As my days keep dwindling (4 days and counting), it is getting exceptionally hard to want to get on that plane. I've slowly been saying good-bye to people and places but the hard things to say good-bye to are coming up.
Things I'll Miss About My Home In Miami (in no particular order)
1) The nightlife - I'm not a big party girl by any means but I think I'll miss being able to go to an occasional drinking/sports bar or comedy/dance club. I'll also miss going to Boomers to play mini-golf and Dave and Busters or Gameworks to play games. Just the fact that the option of doing anything remotely entertaining at night will be totally removed makes me miss the idea of being able to go out.
2) I will definitely miss Best Buy/Circuit City/Wal-Mart/Target - I LOVE collecting DVDs and it saddens me to think that I can't walk into one of these places to buy the newest release or a DVD on sale. I'll also incredibly miss the convenience of walking into ONE store and being able to buy anything ranging from food to electronics. Target will be missed!
3) MOVIES! - I love, love, love going to the movies. Had I not pursued medicine, I probably would have liked to have done something involving film. I love going to the movies, buying movies, renting movies, etc. On Friday nights, you can usually catch me at a movie theater watching that week's new release. I will miss the movies two-fold. First, I'll miss just being able to go to the movies. And secondly, I'll miss having the time to go to the movies. I know they show movies on campus but I'm unaware of how new the movies are and how often they show these screenings.
4) Driving - As much as Miami traffic SUCKS, I love the freedom of getting in my car and driving anywhere I please. I don't think I'll love walking everywhere or having to depend on a bus or cab driver.
5) Publix/Grocery Stores - I've been researching food shopping in Dominica and it's looking like slim pickings. There really isn't fresh milk and I don't roll with that vulcanized milk so I can probably kiss my Frosted Flakes good-bye. I'll greatly miss walking into a Publix and buying my favorite foods.
6) I will definitely miss living in a generally bug and mosquito-free bubble here in Miami. I will also miss living in somewhat tolerable weather. Miami gets really hot sometimes but it can also
get cold. According to Discover Dominica, "Dominica offers a tropical climate all year with temperatures ranging from 78° - 89°F, constant trade winds and an average sunshine period of 8 hours per day. Weather is predictable; there are two seasons: Dry (Jan - June) and Rainy (July - Dec)." I hate the idea that I'll be hot and sweating most of the time and drenched from the rain the rest of the time. Mosquitoes are also drawn to me like moths to a flame. I've read that there isn't really a Malaria concern in Dominica but leave it to me to get attacked by that one crazy African mosquito that flew over to Dominica carrying some incurable strand of Malaria. Of course, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
7) Long showers! - I know this is a trivial thing to miss but I am physically incapable of keeping a shower under 15 minutes. I LOVE long, hot showers. I do my best thinking in the shower and nothing relieves my stress better. Almost nothing puts me in a worse mood than all of a sudden having my hot water turn to Arctic temperatures mid-shower. I don't know how long the water heater in my apartment will be able to provide hot water but if it is anything under 15 minutes ... I am going to be pissed.
8) Chicken Kitchen! - Another trivial thing to miss but I LOVE Chicken Kitchen. I eat it about 2-3 times a week. Curry sauce is really crack, I'm convinced. Hopefully, I can learn to make my own version of it. How hard can it be?
9) My friends - My friends are the family I got to choose and I will definitely miss seeing them and knowing what's going on in their lives. My only hope is that even though we won't be able to see each other or talk often that we'll still be able to keep those lines of communication open. I'd hate to come back to the States in a year and a half to realize that I lost contact with my friends throughout my time in Dominica.
10) My dogs aka my kids! - I love my two little Pomeranians, Libby and Luigi, more than life itself. I've had Libby for 12 years and Luigi for about 7 years. They have spent their entire lives with me, and it breaks my heart to leave them behind. I didn't have enough time to get their pet permits together but I hope to bring them over eventually if and when the time is right. Until then, they'll stay here in Miami with my aunt. I'll miss them everyday - especially at night when I would come home and all three of us would go to sleep in my bed. I miss them already....
11) My mom - My mom is the only person on Earth that loves me unconditionally and would do anything for me. I'll miss her more than she thinks I will. I wouldn't be here after all if it weren't for her.
Moving to a new country for a year and a half is not easy - especially if you are leaving behind so many things you love. I've always said the chambers of my heart were occupied by mom, my dogs, my boyfriend, and my friends/family. Even though my boyfriend will be with me in Dominica, 3/4 of my heart will be 1,400 miles away. I'll miss my mom and my dogs every day and I'll say a prayer for their health and safety every chance I get. Nonetheless, I know my heart won't be complete until I'm done with Dominica and I can come back home. Until then, all I can do is focus on school and study hard so I can finish and get home as soon as possible. Most importantly, I'll be taking it one day at a time...
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