Hello readers,
I have now been home in the United States for exactly 40 days. I've been meaning to wrap this up for a while now, mostly for my memory's sake later on in life.
The last month of Chile was more packed with stuff than pretty much any other month while I was there. The start of December was crazy because it was the last week of classes (the 7th we finished). The profs gave us quite a bit of work the last month, and especially the last few weeks, so I spent more of my time working on homework. It was quite an experience finishing up the semester at school, because I knew that there were so many things that I was doing and seeing that last day that I knew I wouldn't ever see again.
I had a few days to relax (well, ACTUALLY, one of our teachers gave us an extra week to finish homework, so of course I saved mine for that week) before heading off with Gabe, Emily, and Anne Cathrine (another foreign exchange student who we met in Chile) to Mendoza Argentina where we spent four full days.
Argentina was great. I had an absolutely great time and I'm really glad we went even though it emptied what little money I might have taken back for the semester here at St. Johns. I went white water rafting, ziplining, and paragliding. Paragliding was amazing... I have some pics and videos, if you are interested in seeing those go ahead and contact me and I'll let you know how to see them.
Traveling to Argentina was especially exciting because of course it was the last few days for all of us that we were going to be abroad, surrounded by constant Spanish, and able to do something as crazy as order bus tickers and travel to a different country for the week. Now we are all back in Minnesota, going to school in Collegeville and St. Joseph... it just isn't quite the same.
The last few days after coming back from Argentina went all too quickly. I was very excited and nervous about going home. I didn't feel like I was honestly ready to leave until two days before, and then it kindof hit me and I started to accept the fact that I was leaving soon. I had a list of things to accomplish before leaving, and I was very proud of myself for completing all those things on my list, whether it included simply spending an afternoon reading on the beach, taking the metro to Limache one more time, or something as simple as playing ping-pong with Gabe a couple more times.
I was very nervous coming home for many reasons... it was obviously a huge shift of words, and I wasn't sure how I was going to take it in all at once: simply the knowledge of being back, the language switch, being near family and close friends again, and then of course heading back to St. Johns. Upon actually arriving I took it much better than I thought I would. In the airport in Santiago (Chile) before leaving I met someone who I think God sent to make the transition easier for me. She was a gringa from the United States, who like myself, was heading back home after a semester of studying in Viña. I hadn't met her before that day, but I wish I had. Her, Emily (my travel companion) and myself sat together and talked for about three hours before our planes left, just talking about our trip, and heading home. I am sure that I will never see her again, but I found myself much more calm after she left on her plane, and Emily and I ours.
I am now home, writing this in the safety of my dorm back at St. John's University, and I can't help but think that 45 days ago I was packing to leave. Under two months ago I was in a different world, and now I'm back, but that world continues to exist without me.
It is strange to hear of other students on campus who are applying to study in Viña del Mar because to me, that's my paradise, along with those I came with. Part of me wants to be so excited for them, but another part is simply confused at the fact that they will be living, studying, and experiencing similar things that I experienced, when I can no longer travel to Chile and see/experince/live those things.
Chile, I will miss you - hec, I already do. To those who read my blogs this past semester, thank you. I wrote more because I knew that people were reading, and now because of that I can go back and read them myself at times when I miss it the most. My time in Chile is a time that I will never forget, a time that I will never truly leave behind, and a time that truly changed me. So, in conclusion, my time in Chile may have come to an end, but my experience abroad doesn't end there. If those in charge at CSB/SJU may so permit, I'll have you all join me again in one year.... in Spain :)
Chao
Daniel Knapper
