An Incomprensive Summary of a Life Changing Semester Abroad

I have been home for a month and a half now and have reflected some on my time abroad. I feel like I have so much to say but yet I am at a complete loss for words. So here's a list of some of the things I did.

"Because there is nothing better than being happy-- and I can honestly say that in these pictures, in these moments, with those people, that's all I was"

I traveled. A lot.

I drastically improved my Spanish

I gained confidence

Maya became a closet for us backpackers 

My professor licked my ear

I booked a hostel in Slovakia

I went to the hospital

I grew to like mate

            

And learned to prepare it

I took the most amazing class

I finally got a nickname from Eduardo

I learned how to make empandas from Maria

I felt like an adult for the first time

I felt careless and carefree for the first time in a long time

I made friends from around the world

I was jobless for the first time in 7 years

I started eating a lot of foods I would never touch before (ie. Red peppers)

I learned phrases in a few other languages as well

I accidentally broke and entered into someone’s home

I made a new family

I zip lined 3 times

I got really good at using Military time

I didn’t get so good at kilometers and Celsius

I learned an abundance about the Uruguayan culture

But even more about my own

I white water rafted

I took every form of transportation possible

I took a tango lesson
I repelled down waterfalls and a cliff

I got lost

I found myself

I learned to appreciate the littlest things from home
(mostly food and clean smelling clothes)

I got homesick
I celebrated St. Patrick's Day with hundreds of crazy Uruguayans

I developed a knack for avoiding dog poop on the sidewalks

I became an Alafojer expert (Bob Marley’s are the best)
I road tripped

I saw shows in the 3 most important theatres in Montevideo

I hitch hiked, multiple times

I went to over 30 museums

I shared my city with my mom

I watched the World Cup Finals game in the country that was participating

I got into lots of awkward and weird situations

I made up Spanish jokes that only made Americans laugh           

I felt so proud the day I told a joke and the Uruguayans did too

I had asado

I learned street names and bus routes

I took classes for fun

I let myself relax and have fun

I skyped home countless times

I was robbed but moved on

I grew an appreciation for soccer

I wrote a lot of post cards

I spent WEEKS of my life sitting on a bus

I got into countless fights with Eduardo (We both know that I won them all ;) )

I automatically responded to my affectionate nicknames, Yankee or/and Gringo

I got yelled at countless times for not wearing shoes in my house

I peed on a volcano

I traveled to 7 different countries

I swam in the ocean in the dead of winter

I shared “American food” at our international dinners

I learned the most useful Danish words (like shin splints)

I learned to cuss in multiple languages

But also learned how to say nice things, like “you’re pretty” in 4 languages

I watched some of the most amazing sunsets

A coati stole my lunch

I Saw one of the 7 wonders of the world

I ate really good food

And not so good food
I celebrated fake Christmas

Reconnected with old friends

Made dozens of new ones

I got asked where I was from after saying one word in Spanish

I got told I was really good at Spanish after speaking two words

I floated in salt water

I celebrated in the engagement of my brother from abroad

I celebrated the 4^th of July with my international friends

                       I accidentally almost had a party on the beach with 100 people
I had international potlucks and tried lots of new, good, food

I wrote 44 blog posts
I crossed countless things of my bucket list

I had a semester I will never forget

So, that’s a wrap 180 days later, I am back in the States safe and sound, still trying to comprehend the experience I just had. Some days are better than others and although I am extremely grateful to be back with my family and friends, there are many days when my heart aches for Uruguay.

A wise friend of my mine told me that part of the beauty of the experience is that it had to come to an end. Half of the things I just listed, I would have never done if I didn't have such limited time. I find comfort in that and in all of the amazing people I have here.

Thanks for following along with me in this crazy, amazing, life changing journey.