coming to an end

     Well the time has come. I am a slim one more day away from boarding a plane and returning to the U.S. of A. It seems like just weeks ago that I was saying good bye to my dad and Joanna, in the security terminal in the airport. They were embarrassing me by crying and I simply waved, because I had no idea of what was to come. It's amazing how coming into a program such as this, that you are so clueless. Your concept of a year is so wrong, along with your expectations. And now after having my year filled with depression, excitement, friendship, loneliness, I will go back to the "normal" life? 
I currently, along with the other students, am in complete denial. Not just being stubborn about having to go back to school and work, but we cannot genuinely grasp the idea of going back. It seems as if life back in USA is no longer a reality. Because, my life here in Paraguay is all I know. The times I grew up and spent with family seem just fake; as if I have really belonged here my whole life. 
     I have a feeling going home may be harder than arriving here. It will be heartbreaking to only spend time with other people from USA instead of my usual minimum of five different country company standards, which I love. Because, I will not get the crazy ideas and personalities such as these people, that I call my very best friends. Also, I feel like I will not be able to relate to other people after what I have lived here, but we shall see. I will have to learn how to pick up where I left off. But, hopefully not re-become the person I used I be. I hope to never forget this experience and the things it has taught me about myself, my country and others. I hope one day I am able to have such an experience again and it breaks my heart that it is all over. 

In Brazil for the end of stay camp with the AFSers of my group that survived this year.

Cataratas Iguazu

Well here we go I shall start playing catch up now, because I have officially been the world laziest blogger in the history of the world. So step one! Tell about to trip to the falls. WOW.  I like to think that I am more than a mediocre writer, but honestly that is the only way I can describe what I saw. Before last week I never understood the phrase ¨jaw dropping beauty¨ however now I do. The falls as you can see, sort of, from my photos is yes breath taking, though my photos do not give you the experience of standing in front of the average of 553 cubic feet of water falling per second and hearing the roar of the water, it is quite a humbling experience. It made me realize how little we humans are in the world. Along with how laughable the fantasy is that we have, that we have, control over everything. Seeing Mother Nature at her biggest and best allowed me to see the big picture. Also, allowed me to become quite terrified of global warming; considering that if this was a natural event, what would happen if she attacked un-naturally. We went to the Argentinean side of the falls considering it has the most to see, and also spent the night in Porto Iguazu.

I went to the falls with my friend Lenny from Belgium! This is us in front of a salta (meaning little fall... Spanish sometimes I question your logic) My friend Lenny is six foot three.... This was in the morning when it was quite chilly and we got soaking wet.

This is a German girl who we shared a taxi with from our hostel and she joined us for the adventure and later on we also adopted an Aussie.

This is the rainbow that almost always is in the falls area... stunning.

different side of the falls

After searching all day, we found a flock of toucans.

To all those toucan stereotypes out there, this is still a toucan!

A sign warning us to stay away from the monkeys and coaties because they scratch, bite, and steal your things....

one of the HUNDREDS of coaties... they would follow us around like stray cats... Though slightly terrifying considering they have huge claws and teeth...

There were also many butterflies... Correction... TONS. They acted as mosquito’s, having to swat them out of your face and off of your body... Not a terrible issue to have.

There were also many butterflies... Correction... TONS. They acted as mosquito’s, having to swat them out of your face and off of your body... Not a terrible issue to have.

At the Devils Throat part of the falls. This was the best part considering you could hear the smash of the water and understand the power of it all.

The very common wild Guinea pig. Also found throughout Paraguay.

JUST WOW

Currently there is 100% capacity of water in the falls. This makes it even more astounding than usual. As many of you may have seen that the water is a deep orange-brown color. In the past the water ran clear, however as the years have gone on, the deforestation has destroyed so much of the environment that now when it rains the sediment simply flows directly into the water turning it this color, rather than the trees and foliage stopping it. Their fish population is suffering immensely considering that it is quite hard to breath (whether it be air or water) when there is dirt in it. Therefore, a majority of their fish population is suffocating. For older and better photos and facts please view the following website.  http://twistedsifter.com/2010/03/iguazu-falls-10-incredible-facts/