Ups and Downs

As I get calls from friends who want to see me before I leave, I wonder what my life will be like away from them for so long. My friends are a part of who I am. Though three and a half months will probably fly by in the blink of an eye, it's easier said than done.

"You'll be fine," everyone says. "You should be excited!" Don't get me wrong... I'm preparing for the trip of a life time. As I dive into the language and the culture, and dream about the trips I will take, the people I will meet, and the adventures I will have, I can't wait! To think that for three and a half months I will finally be able to take a break from my everyday routine, my everyday associates, and the everyday drama that occurs, is simply thrilling! I will finally be able to step outside the bubble that is my life, step out of my comfort zone, and experience something completely new and different. What do the next three and a half months have in store for me? I really don't know, and I can't wait to find out!

Still, I can't help but wonder all the things I will miss while I'm away. I already know I'll be missing the birth of at least two children, maybe even three. I already know I'll be missing a few concerts and plenty of movies coming out that I wanted to see. Though this may seem insignificant, think about it. Where will my friends be when I get back? What will they be doing? Who will they be seeing? How many crazy nights will I have missed? Even something as simple as going for coffee with close friends to bitch and moan about everyday problems will be something I will miss. What if everything will be different when I get back? How will I adapt? Will I be able to adapt? These are all questions I think a lot about these days.

Then, there's family. I cherish my family greatly and will miss them terribly. What will I do without them? How will I manage without my parents checking in at 4am just to say what's up? Obviously, I'm joking about the 4am check-ins. Still, if not my parents, then who? Who will be worried enough about me abroad to even care if I come home? I'll be all alone...

As I sit and ponder what the near future holds, I have no idea... Then again, in the grand scheme of things, I guess no one does. Think about it.

Signing off,
Ciao Bella...