beginnings and endings

Our program ended last Wednesday. No sooner was I back from Buenos Aires; typing up my thesis & changing from Argentinean spanish to Chilean spanish that we were back where we started this whole journey... Hotel Pacifico in Algorrobo. For what seemed like only moments our group was back together... I couldnt help but notice how different we all are. Not only the physical; ubiquitous fanny packs, high top converse, checkered chilean scarves and cool knit bags...the change went deeper. Looking back on these last 3.5 months, this program was more than I could have ever expected. More than study abroad. My biggest fear coming here, more than the language, the culture shock, the academics... was the group. Who were they? 11 out of 12 girls? What would we be like together?

And now I know, the group was everything. I think I had an idea of studying abroad and facing all the challenges of being independent... but what I found instead was the comfort of good friends, an amazing director, and the undeniably feeling of true relationships. I think more than anything these last months I have been amazed by the human capacity to share. Ive had 4 host families who opened their doors to me, shared who they are (however they care to define themselves) and who have affected me in their own unique ways.

Personally, Ive met people who I could never forget, people who have inspired me and surprised me. People who I feel as though Ive known for longer than 104 days. To be able to share something so strong, so complex, eye-opening... how could we ever pretend to be the same 12 people who landed here a few months ago?

Going to the airport, half of us stayed and half left. Airports are always marking beginnings and endings. As much as it seemed like the ending of something, watching our friends walk away... these strong, intelligent, and passionate people... we were all smiling. Because this program was the beginning of something. I'm trying to hold on to that feeling. After all, we have more control of our beginnings and endings than we think.

Not all programs are like this, not even all SIT programs. Our director whose been doing this for 9 years, said that no one wants this program to end, there was something different about this one...