(Photo: My final host family with me at the airport in Belo Horizonte, Brazil as I was about to head home.
{left to right}
Marcell my host brother, me, Neide my host mom, and Kennedy my host dad.
August 8th, 2010)
I mentioned that I spent a year on a Rotary Youth Exchange, in Brazil.
Well...
Exactly one year ago - August 8th, 2010. I was leaving Brazil to head back to Alaska. My time had come, my year had passed..
...and passed faster than I could have ever prepared for.
In fact, the year itself was something I couldn't have been prepared for.
Full of learning: hard and easy lessons... friendships and testings of friendships... cultural differences to where I found out it's not possible for me to claim one culture only. I'm American, Alaskan to be exact, and I'll always be Brazilian as well. Who knows what else is to come...
If I thought I liked traveling and new experiences before my year abroad, I don't even know how to explain my love for them now. Other than - consistency bores me (currently... maybe one day I'll enjoy knowing where life is headed..)
Really though - I'm not here to explain to you my feelings right now, simply because. I can't.
There aren't words... If you know what I mean, maybe you're a fellow rebound (past exchange student), then you just know.
That year abroad, and this year back in Alaska...aahh.... what to say, what to say.
I'll say this - I won't wallow in the sadness of the moments gone, but cherish the memories and move forward to make more amazing memories. I see life as one adventure after the next. Just think, nothing lasts forever, so I won't wish for what is gone. Just fondly remember what has passed, while embracing the moment I have now and the ones to come.
Which right now means - bedtime. Goodnight everyone... thank you for reading.
I just feel a lot of love right now so, ending this post with love - Sara
