On leaving.

Monday was my last day in Leipzig. And it felt bittersweet…

My last week in the fabulous city consisted of wandering around my favourite places, taking last-minute pictures of everything I loved, having lunch in my favourite restaurants and sitting on a bench in front of the university and filling my already overcrowded mind with memories from the time I got to spend there.

Of course I was looking forward to go home and finally spend some time with my family. My parents were so sweet and agreed to come to Leipzig and help me move everything I managed to accumulate during my stay. And believe me, it was way too much J 

Monday, September 25 rolled around unexpectedly early. We had very little time to pack everything into my parent´s car (origami style) and at 10 a.m. the janitor was already ringing at the door of my apartment. It was a strangely sad feeling to give him the keys and sign my leaving paper. The hardest thing about it all was looking back at the empty little flat I spent so much time in. I didn´t expect tears to appear in my eyes but there they were, streaming down my face and I wasn´t able to stop them even if I tried. I was thinking about the first time I used the key to open the empty apartment, all excited and nervous about the upcoming years of not only studying hard, but also adventure and feeling of the unknown.

Above is the picture of me standing in front of the Augusteum (the main building of the University of Leipzig) on the day of my arrival, fresh from the enrolment. I remember feeling so happy about the fact that I was accepted to study there after my previous Bachelor studies at the Crappy University of Bad Choices I attended before.  Yes, I was excited. But one thing I could not hide was the nervousness I felt. About what, you may ask. Well, everything new brings feelings of uncertainty; I was afraid that I wasn´t good enough... I was afraid I couldn´t manage everything piling up in front of me. Now I can safely proclaim that I was wrong.

I spent the last evening in my apartment, looking from my window. I watch the city night lights illuminating the sky. I was enjoying the show of the Panorama Tower flashing its red lights for me for the last time. I was mapping my favourite places in my mind, imaginarily visiting them for the last time. Thoughts crowded my mind once again. I was thinking about the people I got to know and call my friends. I was thinking about the falling-in-love(s) and broken hearts, crazy parties, school successes and mishaps, wine evenings with my lovely friend and how thankful I was for all this, because everything I got to know and do served as a one giant lesson and a step forward.  A step forward to another life chapter full of new adventures and lessons waiting for me around the corner.

All I want to say is thank you. You know who you are, all of you. Thank you for becoming and inseparable part of my life, thank you for creating memories with me. Thank you, Leipzig, you mean so much to me. You´ve had been my Sparta, my safe haven and my home for a significant part of my life. I had a blast and I will never forget ♥

Until next time,

čauko, Lenka :)