Final week of school

Farewell Annette Gymnasium

It's a bitter sweet feeling knowing that my time here is coming to an end and that I've completed my last ordinary week with schools and activities.  I'm looking forward to being reunited with my friends and family back home.  But, as I've already expressed, I want to stay here a few months longer.  Saying goodbye simply feels premature.

My biking buddies, Caro and Hannah!

The bonds I've formed by far surpass the amount of time I've been here.  I want this to continue and these relationships to only become stronger, which makes saying goodbye even more difficult.  My friendships will be put to the test as I return home but I'm positive that I will still stay in touch with my closest friends via Facebook, Snapchat, Skype and What's App. There are even a few who are seriously talking about visiting me (while they do au pair work of study in the US!)  So, to be optimistic, I'm thinking of some of these goodbyes as short term farewells and "see you again"s.

Corinna and I

Over the past week, I've been getting all of my friends from school and sports to write a note on my flag for me.  I've also been pretty busy with trying to take photos of everyday life here as I've realized that I haven't taken enough and that I want to remember these kinds of activities the most.  Everybody was so helpful and cooperative which alleviated so much potential stress.  Thank goodness!

My friend group <3

Going into my last day of school, my mindset was to make this the "best last day of school."  Giving it my all and looking back on it, I think I nailed that.  I spoke a whole lot and I enjoyed every second of the day. I went up and talked / thanked my teachers for all of their patience and help over the past semester, I talked with not only my friends, but also to people that I don;t normally speak a lot with and also exchanges Christmas gifts (I gave out cookies that I baked last weekend with my host fam as well as some American candies like Hot Tamales, Mike & Ikes and Reeces.)  Everyone was exceptionally friendly and talkative today because of break, making it easy to spark up quality conversations.  Plus, everyone in my friend group came up to me and had one last conversation and said one last goodbye, which meant a lot to me.  It was perfect and I couldn't of asked for anything better.  

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

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