In those moments, during those conversations, on those stressful nights, traveling the world was the least of our worries. We were both fifteen years old. There was homework and chores to do, kids to babysit, and sports practices to be at. Our worries and tasks weren't any different from our classmates and friends our age... But somehow, now two years later, Mary Kate and I are both clearly on different paths and focusing on different things than our classmates.
I think it all comes down to this: We were once two young girls who knew what we wanted and made it happen. Instead of thinking the world revolved around us, we saw this amazing world full of life and adventures that had the potential to mold us into better young women, and we boldly stepped out into it.
Since those babysitting days, we've both lived abroad for a year and traveled to other countries. We've acquired the basic understanding of a second language and matured beyond our years from dealing with difficult situations and learning many life lessons. We've been forced out of our comfort zones. We've done weird and crazy things. We've made friendships with people from all over the world. I could go on forever telling you all the advantages of studying abroad. But it's not all fun and games either. When Mom and Dad are no longer protecting you from all the "bad guys" and "bad things" your picture of the world is drastically changed and so are you...Mary Kate and I are both on spring break from school right now, and she came to visit her old host family in Spain. I was away at my family's beach house over the weekend and thought that we'd miss the chance to see each other, though. Luckily, Mary Kate and her friends rented out an apartment in Benidorm for a few days and I got permission to take a train (1hr 30min) down the coast to see them one day. The whole plan was thrown together at the last minute and we ran into a few challenges, but it all worked out in the end.
So this past Tuesday, Mary Kate and I spent the afternoon together in Benidorm, Spain. Just like old times we chatted about college and our future plans for traveling- well aware that things may turn out much differently than we think. God has a mysterious way of opening doors and leading us out into uncharted waters- to new places in the world and within our own souls that we never knew existed. But not knowing it all is what it makes the journey so exciting.
The whole day felt like a complete dream. Were we really together in Spain? Just eating frozen yogurt? Just speaking in spanish like we aren't thousands of miles from home?
We each were a reminder to one another of what this all really means- where we've come from and the road we had to take to get here.
"Que fuerte!" "Que fuerte, tía!!!!!" was all we could say to express everything we were feeling, because we both know that this is just the beginning to whatever the future holds. The beginning to a whole lot more...
Two young girls from a small little town. A ton of big dreams. And the will to fight for it all.
That's where we found each other this week... under the warmth of the spanish sun.
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