Saying goodbyes

I'm sitting at Dunn Brothers between my best friend and my boyfriend, the two people who know me best in the world, waiting for my parents to come back into Lawrence so we can have a final lunch before they send me on my way. The anticipation for London is building up, and I'm pretty sure I'll be in denial that I'm going until I board the plane.

To pass the time I keep thinking about the hostel I'll be working and living at: www.ish.uk.org It's always a fun game for me to imagine small details of places I'm about to see for the first time, like what the desk will look like, who I'll be working with, or what the bar downstairs is like. The rooms are always empty in my imagination, though I'm sure they'll be buzzing at all hours with different languages and laughter. It's hard to believe it's less than 48 hours away.

Had a going away party last night and saw a mix of people that hasn't been together in years, and it was so comforting. It was a gathering that was timely since it seems I'll be closing the Lawrence door for awhile. Hardly anyone lives here anymore that I went to school with. People at the bars on Mass Street are younger than ever, and I don't want to ruin my college memories by hanging on to a time that's passed and allowing the town to grow sour..not that that's something I could ever see happening in my crimson-and blue-tinted glasses, of course, but that's just how it goes.

Last post in the States! Next time I post I'll more than likely be sipping tea and munching on biscuits.

Preparing for takeoff

I'm T-4 days to London and my excitement for the next six months has shifted to anxiety. I almost feel like I'm watching activity around me throughout the day instead of living it. My life is packed into two suitcases and a backpack large enough to squeeze a person in. I've made lists of things to do before I leave, but my problem with lists is I lose them as soon as I make them. So now I have little scraps of paper floating around the house and if I'm lucky I can piece them together to make some sense of where my mind was when I wrote them. My bank account is already draining and I haven't even left the country yet. AND I went to the dentist today and have an appointment to fill two cavities tomorrow. Life is hectic right now.

But on another note, I was able to watch history tonight when Barack Obama officially accepted the democratic nomination for president. I think it will be one of those moments I remember for the rest of my life...sitting with my dad, watching the first black man become a step, albeit a large step, away from the white house. I'm looking forward to learning Brits' perceptions of the election. Last time I was there, the person I was talking American politics with thought all Americans backed President Bush's decisions and thought Iraq was justified. Ha.

Off to sleep before another day of organizing.