California

Well it's been about 4 1/2 months since I've been back in California and it's all just been a complete whilrwind. Hannes came to visit for about 3 1/2 weeks and we too a 10 day roadtrip. Allie left for France, Chelsea moved in and I moved to Thousand Oaks. 

My new university, Cal Lutheran is so different from Sonoma State and I think it was really the best decision I could've made. I'm continuing my German there and have changed it to my major. I'll be graduating in May if all goes smoothly. 

I can't even believe that, graduating. What a bittersweet thought that I'm done, these past four years have flown by even though on a day to day scale I felt like I was crawling through molasses. Now I have to figure out what my next step is, and be a grown up! Not sure if I'm ready for that, but I'm sure it'll fall into place, eventually, somehow. 

I had a pretty heavy semester, when most people had a lull in their workload mine just kept going. I've been home since the 21st for break, and I already don't know what I'm going to do with all of this free time. 

It's incredible to think that this time last year I was putting Courtney on a plane back to Spain after spending Christmas with Hannes' family. I was booking my ticket to Vienna with Raymmah ready for the adventure, but not the cold. Today it's 54 degrees outside and people have heavy coats on and I'm still in my pajamas sitting on the couch in front of our Christmas tree with the cat. My big adventure is going to San Francisco. Even that seems like a big trip, even with a place to stay and they all speak English!

It's a weird transition, coming back. Everyday I'm faced with the task of somehow incorporating everything I experienced and learned in Germany into my life here in California. It's not easy. I stay in contact with quite a few from my program and it's comforting to hear that we're all in the same place. Being back is great, but at the same time something is missing. I hear Allie's stories about France and I get so excited for her, sometimes I have to remind myself that I was in her shoes last year, it's almost unfathomable.