If we were having coffee, I’d start off out by telling you that this week has been awesome. Truly awesome. I’m down to a week and a half before I leave the country for an indefinite amount of time and I want to make the most of the time I have left here…and I feel like I’ve definitely been doing that this week.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about how I visited my college town earlier this week for the first time since I left as a new graduate in May. I’d tell you about how wonderful it was to be back and how I practically started crying when I drove up to campus and greeted my friends on the campus mall. There were tears and they were of the best kind. I was so happy to be back. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed campus until I was all the sudden there again. It was so wonderful to spend time with some of my dearest friends and I loved getting to see a bunch of people whom I hadn’t seen in ages. I also ran into my former history adviser and one of my favorite professors on campus, which was wonderful (hm…I’m using the word wonderful a lot in this paragraph. But this visit was so wonderful that my usual attention to variations in word choice while writing is failing me…and I don’t even know how else to describe it). I’m so unbelievably glad I got to go back before I leave for Thailand. This place means so much to me and, given my current sense of wanderlust, adventure, and a general need not be living in Minnesota for at least the time being, it’s quite possible that I wont be back again for…well, years. Seeing so many people that I know I wont get to see for ages and ages now that I’m leaving soon was the cherry on top of the whole excursion. I met a lot of cool people at college and getting to see some of them again was such a treat.
If we were having coffee, It ‘d tell you that I blogged about my visit back to campus twice this week. You can find those posts here and here.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about how my parents were out of town this week, venturing around the East Coast sans children (the bro is back at school and I work and am preparing for my own upcoming adventure), which meant I had the house to myself. It was pretty nice. I thought I might get lonely, but I actually really enjoyed my week of living alone.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about how I got to see so many friends this week. A combination of my visit to Morris and plans with my fellow college graduate friends working out all in the same week. My friend Paul and I made a tasty dinner of black bean and wild rice burgers on Thursday night (and ohhh they were soo good) and Saturday night I hung out with Paul and a few of my other friends…some of them whom I hadn’t seen since graduation. I love that I’ve been able to see all these people before I leave…especially since it’s hard to make plans with anybody given that I work weekends.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that work is going well and I’ll miss it when I leave next week. My last day is next Sunday. I certainly don’t want to be an espresso bar barista for the rest of my life (though I think my boss would like me to be, as he’s slightly freaking out that I’m leaving and tried to bribe me to stay, which, given my extensive plans to travel abroad, didn’t work). That said, I’ve so enjoyed my summer as an espresso bar barista and okay, as corny as it sounds, I really will cherish the time that I had at my work this summer.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that it doesn’t seem real. But at the same time it does. I’m in this weird place right now where I feel like I should be panicking about all that I have to do before I leave for Thailand…but I’m not. Of course I’m scared and a bit apprehensive, but that’s to be expected with a big change like the one I’m about to embark on. Despite that, I’m beginning to realize something: I’m so ready for this. I’m so ready for this adventure to begin.
If we were having coffee, I’d be about ready to switch it off to you…and I’d ask you if you have anything to share over coffee.
This post is part of the Weekend Coffee Share link up at Part Time Monster.
It's a Britta Bottle! 
Britta! I am so excited for you as you near the eve of your new adventure. You are a little younger than my daughter who is spending the semester is Salem, Oregon doing her internship as a recreation therapist at the psych unit of Oregon State Hospital. It was her second time leaving home (long story) so I totally get your feeling about being alone in your parents’ house then embarking upon your next journey!
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Thanks so much for your support, Terri. I’m so excited to share my adventures with you and I can’t believe I’m leaving soon soon!
This time period in life is filled with so much uncertainty but all so much excitement. I hope you daughter is enjoying her intenrship and living on her own in Oregon!
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Sounded like a great, fun week! For me, I would share over a cup of tea (not coffee, sorry) that I had a whirlwind of a ride while being back in France. Paris was especially hectic- but still quite fun! Looking forward to your post once you set off for Thailand!
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It was quite fun.
