This is it!

So this past week I have had to deal with the detestable Things 1 & 2.   

   

Thing 1: Packing

Over the past few years, I had thought I had become a master packer. I had earned to only take a small duffle when going home for the weekend. I could fit all of my stuff to move up to college in just my dad’s truck. (Ask my roommates if you don’t believe me. They were amazed when they saw all of my stuff disappear into my dad’s truck.)

Now take that truck and try to fit into 4 suitcases, 1 carry-on, and a large tote bag. Yeah…that’s why it took me a week to pack. It was one of the most stressful things I have done in my life. All of my clothes (including winter coats), my Japanese books, electronics, etc. had to fit in those bags. I did discover the wonder of space bags, but they can only do so much.

This mission was accomplished with a little cursing and some tears. Thankfully we have a better, cheaper plan for sending my stuff back home. When my family comes to visit in the spring, I will send suitcases full of winter clothes and coats back with them. (They will only be bringing one bag and they get two checked bags free J)

Thing 2: Goodbyes

I spent about a week in San Marcos saying goodbyes to my friends. I’m not saying it was easy, but the reality of the situation had not hit yet, so these goodbyes were not on the level of the goodbyes of the past few days.

In the past two days I have said my five hardest goodbyes. The first was my mom. She left Monday morning at 5am for a work conference in San Francisco. Thankfully, we said goodbye in the dark. If I had seen her tears, I don’t think I would have been able to stop crying yesterday. The second happened yesterday afternoon. I spent the afternoon with Myrrh, one of my grandmothers. Her goodbye was heart wrenching, because she is 96 years old. She is not in bad health but I am scarred she will pass away while I am gone.

Then there was this morning… three huge goodbyes at once: my dad, my brother, and my boyfriend. I feel bad, because we were running late and I was super stressed out (thank you packing). When we got to the airport, I had to hurry or I would miss my flight. So as I hugged each one of them in front of the security gate, the tears finally started to pour.

As I sit on this plane, I realize yet again that there is nothing better than the feeling of a plane taking off. While I watch the sun rise over the horizon, I think about how life is one day after another and you just have to take them as they come. And I remember the words my grandmother told me yesterday “You have to do what makes you happy.” I think these are the words I am going to try and live this year by.

I will see you on the other side (of the world :P)

-Caitlin

The Countdown

Hi my name is Caitlin and I am a senior at Texas State University (although if you are reading this you probably already know that :p). My major is in International Studies with an emphasis in business. I have loved the past three years at Texas State. It truly was my home away from home. Over the years, I have had many families at Texas State: my Orientation Leaders, my brothers in Phi Sigma Pi, and my Japanese class lunch group.

 I created this blog because in exactly one month I will be boarding a plane to Tokyo, Japan. I will be spending my senior year of college in Japan! It is all starting to hit me now and my emotions have been super conflicted. I am excited to be spending a year in a foreign country. I can't wait to sign up for my classes (yeah, I'm a nerd). They all sound so interesting. I am also excited to make new friends and explore new places :D

But, I am also nervous. I am scared my Japanese will not be good enough :/ and then there is the constantly nerve racking thought of money. I checked the exchange rate of USD to Yen the other day and it does not look good. As so right now it is only 77 yen to 1 USD. Which means I will be paying almost $1,000 more for housing than I originally thought. Then there is the cliche new kid feeling of not being able to fit in. I am scared I will not find a group of close friends.

And to top it all off, I am starting to realize the magnitude of the fact that I will not see my friends and family for an entire year :( I have been enjoying spending time with them this summer. I am going to miss the family dinners that are full of laughter and good food. I will miss my friends and our silly escapades (ex. laura's first fort). And I will really miss my boyfriend, Daniel, I have loved getting to see him almost every day this summer.

So, as you can see my emotions are like a roller coaster (specifically the one at six flags fiesta texas that is just two loops and you just ride forward and then backward-yup that's how it feels). I have a feeling this month will go by too quickly. I am going to have to savor my last moments under the big blue Texas sky. Well that's all for now. I hope this blog helps everyone keep up with what I'm doing (and that my life is not too boring- I'll be sure to add pictures to my posts) TTFN

-Caitlin