Past two weekes update:
1. Still feel good about my living situation. I have loved the last two weeks living alone. However, as of today I have one (maybe two) roommates; a professor and her daughter, although I don´t know if her daughter is coming or not. I have met the professor, but very briefly, so I haven´t really gotten a chance to know her yet. She will be here the rest of the time I will be. I have been a little anxious about this change, but I knew it was a possibility when I decided to live here and was willing to take that "risk". As school is out, it might be nice to have a little company. Either way, it is for only for three weeks.
2. Farewells continue. Classes are finished, and most are also done with exams. I threw two official goodbye parties (celebrated with cake) with the two classes with whom I have been both semesters. I also said goodbye, earlier than expected, to my friend Alberto who is off to France for the summer. Needless to say, the these farewells have made me sad and melancoly. However, I am grateful for having gotten to know them: they have helped make this year a great experience and some of my best memories are with them. (It´s a good thing there are still friends here who I haven´t had to say goodbye to yet.)
3. Social time: Carne asada with Carmen this weekend, farewell for Alberto, lunch with Carlos (Veronique´s boyfriend), salsa/excercie classes, lunch with the family at the old house, running into classmates at school, etc. (I haven´t had a lack for those of you that worry about me!)
4. Reflections: saying goodbye, end of semester, almost the end of my year here have made me very reflective. Much of this year has been so different than I expected; with many parts more wonderful than I antipated, and other personal things more painful and difficult than I thought. I have so many feelings that surface: readiness to go back to the US (to understand everything again, to be finished with my papers for BGSU); nostalgia and grief that comes with saying goodbyes and approaching the end; disappointment and suprise at the goals, hopes, expectations that haven´t been fulfilled like I had wanted them to be; realization about the changes that I will have upon returning to the US and the areas that wouldn´t get any easier (starting over again in a new place), desires to take advantage of the time I do have left with the people I know. Again, many many reflections. Shocker I know!
5. BGSU papers...still working on them. Slower than I´d like or should. (One reason to appreciate having classes done and some goodbyes made already).
6. Three weeks left. (10 1/2 month completed). Very strange to think that will no longer be my home.
7. Still cooking yumminess! Still insanely hot!
Adventures of living abroad on my own
Blog Background
Starting August 2007, I will studying at the Universidad de Sonora (UNISON) in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico for the first year of my graduate program in Spanish. In the summer of 2008, I will return to the United States and go to Ohio to complete the second year of my Master's program. As an undergrad, I lived and studied in Denia, Spain for a semester and loved the experience. Ever since, I have wanted the opportunity to live abroad again. Mexico is an ideal location for me as Denver, CO has a very large Mexican population. For the past five years, I have taught 3rd grade in a bilingual classroom and the vast majority of my students have been of Mexican descent. I plan to return to return to Colorado upon completion of my studies and I believe this experience will make me better able to serve. I am using this blog to help document the year for myself, share my experience with family and friends, and be a reference for other students planning to study abroad in Sonora and/or elsewhere.
