A letter to myself

In class last week, we discussed how to handle culture shock and ease into a new culture. Some of the ideas we came up with included:

Calling home (or avoiding calling home if it's making me even more homesick)
Bringing a few dvds (That comfort me but don't take up as much of my time as Netflix)
Taking a walk in a new, beautiful city

One of the other ideas I came up with was to write a letter to myself. This way, every time I feel homesick or sad, I can read my letter to feel better. I'm taking this opportunity to write that letter to myself right now.

Dear Rose,

I understand what you're feeling. You're frightened, overwhelmed, and desperate for a corner to hide in where everyone will leave you alone. But this too shall pass. You are stronger than this. Take the moment to cry and to grieve the moments you're missing back home. Break down, because there's beauty in your tears and the relief that they bring. Take this moment, and breathe. Breathe. Just breathe.

And when you're ready, continue reading:

Remember why you came here. This is your chance to truly gain international experience. This is the next step in your career. Since you were a little girl, you dreamed of being an amazing business woman. While your friends daydreamed about getting married and having babies like the doll ones they played with, you gave pretend motivational speeches to your pretend employees in the top floor of a (pretend) big corporate building. That little girl would be so proud of you if she could see you today, across a whole ocean, working with a real international business and taking your education to an international scale! You are becoming the amazing woman you always dreamt of being.

The feelings you are having right now, they are temporary. But this experience is going to last you a lifetime. Embrace it! Don't let it get away from you, because before you know it, you'll be on a plane back home. Go take a walk and take as many mental pictures as you can, because they're so much more beautiful than anything you can find on Google images. Go eat one of those delicious jelly pastries, because God knows you can't find them in America. Enjoy this, because who knows when you'll be back?

Don't look at what everyone is doing in America on Facebook. Don't blow up your boyfriend's phone (because he's having a busy summer too!) Call Rachel in England. And if you're desperate, get her to fly out and see you. Hell, get her to go spend the weekend in Germany with you! Talk to your new friends in the Czech Republic, because these might be the only moments you have with them. Treasure every little thing you can in Europe. You've wanted this for so long, don't squander it.

Go learn something new. Go do something you would never normally do. Go learn some profanity in Czech! (It'll make you laugh, and really come in handy when you're back home and pissed at someone.) When you're doing shopping for everyone else, buy something for yourself (something you could never find in America). Be happy. Enjoy this. Live.

You are so strong, and brave for being here. You're finally doing something for you and no one else. This is your experience and no one can take it from you. Live this moment as fully as you possibly can. You are lovely, you are loved, and you are so lucky.

Sincerely,
Yourself