100 Days Away From Home

Bare with me here! 

One hundred days ago today I woke up with the biggest butterflies in my stomach in my entire life! I was up at 6:30 to see my little sister off to her first day of high school, and trying my hardest to brace myself for a year without constantly seeing her in the halls making faces at one another, stopping to have a whole conversation in a few short words like only sisters can, and most importantly to us both, a year without performing by her side in the school play. 

Today marks 101 days since I last saw my best friends. Having dinner together. Digging through my closet to stake their claim on whats theirs for the ten months I would be gone, and sharing last minute gifts, words of advice, and just plain gossip before we wouldn't be able to do it all for a year.

Today marks 100 days since I last saw my parents. Now you can't imagine how hard this goodbye was unless your have lived through it yourself. Sorry college goers, this goodbye is by far ten times harder to get through and comprehend. And yet my perfect parents were able to keep it together for me, because before arriving to the hotel I made them promise no tears. It's funny, because when I pictured the moment ahead of time I imagined that I would have some sort of feeling, like I was finally ready to face the world on my own and it wouldn't really phase me that they were leaving me for ten months because I would be so wrapped up in excitement that I wouldn't even feel a thing. But I was wrong. Watching the two of them walk out of those sliding doors without me was the hardest thing I have ever done. All I wanted to do was run up to them like, "Hey aren't you forgetting something? ME!" But I was off, on my own, for 10 long months without them. And trying to understand this was quite literally impossible.

However, by the gift of God almost the second I walked into the hotel that day, after signing in and what not, two wonderful people Caroline and Victoria came up to me and asked "Hey are you Emily? We're roommates!" And just like that I knew I was in the right place and that this was the right thing for me! 

Since that unforgettable day I have grown, matured, achieved and changed so much! 

I have learned to come out of my shell! Don't sweat the small stuff! Let things go! Thing happen for a reason, if one door closes a million more are about to open! Quit judging people! Give everything a chance! Not being busy 24 / 7 is not the end of the world! Put yourself out there! You only regret the things you didn't do! And most importantly time goes on, so don't wish you life away!

When I first came here, 100 days seemed like FOREVER, but looking back on it now I feel like I just got here a week ago! I have seen and done so much in my time here so far and I am so lucky to have the time I have left! 

Now that I have gotten that off my chest on to the fun stuff!

I am sooooo looking forward to this weekend! I have my first AFS orientation since OCTOBER (it reallllllly does not seem like that long ago!) and I am pumped! We are having a multicultural dinner where each student is to bring a food from his or her native country. I am making chicken cutlets, which is the most American food I could come up with cause if ya really think about it, do we Americans have a particular food that is simply all american? So not only am I looking forward to the food, but also to seeing the other AFSers. Its true what they say, exchange students are the coolest kids you will ever meet! The time spent with them just goes by so quickly. Plus at these orientations I get to see Victoria, yes the same girl that came up to me that very first day at the hotel. We have roomed together, traveled together and grown together and I simply would not have it any other way!

Tomorrow night after this little event I have even more plans! Which I will tell you about afterwards because I don't know if its suppose to be a surprise or not. And then a family day Sunday doing something that I simply can not remember, but will tell you all about when I have time!

So, on this 100th day anniversary of my leaving the USA I would like to assure you all that I am truly having a fantastic time, the language is coming along, and I miss you all. Thank you so much for keeping in contact with me and sending me letters! It truly makes my day! Love you all and see you in less than 200 days (CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?!?!?)  

100 Days of Memories

100 Days of Memories