So...We're Back; It's Back...

Well, after a hard but well ending finals week, we left for the wide and desolate plains of the Estados Unidos or USA.

All went well for the first flight to Buenos Aires, but I am sorry to report that I got quite ill on the 8-hour flight from Buenos Aires to Miami. About two hours into the flight, I had horrifying stomach issues that lasted the duration of the flight, through customs in Miami and then through the ride from Miami to DFW. After a total of just over 10 hours of being sick, I was in the arms of my mom and dad. Sadly though, the adventure was not over. One of my bags was not flown from Miami to Dallas and I had to pick it up at the Abilene airport a couple of days later.

After just 24 hours of travelling and being sick for most of that, I was in Abilene again and pulled into Arby's so my family could grab a quick bite to eat before heading out to our house. I wasn't feeling good still, so I mostly napped that afternoon trying to forget that I had left the land of the big grey buildings and celeste sky.

That night Dara, Linley, and I had a welcome home gathering for our friends from ACU that are about to leave for Christmas at their homes to come up to school and see us. It was completely surreal to see everyone and be around them for a while. I didn't feel good, but we had a good turn out and I was really encouraged by the fact that I was missed.

I have had a great couple of days with my mom and friends catching up and such. So much of me just can't believe that I can possibly be back. That that chapter of my life is coming to a close and in many ways I don't know how to deal with that. I know we are all starting to miss Casa quite a lot. We are starting to feel like something did definitely change within us that doesn't allow us to go back to the way things are. I knew this was coming, but I didn't look forward to it. I think that the worst part of being in this world is only getting to be in one part of it. I would be happier if at the same time, I could be chillin' here in Abilene, in Samoa soaking up the rays, and in Uruguay speaking Spanish and drinking mate. I would be happier if I could be with my family, my Samoan friends, and my Uruguayan amigos. That's how life goes though. Man, sometimes I wish it didn't go that way.

Please be praying for strength and patience for this transition.

Thanks,

Kate

It's Beginning to Feel a lot like Finals...

Wow! I have a week and a few hours left here in Montevideo and that is absolutely astounding to think about. When I cast my mind back to the first part of this semester, I come up with anything but and empty hook. It seems like going to BA and my birthday and Brazil were ages ago, like I have known these people my whole life, but I haven't! At the same time though, it feels like I just got here! I know that is not true. I see the progress that I have made as a Spanish speaker, as a student, as a friend, as a roommate, and mostly as a child of God and know that some time has past.

This week is a little bit crazy, but I am taking it minute by minute, class by class, and trying to make it last as long as I can. Our rhythm has been interupted by finals and lots of studying.

Yesterday, my spanish class, 4 of us in total, left at 11Am to go to the tallest building in Montevideo for our field trip. I just put up pictures on facebook. The 26 floor of the building is a public viewing floor that give a 360 degree view of Montevideo from on high. I didn't really understand too much from the tour guide, but most of it was measurements and architect stuff. It was really awesome to see just how HUGE this city is! We got a great video of the monte, or cerro as they call it. You should check out the pictures though, it is just too hard to describe.

Well, sadly, I have to get back to studying now. I hope and pray that everything is going well for you! Thanks for the prayers and encouragement! :) See (almost) all of you soon!