As I mentioned before, I have to admit that I haven't exactly been homesick in the last few months, which has made me very lucky and allowed for me to enjoy my study abroad experience. I have a week and 3 days left in my program and I woke up today to hundreds of snapchats from friends heading home for the holidays. Okay, I can admit it, that might have made me a little homesick. Since I'm Jewish, I feel like I weigh thanksgiving a little more heavily than others. It is my Christmas. It's the time when I devote my entire day to my family and I have so many precious memories from our time spent together. It's the time to really recognize and appreciate the things you are thankful for. In honor of turkey day, I wanted to make a list (long but never complete) of a few things I'm thankful for:
1. Mom and dad. It's really hard to put in one short submission how thankful I am for you both. The worst part is, I don't tell you nearly enough. You both have made the smooth transformation in my life from parent to best friend and I couldn't be more grateful. You are the perfect combination of supportive in everything I do and motivational to push me a little further. You are the perfect role models for how to do something you're passionate about, to be absolutely selfless and care for others, to showing the importance of hard work and for demonstrating what it means to marry the love of your life. I should probably stop here with the risk of spending this whole post on you. CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU BOTH IN JUST 2 WEEKS!
2. Michael. I dont think you need a post to know how grateful I am for you. I wake up everyday wondering how I got so lucky that you came into my life. You are the greatest guy I have ever met, and I can't thank you enough for your unwavering love (even when I gain a few extra pounds from my food adventures abroad😩). I'm thankful for all of the outrageously fun moments we have shared together and I love you!
3. My brothers. Although we may not talk everyday and we my not be the closest siblings on the universe, I know you guys always have my back. Thanks for always being there when times get rough, and thanks for also inspiring me to be a better person. All 3 of you are a huge inspiration in my life, whether you know it or not. Thanks for teaching me how to burp like a champ and curse like a sailor. You know, the important things.
4. ADPi friends & the clique (you know who you are). Thanks for being my lifelong friends. I really can't tell you enough how lucky I was to find you guys. I always have the most fun with y'all and I couldn't ask for more loyal friends. Thanks for making everyday a good day and I can't wait to reunite with y'all when I get back. Miss you guys so incredibly much!
5. My grandparents. Thank you for always supporting me in whatever I do. Thank you for always being eager to hear about my life and willing to share yours with me. Thank you for all of the times you traveled and had to buy each of your grandchildren a tiny gift. Thank you for being so warm and loving and cherishing the lives of everyone around you. Thanks for all of the home cooked meals on every holiday and the comfort of your homes every time we visit. I love you all so much!
6. Cadence. Oh guys. Thanks for being so resilient. For everything we have been through, every step we become closer. Thanks for being the best friends I never imagined I would have and for being my 2nd sorority. Thanks for accepting me and my abrasive personality because y'all know it best. Thanks for sharing your lovely voices with me and allowing me to continue my passion for singing. See you guys soon!!
7. Aunts and uncles. Thanks for all of the laughs and the comic relief in family gatherings. Thanks for making so many fun and great memories that I will cherish forever. But more importantly, thanks for loving me as if I was your own daughter. From birthday presents, to hugs, to advice thanks for always caring about me.
8. Cousins. Thanks for being more than just family to me. I love all of the time I get to spend with you guys because you are some of my lifelong friends. Thanks for not judging me and my life decisions, and for openly talking about things that family members don't always discuss. I love you all so much!
9. My high school friends. There's no denying we've all had rocky relationships in our lives. Thanks for being there when the going got tough. No matter what happens or where we go, y'all will always remain a part of me. We have had some insane moments together and I wouldn't trade them for the world. Thanks for always being there when it wasn't so easy.
10. Tyler (Bohannon) Tyler (pence) and Lonnie. Thank you for being my peace of mind. Thank you for (literally) always being there for me. I can't thank you enough for being my voice of reason whenever things got out of control. You guys are like brothers to me and even though we don't talk every day I am forever grateful for your friendship. Thank you for being some of the best friends I could ever ask for.
11. Ali P. My surrogate little sister. Thanks for being so much fun and for being the little sis I never had. Miss you and love you every day!
12. Batres family. Thank you for opening your hearts to me when I was some strange girl dating your beloved Michael. Thank you for being so warm and welcoming me into your lives. You all are some of the most amazing people I have ever met and I'm so lucky I get to know all of you.
13. Taylor Fishburn. God I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for me. Thanks for being there every time I had a breakdown. Thanks for helping to teach me about life and how to be a teenage girl. Thanks for being the big sister I never had and for being one of my very best friends. Je t'aime!
14. My study abroad friends. Thank you for being a small little family across the ocean. I don't think they could have put together a more diverse group of people, but we have still managed to have the most incredible experience. Thanks for all of the laughs, the trips, the ridiculous quotes, and more importantly, helping me adapt to being in a foreign place so easily. I can't imagine what it's gonna be like not to see you guys every day but I know we will meet up again. Love you guys!
