A bittersweet farewell? I sure hope not.

When you get plants as a parting gift you know you've done something right

So...before I launch into a brief synopsis of my last day (and night) in Beloit, there are a couple of things that jump out to me during my first 24 hours back in Lawrence.

1. I love seeing so many cars around that look like mine!
2. The return of students has never felt so good. I didn't realize how much I enjoy the sight-seeing--i.e. young, attractive males.
3. I feel like I should give my parents a big hug for being so damn cool.
4. It's so weird being in Jayhawk country again! For the first time I actually get a small sense of pride for my association with KU. Up until now it has felt a little less embracing.

But back to Friday. It started off pretty awesome, with our staff breakfast in the morning. I volunteered to bring batter to make pancakes (recipe below) using cornmeal I got from a local farmer, and decided to risk breaking into tears by reading my letter to the editor that I submitted Thursday night. If it gets published I'll be sure to share the link in my next post. It does a good job of summarizing the impact that this summer internship has had on me.

Breakfast was nice, reminiscing on the highlights of my summer. It was followed by a sort of exit interview with my supervisors, which, I later noted, was such a different feeling compared to the first time I walked into the office for my interview back in March. I asked about the timeline of the food assessment, wondering if the Planning Commission might be hiring another intern next year. I'm not going to commit to coming back next year, but I can already think of how the timeline might fit in with other goals of mine to visit Ireland and Spain in August...

The late afternoon and evening was spent reminiscing with co-workers and myself wondering I had been pegged as a freak the whole time. Why had these conversations not happened earlier, we kept asking each other? We could have been partying together all summer long. "That's how they get you to come back," one of them said, and I felt like that alone was a good enough excuse.

Overall, I definitely feel like there is unfinished business in Beloit. Too many conversations I wish could have continued the next week, stories I want to hear the end of. Facebook will keep us somewhat connected, but there really is a part of me that wants to see all those crazy ass bitches again in person. :)

Iceberg lettuce as a substitution instead of the norm?! A clear sign you're in L-town...

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Traveling Insights: An Inside Perspective

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