And just like that, it’s over.
I’ve never been a fan of goodbyes. I never say them because it always feels so final. Instead, I’ll say things like see you later or see you soon. Because then there’s a chance that I’ll be back and it won’t be a goodbye forever.
Spent the last night saying goodbye wishing people safe travels and saying see you soon, and trying to stay up till the shuttle arrives at 4:20am. Failing almost miserably as I slept right through my alarm and had to sprint around to get ready in the dark and drag my luggage downstairs (sorry if I woke you up @Aubree). What a wake up call. Wasn’t all fully functional to fully comprehend the finality of everything. Hugging Kaya and Sara as they try not to shed tears as they watch their little shotskis fly home. It all felt so quick and unreal. Just as arriving had.
Battled in my mind about the best way to beat jet lag and get on California time asap. Ended up staying up on the whole shuttle ride (also what is it with drivers here??? Our guy was really hauling ass to get to the airport for some reason. He was booking it at 140km/hr in a full shuttle van). Regina, Michaela, and I parted ways with Ayetzy, Nadia, and SaVanna since their flight was earlier than ours. We set up shop at a cafe booth in the airport and had a light breakfast to kill time. Still had too much time on our hands. It was barely 6am and we couldn’t check in till 9am.
Getting through the airport was pretty breezy though. We made our first flight to Dublin with no problems and then quickly wished Michaela luck on her next Europe adventures with her family. Regina and I had to go to Customs, but luckily the workers were very friendly and the line was also speedy. HOORAY for not having to go through customs when we land at LAX!
The long haul (for me) wasn’t bad either. I think it’s because the lady who was sitting next to me moved to a different seat shortly after the plane took off. No one else claimed the seat, so I was able to spread out in my row. I stayed up that entire 10 hour flight. Weirdly enough, I wasn’t tired. Just mildly bored and trying to stay entertained. I listened to a few podcasts, watched Ralph Breaks the Internet, Bohemian Rhapsody, Monsters Inc, and part of Lilo and Stitch. I played Solitaire for god knows how long. I read some of Michelle Obama’s book, “Becoming.” And I ate all the food that the flight attendants offered throughout the trip because I had not eaten a proper meal since we left the Mönchsburg.
At points in the trip, it would hit me that I was actually coming home. I didn’t know what to feel. Sad? In denial? Happy? Confused? That’s for sure. Sad and in denial because I truly believe this has been one of the best few months of my life. Doing what I love to do and having the complete freedom to do so. I mean, when else do you have the chance to take a 4 month vacation from life? It’s unreal. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity and experiences. Happy? Yes :) Who knew that traveling non-stop could be tiring at times. I was happy to get a break and be back home with the people I love dearly. Confused? yeeeet. It’s a lot to process.
I’m not gonna lie, when I opened the shade and looked out the window to see that we were flying over Nevada and California, I’ve never been so sad to see a desert in my whole life. WHERE ARE ALL THE ENDLESS GREEN FIELDS AND THE SNOW FROSTED MOUNTAINS? Why is everything all brown, hazy, and endlessly populated? It was a somewhat sad reality check, but it’s also my home.
I’m home.
It feels good to be surrounded by the familiar and to feel that sense of being home. It feels good to see your love waiting at the bottom of the escalators with a bouquet of roses, a big smile, and a warm hug. It feels good to eat In-N-Out burgers with animal style fries. It feels good to go on long drives home in a car and to talk about conspiracy theories in person instead of over FaceTime. It feels good to watch the hot red sun set and to have the windows down and smell the familiar smells of the city and nature. Everything here is hustling and bustling and sometimes it’s sensory overload. But after a while, you start to acclimate to life back at home and begin to see the beauty of everything around you.
Thank you Nick for trusting me to go on this incredible journey and for sticking by my side even when we’re 6000 miles apart. I love you. Thank you to my family and parents for supporting my goals and dreams, and for helping me to achieve them.
Thank you to my hardworking professors for encouraging us to step outside of our comfort zone and challenge what we know. Thank you for showing us how to approach problems from different angles and for giving us a unique opportunity to look at Salzburg, Austria, and Europe from different lenses.
Thank you to my Salzy Fam for all the marvelous memories, the ups and downs, and the bonds that will never be broken. Thank you to Sara, Kaya, and Katharina for organizing the semester and for keeping it real. You’ve made this experience a genuine treasure for us to hold and cherish forever.
Finally, thank you to whoever followed my adventures abroad and took the time to read through my novel of blog posts, photos, and videos. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!