80 more days

Life goes on even if we aren’t paying attention to it.  My life in Brazil is so full of new things that its sometimes hard to remember all the things I’m missing out on.  Sometimes it seems easier to believe that everything froze in Shelby, NC and its just waiting for me to come back.  But that’s not true.  Life goes on.  The world can’t stop just because I decided to study abroad for a year.  Next year, when I’m in college, everything will be different compared to this year too.  Everything that I’ve done this year has morphed me into a young adult.  I’m not sure that everyone in the States realizes it yet.  I’ve grown and changed in ways that I can’t even name.  That girl that got on the plan in August, she is not going to be the same girl coming back in July. 

            In about 10 days I will be traveling to the Amazons!!  I know, its very exciting.  Next week I’ll post more about exactly what I’ll be doing.  I will be sleeping on a boat in a hammock.  I can’t wait, I’m very excited for this adventure.  A few days after I get back from that I will be attending my Rotary District Conference.  Its about 5 days long, and I don’t know yet what events are planned for the exchange students yet.

 In 113 days I will have my first day of college.  I will be going to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  I’ve wanted to go there for a few years and I’m thrilled to be going there this coming August.  I’m not worried about getting homesick.  I’ve been away for a year, and things have turned out fine.  And I will be able to come home and visit with my family.  I do worry about being homesick for Brazil.  From the date that I get back to the first day of college is about a month.  That’s not a lot of time. 

I know some things about Brazil will make me seem strange.  Like not flushing toilet paper, wearing flip flops everywhere, eating corn on everything, and being relaxed about everything.  I don’t think that some of these habits will go away as fast as some of my American habits have while I’ve been in Brazil.  I don’t flush toilet paper, I rarely rush to go places, I don’t eat fast food, and I certainly don’t drive anywhere.  Of course, I know that in college everyone is looking for a fresh start and I’ve already got a leg up since I won’t be homesick for my family and hometown.  In some ways I think that being I’ll have it worse though.  I’ll be homesick for a place I spent a year, most kids spend 18 years with their family before college.  I got a year. 

But college is the next big adventure for me in the States.  I’m looking forward to it.  It’s a four year commitment, and I know my family is glad that they will be able to drive and visit me and hug me.  I hope to study abroad with UNCW.  In my heart I know that I will travel far and wide.  The world is vast and I intend to explore as much as I can.  I want to do things that matter.  I’m interested in the National Guard and the Peace Corps.  I want to make a difference and travel and write.  These three things are my passion in life.  And if I can find a way to do all three of them, I would be so happy. 

My life seems to be a nonstop adventure recently and its all I can do to keep up.  The song I’ve chosen for this week is called Here I am.  Its in a movie called Spirit.  I first saw this movie the summer I broke my ankles, I don’t remember which summer, my dad and uncle took my to see this movie in the theatres.  This song is wonderful.  Its about standing up for yourself and not allowing yourself to be manipulated by others.