As my cat is purring contently next to me on the sofa, I am taking a moment to just take it all in. Yesterday, I had my last day at work, a place where I worked for the past five years and that had become a big part not only of my life, but of how I define myself as a professional in higher education. It was strange to leave my keys behind, knowing that after the door shut behind me, I was done, and I am no longer able to claim my office as my office.
I spent this last full day in the MD/DC area saying good-bye to some of my favorite places: the National Gallery of Art in DC, spending most of my time in the gift shop :-) Yes, I have certainly learned the all-American past time of spending and consuming very well over the last 13 years!!! And either there were a lot of German tourists in that place today, or I suffer from severe hallucinations, I kid you not, I felt as if heard German spoken every time I paused to look either at another item I really don't need but really want to have or to admire a painting.
By the way, the current exhibition on George Bellows, an American painter in the early 20th century, is phenomenal. Here is some more info on the show http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/bellowsinfo.shtm. It will move soon to either New York or London.
I met my wonderful husband for lunch, and we made our way to another favorite place of mine, where I actually spent a lot of time while researching and writing parts of my dissertation: the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. On our way there, we stopped briefly by the National Gallery of Art's sculpture garden, where I dipped my feet into the large fountain/pool.
After a meeting with our immigration lawyer, who is always nice to chat with, David and I went home, resting for our final dinner at Mandalay in Silver Spring. Tofu Ohni Hin and Mango Salad all the way!!! I need to be nourished well to face travelling with our cat for what seems to me now an eternity!
Farewell to America, au revoir....
