Concluding

December 25 - Oh my gosh, I can't believe I haven't posted ONCE since I've been home!  I guess if you looked at my last post a did a little math you could figure out that I'm no longer in Guatemala (since it's definitely more than 16 days after November 26), but I honestly thought I had posted something.  I wrote some random snippets at different points during my travel day a couple weeks ago that were meant to turn into blog posts, but they stayed just as they were--unfinished snippets.  At the risk of composing a completely haphazard post lacking adequate transitions, I may just include them here anyway.

December 13 - Well, I’m sitting in the Guatemala City airport waiting to board.  I’m alone because the rest of the group is flying to Michigan in a few hours.  I can’t believe how fast this semester went.  It seemed like last week when my application was done and I knew I was going to Guatemala—but now the trip is already over.  The last few weeks have been very sweet with our family.  We’ve done lots of things together and had some really nice times, and I will cherish these times.  

A couple weeks ago, Heather, Sage, and I got up early on Saturday morning to cook breakfast for the family.  We were surprised how long it took to cook eggs and pancakes for 6 adults and 3 kids, and had to make do with a lot of things in a small, under-equipped kitchen.  But it was nice to know that Betzy appreciated the breakfast, and we all had fun using a kitchen again.  I had a surprise birthday party, thrown by my friends and Guatemalan family.  I was completely unsuspecting, and it was a perfect end to a wonderful birthday.  Our last Tuesday in Guat, the other girls and I took the kids for a day so Betzy and Mauricio could have a date.  We also had an ulterior motive; to take pictures of the kids to print for the family as goodbye presents.  The six of us went to the park and played games (and took photos), had ice cream at McDonalds, and had lunch together (and learned how to boil chicken).  It was a great day.  We got sweet pictures, Betzy and Mauricio had a nice date, and we enjoyed spending some more time with the kids before we had to leave them.

Los amamos, Mami y Papi / We love you, Mom and Dad!

Aren't these kids just absolutely precious?

Kenneth came into my room one night (and also made sure he told the other girls as well) that he loved us and would miss us and wished that we would never leave.  Of course, we all just melted.  The night before we departed, the family got pizza for our last dinner in Guatemala, and then we presented to the family all the gifts that we had brought/bought/accumulated for them over the semester.  Crafts for the boys, maple syrup, photos we printed for them (of the kids and the whole family), and some other little things.

Earlier in the day, we had a party at the Spanish school, La Union (hey, our group's picture is on the front page!) to say goodbye to the teachers and families.  Tears were shed (mine too, in case you were wondering--everything makes me cry) and bittersweet goodbyes were exchanged.  I already miss speaking Spanish and seeing those friendly folks every day.

    -     -     -

I got into Dallas a couple hours ago, and I still have a few hours to go before I board.  It is wonderful to be back in America, but oh so strange.  Everyone speaks English.  I’m still thinking in Spanish and I’ve almost spoken to several Americans in Spanish, including my waitress just now.  Oh and of all the places in the airport I could’ve eaten in, I chose a Mexican place.  Haha.  I guess 3 and a half months wasn’t enough (but for the record, Mexican and Guatemalan food is very different—and my burrito had lettuce, something I haven’t had all semester).  I seriously can’t get over how weird it is to think that I can speak English to anyone and it’s perfectly normal and most people understand me.

January 1 - Well, I completely failed to post even once the entire month of December. Blah.  I'm sure you've all been suffering, since your lives revolve around reading my posts.  But not to worry, I'm going to post again this week as soon as I think of something to write about.  (And then I'm sure the slacking will begin again once school starts and I have to think about things like studying and buying groceries...)

I don't even know how to end this post, what with it being so completely disorganized and lacking normal flow (it's a good thing this isn't a paper due today).  But you know, I guess it's okay because my entire break has been busy and helter-skelter (and wonderful!), so this post is just a little bit of what my mind feels like.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!  Don't forget the Reason for the season :)