Studying abroad was one of the best experiences of my life. I sometimes reminisce about the liveliness of my dorm where foreign and Japanese students studied together, cooked for each other, and sat around lazily on Saturday morning after brutal Friday tests. I think that my trip being cut short by COVID-19, emphasized how special this time was to me. The constant need to adapt to the new environment of a foreign country and Nanzan's excellent program created an atmosphere of tight-knit cooperation and community between us students. From even before I came to Japan, my COIL partners at Nanzan were already helping by listing the places I needed to explore, by offering to show me around, and by warning me of easily made cultural mistakes. My partners made my arrival in Japan easy. It was like visiting longtime friends. When COVID hit, I had less than 48 hours to get everything ready to return to the U.S. and say goodbyes. It was heart wrenching to leave early, but I would not trade the short time I spent at Nanzan for anything.