The hard part will be convincing them of that. I’m an only child, so if I’m gone for any longer than a week, I may as well be on a year-long orbit on the International Space Station as far as my parents are concerned. It’ll be tough.

I’m definitely going to try to make it as much like any other “night/dinner out” with everyone as possible. So it doesn’t seem like it’s the last time they’ll ever see me again.

With goodbyes there’s all this pressure to say or do something profound, to make friendship and love known, like in movies perhaps. But “moments” pass by just as any other minute does – nothing feels particularly special, things change and people take new paths. Friends and family meet again, and with the internet it’s hardly like anyone’s about to lose contact.

Throwing a dinner or something with close friends before you leave is something I would recommend, but just let conversations carry on as normal – make it a “gathering” rather than a “going away party.”

You’ve got some time, but best of luck.