Goodbye Austin

This is my last post and I want to dedicate it to the best thing I found through these weeks in the United States. The following are some of the activities and places that I have enjoyed during this time: the Martin Luther King March, Longhorns Women Basketball Game, Longhorns Ice hockey Game, Mozart’s Cafe, Zilker Park, the Capitol, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, Downtown Austin, 6^th Street, Rainey Street, Lady Bird Lake, go kayaking, San Antonio, Riverwalk, Spurs Game, Houston, the NASA, the Museum of Natural Science, the LBJ Library and Museum, UT classes, ESL classes, the Benson Latin American collection, the malls, shopping, bowling, host families, and the list goes on and on.

All these things have been incredible; however, they can’t be compared with something I will never forget. Actually, it’s not only one thing. They are 24 amazing people who have made of this trip one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Two months ago, I didn’t even know the name of these people. Now, I not only know their names, but I also know about their lives and they have become my friends. If I hadn’t won the scholarship for this program and I had had the money to do the same trip, I would probably have visited the places I mentioned before, but the trip wouldn’t have been so fulfilling.

I don’t want to talk about anyone in particular, because it would be an unfair and arbitrary decision and everyone deserves to be mentioned. For obvious reasons, I have built a closer relationship with some of these people (we share the room, attend the same classes or share the same interests). However, I have talked with the 24, and I have learned something from each one. In this heterogeneous group I could see different thoughts, ideologies and human qualities, but if I had to name a characteristic that everyone has in this group it would be the solidarity. Whenever someone feels sick, has a problem or needs something, there is a person to help him.

Before finishing this wonderful trip I want to thank y’all for being so kind and friendly with me. I never thought that in such a short time I could feel so comfortable living with so many people from different places and families. This trip will finish in a few days, but I hope that the friendship we have created in these six weeks will last forever.

I also want to thank you, Rachelle and Katie, for organizing this program for us. Everything has been excellent and I’m delighted with Austin. But the most important is that you love what you do, and that is reflected in each activity you have planned for us. I’m not sure if I will visit Austin again, but you can be sure I will have the best memories of the city and its people.