Thursday, July 21, 2011

Chapter 7: About Goodbyes

I do not think that I will have the chance to post again until I have landed in Qingdao. My flight takes of in less than 24 hours. I have not really packed (all of my "Things to Pack" are strewn about my bedroom floor), but I know that it won't take too long to do.

Last night I said goodbye to my sister and her family. For those of you who don't know, I am extremely close to my sister, her husband, and their two boys: Eli (4) and Caleb (21mo.). I had previously been nervous about how the final few days would go with them, but saying goodbye was actually not that hard. We went to our favorite beach and kayaked for awhile as the sun set. Eli and I went and searched for agates (of which we found many) for me to bring to China. We came back to my parent's house, said goodbye (no tears, thank goodness), and that was that. Chris stayed after and we had a Cuban out on the balcony looking at the lake. It was actually a really great evening. And for that I am extremely thankful.

"And how are you feeling today, Warren?" you may be thinking. Honestly, the only thing I really am feeling is ignorance. I really have no clue what I'm stepping into. But that doesn't mean I am feeling nervous. Just ignorant. I am positively sure that this is just one of many times to come where I feel the same (after all, I don't know very much about China), and that's ok.

Less than a day. Goodbye Minnesota. Goodbye friends. Goodbye family. Hello, Unknown, it's been a few years.

3 comments:

  1. What an interesting thought...'feeling ignorance'. I've never thought of ignorance as an emotion...as something you can feel. I've thought of it as a state of mind that you don't realize you're in. I wonder if ignorance disappears the moment you realize you might be in it...i.e. you are no longer ignorant about your ignorance.

    Because ignorance has always held a slightly negative connotation to me, and because I like you, I'd venture to say that Warren, you are not ignorant - - you're simply open. You have a few small expectations, but other than that, you have not colored your experience already. It's like...(get ready for a really stretched metaphor)...you're an ant crawling around on an unfinished coloring book page that's about to be picked up and get an aerial view of it. You know some of the lines, but not the design of the whole picture or what palate will be used to complete it.

    Some much-too-deep thoughts from a philosophy minor. Bon voyage, good sir. Here's to being open to a rich, diverse color scheme.

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  2. Warren! Thinking of you today and tomorrow - can't wait to hear an update from China. Love ya dear friend.

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  3. Safe journeys, Warren! Give hugs to all our mutual friends/acquaintances in China for me. Let us know if you want us to send any care packages or anything like that (if, once you get there you realize that you should've packed_____). I know our second year in LT we packed differently than our first year, because we knew what we could and could not get there, or what cost more there than in the States, etc.

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