La capital, and the place where things move. A centralized city, with a subway that stretches as far as an hour and a half can take you. I arrived in Santiago, last year, 13 months and 1 day ago to be exact and Santiago was the last place I had my final memories. I am now a newbie to the U.S., readjusting, and to be honest, its been challenging. Why is it challenging, you might ask? Do you even need readjusting? Well, in my case, I would definitely say, yes! Let me explain.

It has always been a dream of mine to live abroad. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have an adventurous spirit, and that I’ve always loved learning a second language. I had put my dream off for a very long time, and always found myself putting what I wanted to do, aside for others. Finally, I had an opportunity to live in Chile, and I jumped at it. I packed my bags and was ready to be off to South America.

Before I left, I met a charming and thoughtful guy, and eventually had to break the news to him that I had planned to move away. (He asked me to be his girlfriend, before I got the chance to do that. And I said yes, because I really did like him). And, so, we had the best 4.5 months together, and we promised to go the course so that I could live my dream. Fast forward, my adventurous spirit and my decision to finally live for me broke the wonderful relationship I had.

I am adjusting to being back home, because in one year, things have changed. The buildings are new, the air is different, friends and family have their own lives that did not involve me for a long time, and the person I love has pulled away. I spoke very candidly with friends in Chile as I closed out my final days there, and I said to them that I was so grateful to them for being kind and welcoming to me, the stranger in their world, and that I made this decision and sacrificed so much to have done what I did.

I was nervous to have arrived in Chile and now I don’t know whether I should be grateful or resent my decision to go. Sounds ridiculous, but I do feel that way. My dreams in life are not only to travel and live life with a freedom that can’t be explained, but to also do that with someone who wants to do these things with me to. And so, here I am.

What I can say, is that, I am learning now, what true commitment means. What it means to be deeply in-tune with the thoughts and feelings of those in my life. I have learned that, in an effort to live out my dream, I must also remember to think of others to come along the ride with me, to engage, to love, to appreciate and to show it.

I am adjusting, and it hasn’t been easy, but I am trusting God even when I feel lost or afraid.

All in all, Santiago, the smog filled, polluted capital of Chile holds fun memories for me. It was my first introduction to eclectic neighborhoods such as barrio Bellavista, the night scene, jogging through Parque Bustamante, and it gave me my first glimpse into la cultura de Chile, and my new found love of empanadas and pisco.