Hi, everyone! It's with sadness that I write a farewell to you all. I have had a great time getting to know you on our video calls. I hope the stories and information I've shared have been engaging and have given you more insight into a part of the world you may otherwise have never known. One of the greatest things I've learned here is that though living in another country is completely different in many ways, at the end of the day, all people want the same thing—to have love, joy, peace—to be treated as a human being. Everyone is different, yes, but we are tied together by our shared humanity. In dark times, I think it's important to remember that community and connection can give us the strength to carry on. The last thing I'd like to leave you with is this: I've spent a lot of my life doubting myself, not believing that I can achieve certain things. Even when I was applying for a Fulbright, I convinced I myself I would not get it. The thing is, our brains like to lie to us and make us feel embarrassed or insufficient at times. We are often our own worst critics. If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be to not let this self-criticism or doubt keep you from still trying.
