I know I've talked about this a few times in my blogs already, but it really is interesting to look at how far I've come since being here. I knew nothing and nobody when I first got here. Now I have tons of friends all over the island. I was also very shy and timid when trying to talk to people, and had very little confidence in my Spanish. Now, I'm pretty confident trying to talk to anyone in Spanish. I can understand about 90-95% of what most people are saying and I'm pretty good at responding. I still just have to work on building my vocabulary. It's a slow process that I'm learning to embrace. I also remember feeling so awkward and scared just trying to go to the grocery store because I didn't know what anyone was saying or how to use my credit card. Now I just laugh thinking back at it. Just looking back at everything in general kind of makes me laugh because of how lost yet excited I was. Everything was so new and different to me. Now it feels like I've been living here for years. I still refuse to drive, but everything else is really easy for me.
I added a photo onto Facebook for my last day that kind of just brought everything full circle. Here is the first picture I took in Wisconsin before I left over 7 months ago with a sign that says, "Puerto Rico here I come!" Next to that is one from today, with only a few of the things that remind me of Puerto Rico, that says "Hasta luego Puerto Rico!" which means, "See you later Puerto Rico!" I know this isn't the end. I plan on visiting quite frequently throughout my life. I have absolutely fallen in love with this island and its culture. I've also made so many incredible friends, and found some family away from my family. I hadn't realized how much I have touched people here until I put up that picture. Some of the comments I have been getting have been so incredibly sweet that they have actually made me tear up. Some of the people that have commented some of the nicest things are actually people that I only had the chance to see a couple times. It's incredible what you can find, and what you can do, if you just put yourself out there. Puerto Rico has given me the chance to fully embrace everything that I am. I am so proud of the person that I have become through this journey. I am constantly evolving, and every single person that has even the smallest part in my life, has helped me in some way through this journey. I am so incredibly grateful to every single person that I had the chance to meet since being here. Looking back a couple years ago, I can't believe that I was actually thinking of giving up on this dream. But after coming here, and taking advantage of every opportunity that was presented to me, I was able to do things that I never would have thought possible a year ago. Heck! I did some things that I didn't even think possible a few months ago! This has been one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me. I wouldn't change a thing.
Puerto Rico, and the people here, will always have a special place in my heart. I may have come to Puerto Rico a gringa, but I'm leaving a boricua.
XOXO Ericka