But in my heart you'll always stay...

I leave for home in five days...and it is so weird. I have already said goodbye to Rasa, Chad and Dori a few weeks ago, and only just now said goodbye to Regis. Ruta came in to Klaipeda last night for one last Kurpiai, and it was a lot of fun. Regis, Ruta and I just had a last brunch at Jola and then said our goodbyes - though I may see Ruta in Vilnius on Monday. I will say goodbye to Arunas, Cathal, Dovydas, Regina, Evaldas, Ieva and Renalda before I leave this week...and with Stasys in England, I will just have to talk to him on skype or something.

I have given boxes of stuff away that I can not take with me, like my vacuum and speakers and stuff...and so my house is getting emptier and emptier, and yet things remain that make it feel like it's as if we're all going on Spring Break and everything will go back to 'normal' soon. Then my brain kicks in and says "Sorry Chelsea, that's not the case!" I will be going back to the States to face an uncertain future that may include a 'real' job or grad school...but where, when, how? Some people have it lined up already - Dovydas has a secure job he loves in Klaipeda, Dori is working in Albania, Regis is headed to England for grad school, and my heart is unsure of where it wants to be. I have had such a good year here, and thank everyone for everything - work was worthwhile and a learning experience, I made new friends that I hope to keep in coming years and I have deepened previous friendships so that it is very, very difficult for me to tear myself away from these people. I truly love them and Lithuania itself, and obviously this will not be the last time I come to this wonderful country or (hopefully) see my friends, but the timing is not so sure as it was last year - they won't be conveniently located at LCC for me to pop over and visit - they'll be scattered around the world...though most of them seem to be flocking to England, so if grad school in the UK happens for me, I'll most likely meet them. I have been a pack rat this year, keeping little mementos of events and people so that I can make the ultimate scrapbook when I get home to help me remember my wonderful time here. I have experienced new things and learned a lot about myself and others, and again, truly love those that I have encountered here and will miss them something awful. I intend to be a better letter writer...even if I don't receive tons of mail back, everyone appreciates receiving mail and I tend to pour my heart out more on paper. I can cry without them seeing then, you understand :)

All in all, I'm shedding tears as I write this, but I do miss my family and friends at home, so it will be good to finally set foot on familiar California ground. I look forward to seeing them all again and enjoy my own things that I have been without here, see my friends whom I have not seen for so long and enjoy my family's company again. Yes, that means my talking habits will be back in the house - so be prepared! I would like to maybe spend a weekend in Wisconsin when I get home too, as the forest and lakes of my mini-road trip reminded me so much of Mequon and that area, that I long to go and visit my family there.

Highlights of the year include:

• My family's visit in November - it was a blast to be able to have Sara & Robert come to Lithuania and see everything and meet everyone. It was also cool to have my parents be a little familiar with everyone and the area, so it was a very comfortable visit.
• My apartment - it was perfectly located in the middle of town, not far from my friends and a perfect size to host get-togethers. I was very comfortable and content with my first taste of living on my own.
• Christmas & Easter at Regis' - I felt genuinely welcome in their home and had a wonderful time trying new things and experiencing Lithuanian customs during the holidays. I do hope to one day see his family again, as I had a lot of fun there and they are such wonderful, kind people.
• New Year 2007 in Helsinki - thank you Regis, I had forgotten to include it. Naturally, a highlight as I got to be in 4 countries in one day and got loads of stamps on my passport, while exploring a new city in a new country with my dear friends. It was also really cool to see Senate Square where we welcomed the New Year on television during Eurovision and go "oo! I've been there!!" :)
  
• My birthday - having a cake brought to me with a tea light plopped in the middle of it while being sung to in Lithuanian was such a fun time.
• Other parties - I hosted many different types of parties here, from poker night to fiesta dinner to birthdays to "sophistication" wine and cheese parties :) Getting the city police called on you because a guest taps on the radiator back to the neighbor below was also funny, because the music was not very loud to begin with - so the cops were very nice.
• Weekend excursions - to Liepaja, Palanga many times, Veisiejai, Joniškis, the Spit, Kretinga or just walking around Klaipeda. I have many photos and pleasant memories from these trips that added variety to the typical 'whatcha wanna do, watch a movie?'
• My friends - the new and the old, both will be loved and cherished and missed greatly. I hope they had as good a time as I had, as this has been one of the best times in my life. In my heart you'll always stay! Now they just better reply to emails... ;)