Less Than 5 Weeks...Gulp.

It is starting to kick in that I will be leaving for Tokyo in less than 5 weeks. My feelings of stress and excitement are turning to nervousness a little more everyday. I've been planning this trip for ages, and it has always seemed so far off. Now, as my work schedule stops because my last day has arrived, I only have a week of classes left for this semester, and I turn my calendar to the last month of the year it has hit me like a fastball.

Don't get me wrong, as stated before, 95% of me CAN NOT WAIT! Finally, me dreams of living in Tokyo are coming true. I was lucky enough to obtain a scholarship from Temple University, I am currently in the process of working on getting an international internship and I found a roommate who seems like an awesome girl and a great match for me.

Recently however, some of my negative feeling about the trip have been emerging.

It is not like I am running away from my American life because it is so awfully boring or terrible, in fact it is quite the opposite and I will miss it. I have a fear that when I return it might not be the same because things are not going to just go "back to normal" I enjoy my home campus of Temple University in Philadelphia, I like my part time job at Claires in center city, and most of all I enjoy spending time with my boyfriend of 9 months everyday. The latter of the group might be the one I am scared of missing the most.

Really though, part of growing up and being an adult is accepting change and responsibility in life and being able to deal with it properly. If I did not reach for the stars, make bold decisions and take chances and risks I would not be where I am today, so I am not about to stop now.

From the time 2 1/2 years ago that I graduated high school until now I have evolved into such a better version of myself. I moved out of a small suburb in Northeastern Pennsylvania to a big city, which now, feels small to me. So now,it is time to move once again, farther out of my element and farther from home.

Im curious to see how I will be mentally changed after my Tokyo living experience. My outlooks on life, my eating habits, my overall lifestyle might be drastically different, or not change a bit.

Only time will tell...

マリㇱサ