Hello everyone. One of the main reasons I wanted to create a blog was to share information with my family and friends. This blog post is just that, to share information. I am typing this blog entry from Adrian, Michigan, not Cochabamba. I left Cochabamba on December 19 and arrived into Detroit International the afternoon of December 20. It is hard to believe that two weeks ago today, I was still in Cochabamba. So many wonderful blessings have come my way since I left Cochabamba to come to Adrian.
When I left Honduras, I had been in contact with Sister Durstyne about coming to Adrian for domestic volunteer service opportunities. Sister Durstyne informed me I was welcome to come to Adrian anytime, and she assured me there would be plenty of ways for me to serve. We had many conversations both when I was down in Southern CA and again when I spent time in Northern CA. She talked to me about domestic and international service opportunities. While everything Sister Durstyne mentioned sounded intriguing, I still felt called to serve with the Salesians in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Sister Durstyne and I agreed to remain in contact while I was in Cochabamba serving at the Hogar.
The first weekend of December was full of email conversations with Sister Durstyne again. I was fairly certain at that point I would have to leave Bolivia, and I wanted to start pursuing some domestic service options. Sister Durstyne responded to my emails right away, and it was decided that I would come to Adrian before Christmas. The flight was booked from Cochabamba to Detroit. After all of that was decided, I felt the biggest sense of relief. I was going to be out of Bolivia, but still volunteering.
My last few weeks in Bolivia were awkward, to say the least. Everyone knew I was leaving, but I had about twelve days from when the flight was booked to when I was actually departing. I wanted to remain present for the time I was still at the Hogar. People were not sure what to say to me, and I was not sure how to respond if someone did talk to me. In terms of sightseeing, that was not one of the reasons I went to Bolivia, so there was nothing that I absolutely had to go see before I left the country. I enjoyed the Christmas decorations that were in the Plaza Colon. I spent my last two Thursday day offs walking around the Plaza, looking at the Christmas decorations. I was more interested in seeing certain people, and making sure there were appropriate chances to say good-bye and share some reflections. I did not have those important opportunities when I was leaving Honduras, so I wanted to ensure I could spend time with the girls at the Hogar, the other volunteers, and my friends from Bible Study.
The last week I was in Bolivia was also the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Both days were commemorated with beautiful Masses and dancing. I am glad I had the opportunity to still be in Bolivia for those important days. One of my friends from Bible Study invited me and the older girls from the Hogar to go on a hike to see the Cristo. We woke up extra early on a Saturday morning to first hike to a Mary statue and then to the Cristo. We were able to take twenty of the older girls on the hike, so I took that opportunity to share some reflections of life in Cochabamba. They all sat in a circle and listened to me intently. Some girls took that opportunity to let me know how I had helped them in certain ways, which was lovely. I was not expecting that at all. The Cristo statue was an appropriate venue for this time of conversation and reflection. I am grateful I had the time to spend with the older girls away from the Hogar. When I was at the Hogar, time was often consumed by the needs of the younger girls, so I cherished time I spent with the older girls.
Because some of the girls at the Hogar have blood relatives to spend Christmas with, we celebrated Christmas at the Hogar on 12/11. The primera casa was decorated beautifully, complete with an elegant nativity set and a Christmas tree with presents! Each girl at the Hogar received an equal number of presents from the hermanas. Some of the presents were practical (bras, school clothes) and others were "fun" (dolls for the younger girls, sports equipment for the older girls). We had a lovely Christmas dinner, complete with dessert. After dinner, we had a bonfire. Remember, seasons are opposite. Some of the girls danced near the bonfire, others got into groups to talk, others started playing games. I spent time surveying the scene, knowing that many girls would soon leave to see their relatives. It was the last time we were all together at the Hogar. The evening was gorgeous, so we stayed outside celebrating for many hours. Finally, it was time to go to bed, as the next morning was a school/work morning. While I was not in Cochabamba for Christmas, I did not miss the celebration.
Hogar and spend time in the city before I left. When it started to rain, I decided it was a good time to head back to the Hogar.
