For the past 5 months or so, I've been living in a dream. To me nothing has really seemed real. I have enjoyed every moment that I've spent here in Switzerland, but I still wake up some mornings and am surprised that I am not in my room back in good ol' Ancaster. I often have to remind myself how amazing I have it and how lucky I am to be where I am right now in my life. However, with all that said, I often feel like I live in a dreamland and reality is nowhere to be found.
Unfortunately, I have been abruptly brought back to reality these past few days. I have had to say goodbye to so many people that I care so deeply about and that have made a huge impact on my life. I had never really been good at goodbye's, but this time they were even harder than normal because in all honesty, I'm not sure I will ever see half of these people again - and that was a realization I wasn't ready to face.
After many hugs and tears and laughs and more tears and more hugs, everyone slowly went their respective ways and then the big realization hit me - in 6 months, that will be me. For the first 5 months of my exchange I have taken everything in - I have learned a new language (and not an easy one at that), I have become part of a new family, I have made new friends (but nobody can replace the old), I have experienced so much, I have travelled to places I never even knew about, I have seen things I had only ever dreamed of seeing, I have climbed mountains (both literally and metaphorically), I’ve had many new firsts and a few never-agains, but most important, I have had the opportunity of a lifetime. My adventure isn’t over yet and I still have the better part of 6 months to experience all that this year has to offer, but saying goodbye to everyone really got me thinking…
I realized that as much as I may not want to go home, the day is going to come and I won’t have anyway of stopping it from coming. I realized that I need to wake up from my dream and come to grips with reality. The reality that everything comes to an end eventually but until then, I can only enjoy it – and that’s exactly what I plan on doing.
I have already seen so much of Switzerland, but I still have sooooooo much more to experience. So until I step on that plane headed home, I am going to be one adventurous little girl. Tonight, when I got home from the airport, I sat down and made a list of all the places and things I want to visit while I’m still here – and I plan on crossing every single thing off that list.
But enough of my rambling! It’s been a long and emotion-filled few days and the week is just going to get harder. Next weekend I move host families and I’m not sure I have the emotional capacity to deal with all of the emotions that are about to come my way. I have an entire 5 months to pack into two small suitcases and it’s more than just clothes – it’s memories and laughter, game nights and fondue dinners, hiking adventures and lazy days on the balcony, but most importantly it’s 6 people that I am not ready to say goodbye to. I came to this country not knowing a soul and was welcomed openly into the arms of my host family. To me they are more than my host family – they are and forever will be my family. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to make it through this week emotionally alive, but I’ll be sure to blog about if I do come through on the other end.
With that said, I have another family waiting with open arms for my arrival and I am just as excited for a new beginning as I am sad that this chapter of my exchange is coming to an end.
Before my tears soak my keyboard, I should probably go. I have a big week ahead of me and I need to catch up on some sleep.
Tchüss from Switzerland,
Madi
I realized that as much as I may not want to go home, the day is going to come and I won’t have anyway of stopping it from coming. I realized that I need to wake up from my dream and come to grips with reality. The reality that everything comes to an end eventually but until then, I can only enjoy it – and that’s exactly what I plan on doing.
I have already seen so much of Switzerland, but I still have sooooooo much more to experience. So until I step on that plane headed home, I am going to be one adventurous little girl. Tonight, when I got home from the airport, I sat down and made a list of all the places and things I want to visit while I’m still here – and I plan on crossing every single thing off that list.
But enough of my rambling! It’s been a long and emotion-filled few days and the week is just going to get harder. Next weekend I move host families and I’m not sure I have the emotional capacity to deal with all of the emotions that are about to come my way. I have an entire 5 months to pack into two small suitcases and it’s more than just clothes – it’s memories and laughter, game nights and fondue dinners, hiking adventures and lazy days on the balcony, but most importantly it’s 6 people that I am not ready to say goodbye to. I came to this country not knowing a soul and was welcomed openly into the arms of my host family. To me they are more than my host family – they are and forever will be my family. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to make it through this week emotionally alive, but I’ll be sure to blog about if I do come through on the other end.
With that said, I have another family waiting with open arms for my arrival and I am just as excited for a new beginning as I am sad that this chapter of my exchange is coming to an end.
Before my tears soak my keyboard, I should probably go. I have a big week ahead of me and I need to catch up on some sleep.
Tchüss from Switzerland,
Madi
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