They say that studying abroad changes you, but let me tell you: it's not for the reasons you might think. Russia itself is fantastic, and just the fact that I'm living in another country for 4 months is amazeballs. But, what really opens up your world is the world. Not Russia, not schooling in Russia, not Russian people or homestays, but the fact that you're out in the world. I know that right now, I'm out in the world thanks to my parents and them being well off to send me here, but in a couple years, I'll be out in the world because I worked to get there. And I'll be doing amazing things.
There are some incredible people from the US that are here on this program, people my age who are independent and know what they want from life and do what they have to do to be out in the world. This isn't the first time I've run into these types of people, but this is the first time it's really sunk in that I can be this kind of person, too. In this past year, my personality has changed drastically and I've developed so much as a person that I can finally settle down on what I really want from life instead of what I think I should want.
After these revelations began to randomly happen throughout the day, I went to the banya (Russian bath house) with a couple girls from the program and that was really the cherry on my revelation sundae. The banya was perfect - it was not only a physical cleanse, but a mental one after a day of rampant thoughts about my life. Last night, I had the best sleep of my life and woke up so refreshed and ready to do anything.
I'm scared to come back to the US so changed that people around me won't know what to do with me, so guys, this is your preparation. I think you might like me even more.
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