I'm back at Rice and beginning my final semester of undergraduate studies, so this will probably be my last post in this blog. Maybe if I feel inspired I'll start another one at some point in this semester. This however will remain as a personal reminder of my semester in Samoa.
Being back has been so much easier than I thought. I do miss some things and many of the people from Samoa, but it is good to be home. I miss the friends I made and the extreme welcomness and friendliness of Samoans as a whole. I miss snorkeling in Palolo Deep. I miss the laid back pace of life.
Over Christmas break, and now being back at school I have had the opportunity to think about what my trip meant to me and how it has changed me. Maybe some of you disagree, but here are my thoughts. Studying and living abroad is like stepping through a door into a whole new world that you never knew existed. Coming back, you cannot just close the door and forget about it. It has become a part of who you are, and I know that it will forever shape who I am in the future. I have become more self-confident and willing to take risks. Not knowing anyone else really forces you to think about who you are and how you define yourself. I have no idea what the future holds for me, but I am no longer afraid of it.
Being in a developing country made me realize how much I take for granted and how much wastefulness goes on around me. It's not so much about becoming a green-fanatic as it is about realizing that we are stewards of God's creation and must treat it with proper care.
Finally, I have come to realize more than ever that God has a reason for everything. I had my own plans when I went abroad, but what happened while I was abroad is exactly what I needed at this point in my life.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this blog. If you haven't already I hope that one day you are able to experience living in a foreign country, even if it's only for a short time.
God bless.
