"The first step to living the life you want is leaving the life you don't want. Taking the first step forward is always the hardest, but then each step forward gets easier and easier. And each step forward gets you closer and closer until eventually, what had once been invisible, starts to be visible. And what had once felt impossible starts to feel possible."

This totally embodies the last few days . Getting on that plane in Phoenix was so incredibly difficult. Once I got to Dallas that pain had subsided a bit. Having that major delay in Miami wasn't so bad either, as I had time to be on my own and get used to the fact that I had left Arizona. I also didn't have much jet lag once arriving in Montevideo! 

I was greeted at the airport by a jovial older gentleman who has family that lives in Huntington Beach and loves Lake Arrowhead (no joke, this is where my parents first lived together). Small world, eh? It was about a 30 minute drive into the city and we had a nice time chatting. He dropped me off at the Academia, where, in true South American style I had to carry my bags up 4 flights of stairs. :| 

Once inside, I met with my coordinator, Florencia and she got me settled into my room. I am situated at the very top of the building, with sloping ceilings with wooden beams and concrete floors. I have a spiral staircase made out of very flimsy metal, and let me tell you, getting my 50 lb bags up that thing was a feat . I fear that one night on my way to the bathroom I may fall to my death, or that it will simply disintegrate from beneath me... I call it my hobbit hole. There is one bathroom and one shower that I share with 3 boys. One a 22 year old from Germany (Tobias), one a 19 year old from Brazil (Douglas), and one a 15, YES 15! year old from Utah (Austin). The shower leaves something to be desired... It's often just a trickle of either scalding or freezing water. Cest la vie, right? We also share a kitchen. 

After settling in, I needed to buy a hairdryer and a sim card for my iPhone. Florencia gave me a map and pointed in a general direction and basically sent me on my way. This was another very hard step. I now had to leave the school, on my own, having no idea where I was, in a foreign country, not comfortable in the language and navigate to buy these things. I was petrified. But off I went, and shortly realized that I did know how to do this. I bought a hairdryer and sat in a long line at Andel (phone store) to be told there was only one store that had sim cards and they were not it . I stopped into a grocery store and bought some staples, as there was no food available other than that I was going to make myself. I made it back safely to the school and ate some eggs. 

I had yet to meet my housemates, and no one was around. I felt incredibly alone and isolated - literally a million miles away from everything and everyone I loved. In actuality it's 5942 miles. It hit me hard finally about what I had done... I had no job, no family, and no friends. It was a low moment. Luckily I did have Skype and my Papa was available. While we were talking the boys came home and I made myself go down and hang out with them. 

I absolutely love Douglas, the Brazilian baby. He's never been outside of Brazil before this and he's just a doll. He and I went on a 2 hour walk around the city today to try and find my sim card (to no avail). During our trek we visited 3 Ta Ta's (big grocery stores) and found me gluten free pasta!!! He's never cooked either, so we bought some rice and beans (Brazilian staples) to make for lunch. It was so nice to have someone to walk around with, and we made a delicious lunch which we shared with Tobias and Austin. 

It's been a great day, and I'm feeling much better about things. I'm focusing on one day at a time. Right now that's getting the necessities like food and getting comfortable navigating the city. Next week it will be focusing on my Spanish classes, and then we'll worry about finding a place to live and work... :|