cause i'm leaving on a jet plane.

I recently mentioned how I'm anxiously awaiting my departure to London. I haven't written much about this, but I will be participating in a semester long study abroad in London, England. I can't tell you how excited I am for this! I honestly can't wait to get out of my little bubble here and go explore the diversity, experience, and history London and its surrounding places have to offer me.

Being quite the free spirit, I feel as though I have very little tying me down here. There's just one small thing I'll miss: people. I have been very blessed to be surrounded by beautiful, kind, and inspiring people. The friends I have made here have greatly influenced my life, for the better, more than they will probably ever realize. They've truly become my family. Spending a great deal of time with them on a weekly basis, it will be quite the lifestyle change when that suddenly drops to zero. It's been a subject of discussion lately (as it gets closer and closer) and as much as I try not to think or worry about it, it does slightly freak me out. 

Saying "goodbye" has always made me wonder how much will have changed when "hello" is said once again. However, I read something on a friend's blog the other day that made me feel a lot better about this whole idea. He said: "In this day and age of blogs and facebook, there are no true goodbyes." It's true - technology has made it so that we can be on opposite sides of the world, but still see each other face-to-face. So cool.

Of course I realize that I'm in a stage of life where things are changing constantly, people are continuously coming in and going out of my life, and when I get back, certain things will be different. So I guess I just wanted to say now to all those in my life: thank you. Thank you for being the inspiration you are and the kindness that you have shown me. And if for some reason we don't meet again, thank you for the powerful impact you've had on my life.

xoxo, 

sarahmaines