Au Revoir, Poitiers

Bonjour!

I didn't realize until last Saturday that I had forgotten to post anything the previous Wednesday. That's ok, though; I hadn't done anything worth mentioning.

Come to think of it, I haven't really done anything since then that's interesting at all.

I've been super busy with school work. I finally finished my International Experience Report and got that turned in. Now, these past two weeks, I was assigned two more reports, two more projects, and two more exams to study for. I guess that's what I get for signing up for the last two classes of the semester!

So far, I've only finished about half of my school work, but I'm determined to get the rest done today, because quite honestly, today is my last chance to do it.

I've also been packing up everything. I can't tell you how many times I've packed, unpacked, and repacked because I forgot something or needed something I'd already packed. You'd think, with all the practice I've had over the past 9 months, that I'd be pretty good at packing things by now. This is not the case. I thought I was good, but I realized this week that I still don't know which way is best. I can roll my clothes and cram stuff into my shoes, but I'm still going to have to sit on the suitcase just to get it zipped.

This morning I was looking around before class, and I think I'm nearly finished. I've got clothes set out for the next two days and only have small things left to put away.

The rest of this week, for me, will be pretty awful. I have class all day. I've got to finish packing and move out of my apartment tonight and then go back early tomorrow morning for checkout. Then, I've got a presentation tomorrow morning and an exam tomorrow afternoon. Right after class, I've got to get all of my luggage to the train station and take the train to the airport, where I will be until Friday afternoon when my flight leaves.

When I land in SLC, I expect to be sleep deprived, yet happy to be home!

Lately, (when I'm taking a break from all of this school work) I've been walking the streets of Poitiers. I am going to miss this place. I'm not ready to leave this life I've been living here. As much as I'm looking forward to driving again, I'm going to miss walking to school. As much as I'm looking forward to seeing the mountains on the horizon, I'm going to miss the view from my window.

I'm so ready to be home, but I'm not ready to leave here. I'll miss this lifestyle. And surprisingly, I'm nearly as scared to go back home as I was to leave it. Of course, I'm excited about it. I'm ready for something new, but my goodness, I'm nervous. Change is hard.

I cannot believe it's been 9 months since I left the US. It has flown and dragged and been wonderful and crazy and one of the best things I've ever done. I've grown up a lot. I've learned a lot. It's been amazing.

Au revoir,

Sarah