u/Ok-Amphibian2417

Like the title says, I’m scared to go home.

For context, I’m a m17 from America and I’ve been on exchange in Switzerland for the last 9.5 months. I leave exactly a month from today. I have an amazing friend group both back home and here, a girlfriend I’ve been with for 2 years, and I even saw my parents when they visited for a weekend. On paper, everything should feel fine, but it’s not.

I already have my senior schedule figured out, and I’ll go back to the same school and same friends. And my friends even have a welcome back home party planned, but its just scary…

I think the hardest part is knowing that life kept moving while I was gone. At the same time, I feel like I’ve changed in ways that are hard to explain to people who haven’t done an exchange. It’s not even that I think I’m a different person, it just feels like this experience became part of me, and I don’t know how to put it into words for people back home.

I’ve even had a few arguments with my girlfriend about what I’ll be like when I come back, and I honestly don’t know how to explain it to her either. She’s supported me through this whole experience, and I love her a lot, but something still feels strange about going home.

I’m excited to see everyone again, but I’m also scared of leaving what feels like a second home.

I found this quote and it just sums it up it’s not super relevant:

Leaving home to go home.

Leaving friends to see friends.

Switching languages to still speak my own.

Missing one place to still arrive home.

And I just don’t think that can just say it any better.

Has anyone else who’s done an exchange or lived abroad felt like this before? How did you deal with going home?

alright i need someone to just be real with me because im stuggling on what to get.

i’m getting a sony a6100 used and i’m on a budget of like, around $800 total. i don't want to spend more as it is something i am just getting into. i’m planning on getting a 12mm f/2 because i really want to shoot astro, but thats not for sure.

now i need one main lens and i can’t decide between the 18-135 or the 55-210

what i actually shoot/want to shoot:
i hike a ton (i’m into mountains, lakes, all that), landscapes, travel stuff, portraits of friends, animals if i see them, and just random everyday shots. basically a bit of everything. i also dont have a speciality on what i shoot. astro would also be something new as ive never had a lens for it. it would be for overnight hikes that have clear skies. so this part of it i wouldn't be willing to sacrifice but maybe a different lens if i get someone elses take on it.

where i need help:
the 18-135 feels like the smart choice because it does everything and i can just leave it on the camera while hiking and not think about it but then i look at the 55-210 and i think what if i miss shots because i don’t have enough reach, especially for animals or cool mountain compression shots. so not being able to shoot a peak because of a distance issue or something like that. i just need some help.

so yeah question is pretty simple:
if you had to pick ONE lens to pair with a 12mm for astro (if i decide to go with it), would you go 18-135 for versatility or 55-210 for reach.

i also just dont know the practicality of either. im just conflicted on what to buy. also, for people who’ve been in this situation, what’s more annoying in real life, not having enough zoom or not having enough range on the wide/mid side?

just tell me straight up what you’d do anything helps