Goodbye Camino

As I say goodbye to Santiago de Compostela, and take an overnight train back to Madrid, it is the perfect time to reflect on the opportunity that began as a challenge and has now changed the lives of everyone who was involved here. I wanted to write a little something to each person who walked and just reflect on it all. First off, Alicia, I never got to walk with you and I am sorry that it ended up not working out for you. You were one of the first to sign up for the class and we had always had fun in anticipation of the walk. I know you are going to have a blast the rest of the summer! NayNay, it is funny how you can grow up knowing the same people and never meeting. I didn't know what to expect from you but whatever it was, you blew it out of the water. You were hilarious and killed the walks each day! Thank you for taking care of Sarah for me! Kyle, we never hung out until I started playing baseball, but I am very happy that you were on the trip! Out of all the people that walked, I think you were the most excited every day! Don't be afraid of your emotions man. We will have to continue a few talks when we reconvene. Kraygen, I hope you are ready for what is to come! I thank both you and Kyle for helping Sarah and I out whenever we needed it. You are a good dude. Your generosity goes unnoticed but what you did for Kyle at the train station goes a long way towards your character. I can't wait to meet back up in Milan. Have fun in Greece! Doug, you were the wildcard as you came in without really a Concordia connection. You could not have fit in better. We all thank you for knowing Spanish and being so helpful every time it was asked and other times when we wanted it but felt bad for always asking. I hope your walk to A Coruña goes smoothly and we get to see you again soon! Dick, I honestly wish that we would have had more time to have some deep talks and some history lessons. You are an awesome man and if I can speak for the group, we all couldn't be more thankful to have you on this trip. Michelle, this definitely would not have happened without you! I have never met a professor like you and probably never will. Don't ever change a thing about you (that puppy is coming soon). You have taught me more in the last year than I can count and that isn't book smarts, it's lessons for life. I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for me and I hope we get to have more life talks soon! And finally Sarah! I love you and am seriously proud of you for completing what you just did. It was definitely hard and it cracks all those who walk the Camino but you powered through those moments. I hope you can one day look back at the near 200 miles you walked in 11 days and it gives you strength to do anything you want to do. I am thrilled that I got to spend time with you and am so excited to travel around the rest of Europe with you!