Before this semester, it never really occurred to me how much someone can do and learn in 136 days. A quick break down would look something like this:

• 18 plane rides
• 4 bus trips
• 10 cities
• 7 countries
• 6 new friends I’ll never forget.

However it amounts to a lot more than that. That doesn’t account for the countless memories I’ve made with my new friends. All of the individual places that we explored in each city. All of the museums that have influenced us. The art and history we’ve seen first hand that we only read about in our textbooks up until now.

And I do say “we” throughout this. Even though I started out this journey alone I couldn’t have learned everything I have without the friends that I’ve made here. Sarah, Colin, Eric, Brynne, and Stephanie helped make this a semester I’ll never forget and I can’t thank them all enough for it!

In 136, I’ve learned more about myself than I have my entire time out of high school. That’s a lot of self exploration in a short amount of time.

Studying Abroad has been an experience that I will never take for granted and is something I will encourage every college student to do. This experience has taught me to appreciate the things that I have in my life. I have been extremely lucky and privileged in my life to have been given the opportunities that I have made into experiences. I hope that one day I can give back to those who helped me get to this point in my life. Words cannot express how truly grateful I am to be able to go to college, study abroad, and learn in ways that others are not as fortunate to experience.

This has been a truly humbling experience that I will carry with me forever. Thank you Mom and Dad, especially, for all of your love and support that you guys have given me over the years and specifically over this semester. You guys have allowed me to grow in ways that many kids dream of! I cannot thank you enough and I hope that you both know how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for me.

To the rest of my family: Thank you for letting me share my eye opening experience with you while I was about 4000 miles away from everyone! Thank you for all of your support as it meant a lot to me!

Thank you again everyone! I can’t wait to see you all very soon!

~ Alli

Today is my friend, Eric’s 21st birthday! We’re all going out later tonight to take him to a craft beer pub that brews all of their own beers.

However before that, I’ve been enjoying this THIRD day of sunshine. That’s right, there have been 3 days in a row that have been sunny and nearly cloudless. AND I’m in SHORTS! And I’m still dying. It’s only 70 out and it feels like a sauna to me. Coming home is going to be an adjustment…

Earlier this morning I got the last of my gifts for my friends and then made myself a wonderful lunch. All of that was followed by writing, and enjoying music, sunshine, and all of this wonderful free time I have. Now I know people are going to make jokes about how much free time I have and how much everyone wishes they were in school again, but not to worry all of this free time will be short lived.

When I get home I only have a few days before I start 3 summer, online classes. Before I know it I’ll be getting ready to move back to Ames, looking for a job, and getting ready for a 18 credit hour course load in the fall! Wahoo!

I’m always up for a challenge :)

Cheers!