This is a bit of a symbolic piece for me.

Moving to Poland for this student exchange was a huge leap of faith for me. I was hesitant about leaving the safety and comfort of my small town, nestled in the dark forests of Finland. Moving to such a large and bustling city was exciting but I had a huge feeling of insecurity about it. I wasn't sure how I'd cope without my friends and family, since I'd be away for almost an entire year. I barely knew the language and wasn't sure if I was clever enough to study in English. I was afraid I would be very lonely. I was afraid it would be too much for me, that I'd have to tuck my tail and run back home.

I managed to adapt much better than I thought. There have been a lot of personal challenges along the way, but after almost 2 months here, I'm confident in myself again. I'm slowly learning the language and meeting tons of furries in the country, all of whom have been extremely hospitable towards me. My friends in the country have been invaluable in helping me deal with the confusion and frustration, brought by barriers of language and culture. I've learned a lot more than I thought possible.

This land of rolling fields isn't so different from the one I call home. Now if only I could find a proper sauna...

This was painted by . I gave her a brief description of the scene I had in my head, and was surprised by how well she nailed the mood of it.. without me even mentioning the allegory behind it :'3
Please go give her gallery a look! Original submission here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/25149778/