I woke up on 12/19, knowing that later on that night I would get on a plane for the United States. That whole day I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. A life I thought was meant for me was coming to an end. I truly thought I was called to be a Latin American missionary, but I have accepted that that life is not for me. There are plenty of people from Latin America I can work with here in the United States (even right here in Adrian). Before I left for the airport, the hermanas and girls that had not left to see relatives gathered for the Rosary. After the Rosary, the hermanas had prepared dinner for me, knowing that my flight was an overnight flight. After dinner, Hermana M, Judy and myself left for the airport. The girls gave me some flowers and a shirt (I am wearing the shirt as I type this blog). The airport was thankfully not super crowded for six days before Christmas. Both of my suitcases were overweight, so I had to take things out. I was prepared for that (surprisingly enough), so I had certain things right at the top of the suitcases I could take out. I checked my bags in, paid my baggage fee and my fee to exit the country. Hermana M and Judy waited until I could go through security, which was nice. The migration officers in Santa Cruz gave me some hassle about not having the correct Visa (duh, I know I don't have the right Visa!), but they let me through. I was the second to last person to get on the plane in Santa Cruz, but I made it. I literally had the equivalent of fourteen cents in Bolivian currency, and I had to leave my Bolivian cell phone in Cochabamba, so I do not know what I would have done if I had missed the plane. But I made the plane, so off we went to Miami, the United States.
Every single time I have traveled internationally before Bolivia, I always felt this sense of dread at being back in the United States. I was always grateful that I was safe, but there was a sense of "what's next on the agenda" after the initial gratefulness of arriving safely. Not this time. As soon as we landed in Miami (before I had even gone through Customs), I felt the biggest sense of peace and contentment I had felt in a long time. I had not even arrived at my final destination yet. I was close enough, and this time, I did not want to know when I was going to leave the country next. It won't be anytime soon, that's for sure. Home right now is relative, but it will be somewhere here in the United States.
I had a rather long layover in Miami, but instead of waiting at the airport, a friend who lives in Miami picked me up from the airport and took me back to her house. We had breakfast, and I was able to lay down for a bit. That was so much nicer than sitting at the airport for hours and hours. She dropped me back off at the airport in time for me to catch the plane to Detroit. When I arrived in Detroit, all of my bags had made it safely and were waiting for me at baggage claim. Sister Durstyne picked me up, and we were off to Adrian. Adrian is about sixty miles south of Detroit. The drive was smooth, and I was able to see some more Christmas decorations. Needless to say, the weather in Detroit was slightly colder than the weather I said good-bye to when I left Bolivia. From summer to winter, in a matter of hours.
Since arriving in Adrian, I have already experienced a myriad of things. I have met the most wonderfully caring people, people that are excited to hear my tales of life in Latin America. There are many opportunities for me to serve, including various literacy centers in Adrian, Detroit and Chicago. Christmas in Adrian was my first Christmas outside of not only California, but Claremont. We had Mass on Christmas Eve and then again on Christmas morning. After Mass on Christmas morning, we had a feast. The tables were decorated, there was wine and an abundance of food. After dinner, we had dessert. Later on that evening, there was a gathering for people who were in the area, but did not have family to see. I was not alone on Christmas, not even close. In fact, I never even had time to feel sad that I was not in California. I certainly do not want to spend every Christmas away from California, but Christmas 2011 was not shabby at all. I already have fond memories of Adrian because of the Christmas celebrations. The true meaning of Christmas was certainly evident in the day's events.
I spent three days in Chicago catching up with a friend from Honduras. Chicago is only four hours from Adrian. I experienced the Megabus, which is the Ritz Carlton of bus travel. I took the bus from Chicago to Ann Arbor, and arrived in Adrian in time to celebrate New Year's Eve. When I think about where I was last year on New Year's Eve, this New Year's Eve was radically different. I am in a much better place, physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally. I do not even talk to the person who invited me to a New Year's Eve party last year, and it's better off that way. The people who I rang in 2012 with are healthier for me in every way. I was so "sure"of life at the beginning of 2011, and now I do not know my path. Slowly but surely, the path will reveal itself, and I need to be open to the subtle signs.
I do think about Bolivia, but I do not want to go back, not anytime soon. And if I do go back, it would be on a tourist visa, not to live. My home is the United States now. I am not certain which state in he United States, but thankfully there are fifty of them. Had I not been open to living in a different part of the United States than California, I never would have been able to visit Adrian. Adrian can possibly lead me to an exciting new chapter in life. We have had some snow, which is a novelty for me. There are people here who want/need to learn English, and I can help with that. Adrian is a small town, but there is no shortage of activity and opportunity for growth. I am happy to be here, the happiest I have been in years. I do not plan to leave the country anytime soon. I need to learn more about the United States.
2011 was a defining year in my life. I do not regret anything I did or experienced during the year, but am grateful the year ended with me returning to the United States to live in Michigan with my new friends.
Angela
