Life.

So after living in a foreign country for nearly a year and a half I have learned quite a bit. Some things about other people, places, cultures but mostly things about myself.

 1) I will never make it as a professional blogger. Yes, I know I "promised" to write about all our adventures. I even tried to convince myself that I would write a little bit every day. Good thing I have my college education to fall back on. :) But who's to say that my adventures have to end when we move back to the states? No one, that's who. So here's my new promise... I will write when I feel I have something to share. That way I won't disappoint. I thought this blog would help me keep in touch with loved ones back home but to be honest, although it's been tough, the people I love most, have made a huge effort to keep in touch and I with them that I didn't need to blog to share the wonderful memories I've made here. Many of those memories I shared with loved one's who were able to come visit and I am so grateful for that.

 2) Living in Europe is not always a fairytale. Living in Europe is also not the same as visiting here. It's like learning to do everything an adult has to do, all over again... and trying to do it all while no one understands you and you don't understand them. It hasn't always been easy, and looking back on it, that's ok. It didn't seem ok in some moments when the post office wouldn't ship a package for me, I got a ticket for only having one public transportation pass when I didn't know I needed two and I missed my friends and family so bad I could just cry. All in all though, it's been an incredible experience and I'm so glad I got to spend it with my love. He has gotten me through the rough patches and we have been able to share in the amazing times together and I love him even more because of it.

 3) I don't need a ton of friends to be happy. In fact, when we moved here I remember looking at every person we met as "hey, maybe they'll be our friend". And that happened a lot less often than I thought it. I cherish the friends we've made here because they have truly made us feel welcome, loved and accepted. They all knew when we met them that our time here was temporary but that didn't make any of them hold back. I am so thankful of the few wonderful friends we have made here and I know it will be hard, but we will keep in touch and continue to be friends.

 4) I love SEASONS!! Everyone that knew me before moving away from Arizona knew I hated the cold. After living in Chicago where the seasons are humid, windy, cold and blizzard and living in Hungary where hot/humid, cold and freezing are common I can't imagine going back to two seasons that are only moderately different from each other. Sorry Arizonans... a cardigan doesn't equal winter. I love the change in fashion, foliage and activities that come with living in a place that has different seasons. The summer is appreciated in places like these because the winter is practically unbearable and I love it. I'm so excited that we get to move back to Chicago!

 Of course I've also learned patience, my career does not define me, if I have too much time to do something (blog) it will never get done, making money is not what life is about, enjoying the little things, appreciating my loved ones and I will continue to travel with my soon-to-be-husband for the rest of our lives.

 We are moving back to the United States two weeks from today and I am so excited for what is to come. I am terrified as well. We will be flying back to AZ for only one week. This means we need to see everyone we possibly can and do as many wedding things as we can fit in. We got engaged on January 1st of this year, only one week before we flew back to Hungary. You can imagine that week didn't include much planning. And with less than 5 months left before our wedding I am so grateful for our planner. She has been a life saver and I am looking forward to meeting her and getting stuff done when we get back. Oh, and we also don't have cars, cell phones or a place to live once we get to Chicago... and I don't have a job. My best friend is also getting married 2 weeks after we get home and I couldn't be more happy! I know these next two weeks and the following month is going to fly by. But if I've learned anything from being here it's that I need to appreciate every moment that we have and enjoy every new experience.

 XO, Steph