Goodbye Raleigh and NC State

It's been 6 days since I left Raleigh and NC State. Exams ended on 15 Dec and I left 16 Dec in the evening. I felt that I had left to hurriedly. I didn't have enough time to pack my stuff properly. I didn't have enough time to say goodbye to everyone. If not for Jen and Kelvin who helped me with packing, and Liz who drove me to the airport, I think I would have missed my flight which would have been very bad. In the end the flight was delayed though, cos it was snowing in Toronto.

The last week of classes before exam week (1-5 Dec) was a week of many lasts. Besides the last classes, there was also the last AO Bible study, last Campus Crusade Homeless Outreach, last Campus Crusade Prime time meeting and last Habitat for Humanity. At that time I really didn't want to leave Raleigh and NC State. I had been used to the lifestyle and feel comfortable there. Then during the exam week I was finalising plans for my post-exam travel, I was pretty excited about it, even though that meant my time in Raleigh and NC State is up.

My post-exam travel plans keep changing. At one point Jen and I planned to go San Francisco and Los Angeles together and I was so looking forward to it. But in the end I am not going to California after all, because I couldn't get an air ticket again, and Jen couldn't get her air ticket too. I guess for some reason God doesn't want me to go, and I'm ok with it now, because the desire to go there is not as strong anymore. I would rather spend the New Year with friends then alone in San Francisco. So the plan now is that Jen will come to New York City for New Year, and some other seniors from AO will be there as well. I will also visit Philadelphia, which is where I intended to visit in the very original plan. In any case, my 17 days of travel will be packed and happening! I think that after these 17 days of moving around, I would feel like going home already.

My last Sunday in RCCC (14 Dec) was one of the best days in my time here. The church had a Christmas service. I sang in the English choir with other college students, and two of my friends came to church for the first time. I was so happy they came. Yet it was also my last day at RCCC and I said so many goodbyes that day. These are people that have been part of my life the past 4 months. Students from AO fellowship, aunties and uncles who have been so hospitable to me, people in the Chinese NCSU Student fellowship, Aunty Cindy who taught Sunday School, and many more. I may never get to see them again, until we meet in heaven.


The choir group

So from Toronto on Tues night, I met Chia Ying and we took the train to Montreal on Wed morning. Stayed for 2 nights, then took the train to Quebec City on Fri afternoon. Stayed in Quebec City for 2 nights too, and I'm back in Montreal tonight before heading down to New York City tomorrow. It's really the first time in my life seeing snow everywhere on the streets. From Toronto to Montreal to Quebec City, there was snow everywhere outdoors. The view from the train was nice, maybe cos it's my first time in my life seeing so much snow. Walking in snow is fun for the experience, but I'm sure I would get quite tired of it if I were to live here. Trying to drag my luggage on the roads covered with snow was quite a challenge but I'm sure it was good exercise for my arms and legs.


In Quebec City.

Tomorrow I will say bye to Canada, forever. Hopefully all goes well at the customs. New York City here i come!

15 days left in Raleigh

I can't believe that December is here already. Looks like I've only blogged once in November. So picking up from the previous post, after I came back from Charlottesville on Nov 2, my next trip was to Chicago from Nov 21-23. Those 19 nights in Raleigh were actually the longest time I've stayed in my hall consecutively. I've been travelling a lot since mid-September and the whole of October and seen much fall foilage elsewhere. It's really nice to be enjoying the fall foilage in Raleigh in November, and I'll prob get to see them for another week or two.

I feel that I'm adapting to the cold here very well. Especially after Chicago, which was about 30 degrees the first day I was there. I mean 30 degrees Fahrenheit, not Celsius haha. It's about minus 1 degrees Celsius. The next 2 days were warmer though, and after I came back to Raleigh, Raleigh didn't feel that cold anymore. When temperatures first dropped to about 16 degrees Celsius, I started to wear 3 layers but I am still wearing 3 layers now even though it's about 8 degrees.

Honestly, I'm enjoying my time here so much that I'm really sad I have to leave. Before I came there were times when I couldn't believe that I'm actually coming to the US and it was so surreal for me. Now, I can't believe it's time to leave already.

I will miss the freedom I have.

I will miss the fall foilage, the mountains and the sunsets.

I will miss the RCCC and AO family.

I will miss the friends I've got to know here.

and many more things...

Earlier just now I was settling admin stuff for my departure. I've never dreaded doing admin stuff so much, not when it's brings you a step closer to leaving this place.

But I have to face reality and accept the seasons God has placed in my life. This season is coming to an end. There are things I haven't accomplished. Much in fact. So the next 15 days will be very precious.

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy whatever is left of the fall foilage, which is still quite a lot here. I was told that this year's colours in Raleigh are one of the best compared to previous years.