Empty chairs and empty tables

I'm looking at my passport... my D visa for Austria expires on July 23rd. I've looked into the different possibilities, and the only way for me to stay longer would be to apply for a student visa, a lengthy and complicated process.

The Schloss has gone through its share of legal difficulties, mainly being that the Schloss (classified as a hotel in the Austrian government's books) cannot have people volunteering there for free (apparently smells too much like slavery without income tax). As of right now, all the volunteers have ceased cleaning/dishes or anything involving serving paying guests. Those who are from the new EU countries were able to become employed. Austrian law just doesn't allow for volunteering in the same way so many other countries do.

It is a sad change for the Schloss - the volunteers contributed so much to the ethos of the place - people from around the world coming to volunteer and create this international community. For now however - this volunteer program is over. Most of the volunteers have had to change their plans and are returning home sooner. Just a couple days ago a good friend left, and now the flood of people leaving begins.

It is fortunate, and perhaps God's providence, that my responsibilities are not affected. This is because my responsibilities involve serving the community and staff, not paying guests. In some strange way, I already am, and will be the last 'volunteer' for some time to come.

I am not sure what to do, if I should pursue a student visa and stay longer, or else return home in late July, a mere 2.5 months away. I do know that within a month, there will be a lot of empty chairs and empty tables.

Saying so many goodbyes here is hard - there are many that could have become very good close friends, if we had but more time. Still we can enjoy the time we do have together, late night theological discussions, napping on the hill in the afternoon sun, or lazy frisbee days...