Saying Goodbye to a Place I've Known for Two Years

As I transition from my first two years of service in the Peace Corps to a third, I must leave a place before I can arrive at a very anticipated new one. The feelings are complicated at best. As I say goodbye to each person I have befriended over this long while, I cannot help prevent the rush of memories flooding back to the surface. The good ones definitely remain and will, ultimately, prevail; how we met; what we talked about; the first interaction we had; the extremely kind exchanges that would occur when I would return after a long trip. However, inevitably, as I was saying goodbye to the staff at the health center, it was impossible to deny the feeling that I wish I could have done more. I understand that that is something extremely trivial at this point in my venture (especially as that venture is no longer an unknown and risky one). Notwithstanding, the words and facial expressions exchanged spoke nothing of this. In fact, I was simply in my head over analyzing things. I spent a good amount of time sitting down and chatting with each of those I've made connections with and, ultimately, felt warm about the last two years in my community. It has been a long journey that is still well on its way to somewhere. I'm not sure yet where that somewhere is, but it's not really about the destination; it's about the journey; it's been a good one so far, roller coasters included.

So, I'm sitting in my room on my last day here in northwest Cambodia awaiting to leave to a place where I can (for the first time) say I'm going "up to" somewhere. I'm not sure exactly where I'll be living quite yet, as I'm awaiting approval on an apartment that was scoped out about a week and a half ago. I'll know all of this tomorrow, and should it be approved, I'll have pictures to post of my new place. If not, I'll be on the lookout for someplace else. Until then, though, I'll happily strum away at my guitar passing the time away until dinner.