23/1/11

10:22pm

It's as though the universe read my journal and made it it's mission to make me cry...

Even though it's our second last night here, the two leaders from the creative host organisation are leaving tomorrow, so we had a big farewell dinner with all the families tonight. It was good food (as usual) and there were a few games that brought out many laughs.

Then they sat all us volunteers down, and the mood took a serious turn. With the presence of a couple of people who spoke both Spanish and English, it became a time for each family to share a heart-felt message to the people they had been hosting, even though it was in front of a large crowd. Despite that, it was a very moving moment, and it was amazing see how close everyone had grown to their families in what was essentially (no matter how long they seemed to drag on) two short weeks. And needless to say, there was a dry eye in the house. As I felt the tears coming uncontrollably, I realised just how much a part of the family I have felt, and how much I've grown to love them all. Their words were absolutely beautiful, and I think I'm finally realising how life-changing this experience really is. It's made me want to learn Spanish to the point of fluency, then include San Cristóbal Norte in another travel that I plan in the future, maybe as a stop when I hope to someday do a tour of the states.

I'd like to say I got it all out of my system, but I feel like I'll be equally a mess come Tuesday morning. I thought my goodbye to my first mum in Heredia was emotional (which it still absolutely was), but it has nothing on the overwhelming farewell we had tonight. I just can't put into words, at least without repeating myself, how amazing this experience was, and how it's been something I will never, ever forget.