All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

Well, here we are. It's December 21st and at 9:15 tomorrow morning I will be on my way back to America. I wish I could put into words what I'm feeling right now, but all I can say, is it's emotional. And by that I mean I'm literally feeling about 800 different emotions right now. Sad, happy, excited, thoughtful...so many different feelings.


I've spent the past few days wandering Prague, this place that only four months ago was literally a foreign country to me, and somehow has become my home. This past week every time I've gone to Staré Město I've found myself choked up, utterly confused by the thought that in just a few days, I would be saying goodbye. I've gone there almost every day the past week, unwilling to accept the fact that I'm leaving. Ever since the first time I went there, that square has been my refuge in this city. No matter how crazy everything gets here, the drama that always seems to unfold, I can go to Old Town, and escape it all.

Sunday night Araceli, Ata, and I went for a roomie dinner. We went to a Mexican place, and my god was it delicious. We ate until we could barely stand. But I sat there at the table, talking with these two girls who four months ago were complete strangers to me, and realized just how luck I was to get them as my roommates. I couldn't have handpicked better people for me. I'm not even sure that either of them read this, but if you do, I love you girls. Thank you.

Last night was the first night of Chanukah, and to celebrate, Rachel came over and we made latkes and lit the candles. Ata got to try some latkes and loved them! It was my first time making them, so I was really proud.

Later, it was time for one final night out with everyone. We went to Legenda and I swear almost everyone on the program showed up, which was really nice. I had a ton of fun and it was a really good way to say goodbye to Prague nightlife. And at some point during the night, we realized it was snowing outside and a bunch of us ran outside to stand in the snow for a few moments. Of course it didn't stick, but it's the best we'll do it seems.

This morning, we had our lovely graduation ceremony. And by lovely, I mean Iwantedtokillmyselfitwassostupidandboring. They literally read each name out loud one by one and had us each walk up and shake the hand of every professor (yes, even the ones we've never seen before) and then receive our certificate. Yup, you heard me. Certificate. Who are they kidding?!?!

After the graduation though we had a fantastic lunch buffet. It was really good and it was nice to just sit down with everyone and enjoy one of our last meals together. Looking around the room, it was crazy to realize that that lunch was the last time I will see most of these people. It's all so bizarre.

After lunch Ata and I went out for one final walk through Prague. We went to Staré Město for a final time so that I could say goodbye to the square, and to the clock. It still doesn't feel real that I won't be back there. I'm glad to be here at Christmas time though, and to have my final sight of the square be filled with Christmas Markets and such. It was beautiful.

Then it was off to the bridge for one final walk across. As we walked across the bridge, Ata pointed out the appropriateness of the dark cloud looming over the castle. I haven't written about it yet (will be later in this entry), but Vaclav Havel died on Sunday, and today his body was at the castle for the people to visit. It's as if the weather just knew.

And then we strolled up to the castle. As always, the view of the city took my breath away, and I was glad we made it up there for one final visit. As we rounded the corner near the church, we saw some people walking into a room guarded by soldiers. We were curious, so we walked inside, and what greeted us was unbelievable, and I found myself instantly tearing up.

I couldn't be happier that we found our way to see Havel. In a way, being here for so long, I feel as if I to a much lesser degree, understand the grief this country is feeling right now, and the awesomeness of the man who was Vaclav Havel. I feel so privileged to have gotten to see him speak and to sit behind him back in October. He did so much for this country, and for the world as a whole.

"Hope is a state of mind, not of the world. Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good."--Vaclav Havel

With this as a fitting end to this journey, we headed back home to Pod Karlovem. And now I write my final post from here. It's so unreal to me.

To Prague: I feel like the luckiest person alive. Through the ups and downs of living in a foreign country away from friends and family, I found another place in my life to call home. I've met people I will never forget and done things I never thought I could or would do. I learned more about myself in four months than I've learned the past 21 years. I lived in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and traveled to some of the most amazing places. In every way possible, this has been a once in a lifetime experience, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Thank you.

And thank you guys, those of you who read this. I wish all my loved ones in Prague safe travels and the happiest of holidays with their families. Thank you for everything.

Na shledanou Prague. Budeš mi chybět.