That time of year again

Today John and I went to our friends' for an open house. They are moving back to their native Canada, and the purpose of today's event was to get rid of the many little bits and pieces that have made up their home here in Egypt. We walked away with a few little treasures, things like a crock pot, which you can't find here, a spring form pan, and English books.

What a strange feeling it is to shop in your friends' closets, and yet that's what happens every year around this time. That's what happens in our little ex-pat community. Every year at this time families that we have become close to, whose children I've taught, who we've gone to church with, begin preparing to leave. Sometimes their company or government moves them to another county or back to their home country. Sometimes their visas are not renewed and so they must leave. Sometimes they have just finished what they came here to do. For whatever reason, they must go.

I been part of this cycle for a while now. It's always difficult. This year though, several of our closest friends are going. These are the people who we hang out with after work, who we spend our days off with, who we go on holiday with, who we pray with when we're struggling and when we're not. They were our closest friends when we were fighting all of our government issues trying to get married. They are those people who have gotten to know me so well that they finish my sentences. They won't be here when we all reconvene to begin another school year, and I'm really struggling with that.

The thing is: this constant turnover of friends is something that will be part of my life forever. I live in Egypt. I wasn't born here. I don't even speak the language very well. But this is my life. For better or worse. And sometimes this life weighs heavier on the 'better' side of the scale, and sometimes this life weighs heavier on the 'worse' side. On days like today, when I find myself staying yet again, watching my friends go, saying my goodbyes, it feels a little bit heavy on the 'worse' side. I'm sure tomorrow will hold something that will weigh heavily on the 'better' side. But for now, sigh, I will prepare for goodbyes.