Going home

OK so I have to admit that I haven't done a great job of blogging while in BA. I apologize to all those eager readers out there.
Well...it's my last day in BA. My plane leaves at 11pm tonight. It seems unreal that I have been away from home for four months already. As I reflect on my time here in BA there have been so many great memories...so many new experiences. It has been a really intense semester-academically, emotionally, physically. I'm sure I will look back at this semester in a few months and realize how much I've grown.
There are so many things I am going to miss about BA: flagging down the 132 bus each morning, paying 90 centavos for a ride, watching passengers cross themselves when we drive past a church, hearing castellano every day, seeing portenos relaxing at the park, the many outdoor cafes, seeing Christmas decorations in a bathing suit boutique, eating dulce de leche with my toast each morning, going out till 5am on weekends, and so much more.
What I won't miss is smelling smoke at restaurants, clubs, bars, seeing couples make out excessively on street corners, and stepping in dog poop. But who knows...maybe in a few weeks those are the things I'll remember about BA. :)
Last night the group presented our final presentation to the faculty. I think it went really well. After the presentation was finished I realized how much we have learned this semester. I was really impressed by all my classmates, and really proud of the group as a whole.
I'm not really sure what to expect when I go home tomorrow. I hope to keep in touch with my friends from IHP, especially if I have difficulty dealing with the reentry process. I have a feeling I will be overwhelmed by the holiday craziness in New York. I don't think I'm ready for the cold weather. I've been wearing flip flops and tank tops for 8 months straight. It's gonna be a difficult transition to start wearing hats, gloves, scarves, coats, and boots all of a sudden.
I'm excited to see friends and family this weekend. I have a lot of catching up to do. I still haven't quite figured out how I'm gonna share my stories with them. I know people will ask "How was your trip? Was it amazing? What was the best/worst part?" I'm not sure if I'm ready to answer all those questions. To be honest, the past semester has been more than just a trip..it's been a pretty life-altering experience. I've gained so many new perspectives and I'm leaving with so many new questions. I think the most difficult part about studying abroad is what to do when I go back home. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.