To the best four months of my entire life,

Where do I even begin? Before you, I’d barely left the United States. I never ever imagined living in a different country, and didn’t think that I could. But you proved me wrong.

Thank you for showing me parts of the world I had only dreamed of. Thank you for the memories of paddle boating down the river in Prague and hiking up Arthur’s Seat in Scotland. Thank you for showing me that it’s entirely possible to lose your breath at the beauty of the world. Thank you for the surprise of the Eiffel Tower shimmering at 11 p.m. sharp on a Thursday night. Thank you for the mesmerizing view of waves crashing onto the Cliffs of Moher. Thank you for the beautiful Amsterdam sunset over the canals. Each of these moments are special to me in their own way, because I lost myself in the excitement of them. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t overthinking every aspect of my life; I was simply enjoying the beautiful moment in front of me. And that is SO special to me, so thank you.

Thank you for teaching me that I can be independent and successful. I honestly didn’t think that I could survive on my own in a different country for four months. Yet here I am, albeit a few pounds heavier (thanks beer). To know that I can thrive on my own in a foreign environment is invaluable, and will stay with me. Thank you for forcing me to adjust to a new way of life. Switching from Manhattan subways to London tubes wasn’t easy. Nor was navigating a giant city or making my way to an airport every weekend. It took work, but by the end, we could all do it in our sleep, and that’s pretty amazing.

Thank you for the incredible new friends I made abroad. I probably wouldn’t have met them back on campus, but I am SO glad that I did. They are some of the most genuine, hilarious, and compassionate people I’ve ever met, and I’m sorry that our paths didn’t cross sooner. While I didn’t know them six months ago, I don’t know how I could ever live without them now.

Most of all, thank you for all that I learned. My classes taught me so many wonderful things about the city I lived in. Simply living there allowed me to explore it and find some of its hidden treasures. In my travels, I learned about countless other amazing countries and expanded my mind to different cultures and ways of life. Thank you for the museums, galleries, and parks. I don’t think I’ll ever forget them. Most of all, thank you for teaching me about myself. I can be strong, independent, and carefree. I’m lucky to have seen all that I did, and without you, I never would have. So thank you study abroad, I am forever indebted to you.

Yours Truly,

A very grateful college student