A month from today...

A month from today, I will be boarding a plane.
A month from today, I will have officially been away from home for 3 months and 5 days.
A month from today, I will be jumping into the arms of my parents, who will probably cry and hug me at the same time because they missed me too much to take turns.
A month from today, I will be happy.
A month from today, I will be sad.
A month from today, I'll sit next to three more strangers, all with different stories and destinations.

***

It's so interesting to look back on the last 2 months and think about my experience. I've made so many mistakes here, some I'm too embarrassed to even publicly admit, and some that were just silly. I've met so many people from so many walks of life. I've been on TV, on the radio, in newspapers. I've travelled to places that most people can only dream about travelling to. I've taken beautiful pictures and taken everything in the best I can.

Two months ago, when I was waiting for a connecting flight in the Amsterdam airport at 6am, a gentleman took a seat next to me in a pretty sparsley populated terminal. After exchanging stories and company, we parted ways, thinking we'd never see one another again. I exercised my amazing Facebook stalking skills and found him. After exchanging numbers, we agreed to meet for coffee and have spent at least one evening a week together since. Two months ago, I met the guy who has been my closest friend and breath of fresh air here. We laugh about it all the time, watching TV together, about how we met on a plane. How cliche'. How surreal. How perfect. Of course we'll miss eachother when I go back, but we know we can't spend the next month dwelling on it. We've got 30 more days to be ourselves, being just as mean and silly to each other as we have been since we met.

Two months ago, I walked into a quiet office to meet my boss (so weird to call her that). After about 5 minutes of gossiping, we realized how much it is that we have in common and I've never looked back. We've developed a communication mechanism that is secret to anyone else and invisible to the naked eye. We've talked about the tough stuff and our love for Britney Spears. We've laughed and we've cried. And after the passing of her father, I remembered what it was like to be sympathetic and available to a friend who has just lost something so important. It feels good to know that I've made such a great friend in Rhi. I will miss her at home just like I missed my friends from home while I've been here.

Two months ago, I moved into a "flat", terrified that it would be no match for my apartment back at school. I moved in with a roommate who I really knew nothing about and who was completely different from anyone I've ever lived with before. Not only have we made it work, but we enjoy it. And let's not even talk about how much I'm going to miss the flat once I'm back in the States.

It's strange to think that I've built a life somewhere besides home. It's even stranger to think that I've built this life with a deadline on the end of it, all the while living more for the moment and not for the duration. I've adopted a sense of apathy toward certain consequences, yet have paid more attention to most consequences because I'm growing up.

This post may not make any kind of sense - mostly because I'm so overwhelmed with different emotions about the conclusion of this trip. But there is one thing to be sure of - I cannot wait to see what it is that life has in store for me next.