End of a Canterbury Tale

-Where In The World Is Shay?-

You know that feeling you get as a roller coaster comes to an end, or when a crepe is nearing its last bite, or even when you turn to the last page of a book, that feeling of finality, sadness, yet gratefulness fill you? As I type these words in my hotel in Athens, Greece and while my ears are pleased with the sound of "Billy Jean" by the late M.J., I must say I am experiencing all of those feelings at the same time. COBA in Oxford is officially over. The past month of learning, traveling and fellowship with my group has ended for the time being. I am sad that it went so quickly. However, I am grateful for the experience OF A LIFETIME. I am grateful for the opportunity to blog so that I have stories to read later and I am especially grateful for you, the reader (the few that there are!). The sites I have seen will forever be with me and I hope that I was able to give your mind's eye that same gift. Before we call it, bare with me and let me delve into the details of our last few days, including the final presentation with Oxfam. (In deep theatric voice) And now, the season finale of Where In The World Is Shay?

Last time I left you, we had just arrived back to Oxford after one of my favorite weekends in Ireland. Coming back, we knew what the week entailed: Final exam and presentations for our Apprenticeship. Although we were in the mindset of cramming, our minds couldn't but help wander to it being our last few days in Oxford. As we studied and worked on our presentation Monday-Wednesday, we made time to go out and eat at our favorite dinner places, do some last minute site-seeing and scramble our brains to make sure there wasn't anything of significance we had forgotten...such as souveniers. It would be a shame to have been there 5 weeks and forget tiny pieces of memory. As we slowly checked everything off of our list, the actual list of checking our bags approached. Both groups, Oxfam and A.C. Nielsen, presented their data and both received great compliments back. Being a part of Oxfam, our presentation included a 40 minute power-point walk through of our findings including graphs, web-links and even a training video. Our final recommendation was that in order for their technological communication to further with their current employees (women 60+), a training video and simple website were needed. Oxfam welcomed our findings and suggestions with open arms and thanked us for all the work we had done. They realized that we only had a few short weeks to find this data, collect it and present it and were impressed with everything overall. My mock website received great feedback, as well as the training video Jon Davis and I did. Doing this global internship with Oxfam was incredible. For 4 weeks, I was given the project by a massive company that works in over 70 countries helping people in poverty, and was asked to help them for a change. During my time working on the project, it was easy to lose sight of the main goal. It would get frustrating, demanding and stressful. As we came to a close and as my website was presented, it all came into perspective and I realized it was an honor to help Oxfam, a company who constantly puts others first. Talk about a blessing in disguise?!

With the project being over, the only worry in our heads was that of the final exam for either Financial Management or Business Statistics. I was taking Business Statistics with Dr. Pope and had files upon files of Excel to look over. Although I must admit, I didn't do much studying because of lack of sleep and starting to pack things up, I feel as I did pretty well and will hopefully find out in a few days (Dr. Pope, be kind!). With a house party of cleaning and packing, Wednesday was full of non-stop running, yelling (nicely) and sweating. As the night fell upon us and we slowly and reluctantly crawled into our beds for the last time, my brain paused for but a moment to thank God for my blessed life, and was then unconcious...and rudely rewarded by the alarm clock at 6:45 AM. Bags were checked one last time, pictures were taken and tears flowed like milk and honey from the promised land. The airport was the last chapter in this Canterbury Tale, and it was bittersweet. Goodbyes were made as students deviated from the program and chose to do more traveling as the others boarded the plane for the states. I was one of the few who stayed back and had to change airports in London to get my flight to Greece. Seeing my group all together for the last time made me a bit jealous knowing they were going back to the states and not having to worry about money, finding a place to sleep, walking ALL DAY, paying for refills and having all the Pei Wei they want (Dear Mom and Dad, have a Honey Seared Chicken and fried rice waiting for me at the gate please). With 7 days left, I am having to push the thought of home out of my mind and live in the now, which is currently enjoying Greece. In James 4: 14-15 it says "You don't know what will happen tomorrow. Your life is like a fog. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away. If the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that." For the next week, and hopefully the rest of my life, this verse will keep my life in perspective. I am going to enjoy the beautiful island of Aegina tomorrow and soak up the rays of the sun on the beach. I have been provided with so much this past month especially, I have faith the Lord will provide the rest (especially with money running short!).

So with this, another finality comes to an end, and another tale begins. COBA in Oxford 2009. One of the best months of my entire life. From Oxford in England, to the Eiffel Tower in France, to the Colosseum in Rome and the Blarney Castle in Ireland, it has been a ride of a lifetime. Once again, thank you for letting me throw my thoughts onto paper. It has kept me sane these past weeks because without a place to capture my memories, they would all be jumbled up and lost in order in my head. If any of you have any more questions about the trip, please comment on here and I would love to answer them.
-Dr. Pope and Dr. Stewart, it was an honor to work with yall and spend time traveling the world.
-Fellow Group, as long as I shall live, I will look back on this month with fond memories and remember what an incredible time we had! Thanks for putting up with my impressions, at times my tiredness and my playful banter with Michael. *Insert metro doors opening* -Please mind the gap as you step off...

For those of you sticking around and following me on my last leg home from Greece, to Italy to Spain where I run with the bulls, tune back in a few days.

And never more true are the words I have been using from the beginning from my favorite book series....

And so hobey ho, and off we go! -Shay