My girlfriend and I met back in October and have been dating since then, she's an au pair from Poland and when her and I first started seeing one another we both knew that what we had would be temporary. After a few months her and I started to get really serious, she told me she loved me and I had those feelings for her for a while, I'm not so sure when but she had told me that she had been given the opportunity to stay one more year in the states and that she was thinking of taking it, after some discussing she had made up her mind and decided that staying another year was something that she wanted so she signed the paperwork and it was done.

Fast forward a few months, she had a months vacation time and she was spending it back home in Poland for her sister's wedding. Half way through her visit she had messaged me and told me that she visited her university and they had told her that if she wanted to continue enrollment with them she had to give up her au pair job because next year the curriculum changed and if she stayed in the states and came back that year she would have to start her studies all over again. This news broke my heart, I was very upset and both begged her to stay and offered to leave with her but after I calmed down we both knew that we couldn't give up our futures to be together. She had told me though that she had 1-2 more months left with me in the states. I was very excited and made plans to make what time we had together very fun.

Yesterday (Sunday) was the day I finally got to see her. We had gotten each other presents and went to lunch. At lunch though she told me that she was leaving before the 20th of this month (July), I didn't know what to say, all I could really do was cover my face and say,"ok,". I know that none of this is in her control and I hold no bad feelings of her for what is happening, its partially my fault for letting things get so heavy between her and I. I let a feeling of infinity take over, I was consumed with a very happy and loving emotion and I was blindsided when I was finally approached with the finality of my situation. Her and I are much to young (21) to be thinking of a future together, she was here for work and that's all and it would be selfish of me to expect her to stay just for me. Her and I discussed the fallout of our break up. We decided that long distance was a bad idea, she is in university and I am training to become a med tech and a emt. We are much to far apart and the time zones are 6 hours apart. We decided that we block all social media and electronic contact and stick to snail mail. I'm not sure what to do beyond this. I'm broken down right now. I know the break up is coming and it hurts me a lot. We have so little time together but we want to see each other because the love is still there and I know that it will crush me more and make the situation even harder but if her and I just stopped seeing one another without making more memories then I'd have so much regret. I love her so much.

I've had other girlfriends but none quite like her. She accepts me for who I am. When I lose my temper or get mad or upset she doesn't make it into a big deal, she lets me vent and she tames me with soft words and kindness. She has this very old soul it seems, very patient and very tender, she doesn't mind my flaws and she doesn't ask me to change them, nor have I her because she wasn't ever flawed to me. Yeah I saw them and they weren't ignored but rather I was aware of them but I just didn't mind. She sleeps over every weekend and I'm going to miss that most of all. Holding hands with her while she sleeps, kisses for no reason in the middle of the night. She treated me like she had known me for a very long time and it seemed that way too. We had our differences but they weren't at odds with each other but very much compatible. I'm very scared to lose her because I'm sure I won't ever find anyone quite like her again and I don't want anyone else. I know in a break up that's real common, not wanting anyone else, but it's there

Please help, what do I do to get over her when she's gone? Is it a good idea that we see each other until she leaves? What do I do to make the hurt right now go away? Is sending each other letters a bad idea?

Also, I have a lot of presents from her, love letters, drawings, and gifts both hand made and bought that are very personal, I don't want to throw them away and was thinking of putting them away, is that a good idea?

She's from a different country... thats a massive obsticle. One very difficult and very expensive to overcome.

Remember the good times and move on with your life. Find someone local to you.

Keep the presents and gifts... it would be foolish to throw them away. No problem with putting them away if you must. Not knowing what they are, I 'd continue to use them myself if it were me.

What a very moving account of a beautiful thing between you. Enjoy every moment and cherish the memories. I can only wish you both the best as you complete your separate studies. Yes box up all those mementos and gifts, and be grateful for the time you spent together.

Who knows what the future holds, but be ready to deal with whatever it is. For now finishing making this special time special. I think you both are handling this in a practical reasonable way, as perfectly as possible. It won't be easy coping, and no doubt you both will be crying for a while, and that's okay, who wouldn't?

Stay positive and appreciate what life has given you.

I am going to tell you a little story about an Au Pair. She was in the states working in New York finished her job and returned to her home in Germany. That is where I met her, we were only together for six months and I shipped out. We agreed to communicate by mail. Approximately a year later in one of her letters she said she was coming to New York again. Fast forward 53 years and until her death this year we were happily married with 3 children. Now that is painful believe me.

You have the rest of your life to deal with happiness and pain. Like it has been said, save the gifts and letters until you know how things will end up. Go forward, "if it is meant to be it will be".