I never thought the day would actually come when I would have to get on the plane and leave the country, but the time is growing near and -- to be completely honest --I’m starting to get nervous as hell about a lot of things. One thing that is really freaking me out is the concept that I won’t see you guys for an entire semester. An. Entire. Semester. Let that sink in for a moment because that’s kind of a long time.

It’s not like I’m not excited to go, but I’d be more excited if you all were coming with. The experiences I’m going to have can’t replace the friendship that you all provide that is completely irreplaceable. There’s actually no way for me to the fill the void that is my friends at home, and it’s a bummer.

“But you’ll make friends abroad.” Right you are! I fully intend to, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to miss any of you any less. People seem to think that new friends is a way to replace the old, but in my experience, it’s just a way to add on to the existing collection. Each of you hold a special place in my life and it’s going to be hard to know that I can no longer run down the hall or down the street to tell you the most exciting gossip I just heard.

It’s only a semester, and we will be reunited over the summer or, at the very least, next semester (unless you’re going abroad, but right now I don’t even want to think about that). And while a semester does seem daunting, at least it’s not a goodbye, but more like a “see you later." At least we have technology, and FaceTime, and iMessage, and other ways for you to tell me what recent shenanigans you got away with while I was gone. I know I’m not going to remember that the time difference is pretty drastic, so sorry in advance for the 3 a.m. FaceTimes, and for not answering any of the messages you send me after about 6 p.m. your time.

I do want to thank you for making it hard for me to go. It means that I’ve found a true friend in you and that I have my people to come back to. You’ve seen me through the ups and the downs and all the in-between moments. We’ve said goodbye for shorter times, so I have faith that we’ll make it out ok from this too. Trust me, I have serious FOMO about the semester, but I have confidence that you all will keep me informed about all the things I missed so that I don’t even feel like I ever left.

Saying goodbye can be hard, but I know that we’ll see each other again. “I’m going to miss you” can be easily thrown around, but I want you to know that I mean it. You’re the people I go to with anything/everything and not having you for a time is going to suck at some points. And while I am, in general, fearful of being forgotten, I know that with you guys, it isn’t even something that should cross my mind.

So, guys, I guess this is as formal a goodbye as I could give. Thank you for being my friends and for giving me something to look forward to coming home to this summer. Thanks for making my college experience great. I’ll see you soon.

Sincerely,
Your Friend Abroad