The Best Laid Plans

A LOT of people have been asking about my post Peace Corps plans. It stresses me out and I want it to stop. Haha! But it's completely understandable. The end is drawing near and it's time to make some decisions. 

My short-term plans are as such: I'll be "COS'ing" (Close of Service) one month early on March 5th and probably spend a weekend with my Ecua family before heading out. Then I plan to check out Colombia by bus, hopefully meeting Carolina's family at some point and maybe try to get to Yasuni before leaving Ecuador if I have time. Then I'll be flying down to Brazil to WWOOF. If you haven't heard of WWOOF'ing, it's basically a volunteer program for working on organic farms. I've heard back from 2 farms out of the 15 or so that I've contacted- one in Sao Paolo and one in Rio de Janeiro. They both cover all accommodation and meals. This is exactly what I wanted. It's getting real. I got my visa squared away last week and I've been studying Portuguese everyday. So you can't reeeallyy call me a procrastinator.

I'll be playing in the dirt for March and April and then I'll be at Tomorrowland in a small town outside of Sao Paolo in early May. If you haven't heard of Tomorrowland, it's a giant electronic music festival that's usually held in Belgium, but due to rising popularity, has recently started in Brazil and the US as well. I'll be camping at the festival and pretty much just getting one final South American party out of my system before heading back to the US to be a grown up. I should be back in the US by about May 8th-ish. I'm making sure to get to SD in time to celebrate Carly's 30th birthday! Exciting!

My long-term plans: I don't know. I'm strongly considering avoiding real life and leaving again, as I've been known to do in the past... After I graduated college, I moved up to San Francisco for 6 months in an attempt to put off adulthood and it ended up being one of the best times of my life. It was hard but if I had the choice to go back and do it again, I would. Although, when I got back to San Diego, reality meant toiling away in food service again, which was NOT the best time of my life. I was also volunteering which helped me to eventually get my big girl job at the Red Cross, which I loved, but I had to put in the hard time in cafes/restaurants/bars first to get by. I definitely believe in starting at the bottom, it helped me to appreciate working my way up, but I don't necessarily want to go back there. 

So I suppose maybe the smart decision would be to just woman up and try to find a stable, worthwhile job in the US. Get an apartment, buy a car, pay bills. But I just don't think I'm ready for that, or maybe not even meant to do that... ever. I'm 28 and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I know I want to see the world and I know I want my job to be something that makes others' lives easier. I couldn't have a more vague future.

I'm thinking about going to Southeast Asia, Thailand or Cambodia, or maybe Africa to volunteer, although for a shorter term this time around. Maybe 6 to 9 months. My host mom says this is a terrible idea because there's no way I'm going to find a husband in those countries hahaha as if that were my plan. The thing is, the experience I've gained during these two years has been invaluable, but in a professional sense, I've gained a lot of experience teaching English, which is not what I want to do with my life. So I'd like to go abroad again and work in a field I'd maybe like to pursue. Anti-trafficking, humanitarian relief, refugee assistance, I don't know! Any time I start to feel overwhelmed and stressed about all the possibilities, I have to force myself to take a step back and think, "look at all the possibilities!" and I am bathed in gratitude.

The glass is completely full. It has half water, half air. And my cup runneth over. Or something like that.

2 Years

My anniversary in Ecuador (2 years) came and went a few days ago without all the pomp and circumstance and thought I gave it last year. Life has just become so normal. I don't count up the days I've been here nor do I count down to leaving. I'm in this uncertain, in-between state, not ready for what's to come, but starting to feel the end of what's been. A ship between ports. I'M ON A METAPHORIC BOAT, y'all!

We had our "Close of Service Conference" last week, talked about future endeavors (including bs like resume building and networking), planned our goodbyes, and processed the last two crazy years. I only cried once, briefly, which is clear proof that I'm in denial. (It's not just a river in Egypt.) I refused to say goodbye to the other volunteers because we're trying to plan a final party in February, but really because I'm not ready. I just started to write out how much they mean to me, got choked up, erased it, and thought "I'll do it later", as I've done with so many things in the past couple weeks.

