Countdowns

I said my first goodbye yesterday. Not going to lie, it was tough. Saying goodbye and everyone going back to their same, familiar territory is one thing--but saying goodbye when one is going off into the unknown is another story completely. 
Three weeks from today, I fly out into that unknown. I am not ambivalent about it--I know that I want to do this, and I know that its going to be just fine--but, that doesn't mean it's not hard to say goodbye, or to take stock of the choices one makes in life. My family has asked me if I am scared about going...my answer is always 'No', and that is the truth-I am not scared about going. I am good at what I do, and will learn my new job quickly. I am used to new situations, and will adapt quickly as well, so no I am not 'scared' of going. 
I am however, very cognizant of the fact that the whole experience feels a bit surreal. Maybe it will sink in when I am there, and unpacked and sit in my new apartment and think--'right, now what?'. Who knows--but yep, goodbyes are hard. That's all I got. 

The price one pays..

Right now my sister and I are visiting with family in Italy. I love my Italian relatives...their generosity, warmth and hospitality goes to the bone.Tomorrow we start our return journey home,and I will say goodbye for another year, hopefully returning next summer. 
Saying goodbye now reminds me of the big goodbye I will make to people I love in just a short month. It will be hard to leave them all behind to set off to Kuwait, alone. 
I don't know how I feel about that. Excited and sad,I surmise. Once again I am reminded that nothing ever is one emotion. When it comes to events, there are always multi faceted feelings. Yes,I will miss my friends and family but does that mean its best not to go? Does that take away from my excitement about my adventure? Not necessarily... It could, if one dwells on the leaving, and doesn't keep their eyes looking ahead, not back. Honestly, saying goodbye is tough though and as Cat Stevens said "the patches make the goodbye harder still". 
The trick is to book a return trip home, go to the airport alone and stay focused on the reason you are going in the first place. New experiences,  rut-busting action and challenges!
As my Italian cousin Stefano would say " avanti,  avanti!!". Go forward.

Typical Italian activity