Sometimes a girl just needs her mama

When I first moved to California I knew I would be faced with my fair share of challenges, but I never imagined how hard it would be to be so far away from my mama-- 2,914.6 miles away to be exact.  Now like parent-child relationship we've had our ups and downs, but I soon realized how I took going to school two hours away from home for granted.

I could come home for the night when I wanted to, surprise her for the occasional weekend, and I was always home for my birthday.  None of those things were possible anymore when I moved out here, and I realized that my senior year that would typically be a "year of lasts" had now become my "year of firsts".

I won't lie-- first semester was hard.  I was faced with new challenges, experiences, and relationships that I had never before encountered and while I typically tell my mama everything, some things just can't be explained in a text or a five minute phone conversation.  But along the way I found new ways of dealing with my stress and talking through my problems (okay, a lot of these "newfound ways" were shopping online...).  Nevertheless, I made it out on the other side and realized that I not only survived, I did alright.

This semester I came back to California more prepared for what the next few months had in store.  I also came back with the knowledge that my mama would be coming to visit in a few short months.  And after much anticipation, that time finally came this past week.  Easter has always been a big holiday for our family so she decided to come out to celebrate with me and then stay for a few days after.  

She's Here!!!

Day in SF

Fellow CSU-Chico National Student Exchange student-- the apple doesn't fall far from the tree

We had an amazing time while she was here.  I introduced her to all of my friends, residents, bosses, and anyone who stopped to talk to us for more than 30 seconds over the course of the past week.  I was sorry to say goodbye to her this morning as we both left for our respective airports (her back to SF and me to Sac, on my way home for my grandbig's wedding!!), but I was so thankful for her visit.

Seeing her and getting to show her around the places that have become my home for the past 8 months and letting her meet the people who have become my family really helped me to develop a greater appreciation for the gift that this NSE Experience has truly been.  It hasn't always been easy, in fact most days it's been really hard, but somewhere along this journey I found my own way.  I lost my true year of lasts by leaving UNCW as a senior, but if it opened my eyes and heart to the world outside of my comfort zone and allowed me to have a whole new year of firsts, maybe it was the best choice for me.

To new beginnings...