GT Reunion

Just got back from a fantastic weekend with some of the greatest human beings I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Sorry I haven't blogged in awhile, it's been a pretty intense couple of weeks here. I seem to be in a constant state of motion these days with all of my travel. Such an exciting adventure this experience continues to be, the people you meet the things you find yourself doing and then in fact imagine yourself doing afterwards. I've been working really hard lately on just living in the moment, trying to exist for one day at a time instead of always a week or months in advance, I think I'm actually getting better at it last night; as I found myself trying to explain this concept to a friend who is about to leave france and is worried about everything that is going to happen and can't seem to get satisfied with the fact that they're about to embark on their own adventure. Not that I can't relate to that at all, it's just I find the best way to keep my sanity these days (especially as the end of the semester rapidly approaches and I find myself constantly in a state of panic because I think I've forgotten to do yet another thing).

I spent a lot of time this weekend laughing my ass off, which really was wonderful, as laughter really is the best medicine. I've come to the conclusion that it really does take a certain kind of person to get motivated enough to throw themselves into this mess head first and I happened to find some really good friends along the way who share that same kind of energy. My green tortoise adventure (the bus trip Graham and I took across the country two summers ago) landed me with the happy opportunity to meet and stay in touch with some very fantastic friends and this weekend 12 of the original gang made it over to cheery England to have a lovely relaxing weekend filled with laughter and waaaay too much beer. I always find myself intimidated by a new public transport system in a new city, and somehow still seem to feel a bit inadequate even though I speak English, my English seems kind of like a less classy version of British English. Something perhaps linguists get the best laugh out of is the intercultural differences and language barriers...I found more than my share of them this weekend within my fellow English speaking group of friends. It was so cool to be hanging out with people that I only knew for such a brief period of time in my life, but somehow still seem to know me better than some people that have been around for ages. Maybe it has something to do with the fact of sharing a small bus space together that eliminates all forms of "politesse" as the French call it, because even with people that to some may seems strangers I was able to let myself go and just have a great time.

The end of the weekend was met with tears by all as it's always so difficult to take yourself away from a family atmosphere that was so easily created and only shared by a few special people. 2 americans, 1 belgian, 1 irish lasse, and lots of british friends all crammed into cars and teeny tiny apartments and trekked all over the great United Kingdom just for the sake of smiles and creating new memories. I am still shocked at how easily I am attached not only to those people but the wonderful ones I have had the chance of meeting over here in europe as well. I can't believe how much I find myself changed after just a few short months, but this is definitely an experience I wouldn't change for anything in the world. It feels like I've almost found my place, like where I've been desperately searching for during these last few years. THere's something so special about realizing that you are in fact living the dream; and I can't believe the sadness that overwhelms me when I realize that we're already halfway through November and I find myself realizing that not soon, but eventually someday I'll have to say goodbye. Life is at the moment shall we say, very real, but I am really finding it the best place to be. Unguarded, daunted and exhilarated by everything that I am being offered and the new opportunities I am forging for myself. I've never felt so self sufficient before, and it's strange to start measuring my worth by who I can create out of myself instead of how much I can or can't do. This probably all sounds pretty fruity, but it's like even across all the cultural gaps and barriers no matter who I meet in this walk, we can all at some level manage to speak the same language. (How poetic:) If there's anything that I've learned so far it's that you really should invest in everyone and everything you come across, instead of always being focused on what is coming next. I've had the best experiences and moments of my life so far once I've finally figured that out. I wish there was some way to articulate everything that I'm feeling right now, because be it happiness or sadness, it just feels so damn good to be alive with all that (good or bad) thriving and pulsating through me.

So if you're reading this, thanks for sticking with me this far, and thanks for being a part of my life and enriching it in all the ways that you do. Right now I'm just going to sit right here and be, because god damn it feels good.

I miss you, I love you,

Sarah

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