It's May. When I was young, May was a month filled with hope. School was almost over. It was finally warm again. Summer was coming and that meant lazy days and fun activities. I couldn't wait.
Since coming to China, May has come to mean something additional. May means goodbye. I know I've said it over and over, but I live in a transient community. People are always coming and going and that is just part of life here. I've learned how to say goodbye. During the past four years people I like very much have left and returned to their home countries or gone on to other countries. I miss every single one of them and I was very sad when they left...but I wasn't extremely close to them. I'd spend time with many of them and I'll stop to see them on my crazy road trips across America, but I didn't spend every day with them when they were here. They weren't the first people I thought of when I needed a hug or wanted to hang out or wanted to rant. But, this year is different.
This year several people I am close to are leaving. I've been telling people for months now, "I don't want to think about it. I'm not ready. They still have months." Well, I can't avoid it anymore. Most of them are leaving in a month. It's time to start processing. It's time to enjoy every moment I can with them. It's time to be sad. It's time to talk about them leaving and be sad together. It's time for laughter, stolen moments of joy, and sadness. It's time for goodbye pictures, tons of meals together, and more laughter. I honestly don't know what I'll do when these friends are gone. A part of me will be missing. I'll miss them every time I go to ask them over for a meal or every time I go to call them on the phone.
I do know one thing for sure though. It will be ok. I'll see them again (even if not on this earth) and we'll be able to keep in touch through email, Skype, and Facebook. Thank God for technology! What did international people do before the internet? And thankfully, most of the people I'm close to are still here. And they will be missing these people to. We can do this together.
However, for now my friends are still here. And I'm going to go make some more memories with them...
Since coming to China, May has come to mean something additional. May means goodbye. I know I've said it over and over, but I live in a transient community. People are always coming and going and that is just part of life here. I've learned how to say goodbye. During the past four years people I like very much have left and returned to their home countries or gone on to other countries. I miss every single one of them and I was very sad when they left...but I wasn't extremely close to them. I'd spend time with many of them and I'll stop to see them on my crazy road trips across America, but I didn't spend every day with them when they were here. They weren't the first people I thought of when I needed a hug or wanted to hang out or wanted to rant. But, this year is different.
This year several people I am close to are leaving. I've been telling people for months now, "I don't want to think about it. I'm not ready. They still have months." Well, I can't avoid it anymore. Most of them are leaving in a month. It's time to start processing. It's time to enjoy every moment I can with them. It's time to be sad. It's time to talk about them leaving and be sad together. It's time for laughter, stolen moments of joy, and sadness. It's time for goodbye pictures, tons of meals together, and more laughter. I honestly don't know what I'll do when these friends are gone. A part of me will be missing. I'll miss them every time I go to ask them over for a meal or every time I go to call them on the phone.
I do know one thing for sure though. It will be ok. I'll see them again (even if not on this earth) and we'll be able to keep in touch through email, Skype, and Facebook. Thank God for technology! What did international people do before the internet? And thankfully, most of the people I'm close to are still here. And they will be missing these people to. We can do this together.
However, for now my friends are still here. And I'm going to go make some more memories with them...
