"i may be small but i've got giant plans"

It's departure day!! I can't believe that in less than 24 hours I'll be flying over the Atlantic on my way to Heathrow before my final flight down to Cape Town. These past few days have been such a blur of goodbyes and packing, even a sort of birthday party. And now, after all the planning and waiting, it's finally here. I don't know how prepared I am but I'm so excited, nervous, and also kind of in denial; I just can't believe it's today after all the waiting and the anticipation leading up to it. Am I really going to South Africa for 5 months? And why does it sound like such a long time right now?

Visiting berg last weekend was pretty surreal. It was fantastic seeing everyone who was abroad and hearing stories of their adventures, it didn't take long to feel like I hadn't left and like I wasn't going to leave in a few days. The routine of going to minyan and dinner at hillel, the hockey game with friends, and then back to the apartment to watch The Dark Knight was so familiar from last semester. But the next few days were reminders that I'm not going to be at berg this semester as I jumped from place to place, saying hello and goodbye.

Since then I've procrastinated a lot, seen both sides of my family, packed two suitcases and a carry-on, and tried to talk to everyone I'm going to miss so much. My parents and Erica have been unbelievably tolerant of me throughout all of this; it's actually quite impressive because I know I've been much less focused than I could (or should) be. Even though I've been feeling pretty torn about leaving right now, I know that the most important thing for me to do is to go and have an incredible time, take lots of pictures, and come back in one piece. ;)

I leave you all with lyrics from one of my favorite songs (call me corny) which also gave me the name of this entry. Ironically it is from the musical Woodies is doing this spring, Little Women. Sung by Jo, Astonishing has managed to inspire me many times to keep on with what I'm doing and I know that it can't better fit what this experience is going to be.

There's a life that I am meant to lead
A life like nothing I have known
I can feel it, and it's far from here
I've got to find it on my own

Even now I feel its heat upon my skin
A life of passion that pulls me from within
A life that I am making to begin
I've got to know if I can be astonishing, astonishing

I'll find my way, I'll find it far away
I'll find it in the unexpected and unknown
I'll find my life in my own way, today

Here I go, and there's no turning back
My great adventure has begun
I may be small, but I've got giant plans
To shine as brightly as the sun

I will blaze until I find my time and place,
I will be fearless, surrendering modesty and grace
I will not disappear without a trace
I'll shout and start a riot, be anything but quiet
Christopher Columbus,
I'll be astonishing, astonishing, astonishing at last!

Sorry these entries tend to be so long. I'll try to make them shorter but more frequent. The next time you all hear from me, I'll be in sunny Cape Town, South Africa.

As always,
Sarah