As an ode to the last two years, this is my comprehensive "firsts" list. It's not in any particular order and I'm sure there are things I forgot to include, but this is some of the ish I've done in the past 2 years:

• saw fireflies
• went ziplining
• milked a cow
• lived abroad
• ate pig foot soup
• made out under a waterfall
• attended a quinceañera
• told a funny story in another language
• gave away/sold almost all my stuff
• pet a monkey
• vomited sober
• adopted another family as my own
• took a bucket shower
• ate guinea pig
• used a squat toilet
• fed butterflies
• discovered my love for chicken neck
• fell in love in a weekend
• bartered
• watched bullfighting and sheepfighting
• went to a dog show
• saw a volcano erupt
• shot strangers in the face with foam (Carnaval)
• danced in a parade
• binge watched Netflix for over 5 hours
• rode on "la bestia" behind a speed boat
• became a godmother 
• pet a llama
• stool samples
• shared a glass with hundreds of people
• rode a horse
• was interviewed on TV news and in 3 newspapers
• danced salsa and bachata until the bar closed
• ate alpaca
• hiked for 4 days
• got stood up
• rode a bus for over 12 consecutive hours
• visited 2 new countries

There you have it. Some of it's awesome and some of it is not pretty, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. And writing it all down makes me appreciate it that much more. I know it's not over yet and I shouldn't jinx it but I've been incredibly lucky so far. I have friends who have been held at gunpoint or have had their entire houses cleaned out and robbed. Friends who've had worms, several times. During the medical exam part of the final conference, we went through my whole chart and it read something like this: "diarrhea, diarrhea, mild bronchitis, diarrhea, dog bite, annnd diarrhea". That's a pretty successful two years, if you ask me! Although, the dentist did tell me I have Class 1 Gingivitis because my gums bled when he poked them really hard several times with what was basically a tiny metal shank. I call BS but I'm still flossing every night.

I'll be updating (too) soon with some kind of final wrap-up. Until then, friends, don't be afraid to try new things and don't forget to floss.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring.
<3

The Trouble with Two Homes and Yellow Underwear

I came "home" to Pujili today to a slew of nuisances. The rude taxi driver didn't get out of his car to help me with my bags although I was quite obviously on the struggle bus. My landlords and their family also saw me dragging my giant backpack, red in the face, trying to lift it over their truck and didn't lift a finger. None of the ATM's in town were working and I needed to pay rent and grocery shop for my old mother Hubbard kitchen and had a measly $10 to my name. The tienda lady gave me a hard time about said $10 bill because it had a tiny tear on one side until I pushed out my lower lip and said "it's all the money I have". A piece in the back of my toilet broke right before I left and didn't have time to fix it so I realized it was still broken, said a few curse words, and attempted to fix it, accidentally sprayed super glue all over my hand, said a few more curse words and slapped duct tape on it and called it a day. I finally went to cook dinner at 8pm and realized someone (my landlord) had disconnected my troublesome gas tank so I went in the backyard with a flashlight and tried to reconnect it to no avail. I baked some eggs for dinner. They were surprisingly tasty.

And yet, all of this is part of this "home". This feels more familiar to me now than San Diego does. Now, before you get all up in arms about wanting me to come back to SD (Mom), it doesn't mean that I prefer these nuisances to those I experience in the US. They're 100% different, but each place has its own sources of stress. The US isn't perfect either, no matter how much I idealize it when I'm homesick here. It's just so strange to me that I feel more at home here, while I've been counting down the days until I can get back there. They warned me this would happen. Just when you start to finally feel comfortable, you'll leave. As Ron Burgandy once said, I'M IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION!

Anyway.

Christmas was amazing! I ate and drank to my heart's content (and past it) every day I was home. I spent a lot of time (though never enough) with my sobrinitos, bonded over beers with Carly and Chris singing Son by Four and watching vine videos, I had brunches and lunches and hikes with great friends, I danced, I laughed, I drove, I sang, I hugged, and I loved every minute of it. I only allowed myself to cry for 1 minute in the airport bathroom because I know I'll be back soon. Until then, don't forget about me, San Diego!

how could you not be in love with this city?!

