Traveling the world can be an amazing experience, and something that everyone should do. Whether it’s for weeks, months, or even years, the experience is like nothing else. But sometimes when you travel away from home long enough, you create a new home. I am not looking forward to going back to the States. Sure, my mom is there, and all my friends, and my cat, but it is no longer home to me.

I have been living in Cork, Ireland for the past five months. Although I only came here for study abroad, I have come to realize that this city is my home. This is the city where I belong for the rest of my life, and having to leave to go back to the States is a brutal reality. This city and this country are where I feel safe, comfortable, and most importantly, happy. I have met some of my favorite people in the world here. I have found my favorite local establishments and become friends with the workers. I have found the best tree in Fitzgerald park to embroider under. In this short span of my life, I have created more of a home environment than I have ever had before. And now I have to go back "home."

I even did a bit of traveling during my time in Europe, and nowhere has felt like Ireland. Sure, Amsterdam was a lot of fun, and Bruges was a beautiful fairytale city, but they didn’t instantly make me feel at home like Cork did. From the first day I was in my little apartment here, I felt like I belonged. I felt like there was no place in the world I would rather be, and I still believe this. This feeling wasn’t just some novelty of traveling to a new place. I’ve done that. Going from a small town in Illinois to Los Angeles gives you that sense of novelty and instant happiness, but not the feeling of being home. At least not for me. But here in Cork, I feel like I am truly home.

Of course, I am excited to see my family and friends, but I am not happy to be going back long enough to fall into the same routine I’ve had forever. I don’t want to go back to a monotonous work schedule or classes that I can sleep through and still pass. I want to be here in Cork. I want to start on my career here, and I want to build a life with the people I have here. I don’t want to go back to the government of the States; I can watch it burn from across the ocean. The best thing I can do is plan on coming back to Ireland as soon as possible. And I’m going to put in the work to come back home. I only have one more year of college, and during that time I can save up money to come back to where I belong.

I was in one of my favorite coffee shops here, and a man asked me where I was from. He remarked that I am pretty far from home. I said that no, actually-- I’m far from where I was raised, but I have finally found my home.