Thank Goodness

I don't know which is sadder. The fact that I'm dreading the beginning of summer or the fact that I never want school to ever end. That's so twisted? What person in their right mind (other than Harry Potter) would dread summer vacation? What crazy person would want school to last forever? That's just utter nonsense. I can honestly say I've never been so sad to see the end of school come so quickly.

These next few days mark the beginnings of people leaving Scotland to go back home. My friends who have been there for me in every situation are leaving--some of whom I may never see again. That's terrifying. Can you imagine? Not knowing if you're ever going to see someone again? How do you say goodbye with that looming over you? Maybe it's best to just not think about it.

Out of sight, out of mind.

There are still many adventures to be had (the Highlands, another London trip, Italy), but every day someone will leave our little Dundee world. Thank goodness for facebook, but it's still not the same. Eventually the comments and posts will get less and less and we'll just drift apart. Hopefully not, but...

I never could have anticipated this adventure to Dundee to be so...meaningful, impactful, wonderful, educational, touching, and just beautiful. I know I have much to look forward to when I get home (holding Maggie, kissing Mommy, squeezing Daddy, eating Little Rosie's), but I also have so much that I'll be leaving behind. Playing with the volleyball team, discovering Heidi, knitting with Quinn, eating with Judith, snuggling with Elizabeth, talking with Becca, yelling at Mikkel, smiling with Kevin, singing Hannah Montana with Leoni and Meagan, learning odd German phrases from Mark, laughing with Jill, crying with Carly and Catherine. And just soooooo much more. I can't even list all the people and all the emotions I've encountered here. I never want it to end. I wish this semester could just last forever.

But maybe that's why it's been so wonderful. Since we knew this experience was short and would eventually end (soon), maybe we forced it to work. There couldn't be any problems (at least major problems) because there was no time to deal with it. I was talking with my friend Baiba yesterday and she was saying that I've seen more of Scotland and Europe in five months than most people who are here for 4 years because they all say, "Oh, there's time for that later. I've got 4(3)(2)(1) year(s) to do that." But then "later" never comes. So the fact that it was so short made us actually get out to do things. More importantly, it made me get out and make friends. I'm so grateful. There's nothing I would change about my time here.

Although! I don't want to jinx it because I've still got 3ish weeks in Scotland and 3 weeks in Italy! There's still room for more.

It's not over yet!

Thank goodness.