A Month of Goodbyes
This has been a month of goodbyes... I don't know that I've ever had to say as many in my entire life.Will I see these people again - warm Bavarians, cheerful Poles, benevolent Bulgarians, laughing Latvians, cheerful Chinese, caring Koreans, jolly UK kids, fun Irish, brotherly Americans, friendly French, spicy Spanish, effervecent Arubians, comforting Fins, sincere Scandinavians? We email and IM, yea. They look at my photos, great. But will we ever be reunited? Certainly not all together like we were this year. No, the group that follows this year will be more diverse than they can ever imagine or appreciate. But I'm just being biased...
There was a time, not too long ago, that I took all of this for granted. In 15 minutes I could round up a group international enough to make a sorority girl helplessly giddy. Not that being from another country is in itself a validator. I cite their background because it they've taken the same step as me - stepping out of their element into something foreign. That requires certain characteristics that enabled us to really connect. And now? Now Regensburg has become a very quite place. Everyone else has begun the rest of their lives. As I must on Wednesday.
A trip home? Nach Amerika? Scheisse. Dass schaf' ich nie. Wie kann ich eigentlich zuruck um ziehen, ohne mein Lebensstil dramatisch zu andern? Gute Frage.
Do I hope that what I have on my plate back in the states is enough to keep me busy - to keep my mind off this year abroad? Do I let this year totally dictate my actions for the next? Do I pretend it was all a wonderful dream? Do I hide it away, afraid to aggravate the others by rambling about something they don't give a damn about? How do I share this experience without alienating those I'd like to reach? Can I come back a different and better person without going "Drops of Jupiter" on all my old friends? Should I just say "Forget it" and pick up where I left off?
I don't know.
posted by Jason @ 2:14 am
1 Comments:
May I offer a sugestion? Get involved with the study abroad office in the fall so you can talk about your experiences wiht people who are interested in doing the same thing you did. I will probably be doing the same thing. Also I was only gone for a month but when I came back a lot had changed. You'd be surprised how much can go on in a month. Let alone a year. So don't be surprised if your a bit overwhemled trying to catch up on everything that's happened here. If you start randomly speaking German I won't hate you. Chances are people will get bored listening to your stories after awhile. I haven't talked about Spain nearly as much as I wanted to but in the fall I get to be reunited with the group I went with so I will have plenty to catch up on with them. If you can find people at CU that were in Germany the same time you were that might be helpful. Just some tips. Miss you lots! Can't wait till I see you again. Oh and my old roomie Erinn will be in town when you get back. You have to meet her. :-) - Alaina
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