Starting Over . . . Again

Wow! My first blog post! How exciting!

Those who received my email journal updates throughout college are already aware of my tendency to be wordy and ramble and jump from one idea to another with random (often incorrectly placed) punctuation! For the rest of you: let this be a warning and a reminder that you may stop reading at any time! I’ll try to keep my posts brief . . ish, but no promises! :)

I can’t believe summer is already half over. And in less than a month and a half I will be boarding a plane on my own to go to the other side of the world. Yes I have made the journey before but this time it will be oh so different. Last time I had a companion, I had familiar people and a familiar purpose; to study, be a student. But this time I will be setting out on my own to an unfamiliar place full of unfamiliar people and oh so far away from everything and everyone I associate with security.

It seems that life goes in cycles. I remember first thinking this at the end of high school. How you start out on the bottom, unfamiliar with your surroundings; the people, the places, traditions . . . Then, over time, and only with time do you begin to work your way to a level of comfort as you get to know the places and the people and experience the traditions. In particular, I remember feeling this way about being a part of the cross country team in high school. How I started as a timid freshman: not knowing anything about running really, not knowing the stretching routine, the route for the workouts, the team cheer or any of my teammates. But time went by and before I knew it my closest friends were from the cross country team, I was leading the team cheer, and pointing the newer kids where to go on the workout route.

So as to stop myself before rambling far too much in only my first post, I will skip ahead and summarize by saying that I find myself terribly sad to see one cycle of my life ending. After four years, I had finally developed an extremely high comfort level in my surroundings. My familiarity with the places, and relationships with the people were such that I had never experienced outside of my own home, church, and family. Four years was more then enough time to establish this level of comfort and towards the end it almost felt as if there was no possible way to feel more comfortable! Thus indicating the completion of the cycle.

Really wrapping it up now!! So the bottom line is I am terribly, horribly shattered and scared even, for my college years to end. I am scared of leaving the place I have grown so comfortable in and losing touch with those who have become like family. But I am also excited. For I know that it is time to start a new cycle. And with each time I end a cylce and begin a new one I find myself less timid for all I have just experienced and learned. I have learned and grown so much in the last four years and although it is hard to see this experience end, at the same time I know it must and I am ready. For with a new environment, new people, places, and challenges will come a chance for more experiences, more growth and more relationships to be formed (although at this point it is really hard to imagine a greater group of people then the ones I have just journeyed through college with).

Wow, well I guess that’s my first post. Hummmm . . . pretty sure that is not what I had intended to write but alas, that is what came out when I sat down so that is what I shall post.

On a more light hearted note – the other night I met Marian for dinner in Galena (halfway between North East, where I am for camp, and Chestertown, where she is for the summer) and the dessert we ordered came with an Australian flag!!!! :) Made my night!