it's coming to an end.

it's quite hard to believe that tomorrow at this time i will be on a bus, riding back to lima. i'm excited to see the rest of the sst'ers. we became really close during our 6 weeks in lima and it has been strange not seeing them everyday. but at the same time, i just can't imagine leaving this place. walking the dusty streets has become such a comfortable routine. i can't imagine going back to the pavement of lima. and the friendly hello's and kisses from the children and adults of this community is something i never received in lima (or the u.s. for that matter). i'm definitely going to miss that.

this past week has been crazily hectic. i've been working on my final project about my women - finishing and perfecting the paper which has now grown to be too many pages. not only that, but i've been working and making endless amounts of bracelets. (i'm not going to brag or anything, but the women said i am "very intelligent" because i've learned how to make bracelets the fastest out of anyone they have taught before. i've actually started teaching other women how to make bracelets... which is quite crazy for me to comprehend, especially because i can barely even explain in spanish what they need to do, let alone the fact that i'm able to make these intricate peruvian bracelets. i've been making so many that i've had 5 different blisters that have now turned into caulises (i don't believe that's really how you spell that word...). who would have ever thought making bracelets could be so hard on your body?

also this week, i believe every person in la victoria has asked me to come over to their house for lunch. it's been fun traveling to the different houses, eating the different ceviche, praying that i won't get sick. but it's very time consuming and tiring on my mind. i've loved it even so.

i have so much more to say. so many more stories. so many more feelings. i just can't imagine saying goodbye to everything i've learned to love these past 6 weeks, but everything in life comes to an end, and i'll always hold these memories and people dear to me. and as í've been saying to every person who asks me when i'll return, "pronto, ojala" (soon, hopefully).

tonight we have a despidida (going away party with food, drinks, dancing, etc.) with the boys and girls groups of prevention. i'm planning on giving away a lot of my clothes to the girls as a going away present and a "thank you" for their help. then later on in the night the europeans, some peruvians, scott, and i are going to a diskotecca one last time. que chevere!

so, you'll have to wait until i return to hear of my stories and of my departure. but hopefully this message finds you well and you're all in good health wherever you may be. much love to you all.