The List

I'm taking a break from studying for my final.

I might regret this in the morning at 8am when the test is placed in front of me, but I am so mentally zonked right now, I just do not care.

Today I had my last class with one of my favorite professors, Stephane. He talked for a few minutes with Lauren, Peter, Miles, and me and told us to make The List.

The List is just that...a list of things that we are going to do, people we are going to see, foods we are going to eat, when we get back to the United States. Why make a list?

"Tu fais Le Liste pour que la porte de l'avion soit deja ouverte quand tu arrives aux Etats Unis...pour que tu saches deja ou tu es."

"you make the list so that the plane door is already open when you land in the States...so that you know already where you are."

Stephane also made the entire class be silent, and told the us Wake Forest kids to put our heads down and close our eyes.

Silence.

"Dijon."

What came to my mind? My host family and the house. Next my classes. And finally, my walk every day to the bus.

It was all I could do not to cry in class as Stephane told us that these were the images that, from now on when something made us think of France, would surge to the front of our minds.

A very wise man told me yesterday that my experience in France is my latest stepping stone, but just one piece of the entire journey, and that I cannot be frustrated because the next stone seems different.

Three and half months ago, I never would have imagined that going home would be hard. But, I'm 4 days away from my flight to the States and I feel like this might be the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

So while I'm unhappy in this moment now, I know that I will not always feel this way.

I am going to make The List.

What will I do when I get home?

PRAY.
Visit my best friends.
See my family.
Hug my girl Brooks and her sweet brother John.
Hold my kitty Indigo.
Eat Cook-Out BBQ and milkshakes.
Drive my car.
Go to Target.
Watch movies with Laura.
Run at Bur-Mil.
Shop for Christmas presents.
See New Moon in english.
Read for fun.
See my church family.
Sing Christmas songs.

...speak in French whenever I possibly can.


I know that I have changed this semester, and I thank God for blessing me with such a rich experience. I've grown up, discovered my purpose in life, learned independence...

And as dear Pops reminded me, yes, my next stepping stone seems different.

But this just my next challenge.