Cupcake ATM's are a thing now so I guess I'm moving to LA

Devil, Angel, Granny forevs.

you be my wings and I'll be your anchor

with all my heart

Back in Ecuador, I rang in the New Year in Quito. Año Viejo and Año Nuevo were pretty awesome! There are so many superstitions, which I love, and I got to spend it with my wonderful host family, so it was really fun being a part of all the different traditions here. I wore yellow underwear to bring good luck in the new year. I ate lentils for good luck. I made a life-size doll (monigote/viejo/muñeco) that resembled me and represents my "old year" or the previous year, which we burned at midnight, burning all of the bad energy from 2014 in order to start fresh. On the doll, I placed my testamento, which listed all the things I would like 2015 to bring to my loved ones and to me. I ate 12 grapes at midnight, one for each month of the new year, and made one wish with each grape. I washed my hands with champagne and brown sugar to wash away the bad energy. We ate dinner together after midnight and stayed up until 4:00am just chatting. We had a couple beers between the three of us but it was just good, clean fun. So very different from all New Year's Eves in the past, but though the superstitions seem silly, they're a kind of hopeful and self-fulfilling prophecy to focus on the positive, even the underwear. I think I'll be carrying these traditions on in the future, no matter where I am. 

Giant monigote in Quito

My monigote- muy parecidas, no?

2014 wasn't a bad year, but it was still fun to watch it BURN!

 

2014 was the underdog that came back and bit its critics (me) in the ass! (That's reminiscent.) My first year of Peace Corps (2013) was probably my most challenging to date and I didn't have the highest hopes for my second and final year. This time last year, I was bawling my eyes out in the airport at the thought of leaving behind my family, friends, and home once again. But alas, I guess my attitude had nowhere to go but up, and this year exceeded my every expectation. 

2015 is a huge mystery. I feel anxious and excited and it gives me butterflies to think about all the possibilities. My only resolution this year is to be present and mindful during every interaction. I know this isn't a SMART goal, it can't be measured, it's not time-bound, it may not even be realistic, but it's something I would like to work on. I don't want to feel like I missed out on anything because I was counting down to something in the future or dwelling on what happened or could have happened in the past. It's okay to have two homes, or ten or twenty. As long as you always have on your figurative yellow underwear.

Happy 2015, friends! Feliz Año, amigos!

Happy Day #57

I've been on this #100DaysofHappiness bandwagon for 57 days now, keeping track privately rather than posting on social media and what I've noticed about it has made me even happier. Instead of thinking hard to come up with one new thing each day, it's actually harder to choose just one of the many things that make me happy. I started it as a practice to keep myself conscious of the positive one can find in any situation, even on hard days in this crazy life I'm living, but now it's become a kind of happy journal that I look back at and smile about. Happy memories from 50 days ago making me even happier today. It's like this crazy, never-ending, happy cycle and I love it!

Lately, Thursdays are my favorite days because I get to hold hands with kids. I hope you understand that I'm not a weirdo without me having to say #nopedo... I started working at an elementary school in the "campo" (the countryside, the farming communities on the outskirts of town) and the kids are so great! It's a weird little English Club that includes any of the kids in the school who wanted to join so half of them are babies, about 6 years-old, and the other half are older, between 10-14. The classes are really mixed anyway because kids are often taken out of school for years at a time if their parents need them to work, but this is definitely a challenge, trying to find activities all the kids will be interested in. But my favorite part is the walk home when the kids walk with me to town and ask me tons of questions.

The girl on the left is Maria and the girl on the right is also Maria and they hold my hands for about 30 minutes every Thursday. Little Maria, the baby, talks and talks and talks the whole way and I don't understand a single word she's saying. I asked Big Maria if she's speaking Spanish and she said she's not sure, it might be Kichwa but she doesn't understand either. Big Maria asks me intelligible questions and always says "mmm" after every answer. The boys hardly ever say a word. The whole thing is ridiculously adorable and makes my day every week.

I missed a couple Thursdays recently though because I went to Peru! The whole trip was amazing and I loved seeing another side of South America. Many things were similar to Ecuador but it was interesting for me to compare the two and find some differences. The highlights: El Circuito Magico del Agua water park in Lima, sandboarding and watching a desert sunset in Huacachina, and Starbucks in Cuzco. But the mind-blowing, life-changing aspect of the trip was the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. It was, by far, the most physically demanding thing I've ever attempted and I was so very proud of myself for accomplishing it... like a BOSS! We hiked about 40 miles in 4 days, then climbed a mountain and took the long way back in the ruins and I hardly complained! The last night before flying back to Quito, however, every step I took was filled with pain and I was sure I was going to vomit, making several trips to the bathroom throughout the night. I think it was just a product of exhaustion though because I got back to Ecuador and my host mom took care of me and after 13 hours of sleep and some of her amazing chicken soup, I was right as rain again. Here's some photo evidence:

El Circuito Magico del Agua

Salkantay Trek- it doesn't even look real, it's so beautiful!

