Now, I’d hate to give the impression that I’ve been counting down to departure. But If I were, I’d be able to say that I have 8 days left, and that the anticipation is certainly mounting as my days left in the States continue to dwindle.
This post, however, isn’t about t-minus 8 days. It’s about t-minus 9 days—Saturday—and how I came home at the end of it somehow feeling more content after 3 important goodbyes than before them. It might take me a while to get back to it, but if you read patiently I promise I’ll get there.
My mom asked me the other day if saying so many goodbyes was getting to me. She asked because she had observed an absence of mopiness in my demeanor, which struck her as strange. Here’s the funny thing—what my mother noticed is an actually an accurate reflection of how I’ve responded to the big “moves” in my life lately.
And boy, have there been moves. Since starting college 4 years ago and counting the move I’ll make in a week or so, I’ve lived in no less than 8 locations, with even more people. For those interested the progression, it’s as follows: My Parents’-->Berry Dorm-->Paris-->Clara Apartment-->Honeycutts’-->5 Norwood Street-->Blacks’-->Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Not to mention the life stage shifts—from living with my parents to becoming a college student to navigating foreign lands and languages to finding my academic self to suddenly finding my general self out of school, hoping I’m ready for real adulthood in another country. Not surprisingly, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for nomads who somehow retain a sense of purpose and consistency in their travels despite constantly uprooting and transplanting their lives.
I don’t presume to consider my transience unique. I hardly know anyone my age who can’t match or exceed my tally of locations, life stages, and roommates. But if you’ll recall, this post isn’t about impressing you with how much I’ve moved and adjusted. That’s just prep work ;)
This post is about why my mom noticed I don’t mope after goodbyes, and how (rather paradoxically) I feel more content than I have in a long time immediately following such a quick succession of farewells yesterday evening.
Two of the goodbyes were to my roommates of the last two years. You read “roommates” and probably imagine three girls (women? nah.) who occupy the same living space and hopefully get along well. Who are even friends, if they’re lucky. What you don’t know about Molly, Elizabeth, and I is that we were more of an institution than peaceful co-existers. I take that back. I was lucky enough to get in on the Molly-Elizabeth roommate institution halfway through. I never imagined that I’d get two of my dearest friends out of a makeshift living arrangement—but I did. The other goodbye was to one of the few, the proud “Honorary Roommates”—and my longest “best friend,” Donnovin. 10 years of best-friendship shouldn’t need any more explanation than that.
Over the summer, I also saw my second-longest “best friend,” serial roommate, and pretty-much sister Ann off to a new life in Bolivia with her husband and my friend, too, Drew. Sure, I got a little teary, but nothing more serious than a little nostalgia that was quickly brushed aside.
I’m not finished with goodbyes, yet, either. Next week I’ll say goodbye to the Blacks, my “housemates” for this summer—a family I’ve known, learned from, enjoyed, and babysat for since middle school. Reconnecting with them and being part of their daily lives has been one of the joys of my summer, and I’ll certainly miss them. I’ll also say goodbye to the ultimate roommates—my parents and James.
So why am I not more sad? Sure, there’s the fact that I’m going on an adventure and have so much of the unknown to look forward to. I’ve missed Europe and speaking another language and am excited to try my hand at life as a bona fide grown-up. But if my only reason for not being sad were that I’ll be too distracted to notice it, that would be a bit sad in itself, don’t you think?
Here’s the thing: While I’m saying goodbye to home friends, I’m on my way to spending three weeks with our Senior Honorary Roommate, Anne, in Berlin. She lived with Molly, Elizabeth and I for seven weeks in the Spring, which is why she’s the Senior Honorary Roommate. While in Europe, I’ll get to visit my roommate from Paris, D’yon—the roommate with whom I spent and processed all that comes with a year abroad. No, I’m not so easily distracted that I’ll forget about missing my roommates (including the honorary ones). It’s just—how can I be pitiful or dramatic about these “goodbyes” when I’ve experienced over and over how my path continually crosses and recrosses those of people dear to me? My leaving is, in itself, confirmation of why these goodbyes are perhaps a bit sentimental, but not serious or lasting. And that tally of transitions? The larger that number gets, the more confirmation I have that changes in life stage, emotional state, and physical location are variable props on a stage floor constructed of significant relationships—NOT the other way around.
