"If you wish to travel fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, selfishness and fears".

It's two days before I leave and I almost have everything packed. I was afraid that I would need an extra bag but I somehow managed to pack most of my stuff and still have room for more. Three months ago I was unpacking all my things trying to make my dorm room feel more cozy, it's bittersweet to now see the emptiness of the room... just when I first arrived. 

People keep asking me if I'm excited to go home, and I honestly don't have the words to describe how happy I am to be going home :) 5 essays turned in, two finals and one presentation and I feel like I am SO ready to leave. Not that I don't enjoy Swansea, I'm just ready to see all my loved ones! (and not share the bathroom with 8 other people)

This experience has been amazing. I am so proud of myself for taking this adventure, for living in a different country where no one knows who I am, completely away from my comfort zone. I have met some amazing people, I went to some incredible places and I feel so grateful and fortunate to have been able to travel and live here. I feel a new sense of American pride and although people complain about the states, we are so lucky and as much as I adore traveling and seeing the world I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I'm excited to hear American accents (I never thought I'd say that) to not have to pay for grocery bags and to not have to pay 20 pence for ketchup! It seems like insignificant things, but the point is... I'm just excited to go home. Traveling opens your eyes and mind, you get to know different cultures and it makes you feel so small. The world is huge! We should try and see as much as we can.

Random facts:
-Food in England and Wales is horrible if your lucky to find a good place to eat it'll be so expensive that you won't want to eat there. I found an amazing sushi place, but they charged 5 dollars for 4 tiny pieces of sushi! No thanks.
-Service here is horrid, they don't tip here so the waiters and waitresses are not motivated to serve you pleasantly or in a timely matter at all.
-Brown bread=Wheat bread
-Red cups that we see in our stores are almost iconic here, English people are always asking me if we really drink out of them like the American Movies
-People here think America is amazing and it is, I would love to travel more of the States.
-Staying in a Hostel is horrible. Unless you go with a big group of people you know, they randomly assign you a medium sized room with about 5 bunk beds and one bathroom that everyone wants to use. And they charge you for towels and theres no safe place to put your luggage. I'm happy I experienced it but I really hope I never have to stay in one again. I LOVE HOTELS!

Anyways, I thank you for following me on my adventure. On this chapter of my life that I will always remember. I'm excited to travel and see more of the world in the future, and I'm so happy that I was able to study abroad... I've always wanted to and I worked really hard for it. It was so worth it. I did it! I hope you have a happy holiday season and that I get to see and talk to you in person to share my experiences and travels!