The lounge room floor is strewn with travel guides, Spanish phrase books, pieces of paper scrawled with details of places we might like to go. My mind is full of visions of beautiful places, interesting people and a new language and way of life. The bank account is not quite full enough, but surely it will work out. I don't doubt that in around 7 months we will be off on the adventure of a life time, starting in Santiago, Chili, then heading to many unknown and exciting destinations, perhaps for a few months, perhaps for a year. I am ridiculously excited, looking forward to it more than anything.
Though last night I felt sad that we would be leaving. I cried, in front of my school principal, when she told me I wasn't allowed to go, she wanted to keep me. I cried only a little, and I cried because of how great life is now. I cried a little bit because I imagined the last day of school, saying goodbye to my 21 little kiddies who I have grown so attached to, knowing that I won't see them again for a while, and when I do, that attachment is likely to be lost. I cried a little bit because I imagined waving goodbye at the airport, to whoever drops me off. I cried a little bit because my dad will be stuck at home and I wondered about how my friendships might change when I return. I cried a little bit because I am so comfortable in the place I am in right now, and I will be changing all of that.
We will be challenging ourselves, hopefully opening our eyes up to the world around us, a world that is not filled with Western wealth and materialism. Perhaps it will be a world that is a little slower paced, where siestas are commonplace and family is most important. I'm hoping it will be a world that is a little less complicated to live in, perhaps a few less bills to pay, a few less reasons to work so hard that you forget to live. But we won't know until we are there, experiencing what South America has to offer. Whilst now I worry about leaving, I also worry that I won't want to return. What if we prefer life in South America? What if we decided to stay there for good? Realistically it probably wont happen... But if it does? Would we have the guts to stay?
