Goodbye Ann Arbor

It's 10 pm on my last night in Ann Arbor. After three important years on campus, I am finally leaving tomorrow. I'm nostalgic, though on many occasions I didn't think I would last this long. Every other day I was itching to get out of here, to taste the world.

As I was walking home from a friend's house in the balmy night, I started compiling a list of what I would miss and what I would be happy to live without.

Things I will miss:

- Big Ten Burrito - Ryan and I literally eat there three to four times a week. Where else can you get a huge, healthy meal for $3.50? It will not be my last time to btb.

- Being able to walk everywhere - Sometimes it's "stupid cold," sometimes it's like we're in Florida in July, but for the most part it's fair enough outside to walk to wherever you need to go.

- Our funny triangular-shaped apartment - It may be a noisy little fishbowl, but it has character and we made it our own.

-My friends Emily and Geraldine - Even though everyone is leaving on their own adventures, it will be sad not to be able to just pop over for a chat.  

- My coworkers - I spent the last 9 months working for Dorothy Gotlib Photography and had the privilege of getting to know some fabulous people. Dorothy, the owner and head photographer, taught me so much about photography and how to run a business. Joan, who I spent the most time with in the office, taught me the photoshop basics and so much about politics and current events. She is one of the most informed people I know! In our new office, James, the boss of the company with whom we shared a room, taught me how to play Mario Kart Wii and the wonders of No Thai. I'll be lucky to ever have a boss as kind as he is.

- Clean air - Living in suburbia does have it's perks. I know I will not have such luck in China. Every time I think of this, I take a deep breath and am grateful for it. 

- The quirky, liberal, academic feel of Ann Arbor - It's become endearing to me. I always feel like I can relate to someone here. I recognize that it's a little bubble of America. 

Things I will not miss:

- The insane climate - I will never get used to the dramatic range of temperatures. 8 degrees in the winter, 90 in the summer. The humidity, the gray skies, not getting enough vitamin D - I'm ready to forget it all. 

- The bugs - Killing one of those uber disgusting silverfish before you take a shower should not be a daily activity. 

- Our ridiculously finicky toilet - Ryan and I say to each other that when we strike it rich, we will import super Japanese toilets for our home. It's just not worth living without one. 

- The loudness of college kids - Who blasts "Song of the South" out their bedroom windows at 2:30 am? And why?

- The small town feel - I'm ready for something bigger, something more intense. 

I know I don't make the big move for at least a couple of weeks, but this still feels like a drastic change. I will miss the above, but I feel ready. I'm giddy at the thought of moving to Shanghai. It's going to be so challenging, but so invigorating. No one said moving to China would be easy, but almost everyone thinks it will be worth it. I know it will. Even if we hate it. This is the stuff that makes your life, that changes you forever.

I recently heard the old adage: "You can never go home again." Of course, Michigan and California will always be there. But, it will never feel the same. Ryan and I will never be the same again. The next time I'm in Ann Arbor, I will be transformed. It's what I've been waiting for all these years and I can't wait any longer.

Goodbye Ann Arbor,

Alexa