Farewell, Pout part 1

I'm sitting here in my empty room awaiting the inevitable. Katherine rented a sept-place in Bambey and has already left her house. She'll swing by Thies to pick up Alyssa before heading to Pout, the last stop en route to Dakar. My bags are packed, my house is (somewhat) clean, and I'm feeling okay. But not great. I'm really just avoiding thinking about closing my door for the last time and walking out of here. It's strange and wonderful and heartbreakingly sad all at the same time.

I don't think I'm ever fully prepared for goodbyes. The other day when I confessed to my real mom that this whole process was much more difficult than I thought it was going to be, she just laughed and said "of course it is." And she's right; of course it is. Pout was my home for two years and hard times be damned, I still will miss this town and these people dearly. It's a dirty, smelly, chaotic, beautiful place and I'll keep a little piece of it with me always.

I'm headed to Dakar today to spend the next 4 days there saying even more goodbyes and preparing myself to go. I've got some final interviews and medical exams with Peace Corps and then my flight officially takes off early Wednesday morning, destined for Washington, D.C. The United States of America. The Motherland.

Goodbye, Pout!