and that's a wrap...

I leave in approximately twelve hours. I will never again sleep in my tiny bed where my feet touch the end and my head touches the top, but that’s not what almost made me cry. Yesterday was my last day of work. I brought a kinder egg and a colouring book for each kid, to be given after lunch at the end of my shift. The morning was pretty typical; lots of hugs, lots of crying, lots of throwing of chairs (a favourite reaction amongst the children when I yell at them for making another kid cry), and lots of running and screaming. After lunch however, once all the kids had eaten (demolished) their kinder eggs and were looking through their colouring books, Marisol (one of the workers) told them all that today was my last day and that was why I had brought presents. The result was that I got swarmed and kissed and hugged by each and every kid. Eugenia asked me who was going to be her mom now and Estrella looked a little teary. When I went to say goodbye to the little ones (who were moved to a separate room – I’ve been working half and half for the last week) Lucia (although she definitely didn’t understand it was my last day) was clinging on to me for dear life and screaming every time I put her down. All of this made me so sad. Until now I’ve kind of been on the fence about leaving. I mean I’m excited to go to Chile, excited to come home and see my family and friends, but at the same time I really love the way my summer has been. I love the rhythm I’ve settled into, the craziness of my wonderful home (such a good home) and I’ve loved most of my time with the kids. But yesterday, when I had to say goodbye to the kids, had a lovely dinner with the whole family, went for a late night walk and ice cream run with Laura and then watched a movie with Laura, Ari, and Hubert I didn’t want to leave. Not even one little bit, I just wanted to stay.
The “Canadian meal” in case you were wondering went very, very well. They were all huge fans of the tomato sauce and the apple crumble was absolutely wonderful. We all then proceeded to spend the rest of my last Saturday night staying up too late and drinking beer and just generally chatting, which was really nice.
Currently its almost 11am in Cordoba and I have loads of things to do today. I have to buy the last two presents (food presents – naturally I’ve saved them to the last possible moment), I’m visiting the Jesuit Crypt with Laura (and hopefully if I have time the Museum of Torture too – although the guidebook warns it’s “not a happy place”), and then of course I have to finish my laundry and pack. Then I’m heading down to the Projects Abroad office in Villa Allende to get my volunteer certificate, cab money for the bus station, and to say goodbye.
Tonight I’ll get to enjoy a last dinner with the entire family (Franca, Jere, Ari, Franzi, Hubert, Lisa, Pierrick, Laura, and myself) and then I will be given my send off to the bus, which I’m not super thrilled about, but I’m sure I’ll warm up to the idea a little later.
My bus goes from Cordoba to Mendoza (ten hours – midnight to ten am) and then I have a 4 hour “layover” in the Mendoza airport (I couldn’t figure out a better bus) before checking in to my flight (which departs around 4:40pm). I will be in Santiago and with Esteban by 4:45pm (in case you are confused it’s an hour flight and I am going back an hour – back to Canadian time!).
It’s going to be a … fun (?) sixteenish hours.
Chau,
Jane