Day 37 •• July 2

     The end is near. I'm on my last flight; Boston bound. 

    Anyhow, to pick up where I left off yesterday, we were on our 2nd flight (Lima to San Salvador). That went well. When we landed we thought we had an hour layover. But at that point, we had been enough that not much surprised us. Except for finding out that our flight was delayed by 5 hours. Seriously? Well, we can at least watch US vs. Belgium, we thought. >_< It was just one of those days.

    Anyhow, since we had to deal with the delay, the airline gave the passengers $120 credit. Which kinda makes it better. Kinda. We arrived in Dulles at 1:15am. Then we stood in line for customs for 45 minutes ... and then came the goodbyes. :'( 

    My aunt picked me up at the airport, so I was able to grab a few hours of sleep at their house before she brought me to the Baltimore airport. When I stepped inside my heart sank. There were people everywhere! When I finally got to check my bags (45 minutes later) the guy said that since I checked in late (only by a few minutes) my bags might not make the plane. So, we'll see. 

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    I'm home. Got my bags without trouble, and Daddy picked me up soon after. Stopped by Chipotle on the way home (ha!) It's really nice to be back, but I'm starting to get homesick for ISAM. I suppose that's just the way it goes. ¡Chau!

Day 36 •• July 1

     I'm on flight number 2; Lima, Peru to San Salvador, El Salvador. We've been through so much to get to this point. 

    Sunday evening, after saying our goodbyes we drove south for 45 minutes to a bus station. But after standing with all our luggage for 2+ hours we started to get suspicious. Where on earth was our bus? Then Arturo checked our tickets closer. They were for the next evening. Well, then. So after a few phone calls, we managed to board the next bus heading in somewhat the right direction. That was around 10:30pm. At 6:30 the next morning, we were literally dropped on the side of the highway. There, we huddled in the cold for 4 hours until the next bus came to bring us closer to the Adventist university. We ended up digging sleeping bags and extra clothes out of our suitcases and there we sat, on our luggage watching The Incredibles on Sarah's tablet. Those are definitely memories we won't forget. 

     When we finally arrived at UAP (Universidad Adventista de Plata), we ate lunch in the cafe and then had a tour of the university. It's really nice! By the end, we all asked for more info on the abroad study package. I'm seriously going to considered going for 6 months to a year. We were able to take showers at Arturo's mother's house and down the street at his in-law's. Then we boarded a van that brought us the 6 hours down to the airport in Buenos Aires. 

   We arrived there at 2am. Saying goodbye to Arturo was wicked hard. He and his family are such incredible people. Anyhow, when we finally got through security and arrived at our gate, we found that our plane had been delayed by an hour. That meant that we we arrived in Lima we'd have less than an hour to get off the plane, go through security (again), and run across the airport to the correct gate. When we got off the plane, we were greeted with a huge line to international security. We thought we were going to miss our flight for sure. But thankful, Andy was able to convince them to let us through ahead of everyone. So now we're finishing our second leg of our journey home.

Day 34 •• June 29

     We're in a car heading away from ISAM. Away from everything we've considered home for the past 4 weeks. Away from all the friends we made. It was hard saying goodbye. Really hard. 

    Yesterday was just a really chill day. It rained the entire time! We felt so bad for those out in the rainforest. Sabbath School, church service, lunch, nap time, supper... the norm. But after supper, (and sundown) Sarah and I joined Nico at Communications to watch The Matrix. I'm surprised I hadn't seen it before. Well, I'd seen parts, but not the whole movie. It was really great! Afterwards, I Skyped home... well "home" as in my family who are down at SVA at Campmeeting. That night Sarah and I slept over with the girls in room 10. We didn't go to sleep till 1am. But we had a great time! 

     After breakfast, I chilled and basically did nothing, as my roommates were sleeping in, therefore not allowing me to finish packing. For lunch, a bunch of us went to Ricchezza for "the last supper". We headed back to the school around 2pm, as that was when the Pathfinders were supposed to be back. But, no surprise, they didn't show. So I went to the dorm and packed up the last of my stuff. They arrived back around 3:30pm. Covered in mud, soaked to the bone, and how they stunk! Of course, Sarah got a nice big hug from River and some of the others. Oh how she loved that. (That last sentence was dripping with sarcasm.) After they all showered and changed clothes it was great to hear how it all went. While they still had an impressive trip, they did have to change their route, due to the excessive rain. 

     I hung out in the hall of the guy's dorm with Sarah and the others until supper time. (Attached to the dorm is the small gym and Sala Manga, so the hallway is usually open to whoever wants to play ping pong or just chill in the few large chair/couch like things.) 

     After supper I went up to my room to retrieve my bags. As I started down the stairs the goodbyes begun. Almost everyone turned out to see us off. It got really emotional. I'm going to miss everybody so so so so so much. Right now all I want is to go back to ISAM for a few more days. It's only been 20 minutes, but I miss everyone terribly.

