a new home.

Confession: When I moved to Columbia I was miserable. I missed Virginia, I missed my friends, I missed my family, I missed Virginia Tech -- I missed the comforts of home, of what I knew. I wasn't open to this place, I didn't want to make a new home for myself, I thought of it as a temporary placeholder where I would go to school and work for two years. I had no intention of forming community here.

Last month I went home for the wedding of one of my sweet childhood friends. It was wonderful to be back in the Old Dominion and enjoy a packed weekend of meeting up with Megan in D.C., the wedding, spending a night in Williamsburg, and getting to see my best friend Beth. I didn't want to leave. My Dad dropped me off at the airport and I was a mess. I sat on my bedroom floor at home and confessed to my Mom how all I wanted to do was to be back in Virginia with my friends. I must have said the words, "I hate Columbia" about twenty times that weekend.

I was scared. It was a new place, new people, new experiences -- I didn't know how to deal with that. Now, the semester is almost over -- but the past few weeks have been so wonderful. I am finally settling in. I am enjoying it here, and I am letting myself be open to the idea of finding comfort in another home. My little apartment has become my new home. I'm learning how to navigate the city and finding short cuts to avoid traffic (thanks to some helpful hints from friends), getting into a groove during the week, and exploring new areas by myself. It's empowering. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone.

It is easier to just go about your day and not make an effort, but now I'm trying. I'm really trying, and it is paying off. It's just like any new life experience, it takes a little bit of time getting used to it, but once you're there, it starts to make sense.