Right now I am laying on my bunk in Sarria, Spain. Tomorrow we begin the last leg of the Camino! 110 kilometers to the promised land – Santiago de Compostela, the end of the Camino. Hallelujah. It’s cool to get to walk the last part of this journey with people from all over the world who are excited to arrive at the end of their Camino. But for us, this isn’t just the end of our walk across Spain, it’s the end of an era. *cue dramatic music that makes you cry*
As I’ve walked miles on end the last couple weeks I’ve thought about the past year. How I’ve changed, how I’ve left bits and pieces of myself all over the world and yet gained heaps and piles of experiences and memories that have shifted my perspective in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Some of the things I’ve seen and experienced I still can’t find the words to explain. When I think about the past year, my heart feels like it could burst. Burst from the sadness of having to say So. Many. Goodbyes. The goodbyes have been endless, and yet my heart also bursts with gratitude at the fact that I have met people who have captured my heart in all corners of the world. I feel like I have this little treasure chest in my mind and at least once a day I go and open it. It’s where I keep my most treasured, special memories from this past year.
I can still hear the howls of laughter bursting from my favorite mud hut in the mountains of Nepal. I can taste my Indian Mama Grace’s famous chicken Beryani. I can feel my body bouncing and bumping along the mountain roads in Bolivia while Papa Juan taught us how to chew coca leaves. I can see the mischief lighting up the eyes of my two favorite little Peruvian boys as they tried to cheat during our hundredth round of bingo.
In 11 days I will say 23 more goodbyes to my squad, the people who have shared this incredible experience with me. We have walked alongside each other through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Once again I’m filled with gratitude, but also know that this is the end of a season which I will not be able to recreate ever again. This squad has become a family to me, and it’s really weird trying to imagine living without any of them.
It’s also weird to think of leaving this life of simplicity. I don’t have a ton of decisions to make these days. My wardrobe consists of 2 shirts, 2 pants, and 2 pairs of underwear. My whole life fits into a backpack, and I’ve learned to live on $5 a day. Hand washing my clothes, crowded buses, rice cake dinners, and sleeping in rooms full of snoring strangers has become my normal. I have learned to love this life void of personal space or alone time, yet full of spontaneous adventures and meeting new people.
Im not sure what this whole transition home is going to be like. I do know that this ole body of mine is tired. This month the exhaustion seems to come in tidal waves. I’ve learned to sleep anywhere at anytime. I kind of feel like when I get home I may slip into a deep coma for about 3 days and then be fine. I’m also not sure if I’m going to want to see everyone all at once, or take it slow. I kind of feel like I want to see everyone and hear all about your lives, but also take lots of naps and snack breaks (like Chick-fil-A hehe yes please).
Basically I don’t know what this next month or so is going to be like. So please have grace with me. I am beyond excited to see all of you and hear all about what you have learned this year and what has changed in your lives. Wow I cannot WAIT!
The Race officially ends August 28th! I am going on a short lil adventure to Ireland and Scotland cause ya know…the tickets were cheap, but will be back in the US on September 5th. I seriously want to catch up with all of you so please reach out on Facebook messenger or email or whatever and we can meet up (actually I don’t have a car…but I’ve learned I can walk far, so I may just show up on your doorstep one day!) Please don’t be offended if I fall asleep on your couch though haha.
See you all SO soon! Love love love ya!
