Dear Mom,

I've only got a month left in London which is crazy to think about. I still can't believe that I'm studying and living in one of the most incredible cities in a world; I didn't fully understand how amazing and rare opportunity it is to spend a semester abroad until now. I want you to know how grateful I am to you and dad for letting me do this. I know it was very impulsive and rash but, I'm so thankful that you didn't say no.

For the past two months, I've struggled with living on my own and finding ways to cope with how much I miss home. I realize now that complaining to you over the phone wasn't going to help though, instead, I had to appreciate them for making me feel close to home. I know that you are only a phone or FaceTime call away and I love catching you when our new kitties (hi Jimmy and Maverick!) are sitting on your lap or bothering Woody; it makes me feel less homesick and more like I have nothing to be sad about. You've encouraged me to visit the countries I want to visit and you have not once told me there was something I couldn't do. I love you so much for always telling me the sky's the limit. I have never felt more alive than I did when I went to Paris. Those seven years you made me stay in French class finally paid off! There's just something about that Parisian air that made me feel so free and at peace. You definitely know what I'm talking about because I know you feel the same way when you have the cats on your lap, reading a book, or just coming back from one of your exercise classes. I fell in love with Paris, like how I fell in love with New York the first time you let me take the train by myself. Paris is the type of city that I hope we get to see together one day. I'm finding it difficult to find the words to describe just how happy I was those five days I spent there.

Living in London has shown me what it's really like to live on my own. It's scary, it's expensive, and I have to buy my own toilet paper. I've also developed a taste for bubble tea and now- at least once a week, sometimes twice- I make the trek to Chinatown to try all these crazy flavors. Things like that, I've been trying to do to keep myself busy. I'm finally not feeling as lonely as I did at the beginning. Knowing that you're visiting in a mere number of days makes me so incredibly happy and I cannot wait to show you the city that has grown on me more than I ever thought. I love this city a whole lot and living here has given me the space and ability to become even more independent than I already was. Thank you for always being there for me, through all of my complaining and crying and screaming. You'll always be my person.

Much love,

Your daughter