Goodbye Fran

School today was amazing. I talked to people and laughed and was surprised by how much I noticed my Spanish improving!  The girls in my class are so sweet, hahah. They all wanted one of my Rotary business cards so I distributed them during class. I left school early to eat lunch at home with my family and Dani before going to the airport with Fran. All her things were packed up and ready to go when I got home, and the house felt a little emptier. We ate lunch, hung out for a bit, and then took off to the airport. 

We were at the airport for hours. It was a very lengthy goodbye, but I don't see how anyone could ever regret a single moment they spent around Fran. Almost our entire extended family was at the airport along with about ten of Fran's friends. I was impressed by the amount of people there, for the airport is over an hour away from Rancagua. But that is just how great Fran is. So many people love her so much and nobody was content with the idea of living with her absence for an entire year. 

I am not a very emotional person, or at least I don't like to be. I didn't cry when I when I left for my exchange because I was too excited and almost even selfish about it. Something about Fran leaving made me extremely sad. At first I thought I was sad because watching her mom cry touched me, and then I thought it was maybe because I was afraid of not having a human translator around me at all times. But as I hugged Fran goodbye, I realized it was because I felt the same way I imagine my little sister felt when I left. My big sister is leaving for a year, and I don't have anyone else like her in the world. This might seem a little dramatic because I met Fran two short weeks ago, but it is how I feel. I feel close her because she met me at the most fragile I have ever been, and took care of me and made me comfortable in her home with her things and expected nothing in return. I cried when I tried to say goodbye to Fran. I tried not to, but this time I couldn't hold back the tears. When people saw me crying they rushed over and hugged me. They comforted me with words I couldn't really understand, and I just cried more because they were acting as if my feelings were the most important thing in this world. I felt loved and safe and incredibly guilty, but peaceful despite the chaos of things. 

I am ready to live in Chile without Fran's help. It's going to be tough, but I know that I am more than capable of succeeding with this exchange. I don't miss Ukiah because I feel at home here, I'm just still getting adjusted to everything. I am glad I can feel this way while Fran is off having the time of her life in the US. 

Fran, since you are definitely reading this, I hope you had a peaceful flight (no fake French guys) and liked the letters I wrote you and the pictures I tried to draw. You are so lucky to have so many people who adore you in Chile. How exciting is it to know that in a few months, you will have two of these kinds of families?! I will take good care of your family and love them very much in your place. 

I took a lot of pictures today but I am too exhausted to upload them. Sorry guys! I have school tomorrow morning and I don't want to fall asleep in class, so goodnight. :)