31 August 2010

Analysis of a Despedida

Leaving Medellin, I had to say a lot of goodbyes. Leaving the farm, I said goodbye to the boys that I hung out with a ton and the other farm staff, who I had grown close to. A week before then, I said goodbye to Paul, the other gringo who was there for about the same time I was. Later that Sunday, I had to say goodbye to all the church folks that I had met. Then, some final goodbyes the last couple days I was there. It felt like I was saying goodbye to at least one person every day that last week.

And goodbyes suck.

It feels so weird when you spend all your time with a group of people, then all of a sudden, you don't see them at all, and maybe even never again. It's like when a boyfriend and girlfriend break up. One moment, they are the most important people to each other....next, they are barely in each other's lives.

I've had to do this a few times in my 23 years. After high school. After LT two summers ago. After Denver last summer. After this summer in Medellin. And after this last year of my college career ends, I'm going to have to do it again.

And I had the realization a few days ago that this upcoming set of goodbyes will undoubtedly be the most difficult I've had to do. Hands down.

I wish I could take a part of college with me. Maybe that's why so many feel like they have to find someone to marry while they are in college....so they can take a part of college with them to their post-college lives...


It's strange to think of all the people I've met in my life. I wonder what percentage of those people I will see again after leaving here before I die. I bet it's a really low number. We're all going to be going off to other parts of the state/country/world to do all kinds of crazy things.

What do I conclude from this? That life is short. And these different stages or seasons of life are even shorter. So, I want to enjoy and cherish this last year as much as possible before I have to move forward to the next stage of life.

We're food for worms, lads!

Carpe diem. Seize the day. Aprovecha el día.

Go big or go home.