What do these events have in common?

Some highlights from the weekend:
- Going to a discotheque with Spaniards and finally enjoying Spanish music instead of the ever-prevalent American music.
- Attending a Bomba Estéreo (an Electronic Colombian fusion band) concert.
- Going to a Flamenco bar with Spaniards and learning how to dance Sevillano and the Rumba. This also involved a 65(ish) year-old señora breaking it down with us. It was one of the most fun nights to date, I only wish I knew the lyrics to the songs to join in. Because those Spaniards seriously sang all night long...

Today we took our last CIEE trip to visit the mines of Río Tinto and the caves of Aracena. I wasn't quite sold on the trip when I was pulling myself out of bed at 8 AM this morning, but when they gave us hard hats and we got to walk around feeling like Indian Jones, I was sold.

Río Tinto is an element of environmental discussion because of the high metal concentrations in the river. The water is completely red and is highly acidic (pH of 2) due to the presence of iron (and also copper and manganese) from the mines. Ughhh all I can think of is Organic chemistry when I speak of chemical elements... it's a curse. Last but not least, the intense water conditions are studied by astrobiologists, who have learned more about possible life on Mars through the study of this river.

Mines of el Río Tinto. Check out the red water...

View from the mines. Bet you wish you had a hardhat.

We continued on to Aracena for some free time to eat lunch and then to see the caves. Aracena is known for their ham so we just had to try the croquetas de jamón. Rough life, eating croquetas all the time. They were pretty darn good, but still don't live up to the croquetas at our secret bar. Good thing too, because our secret bar is much closer to my house. Its possible (and quite probable) that lunch was followed by a trip to a confetería for a taste of their chocolate croissants. I'm conducting a study of compare and contrast throughout Andalucía ;)

Finally, we went through the caves. It was just like Indiana Jones. Or Indian Echo Caverns. Not sure, its been a long time since I've seen either. It was fun to be on a tour that didn't include the history of a war that changed the way the world goes around. We just enjoyed walking around and marveling at the many stalactites and stalagmites for an hour.

We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the caves but I found this one online. Of course they were way cooler than this but at least you can get some idea.

Quiz: What do the following events of this week have in common?
- City staff putting up lights all along Asuncion.
- Registration for next semester.
- Last CIEE day trip to Aracena.

Answer: They all serve as a reminder that the semester is actually going to end and I will have to return back to the United States to take Inorganic Chem, balance countless extracurricular activities, and leave the friends and cultures that have become a part of me. Dang.

To my dear friends, family, and Hope College: I love you. I love you a lot and I sometimes I wish you could all be here with me. However, on the other hand you have to know that I am growing up; I'm having new experiences in new places with new people.

For my freshman year of college, I left Hershey, PA, knowing not a soul in Michigan. Yet I gained some of the best friends a girl could ask for and made a "home away from Hope" family who looks after me as their own daughter. These wonderful people aren't a replacement for my amazing family in Hershey, or my friends who I've maintained meaningful relationships with since 6th grade. But they are a crucial part of me. And whether I'm in Michigan or Pennsylvania, I'm always missing someone.

Now I've added Sevilla to that list and I'm learning that growing up means saying hello and goodbye on a regular basis, sometimes without knowing if the hello will ever come again. I'm not looking to worry about my return home prematurely, but every day I realize that it will not be an easy transition for me to come home. I want you to remember that this doesn't mean in anyway that I don't love you or miss you. Because I do. I care deeply for all of you. But you singularly are not what defines me. I am defined by countless experiences, people, and places. And as that list grows I feel myself getting pulled thinner emotionally, wondering how someone can truly maintain substantial relationships in the way that you want to guarantee when you say each and every goodbye.

I know I will be happy to see you all in December and January. The hellos will be numerous and filled with love. We'll be busy with Christmas, the wedding, and the beginning of a new semester - all exciting times of life.

But I also might need you to remember: I will have just said goodbye.