I learned something today...

William James once said: ''Wherever you are, it is your own friends who make your world' and whilst I've always wholeheartedly agreed with him, my current circumstances have given his words added poignancy for me.

After only a few days with Kristin, I already feel like I've known her for years and I trust her implicitly; I feel we've developed a bond and from day one her very presence put me at ease. Our bond has, I feel, been strengthened through the events of the past week (which I *will* be writing about - eventually! Honest.) and through walking (and talking) non-stop for four-and-a-half hours through the avenues of Washington!

To remove yourself from everything and everyone you know for x number of months is exciting, but it's also scary. As I prepare to leave for Boston and my final destination of Northbridge, Mass later today, I do so with more excitement than fear. This is in part due to my emerging friendship with Kristin, but it's also largely due to the contact I've had with Kristin's friends.

I've mentioned this briefly already but the fact that several of her friends and colleagues befriended me via email and Facebook before I'd even left the UK helped me enormously: it took some of the uncertainty away and reassured me I would not end up isolated and lonely. And Kristin's friends have risen way beyond their call of duty. I hope they won't mind me naming them, but Amber and Christina's wishes of a safe and happy journey and Christina's offer of a lift from Logan airport meant a lot to me: I can now proceed with the last leg of my journey secure in the knowledge that I'll be met by a friendly face and without the stress of having to find my way to Northbridge. Having had many - albeit typed - conversations with Michelle, I feel I already know her - almost as well as Kristin, in fact - and I can't wait to meet her! She's the main contact who's been offering me specific events to look forward to and I suspect we're going to get along very well indeed :D

And last, but not least, there's my colleague-and-friend-to-be, Matthew. I am mentioning him last because he posted a comment on my Facebook wall last night that really touched me and will stay with me, even in my darkest moments (and there *will* be dark moments, because that's life). Hopefully, he won't mind me quoting (some of) what he wrote:

'We'll make it home for as long as you stay here'.

So there you go: I'm going home.

:D