The Finale Has Arrived; Farewell Dinner

Thursday, May 5, 2011

After finishing the last few presentations and final exams, CEGRI has come to an end. I feel like it was just starting and now it’s already over. I do believe that I have matured a lot through this entire process. Not only has my Spanish improved, but I have become a much more confident and independent person. This whole experience has opened up a world of opportunities for me. Traveling has become one of my absolute favorite things to do, money permitting.

Tonight was the going away party for the entire program of CEGRI. All of the teachers were there to celebrate our accomplishments. The dinner was a fancy several course meal, including 4 different kinds of tapas, the main course, and a dessert. It was definitely a Spanish meal because it came to a point where you didn’t exactly want to ask what you were eating. You just eat it without asking questions, but usually the food is so fresh and amazing that I will try anything!

Salmon, vegetable medley, and mushrooms

At the farewell dinner together :)

After the main course, 2 of the program members stood up with a toast. They finished the toast with superlatives for everyone!  A few were most likely to work at CEGRI, most likely to eat schwarma, most likely to make your day, etc.  Mine was: Most likely to be open…this can be interpreted in a few different ways, but mostly known to my closest friends. After dinner and dessert, everyone mingled with each other, a few cried. It hasn’t hit me yet that I am leaving so soon. 10 days to be exact. I will be the one crying on the way to the airport, probably kicking and screaming the whole way.

After the farewell dinner, we finally came to the conclusion that we were all going out together to Camborio, the discoteca in the caves. All 70 some of us botelloned in the plaza de los tristes near the disco with our 40’s of Alhambra while we looked at the Alhambra J.  Around 1:30 a.m. we made the trek up to the disco and entered before 2 so we didn’t need to pay. To our surprise, since it was the 51^st anniversary of Camborio, everyone received a party-goody bag and a glass of champagne at the door! After taking silly pictures with our party hats and noise makers, we headed inside to dance. There were a few creepers there, but nothing more than the usual. We danced together as a group and had a ton of fun! I ended up staying until 5:30 a.m. and the walk with my friends Stephanie and Erin took me just about an hour. I crawled into bed a bit after 6:30 a.m.  We celebrated the end of our program the real Spanish way. I’m going to miss this place. 

Pregame at Plaza de los Tristes together 

Tequila at Camborio :)