Leaving on a Jet Plane

All my bags are packed
I’m ready to go
I’m standin’ here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is breakin’
It’s early morn
The taxi’s waitin’
He’s blowin’ his horn
Already I’m so lonesome
I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you’ll wait for me
Hold me like you’ll never let me go
‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane
Don’t know when I’ll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

– John Denver

Today is our last day on the island, and we are all viewing tomorrow with mixed emotions. The trip home means seeing loved ones we’ve missed, sleeping in our own beds, cooler (and less humid) weather, and not worrying about sharing WiFi with 21 teens and young adults. It also means not seeing all the children and adults we’ve befriended over the last 9 days for a really long time. It means the end of daily activities with 32 of our closest friends. It means missing Andros and all of its beauty. And most of all, it means an end to the work, at least for a time.

But even as our time on the island passes, so will our time away. We will be back. And as for the work, it will go on, whether here or in Ohio, New York, Alaska, or any of the other places we’ve touched or move on to. Planning is already underway for having students up next summer. And some of us could end up coming back for specific projects if needed before the 2 years are up.

To our friends at home, we will see you soon. To our friends on Andros, we miss you already and will see you as soon as we can get back here.

Though the day is largely devoted to packing and preparation for the trip to Ohio, we did have time this morning for a tour taking us to central Andros. The highlights of this tour were a trip to Androsia, where we learned about their process for dyeing and creating the beautiful fabric creations Andros is famous for, and lunch at Brigadier’s. Sadly the weather was not as cooperative as it might have been (it rained for the first time since we landed), and we had to sit inside, in the party room (which still had an excellent view of the waterfront). Now as we finish packing and prepare to head for dinner, everyone has a jumble of emotions about the day to come. We’re coming home, but in a sense, we’re also leaving the new home we’ve found here.