Love You Long Time NZ

So it's been a month since my beautiful days in the beautiful country of New Zealand. I find myself calling and texting my program friends that I made, and catching up on the little ins and outs of their everyday lives back in the States. Things are different and changing as per usual, but I'm having fun going with the flow of it all. While away, my parents had decided to move to the sunny state of Florida where I've spent my days basking in the sun, laying in the hot salty sand. I was definitely not expecting this kind of "winter" break for when I got home. 

I knew life was going to be different when I got home, but really what I wasn't expecting was how much would stay the same. Even after coming home to a completely different house, I was happy to see the same mom and dad from when I left. They are so full of love and happiness to spend some time with me. Going abroad really taught me what it's like to have a little family outside of my immediate. Sure I learned some of these lessons while at school in Ohio, but the abroad students have something different and special from the average joe. The people I met and became close with in New Zealand will always have a special place in my heart. 

Getting ready to go back to school in Ohio is really scary. I went through the whole adjustment process to the University of Canterbury and now I've got to readjust to the rigorous schedule Miami University has to offer. Anxiety is setting in as I look at the credits piling up in order to catch up after going abroad. Don't get me wrong, having a lighter schedule while abroad is definitely the way to go, however coming home to a tight schedule is a bit overwhelming. 

Spending time with friends I haven't seen in a while has warmed my heart, and even though I loved New Zealand, America is definitely home. There may be new exciting ideas and ways of life I wish the States could adopt from New Zealand, but I'm truly proud to come from where I live. Even if that may be a flat corn field in the middle of nowhere Ohio. Thankfully, I'll never have to choose because I'm already planning my next trip back to little old Christchurch!!