Welcome Home Mandy k lil miss thang, lets go to someones welcome home party soon!!! Im soo glad that u had the greatest time over there and that u kept all of us here updated on ur travels. I LoVe iT!!! Im glad that ur coming home cuz im about to quit HEB soon. DraMa DRamA!! Cant wait to see u and hear about all ur exciting adventures at ur fiesta. Im going to give u the biggest hug Ever!!!
We miss you! Well girl, it's almost time to come home! I just hope you are ready. I can only imagine how busy you have been. I just remember how busy you were here when you left to go to Chile. I hope everything gets better for you. I can't wait to see you! Benji and I sure do miss you! :) Love you! XOXO
!No te olvides! Cuando llegas tenes un Argentino que quiere escucha de todas tus adventuras en espanol. No te preocupes aqui tambien tenes un amigo nuevo esperandote.
La vida es hermosa y obvio tu lo sabes vivir.
Buen viaje!
Alfredo.
Superwoman I hear what you're saying about your room...I forgot that people would be moving into #35 and hearing that from you....HEY THAT'S MY HOUSE!!!! Get out! Jeje, but seriously, that's my house, get out. Happy to hear my superwomen was listening the last time we talked, I love ya' mi nina!
Journey Well Mandy you have had a Great Journey. But Yea you are coming home. I hope your as Happy as we are. I have Missed you more than you will ever know or think. I also want to thank Every one there for being there for you when we all couldn't. I can hear how much they all have touched you there. Well we will be looking forward to seeing that Beautiful face of your's. See you soon. Love You Mom
Re Chile observations Amanda: I enjoyed your comments because they capture some of the oddities of Chilean ways. About that milk doesn't have to be refridgerated comment- must be a Central and South American thing. I think it was first done in Europe- UHT or milk raised to ultra high temperature for a few seconds to kill ALL bacteria and then immediately chilled and packaged. I think the motivation for it is the SMALL sized home fridges in Europe and elsewhere, there's no place to put fresh milk so this alternative was invented. When it was introduced in my country Canada years ago, it just never took off because we have roomy enough fridge sizes for fresh chilled milk- just like you in the States, our American neighbours. Doug Voyageur
Take a Deep Breath Take a deep breath Mandy. All you can do is take it one day at a time. You think time is flying by now.Wait till you get as Old as Your Mama It does'nt fly it JETS by. And this has been the longest 5 Months for me and your MeeMaw. There will always be changes in your life. You have done so much already. So take a Deep breath and Thank all you have accomplished. I Love You MOM
Ask for Help! Hey girl! Yes, these past 5 months have flown by very quickly but that is just how it is everywhere. It seems like the more we learn and the more we mature, time slips right past us. There is no way for me to fully understand the way you feel, but I have a good idea. I understand it's hard for you to leave the family you have bonded with and shared things with, not knowing if you will ever see them again. But yes Mandy, knowing you, you will return to Chile. I can't promise you it will be the same. I would like to but I can't and I am sorry! You knew when you left to go to Chile that you would return in 5 months and see all of us again, so I understand how you feel about how it was easier to leave the States than it is to leave Chile. I wish it could be easier for you, but I know deep down that whatever you decide to do with your life, it is going to be great. Well girl, I miss you and can't wait to see you. Love you bunches. XOXOX
Home is a ever changing word I love the first quote...too true! Anyways, the thing is no, it will never be the same. I know in my heart I will return to Chile but you really can't go back. But that doesn't mean that when you return (perhaps with me?) that new memories won't be just as amazing as the ones you're making now. There is something special about living abroad, making a home and a life there. I know you get what I'm trying to say here. But one thing I've learned about coming home is that life changes so fast, you never know where you might be headed and sometimes you just have to relax into the ride. It all works out in the end! Or at least this is what I'm telling myself now!
Love ya, mi nina!
I like the qoute... very true! Be careful in your remaining month in Chili. I'll be praying for you. Make the last of it memorable. I'll be awaiting your return. Love ya cous'!
Oh Mandy! Oh Mandy, how you have learned so much in so little time. Take all that you have learned and hold onto it tight. Things can happen in life that make you forget those things. I wish the best for you in wherever your future takes you (I just hope it's not tooooooo far). Well girl, can't wait to see you. Miss you bunches and love you.
XOXO!
I'm so happy you have found people like that to surround you. People whose heart is in the right place is a blessing in itself to be around, just like the man I am marrying. Cherrish all that you have found and keep it always, espeically on those rough days that make you go ARRGGHH! Can't wait to see you when you return to TEXAS. Take care. Love you!
Love from Texas I know how nice it is to get comments on this thing, although with your amazing family and friends that is never a problem for you! Ahhh...flexibility and personal growth. Gotta love Chile. Miss ya chica!
