How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye seem impossible? So for all the brilliant people I have met this year, I will say " see you later"!
So I have been saying goodbye to people for months now, so much so that it has become a running joke. It has made it feel like I am not really leaving tomorrow morning. The funny thing is that coming to Belfast the end of August last year sometimes feels like ages ago but yet I can't imagine that this year is over. I am excited to tell my friends and family all about my year here in this dramatically beautiful country. It has been such a year of discovery for me and I have so many people to thank for it. I will definitely think back each day knowing which activities will be going on at either organization I worked with. The kids that I worked with will be a year ahead, quite a few of them heading off to secondary school. Its the small things that I will miss, like the wee chats with the mums at mums & tots. I will also miss seeing people I know when I walk to work or am walking to the grocery store.
Speaking of walking, I was given the opportunity to do quite a bit of walking as I had missed the bus in North Belfast to take me to city centre. So I walked to city centre. Well, once I got there I realized if I waited for the bus to East Belfast where I worked then I would be extremely late to my last service. So I kept on walking, something that I thoroughly enjoy thankfully. I made it with about ten minutes to spare and was quite impressed with myself because I was walking in sandals and a dress. After I had greeted and talked to quite a few people at the church doors, I took my seat and watched as the service started. They picked quite a couple of my favorite songs to sing and then the minister asked me to help serve communion with him. I was doing really well and was grateful to get the opportunity to serve the church one last time. Well as the second line of people came to be served communion, one of the pensioners collapsed. I have worked with her all year and have really enjoyed her spritely personality. Her face was ashen, one color I have never seen pale. After seeing her so frail, I suddenly began to cry. I couldn't help it and as I tried to prevent more tears, I started to sob. It felt good though. It was awkward as I gave the bread and said the wee message through sobs but it felt quite cathartic. It gave me a chance to let those walls down that I think I hold in so close now. I was able to finish helping serve and watched as she was wheeled out of the church. I pray that she is okay and that it was a scare. As I type this I also have to look forward because in a couple of hours I will be thrown into a sort of a reverse culture shock. I have told many people over here that I think it might just be harder adjusting to the US after being gone than leaving to welcome a new culture. Either way it will be there waiting for me to return, so I must deal with it in some capacity.
Plans- as of now finding a job would be nice. One that isn't 8-9 hours at a desk would also be preferable. Suggestion? Comments? Let me know!
Goodbye from Belfast one last time,
Sally
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