Fitting in... again

Coming back to Point Loma from studying abroad has brought on a lot of new challenges and learning experiences. After living in Argentina with complete strangers, learning to travel independently, and trying my hand (or my mouth for that matter) at Spanish for five months straight, I figured coming home to Point Loma would be as casual as walking into my mom's home after my return this summer. This was not totally true. When I got on campus, I realzied that so many people had changed over the semester I was gone. The school had a new building and new students filled the campus with new perspectives and new customs I was unfamiliar with. "Sheesh! I'm a senior," I thought, "and I don't even recognize students in half of my classes!"
It took me a couple weeks to realize that this notion of fitting into your school, your home, or another culture is not a constant in your life. On the contrary, feeling at home in your surroundings is something that comes with time no matter where you are... even grandma's house! Now that classes are back in full force and I've leaped over a couple hurdles of culture shock, I am beginning to feel at home again. I can appreciate that there are lots of new students to meet, and it's becoming easier to catch up with old friends to figure out how we each have changed over this eventful semester. Overall, I would say the most helpful tool in this readjustment phase is definitely time.