This time last year I was preparing to leave good ole ‘Merica. My days at work were filled with making coffee, talking about the race, thinking through my fears, meeting some people I’d spend the race with, and of course saying goodbye to friends. A year later; month after month of transition, meeting new people, having things fall apart, people not getting along, long travel days, thinking of a funny blog title, or just enjoying the country I was currently in, I know sit preparing to say goodbye to friends to go back to America.
Truth be told there use to be a part of me that could be uneffected by ‘goodbye’s’. It wasn’t something I dwelled on or even really allowed it to affect me. I often would intentionally avoid it…heck NO ONE likes ‘goodbyes’ anyways. All day I’ve been filtering through my torn heart…excited to see friends and family yet so so very sad to leave my family. Let’s face it…I love this crazy group of people. I also miss and love the crazy group in the states. 
I remember in middle school…I think it was seventh grade. I wrote a paper for English. I forget what exactly the assignment was mostly because of the utter embarrasment that came that day. I wrote about something really difficult. I remember rehearsing in my room thinking ‘na, this isn’t bad, I can read this to my class”. FALSE….
It was my turn to read my paper. I think I cracked a joke as I walked up to the front to make myself feel better. I remember too, that I was so short you couldn’t see my over the podeum. I began to read and my eyes filled up with water. I thought ‘nope, come on hold it back…” I couldn’t…I lost it. I read about two paragraphs and the flood gates opened. I walked out of classroom crying. I had never felt so embarrased in my life.
Looking back I think of how that could have been prevented if I was honest with myself and people around me. I don’t want to be like that. I’ve learned on the race…mostly by people calling me out on it that I do hold back my affection for people. I know I do. For now it’s still a process but I don’t want to leave in two weeks feeling like I should have said more or that time wasn’t enough. If you read this then you should know you are loved by me. 
The next great transition is up and coming. For YOU in the States, know that it’ll be difficult to leave my family of 33 crazy kids. It may take some time to transition. The lack of constant community will be great and so so hard all the same time. I know this blog may seem random but I guess I just need to start processing with you out there. There is more to come for sure…
So first step of a great transition:
1. Honesty
The gang at Village 2…foundation laid!
