Five days.

Last spring, when I first found out I was accepted to the New Zealand study abroad program, I entered the date of departure into an app on my phone that counts down days, and was amazed at how many days stretched between that wet spring day, and the moment when my trip was to begin. Every time an event is within ten days of occurring, a little flag pops up when you turn on the phone, a constant reminder of the closing in of days and the much anticipated arrival of the birthday/holiday/weekend. It seemed to me that the little red flag of triumph would take a couple of years to appear, instead of a few months. And now… only five days?

Today was a celebration of family, of new beginnings and reunions and hope. I spent the day with those closest to me, my last Sunday at NMH for months, begining to say goodbye while saying hello and welcoming home.

I will miss these people so much