It’s taken me a while to figure out exactly what to say when people ask one of the most common questions you’ll hear when arriving to college: “Where are you from?” Most often, people aren’t interested in hearing your entire life story, and I find myself wishing that I could truthfully give a simple, one word answer.  “Indonesia”, I’ll answer most commonly. After all, that was where I was born and raised. But internally I’m still conflicted about my response. For the past 5 years my parents and I had lived in South Korea. So maybe I should have answered with that. But then again my dad and his entire family are from Maine and I visit there every summer. So is that my home?

This mini identity crisis only became increasingly frustrating as I came to Middlebury and found myself more confused about where I really call home. The fact that I was to live in rural Vermont for the next four years was a big adjustment to make. Everything here seemed so completely opposite from the areas in which I had grown up. Quickly, though, I grew familiar to the vast greenery all around me, the fresh air free of pollution and the occasional waft in the wind reminding me of the nearby herd of cows.

There is something incredibly refreshing about stepping outside of the city and into the heart of the Champlain Valley. Now, having completed a year at Middlebury I can confidently say that I have grown to see Vermont as more than just a temporary part of my life. With each day Middlebury has slowly become my new home, and this is in thanks mostly to the strong community that have made me feel so at home here.

As an incoming freshman I participated in the International Early Arrival Orientation, which allowed me to settle in, recover from jet lag and get to know other international students, creating a supportive foundation of friends right off the bat. I enjoyed my early arrival experience so much that I will be joining the PAL team of Pre-Arrival Leaders to hopefully give other international freshmen a great first experience at Middlebury and ease their transition into college life as well as I was able to.

If you’re an international student and want to stay updated on any Early Arrival information, stay tuned here: http://www.middlebury.edu/international/isss/earlyarrival. Wherever in the world you’re coming from, whether it’s Southeast Asia or right down the road in Vermont, the Middlebury community is ready to welcome you with open arms! And hopefully one day you, too, can finally call this place home.