Saying good bye is exhausting. Emotionally, of course, but also physically. We are running between appointments, trying to make all logistics make sense and also scheduling dinners, lunches and quick coffees all the while organizing a big going away party for Saturday. New invitees are added on the hour, every hour; trying to leave no-one behind. So many people to see and also so many things to do!
How to squeeze four years of living here into the few days left? Especially during summer when so many people are away anyway.
This is nothing new, of course. We have since we moved together in China almost 15 years ago lived in six countries and should be used to this. But how do you get used to saying good bye to everything that is familiar, that you know will make your children sad; children who cannot fathom the prospect of "keeping a few friends in each and every country"? They only know what is in front of them and no matter how much we tell them how great it will be in China, they are still sad to leave their friends, their school and all that is familiar to them.
"Can we move to Jamaica instead?", Amanda asked me this morning. Jamaica that we visited over Thanksgiving and fell in love with. Of course that seems easier to her six year old self than China that she knows nothing of.
I know that I will "keep a few". A few people from our life here will be in my life forever but time will tell who these will be...Not my choice, not their choice - it's just the way it will be, how it will happen. Staying in touch is hard, keeping a relationship while living on different continents is even harder. Life goes on and circumstances change, it's just the way it is.
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