1. You are going to be ok! 10 weeks may feel like an eternity, but it's not. It's not even close to an eternity.
2. You are going to be able to understand the spanish spoken here! Heck, you'll even like it in 10 weeks!
3. You are going to see some of the most beautiful places on Earth with some of the best friends you'll ever have. It's ok to lay in bed every Monday, but don't anymore than that because you're missing the exciting (and terrifying) city!!
4. Maybe don't drink so much...
(yeah right, embrace the culture!!)
That being said, here are the things I'm going to miss, miss, MISS about Chile:
1. My weird meals. Here in Chile I put aside being picky solely for survival. If (for example) I wasn't really in the mood for zucchini soup, that meant I wasn't going to eat for the next 2 days because we had zucchini soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I'll probably go right back to being a picky eater in America the moment I land (because it's so convenient to be an American!) but I'll never forget just picking up my fork and eating what was in front of me without question.
2. My family. ISA couldn't have put me in a better house. Without question. These 2 ladies have been beyond compassionate, caring, helping, and loving***. My spanish grew leaps and bounds with my CM and CS helping me along the way, and it'll be strange to not wake up to Cami singing Justin Beiber loudly and not having my CM iron my underwear (at first it freaked me out and now...it still freaks me out, but I just go with it)
***The second or third week I was here, CM and I were having once alone because Cami was at a friends house. I expressed to her that I was really missing my family and America. Without a word, she got up from the table and got out a bottle of mango pisco. She brought it and two glasses to the table and said "let's talk about it". Man will I miss that woman!
3. My friends I've made here. Bar none, the people I've met here have been exactly what I needed to make it through the difficult times, and enjoy the fun ones. From hiking the worst volcano in the world together, to laughing about failed micro attempts, to closing down multiple bars and clubs, to sitting and sharing testimonies of faith, and experiencing an array of "hispanic panic", these people have been absolutely fabulous to come to a foreign country with. I love that I came not knowing anyone and I'm leaving with a fresh new treasure trove of individuals I get to call my friends.
And of course, here are the things that I can't wait to never see/experience again:
1. THE FREAKING COLD WEATHER ALL THE TIME!!! Gah, its July right now! And I'm in 2 sweaters, gloves, and 3 pairs of socks- no lie
2. The buses honking at me. Literally, every SINGLE time a bus honks I jump about 5 feet out of my skin. Not to say roads in America are quiet, but the Aggie Spirit Bus never scares me while I'm waiting for it's arrival.
3. Talking/dreaming/thinking about Pablo Neruda, Chile's #1 man. If you're saying to yourself, oh, I wonder who this interesting character she's talking about is let me google it...DON'T! I will tell you all you need to know about him and more. Literally, I'm an expert.
It makes me sad to realize that I probably won't ever come back to Chile again. Not for lack of desire, just that there are so many other places in the world I want to see and experience! Maybe one day my kids can come here and experience the same thing I got to: a chance to free yourself from the daily routine of life in America, be truly uncomfortable and grow as a person in so many ways.
To everyone I've met here: thank you. You have all been fabulous and I can't imagine not getting to know each and every one of you.
To everyone who read this silly blog: thank you. I hope you enjoyed the adventure with me and loved getting to see literally one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Thank you to everyone who prayed for me, texted me, facebooked me and thought about me while I was here. It definitely made the entire experience easier knowing I had great people like you to come home to while I stretched my wings and learned a lot about myself.
And to Chile, thank you the most.
Chao and besos,
Aves
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