Looking Back: The Final Days of An Amazing Trip

(Before I go any further I want to make special mention of Madison Underwood, Ashley's sister. It has come to my attention that I unintentionally left her out of my blog postings, and I want to apologize. Maddie, I thought about posting a picture here to compensate, but the only one I had taken of you was one where you were making a weird face and I thought you probably would not want that one uploaded. I will try to make it up to you.)

 Between my Ryanair flight and my incredibly long layover in the Dublin airport, I had more than enough time to jot down some thoughts about the previous two months. My last few blog posts have been written retroactively, but the events of Monday and Tuesday I recorded as they were unfolding. I am not sure they will provide super compelling reading, but hopefully you will find them interesting.

"Monday

Was awakened by the person on the bed below me, who left at 4:30am. I stayed in bed until 5 and left by quarter past. Uneventful tube to Victoria station and similarly uneventful train to gatwick. I arrived early, which I didn't mind as I would much rather be early than late. While I'm on that subject, the ryainair flight was late taking off by about 1 hour. Apparently control tower computers had crashed. Arrived safely and had the entire day ahead of me. Feeling emotionally drained and still have a hard time believing that I ACTUALLY did so many things. I am trying to appreciate the day and not wish it was over with, but then again I am. I'm looking forward to talking with mom tonight but mainly just being back home. Things haven't felt quite right without family and friends for much of my travels, and I look forward to a return to old times.

Tuesday
After what seemed liked an interminably long day and night at the airport, I find myself above the Atlantic, being whisked along to my final destination, North Carolina. Between the anticipation of coming home and sheer boredom of tedious time-killing, yesterday dragged on in a most unbearably slow manner at times.

It was all worth it, though, for it truly makes me that much more appreciative.

And so, after 64 days of jetsetting across foreign lands, I am on an airplane pointed towards America. It is slightly more than I can comprehend at the moment - thinking about all I my experiences is difficult. My brain seems to have trouble acknowledging that I did so many things because they seem so far away. I packed a lifetime of sightseeing, adventure-seeking, cultural exposure and travel into two months; it is little wonder that I have a hard time summarizing all this into words.

And yet, I feel I must, for my experiences have been too precious for me to not make some attempt at documenting emotions and events. I do not know all the ways that God will use this trip in my life, but I can already see some of the good that has come of it. I have had the unusual opportunity to know what being truly alone feels like. In a strange country, with a foreign language, unfamiliar people and not a single friend, family member or colleague to talk to - I have felt how crushingly sad it can be to realize that you are lonely. Without God to encourage me I wouldn't have been able to make it.

I don't wish to replicate this feeling anytime soon, but I am thankful for it because it has provided me with a small taste of what so many people go through. There are thousands suffering from depression, having no family, facing incarceration or otherwise who must certainly feel alone. I don't think we pause and think of these folks enough. I know sure don't. For if I did, I know that I would be much more appreciative as i remember how good my life is. It sounds preachy, but it is true: you don't know what you've got till it's gone. And, without a doubt, I've got a lot."