Safe and Sound

Well, It's been about a month since I got back to the states. And if you have not actually seen me in person since I got on the plane to come home, you were probably wondering if I had actually made it back alive, or if they had even been able to drag me onto the plane. Even if you have seen me you might be wondering that. So here I am, one month late. :)

It's been a pretty chill but whirlwind of a month. It's hard to believe that a month ago I was saying goodbye to my chilean friends and not even a month ago, crying over my chilean family. It was hard to say bye to everyone. I knew I would miss them, and I do. But mostly, in typical Willow fashion, the girl that needs backup plans for her backup plans, I just went a dash bit crazy upon realizing that I didn't know what I would face next. They say that if you never leave your comfort zone and get out of your box, you'll never discover all the wonders that the world has to offer. But, if you never leave your safe and cozy box, you probably won't die a sudden and painful death either. However, now I can safely say that taking the 1st step into becoming a butterfly was good, pleasant, and necessary.

Getting back has been somewhat bizarre but smoother than I had racked it up to be. I settled into a familiar family routine (besides the fact that I now share my space with two young teenagers). Oh. And when I say a "familiar family routine" I mean that it's basically the same thing that I left here 10 months ago. Not that it's at all simular to my chilean family life. Because it's not. I also have started cross country practice again and have been pleasantly startled that my year of... ehem, "rest" was less detrimental to my running life than I had dreamed. And in cross country I have found a haven of reliable teenage friends who faithfully wake up at 5:30 am with me to run, and who I can count on for a good dose of people my age and the conversation they bring.
I have also started, and ended, my first session of American History summer school. Which has been faithful in both it's boringness, and simplicity as well as a nice warm up into writing in english and paying attention in class. Xb

This all sounds like returning has been a cake walk so far, and it really hasn't been that bad, but it's not all been cake and ice cream. Like trying to transfer into how to be a teenager (something I have always struggled with) in the over exuberant and dramatic culture of the US. Not being able to lean my head on my friends' shoulder without getting a funny look. No kissing on the cheeks. The closeness of chilean culture is probably what I miss most. Oh well that and the bread. :)