The countdown is not longer measured in weeks or even days, but hours.... I leave for Cairo tomorrow morning, departing from an international airport in the States this exact time in the afternoon. These past three weeks have been a blur, entirely to fuzzy to recount clearly. The highlights include too many trips to Target and Macy's, too little time with my best friends in Nashville and Lexington, and not enough meals with my entire family. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the moments I had celebrating birthdays with friends, laughing at ridiculously lame jokes with my family, and meditating in my journal about the adventure ahead.
Two days ago, Mom and I spent several hours packing, and by some miracle (either like Mary Poppins carpet bag or how Jesus fed 5000 with a few loaves and fish) she was able to cram nine months of necessities into two bags. I was for certain half of my clothes would be left behind, but Mom made it work.
Sunday night was dinner with my extended family here in town. I have not laughed that much in a long time. The food was amazing, as usual, but the fellowship was best ever. I will miss them a lot; my cousins are both in high school which I can hardly believe, and my sister is going to be a freshman in college. It is strange to be the oldest of the grandchildren because they seem to be aging while I do not feel as if I am. Obviously that is not the case.... I am sure they think it's super strange I am going to Egypt for the year! Thankfully, technology is able to bridge the continental and oceanic divide between me and my family, keeping us closer in heart and spirit despite the physical separation.
Today has been a mad rush for the finish line. I mailed my educational materials to the Egyptian embassy today to be forwarded over to Cairo, wrote a few last thank you cards (for graduation presents; yes, I am behind), and went grocery shopping with Dad for our final family meal (just to make you jealous: king crab legs and steak!). The best part of this day, however, was my lunch date with my aunt. In addition to enjoying our light-hearted conversations, she passes along significant words of wisdom. Before I left for college four years ago, she advised me to make my own decisions. She challenged me to live by the standards set by my Maker and not be concerned with pleasing anyone else. Today, she gave me a new challenge: To live like I a truly free. I leave for Egypt tomorrow for nine months with no student loans, no family to provide for financially, no grades to obsess over, no romantic relationship to maintain via skype, and no worries about finding a job there or when I return. She said this is quite possibly the most free I will ever be here on Earth, and to be honest, she is probably correct. So, with a big hug good-bye and a glisten in her eye, she told me she is proud and to have the time of my life with no regrets and no should-haves-but-too-timid-to-trys, only adventures as a free woman.
No more talking about it, the time has come... Next time I post I will be in Cairo.
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