I couldn’t muster any real depression if I tried, not when there are so many “roommates” in my life ready to plan for our paths to cross again. My life is full of people who know my stories, and whose stories I know by heart. We have “our” songs, private jokes, common experiences, goals, and interests. We’ve lived together. So what if most of us aim to be global nomads? We’ll have more interesting stories to tell when we finally do get back together.
And do you know what my favorite part is? Almost everyone I’ve mentioned knows everyone I’ve mentioned. I don’t have “categories” of roommates. Anne knows D’yon from when she visited me in Paris. Molly and Elizabeth welcomed that Anne into our home for seven weeks, no questions asked. D’yon came to visit in Rome, and though she and Donnovin have never met, they both know all about each other, and even joke about things involving the other one they just heard about through me. Donnovin was an instant hit with M and E junior year, and we all spent the afternoon together yesterday. I’m friends with Drew because he married my best friend, and Molly and Elizabeth met Ashley and Bryant Black at the coolest wedding we’ve ever been to, which just happened to be Ann's and Drew’s.
I’ve often rejoiced in being able to declare that I’ve never had a bad roommate. The fact that my dearest friends are people I’ve lived with certainly bodes well for the future. I’ve realized I’m excited to find out who I can throw into the mix this year, since every addition to the roster has been a smashing success. I certainly hit the living arrangement jackpot.
And that’s why goodbyes don’t make me mopey.
See, I told you I’d eventually get to the point. And I promise—the next post will be short and pithy (I hope). Hell, maybe I’ll just post pictures ;)
Anne and me at Sanssouci. This and the next couple of pictures are from a bit earlier, from Anne's camera. Thus, I am in them, and decided they merit posting.
On top of the Dom (cathedral) in Greifswald.
We found a real, live hedgehog in Anne's yard one night on our way home!
Something I've done a good bit of, lately--sleeping on trains.
Hannah, Eric (The friends who showed up in Berlin and surprised me!), and I visiting the East Side Gallery in Berlin--basically a long stretch of the old Wall full of art and graffiti.
Hannah, ever the patriot, at Dunkin' Donuts in Potsdamer Platz (Berlin).
Hannah and Eric in the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe.
Standing in East and West Berlin, looking short!
This is a Döner. It is one of the best inventions of all time.
See how happy it makes me?
This picture makes me giggle. Seriously, check out the faces.
Everyone seemed amused that I was the perfect height to blend in with the mini-bears of many nations.
Anne and I saw the Blue Man Group! It's a really incredible show.
The last after-school coffee with the Kutzners for a while. Really a very nice time of day.
After a flight from Berlin to Paris, and a night spent with my old host family, I set off for Rodez on an 8-hour train ride. I was prepared for the trip with the essentials: a window seat, music, pen, paper, and sudoku.
I also took pictures out the window on occasion to keep myself occupied.
My first jambon beurre since being back in France! Basically one of the most delicious sandwiches around--ham, butter, baguette. I had this one at the train station in Brive la Gaillarde, where I changed train stations via bus.
One of the little villages we drove through on the 30-minute bus ride. It was seriously a very picturesque day, in general.
The "giant" train station that the bus delivered us to. This is where we boarded the ONE CAR train that would carry me the last three hours to Rodez.
The parts of my life that I lugged around...and lugged around some more. And don't be deceived--they may be different sizes, but because of the weight limits on the flight from Berlin, they weigh pretty much the same. Around 20 kilos each...or 44 pounds. I was proud of myself for handling them up and down stairs, lifting them onto trains, into the luggage compartment on the plane, etc.
The train ride continued to provide me with beautiful views as I traveled farther south.
See?
My first picture of my new home! This was on my way to dinner from the foyer where I'm currently staying.
The view from my room is also not too shabby! You can see the valley/hills just beyond the rooftops.
The street near my foyer. You can see the tower of the cathedral as you walk towards the center of town. And yes, most streets look like this.
This is a picture of the cafe with wifi that I have been frequenting. It's where I am if I'm emailing, blog posting, browsing, searching for apartments, etc. It's where I am RIGHT NOW, actually.
A park I found on my first day of exploring.
More exploration.
I also found a lookout point (Rodez is on a big hill, if you hadn't figured that out yet) not far from my foyer.
Trying to get acquainted with my new home!
Groceries! I love eating in France. Wine is good and cheap, figs are big and yummy, clementines are everywhere, etc.
