Jumping across the pond
I came home a week early to surprise my boyfriend Chris by being there for his Master's graduation and to be home for my niece's birthday. It was quite the work to get home because I had to pay to change my flight, make up the seven classes I was going to miss, work out with my bank how to wire the money because I would be paid after I left, and I had to take a train at 5am to get to the Paris airport. Needless to say I was pretty tired when I got up at 3am after going to bed at 1:30, but the adrenaline of catching my train and getting home got me through it. Heather's goodbye note made me tear up and I missed her already while on the train. It was weird realizing it was my last train after practically living on them. Everyone I met was so friendly even on the trains and at the airport which was a good way to end my stay. I had people helping me with my bags and other people curious about if I had a good stay and critiquing the poor signage in the airport. Here's some of what I wrote down on my last train ride:
I peered up from my book to smile at the sun shining over the lush green countryside that I adore and will now only be able to revisit through photod (at least for a while). I tried to take a picture but it didn't show the beauty, which made sense being that no picture could ever explain my experience there. France is such a huge part of me, something those at home will never understand whether it is because they visit as a tourist or because they need to know the country and its people like I do to appreciate what I do. Reading Heather's book "left Bank" I noticed people's false perceptions of France, and realized how even my perceptions have changed/grown in 7months. It'll be hard having no one close to me to share this love with, and to have my assistant friends return to aquaintance status where we catch up on menial things by means of the computer. Its sad leaving what you know is probably one of the best times in your life. But exciting to come back to loving arms and to use what I've learned. But nerveracking knowing you can't explain the experience and that you're starting over again at ground zero (no job, no place to live, etc). Its odd being scared to leave and then scared to come back, but I feel spoiled/lucky/ and proud that I could live it. I don't know if I've changed, well more I don't know specifically how I changed, but I do feel better and more confident. And I definitely desire settling down for a bit and living the casual less adventurous lifestyle.
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