Sand angel

Mystical 

Machu Picchu

It was truly an incredible trip and it temporarily satisfied the travel bug that I've had for awhile. 

I've also been spending my weekends working, giving English methodology classes to teachers in different cities. These workshops are a blessing and a curse because they make me feel super productive, the teachers really appreciate the help, and I get to spend time with some of my favorite volunteers that I don't get to see often, but I also have to set an alarm on the weekends... sigh.

So I've been staying super busy here at the end of 2014 and now the countdown has come to 5 days until I'll be in America's Finest City! Some teachers said "Merry Christmas" to me for the first time this year and I instantly got giddy thinking about how close it is! I'm looking forward to SO many things in SD, but most of all, the love! I can't wait for hugs and chats and catch-ups with family and friends, and stuffing my face of course. It'll probably look/sound something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cILZ_cB3_so#t=92

I'll try to write a New Years post because 2014 has been one for the books.

See you soon, dear friends! :)

No Rainbow without Rain

As you know, I was sick for a bit and then, of course, there was the frightening thought of a cranky canine looming over me so I hadn't been back to the park in quite awhile. I'm feeling better and I've got that post-sick boom of energy, probably a product of cabin fever as well, and I was ready to start moving again. I decided I needed a run.

Needless to say, I was not thrilled about having to pass by the same place where the dog was, but it's really the only place in my site where I feel safe running alone. I was also really tired from working with a gaggle of crazy 6 year-old's today (more on this later), but I knew this would be good for me.

So I put on my metaphorical big girl undies and my baggy comfy pants (to draw less attention), puffed out my chest, and started my 10 minute walk to the park, reminding myself I can be a bad bitch if I put my mind to it. (Not really, but I can try.)

I had walked just one block when I ran into an old neighbor I absolutely love, whom I haven't seen in ages and she stopped to walk with me for part of the way so we could catch up. She said I seem more tranquila now, more comfortable here, which is true but not necessarily the best timing since I still had that perro bravo on my mind. We parted ways and I puffed back up, telling myself not to be afraid, mostly because I know they can smell it.

I made it to the park intact, no chunks missing from this big booty today, and when I got there and started to run, I passed by a small group of kids working out together, some kind of running team and immediately started hearing whispers of "Chelsea" "Teacher" and little girls smiling shyly at me. I smiled and kept on running. When I got to the back end of the park, I looked through the patch of trees only to find a view of, I shit you not, a rainbow over a volcano. Obviously I don't carry a camera on me when I go for a run, especially if there's a chance I'll be eaten on the way, but that kind of made it even better. Like this picturesque moment was a small reward only for those who sucked it up and stepped outside. Awesome. (And by awesome, I mean it actually inspired awe.)

So back to the 6 year-old's. This was something else I was absolutely dreading. A somewhat pushy parent bullied a councilman into giving her my phone number and called one day to ask for a favor and said she'd be at my house in ten minutes (yeah she also knew where I lived as most people in Pujili do). She asked me to help with a small group of kids at the Catholic elementary school across the street from my house during summer vacations and I obliged, helping out a few days a week for about a month to get them caught up on their English. The class was exhausting because I spent 2/3 of the hour asking them to sit down over and over, but there were only about 10-15 kids and they were cute and I didn't have anything else to do since school wasn't in session.

Fast forward to September when the pushy parent calls to say she's coming over in ten minutes to say thank you for helping them. She brings a carton of peach juice and some chocolates and I'm just thrilled to be getting paid in chocolate again and naively happy for the gratitude she's showing. Then she asks for another favor, of course. She wants me to continue giving English classes at the school. I say okay and start explaining my squirrelly schedule. She asks if I can have a meeting with her and the head nun later that week at 7am. I'm no longer thrilled as I am not really a functioning human at that hour but I agree.

She arrives at my house promptly at 7am and we walk to the school. When we get there the doorman says the nun isn't there. Pushy parent calls the nun, she had forgotten about the meeting and she was in the church helping with mass. We agree to walk over and meet her at the church so there I am, in the back of a church as a nun is begging me to change around my schedule to accommodate the kids. I resist a little as I'm already stretched thin (now that everyone is realizing how little time I have left and are finally taking advantage of me, in a good way). Sometimes when people here are asking for a favor they say "por Dios" along with their por favors and it's kind of like saying "do it for God". Let me emphasize the scene: in a church, nun begging me to do it for God. Now, you know I'm not a religious person but I have a loose belief in karma and superstition, plus I'm kind of a doormat, and WWJD, y'know? So I said yes.

