The General

there was a decorated general with
a heart of gold, that likened him to
all the stories he told
of past battles, won and lost, and
legends of old a seasoned veteran in
his own time

on the battlefield, he gained
respectful fame with many medals
of bravery and stripes to his name
he grew a beard as soon as he could
to cover the scars on his face
and always urged his men on

but on the eve of a great battle
with the infantry in dream
the old general tossed in his sleep
and wrestled with its meaning
he awoke from the night
just to tell what he had seen
and walked slowly out of his tent

all the men held tall with their
chests in the air, with courage in
their blood and a fire in their stare
it was a grey morning and they all
wondered how they would fare
till the old general told them to go home

[CHORUS:]
He said: I have seen the others
and I have discovered
that this fight is not worth fighting
I have seen their mothers
and I will no other
to follow me where I'm going

So,take a shower, shine your shoes
you got no time to lose
you are young men you must be living
Take a shower, shine your shoes
you got no time to lose
you are young men you must be living
go now you are forgiven

but the men stood fast with their
guns on their shoulders not knowing
what to do with the contradicting orders
the general said he would do his own
duty but would extend it no further
the men could go as they pleased

but not a man moved, their eyes gazed straight ahead
till one by one
they stepped back and not a word was said
and the old general was left with his
own words echoing in his head
he then prepared to fight

[CHORUS]

go now you are forgiven

I have a couple friends who sing and play guitar, and they thought that this song was perfect for exchange. I love it so much, and I hope everyone can learn a little something from it. 

On a different note, I woke up realizing that I'm leaving in a good 20 hours to go to a town and people that I haven't seen for almost a year. I have question upon question buzzing through my head: How am I going to fit 23 kilos into a suitcase? How am I going to wake up at 3 AM tomorrow? Am I still the same person that got off that plane 10 and a half months ago? It's hard to tell. I feel like I haven't changed much, only because I have been the one changing. But what would someone else think? I'm excited, but worried at the same time.

I've been wondering as well if I've been what someone would call "successful" as an exchange student. Do I speak French as fluently as I'm supposed to? Did I integrate with my classmates as much as I should have? Did I go enough places? Do enough other activities? I don't know, but I loved this year, and I wouldn't trade it for anything else. 

I wanted to say thanks for everyone who helped me this year-especially my parents- for helping with all those stupid documents to fill out, all those trips to New York for the visa, paying for all those bus trips, and being there for me every step of the way, even when I was so homesick that I didn't know what to do with myself. You guys all helped make this year the best one of my life. 

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

It's not a year in a life. It's a life in a year.