Returning to Reality
No matter how long the journey, there is nothing quite right about saying goodbye to the exploration you’ve come to know on a daily basis over an entire summer…yet life moves on.
Upon returning to the States, I prepared myself to combat reverse culture shock and depression. After over a month of endless adventure, I knew it would be difficult to resume a normal schedule. Consequently, while gliding through the sky on my plane ride home, I adamantly scribbled inspirational moments, goals for the rest of the year (academic, social, etc.), and edited photos from each destination. I was determined to ensure closure of my experience in an uplifting fashion. Although I still felt the sting of familiarity upon landing at Sky Harbor, the process allowed my gratitude for the trip to fuel my ambitions rather than inhibit them, especially for the upcoming semester.