The Last Day.
Joshua Tree at sunset, Copyright photosbyflood
It’s here. In fact, it’s been here for quite a while.
The last day.
Tomorrow I’m schlepping my backpack to the airport once again. Packing up and carrying around all my belongings has no charm as all, as I have to leave behind quite a few bits and pieces. Luckily, my books and nicest sweaters found new homes today, and I left behind a tote of things in the Policy Center – a promise of return.
And return I will. I had such an amazing time in Boulder that I’m really dreading going back to the University in Vienna. I now know what it can be like. Academia can be fun, cooperative, at times intense, exciting and just.. perfect. For me, at least. In Vienna, studying is not a job, not an ambition, it’s a lifestyle. And while I embrace the lifestyle of not putting on a monkey suit and working in a cubicle (blech!), I don’t see myself doing this forever.
Vienna is awesome. The museums, the restaurants, the architecture.. everything. It’s just missing a good deal of nature and mountains immediately out my door, the Policy Center, English-speaking folks and my friends from Boulder.
Ah well, I knew it would end at some point, but I’m really never prepared. I get attached and then I leave. Story of my life. That doesn’t seem to apply to men anymore (thank goodness!) though.
So, what did I do today, during my last 24 hours of paradise?
The To Do list reads as follows:
- return books
- get rid of clothes
- hand in office key
- give presentation
- say good bye
- remind roommate about deposit
- get back deposit
- finish packing
- wash clothes and sheets
- print hostel reservations
- eat at Zoe Ma Ma
- finish coding October
- put futon back into original state
- check desk and kitchen for stuff
- write Christmas cards
- Grandma Happy Birthday e-Mail
- download papers
You’ve probably already guessed that the things that are crossed off are done and over with. So, there is not that much left.
Tomorrow morning, I will throw my stuff into the washer for the last time, vacuum my room, and then leave that place behind. I’m not sad about leaving my apartment. In fact, I’m glad I am. It was an interesting experience but I think by now I’m just too “spiessig” to live with a bunch of boys. So, returning to the luxury of our own apartment will be heaven.
Now I’ll try not to panic again, enjoy my coffee, get some more stuff done, have one last Za Jiang Mian at Zoe Ma Ma’s (sadness!), and then walk home (I already sold my bike). And watch a movie or something. Relax. Try and get my heart rate down. Before I know it, I’ll be in Tobi’s arms and off to Joshua Tree.
THAT I actually am excited about!
