Moving on from work here was not an easy decision. For the past 8 weeks I've spent each day in front of a classroom full of students, secretly thinking about how I was going to be leaving soon. Rather than that secret fueling my desires to leave, it's just left me feeling guilty.
Yesterday was my last day at work, and I went to work nervous because thus far I had been instructed not to tell the students. My boss came around about 15 minutes into class and told me it was ok to tell them... So each class had their moment, some tears were shed, lots of me trying to reassure them that it wasn't about them, lots of apologies for bad behavior (though it didn't necessarily change during the hour), one class clapped, hugs were given, many colorful notes were placed on my desk. It was overall a really nice goodbye.
I spent last night cleaning out my apartment and giving stuff away.
Today I am headed out into the world again.
Itinerary (always subject to change).
The plan in the immediate is to spend tonight in Antigua, then head to San Cristobal de las Casas (Mexico) tomorrow. I am hoping to spend the night and day there then head to Oaxaca (overnight bus). After a few days in Oaxaca I would backtrack and either go to Merida to see a friend from South America or back to San Cristobal.
After Mexico I will meet up again with my friends in Guatemala and take a shuttle or bus to Nicaragua. There are 5 or 6 spots I want to check out in Nicaragua before heading back overland through Honduras and El Salvador checking out some places in each. In all I will spend about 2 weeks in Mexico, 2 weeks in Nicaragua, and roughly a week or so in Honduras and El Salvador.
I fly home on the 23 of July from Guatemala City.
I know that I can easily make this schedule and see all the spots, but after so many weeks of constantly working one of my goals will be to give myself a break. Hopefully that means a few days in each spot, not crazy rushing the whole time.
I have been trying to figure out other goals for the trip today. I think one will be to do some journaling and catching up. Another to do some watercolor along the way. But mostly I want to let my brain and heart to think and process and figure out what they want.
Months ago I was unhappy because I didn't have enough time to do creative projects while working. Over the last 8 weeks I have been so busy working, focusing on getting through the job... That I accidentally got stuck in that rhythm again. Now I am not sure what it was I wanted to do with my time off, but I am hoping to find it again before I head home.
The hardest part of leaving is that there is a community of people I respect and have grown to care about here.
Today when I was leaving it made me feel relieved to say "see ya in a couple of weeks" instead of goodbye. But soon that will not be the case.
I know that the world is full of wonderful people, but it has been lovely to have a group that has been part of my life, both work and play... Now I will be on my own again.
I guess I can look forward to talking to myself.
No comments:
Post a Comment