I will admit it; I’ve been kind of lonely and homesick lately. It probably doesn’t help that I was sick all last week and cooped up in my tiny apartment, or that it’s only days away from Christmas and I’m a million miles away from my family. Tonight, especially, has been one of those “what the heck am I doing here?” nights. Then I finally left my place to run to the convenience store, and the most beautiful, fluffy snowflakes were falling. It was like a little piece of home.

This has been happening a lot lately; just when I think I’ve had enough of this country and that I couldn’t possibly stay another year, I’m lured back in.