Last summer, I had the opportunity to study abroad in England for six weeks.
This was something that I had been dreaming of doing for over 10 years, and from June-July 2017 I was finally doing it. I have loved the country of England since I was five years old, and there was no other place that I have ever imagined living in.
So when I was given the opportunity to attend an archaeological field school in Lincoln, I jumped at the chance. Thankfully, my parents were as excited for me as I was and supported me every step of the way.
I'll be honest with you, I was genuinely worried that I had this magical view of what England was and would be like; and that once I was there, I would be severely disappointed.
I was extremely wrong.
From the moment I touched down at Heathrow and first saw the UK BORDER sign at the passport desk, I knew that I had nothing to worry about.
My mom and I spent a week in London, exploring all of the places that I had only ever dreamed of seeing. I've never felt as at home as I did in London, and I honestly don't think I will ever find a place better suited to me than London.
After a week in London, my mom and I headed for my final destination for the next six weeks, Lincoln.
Lincoln is a town located about 160 miles north of London and is the cutest town I've ever seen.
The people are lovely, the restaurants are incredible, and the history is as rich as the cheesecake from Patisserie Valerie. Not only was Lincoln the most incredible city, but the people I met while attending the field school were the most important part of the trip.
My first week living in the dorm, I became extremely close with my dorm mates. The four of us then quickly became friends with six other individuals who never ceased to make me laugh.
Together we explored the sites of Lincoln, ate at way too many restaurants, danced on at least three tables, spilt a lot of pints, and made memories to last a lifetime.
Before I arrived in England, I was a little worried that I would be severely homesick and hate it.
However, just the opposite happened.
During my last two weeks abroad, I began to dread returning home. I love my family and friends and I missed them terribly, but for some reason, I just didn't want to go home.
The six weeks that I was in England, I was happier than I had ever been in my entire life. I felt light, free and just genuinely happy.
My anxiety didn't play up one single time, and I didn't have a single worry. I was in my dream country, doing something I'd always dreamed of doing, with people that truly understood me and became as close to me in six weeks as people who I had known for years.
When my plane home took off, I sat in my seat, looked out over my favorite country and cried.
I didn't want to leave England, I didn't want to leave Lincoln, I didn't want to leave the people I'd met and loved, and most importantly, I didn't want to leave my happiness.
It took me almost 20 years to find true happiness, and I found it 4,000 miles from home.
Happiness isn't always going to find you, sometimes happiness has to be found. You have to go out, and find your own happily ever after. If that means you have to travel the world to find it, if you have the means, do it!
Stop making excuses for happiness not finding you, and go find it for yourself. Trust me, you'll be happier than you've ever imagined.
Traveling/studying abroad was the most beneficial thing I've ever done, not only personally, but also mentally and spiritually.
I found out things about myself that I never even knew, and achieved something I've always wanted; true happiness.
