So, I leave Colima on Friday night. I will catch a bus to Mexico City and then on to Tlxacala/ Oaxaca/ Chiapas then GUATEMALA and on through central a. to PANAMA!!!!
The last few weeks have been full of goodbye parties and difficult goodbyes.  Last night I said goodbye to one of my house mates who has become a dear friend here in Colima.  A few of the hardest goodbyes have already happened, so it's somewhat hard to still be around here, waiting around for my turn to leave. 
So, I'm trying to make it a full last week.  Last night was one of the first night in about a week that I went to sleep with an empty living room.  The last week our house has been the meeting point for everyone.  Last night I was tired and decided there was no hanging out in the living room....so I went to sleep with silence and it was really nice. 
What will I miss about Colima?  I have been thinking about those things as I walk to work, and ride the bus.
1.  the international friends
2. the streets of Colima--mostly being able to walk and seeing the people of Colima as we bustle on with life together.
3.  The bus system
4. Walking to work
5.  1800-favorite hang out place here in Colima
6.  El Golfito--my vegetable market
7. Farmacia Guadalajara and favorite fresh bread on Wednesday evenings (yeah, it's a farmacy and they do sell bread)
8. taco stands
9. Dra. Quinto meetings
10. my livinig room
11. Being able to decide on Thursday to travel and leaving on Friday to travel across Mexico.  it's so easy and somewhat cheap to travel here!

But, I think I'm ready to leave.  There are people I have met here that I think will continue to walk with me through life, even though we might be on different continents (Europe, Asia, Oceania, N. America). 
I hope at some point in my life I have the opprotunity to travel to Europe and go to Spain and Belgium to find some of the people who have crossed my path here in Colima.  Maybe I will come back to Colima---I hope I come back at least to visit.

Well, I'm off on Friday to travel down through Mexico and then I head on to Guatamala to meet my sister to make our wildest dreams come true in Central America.  It's going to be a full month of sister time.  We haven't spent more than a week together since the summer of 2006 when she lived with me in Nashville.  I am so glad we get to do this.  My friend Sarah B. is coming along as well and I'm so excited to get to spend longer than a weekend with her. We met in New Orleans and we connected quickly.  My sister's friend Becky is also coming along...its' going to be quite the adventure!

peace out!

If anyone wants to join me at fido on August 7th in the AM you are more than welcome. I just really miss that place....and am anxious to drink the cofffeee