By I’m sitting in the Vancouver airport. I just said good-by to some amazing friends who I am going to miss mucho. It is late at night. I went to spend my last Canadian change at Tim Hortons. I don’t remember the last time I had a doughnut, but it seems like a good time to indulge in one last cultural experience. 🙂
All of these things combined means that I probably shouldn’t be posting anything right now. But I won’t let a sugar-rush mixed with a week’s worth of adrenalin and lack of sleep stop me from saying THANK YOU!!!
I have felt so loved and appreciated and affirmed over the last month. I am embarking with a sense of confidence, confident that I will both make mistakes and form friendship, confident that I will mess up my Spanish, yet share my gifts, confident that I will feel lonely and yet be surrounded by your well wishes and prayers. You have all played a role in building this confidence in me. So thanks for all the letters and phone calls and gifts and prayers and visits and hospitality and affirmation that this is the right step and that you are thrilled for me. It means more than you will ever know. You guys are going to make me cry and they are about to “commence general boarding” so I will sign off for tonight.
Toronto, Miami, Managua, here I come! And I will carry you with me!
Anna L. Vogt 
We will miss you too, Smiley.
JoAnne
What a wonderful idea to indulge in the deliciousness of Tim Horton’s before departure! Wave “hello” to Managua for me as you pass through 🙂 There’s a great little stand in the airport where they sell books, even a few in English!
Hola! Lo emocionante de estar en la orientación! No puedo esperar a oír hablar de todas sus aventuras! Sending you well-wishes from Canada!
Lydia