Last One

I forgot that I had one more post to put on here! Sorry to those of you who were reading this and had to wait to see the exciting conclusion. This e-mail come from December 23rd, right before I left:

I'm coming home. Tomorrow I'm waking up at 4:00 a.m., checking out, taking a taxi, bus, train, then flying from Paris to Dublin to Chicago to Indianapolis. Then I will be home, at 8:00, almost 24 hours after leaving here. It's going to be a fun journey. I am thrilled to be coming back. I've been waiting for tomorrow for weeks now. So, the point is, I'm happy. And most of the remaining NFL playoff spots are being determined tonight too, so that's also exciting.

Thank you so much to everyone who read these e-mails and expressed an interest in my travels. Every one of you helped to keep me connected to the U.S. and home and feel normal when nothing has been normal. I am especially grateful for those who responded with encouraging words. You've made my journey that much better.

I am going to miss France. Certainly not at first, when I'm so happy to be back, but I have met so many people and seen so many things. And yes, learned things, too. If I could do it all over again, I would, strikes and all. I managed to take or am going to take the tests for four out of six classes, and everything should work out at Ball State. Dr. Gilman is very understanding. It's going to be so strange to go back to BSU, and have class at all, let alone multiple times a day, every day!

I wish I could come up with some insightful wrap-up here, but now all I can think about is America and all the lovely people in it. I'm happy.

I'll see you soon,
Stephen