So far Gone...

So much has happened since my last post! Of course, I'm home now... I was updating from my iPod most of the time, and then my iPod broke! UGH. So, i was unable to update my dear friends from Moab... But i will try my best to update you as much as I can!

From all our hard work, community service, and everything else in between, we also got to have a little bit of fun! The last 6 days we were in Corsica--an island province that France bought. We spent every day on the beach, in gorgeous little towns with blue skies and blue seas. One of those days we went to Italy, also. (this was our prize from winning enough points from an all-day scavenger hunt we did in Paris. That's another story...) It was another little island, called Sardegna, and it was so beautiful. We had real Italian gelato, and I tasted spaghetti!

It was hard to say goodbye to all my friends. Our last night was full of tears and not much sleep... The final hours of being together, you hardly could.
This part of the trip is hard to explain. It would be difficult to experience so much with these people and walk away without feeling anything. Not a day goes by without a reminder popping out of anything and everything. We had so many inside jokes, so much we knew about each other. 5 weeks hardly seems like enough time to call 13 other people your best friends, but I certainly consider them all to be.

Martine, with her Canadian accent that she rubbed off on me. My friend says I speak so weird now. How 'bout that maple syrup, eh?
Rafael, with his That's what she said's and Who.... cares?! Such a camera-hog with his poor hip-swinging skills. I will forever remember his speech-giving on my birthday...
McKenzie, with her ripped pants and Converse. That blonde could smile sweet and was the cutest little kid ever. And she's surprisingly tan, from someone who came from Alaska.
Camilo, the flirt from Nicaragua with the pink tongue piercing. He walks like a duck but I still love him. If only he knew that he looks better without his hair gel...
Inna, the photographer and hyperactive girl. I love her! We roomed together for the longest time and fought over the shower, but we shared so much... everything from clothes to secrets.
Peter, always upbeat and positive. Complimentary of anything at any time. Rain or shine. I've never seen a more laid-back guy.
Brian... dropping dueces with Coldplay. I enjoyed our chats about how we would fix the low standards of society. He could always make me laugh. And now I have a friend from Kenya!
Leslie, the adventurous girl! We snuck out one night because sleep eluded us that night... okay, and we were craving gelato! Good times exploring in Corsica.
Noah had the most amazing voice. He could shoot any song in the heart and play it on the group guitar with style! I loved how much respect he had for everyone.
Aaron was my drama buddy, and always had a bear hug waiting. I hope he'll come visit me in Moab this fall for our school play! He is the closest to me out of everyone in the group (he's from California). So he should be expecting me very soon!
Marissa was the kindest, most caring girl. She always put others before herself. When she smiled, it was beautiful, and it made you want to laugh along.
Guen was a terrific woman. She made it fun to be around. & She found me henna! :)
Rainbow Breeze was my big brother... I haven't met a guy quite like him. Always watching out for me, making sure I didn't accidentally drink alcohol. He had some crazy stories, but man, that guy's been places!
And we met some wonderful people along the way... Dio, Jeff, John, and not to mention all of our host brothers and sisters.

Every day I wonder if I will see them all together again. Perhaps someday. I just know they all changed my life. The Experiment changed my life. I'll never be the same... I already know that. Some of my Utah friends have already pointed that out to me.
I do believe I have been changed for the better....

__________________________

It's weird.
It's weird to drink good milk.
It's weird that I can't walk down the street and buy a baguette.
It's weird that I can hear and understand everything perfectly.
It's weird that I can't get them off my mind.
It's weird that I can't go to a cafe and order something in French.
It's weird that I can't kiss people on the cheeks if I want to.
It's weird that I have a lot of Euros left over, but I can't spend them.
It's weird that I see my friends from the group update their Facebook stuff... and I wonder if they ever think of me.

It's weird to be home again.