10 Things I've Done in the Last Month

So I haven't posted on my blog in quite a while but this is definitely one of those occasions where no news is good news :) I've done a lot of things since my last post such as:
1) Get my first speeding ticket
2) Start training for a 10K
3) Choose a career path (LAW SCHOOL I'M COMING FOR YA)
4) End my exchange
5) Venture out into the wild (aka take a trip to Dolphin Mall by myself)
6) Sign up for paddle board lessons
7) Visit the Miami International Auto Show
8) Make some amazing new friends
9) Visit home for thanksgiving
10) Watch American Pie for the first time

When I made the choice to come on this exchange they told me all about the different emotional phases and they couldn't have been more correct.  As I enter the last week of the semester all I want to do is cry, which is pretty similar to how I felt around week 4.  Back then I was miserable because making friends was hard and everyone else could speak Spanish and I couldn't and I felt like such an outsider.  Entering week 14 I'm proud to say I'm nearly 50% fluent in Spanish (thank you to all of my native speaking friends and Duolingo!) and I have some of the coolest friends I've ever made.  I live in a city where I can walk across the street for a $20 pedicure or spend $10 for an hour of paddle boarding in South Beach.  I can go to any restaurant (literally any restaurant from Sushi Maki to McDonald's to La Carreta) and order in Spanish.  When I point out whole milk to someone's grandma in Publix she's bound to kiss me on the cheek and tell me at least one story from her glory days.  Needless to say I went from being an outsider here to feeling like this is my true home.  I've never been more thankful for any experience in my life and I can thank NSE (along with a little hard work, a supportive family, and phenomenal friends) for helping me find myself.

If I can make one goal for myself post exchange, it would be to maintain all the progress I've made since I moved here.  6 months ago the highlight of my week would've been $1 shots at a bar in 5 points.  Today the highlight of my week is making a new PR on a run or lusting over the shiny gold Lamborghini we got to touch in South Beach.  I know a lot of the people from my past are struggling to understand how such a simple life can be so fulfilling for me but I love who I've become and I plan to stick to it.  Moving back to Columbia will be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.  I came to Miami as a southern girl with very little knowledge on this area or the people who inhabit it.  I'll be returning to the 803 on December 11 but I'm definitely a Miami girl at heart (or should I say North Cuba - here's a little Miami humor for you haha)

Now feel free to scroll through pictures that I've randomly taken over the last month

 These two pictures above are of Tamiami park, it's right beside the dorms and I run there often

 Sometime's it rains excessively in Miami so you should just ditch your shoes on the walk to class

 This is Luca and I'm in love with him

 If these two pictures don't show you how beautiful FIU is then I don't know what will

 A few pictures from the car show

 Sometimes people pass out coconuts between classes

Rory, I love you.