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Sunday, July 28, 2013

It’s Time to Say Goodbye…


Wow, I can’t even begin to describe how difficult it was to say goodbye to NPH. Without a doubt, it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. I really feel like it’s my second family and home. As an ex-volunteer said (yes, you Wes), we might become well-traveled people, but one thing that nevers gets easier the more you travel is saying goodbye. Tough stuff.

Here’s some of the highlights of the last week!

Trip to Campo Azul Pools with Santa Ana
Well, since the girls have been asking since like day 1 of my time in the DR if I would take them to the pool for my goodbye party, I finally obliged. I arranged it for the 13 girls who were in Santa Ana at the moment as well as both of my tias and me to spend an afternoon at the nearby pools, Campo Azul. We splashed around all afternoon in 6 different pools and ate some yummy hamburgers. We even got a chance to get a game of dominoes in! It was a super special afternoon! Thanks to my Mages family (Forever Young!) for making that happen!
Que modelas!
Sonrisas!
She wanted to take photos so I had to take advantage of it!
Waterslide...a huge hit!
Enjoying the jacuzzi!
Sistasss!
So gorgeous!
Time for some jumps!
Such a cutie!
More jacuzzi fun!
Chilling!
They had some interesting decor there...
Hamburguesa time...
Family foto...
Some of the best!
I Turned 23!
On Monday, I officially turned 23 (no longer can the kids ask me how old I am, “22, una bebe” jeje…). It was a somewhat normal day wrapping things up in the office and what not until I got to Santa Ana that night and all of my girls jumped out at me and there was a table full of candy and treats! The girls, headed up by Tia Elena, took the opportunity to do a joint bday/goodbye party. It was SUPER special mainly because my tia worked so hard to make it happen and even planned ahead (not something that’s done too much in the DR!) It was a fun night of dancing, eating photo-taking and just being together!
Walking into Santa Ana...pure shock!
Pic with the food and decor as requested by my tia!
Yum yum yum!
Lighting all 23 candles!
Cutting the bizcocho (another tia-requested pic!)
The goodies (thanks DJ!)
Compartiendo!
Santa Ana volunteers!
My birthday buddy turned 10!
Birthday photo collage from Avriel!
Goodbye after Goodbye…
Other than those events, it was just a lot of going around and saying goodbye (or better said, “Hasta luego”) to a bunch of the kids and workers. Everyone from the drivers to the doormen to the kitchen staff to the tias to the kids were just so nice and thankful. It just served to show how everything was worth it (and how much I’ll miss NPH!)





Final Night in Santa Ana
I have been preparing goodbye gifts for the girls for months along with the help of some key people. I prepared little photo albums online (never will I ever try that again in a country with such come-and-go Internet) as well as some other trinkets (yes, chocolate was included). My mom also found some cute ornaments for each girl, and my grandma Mages really pulled through with some beautiful rosaries for each girl. It was so fun being able to give this stuff to the girls and see them gush over the photos of themselves. A great way to go out!
Gift time!!
Displaying her new rosary!
Checking out her photos!
She loved the ornament!
Sporting the rosarios again!
And she got the hoop earrings she'd wanted so badly...
And a new bracelet!
I finally left the DR on Friday morning accompanied to the airport by Pili and three of my favorite girls while I just barely held it together. The trip was made way easier by the fact that I got to spend my 16-hour layover in Atlanta hanging out with some awesome family friends, the Lapadulas, and eating some yummy Italian food. Yesterday (Saturday), I made it to Notre Dame University where I’ll be participating in a Volunteers in Transition program for a week, and then Friday, it’s back to MN to participate in Magesfest (and the rest of my life!)



Got my nails painted one last time by the girls!
Won't miss getting my hair constantly yanked at!


Jajaja, a new look!




Newest addition to Santa Ana...5 little birdies!
Thanks from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has said a prayer, sent a care package, messaged me on Facebook just to check in, visited, etc. etc. in the last year and a half. I am so so thankful!!

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
Dome at Notre Dame!