Principios Nuevos

As my date of departure neared, people began to ask me if I was excited and I wanted to respond that I was, but I really wasn´t and did not want to lie. I just said that I was not excited, but that I knew I would enjoy the experience when I got there. I did not know why that was, but I knew it to be true. Now I understand why.

I forgot how difficult it is when you first find yourself in a new culture, not able to speak the language and not knowing how to get around. All the little things that you do so easily at home, like purchasing groceries or going to the bank, can take all afternoon. Studying a new language and just doing a few daily chores can be exusting.

But, there are those things that make all the early struggles worth it: the time you have to sit back and enjoy things you don´t make time for at home like relishing a cup of tea in the morning, and the satisfaction you get by turning the most suspicious glare into a smile with a simple, Buenas Dias. That is definitely my favorite part of being here.