I just had the most amazing meal consisting of blackened mahi mahi rice pilaf grilled veggies topped off with a glass of pinot grigio. I am so content and relaxed after a hectic 5 days. I don't know if it's the breeze or the wine but I could fall asleep right here under this tree.
This is the perfect time and spot to reflect on my trip and I would first like to thank the city of San Antonio for providing me with free internet right now.
"We live together, we act on, and react to, one another; but always and in all circumstances we are by ourselves.
....We can pool information about experiences, but never the experiences themselves. From family to nation, every human group is a society of island universes." -Aldous Huxley (Doors of Perception)
I guess the first thing that comes to mind when I think about this trip is learning how to work with people. My roommate (the one I wanted to shove cotton balls in her mouth) Mary Jean could possibly be the most frustrating person I have every met. On one occasion I counted how many seconds she could go without talking....She averaged at 2 sec. and went as long as 17 sec. I found myself becoming increasingly impatient with her and considered smothering her with my pillow one night. The thing is she actually had pretty good stories to tell. After giving birth and raising two mentally handicapped sons she enrolled in college for journalism at the age of 31. (she graduated in 2 years and made it on the dean's list). She has written for magazines newspapers and is currently writing a book. After her son died she gained 60 lbs. To lose the weight she has walked 7 miles everyday since then. At the age of 62 she climbed a mountain in Utah..by herself. She now goes to disasters around the country.
I guess when I finally really began to learn patience and empathy was when she talked about her son who died. I thought of this saying in Italian L'ho provato sulla mia pelle. Translates to "I have experienced that in my own skin" (I'm considering it as a tatoo option)I to have lost someone close to me. Since these people on this trip are much older than I they have a long history or story to tell. Instead of being frustrated with her I should have maybe realized that she needed someone to talk to..who wasn't family. I felt a little guilty leaving this morning so I left her a note. I wished her good luck on her journeys and told her I hoped to see her again.....which I sincerely mean. I left my email address and I do hope she contacts me.
I love my chosen major even more now and I am so thankful for the opportunity to come down here. Most of the time I felt useless and over the course of 5 days I really only put in 12 hours of work. I didn't gain any new knowledge of using their computer system but I am leaving here with (I feel) a bigger heart....I guess everything is bigger in Texas.
peace love and a sprinkle of patience
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