Coming home was far more difficult than I had imagined. In fact, coming back to both homes was more difficult. I didn't know it would be so hard to be home for such a short period of time - I felt like I never spent enought quality time with the people I love! I'm so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family on the east coast - I thought it would just be a dream! While it was fantastic to get to see so many smiling faces and get all those hugs I've been missing, that just made it all the more difficult to leave and come back here! With Dad's stroke, leaving Chapel Hill and my mom and brother felt like running out halfway through something, selfishly moving along without regard to my other responsibilities. So back to Bellingham has also been a difficult transition.
Luckily, I've had Courtney, Chris and Katelyn here to help me along - we spent a fantastic few days in Vancouver celebrating the new year! When we got back (although it was a day late... we'll see how that turns out for 2010) I did make and eat the traditional new year's day meal - Pork chops, collards, black eyed peas and sweet potatoes, with homemade cornbread! SOOO delicious. I think I might give Mama Dip a run for her money (although the collards need a lot of work.)!
And today I'm back at school for the first day back! I can't believe that its already January 4! and that it is 2010!!! WHAT? How on earth did that happen? Where did the time go? I know that the following 8 months will fly by too - but somehow, right now, they feel like an eternity. I've got work to do at work, work to do at home, jobs to search for, LSAT books to study, vocab to memorize... decisions to make!? And just to answer the question, befor you even ask - I have no idea what I'll do when my time with AmeriCorps is over. No idea. I'm thinking about teaching english abroad, maybe trying to find a job in New York or DC, maybe AmeriCorps somewhere else... It is very doubtful that I'll spend another year here in Bellingham though. I've really enjoyed it so far, and the Pacific Northwest is gorgeous, but I'm just not sure this is where I'm meant to be! And, there are so many other places to try out. Any suggestions for the future?