Goodbyes

I leave for Chile TOMORROW NIGHT from Atlanta Airport. Last minute packing and shopping have taken over today as I try not to forget anything. I'm getting really excited as it gets closer, but it still hasn't hit me that in about 38 hours I will be on the ground in Santiago. I don't know whether I'm more excited or nervous. I know it will be tough to get used to the language and the city, but I'm looking forward to being confident in my Spanish and  in getting around Santiago.

I've already said goodbye to some friends from home, my friends at Furman (who I spent a lover-ly snow day with!), a lot of extended family, and my brother Justin. Justin was definitely the hardest to say goodbye to because he's also leaving for three months. He is an Air Traffic Controller for the Air Force and is deploying to Iraq. He left yesterday, and my family and I went to see him off at the airport. I'm so proud of him! We'll be even farther from each other than we are from the rest of the family, and it will be so nice to see him again in April. Now I just have to get through goodbyes with my brother Jonathan, who I will also miss very very much, my parents, and our dogs. Those aren't going to be easy either. I'm not one to be homesick, but I still am not a fan of goodbyes. I guess they're needed for opportunities like this, though!

Lord willing, my next post will be from Santiago!! Until then, ¡vaya con Dios!