2 days!

This is insane. I'm leaving in 2 days. It's definitely sinking in and saying goodbye is a combination of sorrow and joy, tears and laughter. I'm so happy to be given this opportunity, but at the same time, how do you say good bye to the life you've always known? Everything from here on out will be completely different. Different food and toilets and people and language and school and culture. I would like to say I'm ready and excited to take on this experience, but part of me is holding back. I've never completely been a free-spirited and adventurous girl. I stay pretty safe when it comes to trying new foods and doing new things, but I need to find a happy medium between being safe and living on the edge. I can skim the edge, but continue wearing a helmet and harness, and I'll be perfectly content. TWO DAYS. It's weird. I'm on a complete emotional roller coaster, as you could probably guess. Saying goodbye to friends, I'll be ecstatic that I'm leaving and excitedly talking about my coming adventures one moment, but the tears are streaming down my face the next. It's all so crazy, and I still have moments of disbelief. This has been what I have wanted for nearly two years. I'm going to be living with a host family in Argentina! I'll be going to school and learning Spanish and I'll see and try so many different things and meet so many new people.

I still have stuff to do. I have to work tomorrow, the day before I leave, which is a little insane, but it will help keep my mind occupied. I'm almost done packing, it's just the things I'm using like my laptop, purse, journal, toiletries, some clothes, etc. that I haven't been able to pack. I've already had to say good-bye to some friends and family, and that's been hard, but everything is slowly coming together as my departure date is rapidly approaching.

I leave at 11:45 am from Green Bay. From there I fly to Chicago, Miami and finally arrive in Buenos Aires at 6:15 am Friday, Argentine time, where I will be met by some members of my host family as well as possibly some friends and Rotarians.

My host family has told me repeatedly how excited they are to meet me, and I can definitely say the same to them. This will be such an amazing year, and although I have my doubts, I really can't wait for it to start.

I will miss everyone very much, and I want to thank everyone who has helped me get this far. Continue reading, I'll try to keep updating at least once a week while I'm in Argentina, but I'm not making any promises. I'll at least try once a month, it depends on how many crazy, fun experiences and things I'll have going on.

Nos vemos,

Micah