The recognition I receive from others in my way of taking on this drastic shift in my life is truly one of the things that keeps me going everyday. I know the recognition is not something to dwell on, but even the smallest words of encouragement change the course of my day. I wake up so many mornings still floundering to grasp the whole concept of a semester abroad. The irony in feeling lucky for being able to live through such a demanding experience is the pinnacle concept I struggle to wrap my head around. When I first started writing this blog, I wanted to share a true account of my experiences as a foreign exchange student because what I found documented online was a collection of only the best and most marketable moments that other students had experienced.