I’ve packed my bags and cleaned out of my room. Tomorrow morning I’m leaving for good, going home, and never coming back.

Well, no, not never. But I’m not coming back to live here. This has been a mad year. There has been so much going on, and I’ve met so many people, and there have been so many emotions, feelings, thoughts… There’s been loneliness, but also friendship and happiness and giggling.

A quick update on the past week: Last Friday Morten, mum and I went to London, and Morten got a flight back home to Oslo. Mum and I proceeded to shop (new jacket, yay!) and on Saturday we went to the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and in the evening went to see Wicked. It was an awesome musical! I loved it. On Sunday, after mum had got on the Piccadilly Line out to Heathrow, I met up with Stephanie in Camden, where we had lunch and went shopping and things.

This week I began packing all my stuff. I’ve shipped two boxes with Parcelforce, but my suitcase is still way too heavy. I’ll just have to manage tomorrow. I’m getting a train at 9:13 from Walsall tomorrow. Thinking I’ll ask them to call me a taxi from reception when I hand in my keys.

Yesterday I went out drinking in Walsall with a bunch of awesome folks. Got more drunk than I’ve been in a long time, and so I was a bit reduced today, tired and tummy achey. Still, it was worth it. Today I’ve cleaned out my room, and went out to dinner at Nando’s with Abi and Renee, and Emma who’s here for the week and her boyfriend Jon. It was a good meal, and I had a great time. It was a good goodbye.

So, yeah. Goodbye, Walsall. I might not miss West Midlands weather, or the long walk to the shop, or the lonely nights in my room, but I will most definitely miss every one of the amazing people I’ve been lucky enough to get to call my friends this year.

I’m gonna miss all my flat mates, past and current. Even when I’ve been by myself, I’ve felt less lonely simply for having Clayson in the next room listening to music or rehearsing guitar.

I’m gonna miss my drinking buddies, especially Robin, whom I have declared to be my brother. Hanging out with them all on Wednesday nights has made the past few months so much more bearable, especially after Abi moved out.

I’m gonna miss my class mates, and all the other music students. Even though we haven’t hung out as much as I should have liked, they’ve all been very important to me and the time I have spent with them has been awesome.

I’m probably gonna miss Abi most of all. We haven’t seen each other so much lately, but she’s been an amazing friend. When I was freaking out today, trying to get everything sorted, she came and helped me out, and I’m so grateful to her for all she’s done.

All that said, it’s hard to pretend that any of that can overshadow my joy at going home, being with Morten again, seeing all my friends and getting back into my old life. This year has been a fantastic experience, but the greatest thing it’s taught me is how much I love my home and my life and the people around me. I’m gonna miss all the friends I’ve made, but don’t think for a second that this is the last time I’m gonna see them.

I’ll see all my classmates again when I come back for graduation in September, and I’ve promised to come back to go drinking with Robin and the guys. I’ve promised to come visit Abi, too, and she’s promised to come to Oslo to see me. So has Emma, and a weekend in Amsterdam seems like a good future holiday so I’ll be able to see both her and Ree.

This isn’t the end. It’s a new beginning.