One Year Down

They started in again with the, 'yeah you're coming back, but you'll be leaving for good next year' bit-- this time in front of Michael and Sr. Angie.  Sr. Angie had this joyful look on her face like I had just finally proven to her that I actually did something worthwhile at Holy Cross.  I don't know.  It made me sad, though, and I told them to stop, because that was a whole year away so we shouldn't think about it just yet.

But the good news is that all of this happened right after our show was completed.

Amigos del Barrio
presents
Abre su imagination

The Spanglish was a necessary part.  I even noticed that during the plays whenever they improvised their roles, they would cut into the opposite language than the play was written in.  The audience loved it.  I loved it.  I was on high energy all day long, and during dinner I crashed.  It was a great day.

We didn't have the whole theatre group until the very last minute, meaning up to five minutes after scheduled showtime, which meant that they were actually an hour and thirty-five minutes late.  But it worked.  The show started half an hour late, but it got on, and it was awesome.  There was minimal line-forgettage, non-existent succumbing to nerves, and despite many threats, no one actually quit and walked out rather than going on stage.

The group pulled off their characters well.  The star that stole the show was Edy Angel in drag playing a high school 'mean girl'.  He did an incredible job.  But they all knocked my socks off.  Teens that were so timid during all of the rehearsals, even the full dress rehearsal the day before yesterday-- they just belted out their roles with confidence and charisma.  It was awesome.

We got a standing ovation.

It's over now.  The first run of the Theatre Program, my first year in Chicago.  It's over.  It's strange for me to think it because the year has flown past.  Although when I read through this blog, it amazes me how much has happened, because there is so much that I left out, and even without all of that, it's still a lot to happen in a year.

I know I was meant to be here because it feels right.  I had never much considered doing missionary work in the States.  I had always wanted to do the volunteer service work overseas.  It was only by chance that we wound up in Chicago, but I wouldn't have traded this year for anything, and I don't know how I"m going to bring myself to say goodbye next year.

It's been a bit of a tough week for goodbyes.  Fabian has left the program.  Of the people left in our house, Daena has renewed for another year, and of course, Michael and I.  Of the volunteers in Atlanta, Emi is moving on to Jamaica.  Josh and Maria have gone home after completing two volunteer years.  Josh lives not too far from here and plans on visiting.  He plays bass and we've talked about getting a band together.  Maybe.  We'll see.

It was hardest for me when Fabian went.  I can't say I feel really close to him, like a best friend or a brother, but he's been a member of my community for a year.  We've lived together for a year.  We've journeyed together- all the shit that happened, and all the joys.  We've both come home yelling to blow off steam, and we've both yelled at the newspaper when GW did something stupid.  We've shared great stories about the milestones and successes at work.  We've prayed together and eaten together, and over the past week we've cried together as we all said goodbye.  I'll miss Maria a lot too.  We didn't live together, but we kind of long-distance journeyed together.  She's a year ahead of me at this stage.  I've enjoyed talking to her since day two when I met her, and I kind of feel that I won't see her again, and I regret that.

Tomorrow night we head out by train to Tennessee.  And I'm really looking forward to it.  But it also kind of seals it that this year really is over, and I only have one more left here.  But you know, then it will be off to a whole new adventure.  Only God knows where.

Myself, I don't want to think about it yet.  That's a whole year away.