Laura Vanessa Diaz

At first sight, you might think your friends back home are nothing like these strangers.

The ironic part of it all is that many of us are perfectly comfortable teaching kids about violence through TV and video games, but sex is a topic which is completely out of the question.

Just the thought of sharing your days, your thoughts, and your emotions with another human being who understands what you are going through can make the turmoil of life easier to handle.

As much as you love your friends back home, it is a refreshing feeling to find out you have the ability of making friends elsewhere.

They sounded distant, but not unreachable. I screamed for my friends to help me at the top of my asphyxiating lungs. I had swallowed enough river water to keep me hydrated for over a day, and my breathing became heavier each instant I remained submerged.

Yes, it will end. Yes, it will hurt. Exposing your heart abroad is part of the foreign experience.

How silly is it that all it takes is one seemingly insignificant word to undo the screws of your fragile mental sanity.