Goodbye Newfoundland
The night has finally arrived, I am sitting here on my first flight, thinking and reflecting upon my time in Newfoundland. As we took off tonight I had a surreal feeling, as if the whole world was suspended, I looked out the window and saw nothing but stars, pitch blackness, and the wing of our plane. As I stared at the never ending expanse before me it felt as if I was flying into infinity. In many ways I feel as though that's truly what I am doing tonight, I am starting a journey that for me will be infinite. This journey, that I have been awaiting since Christmas morning, has finally began, and it will be with me forever. Czechia still seems like a million miles away as I look out my plane window, seeing nothing but the blank nothingness of a cloudy night sky from high above the ground. Yet, it now feels closer than it ever has at the same time.
It in many ways it was far harder to leave Newfoundland that I thought it may have been just a few months ago. I found myself in my last weeks reflecting almost constantly on all the things about my island that I am going to miss over these next eleven months. The whales in the bay, laundry blowing in the wind, becoming infused with the smell of sea salt and clean air, puffin patrol, strolling down Water St. with a good friend sipping on a cappuccino and laughing harder than I knew I could. In all honesty I believed only a few short months ago that I was going to be able to move away from Newfoundland without looking back, believing nothing was being left behind, unseen, unfinished. Now I am beginning to realize how wrong I was. Newfoundland has only been out of my life for an hour and already I know now that that big/little island in the Atlantic has impacted me in ways I can only now begin to understand, knowing that it will be without me for such a long period of time (I however will never be without it).
In other ways though it was also easier to leave than I thought it may have been because in many ways it still feels as if I am not going anywhere, as if this is all a dream. As well as I know that I am leaving my friends and family for the next eleven months I cannot, in my heart, accept that. I don’t feel sad yet because I do not yet miss people, I know that I will, but I do not yet. In many ways this made saying goodbye much easier, but I also know that, that sadness and longing to be with the people I care about so deeply will hit even harder when what I’m doing does truly sink in. Leaving my family tonight has made me so aware of how much I truly rely on their constant love, support and contact. My mother and father have done so much for me and I am so grateful to have had them by my side constantly for these past eighteen years. My brother and sister have been sources of joy, love, comfort, and support through everything. I am eternally thankful I am lucky enough to be their sister.
Now, this morning as I sit in Heathrow, waiting for my gate to be announced, I begin a new chapter of my life. It is a chapter I am ready for, one that brings plenty of change and new experiences. I am so beyond thankful for Rotary and this opportunity and I am more excited than I can communicate with words for this upcoming year.