Goodbyes

I hate goodbyes. There is nothing good about them. It doesn't matter if I have known someone for 10 minutes or 10 years, I just never seem to know how to sum up everything into a single goodbye.

Last Friday as I was walking home in the pouring rain after my final day of classes I thought that I had finally come to terms with leaving Lyon. Sure, it was a little sad to be leaving, but mostly I was fine.

Then Saturday came with its gray clouds and rain and it hit me hard - I was going to miss everything. I walk outside my apartment and all I can think is "I'm never going to see that garbage can with the KEN graffiti again!" I've grown really attached to this garbage can ever since someone graffiti-ed it with half my name.

I didn't know what to do. Obviously I am going to have to leave Lyon, and even if I don't, all the people who have made it so amazing are leaving anyway and it will never be the same. So, like any logical person I decided to turn to movies for inspiration about what to do.

First is a quote from Peter Pan. Which isn't really a quote from Peter Pan, but it's a good one nonetheless:

I took these words to heart. I have yet to say a single goodbye to anyone. There have been a lot of Safe Travels and Take Cares, but so far no goodbyes.

Second, is a quote from Pride & Prejudice:

"Let us not say goodbye, but as the French would have it, 'au revoir'!"

I like this one a) because it uses a French word and b) because a literal translation of 'au revoir' means to the next sight or until I see you again. That is a million times better than goodbye.

Even though I've avoided the word goodbye, I can't avoid how sad I am that this experience is over. But Julie Andrews taught me that when I'm feeling sad I simply need to remember my favorite things and then I won't feel so bad.

Here are my favorite things from Lyon. These are things I'm going to miss the most when I get home, but that have also made this experience worth it.

• Walking around Vieux Lyon.
• Sitting outside St. Jean's Cathedral.
• Running to the Parc Tête d'Or.
• French lessons over dinner.
• The view of Notre Dame from my window.
• Roommate stories.
• Crazy teachers that divulge too much of their life experiences.
• The 15 minutes of socializing before FCC because the teacher is late - again.
• "Let's meet at Bellecour"'s.
• Playing with homemade cards on the train.
• Tuesday lunches at the cafeteria & the stories that come with them.
• Chance encounters on the metro.

So thank you to everyone I met in Lyon. You made being sad to leave worth it.