a casa, por fin

Only a month and a couple weeks late, but its finally time for that last and final blog entry.

I made it home, safe and sound. After a rough last few days, I somehow managed to leave my Chilean life and board the plane to go home. Somehow. Leaving Chile was harder than leaving the US --Honestly, probably the hardest thing Ive ever done in my life. It was a painful way to end such a great time and as much as I want to go back and recreate the entire year over and over again, I can acknowledge my ridiculousness. 

Being back is strange. It feels like no time has elapsed since last August. Everything about being home is the same as when I left and its hard for me because I am not the same as when I left. Its a crazy thought that I never thought Id think, but I dont really feel at home anymore. 

And so, instead of being unhappy and wallowing about Chile and this "boring" American routine Ive adopted once again, I am going to keep having amazing years because if I learned one thing this year, its that I know the things I want to do with my life and I know the kind of people I want in them. And since Maple Valley isnt exactly fulfilling my needs for maximum happiness, I am going to go elsewhere...

Chloe and I are leaving for Australia in October. (Or so our plan goes.) We dont know where we are going to stay, what job we are going to have, or quite frankly anything that concerns our trip. But, Im very, very excited to see where our gap year adventure takes us and kind of only scared about the fact that not having anything set in stone DOESNT freak me out.

I could end this with a lame "Ive had a taste, but Im still thirsty" quote, but instead, I will leave my three favorite quotes.

"Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air." 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, and to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like the fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars..."
-Jack Kerouac