I’ve been in London since Tuesday but it feels like I’ve been here forever! Tonight is my last night and I’m hiding out in my hotel room in an attempt to catch some much needed rest (I will probably regret this later in the plane when I can’t sleep a wink). It has been an extremely productive work trip here – it’s amazing how much I can get done when I’m working within the same time zone as my team! I love YB – she is the coolest manager ever and I’m looking forward to spending more time with her over the next year.
Emotionally, it has been a rollercoaster ride. Already, on the plane ride here I cried over my fears of loneliness, of leaving those I love, of putting on hold the life that I’ve come to love in SF. I prayed a lot on the plan ride here, wrote letters to myself and to people (I think writing has been an extremely therapeutic release for me). When I arrived, I felt even more sad, checking into a little hotel by myself. But as the week progressed and as I started to make plans with everyone here, I began to see that it is possible for me to build a life here, even if for only a year. I met DM, whose shared room is too good to pass up. I saw Tita Merce and Tito Mario! We watched a show! Then Sazzy brought me out to Hampshire to work on Nick’s farm for a few hours. It was SO good to see her! And somehow, in all of this, I managed to go to Dublin and back! The Irish are THE nicest people I’ve met so far! So congenial, charming and hospitable. I would travel to Ireland again on my own any day!!!
Tonight, on my last night here, I feel confident that I can do this for a year. I can live a dream that I’ve pursued ever since I was little – to live abroad in Europe! Already, I have two trips scheduled for Istanbul in June! Though I’m still undecided on the housing situation, I know that the right little abode will come to pass. I know that I will learn a lot about myself here, I’ll develop tremendously in terms of my career, I’ll meet people and see places that will change my life. I know this is the right thing for me to do. Life is too short to start settling down so young and I feel like I have a lot of adventure left in me yet. Now that the trip is winding down, I feel like I’ve began to build that resolve, that confidence and hardness needed to be self sufficient in a completely new environment, away from the support systems that I’ve grown used to. Slowly, I’m growing my England support system (Tito Mario, Sarry & Nick) and it ain’t looking so bad. =)
I’ve got some pics to post but because I forgot my wire, I can’t upload them. Those will come tomorrow. =)
I feel SO SO blessed to be where I am today. TYL.
