Un Mes Más a Ir – One More Month To Go

There have been many milestones (los hitos) on my journey to Chile and many incredible experiences that I have been able to achieve (lograr) during this time here. I have been here now around 120 days and have 30 days left until I return to the US, one more month to go (un mes más a ir), a mere 20% of my time remaining. What seemed like an eternity (una eternidad) a few months ago, especially at the first 30 day mark, has now come to the other side (el otro lado), and as the days start to flee in Chile, the days in which I will be back home beckon me closer and closer (más cerca).

I can look back and remember the difficulties (las dificultades) I had in my first 30 days, in that I was but a child (un niño) here in Chile, seemingly with limited skills and experiences. I had to learn to walk (caminar) and to talk (hablar), before I could leap and converse, and over the next number of days, until about the halfway point (la mitad)at day 75, I was steadily gaining in experience and maturing into an adolescent (un adolescente). As I made it to day 100, I was coming into my own, with a sense of youthful bravado (bravuconería) and false confidence, signifying that my transition was that of a young adult (un joven).

Yet, today (hoy), as I sit on the verge of the final push toward the end (el fin), I am gripped by the revelation that I still have so much to learn (aprender) and seemingly so little time left in which to accomplish (lograr) it. At the same time, I do have to stop (parar) and push back on my reflections, and have to admit, even in my thoughts, that I have progressed (he progresado) quite a bit from where I began and hopefully am on the right track to where I need to be going. It also leads me to other questions (otras preguntas) as well, such as am I ready to return to the US? Will I be different when I get home? Will I be able to functions better than I did in the past? Will I fit in? Will I be able to apply what I have learned and not merely se this as an anomaly (anomalía) in my life?

These are the open ended questions (preguntas abiertas) that are part of the focus from here on out, as well as the need to finish (terminar) what I have started. I am a firm believer that it is harder to finish something than to start (comenzar) it, and I certainly remember the humbling efforts it has taken to get this far on my journey (mi viaje) in Chile that brings me to today. Yet, I see the horizon (el horizonte), and know that I have to finish strong, to continue (continuar) to redeem (rescatar) the time, to take advantage of what is before me, to stay immersed in each moment as it comes my way, as if it were the only moment (el único momento) I may get.

I know I still have a lot to learn, but do feel like I can contribute in a real way that is leading me to new places (los lugares nuevos). In that sense, I think I have grown as a young adult and although I still have room to grow (crecer), I am more excited about the contribution I can give rather than just the personal gain I can take from this experience. With 30 days left to go, perhaps (quizás) I am finally starting to grow up a bit as well.