Last week marked the halfway point of my study abroad experience, and I’m full of mixed emotions. It seems like such a long time ago, and not so long ago at all, that I arrived in Edinburgh, nervous and excited for what the semester had in store for me. In retrospect, I have only been here 12 weeks, which, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t a long time. However, in some ways, I feel like I’ve been here for quite a while. By this point, I’ve fallen into a routine of sorts that somewhat resembles what I would be doing back home. I have my favorite cafes and pubs, streets I love to walk on, and a crew of friends who are always willing to explore with me. I feel settled here.
At the same time, I’ve realized that there are also a lot of things I miss about home in the States. I miss my family, friends and boyfriend, I miss my tiny liberal arts college, and I miss my obnoxious little dog. In general, I miss the familiarity of home.
So, reflecting upon the halfway point of study abroad is bittersweet. I have learned, experienced and seen so much during my time in Edinburgh so far, and truly fallen in love with the city. At the same time, I think I’ll be ready to return home in 10 weeks (at least for a little bit!).
Meanwhile, I plan to make the most out of my final weeks abroad. I’ve compiled a massive list of Edinburgh sights and places that I still haven’t gotten around to seeing. I also have trips to Greece, Italy, and Barcelona coming up – more posts to follow.
Until then – cheers!