Goodbye Until Tomorrow

I feel that I never adequately gave you guys closure about my exchange year.  I was going through a lot of different tough times, and ultimately, decided that being with my family and friends back home was the best decision for me.  I apologize for those of you who felt that I just left you guys out of what was going on.

Between changing host families and difficulties at school, I did not feel comfortable disclosing that to the whole internet, so I decided it would be best to stop blogging when I left Belgium in February.

Now, here I am, finishing up my freshman year of college over a year later, and reflecting on how integral my time in Belgium was for me.  Although I did not have the BEST YEAR EVER, I learned so much about myself and made friends that I would do anything for.  Not only that, but I've still been in contact with my host family--they have continuously showered me with love even after leaving.

Belgium is a part of me.  The good, the bad, the ugly---it has shaped me and given me a deep appreciation for who I am today and what I have become.

To those who are currently on exchange, I know the year is almost done for you.  Enjoy every moment.  Spend it in the company of the ones you love most.  You will never forget the impact that your exchange year has on your life.  And no matter what your experience was like, you did something most people will never do.  You left the comfort of your home, and choose to be uncomfortable.  Instead of staying with your high school friends, you broadened your horizons and now have friends from around the world.  Cherish the blessing that this year is for you.

And for those who haven't gone on exchange, I urge you to spend some portion of your life in a new environment.  Whether that be abroad or literally the town over from where you grew up, being uncomfortable is a great way to grow.  You will learn so much about yourself and others when you surround yourself with new people who all have different stories.

Thank you all for avidly reading my blog.  I wish you the best.

In the meantime, enjoy the last song of the installment.  I am a fan of musical theater song, and this song came to mind when I think of leaving.  Yes, it's referring romance, but aren't all songs these days?  I'm not sure how many of you dig musical theater, but you can expand your horizons...

So Goodbye. Until Tomorrow. :)

Catherine

"ONE DAY MORE"

ONE MORE DAY. Or, one day more as they would say in Les Mis. I don't even know where the time has gone! Years have turned to months, months to days, days to hours, and here I am. Here is an excerpt from my journal written on August 4:
"I'm actually leaving.  Belgium is no longer a pigment of my imagination.  Belgium is reality. Belgium is not only my new home, but my new life.  My family, friends, school, language, and culture will all change.  But, change is good.  Change is what keeps us on our toes.  Not only that, but change shapes us into better people."

On another note, I still have to stick a few items in my suitcase, but I am essentially done packing. Tip: Start packing early! I'm so glad that I did. I can't imagine trying to scramble a day or two trying to fit everything in the suitcase! It was definitely NOT easy.  I probably started with double the amount of clothing that I'm bringing. My parents are still sending me a package with my heavier sweaters for the winter because they were merely too heavy to try to fit in my suitcase. I originally wanted to fit everything in my suitcase and be well under the 44 pound limit, but that ain't even possible. When the suitcase alone weighs 10 pounds, and the shoes you are bringing at least 10 more pounds, that doesn't leave for much extra space. Alas, I got through packing and I am ready.

Besides packing, I have been cleaning up my room like crazy.  It was never really that dirty, but I organized essentially EVERYTHING in my room. I didn't want to have to deal with the junk I've just been throwing in a drawer for years after I get home (because I'll only be home about a month next summer before I leave for college) so I just sucked it up and dealt. I'm pretty much done with my room too, but between that and packing, I'm pooped.

I'll try to write if I have extra time at my orientation in New York, but I'm not making any promises.

See ya next time
A bientôt,

Catherine

Fly Me to the Moon

Yesterday,  I received information about AFS about my Gateway Orientation in New York.  It is on August 21st, beginning at 4pm, so I have to be in New York by then.  My parents originally wanted to drive from Cleveland to New York to save money and so that they could spend lots of "quality time" in the car with me before I left. Personally, I would prefer an hour long flight without the parents, and tried convincing them that it'd be cheaper. After all, they'd probably go shopping in New York and have to stay a a hotel. But most of the flights I found were around $430 just for a one-way ticket, which wasn't really that justifiable.  Alas, I ended up looking on travelocity, and by leaving from the Akron airport (which is only like 45 minutes away), I got a direct flight to New York for only $115!  My parents couldn't argue with that awesome price, so we booked the ticket today. :)

I never offically received information regarding the flight to Belgium, but I believe that the flight is on the 22nd, and then the arrival orientation in Belgium should be on the 23rd and 24th.  So this means that I 54 days until I leave for Belgium! YAY! I have been waiting for the day to come for soooo long.  I had been to go abroad with AFS since I was a sophomore in high school, but with the logistics of it all, I realized that the best option would be to do a gap year.  In less than two months, I'll be in Belgium!!!

A bientot
Catherine

One of my favorite jazz songs...give it a listen!