CFN – I think one of the hardest things to do in life in general, is saying goodbye. Saying goodbye to people that you’ve only just met, or have known for a while, or even for your entire life, is one of the hardest things a person can do. I’ve had to say goodbye many times over the past nine months, but I think the shock of the finality of it is finally hitting me.
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Last week we had our Italian exchange class come and stay with us, and all of them stole a piece of me and brought it back to Italy with them. As I watched each and every one of them board their train to the airport, I hugged each one, and held in my tears as I realized that not only will this someday be me leaving Danmark for my journey to Canada, but that each and every one of these Italians have touched my heart in one way or another, and I’m really going to miss them.
But if there is one thing that I HAVE learned is that not all goodbyes are permanent. Although it may feel like I am never going to meet up with these people ever again, I know now that that is a lie; because there are certain relationships that exchange students develope that guarantees them to last for a lifetime. I’m not excited for the day where I will have to say goodbye to Denmark, but I know without a doubt that the goals that I came to Denmark with have been fulfilled.
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I have affected some people’s lives, changed them for the better and without meeting me, that is something that could have taken years to happen. And I know without a doubt that these relationships that I have developed will certainly last a lifetime. As I sat at home on Sunday night, one of the italians sent me a message thanking me for being who I am, because she is very shy and doesn’t often come out of her shell, but because she met me, she said that she was inspired by me, and that she will try to live her life differently, all due to meeting me.
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This message is one of the main reasons that I chose to go on exchange, to effect someone’s life somehow, and now that I have, I must say that it was completely worthwhile, and it has made my exchange ten thousand times better because of her words.
Tabatha Pilon is a 17 year old student from Cornwall Ontario spending a year in Denmark. She will be writing to us each week or as her “gymnasium” schedule allows.