-E
Crazy! I am so proud of you every time I get one of these Travel Blogs! Between the two of us we are traveling girls...next time we just need to do it together.... where to next??? I can't wait to see you when you get home!!!
Thank you Texas Miss Amanda (my Texas girl),
Thank you again for being strong when I couldn't be. Our farewell is a blur but I know this...I couldn't have got through it without there despite how hard it was to say goodbye. Again, I'm sorry for ordering you both out of the airport but you know my deal wtih long goodbyes. I hid behind that truck while you were both walking out but after waiting awhile I still searched through the crowd hoping you were still there for one last hug. You just followed by last request too well, I guess! Love you Texas and I will see you again soon!
-Your MN-TX girl
You sure did Eat It! Hey girl, that sounds like some adventure. Wow, I can so see your graceful self "eating it"! It sounds like you did it with grace and class though. I'm glad you had such a great time. I've never been but would like to one day. I also want to try ice skating. Well girl, love hearing from you and hope to talk to you soon. Love ya. XOXO
Goodbye's are Hard! Yes Mandy dear, they are hard. No, they don't ever get easier. It is hard to say goodbye but I know deep down that you and Emi will be together once again. It is awesome that the two of you have created such a special friendship and it's even better that her mom lives so close to us. (Here back in the States) Well girl, just look forward to the next time you see her and how often you can talk to her once you're back in the States. Love you bunches and can't wait until you come home. XOXO
Your Alive Mandy your experiencing a lot in your life time. I have been waiting for another journal. I could see you with the snow in your pant's. I also could picture you jumping off to late. If only you had a movie of it, you could win 1 million dollars on funniest video. HA!HA!HA!
We miss you Girl! I am so glad to see you have made such good friends but honestly Mandy, I had no doubts. You are such a sweet person and so easy to talk to, friends just grow on you. It is definately hard to say goodbye when you have spent so much time together. I do hope you see everyone of them again. But, when I speak for all of us back home, WE MISS YOU GIRL! We can't wait to have you come home just like Emi's family or Sarah's and Carina's families. I'm sure they all miss them like crazy just as much as we miss you and can't wait to see you. So good luck to all of them and I wish the best for them in following their dreams like you. Love ya. XOXO! - Brooke
OH MY GOSH! Wow, that is scary! And yes I will call you CRAZY! That would have scared the shit out of me. I am glad you are okay! So why do they protest so much? What is going on that they protest? Just curious. Well girl, you be careful. Love ya. XOXO - Brooke
Holy Crap! Dude, that sounds like you got a little scare. Man I would of crapped in my pants! I glad your ok, and had some fun and excitment. I don't know if I would return to that place again, or I would pay a little more attention to what is gooing on next time. Tear gas huh, hurts? Man I could only imagine, but great story to tell your kids or grand kids. Well, hope to see you soon. Be careful. Me and Shane, Love ya TONS!!! - Shannon
Ode to departamento #35 Oh, Ocho Norte, you will be missed my little departamento...it was so many things to each of us: shelter, frustration, beer pong central, late night wine talks and both my refuge away from the drama of chile and the place where it all went down. So many memories in such a little place. At least #25 is happy to see us all gone! - Miss Emi
com. on another comment k lil miss thang, lets go sight seeing!!! first of all Love absolutely LOVE the pictures! second of all u really can count on brooke or benji to answer the phone at like 12:oo or 1:oo am to talk to u so u can make it home alive. Thanks Guys It seems like u are really having the time of ur life (thats a song title Hehe) over there. I dont blame u though i would too. I still cant believe that that old guy knew the hottest place in town!!!CrazinessI!!! would like to take a ride on Hell itself! HAHA sounds fun!!! J/K
I just thought of something i would love to have a job as sampling food all day What are those people called neways? U know the hot yummy waiter brings out a lot of small samplings of delicious food i mean what could be better than that? My new Favorite word is...u guessed it LAMBASTIC!!! Okay i think that i covered something from each and every day u were there in BA.Im feeling very random today. sorry Love ya always PS by the way u know im borrowing that coat right? HAHA not J/K love ya - sassy
My educational/cultural experience in Chile has ended. I hope reading my adventures was as exciting for you all as it has been for me living them. Life is full of suprises and I'm ready for any that it has to offer! ... full info
sassy
non-member comment
Welcome Home Mandy
k lil miss thang, lets go to someones welcome home party soon!!! Im soo glad that u had the greatest time over there and that u kept all of us here updated on ur travels. I LoVe iT!!! Im glad that ur coming home cuz im about to quit HEB soon. DraMa DRamA!! Cant wait to see u and hear about all ur exciting adventures at ur fiesta. Im going to give u the biggest hug Ever!!!