I have lived away from home before and I have been at university, living in the dorms, but being here in Japan is different. I miss my mom and dad, and my friends but I’m homesick for my cat, Elsa. I have been with her since the beginning; she comes with me to college as my ESA and even when she is not right beside me, I have never been away for more than a week or two. I always say I’m not that big of a cat person. I like dogs, small dogs, chihuahuas to be specific. I had one before I started university his name was Little Man. He passed away a month before a started school and about year and a half later Elsa chose me as her mom. I never wanted cats; I hate cleaning litter boxes and how cats climb on everything. I do a lot of art and things that cats can get into and mess up. With Elsa, there was an instant connection. She was only about two months old and needed some eye drops, she let me pick her up and dose her eyes without having a fit. I fed her some treats and put her back down after some pets. I walked back to my jeep, about 10 feet away, and when I turned around, Elsa followed me. I knew then and there she was mine, and I was hers. I took her and her siblings in, Beast and Aurora. I knew I loved Elsa, but I didn’t realize how much I loved her until I couldn’t see her anymore. Being here in Japan I have come to realize that there are a lot of little things I didn’t take the time to appreciate while in America. I miss my mom’s homemade mac and cheese, miss talking with dad, miss sitting with my friends. All these things I took for granted and never thought about them. Now when I get back home, I’m going to take the time to appreciate the people and little moments with them in my life.