Update: Week 5

For all of those who have been looking for another blog since my last one 3 weeks ago, I am sorry for not posting one sooner. Shortly after posting my last blog, the homesickness hit me like a bolder in the back and it has been a rough few weeks to get trough it, but all is going much better now.
During my third week here, I awoke feeling really homesick and crying just wanting to go home and get out of here. I had been here three weeks and the vacation was OVER. Skyping was nice, but it was no longer enough to make me feel connected. I, along with all of my friends, reassured myself that this was normal and I would get through it and back to normal in no time. So I continued going to class, going out with friends and doing all that I could, if just for the purpose of keeping busy and keeping my mind off of home. It helped to some extent, but the feeling never went away. That weekend, however, I did go on the International Student Association's last day trip to Newcastle. The city is by far this is the best city that I have visited. It was a very old English city, while at the same time being very modern. I walked across the world's only tilting bridge and climbed the city's old fortress. They actually had a metro, which I am very happy to say made me feel much more at home. After returning from Newcastle, I ordered pizza and enjoyed a night in with a friend from UNCG and a movie.
As the fourth week began, I knew that it was time to get to work.. I had been here a month and Spring Break was going to be here in a few weeks. I began to work on research for my Air Power paper, began GRE studies and still tried to keep my mind off of everything I was doing. The homesickness, however, got even worse. No matter what I did I felt the need to go home, what was I thinking when I got on that plane to come over here? I still understood that this is a great opportunity, which not many people have the chance to do and I am on it, but that did not take away the feeling of wanting to go home. I found myself addicted to Skype, Facebook, and my cell phone calling back home and other times, sitting around wanting to sleep just so I could get my mind off of it. I kept going out with friends and resisted the temptation to stay locked up. That Thursday, however, I felt as if I hit rock bottom and to make it even worse, after not wanting to go to class, I came back crying uncontrollably and just wanting to go back to the US. My homesickness was taking its toll on my relationships both here and back home (I must say here again that I have the BEST boyfriend in the world, who was taking the brunt of my homesickness and stuck by me).
At the last minute, my friend Laura called and made it possible for me to join them on the trip to Belgium (a trip I had turned down earlier). Three hours later, I found myself at the dock with my passport and credit cards in hand going on a trip that I made NO preparations for, none at all. This is something that I never, ever have done before....I always planned trips out, particularly ones that require passports. Although, it was worth making the quick decision. Belgium was WONDERFUL and the food even better. Everywhere I turned I was reminded that I was in Europe.
This past week came and my homesickess was not getting better. I finally told a friend here that I don't feel like myself. I could not do homework, I could not enjoy things that I should be enjoying. To make the situation no better, my eating habits become non-extant. That is when I decided do talk with the study abroad coordinator about my homesickness and trying to figure out what I can do. Needless to say, we figured out a solution and I feel sooooooo much better and I am back to having the time of my life :).
With all of this being said, I am very thankful to God, my family, my boyfriend and everyone else who has made this trip possible. I am enjoying myself and can't wait to see more of the UK, Paris, Normandy, Spain and London. I don't know how everything (travels and finances specifically), are working out. Other than knowing God is making it possible. I guess that is just one of the many lessons I am learning when studying abroad.... you can't plan for everything and in the end, it will all work out :)