"Maybe this is a stupid question..."

"...but what does it feel like to be SOOOO FARRRR away from home?"

I got asked this question today by someone in one of my seminars. It really made me stop and think about it- I guess I haven't realized that I'm "so far" away from home, but I guess, when looking at the globe or a map, I am a bit of a way's away, aren't I?

I tried to formulate an answer that made any sense, and these are some things I came up with:

*It truly doesn't feel like I'm so far away from home because I have the support of my friends, family, boyfriend, professors, even strangers back home as well as those that are here with me in Germany from the VDAC, the ERASMUS students, the Ladies Club here in Kassel, and those that I've met through the university. I think it's really important to know that others believe in you, even when you're not really believing in yourself everyday.

*I haven't really noticed the distance in my day to day because I've developed my own routine here. I know when I have to be at class, when I've got some down time, and I can make my way around on my own.

*I'm comfortable in my surroundings- I know where I have to go to get groceries-even if it always gives me a bit of a panic attack (I don't understand why they have to scan all of my items so fast when I'm expected to bag my own things at the same time as paying!), the best baked goods, wool for knitting (even though I'm still struggling with this skill), clothes, and even craft supplies. I've figured out the wonders of the post office, "aliens department," International Office, and the various secretaries on campus. This has helped me to feel like I've found a 2nd home (again) here in Germany.

*It's easy to not notice the distance when I feel like those that I care about and those that care about me back home haven't "forgotten" about me. I don't feel like I've been sent off to some foreign land and forgotten about until I'm back home.

*The amounts of adventures everyday, every week, every month have kept my spirits high, which makes it really easy to not think about home as much. Will I have another birthday where I spend it at the Frankfurter Zoo with Alice? Probably not. It's taking each day for what it's worth and making the best out of it. I don't leave myself much time and space to get bogged down with the thoughts of missing home.

So- I don't think it's a stupid question at all, in fact- it's a question that has really gotten me to think about everything- putting it all in a great perspective. Even though I'm thousands of miles away from home, it certainly doesn't feel like it.

A View of Kassel on a Walk