Namaste.

From Sterling Heights to Kalamazoo to Chicago to Holland to Alicante to Saint Joseph to Madrid to Davenport to Monterrey to Evansville to Granada to Rome to Nashville…I’ve had a fair share of transcontinental and domestic good-byes. After spent time and paid dues in each city - whether for work, study or play – I’ve always been ready to move on to the next adventure…mentally checked out of town long before boxes were taped and bags were packed. I wasn’t running, escaping, or chasing elusive happiness – instead, instinctively my gut always told me it was time to move to the next best thing and I listened. As practice makes perfect, the good-byes seem easier and as a consequence intimate relationships tend to become fewer and farther between. These side effects seem to go hand and hand with each transition and town…but for me, Nashville marched to the beat of its own drum; it has defied comparison.

I’ve met scores of marvelous souls, encountered friendly faces on street corners and experienced good ol’ southern hospitality at it’s finest. I directed a refugee elders group I adored, cultivated a close circle of friends, advocated for special populations and delved into the core of a community – all within a year and a half. This could never have been accomplished if it were not for the overt, friendly vibe oozing in from every corner of the city limits. Nashville has not only unlocked it’s city doors to people of every background, nationality, religion and belief system, but supports and advocates for its ideals and what it believes is just downright right . In fact, even the New York Times has taken notice and called Nashville “…the new Ellis Island”. What an amazing place to live! I think this is the exact reason this round of good-byes were the most difficult to endure…I wasn’t mentally checked out nor did I want to be. As a testament to the quality of people and friendships formed sits a backpack at my feet – monopolizing most of my leg room - full of tear-jerking letters, words of encouragement, congratulations and cards of support wishing me the best on my big day today – the first step down the path of my personal journey.

Forever engrained in my memory are the acts of kindness shown by Nashville citizens, my friends and family scattered across the country and the encouraging words bestowed upon me by all. So perhaps for all of these reasons, all of these personalities that have entered my life, remained in my life, touched my soul and forever altered my emotional attachment to good-bye, I will hold you dear. I may never properly be able to express my gratitide to all of you who have opened my heart – but perhaps, I can pass it on to others through my own acts of kindness. I have savored every minute of my last days, last minutes with friends, last breakfast clubs at Bongo East, last trip to 10 South 6th Street, last coffee ceremonies with clients, last loving hugs from elders and volunteers, last henna parties, last funny voicemails from elders at 8:00 am, last idealist conversations with Nejib, last filling, fried lunches with Nejat, last free phone calls to friends, last long, hot showers, last soy chocolate milk boxes, last time drinking water out of the tap and last English lesson of forming plurals and attempting to pronounce the governor’s last name. I am uncertain if some of these things will one day return to my life, but I am grateful for every last second. What I do know is I will return to Nashville soon; somewhere between country music, Lulu's fried pies and peach preserves Nashville has become home. So, instead of good-bye, I will see y’all real soon…

Thank you for all your love and support...