I think that the departure of practically every gringo in my program has gotten me thinking about my plan for this year, and when I myself will step onto a plane headed for the US. If all goes according to plan, it won't be till September. I finish my classes in the middle of July, which gives me a bit of time to travel before classes start up at the UW at the end of September. In Chile, the national holiday of independence is September 18th. I spent the last 18th walking through the hillside in Valparaiso and it was a memorable experience to say the least. During that day, everyone's with their families, cooking up a BBQ (even though it's winter and probably raining in Valdivia) and eating traditional Chilean specialties. I would really like to experience that in Valdivia next year to conclude my year in South America. This plan has a good chance of being realized because I'll be leaving the majority of my things in Valdivia while I travel July- September. Therefore, it will be necessary to come back one last time. Plus, I want to have one more opportunity to see my friends before I leave for good. I have told a few of my Chilean friends my plan and they all think it's a good idea, and I feel really good about it. That would make for 13 months in South America. Wow... I am only at about 4 right now, so I've still got a big chunk to go.

But, for now I am focusing on spending time with people that I have gotten to know while I still can. It is weird saying goodbye to people when I know that I probably won't see them for at least two years. I'm not sure if it is truly possible to capture that amount of time in any single action. Tonight I met up with Devin, Casey, and Kathy at a bar near my house to celebrate Devin's final night in Valdivia. It was a great wrap up of all of the great memories and "ah ha" moments we've all had during our time here. It is sad to think about Devin leaving because I have become so accustomed to seeing him practically every day when I'm over at his house. We have both talked about how we feel like siblings, and that it has done nothing but make this already amazing experience better. I'm used to having a brother around, and he coincidently has a twin sister named Caitlin who has a similar personality. Strange I know. Even though I have adopted Devin's family as my own, he has always told me that dinner conversation are more enjoyable when I'm there, which makes me feel so lucky to have found myself in this situation. Devin along with everyone in his host family is bummed that he's leaving after only 4 months. It'll be weird to go over there and see another exchange student sitting in his chair at the dining room table. Our conversation at the bar kept coming back to how amazing his host family and how lucky we both are to have become a part of their lives. I feel like we will always have this connection having listened in on so many of the same dinnertime conversations and giving each other subtle sideways-glances if we didn't understand something or wanted to make a little gringo joke to ourselves. Casey and I will be staying the entire year, so tonight was also a chance for us to imagine what next semester will be like after a summer of traveling and studying outside of Valdivia. We are both really excited to immerse ourselves in the Chilean lifestyle even more thoroughly and speak less English than we do now. I will be going over to Devin's house tomorrow specifically to see him and say goodbye. Then, I'll immediately get to work on moving into his room. He was giving me tips about when the family eats lunch and things like that, and was really happy to share even more of his family with me. I am definitely going to miss the dynamic that can never be recreated in Devin's absence, but I prefer it that way because it makes this semester feel truly priceless.