September 13, 2010

Africa has been an emotional roller coaster. being away from home has been harder than i expected. I miss everyone so much. And hot showers :( The things Im seeing here are unlike anything i ever expected to see in my lifetime. We have visited townships, where people are living off of so little. We have gone to museams where we have learned about the aparthied, which i wasn't educated about at all. This is a triup i will remember for different reasons than a typical vacation. I won't remember tanning on the beach and drinking diet pepsis...ill remember the face of the 16 year old boy i met, with fetal alcoholl syndrome, and HIV. I won't remember sleeping in and spening time with family, I'll remember waking up at 6 am to run, hike, or mountian bike, and the relationship i am building with all of the girls here. This is a challenge for me, phyiscally and mentally, but at the end of the day i know that this is the place i am supposed to be, and that i want to be. I am working on being present here mentally 100%, but so is everyone else. We are al facing the same challenges and its nice to be able to talk wit the other girls here, its really comforting. I miss my mom telling me the things i need to get done when i am home, i've realized how forgetful i am without her here with me. I miss my dad giving me words of wisdom and adivice, words that  I will carry with me my entire life, and pass on to my own family. I miss spending time with my sisters, wether it be laughing with them, yelling at them, or just sitting at the dinner table with them. I never realized how lucky i am until i got here. I have the most amazing family, immediate and extended, in the entire world. I live in a place where education is completely encouraged and accessable. I live in a place where disease and poverty aren't surrounding me all the time. My family can provide food, shelter, and love for me. And that is more than enough. I can't wait to see them again, but also to continue on this journey, where I'm learning so much about myself, and the world around me. I am blessed.