My First Rough Day

Bexley High School starts school today... I didn´t think that I would feel sad about it, but I do. All I can think about is what all my friends are doing at school right now. I know that my life back home is going on just like it always had, except I´m not there. I know that my friends will sit at the same bench for lunch, but I won't be sitting with them. It's just a strange feeling... I miss my school and my normal life.

When I told my friends that I was going to live in Peru for a year, many people said ¨That's so cool! It´s like a year-long vacation, you´re so lucky!¨. I am lucky, and it is cool, but it is NOT a vacation. It´s so far from a vacation. It´s hard. It's hard to be placed in a new city, a new country, in a new life. A life where you don't know anyone, and it´s hard to get to know anyone, because you barely speak their language. It´s not a vacation, and it´s not easy.

I know that it´s normal to have days like this. It´s part of the experience. I know that I am growing so much and I am becoming a stronger person from it, and that makes me feel a little better.

A few days before I left home, I was up in my room packing with my mom and brother, and Stronger by Kelly Clarkson came on the radio.. My mom said ¨Caroline, this should be your theme song for the exchange! Whenever you feel down, just listen to this!¨, and then she and Zach started singing along and dancing. So today, I´m listening to that song, and it does make me feel a bit better. What doesn´t kill you makes you stronger, right Mommy?! ;)