Day 32 •• June 27

     Today the Master Guides left for their expedition. In the pouring rain; no surprise there. River and Reiss are with them. (I really wanted to go, but my knee is acting up and I'm still recovering from being sick.) After sending them off with well wishes, Sarah and I returned to the dorm to pack. We had permission from the dean to skip classes. So we chilled and packed... somewhat. Actually, we got about 80% packed. 

    For lunch we were supposed to meet "the girls" for lunch across the street at Ricchezza (the local restaurant) to celebrate a birthday. But unbeknownst to us, they chose to eat at the cafe. By time we figured out that they weren't coming, our stomachs has already decided to stay. So Sarah, James and I hung out there for a while. 

     That afternoon we just chilled. We hung out in Communications with Nico until sunset, when everything closed for Sabbath. Vespers at the church was okay. It was really different to not have those who were out on the expedition.

Day 31 •• June 26

     Today was Science Fair. It's also our last day with the whole school. So, before the fair started at the gym, Uncle Andy gave us all some SVA stuff to give to our friends as souvenirs. The Science Fair was quite nice; there were probably 3 dozen booths. I walked around with a ISAM yearbook and a soccer ball for my sister and had a bunch of people sign both. I'm really going to miss everyone here. 

     At 12:20, a group of us gathered at the library. We had each been told to invite a ISAM friend to lunch. We ate lunch in Alem at the casino of all places. Actually, the food was really nice (an all-you-can-eat meat buffet) and they showed USA vs. Germany. 

    Once we returned to ISAM, Sarah and I paid our tab at the store. Then we chilled for a while ... eventually wandering down to Communications. There, we hung out with Nicko, Kevin & Erik. I was able to enjoy the experience of Nicko watching Monty Python (The Holy Grail) for the first time. We skipped supper & vespers and just chilled. The internet is better on the computers, so we were able to watch YouTube videos. Around 8:30pm, Kevin left to go pack for the backpacking expedition. By 10, we had to lock up the office, so Sarah, Kevin and I went over to the building where the Pathfinders were packing their backpacks. We hung out there until 10:45, when people started leaving for the dorms.

Day 30 •• June 25

     We just said our official goodbyes. I cried. Everyone here has become our family. I'm starting to dread Sunday coming as much as I'm waiting for it. I don't want to leave, yet I do. We presented for vespers tonight. Myself, Sarah, Reiss and Kevin performed a medley of How Great Is Our God / How Great Thou Art / Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). James and River (with help) acted out a skit they wrote about their experience here at ISAM. It was hilarious. They did a fantastic job! Then we were all called up and Carolina & Pastor Nelson prayed for us. That's when I started to cry. Afterwards, Uncle Andy instructed us stand outside in the church foyer and hug everyone goodbye. I love these people. When I went back into the sanctuary to get my guitar and phone, a short meeting with the master guides was happening. It was about the expedition that happens this weekend. I stayed for it, but unfortunately I'm not going. I'm still sick, and just recently my knee started to act up (again!) I didn't attend school this morning because I awoke feeling terrible, so the dean sent the doctor to my room. Thankfully, she said it seems to be just a long lasting virus. (I've been feeling sick basically this entire trip.) 

     Anyhow, after the meeting, we talked with Uncle Andy. Kevin has arranged for me to get a senior jacket! But also, tomorrow there is the Science Fair and then we're hearing into town for lunch. We've each invited a ISAM student to join us. The Riveras leave tomorrow evening for Buenos Aires and we'll join them on Sunday at UAP (an Adventist university somewhat close to Buenos Aires).

Day 29 •• June 24

      I considered skipping classes today, with the excuse that I'm sick ... I'm glad I didn't. Today was the day that the seniors got their Letterman jackets. (Something you have you understand is, is that here they try to make any occasion an excuse for a party.) For the past while, they've been planning how to present the jackets. So they came up the idea to have a video contest. Each class made a video showing the class spirit towards the Argentinian World Cup fútbol team. They played the videos in the gym today. Each one was nice ... but when 5th's started playing there was a unique ending. A girl walked over to the group in the video with a trash bag. The seniors then turned and started to open the bag. That's when the video stopped. Then one of the teachers walked down the aisle with a similar black trash bag. He threw it up onto the stage at the front of the gym. A few seconds later two senior boys ran up to the stage and started to tear at the bag. That was our cue. Us seniors swarmed the stage shouting and throwing confetti. The jackets we distributed (unfortunately only half came in) and chaos reigned. After everyone calmed down, the 2nd grade (freshman) was crowned the winners of the video content and cake was enjoyed by 2 & 5. (Us seniors get included by default. Sorry Nicko!) 

     After lunch, a group of us gathered at the Rivera's apartment. Tomorrow we're supposed to present something at Wednesday night vespers. Myself, Sarah, Reiss and Kevin decided on performing How Great Is Our God. So we practiced at the music building until it was time for my Spanish class. After class, it was PE which I skipped due to my right knee and foot bothering me. Afterwards, we 4 gathered at the music building again to practice until supper. Tonight I skipped vespers. I'm feeling blahhh. Kinda like I did the first week I was here.