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Thursday, September 25, 2014

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 4th 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. 

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