I spent the week I returned to the states giving the same speech, showing the same pictures, and recounting the same anecdotes over, and over, and over, like a scratch on a CD that I just could not get past. Sure, I owed it to the people I left behind to do it. But I’ve long since made those concessions and, quite honestly, I’ve been avoiding any thought of them ever since.

I know I can never forget my experience, but part of me refuses to engage in overkill, to ruin it. There are things I remember and smile to myself about all the time. Do I harbor them close like fragile eggshells, or do I throw them up into the sky and let them burst for all to see? Of course I throw them up. I want to continue sharing and spreading this part of my life as far out as I can reach.

Because of the wonders study abroad did for me, I want to ensure that as many people around the world as possible get to the same. Everyone should go at least once in their lives, and I do and will advocate that. One of the most surprising things to me was not my lack of jetlag or aversion to most American foods upon return but the number of people who have asked me for help and advice. Are not our schools pressing for programs abroad? Is there no information out there? America certainly lags now in science and some technologies, training fewer scientists and mathematicians and sending fewer students out into the world. It has become lazy and comfortable at the helm of the world, and its no small wonder things have begun to go awry.

Go out into the big, wide world! You’re only doing yourself a favor. The loans will find a way to repay themselves, I promise. But please, ask me anything. I also promise to help you as best as I can. The hardest thing? The easiest thing? The best thing? Ask me anything. I’m yours, if it serves to guide you.