I don’t think I miss home

Hi, my name is Rachel and for the past one year I’ve enviously scrolled through the Instagram stories of my seniors and friends were on their own exchange semesters, anxiously waiting for my own adventure to start.

Since coming to Munich for my own exchange I have come to the startling realisation that my exchange semester will not be like those that I’ve seen plastered all over Instagram. Nobody posts about how scary and lonely it feels when you first arrive and nobody posts about how hard it is to reach out and make friends. 

I’ve since overcome the initial fear and realised that things are a lot scarier in your head than they are in reality (I guess I can be a but of an overthinker). I’ve come to terms with these facts and I’ve learnt how to live in the present, and to really cherish everything around me, even the small things like buying a small vacuum to clean my room with. 

Despite being here for more than 2 months now, I still catch myself in awe at the very fact that I am in Munich, so far away from home. I’ve been so grateful to travel to so many different parts of Europe and experience so many new things during my time here. Meeting new people from all over the world has been so eye opening, and has forced me to learn how to step out of my comfort zone, which I am so thankful for.

One of the reasons why I chose to come to Munich for exchange is due to its geographical location and how it is a great base to travel out from. I love travelling and getting to see and explore the different cultures and environments around Europe has been a literal dream.I especially love seeing the waterfalls that seem to be aplenty here in Europe because 1. I love the sound of water and 2. They are just so majestic and never fail to remind me that I am just a small speck in this big big world.

Surprisingly, I don’t find myself feeling homesick, but I do miss things about home (for example my dog – woof). Which is weird, because I find myself wanting to go home but not wanting to leave all at the same time.

With only around 3 more months left here, I am constantly grateful for this opportunity and am so excited for whatever experiences I will encounter!