the end of the beginning

My time in this city has come to an end. 

We finished language school yesterday with evaluations at the mall, eating ice cream and pancakes while talking to people about what they do in their free time. All of my luggage, save for my backpack and guitar, is making its way on a bus to my new destination. And I am bound for Singapore in the morning for a two-day visa run.

It's strange to think that my time here is already over. I'm very much a mix of emotions that come in waves right now. I'm sad. I'm nervous. I'm scared. I'm excited. I'm readying myself for culture shock again. I'm trusting through uncertainties. I'm eager to meet the people, to see the city, to finally be where I've been preparing to go for a year. I'm ready to continue the journey.

This last week has been very full. We saw a friend get married. I got to wear a traditional top to the ceremony. I've packed up everything I own... again. We've cleaned (MagicErasers are awesome, by the way), booked flights, searched this city up and down for a hard guitar case (no luck). I've eaten out with friends, exchanged gifts, had sleepovers. I've said hard goodbyes, given many hugs, cried a lot, laughed just as much. It's been good.

And it's good when, as my eyes well up with tears, a dear friend sweetly take my hands and says, "Don't be sad, friend. It's not goodbye. It's just talk to you later."

It's not goodbye, loves. It's just talk to you later.

I borrowed the top from a friend. She dressed me up like a doll with all the jewelry and my hair.

Cleaning with the MagicEraser. Please note the difference between the tiles, particularly the line drawn down the grout.