A Traveler's Chapter: Bitter Goodbyes

I want to go home... But I want to stay here.

All that time in my amazing abroad year.

"I'll be seeing you."

'Cause I refuse to say goodbye...

But thinking of leaving makes me wanna cry.

I made a home of here.

Can I really let that go?

All that time I was given.

To be allowed to grow.

All the things I've seen.

All the things I've done.

On my last day in Germany,

But is it "the last one"

Will life treat me well?

Can I have the luxury to do this again?

This sorta thing's expensive,

But so worth it.

It was worth all the good.

It was worth all the bad.

Really my heart sighs,

Even though I feel glad.

Every moment is still crisp in my memory. As clear as a photo in hand. I can believe it's over because I felt the days tick by. My year didn't snail along, and nor did it fly... It was a steady tempo beat. A new day brought a new thrill.

I'm thankful for my entire extended host family, from the aunts and uncles who took me skiing, who took me to ballets. I will miss the coffee und kuchen and seeing their faces. I'll miss my host parents and my host siblings too. Living in their home was a wonderful experience, and I had a great time. Thinking of leaving's gonna make me cry. I'll miss the Fröhner family, and I'll miss the Lötzsch family! I love you guys so much. Come to visit me soon!

I'll miss going to school and seeing my friends. The class I was put into here in Germany was so friendly and kind. Herr Kosel made life so much simpler in the school building. I'll miss sitting in Frau Moll's class or going to English with Frau Freitag. And I'll be missing my favorite class, 10a! I love you Katja and Iyan. I love you 10a. Missing you guys already!

Ohh AFS. They did the best job of connecting exchangers with other exchangers. I'll miss my "B**** Clique" and my Leipzig chapter group. My mentor, Eliza, and every cool exchanger I met in between. You guys make exchange years, and you sure made mine!

Tschüss Deutschland. Bis zum nächsten.