8/15/2010 – First night in Guam

I landed in Guam around 6 pm last night. The National Student Exchange (NSE) coordinator and her assistant picked myself and two other NSE students up from the airport. We got to campus and met with the other NSE students. There are 5 of us here now and there should be 9 or 10 total when everyone gets here. The campus consists of about 3,400 students. The 5 of us NSE students hung out last night, toured around campus, and met some of the locals. Everyone is so incredibly nice here! I didn't sleep hardly at all last night. I mostly paced up and down my room because I am definitely still on South Dakota time. So, I've been up most of the night and am now sitting in the College of Business building milking the free internet. It just all of a sudden started pouring rain; which apparently happens quite frequently throughout the day with stretches of sun between. It's nice when it rains because it instantly cools everything down and breaks the humidity at least for a while. Last night was pretty rough being homesick and all. I can already tell this is going to be a long semester, but I also know that I am going to have an amazing time just peppered with some homesickness. Last night I just kept thinking: why am I here? I can go home now. I don't have to be here. What would mom and dad think if I came home early? Why am I not just going to SDSU like a normal year? I'm missing out on so much stuff! But in reality, I know that this whole trip/experience/adventure are going to be extremely worth it, and I will regret it if I don't follow through. I have to prove to myself and everyone that I can do it!