! Since I was paying my own bar bill, I had to go easy on the partying, but I didn't mind. I had more time to enjoy the sights! The cruise ship was gorgeous! The passengers and staff were also very colorful; there were 5 languages spoken on the ship at all times. Even though 4/5 of the ship didn't speak English, I still had a lot of fun. It was a pretty humbling experience to have to communicate mostly via sign language and broken Spanish. I guess this is how the old traders did it? Europe is such an interesting place; all of these vastly different cultures and languages are right next door to each other. I try to imagine America in a similar situation, and it just seems silly. I mean, people in Texas and Mississippi talk funny, but at least it's still English (I think.) Anyway, the language barrier experience has inspired me to relearn Spanish and maybe even pick up some French. I still plan on carrying on with my Japanese, though!
Needless to say, the cruise was a blast. The news I received after my travels, however, dampened my high spirits. I'm not getting into all of that again; it's still too fresh for me. Still, if anything, it's taught me that sometimes I can't control the events in my life. This is not a reflection of myself; how I handle the situation defines my spirit. I was pretty close to coming home early, but I'm staying until the end. I want to finish this experience for myself; I want to feel that sense of accomplishment as I step onto American soil after almost 5 months of being away.
So, that brings me to the one month. I have one month left in England. I am on a VERY tight budget, and I can no longer travel to other parts of this side of the world. It's all right though; I regret nothing. I will be back to Europe in the near future, and I think I've taken all that I can from this trip. Now, I must focus on exams and do well in my classes.
Then I can return home.
