Living abroad for during one year

Living abroad is an enriching experience, since it allows you to mature and know yourself oneself and other characteristics that were unknown.

(Alternatively, you can say:

... since it allows one to mature and know onself...

but the first correction is more common).

In my experience it was a complete mix of feelings, experiences and new people to meet (alternatively: to get to know) to be known; sometimes I missed was missing my hometown, family and friends - I think the weather in Canada played a main role in that -, but sometimes it was so amazing to share houses, parties, food and culture with people from other countries.

Now, despite the fact that (alternatively you can say: Even though in place of "despite the fact that"...) I have lost work experience and I have to start everything again back in my country, I believe that my stay in Canada with all the people I met there allowed me to gain another kind of experience. Everything back here is the same but I feel different.

Camilo

Hi Camilo! Very nice entry. Your language is very clear. It is very easy to read and understand your entry. Great job! 

Here are a few tips:

"for one year" is a collocation that answers the question "how long?" and expresses the amount of time (As in this case you are answering an implied question of "how long did you live abroad?... I lived abroad for one year". Similarly, you can say "for one hour", "for one week", etc.)

"during" could be used if you said "What I learned during my year in Canada", or "Our teacher mentioned that during class today". "During" answers the question "when?" (as in "when did you learn it?... during my year abroad" or "When did the teacher mention it?... She mentioned it during class today.")

You used the phrase "sometimes I was missing". In English we use the simple past when describing emotions or emotional states. Other examples "I felt sad all the time", "I was really happy during my vacation", "I tried not to miss my family and friends so much", etc. 

In general, the past simple is used most of the time. 

The past continous, e.g. "I was really missing my family, when I got a call from my father", is used mostly to set the scene for another action that you tell about either with the simple past or a perfect past tense. Here are some more examples:

"I was trying to unlock the door, when my husband opened it for me."

"I was pouring the tea when handle of the teapot broke and hot water spilled everywhere."

"I was flying to Canada when I realized that I had forgotten my toothbrush."

Hope all of that helps! I enjoyed reading your entry!

: ) Emily