Well… here it comes… the last week at home. What kind of emotions are you dealing with right now? Excited? Scared? Overwhelmed? All at the same time? Know that it’s okay… give yourself permission to go through whatever emotions you are feeling right now. Rewind to the grieving process you learned at camp… now is the time to set yourself up to grieve home well. To do that… you need to begin examining what you need to bring closure to this time. Here are some tips to help…
1) What people is it vital to spend time with? You won’t see everyone… you won’t properly say goodbye to everyone… but there are some people that you need to have a proper goodbye. Make a list of those people and schedule that time now.
2) Who needs to say goodbye to you? Maybe your best friend is the person you want to see the most, but your grandmother might be the one who really NEEDS you to come around. Look at those near to you – especially friends and elderly – and schedule at least some time with them to help bring closure for them.
3) Logistics. Not everything will get done… that’s just how it is. But what HAS to be done before you can leave? Prioritize your to do list. Maybe you can combine spending time with someone and getting things done! Invite people to help you finish up those last minute details.
4) Make a homesick care package. I know… I know… you’re so excited to leave and homesickness is far from your mind. But it will happen. Even those of you who “don’t get homesick” … there will be a moment when you are homesick. Have pictures, notes, sentimental items from home put into an easy-to-use way to go through when you get homesick.
Here is an email from Heather Trimble & the September team with their last minute suggestions for you all:
1 (and this really is the #1 important thing): have them physically set up skype, mic and webcam for anyone they think they’ll talk to…especially parents. i think every one of us has walked someone thru setting up their webcam, mic, etc. it’s kind of comical as we listen and watch each other have the conversation over time. it’s awesome that so many people have been jumping on skype and that some that were already set up with it ended up getting a webcam (most parents/friends didn’t think they’d want/need the webcam and changed their minds after we left)…but it’d be much more fun to talk about the trip than about the setup stuff!
the rest of these things are in no particular order and are either things i am stoked that i packed or wish i had packed (other than the normal packing list stuff)…
2: movies/tv shows from home are awesome to have on external hard drives (or internal HDs if it’s big enuf), so load up while you can!
3: baseball hats
4: pillow (i have a small one – straps to my daypack and is crucial during transition/travel times)
5: pictures – old fashioned printed pictures that you can hold and bring with you everywhere. way more crucial than you can imagine. (see! I told you homesickness would happen!!!!)
6: nalgene…well, this is on the packing list, but it’s THAT important. they go EVERYwhere with us.
7: books – definitely talk about who’s bringing what cuz you’ll trade like crazy.
8: ipod or whatever you like to use – again, has turned out to be way more important than i first thought.
9: running stuff – it varies from place to place, but when you can, it’s so nice to get actual exercise.
10: i can’t think of anything…there aren’t THAT many things that are THAT crucial. i personally love having my computer and camera, but everyone might not agree. but i guess they might not agree with any of the other things i listed either, right? haha
