525,600 Minutes

So it has been exactly one year since I'm slept beneath the Texas stars! It feels like the year has flown by. I can't believe I ever thought that a year could be enough time to spend here in Central America. Although I'm really not sure how much time would be enough exactly.

I can remember saying good-bye to my family in the early-morning hours at the airport curb, and walking in by myself to check in. Getting on the plane for Houston was easy enough, but once I got to my gate in Houston for San Salvador, I realized that I was the only person there that wasn't speaking Spanish and wondered how I was going to survive. When I boarded the plane, I immediately fell asleep and didn't wake up again until the flight attendant handed me the form to fill out upon entry. It was so cloudy, and I remember thinking that I didn't even know what to expect when I landed, if there were mountains or a dirt landing strip, or anything at all that would be even remotely familiar. As I was getting off, one guy struck up a conversation with me to ask where I was going, and whn I told him Chalchuapa, he had no idea where it was, and that's when it hit me that I was going to be doing something special in an unknown place, and that I didn't have a clue.

After I got my baggage and fended off a baggage porter that wanted to charge me $20 to haul my suitcases about 30 feet (I was so proud of myself for that!), I saw Sor Paty and Sydney waiting for me across the barrier and I was so relieved! Sor Paty didn't know that I didn't speak Spanish (oops), but Sydney translated for us, and we went to eat pupusas. After that, my life completely changed and hasn't been the same since.

Here are some things I've learned this year:

1. Mass transit isn't so terrible, once you learn the bus system
2. There's still a ton of work to do
3. Talking with people is the best way to learn about the world
4. There are lots of things I can control about my own behavior
5. There are lots of things I can't control (flexibilty is a virtue)
6. Technology isn't as important as everyone thinks it is
7. I still have a ton to learn

Some things I miss from home:

1. The concept of weekends
2. Having my own car
3. Making my own schedule
4. American sports
5. Texas dancehalls/country music/barbecue/Shiner Bock
   
6. my FAMILY and FRIENDS (this should really be #1)
7. being on a family cell phone plan

However, even with all that I've accomplished and how much I've grown this year, I know that these next eight-ish months will be even better, and I hope to learn even more about myself and the world, to come home a changed-for -the-better person, and to take advantage of every moment I have here, because I know I won't have another chance to live my life other than right now.

All of you are in my thoughts and prayers and I am so grateful for all your support this past year! Happy one year anniversary!