Then and Now

Ever since I decided I will be leaving on the original date some part of me turned off. It is like, since I know I am going back, I just want to be back (at Guilford), and I don't want to go through the count down. I was unable to pin point this, though knew something felt strange, until May the other day nicely said I had seemed distant for the past few days. Even though I have been working with the education team and that is a very separate world from the rest of Embercombe - that was not what she meant. We acknowledged the truth, I thanked her for bringing it up - which helped me be able to identify what was going on, and then she kept making jam (squishing berries through a sieve which some poor soul would need to clear later that day) and I returned to the task of picking up the snack from the kitchen to take to the woodwork area for the Imayla group of teenage Mum's and their young ones.
Stone soup for 120 happened. We all worked hard, drank lots of water, created as much shade for ourselves and the kids as we could, and after waving good bye as their coach drove away, knowing that we were to jump in the lake soon, we cleaned up the yurts for friends weekend and headed to the dinning yurt for some black current and mint (homemade) sorbet.
I was going to say I certainly will miss this place but I know that is not true. While I have enjoyed my time here (SO much so), learned a ton, and have changed to be more of the person I am - the part of me who adjusts quickly to places/things/people anticipate adjusting almost too quickly to the (updated) Guilford college ways. Having said that I do anticipate feeling the absence of Mimi and Teo, the fresh air, an abundance of stars every night, a lake to swim in daily (I have been in at least once every day for the past 2+ weeks), being tired at night, and the quality food. I am curious how the transition will go once I leave Guilford. I am excited for what comes next - both in this moment heading to the kitchen (and all the potentials there) and in the further future of returning to America and what that will bring!