My bags are packed. The car is loaded down with them. I'm a shower, an attempted sleep, and a car ride away from leaving. Words cannot explain how I'm feeling right now. I'm so excited to see my family, my pets, and a few select other people especially, I'm ready to take on living alone, Senior year, and to see where my life will take me next. At the same time I'm going to miss my life here so much. I'm going to miss the freedom, the lack of responsibilities. And I'm scared of losing the person I've found in myself here. I'm happy, like I haven't been, possibly ever. I've found confidence I never knew I had and I'm excited about life. I'm interested to see how my relationships with people will change back home. If I'm not the same, will I still get along with the same people? Will I find comfort and fun from the same group of people? I love my friends, and I'm very excited to see them. I just wonder what new doors will be opened for me now.
Wednesday afternoon we went to Linda's friend's house for Sankt Hans. Sankt Hans is the annual celebration to burn the witches back to Germany. It's believed that on the longest day of the year evil and magical spirits are arisen, therefore the burning is for this reason and just as a reminder of the witches burned so long ago. It was such a nice night. Luckily people spoke English and there were kids close to my age. It was weird because I was actually the oldest of the young people, by three years even. Around 9 we went out to the bonfire to watch the burning. It was a huge fire, very cool, but kind of creepy to watch her burn. After we hung out the rest of the night drinking and getting to know each other. I don't think we went to bed till around 3 or so. It's nice making connections over here for when I make it back or if they're ever in the states (notice the when, not if).
The next day we slept in a bit and headed home. We were both exhausted so the afternoon was spent drinking coffee and relaxing. It was beautiful out so Linda went to the summer house, I stuck around and worked out some. That night was the unfortunate Japanese v Danish soccer game, the Danish lost if you didn't know. Friday Linda had to work so I hung out and rearranged some things I had packed during the day, that afternoon was again decently nice so we went to the summer house for just a bit. We got another decent day on Saturday. In the morning, we ran errands and then hung out a bit, I finished packing officially, before going to the summer house again. I helped plant some herbs and such which was fun. Oh! One of the errands was to a place that sells all sorts of plants; one of the most beautiful farms I've ever seen. The property was huge. Old European farms are officially my love now. Sorry I don't have pictures. The colony house was nice though and I have learned a bit, I hope to grow my own herbs to cook with at home. Last night, just consisted of wine and relaxing.
This brings us to today, my last day in Europe. We got up early and went to the Scandinavian Deer Park. It was beautiful out and such a nice day. They had deer (obvs), wolves, polar bears, brown bears, fox, moose, and more. The brown bears were absolutely adorable though. It was nice to spend the last day out in the sun and enjoying Denmark. We bought some real danishes (NOTHING like that thing they sell in the states) and enjoyed coffee and stuffing ourselves. For dinner Linda made veggie burgers and new potatoes (another new love from here). I stuffed my stuff from today in my bag, loaded the car, and now just have my shower left to take. It's been the perfect last day here, especially considering I still don't believe I'll be leaving for the airport in 6 hours. Ugh.
I am so thankful for my time here. Paris was so rough for me. I didn't fall in love with it like others, and I don't really miss the city. It was the hardest growing experience I've ever had. I miss a few of the people I met there, but thanks to Dany and many of the French, it's not a place that I will be itching to return to. Everyone needs one of those experiences. I don't regret it, I've embraced the things I learned for myself. Denmark has been a blessing. I do believe that if I left for home right after Paris I would struggle to recall my experience as a positive one. I will never be able to express how thankful I am of Linda letting me in her home for 6 whole weeks. Italy, Ireland, Belgium, and France were beautiful, but I don't know what it was about these past 6 weeks, they were just amazing. I wish I could share the feelings I have about this place with everyone. I've seen so much, yet so little, of Europe and feel so incredibly blessed to have the chance. I cannot wait to see more. I cannot wait to see where my life takes me now. I feel different. I can't explain it, but I hope those of you at home see it. I truly appreciate those who have taken this journey with me, through my blog, through daily chats, through random wall posts just checking in. It scares me to stop writing because it's one more closure to this adventure.
A look through some of my favorite memories in the last 5 1/2 months:
Meeting Sasha (& Maggie of course too)
Seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time & making some amazing friends
first real night out
the amazing art I've seen
France v Spain with Kirsten
getting a tattoo in Ireland
spring break with Sasha (complete with Pizza fights in Rome & almost bar fights in Florence)
seeing Grace on Spring Break
Lauren coming to Paris
this beautiful day in Paris, and all my memories with Keshia
Belgium with Maggie; & all of our nights trying to convince ourselves to go out. And of course the night that the wine was really champagne.
Giverny
Ellie coming to Paris
These two, and our absolutely amazing Thursday nights.
Le Bar 10 and all of these people
Angelina's!! And the two most amazing girls I met.
Vejle & Copenhagen with Ellie (including ba ba black sheep, bugs injecting themselves in my eye, and more)
Lego Land
Meeting Alex again after 16 years
Holland (meeting amazing family and experiencing Amsterdam)
The Aros Museum
Meeting my cousin Eric after 16 years
Sankt Hans
The Scandinavian Deer Park
My life in the last 5 1/2 months down to 24 pictures. There is so much that even my 3,500 pictures cannot tell though.
Until the next adventure: returning home. ♥
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