As I get older, I spend more and more time apart from the home I grew up in, and I’ve had to learn how to make other places feel comfortable. I’ve spent two semesters abroad, last spring in Strasbourg and now in London. I’ve made these foreign cities feel more like home by connecting with them. I think to connect with a place you have to learn to appreciate it. In France, I learned to appreciate how the lifestyle was different from the one I was used to. For instance, I learned how stores were not open on Sundays, because it symbolized French values. They felt Sundays should be reserved for family time and rest. Here in London, I’ve learned to appreciate how international the city is. From the cuisine to the people you see on the street, there is immense diversity. When I’m back in America, it’s those kinds of things that I remember and sometimes miss. Having that connection and appreciation for a place is what makes it home for me.