One…

One week.  6 days at my work placement with one day to pack up my GSV life.

Soon, I’ll be on a train back to Massachusetts. Out of the stifling heat of our house in Astoria and into the crisp air of my Westport home, filled with the laughter of my cousins nearby. Home is within reach yet again.

But before I go, here are 6 things I will definitely miss from my volunteer year in NYC:

(no particular order)

1. Justice talks/articles. I’ve never come across such an enthusiastic group of people willing and ready to discuss and share books/articles/thoughts on social justice issues around the world. The best part is when the passion of one is found in all or at the least sparked in all. We all respect our different core values and efforts to fight injustice and I think we’ve all changed ours or adapted them slightly after being affected by this year.

So, yay gay rights/feminist theology/feminism/foster care…etc

2. Constant sources of inspiration. This kind of goes with the top piece but being surrounded by passionate, strong, and independent women is an amazing experience. I’ve learned a great deal from each of these ladies and that makes me a very priveleged person. Plus, being inspired at work by co-workers and the overall dedication GSS has to youth and women. There are so many amazing programs out there but GSS has done it so well, and I’m proud to be a small part of that.

3. Big Booty- I heart the chocolate chip cookies at Big Booty bakery. It’s barely a block away and definitely a nice treat. I WILL be returning with a Big Booty t-shirt before I leave here. It’s amazing and comical and perfect for Chelsea. 😛

4. I heart Astoria. I love the fact that we live in a random old high school. I love that it’s only a few blocks down to the park and East River. I truly love that I can see Manhattan all lit up at night from our patio.

5. Chelsea Foyer. I may have started off bored and a bit clueless in work as far as the Alumni stuff was involved. But, the work became something completely different and more fulfilling by the end of my time here. I’ll miss the staff support, the vibrant personalities, and being able to goof off with co-workers. The residents are true gems as well. I’ll definitely miss the experience of it all and wish the best of luck to the GSVs of the future.

6. NYC. I’ll miss spending way too many hours at the Strand bookstore without really buying anything. Plopping down in Union Square or Central Park with some Wafel & Dinges (best food truck ever) with people I love. I’ll miss visiting the museums, hearing live music on the train/train platforms/any public space. Seeing the afternoon sun reflecting off tall glass buildings and witnessing parts of old New York transforming and co-exisiting with the modern designs of the new. I’ll miss Lady Liberty, a forgotten green soul out at sea, and the epic Brooklyn Bridge that can connect me to an eternity.

Beginning to feel bittersweet…

The year is wrapping up, a fact that has me still in shock. I’m excited to go home and relax a bit and start on my next journey (whatever that may be). But I’ll surely miss city life, 6 roomies, and moments in Chelsea.

I’ve been packing up parts of my room and attempting to leave the minimum for my last two weeks, as I get ready for a final brief trip home to drop off belongings that have helped me survive the year. The funniest part about packing up a volunteer room is that it takes very little time, and most of the things from new york have been disposable or already in safe keeping. I’m leaving a few things to the household for next year’s community, rummaging through things that I could donate to goodwill before I leave New York, and finding comfort in letters from friends back home.

The Astoria household still looks a bit chaotic from our year but it’s starting to get clean and purged of unnecessary items, although we’re delaying taking down any personal items that have made our house a home for the last 11 months. My room’s walls are starting to look bare and dorm-like as they were when I was a GSV novice. Our hallway, only minimally littered with random marks of our NYC escapades and community night memories. Our home is going through a change yet again, going back to the basics we were welcomed to and being prepped for the harassment of another vibrant Astoria community.

We have end of the year checklists that are growing smaller, a bucket list that’s half complete, and endless paperwork that needs to be organized and ready to be passed on. It’s odd to sit here at work, in my cold office, at my somewhat disheveled desk and know that my travel posters, pictures of family/friends, and workshop info will be left in a trash barrel someday soon. I’m not upset about leaving, I know all the work I’ve done will be continued in more than capable hands soon, and that there’s a next part for me to be determined. But it has left more of an awkward moving on feeling, reminiscent of the ending of a school year.

As I begin to look behind along my past travels, filled with windy dirt roads, markers of new relationships and events, I’m eager to look forward again and see what type of road is ahead of me. Will I encounter some roadblocks? Will it be smooth hard earth I feel below my feet? Will my intentions of handing over the map to someone more capable and all knowing prove to be the best decision? Will the blindfold of trust allow me, more great opportunities? Questions to ponder, with the answers hanging gently in the breeze as I prepare to begin a new path, not yet carved out.