Is it really 2009???

Good grief Charlie Brown!

Xmas and New Years were fabulous!! Spent them with people I love and danced till sunrise :) So much more fun than going to bed early, waiting for Santa ;) hehehe So what DOES happen on xmas? Well...xmas eve we have asado (bbq), people generally eat around 11pm. At midnight we light off whatever fireworks remain and take to the streets to hug and kiss EVERYONE. Then around 1am we mosey to la discoteca where we shake our groove thangs till the sun comes up. Xmas day is spent sleeping late and then just hanging out, drinking clerico (like sangria). What about presents you ask? Well, if you're friends and family aren't gift enough...I don't know what to tell you. Its a tradition I fully embrace and would love to adopt wherever life takes me :)

The new year has found me incredibly busy! I am in the midst of COS (close of service) paperwork and a frenzy of everyone wanting more of me than I have to give. People know my time here is very limited and want to grab whatever part of it they can. I can't lie, I'm stressin a bit. But it's going to be OK...I've decided to clone myself so as to ease the pressure ;) hehehe

Truly though, it's going to be incredibly difficult to say goodbye to PY and to so many people I love and cherish. My solice is knowing that I will be back in November for Carmen and Danny's graduations...wouldn't/couldn't miss either one!!

So what IS the plan?? When will I FINALLY be home?? Please take a deep breath here..... Ok, so I'm coming home for about 2 weeks in May for Randi's wedding (YAY!!). As much as I'd like to see and visit everyone, I have to be realistic. I'm limiting myself to MI and Chicago (my grandma had a stroke a while back and I REALLY want to spend some time with her). I fly to Buenos Aires the 15th or so of May to travel with my friend Lara until November, after which i'll spend a couple months in PY before coming home. So expect to see me early 2010 :) Sorry, I know it's longer than I told you all...and believe me, I miss you too!! It's just that I can't let life, nor wonderful opportunities pass me by... And with any luck, I'll be coming home with a PYan youth or two :) Carmen and Danny are both wonderful kids and we're working on getting them scholarships/internships/work programs so they'll be able to study/work in the US. It's helping me with my separation anxiety. hahaha

In about a week, I'm off to Florianopolis, Brasil for a week of fun and relaxation with some of my better girl friends (volunteers). Although the timing is a little stressful, I'm absolutely looking forward to the trip!! I've heard wonderful things about the island and lots of PYans vacation there. We'll be renting a house so we can cook and hang out more tranquilas...it's also around Carnaval time, so it should be a fun time to be there...pics to come :)

Sending love and happiness!
Lor