This is It

So I am up getting ready to head to home!  What a strange feeling.  Much like before I left, when it never quite hit me that I was really going to Europe, right now it really doesn't feel like I'm going home.  Instead it feels like I am embarking on yet another exciting weekend trip.  I guess all will feel new, so it will be its own adventure.

This semester has been incredible.  It has been full of opportunities to see more of Europe than I thought possible while still taking a full load of courses.  I visited somewhere between 7 and 9 countries, depending on your personal counting system.  I spoke a lot of French, bits of German, and even a few words of Hungarian.

I certainly learned a lot, and most of it had nothing to do with a classroom.  I learned that you can, in fact, still catch a train if 3 minutes before it leaves you haven't even made it to the train station.  I learned that spoken language makes things easier, but it's not a necessity.  I learned that a hostel is a hostel, really no matter where it is.  I learned that you can easily travel to distant lands for 4-5 days with only a half-full backpack.  I learned that contrary to my prior beliefs, a car isn't a necessity, and can be a hindrance.  Most importantly, I learned a lot about my self and about those I had the privilege of traveling with.

So this is it, goodbye everyone!  I will see a lot of you in Morgantown, but nothing will ever be quite like this experience, that's for sure!