19 Hours

In 19 hours I will have just finished my first college class.

In 19 hours I will be able to say that I am a college 'professor'.

In 19 hours the nerves will either be gone or multiplied by a gazillion.

In 19 hours I will have met 23 more people in this beautiful country who I plan on calling friends one day.

In 19 hours I will have seen the faces of hopefully 23 people I'll have the chance of meeting again one day at then end of this life.

I'm excited.  I'm a bit nervous.  I'm anxious.  I'm prepared.

It's college orientation here.  Students are everywhere finally.  Tents are set up and bedding is being sold all around.  Student leaders are walking around w/ signs for incoming students to follow.  Parents are walking around w/ their child as they familiarize themselves w/ the campus.  The bookstore is right under my apartment so all day long I get to see students lining up to get their new books.  It feels just like America (but w/ a fairly large language barrier).

For the first time, I'm on the other side of it all.  I see everyone getting ready to move in and start their first year and I can't help but think of my sister and parents and other people I know at home who are doing the exact same things right now.  I wish I could be there for that, but I have a job to do here and I can't wait to get started.

It's crazy when you think about how this world works.  Different times, different languages, different ways of doing life, but there are always so many similarities.  There is always a way to feel at home no matter where we are.  This world may not be our permanent home but having a sense of home is definitely huge for me.  And I can say that I've found that here already.  I may call this home for now.  I will always call the US home.  But they are all just temporary stops until I reach my eternal home.

Tomorrow is my big day.  Yarp for me.