To the 5 of us...

I have blogged about almost everything since I left in August...moments, miracles, being homesick, best days of my life, funny stories, saints, my spirituality, love, happiness, the worst week ever and so much more! But one thing I have yet to talk about are the other amazing volunteers I have met while being at the Hogar. So, as I am preparing to return to the States on Thursday and leaving the other incredible people I have come close with...this post goes to them. Love you guys! 

It just so happened the 5 of us arrived within a week of each other and all are leaving in December. Jake, Leah, Alexa, Amber and I were the most random group of people ever that had such a great time together. I never thought that after 3 months of volunteering at the Hogar with the 4 other long term volunteers, we would all be such good friends. It really made volunteering here so much more enjoyable with people that I could go dancing with, make brownies, go on late night snack runs, talk in English, laugh hysterically, be myself around and be introduced to 4 new perspectives on life. 

The 5 of us have such distinct, different personalities that it made volunteering together comical. Jake was known as the awkward one, Leah the doctor Mom, Alexa the chill potty mouth, Amber the serious one and me the innocent happy one. What a funny combination of people :] Of course, there were other volunteers...but they only stayed for one or two weeks. After living with these crazy nut cases for 3 months, I have to say they are some of the coolest people I have ever met. 

I learned lessons from these people that I would have never been introduced to if I was taking the normal college path. Leah, a fourth year medical student was definitely the Mom of the house. Typical Mom coms, comforting back rubs, consoling words, Mom outfits and not to mention that she went to MIT and now Dartmouth...makes her one of the nicest people I have ever met. She put up with so many of my antics when I had lice, listened and talked to me while sleep talking every night, was right by my side for my horrible week (just like my mom), shared all of her secrets rum afternoon, helped with the kids' math homework for hours and was the best partner ever watching Grey's Anatomy. Thank you Leah for making my 3 months here better than I could ever imagine :] And as I told her countless times while sleep talking..."Leah, you're just such a nice girl....."

Alexa just graduated from Georgetown and is the "chillest" person I think I have ever met. She makes decisions on good vibes and if things feel right. Definitely wish I had some of her chill personality! Alexa started to open up after being with us a month when we realized she is really willing to talk about any subject hahaha :]  I give her so much credit for being the only one to do crafts with the kids because we knew they would just end badly...but she would always try anyways. Alexa is still unsure of what she wants to do after life at the Hogar but whatever she does do, she will be great at! :] 

Amber was my roomie since the beginning and now knows all of my secrets because of my nightly sleep talking. Amber is finishing up her final year at USF meaning she is taking classes, writing her thesis and organizing a medical brigade to Ecuador. Although she approached every question and problem seriously, we never had a bad night chilling in the room together. Especially with all the funny roommates we had throughout the 3 months ;] Amber and I got along solely because we have polar opposite personalties. It was comical how much or lives, thoughts, feelings and views differ but that's exactly what made us funny roommates :] Good luck on the DAT Amber! You'll do great...and NYU will be lucky to have you in dentistry school.

Last but not least, Jake. Jake was the only guy out of the 5 of us...which probably was the reason he was always so awkward. Jake has an incredible way of edging movie quotes into any conversation which I never understood. The kids thought Jake and I were dating the entire three months which meant the whistling, kissy faces and trying to push us together while washing dishes never ended. Quite humorous :] Jake is one of the few guys I have ever met that is so open about his faith and relationship with God. Thank you for making my 3 months so incredible, not just by volunteering but by helping me find God within my life. "Now, don't go dyin' on me now..." 

These 4 volunteers have not only made my time at the Hogar better, but I am honored to have gotten to know these crazy, random people. Even though we are parting ways...club storage will never die :]

So, I'll end with this. Out of the five of us...who is most likely to blog about the 5 of us and make it cheesy, inspirational and corny? 

Love :]