time of my life

(I wrote this on the plane home)
I really can't express my feelings right now. I will miss my life here in Nice so very much. Not even things like the beach, or Europe in general, but I'll miss the fantastic people I've met.

When I came here, I didn't expect to meet so many different people from so many different places. Now I literally have friends from every continent (except Antarctica). Also, not all of them are people I would necessarily have chosen as friends at home, simply because of the vast differences. In Alabama, I'm in my comfort zone, with people that are similar to me. Here, I was thrust together with people completely opposite of me. But I can honestly say that I have found some of the best, most sincere friends I've ever had. And to think, when I came, I was nervous that I wouldn't find any friends. There were even a lot of people that I regret not getting to know any better than I did.

Four months is simply not enough time. All relationships were put on the fast track. I met "the horses" as we're apparently know, and 3 weeks later we went on a tour of Italy together. And became best friends. We were all thrown into a culture and language completely foreign to us, and had to learn to cope together. We complained to each other about all our horrible experiences with the French, braved ladies' nights at Akathor, and discovered Europe together.

I also didn't expect to find a relationship, much less really fall for someone here. In fact, I came here wanting the opposite. I wanted to be single, and enjoy my youth, and what do you know, I became half of one of the only erasmus relationships here. It may have taken a while (REALLY) to get over the cultural differences and trust each other, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I just hope that we can handle the ocean between us, but I think so.

All in all, I've had the time of my life, and I really don't know how to express it. It's something that unless you've experienced it, you can't understand. I know everyone at home will be asking me about my trip, but how do you put four months into words? I'll probably say that it was amazing, but that doesn't begin to touch it. I've laughed, I've cried, and everything in between:I don't know how to leave.

It's not that I don't miss my family, friends, and of course, my precious dog, but I guess I just know when I'll see them again. As for my Nicoise, I have no idea if and when I'll see them again. I know the people who live close to me I will, but the others, who knows? It scares me to not know and to leave this life behind. So basically, I was scared coming, and scared leaving. Not scared for my future, because I know that in a few weeks everything will be back to normal. But I feel like I'm going to look back on these months as a dream. I don't want to forget everything I've learned and experienced, or the people I've met.

So if you're reading this and you're an erasmus, I just want you to know how much I loved every second with you. I will never forget you guys, and we better have a reunion!!