So, are you excited???

Many people have been asking me if I'm excited to be moving to Nepal. To be honest, I'm getting tired of answering this question. But, of course, I oblige the people. I'm the kind of person who wears his emotions on his sleeve, I can't fake it, never could. So I just shrug my shoulders and say, "Yeah, just got a lot to do yet." I'm not leaving for another three weeks, and I still do have a lot to finish up here with packing, tying up loose ends, and what not.
And I am excited, but there is so much more to it. If I was going on a few weeks vacation, I'd be very excited, and I would let everyone know it. But there is more to consider when comparing a year to a three week stay. There is family and friends I will miss and the "comforts" of home. Not seeing my nephew turn two or my niece turn one (my poor sister, her hands are full). The feeling that life will pass me by and I will have to play catch-up when I return. I am giving up a lot for the next year. And honestly, there is not a lot of excitement in that. Will this change my wanting to go? Definitely not. But sometimes there is more to think about than what's on the surface. But it goes both ways. For the prize at the end is so much greater than the missed events of a mere year of my life.