One Month to Go

The thing to do when going abroad, it seems, is to keep a blog. So, especially since I am so terrible at keeping a journal, I thought I would try my hand at blogging.

Yesterday I counted. I have five more weekends at home. Except not really because I am going to the beach and a family reunion for two of those weekends. So I actually have three more weekends at home. How in the world am I going to get everything done in that time!?
Studying abroad has always seemed like this distance dream of mine that I knew would happen someday but the reality of it never really dawned on me. Despite the fact at I've already signed up for my classes, received my student visa, and bought my plane tickets, it hasn't quite hit me that I will be studying in a foreign country for three months with no opportunities to come home when I need something. Of course, I am very excited. But, I am also terrified. Those blasted "what ifs" keep running through my head whenever I start thinking about my imminent study abroad experience.

But that's enough of my ramblings about how nervous I am to go to Hong Kong. This summer has been absolutely wonderful. It is the first summer I am not spending my time missing someone who is in another continent and I actually have a job I enjoy going to. Well, that's a lie. I have two jobs. One I like. The other I don't. The latter is a part-time job at the mall. Retail is not my thing. But at least I can say I've had the experience and cross it off my potential career list. My other job is an internship at the Sandy Spring Museum. I am interning there through the Maryland Nonprofit Leadership Program. At the museum, I am working with Molly, an intern from University of Virginia who has just finished her first graduate degree. Together we are redesigning the introductory gallery of the exhibit hall. Our boss, Shan, challenged us to find what is so special about Sandy Spring (basically). Our answer: Sandy Spring is a sustainable community that maintains its identity not only through tradition but also through adaptation to change. That is the very simplified version of Molly and I's vision for what the introductory space will convey. I think that what we have will be excellent and I hope other people will agree with me. It also helps that Molly and I work very well together because we check and balance each other. We want the space to teach but also encourage people to think. We've filled up so many whiteboards with ideas and connections. I believe we are on our sixth one now.

But besides working I have spent all my time riding, reading, swimming, seeing friends, and enjoying being home. Home is my favorite place on earth. No matter how far I go, part of me will always be counting the days until I can return home.