just take advantage of it!

I've reached the point of no return... It's official. I'm at home. This has become my home. It's interesting that everyday I wake up and get into my daily routine; I have no idea that I'm just an exchange student passing a year of my life here... I've become a member of my host family now. I am considered as a cousin, nephew, son, brother, and a grandson. My family here treats me as one of their own. I have started playing soccer with my uncle Carlos's' "men's league". I've had my better games and my worse games, but he invites me back every time. I have spent countless hours in my other uncle Angel's bar with family and friends.. yeah I pay for what I order, and sometimes he invites me to a drink. Mondays are the "eat lunch at grandma's house" days. And then after we have finished eating, we go to my aunt Fuensanta house, to have some coffee and watch the "tele novelas" which all kind of suck, but grandma gets into them and sometimes swears at the TV... all too hilarious. I have found some peace here.. It's such a relief..

Yet my departure date is always in the back of my mind. I realize now it's not a permanent arrangement, only a year. I can only remember when at the beginning of my exchange a year seemed to be a long time... and now here I am passed the half way point, and I realize time is like a bird because it was made to fly with such grace. I am greatful now for every moment that I have experienced here, both the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the normal and the mad, the outrageous and the rad!  I've gotten the chance to know so many people that it's incredible. In a city that I have only spent 5 months in, whenever I am on the streets I always run into people that I know. Whether I know them from school, basketball, soccer, or just that funny thing that happened during last nights party. I have also gotten to know Granada very well. I have the map almost memorized in my head because I am getting myself where I need to be all the time. I have a new navigational tactic, it's called getting lost! I've gotten lost so many times, but I always have a general sense of where I am going, so I always find my way... and in the process of getting lost, I always find a new way!

I, up to this point have not one regret, for that I am happy. For that I can call this place home. For that, I'm not sure if I want to leave. Fortunately I have a lot of time left... Enough to make a smooth exit, because when I leave, I don't know when I'll be back. So now, I just take advantage of it!