When I first arrived in Bulgaria, I knew that the 2 years would be fun and exciting but also challenging and difficult.

2 years in a flash. One moment I was dreaming about what it would be like to live and serve overseas and the next it seemed I was back in Oregon after doing the thing, only there was a lot in the middle too.  And that’s where all the good stuff is… right in the middle. 

My uneven breathing, pounding heart and shaky hands are dead give-aways to vulnerability when I am emotionally exposed, and they seem to catch me off-guard every time.

From the beginning, I had a strong sense two years would fly by, but I didn’t expect it to feel simultaneously like a second and a lifetime.

Traveling is one of the most rich, enlightening, and exciting experiences a person can have. At the same time, it can be scary, confusing, shocking, and overwhelming if one's perception or mindset isn't ready to handle what and where they are stepping into.