How to say goodbye.

I have my first final exam in 3 hours. I haven't studied yet. This is bad.

It's hard to stay focused on school - or to start focusing on school - when you are, at the same time, stressing out about packing, seeing friends, and saying goodbye. That's the only thing that really sucks about this program: the teachers give you absolutely no work until the final exams and projects, and by that point your worth ethic is past the point of no return, and your mind is full of other thoughts. What is there that I have to do in Rouen that I haven't done yet? Who do I need to make sure I see before I leave? How am I going to pack all of my things in my suitcases? Where can I buy another suitcase? With what money? Am I really going home in 4 days? And so the little things, like final exams, get lost amongst the multitude of thoughts about what to do before leaving France. Leaving France - wow, I can't believe it.

I said bye to Luc this morning, who left to go back to school in Paris for the week. It's just so strange to think that I won't see him again. I don't think it's hit me yet. I feel like it will, everything all at once, when I'm finally on the airplane. In 4 days. Wow.

I really am excited to go home. How could I not be? It's not like I would want to stay here without my family and my friends forever. But it just seems like the end snuck up on me. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were making ourselves feel better by saying, "We only have one week of classes, then Senegal, then 2 weeks of classes, and then break. And then it's almost December, which means we're almost there!" How could all of that have flown by so quickly? Now it's Monday, December 13, and I can't even begin to imagine how quickly these nexy few days are going to speed by.

List of things that I need to accomplish. Like now:
1. Study.
2. PACK MY SHIT.
3. Make pumpkin bread.
4. Wrap presents for Luc and Marie Christine.
5. Buy wrapping paper.
6. #4 and #5 are out of order.
7. Write notes for people.
8. Go to the Christmas market for last minute shopping and Rouen-exploring.
9. Buy another suitcase if necessary.
10. Clean my room (this should probs be moved to the top of the list)
11. Take pictures!
12. Continue the memory-making :)

People to write notes for:
1. Marie Christine
2. Luc
3. Bineta
4. Khady
5. Khadim
6. Cheikh
7. Djibril
8. Henri
9. Zoumana

I'll think of the rest later. I really should go study, especially considering I have to leave my house in less than 2 hours to be to the exam on time. Ahhhh.

Ak jamm. Ba bennen.

Josie