The idea of going abroad for the very first time intimidated me all summer before I flew to Thailand. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to navigate where I needed to be or that I would somehow mess up because I didn’t know the cultural differences. However, when I realized this would be my last chance to study abroad before I graduate, I was determined to make it happen.

When I arrived in Bangkok in late July, my fears of being lost dissipated. I felt immediately welcomed into the country and I became much more excited to explore and start making memories. For a while, it didn’t even feel like I was that far from home — over 8,000 miles away — but then I began to feel homesick. I didn’t anticipate how much I would miss my family and the foods, luxuries, and things I had taken for granted back home. It felt like being on a rollercoaster of excitement and exhaustion, and I was there for two whole weeks.

The experience is something I will always remember: no matter how much I missed home, I was living out my childhood dream of studying abroad. I toured ancient temples, spent a day learning about Thai cuisine, went on countless 7-11 runs with my amazing roommate, and saw elephants up close while staying at the incredible Elephant Nature Park.

When we finally landed back in Missouri in August, I was in denial that it was over. But I brought home much more than a backpack full of souvenirs, or a thousand pictures. I brought lifelong memories, an amazing new best friend, and the empowerment to face my fears and thrive, thanks to the support of my family and Mizzou Study Abroad.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Global Service: Elephant Conservation in Northern Thailand