Early Monday morning I said goodbye to those I’ve been with in and out of each day for the past nine months. (This is all of us at the very beginnin)
The goodbye was harder than I thought, especially after living with all of them in the same building for the past three months. It didn’t really hit me until I had gone through customs, gotten my bags and then went through security one last time. I realized and thought to myself “I’m not waiting for anybody else to come through. I’m at a different terminal than everyone else. I just said goodbye to those I now call family and about to get on a plane by myself.” And then, after telling myself I was more than excited to be done and ready to be home. I had another thought, “I’m not ok”. I began to cry when I had gotten on my flight and realized it’s a lot quieter than normal. No more laughter and no more yelling. There was silence. I then remembered my very first flight. Sixteen hours to India all the way from Georgia. Everyone was loud and obnoxious. We were all filled with excitement and nervousness for what was about to start. That ride was easy.
I said goodbye to family without me shedding any tears. Excited to get away and travel.
But here I was, now alone again for the first time in nine months. Crying because I said goodbye to family. Knowing I would drift away form the majority of them. But I also knew I would stay close and visit many.
A lot of you I’m sure are wondering how I’m doing. And my answer to that is, I’m not as ok as I thought I was going to be.
Life is starting once again and I’m not waking up and seeing those I’ve lived with. No more random eye contact where we both knew what each other was thinking. No more jamming out in the kitchen eating popcorn and making each other laugh.
I am excited to be going home. I am excited to see my family and friends I so easily said see you later too. I’m excited to share my journey face to face with those I haven’t seen. But most of all, I am excited to take what I have learned and share it with those around me.
Thank all of you for giving me the support to have gone on this journey. Through prayers and financial support, you gave me an lesson that not too many people get the opportunity to experience. The trip may have ended but the journey has just barely begun.
(Us that we’re left at the end)
Goodbye Gap P, it’s been a good run
