Farewell, Andrea!

el 28 de junio 2011

It has been so long since this day that I can’t really remember all the details, so I will just write the highlights. I took my laundry to the lavanderia before class, and then I had class 8-1, and then I had lunch in Sandy’s apt. After lunch, I went to my room and tried to call Jenny and checked my email. I went to pick up my clothes at 2:30 and then I came back to my room for a few minutes before heading out to see Andrea at the hostel. She was sitting up in the room outside her bedroom when I got there. We talked for about a half hour. Ryan brought over a foam mattress pad for her to use for her last few nights there before she hadn’t slept well the night before because of the bed. I gave her and her mom the Karen Kingsbury book that I had finished reading so I don’t have to lug it back to the states. I said goodbye to Andrea and her mom, Lori, and I headed over to my place so she could take pictures from the terrace. After that, we went into the cathedral near the park. She wanted to buy Andrea some typical Mayan clothing, so I took her to a shop I had seen near the theater and I translated for her while she looked through everything. Finally we decided that it would be better if she would bring Andrea there the next day so she could get exactly what she wanted. We stopped for ice cream on the way back. I had a two-scoop waffle cone with Frutos del Bosque (vanilla and blackberry mixed together) and La Conga (which was my favorite flavor from last year). We walked back to the hostel and Andrea’s mom could not get the door unlocked. Finally Holly let us in, although she had a hard time getting the door open, too. I said goodbye again and walked back to my place. I talked to Jenny on the phone for a half hour and then it was time for me to go to salsa class at my school. There were fewer people there this week. I danced with William, a new guy from Washington, DC, the whole time. I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t get to dance with Luis, the instructor. William had never salsa-danced before. I also met a mom and 14 year old daughter who are here for 8 weeks taking classes. I headed back to Sandy’s for dinner. Sandy and I ate black beans and eggs. Then she wanted me to come into her room to talk. We had the longest and best conversation of the trip. She talked a lot about the past year and how difficult it has been but how good God has been. Gabby came back and I prayed for them. Then I headed downstairs to call Tammy. We talked for more then 2 hours. Gmail calling cut us off after 2 hours saying that our phone call was too long! I called her back, though, so it wasn’t a problem. At midnight, I worked on my speech for the next day and packed. I finally went to bed at 2am! Ahhhh!