Home again

The End

Thursday, July 31, 2009 10:03 AM

From every angle you look at it, this summer in Mexico was crazy amazingly cool! With all the uncertainty at the beginning with the swine flu outbreak and other stuff, it actually happened and it was so worth the planning, money and anticipation! This UF/UADY program was so great! The professors knew what they were doing and everything went perfectly.

My Spanish has improved 100%. I would almost say I’m fluent. Like, if there were someone who needed a translator or something, I would volunteer to do it. And I could for sure carry on a good conversation with someone who spoke no English. I mean, I’ve been doing it for about 2 meals a day all month!

The combination of people made everything really fun. The bond we had within ecology and the bond that everyone had was really great! Everyone was different and the same.

The last few days have been kind of nostalgic, as we do our last of everything and say goodbyes. I got all A’s. The classes weren’t really hard, because they would rather have us out exploring the city, experiencing everything, rather than locked in our houses studying.

Monday was a good time with Addison, Tuesday was a good time swimming at Allison’s with the group. Wednesday was a good time after class going to Paseo Montejo. Went again last night. We went to an all inclusive karaoke club called Cantina Mexico. Enough said. It was a lot of fun. Go big and go home.

Yesterday after the closing ceremony with the school where we got our completion certificates, we had one last baby excursion to Dzitza, the same place we went to for the first one. There was an art fair going on yesterday though. Then everyone went to lunch kind of for a last meal. It was sad saying goodbye to Roger and the Mexican boys. Abel made us all a video with music and pictures which was sweet. The Mexican kids told me I was their favorite UFer so my life is complete. It’s always strange to know you won’t see someone again, unless I travel to Merida someday.

Today we are going swimming again at Allison’s, our last time together here. And then at like 4 AM I have to get up to go to the airport. I don’t usually get sad until I’m in the airport, just past security, at that point where there is no turning back. It’s kind of different because we all go to UF so we can hang out if we want, but I will never see my host family or the Mexicans from class again, and I will miss them.

I’m looking forward to going back though. Back to comfort and familiarity. I feel comfort and find familiarity here, but still, it’s not home.

So, lesson learned… um… something I am coming away with that I didn’t know before, besides the obvious. This is difficult. I think I learned that a big reason why Christians are so full of joy, is because we have someone to be grateful to for every beautiful thing around us, mountains, beaches, relationships... Like, when you receive a gift, you act more excited about it than you would if you just bought it, or it was already there. But when you realize that something is given to you, and you are able to value the generosity in that gift, you appreciate everything more.

6:44 PM

Today was a good last day. It was the core: me, Allison, Laura, Addison, Clay, Joe, Heather, Sallie, Kiana and Keilani. We lounged in Allison’s pool and had lunch. I got a little sunburned, so tomorrow mom is going to assume I was burnt the entire time, but the truth is, it just happened today. After that we went to a mall, which was as nice as ones in Tampa and Orlando, and got gelato and walked around. Then, bused back. I’m pretty sure I spent every peso I had left. Haha. 12 hours from now I will be sitting on the plane.

It was sad to leave everyone. Most will be on the flight to Houston tomorrow, but Kiana and Addison, and Hoe are getting back different ways.

I took my key off my wallet when I got back. Just all of these last times, doing the public bus, unlocking the gate, showering. Last night was my last night in the hammock since I packed it up already.