Hi everyone!
I apologize for the delay—moving countries by yourself is a struggle!
Last week, I started my journey home. It included two massive bags, a carry-on and a fully stuffed backpack, all encapsulating my time in Brazil. It is always humbling to know that your whole life, for such a significant amount of time, can be stuffed into a couple of zippers. I ventured through record heat, several bus stations (very difficult with more suitcases than stature), several Uber cars and four airports before finally arriving home in Austin, Texas to celebrate the holidays with my family.
My final days in Brazil were filled with a lot of reflection. It was important for me to zoom out and realize that even though the little things I did day to day felt like they 'were not enough' or 'were not always on the large scale that I wanted,' in the end, I was able to help people. That was my main goal in returning to my birthplace, to experience living in my country, but this time with something to contribute. Living abroad comes with numerous difficulties and incredible opportunities. So many, in fact, that it can be difficult to see the big picture. In those rare moments, like in my last days in Assis, I realized how formative and fast the past nine months have been.
