I went on a legitimate roller coaster.

As most of you probably know, I'm back in the States now, but I'm going to write one last blog to kind of wrap things up.

To answer the most common question, YES! I AM ECSTATIC TO BE BACK IN THE UNITED STATES!!! I loved Mexico, and I will definitely return, but I missed home. I do miss my Potosi family, but I am not worried about seeing them. I know I will see them again. =)

I really appreciate Martinsville, my family, my house, my bed, etc., now. I appreciate my life so much more! It's absolutely incredible. I've been bubbly and bouncy ever since I returned because I'm happy and proud to be an American in my hometown. I love this city. It was also perfect that the fair was this week because I have a chance to see everyone and catch up all in one week. Lol.

I'm going to work backwards this time, so stay with me. When I returned, I was close to the last one off the plane, but I was the first one out the gate to see my family. Man, that was an experience in itself... I was expecting to see a few people waiting for me. I was WRONG about that one! I should have known better. My mom, dad, sisters, boyfriend, best friend, (2 of my) aunts, and my mamaw were standing there with a HUGE poster of a picture of me, a root beer, and a package of double stuff oreos!! I LOVE MY FAMILY!! They are the best that anyone could ask for. I love them so much. I just cannot say it enough. I LOVE MY FAMILY!! All of it!! They are all so caring, and polite, and, well, I'm getting off the topic. They're great. That's all you need to know. I gave everyone there hugs and then I started to recount some adventures from Mexico. It was soooooooooooo hard to do in English. I was confused for the first couple of days.. Lol. I was thinking in Spanish, speaking in English, sometimes in Spanish, trying to speak in English. I'm pretty sure smoke was coming out of my ears my brain was so confused...

I also want to say that I feel sorry for everyone here with this weather. The weather in San Luis Potosi was (almost) PERFECT! There was 0% humidity, it was between 75 and 85 degrees every day, and there was always a nice breeze. The only downer was that it rained a lot. I mean, I pretty much wore jeans all summer. Then I came here and I felt like I was in an OVEN! I'm still waiting for some nice weather. It's just so HOT here.

The flight before all of that was really LONG! I sat with my friend Melanie, and we were both EXTREMELY excited to come home. Everyone else was blubbering about leaving Mexico and their families, but not us!! I mean, do not get me wrong. I miss my Potosi family. They were wonderful to and for me. I almost cried when I hugged my sister Andrea the last time, but once I was on that plane, I was ready for the family that God gave me. It was such a long flight though... It seemed like it took FOREVER!

Before that, my last couple of weeks in Mexico were pretty laid-back and fun. I spent time with my family. I went to my last dance classes. I went to my last classes in school. We had our farewell performance with theater, choir, and dance works. That was super fun. I loved it. We sang 3 songs, in Spanish, had 3 theater works (everyone was in one of them), and 2 dances (the traditional one and the Arabic one). It was a hit, and the families absolutely loved it.
We went to an "amusement park" as a group too.

QUIQUELAND!

That was the scariest fun park that I have ever been too. The "rollercoaster" had a 2 person seat that hang from a bar and moved. The whole structure moved every time the cart went around the track. It was SCARY LOOKING! So, Melanie dragged me through the line and I TRIED THE ROLLERCOASTER! It was so much fun. I loved it. Everyone said it would hurt around one corner, so I flexed every muscle in my body, and I was FINE! Hahaa. Then we went and saw all of the other sketchy rides and rode most of them. Lol.

Afterward we went to the other side of the park, across the street, and there was a neatly manicured lawn with a volleyball court, soccer field, in-house inground pool, gazebo, and kayaks. It was REALLY NICE! I was slightly confused to be honest. It was wonderful though. Lol.

All-in-all, it was a great trip and I am extremely glad that I went. It was hard, and I don't know if I can ever do something exactly like that again, but I feel like I've grown up and loosened up a lot. I'm not afraid to have fun now, and I'm not afraid to be a kid. It's so weird. At this moment, if I'm confused, I feel normal. It's a normal occurance. I love it. Haha. I'll be back 100% soon, but I'm so glad that I learned everything that I did.

1. I learned how to speak spanish better.
2. I learned how to be a kid and not to be so uptight.
3. I learned some new dance moves.
4. I grew up a little.
5. I learned a lot about myself as a person.
6. I learned to appreciate my life in the U.S.

Those are just a few of the things that I learned. I cannot possibly say everything, or I would be here for days. I strongly reccomend that every person that has an opportunity to travel abroad and learn, DO IT! It is really hard at first, but you will emerge a better and completely different person. It is such a wonderful experience.

Thank you, for the last time, to EVERY SINGLE PERSON, that kept up with my blog throughout my trip.

Also thank you to everyone that made it possible for me.

I SERIOUSLY APPRECIATE IT AND I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU!!

Paz!!
Peace!!

Love,
Maggie Rose Paul