Why I'm here

_  When my friends and family have asked me about Spain recently, they’ve all received the same answer, “Umm…It’s ok. I’m ready to come back home.” It’s been an unfortunate thing to tell people and I feel like I should be more thankful for this opportunity. But everyone has assured me that it’s ok if I’m not having the time of my life and that it’s an experience all the same. Today I think I had a moment of enlightenment. I was walking to one of my classes and on the way I saw a couple of my students. One of the girls was so excited that she ran up and gave me a hug. Later after my class I passed even more of my students and each of them greeted me by shouting my name and giving me a huge smile. It was in that moment that I realized their smiles are the reason that I am here. It’s not about me learning more Spanish or making lots of friends or about me traveling around Europe. I am here first and foremost to help these children learn English. It took me five months to realize that life is not always about me! So when I get frustrated living in a small town, or when I have troubles with my roommates or when the children don’t sit in silence during the entire class period, I’m going to think of those smiles. I’m going to think of the way the children shout my name when I walk in the door. That is why I’m here; not for myself but for them.