15. To everyone I have missed. Thank you for being a part of my life. I know there are many people who deserve their own thank yous but I think this post would be impossible to read if I really took the time to give the thanks that are due. Thanks for all of the little things that often go unnoticed.
I hope I can see you all soon to give you these thanks in person. I hope you all have a wonderful day and from across the ocean I'm wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!
1. Mom and dad. It's really hard to put in one short submission how thankful I am for you both. The worst part is, I don't tell you nearly enough. You both have made the smooth transformation in my life from parent to best friend and I couldn't be more grateful. You are the perfect combination of supportive in everything I do and motivational to push me a little further. You are the perfect role models for how to do something you're passionate about, to be absolutely selfless and care for others, to showing the importance of hard work and for demonstrating what it means to marry the love of your life. I should probably stop here with the risk of spending this whole post on you. CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU BOTH IN JUST 2 WEEKS!
2. Michael. I dont think you need a post to know how grateful I am for you. I wake up everyday wondering how I got so lucky that you came into my life. You are the greatest guy I have ever met, and I can't thank you enough for your unwavering love (even when I gain a few extra pounds from my food adventures abroad😩). I'm thankful for all of the outrageously fun moments we have shared together and I love you!
3. My brothers. Although we may not talk everyday and we my not be the closest siblings on the universe, I know you guys always have my back. Thanks for always being there when times get rough, and thanks for also inspiring me to be a better person. All 3 of you are a huge inspiration in my life, whether you know it or not. Thanks for teaching me how to burp like a champ and curse like a sailor. You know, the important things.
4. ADPi friends & the clique (you know who you are). Thanks for being my lifelong friends. I really can't tell you enough how lucky I was to find you guys. I always have the most fun with y'all and I couldn't ask for more loyal friends. Thanks for making everyday a good day and I can't wait to reunite with y'all when I get back. Miss you guys so incredibly much!
5. My grandparents. Thank you for always supporting me in whatever I do. Thank you for always being eager to hear about my life and willing to share yours with me. Thank you for all of the times you traveled and had to buy each of your grandchildren a tiny gift. Thank you for being so warm and loving and cherishing the lives of everyone around you. Thanks for all of the home cooked meals on every holiday and the comfort of your homes every time we visit. I love you all so much!
6. Cadence. Oh guys. Thanks for being so resilient. For everything we have been through, every step we become closer. Thanks for being the best friends I never imagined I would have and for being my 2nd sorority. Thanks for accepting me and my abrasive personality because y'all know it best. Thanks for sharing your lovely voices with me and allowing me to continue my passion for singing. See you guys soon!!
7. Aunts and uncles. Thanks for all of the laughs and the comic relief in family gatherings. Thanks for making so many fun and great memories that I will cherish forever. But more importantly, thanks for loving me as if I was your own daughter. From birthday presents, to hugs, to advice thanks for always caring about me.
8. Cousins. Thanks for being more than just family to me. I love all of the time I get to spend with you guys because you are some of my lifelong friends. Thanks for not judging me and my life decisions, and for openly talking about things that family members don't always discuss. I love you all so much!
9. My high school friends. There's no denying we've all had rocky relationships in our lives. Thanks for being there when the going got tough. No matter what happens or where we go, y'all will always remain a part of me. We have had some insane moments together and I wouldn't trade them for the world. Thanks for always being there when it wasn't so easy.
10. Tyler (Bohannon) Tyler (pence) and Lonnie. Thank you for being my peace of mind. Thank you for (literally) always being there for me. I can't thank you enough for being my voice of reason whenever things got out of control. You guys are like brothers to me and even though we don't talk every day I am forever grateful for your friendship. Thank you for being some of the best friends I could ever ask for.
11. Ali P. My surrogate little sister. Thanks for being so much fun and for being the little sis I never had. Miss you and love you every day!
12. Batres family. Thank you for opening your hearts to me when I was some strange girl dating your beloved Michael. Thank you for being so warm and welcoming me into your lives. You all are some of the most amazing people I have ever met and I'm so lucky I get to know all of you.
13. Taylor Fishburn. God I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for me. Thanks for being there every time I had a breakdown. Thanks for helping to teach me about life and how to be a teenage girl. Thanks for being the big sister I never had and for being one of my very best friends. Je t'aime!
14. My study abroad friends. Thank you for being a small little family across the ocean. I don't think they could have put together a more diverse group of people, but we have still managed to have the most incredible experience. Thanks for all of the laughs, the trips, the ridiculous quotes, and more importantly, helping me adapt to being in a foreign place so easily. I can't imagine what it's gonna be like not to see you guys every day but I know we will meet up again. Love you guys!
15. To everyone I have missed. Thank you for being a part of my life. I know there are many people who deserve their own thank yous but I think this post would be impossible to read if I really took the time to give the thanks that are due. Thanks for all of the little things that often go unnoticed.
I hope I can see you all soon to give you these thanks in person. I hope you all have a wonderful day and from across the ocean I'm wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!