Farewell D.C.

Leaving D.C. was one of the saddest experiences I have ever gone through. Leaving people that you have become so close with and will never see again on a daily basis is very unsettling. Leaving a city that you have fallen in love with and a life that is so different and exciting is disheartening. Leaving is a part of life.

What have I taken back to Massachusetts with me are the important things: friends, experience, connections, a taste of adult life, and tons of pictures of the George Washington Monument. I do not know how I have changed, but I know something is different about me. Seeing and feeling something that is much larger than yourself will inevitably do that to you.

When I first got home, I felt like I was back on Thanksgiving break, just waiting to go back to the airport and fly back to see my roommates and friends. That feeling did not go away for a few days, and still lingers around somewhere in my head. I miss my apartment, and my coordinators, and walking into the Wilson Center, and even the dysfunctional Metro. I also missed my home, and now realize that D.C. would not have been the experience it was if no end ever came.

Now that I am home, I get to talk to everyone on facebook, AIM, and Gmail, which is good enough for now. We are already picking out dates to go visit people and I think some of the girls are sending out Christmas cards. My Russian studies have kicked off and I get to sit around the house waiting for my internship to start in Boston.

This has been quite an experience. Take advantage of everything while you are here. If you are on the fence about coming, just do it. Every minute is worth your time. If you have even half the experience that I had, then you are still ahead of the game. Just trust me on all this.

I wish I could write sappier things to make all of you cry or really relate to what is going on, but you will not know until you are leaving. Then you can come back and maybe you will shed some tears while reading this, but until then, I am still here to answer any questions.

Good luck and enjoy!

Timmy V.