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Elly Overton © Elly Overton

By Elly Overton

The move to Kenya has become very real for me. At first I was like, yeah, I’m moving … sometime. But now we’re starting to pack, and I only have a few weeks of school left. This school year has gone by so fast. Just yesterday I was a new eighth grader, and now I’m going into high school. It’s very scary.

I had to say my first goodbye. It happened today on the last day of religious school. One of my closest friends is like my second sister. Her name is Mimi. We said goodbye to each other and I started crying. I was saying to myself, Elly, you will see her again; we’ll get together before I move.

Yes, I am upset, but I know that I will get to see Mimi on our home leave. I have known her since I moved to the states six years ago. She was the first friend I made when I moved here. I met her at a camp, and we just instantly became friends.

Now, saying goodbye to Mimi makes all of this very real. I am not looking forward to saying goodbye to all my other friends at school. I will be a mess. I know I will be making many new friends in Kenya, but I am definitely not going to forget my old friends.

My friends and I have plans to Skype and write each other. This way I can stay in touch with everyone and let them be part of my move “back home.”

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About the Author

Elly is the 14-year-old daughter of Greg Overton, a staff member on the Conservancy's Africa team. Elly Goes Home is her blog about her family's upcoming relocation to Kenya.