It feels like I blinked and a year has gone by.
This morning, Facebook kindly reminded me that it has officially been 365 days since I boarded a plane departing to what would be the best four months of my life in Denmark. A lot has happened since then. Broken bones, broken hearts, new homes, new jobs. But even though it's been an eventful year, it is almost impossible to believe that so much time has passed.
So, in light of my one-year-study-abroad-aversary, here are 23 things all people who studied abroad can relate to.
1. You get homesick for the country where you studied abroad.
How could you not when you lived some place this beautiful?
2. You're probably a little sick of going to museums.
3. Every other sentence begins, "When I was abroad..."
4. You spend hours stalking your own and your friends' abroad Facebook albums.
5. You forget that everyone speaks English so you find yourself translating everything you're going to say in your head.
6. You miss shawarma on every corner.
Hands down the best drunchies.
7. It still amazes you how many groceries you can buy when you don't have to bike them home.
8. Your study abroad sweater is like a safety blanket.
9. You are an expert packer.
10. It seems ridiculous to drive somewhere 10 minutes away since you literally walked everywhere.
11. You miss your friends from abroad every single day.
Getting stranded in Cologne, Germany while hungover and wearing dirndls will really bring people together.
12. Your bank account really took a hit.
Because this was literally all of us. It's easy to spend all of your money when you are traveling every weekend.
13. You probably starved because you were saving all your money for plane tickets and hostels.
14. Or you gained like 30 pounds because there were so many good restaurants to try.
A diet of fries, beer, and bread doesn't do you any favors.
15. Airbnb saved your life.
16. European beer really is better.
17. You're an expert at public transportation, even if you can't read any of the foreign signs.
18. Reuniting with friends from your home school was one of the best parts about studying abroad.
19. You own, or want to own, a pair of these.
20. Sure, there were times you were lonely, but most likely you learned that being alone is just fine.
21. You are amazed that it costs at least $300 to fly anywhere in the United States.
Nothing beats the yellow plastic seats of a Ryanair flight.
22. You are getting the itch to travel again.
23. So every day you ask, "Can I go back now?"
And if you're anything like me, hopefully this time you'll stay for keeps.
