I had a really great last night in Ningbo. I went out to eat after work with J and LE. When we finished eating we went to a cafe not far from where I live that I’ve wanted to go to for a while. We continued to talk much longer than I’d anticipated, but since it’s probably the last time we’ll be able to I decided the packing and cleaning could wait.

It’s now 2 am here. My apartment is not clean and I’m not fully packed. I plan to go to bed soon and get up in the morning and finish. I’ve got a bad habit of hitting the snooze button, so hopefully tomorrow will be different and I’ll pop out of bed and start finishing these things. The welfare officer from our school will be here at 10 am to meet with me and the people I rented the apartment from. After that we are going to the bank and the internet place. Those are the only two errands I have left to run in Ningbo so once they are done I’ll just have to say goodbye and leave.

I’m extremely grateful to be leaving tomorrow. I have this strange mix of emotions right now: a little anxiety and apprehension for the future, relief that I’m finally done teaching and leaving Ningbo, some sadness that I’ll be moving on and perhaps never seeing a few people that have become pretty good friends over these last six months and, of course, a shitload of hope that Istanbul proves to be a wonderful place to be for a while.

In 2012 I became willing to start living my life. In 2013 I started living my life. 2014 is all about working towards my dreams and making them come true. I’m ready to be astounded. The future has more promise than I’ve ever encountered and the present moment is filled with peace, contentment and gratitude. What a wonderful gift.