Time to say goodbye...

Today's the big day. Off to Russia again. To study abroad again. My suitcases are packed, I've got my copy of Thornton Wilder's Our Town to keep me occupied on the plane along with whatever movies British Airways will be showing. My suitcases are waiting by the door, not to be hated by British Airways, as the voice-over guy from Southwest Airlines commercials claims about other airlines ("Why do they hate your bags?") While I didn't get to see all my friends or family since I"ve been home from Middlebury, I did get to the Cape for a couple of days, even if it did rain the entire time and even if I sneezed all weekend due to stupid ragweed pollen.

As always, I get wicked nervous before a big trip. In Russian culture, it is common to sit with/on your suitcases before a journey. Maybe if I do that it will ease some of my fears for this year abroad. Will my family (or roommate) like me? Will I understand what the professor is saying in class (Part of my curriculum entails taking classes for credit with Russian students)? Will I be able to come home for Christmas? I really hope things go well. I leave it to God to guide me and protect me while I'm the Motherland and keep me strong.

Like I said before, my major academic goals are: 1) to improve my vocabulary by maintaining a vocabulary journal (or at least write down important words/structures that I'll need, and 2) write a draft/chapter of my thesis. Ambitious, perhaps, but doable if I keep my eyes on the prize...the MA degree which I"ll receive next summer.

It's so hard to leave the comforts of family, American food, Red Sox baseball, but I know it'll make me stronger and more independent. Thankfully now like half my family is on facebook and I have skype so keeping in touch won't be a problem at all. Still, it's always hard to say goodbye and face an uncertain future alone. But I'm not really alone, at least not in spirit. And being the optimist that I am, I fully believe that this year is going to be incredible. My Russian is only going to improve, I'll be able to meet up with my friends and make new ones. My life is certainly hectic now, and there is definitely something to be said for routines, for comfort, for living in a small New England town. But there is also something to be said for the excitement of a big city, the wide availability of public transportation and still being able to find enjoyment in going to church and singing with a choir. That being said, I am also bringing my score of Handel's Messiah, because I hear tell that we might be singing it this season. So there's a lot to look forward to and while I will be very sad to say goodbye to Mom and Dad, whom I love very very very much, I'm looking forward to beginning this new journey...

“Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before.” (Phantom of the Opera)

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24 (www.spiritsong.com/quotes)

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

Ralph Waldo Emerson (www.spiritsong.com/quotes)

"It's a magical world, Hobbes, Ol' Buddy...let's go exploring!"

Calvin's last words,12/31/95 (Calvin & Hobbes) (www.spiritsong.com/quotes)