Because I was sick and needing rabies shots so much, I had to postpone a few times until I finally made it and there were THIRTY FIVE screaming 6 year-old's, basically ignoring my presence, and all of their parents outside waiting for them and taking turns knocking on the door because the nun forgot to tell them I was coming. (Seriously forgetful nun.) I made an attempt to do some diagnostic assessment for about 5 minutes before I got so overwhelmed by the constant interruption of parents that I just said "Forget it! I'll be back next week when everyone is ready."

This is next week. All day I was dreading going back into that room full of tiny, sweaty, screamy humans. I even told 3 people at the high school today how much I didn't want to go and spent a good 30 minutes debating backing out. I got there and was relieved to see only about 15 crazy little people. We worked on some colors and I said "sit down" about 76 times, but I think they enjoyed it a little. The rainbow of the event: I told them they could leave and they all got up and got in a line in front of me so that each one could give me a hug before they left. I melted. And mentally resolved to continue the class even if I lose my hair or mind while I'm at it. Besides, bald is the new blonde, right? ;)

It's amazing what a rainbow and some tiny hugs can do for your attitude.

Nothing but Bad Luck

I said "bunny bunny" for October so I don't know what caused all this mayhem!

I missed a few days of school a few weeks ago because my throat was on fire and felt swollen, I could barely talk. Then a dog bit my butt (twice!) and I had to go all the way to Quito 3 times in one week, twice for rabies shots and once for a conference. Then we decided to get away for the weekend to hike in Cuenca and it POURED rain the whole time to the point that now the city is on orange alert for flooding. And now I'm super sick again.

BUT! I'm still smiling :)

That was the bad and the ugly but the good always outweighs the bad. While I was sick with the throat thing, my beloved teachers surprised me and came to check up on me and brought me two huge bags of "get well" fruit, (including bananas because they didn't know so I forgive them) and babaco!

You peel off the skin and make juice out of it and it's really yummy. I can't really compare the flavor to anything because it's so different, but if you happen to see it somewhere, try it!

The dog bite was not a big deal, it wasn't a very big bite but because it broke the skin and there was no way for me to know if the dog was a stray (and even if he wasn't, it's very unlikely he's had any vaccines in his life) I had to go get the rabies shots as a precaution. The medical office is in Quito and I can get there and back in one day so I'm not authorized to stay the night there. It takes me about 4 hours one way. Going there and back twice in one week for a very short appointment each time made me realize how much I don't mind long bus rides anymore. In the US I would definitely have complained being stuck in a car for 8 hours for one vaccination but here, it's just the way it is. You learn to accept these things and see the good in them. There's always a pretty view from the window, I have a lot of time to think and reflect, and sometimes nap, and when in Quito, eat as the Quitenos do. I also got to visit my favorite host family the second time and Sonia made me ceviche and I got to play with Aylin, who is growing up so fast!

Then I headed back to Quito to give trainings to some teachers, which was equally exhausting as it was rewarding but it was also really nice to be able to hang out with some other volunteers in the evenings.

we stage candid photos

The weekend in Cuenca was beautiful despite the rain. That city has everything! Breweries, beautiful churches, ethnic foods, bagels, and really nice people. I met one of my favorite girlfriends, Kat there to hike and see some Incan ruins and she's just the best! I always have a great time hanging out with her no matter what we're doing and she even saved me from near death during the hike when I found the only puddle of quicksand mud in the park and sunk to my knee and couldn't get out. Then we went out dancing each night in different fun places and met really nice people. We wouldn't allow the rain on our parade.

I just wanna hug her face

And now I am sick as a dog. I did my research and I have all the symptoms of ebola minus vomiting and internal bleeding. So, on the bright side, I don't have ebola. I thought I was getting better yesterday and then last night I put myself to bed at 9 and laid there shivering and sweating for 2 hours and today my whole body hurts. I'm going to school tomorrow if it kills me! Especially because I'm realizing how little time I have left here. I can't keep spending it in my apartment under the blankets.

