It is interesting how much people make a place. The past few days I have wandered the streets alone reflecting on my time here, my memories made and the lifelong friendships created with the friends who were slowly heading off all over the world. It is funny how the streets are full of people and I still feel so alone for the first time in my entire exchange here. It is not in a bad way. I have many people that I know still around but I wanted some time to myself now that my closest friends had left to reflect (it sounds pretty morbid and strange but I am not quite ready to end my time here so I thought that if I made it miserable and boring for myself, maybe I would be ready to leave). I can truly say that I have come to the conclusion that I cannot and will not ever say goodbye to Hong Kong. As I walked out of the church that I have grown to love for my last time yesterday, I wasn't sad. I didn't feel a bit of nostalgia or sorrow or whatever other typical emotions one would have when leaving a place they call home. I didn't feel like I was saying goodbye, but just a brief see you later. With each day that I move closer to leaving, I become more certain that I will be back to make this place my home again. Five months ago, if someone were to ask if I would fall in love with this place, I would have laughed. I knew I would love it but I did not know it was possible to fall this much in love with a city, a continent, a culture. I didn't know that five months could completely change the person that you were, are and want to be. This journey has been crazy, beautiful and life-changing and all around perfect. I wouldn't change a minute of it (but if I could add minutes then I most definitely would). I learned so much about myself, other cultures and the world and would go back and do it all again tomorrow. I have exactly two weeks left in this beautiful city and I genuinely hope that I'll only be gone for a year or so. I have truly fallen in head over heels love with Hong Kong (bet no one noticed that one happening) and I will never be the same.
Surprise!!! Another skyline picture!