As of today, it is officially a month since I left the USA to travel here to Germany! I already have so many memories and met many amazing people. As my mom and I were sitting in a café today, we found ourselves talking about how crazy time is. How a year ago, or even six months, neither of us had any idea that we would be sitting there today, didn't know I would be living with her and who is now my brother, and didn't even know that the other person existed; living halfway across the world.

Not even a full month ago, I finally met my host family (the Ulbrich's), and had no idea how close I would be with my mom, how great it would be to talk to my brother, and that I would really find myself living in this town and country so fast. I've walked throughout parts of the city, gone on bike rides with my mom, I've gone to the movies, started school (just finished my third week), made so many new friends, met exchange students that I already can't wait to see again, and so much more. People always ask if I'm homesick, or miss my family; and of course living here is a lot different, but there's also so much here already that I would just never experience back in the States, and I already wouldn't trade a second of my Exchange for anything.

Home will always be waiting for you, but being able to really experience another part of the world is really something that you just can't describe. It helps and forces you to grow, it makes you think (a lot), it helps you learn many different things, allows you to meet amazing people, and gives you something you just couldn't get anywhere else. Less than a year ago, I didn't know I would be here, I had no idea my life would look the way it does now, I hadn't even filled out the Rotary Application yet, I really didn't know how much could really happen in a year; but look at where I am now.

Time is a crazy thing.