Next month, going to Peru! In 57 days, I'll be home for Christmas! And in less than 5 months I'll be finished with service. $hit's getting real. I've started planning my post-service travels, including Colombia with my sister! Ahhh it's all so exciting and unreal!

Cross your fingers for a luckier second half of October.

Sending all my love <3<3<3<3------->>>>>

p.s. caught Sly on camera

ugly lil guy, isn't he?

Feeling Sluggish

Shoot! I've been pretty good about posting at least once a month and I did not post in August. Sorry but I was really busy! (Bunny bunny for September.)

Biggest news first: I have a new roommate. He's super lazy and messy, leaves a trail everywhere he goes, and doesn't listen to a word I say. I don't even know how he got in but he just found me and decided to stay. It's a slug. I named him Sylvester Von Slime. He just keeps appearing on my kitchen counter! I sprayed him with cleaning detergent and threw him in the trash and he was like "haha that's cute" and climbed back out. How does this orange-scented poison that eats my skin when it gets on my hands NOT kill Sylvester?! Zombie slug? Well, I threw him out the window (he hasn't paid rent!) so I expect he'll take a couple days to get back in. I'll try to take a photo next time his slimy ass decides to show up.

Since my last real update...

I spent 4th of July in a tiny beach town called Ayampe with some amazing volunteer friends. We drank a lot of beer and barbequed and pretty much just spent the weekend being extra American and extra awesome. I saw a couple new coastal cities, fell asleep in the sand, got sunburned, and was all the happier for it.

At the end of July, we celebrated Sonia's baby shower and then her little chubby-cheeked munchkin was born on August 6th. I went to visit the next day and was so delighted to meet Amarelis, my ahijada (goddaughter). Yes, I explained that I don't actually believe in a god, but Sonia says that's an insignificant detail. When I meet with the priest and he asks any questions, I have been instructed to just nod and smile :) This event also reminded me, yet again, what an old spinster I'm becoming. The doctor walked in and saw me holding the baby and said "Ohhh who is this? My next client? When will you be getting pregnant? You don't even have a boyfriend? How old are you? Wow, you better hurry up." Sigh.

Next, we had a big TEFL conference in Tumbaco, which turned out to be much more eventful than expected with a big earthquake, landslide, lots of aftershocks, and a birthday. The earthquake was pretty funny for me since a lot of the volunteers had never felt one before and were pretty shook up. (All puns are intended.) And the birthday was fun because it was Todd's, my sitemate, and we had a lot of fun surprises in store for him, including an exploding balloon cake and blindfolded archery. The whole week was filled with Quizno's, donuts, friends, and some productive work mixed in.

Then it was my turn! The volunteers at the conference surprised me with chocolate cake and singing, then Todd bought me birthday food and wine, and then my teachers took me out to pizza and cake in the city. These things alone sent me to bed with such a full heart and so much gratitude for this experience and it wasn't even my birthday yet.

Then the best present of all arrived- Momma! Yep, not only did my mom fly all the way to another continent for her daughter's birthday, but she also brought funfetti cake, party hats, noisemakers, a Coke with my name on it, hiking boots, cookies, candy, AND she paid for us to stay in a fancy hotel on my birthday so we could end the night with a jacuzzi and wine sesh. I was seriously spoiled and I can't express how thankful I am to have the mom that I do.

Mom was here for 10 days and we had tons of fun, touring Quito, going on a waterfall tour, ziplining, whale watching, snorkeling, sipping pina coladas, playing cards, and taking silly photos. It was sad to have to send her off, especially because I had to leave her at the airport hours before her flight so I could catch the bus back home and I was having a tiny pity party. The airport makes me emotional, there was a creep trying to get me to stay at his house in Quito, then I stepped onto the last bus which was filled with people yelling and smelled like old cheese and socks, but it was all put into perspective when I got a call at 4am that my mom was stuck in Quito. THEN she got stuck in Atlanta! AND she had a terrible, swollen tooth infection. Stupid Delta. I felt so bad for her terrible trip home but she says she had a really good visit so I hope that outshines the awful inconveniences.

The new school year started this week so hopefully I'll get busy working and it won't be long until I'm home for Christmas.

I've started learning Portuguese. Umas mulheres estao dirigindo carros. (Some women are driving cars.) I'm hoping to start improving soon.

Until next time, take care, my friends. And thank you for reading. (Sorry no photos or memes this time, my internet's been pretty squirrelly lately.)

Tchau from Chelsea and Sylvester.