Coming Home

As the time nears for me to return to the USA, I've had mixed feelings. All this internal conflict has been keeping me up at night, but I'm hoping that writing about it helps me work it out a little.

Leaving Guanajuato will be bittersweet. I'm almost positive that I will never have an experience like this again. I mean, I've been living in a foreign country for five months with no expenses, hardly any schoolwork and few responsibilities except to soak up the culture and make memories. I've had such a great time in Mexico and I know that I will miss Guanajuato, Mexican food, the kids at El Buen Pastor, and the ability to travel cheaply.

At the same time, I am so excited about seeing my family and friends again. I can't wait to be greeted with twirly hugs and laughter. It will be so great to be able to relax with people and not have to worry about a language barrier. Plus, we have dryers, real ranch dressing, dryers, and fluffy pillows. I'm so excited about being able to play frisbee again, go swing dancing, eat my mom's delicious food, and just be with the people that I love the most. And it will be Christmas season when I get back, which is always wonderful.

This is not what has been keeping me up at nights. While I've been in Guanajuato, I haven't had to deal with all the pressures, worries, uncertainties that bombard me when I'm at home. Not that I'm overwhelmed or feel stressed all the time while I'm home, but getting away from all of that has been nice. Five months is a long time to be away. I don't know what all has changed in my absence, and that freaks me out a little. Real life will pick back up and the last few days it's all come back to me. I really want to enjoy the last few weeks I have here and being tired and grumpy isn't going to accomplish that. I'm trying to trust God with everything, but that's always easier said than done. I know that when I get home all this will seem really stupid, but right now it's huge. Just keep praying.

FRIENDS

I know that this has nothing to do with my personal growth or anything, but this is a FRIENDS clip that I think is absolutely hysterical. Enjoy!