How I've grown!

I have grown a lot on this trip. I think I have grown mentally, physically, and emotionally.

First I will tell you about how I have grown mentally. I have grown mentally by learning that you do not need to speak the same language to be friends. I have made many friends on this trip who do not speak the same language as me. I was scared to meet people who spoke Spanish because I speak it a little but not a lot. Some of those friends are: Catalina from Peru when we went to Awamaki.

You can hear more about her in Adventures in Peru!!!!!! She kept saying TADA and our guide said that everyone thought that she was saying dada. We laughed together a lot.

Another really good friend I have made is Mati. I met her in Santiago, Chile. You can read more about her in I ❤️ Rio and Santiago and also in Patagonia here we are!!!!!!! Mati is my best friend from this trip and we still email each other. We met just by playing together in our apartment building. She and I tried to teach each other Spanish and English. I miss her a lot and will visit her again.

I also recently met a little girl named Fanta in Laos. She was one of our guide's daughters. I played with her for about 2 hours in the evening. Mom, Lu, and Baker did not come because mom had to put the littles to bed. Fanta was 3 years old and she was really cute. We played chase, balanced on a hose, and I kept her from climbing all the Buddha statues.

I'm so happy I haven't been scared to make friends with people around the world. All my friends have been so nice!!!!!!!!

Another way I think I have grown in the past 10 1/2 months is physically. For one I have gotten a lot taller! I also have stronger leg muscles from all the hiking we do. We hike A LOT. When we started this trip I got tired from volleyball practice but now I bet I could do a whole practice without getting tired!

I have hiked Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand. You can read more about it in Tremendously Terrific Tongariro. Tongariro is 12 miles, or 19.4 kilometers. Now that we only have 2 months left until Mt. Fuji, I hope that I can climb the whole thing. Mom says she'll take me shopping for new clothes if I do the whole thing without complaining. I think I can!

The final way that I have grown on this trip is emotionally. I learned that I can be taken away from my home, my friends, and my school and actually be OK! I didn't know if I would be able to do it when we left for the trip, but I did it! I have also gotten a lot more patient especially with my siblings. And I help out everyone (especially mom). I have also gotten a lot more independent. For example, I have earned $100 from babysitting my siblings on this trip.

I am really proud of how much I've grown. I am excited to see how all of you have grown too!!!! My friends are probably all so much taller like me!

Love Ginny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!