I’m sure you’ve experienced a lot already and hope all is going well for you over there.
Can’t wait to share my experiences once I’m there!
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I can feel the excitement and the happiness in every line here 🙂 Very energetic post, so lively, I love it! Cheers to the new adventures !
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Than you so much, Estela. Cheers to a new adventure, indeed!
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Here’s a funny thing: even xxxx years later I still really like to visit college campuses. There is something about them that makes me feel at home. And almost every campus has that feel. My bet is you’ll be the same.
I’m sure you are getting very excited. Enjoy your last week and half at home and the nice fall weather (hopefully ;))
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I love visiting college campuses, too! My own will always have a special place in my heart, always, but its such fun to visit other campuses, I totally agree. I used to love visiting my high school friends at their colleges not just to see them, but also to get a feel for their campus. Each college campus is so unique in its history and learning environment and there’s something so exciting about that.
I’m trying to enjoy it as best as I can! The weather has been gorgeous so far and I hope it stays that way. 🙂
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Sounds like a great week Britta. I can’t wait to read your first post from Thailand with all of your first impressions and stories about the trip there. It’s busy here too as I prepare to sell my house and start the move. Slowly getting there!
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It was a great week and oh wow, I’m so excited to share my experiences over there with all of you! I’ll have so much new blogging material, and I can’t wait for that!
Good luck with the moving process. ❤
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Looking forward to it! Thanks Britta!
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Oh, I can feel the nervous excitement in your words, and I’m all nervous excited for you, too! I hope that your last week at home goes amazingly and that you take lots of good memories and feelings with you on the journey. Looking forward to seeing where it takes you.
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Ah, thank you so much, Diana! I feel like I have soo much to do before I leave and not nearly enough time to do it! Trying my best to stay calm here, but I think some nerves are appropriate given that this is a major life change happening here!
I’m looking forward to sharing my journey with all of you.
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Yes, I think that some anxiety is definitely normal given the situation!
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Time just flies by when you’re having fun, right?
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That is what they say.
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I’m so glad that you’re feeling ready and excited!!
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That awkward moment when I find that this comment has been in my spam folder for almost a week…so weird that it ended up there.
Anyways, thank you so much, Sabina! It’s getting so close and I can hardly believe it!
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WEIRD. You’d think WP would approve anything from me since I comment so often!
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I recently had this happen with another frequent commenter on my blog, too, so I don’t know what’s going on. It is really weird, though!
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Algorithms are so strange!
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Britta, I’m so glad to read that your summer is ending well and that you got a chance to visit your alma mater and to spend time with your friends…and that work went well and especially now that Thailand is approaching! When is your departure date? I am so excited to see what the future holds for you. I can’t wait to read your first post from Thailand. I’m sure it’ll be full of excitement and curiosity for your new chapter in life! And what marvelous photos you’ll share for sure! Enjoy this part of the journey called life..You will never regret having chosen to travel there and to find out what happens and how many lives you’ll touch with your teaching!
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Thanks so much, Lia! Your continued support on this crazy journey of mine means so much to me!
I fly out the middle of next week. It’s coming up so soon and I still have soo much to do! But I’ll figure it all out, I’m quite certain of that.
I know this is the right thing for me to do right now. It’s absolutely daunting, knowing I’m going to this place with a completely different language and culture…but it’s also so exciting and I certainly wont regret it. 🙂
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Sending you much love and in eager anticipation for next week!
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If we were having coffee, I’d have snuck Coke Zero into my mug. I’d avoid getting too heavy in conversation and look for the light in the day. I’d also tell you I’m going to miss you when you’re gone.
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It’s a rainy day here, so there’s not much light where I am. Or maybe that’s just my nerves talking as I’ve been feeling exceedingly anxious the last day or two. Thailand is going to be amazing but I’m definitely getting nervous to leave.
I may be across the world, but I’ll still be blogging, Eli! Maybe not so Much in the first month during my teacher training course but definitely once I get settled into my new life. 🙂
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