Bittersweet, no actually just all bitter

So it has been a long time since I last wrote and updated. Which makes it kind of hard to start here but I will try.

Yesterday we officially finished classes, and last night we had our "Goodbye party"... It was the last time that our group would ever all be together at once. Which is so weird-- our orientation at Camp David Ranch in many ways feels like it was yesterday, even though I feel like I have been here forever. Our director gave us lots of tips on how to avoid "reverse culture shock". And we ate... a lot.

I am really going to miss this country. Our resident director last night was saying that us leaving was bittersweet. Honestly right now I'm not sure if I agree because for me it's mostly just bitter at the moment.

Even though I have a little less than a month still left here, I know my time here will fly by quicker than I realize. I can't wait to go see the kids in Montecristi for a week, and I am excited to have the opportunity to go to the beach and travel a little bit now that classes are over, but I can't imagine saying goodbye to this place and all the people I met and especially my two little host brothers.

My host mom even said last night that she can't imagine what they're going to be like when I go... They missed me after I was at the beach with my family for four days last weekend.

Although I know this isn't my last time here, as I always do, it is always hard to say goodbye.

This semester has definitely been really eye-opening to me. Not in the way that it has been to everyone else but I feel like I have really seen what Dominican life is and really finally seen the parts of life and culture here that are not the greatest.

But it is going to be hard to say goodbye to a place that really has such a big spot in my heart and which I have really learned so much from this semester and over the years. And the people who have all made that possible.