Well, I've been trying my best not to count down my final days at home too much. I want to be present with the important people in my life and soak up all the time I have with them now, without worrying about my soon-to-be future thousands of miles from home. But time seems to moving more quickly now as we are already halfway through November. How did that happen?!
...the official count is three weeks from today. Wow!
Speaking of being present with the ones you love, I spent Tuesday and Wednesday in that magical place in the mountains where my wildest dream grew from simply an idea into reality. I couldn't have asked for a better way to gently turn the page from my Scranton chapter to the next unwritten one.
Since May, I think I've been pretty good about not going through too much Scranton withdrawal. I've been describing the last few months to everyone as this strange balance...I am so excited to go and sometimes wish I was just there already and other days I can't seem to find that spark I used to have for being an international volunteer. I think the reason I sometimes don't feel that spark is because I'm not surrounded daily by my peers and mentors who understand why I am venturing on this awesome journey. The friends that I made over the last four years are where my inspiration comes from...they are literally all over the world now (Nashville, San Diego, Micronesia, Philly, South Korea..just to name a few) making a true difference in their own unique and beautiful ways...AND I MISS THEM!! They have always challenged me to be a better version of myself and work harder for the things I'm passionate about. It always helped that we shared many of the same passions and could spend hours over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine thinking of ways to make the world a better place (and figure out where we fit into all of that). That is what I miss about Scranton...the people who kept my spark lit and shared their own light with me when my own path seemed a little dark and uncertain.
I learned something valuable during my time there earlier this week, I don't need to be in Scranton to have Scranton with me. The community that I was a part of for the last four years doesn't exist exactly how it did when I was there and that's comforting...I know I'm not missing out on what it is that made Scranton so great for me. But I also find comfort in knowing that even though the Class of 2012 is no longer on campus, the spirit and the love that we experienced while we were there lives on. Every single person (even individuals I didn't think knew I was doing JVC) was excited for me and expressed their unending love and support as I get ready to leave. Goodbyes are tough and walking away from a friend or mentor not knowing if I'd ever see them again really sucked, but now I know for certain that the spirit of Scranton that I love so much lives on in all of us. That is something that will always be with me; knowing this gives me a great sense of comfort and peace as I move forward from my life in Scranton and transition into my life in Tanzania.
Thank you to my Scranton family for reminding me why it is that I want to do JVC and that I really am capable of doing it well. On those tough days, I will be sure to remember that there is an army of people clad in purple cheering me on from that magical place that I called home for four love-filled, faith-forming years.
Bring it on, Tanzania :)
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