Leaving Familiarities

As I sit down, I contemplate how my two weeks of Christmas vacation seemed to have flown by. I feel like it was just yesterday when I dragged my 49.5 lbs suitcase to my sister-in-law’s car at Logan airport and told her I was ready to go home. Now I’m sitting at my desk staring at what my mom calls “baby doll money” due to the Euro’s colorful nature. It’s strange to think I’ll be spending almost the first half of 2013 in another country, speaking another language, and living with another family. It goes without saying that I will miss the familiarities at home such as waking up to the smell of ackee and salt fish and fried eggs in the morning or hearing my name bellowed from the ground floor just so I could be asked a question. However, with change comes opportunity, new perspectives, and challenges, all of which I am looking forward to when I arrive in France.

Instead of exploring Boston for the past two weeks I’ve been lounging in my house. I wake up early and stay up late, I’ve welcomed my family members home from work, and I’ve cooked dinner. I guess I’ve been trying to enjoy these familiarities because I realize that soon I will have to learn the familiarities of another household. Yet, I did spend yesterday and Christmas Eve exploring my city and meeting up with old friends. As I patiently await tomorrow when my plane leaves what rings in my head is bon voyage and bonne installation chez vos familles d’accueil.