First Month Highs and Lows

Providing further evidence that living abroad makes time move faster, today marks a very special day in the timeline of my life here in Caracas: today is Ivan and I's one year anniversary! I cannot believe that a year ago today Ivan and I decided to give this a go, and I never would have expected how happy, fulfilled and joyful our relationship would make me. I mean, both of us were hedging our expectations. I had just arrived in the country, so how serious could this get, right? One year later, I could not be happier that we both entered into our partnership with open hearts and a willingness to let fate take us where it chose. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to spend thus year getting to know and love such an inspiring, curious, giving, funny, loving man. To celebrate this very special year together, he and I are going out to dinner tonight, but next week are taking a trip to Tortuga! No, we are not meeting up with Jack Sparrow (I wish)! Tortuga is and island off the coast of Venezuela. It is largely untouched by development, as the only way to get there is on a boat and there are no hotels or restaurants. Apparently our "yacht" will drop us off on the island with camping gear and a cooler full of food and we get to lounge on the beach for two days. Looks terrible, I know. We'll find a way to survive I'm sure.

Meanwhile, life has been good for the most part. School is going very well- there is NOTHING like a second year at a school to solidify the fact that the first year at a school is hellish. Things have been so much smoother, I feel more confident and I am loving what I do even more than I did last year. Health wise, I decided to maintain my role as "first sick expat" by getting a UTI on top of a stomach virus between the 2nd and 3rd week of school. I survived, lost five pounds and developed an aversion to dairy for about three solid weeks. I also decided I hate Ciprofloxina and considering how much I have had to take the stuff since I've been here, I am probably going to be a test case for antibiotic resistance in the near future. 

Socially, I am very much enjoying knowing people and the city better this year. I've been to another hash, gone out to dinner with friends from other schools, been to multiple concerts in the city, checked out new restaurants and bars, enjoyed some new parks and just generally have gotten out and about with more confidence than before. My Spanish didn't suffer as much as I thought it would over the summer. What has been astounding is my ability to understand other Spanish speakers- it's like I finally made it over the edge and now I can really understand a solid 70% of what people say to me- I can carry on full conversations with cabbies, make doctors appointments over the phone, chat with my vigilantes etc. It is INCREDIBLY freeing to feel like I can go and do what I need to do without needing a Spanish speaker with me. Obviously, I'm not like THERE yet- my friend Channing once told me that I will know I made t when I dream in Spanish- but I am at least GETTING there. The other big change in my social life s my moped! Right before I left for summer break Ivan and I bought mopeds and as soon as I got back the first thing I wanted to do was play with it. I have been taking mine up and back to school, which has been awesome. I can go to work when I want, come home when I want and even putz down to the pharmacy down the road if I feel like it. I literally haven't taken it further than 2 kilometers from my apartment, but as I feel more confident I'll start branching out a little bit. My safety rules are I am NEVER driving on the autopista or driving at night. Otherwise, I am hoping I can use it to have a little more freedom to go and come from neighborhoods nearby where I can get things I need, go to PT, the bank and just generally get around easier without being dependent on taxis who constantly charge me the white price. 

The only other Debbie Downer cramping my style right now is the flight situation here. There are NO FLIGHTS, and those that exist do so at a price point that could send me Japan and back. Seriously, WTF? I am wigging out because I really don't know what to do about coming home for Christmas. We've all been kinda waiting and hoping that the price points would adjust since they aren't selling tickets in Bolivares or that the government and airlines would strike a deal and more flights would open up....but so far, no luck. I know I still have over three months, but the idea of not coming home for Christmas is so depressing that it's really weighing heavily on me. Say a little prayer that something happens and I am able to find flights for less than a month's salary. 

Cipro dependence and flights aside, I have had a great first month back and I am looking forward to lots of fun to come! Tortuga adventure + pictures coming soon!

Summer Loving and Back to School Joy

My dear friend Jason Walsh insists that living abroad makes time move faster, as if signing up for the expat life automatically moves you from the general traffic to the express lane on the highway of life. I think he may be on to something, because here I am, back in Caracas with already one week of school under my belt. It blows my mind how quickly the summer passed, but boy was it a good one. I think I can say without second thought that this was the best summer of my adult life. Living away from home truly makes you savour every moment you have with your loved ones. That's basically what I did all summer- I snuggled and loved on as many friends and family members as I possibly could. And as Fallin and Meredith could tell you, I mean this quite literally.

After spending a fantastic 4th of July with my Dad and Stepmom, I headed down to the 757 to spend time with Meredith and her family. Meredith and I only had a 48 hour period to see one another, as I was leaving to go to the OACAC conference in Tampa. This didn't hamper our time together though, because in the last 12 years she has been in Pennsylvania, there have certainly been years that we have seen each other for less time! The highlight of our time together was certainly spending the morning at the beach with Janette and Fallin. We met at Janette's house and first saw the wonderful nursery she had made for Tucker, who at the time wasn't due to enter the world for another month. Then we all trekked down the road to the bay beach near Janette's home. The bay is a wonderful place to enjoy the beach. The water was calm and cool, the beach was nearly empty and the weather that day was completely perfect! It was great to have a couple of hours to snuggle together! I have always known that my girlfriends from high school were special to me, but every time I see them I am reminded of how incredibly special our relationship is- it cannot be replicated or replaced and it is one of those special relationships that will most certainly endure throughout our lives.

After our brief visit, I headed to Tampa for the OACAC conference. OACAC is an organization of university representatives and international college counselors. It is an invaluable conference for college counselors. It is also three days of straight party. I want to make a t-shirt that says something to the effect of "people who choose to be college counselors are without exception super cool, drink like fishes and are literally up for ANYTHING".  So yes, I think I will go to this conference indefinitely each summer just because it is so much fun (and I learned a lot! Double fun!)

After OACAC I headed back to the 757 to continue spending time with Janette, Fallin, Jeremy and my other 757 peeps. While I was at the conference, little Tucker decided to arrive early! As soon as Fallin picked me up at the airport, we headed to the hospital to meet him (after first stopping at 7-11 for free slurpee day!) Poor Janette had a rather traumatic delivery- because she had preeclampsia and her blood pressure was so high, she had an emergency c-section at 36 weeks. Thankfully, by the time we arrived, she had been taken off the yucky blood pressure medicine and was getting back to normal. Pete was able to get us into the nursery and there little Tucker was! The most beautiful new born I had ever seen! Seriously, he was beautiful, with a head full of yellow-blond hair and the most precious little face! I fell in love immediately. Being an only child, I expected to be closer to my friends' kids than the normal person, and that has certainly proven to be true! 

I stayed int he 757 for five days and got to see Janette and Tucker every day, which made me so happy. It was so hard to leave them! It was hard to leave everyone- I had such a good time! Fallin, Jeremy, Brynn and I got to watch the world cup finals at a brewery, which was pretty much perfect. I saw my aunt Amy and my cousins for an evening, got to eat German food and catch up with my other dad Keith Roots and enjoyed some IHOP with Mama C. I also slept like 12 hours a day to the point I think Fallin was worried. It must be that good Tidewater air!

After leaving the 757, I headed up for a quick trip to the DC area. The idea of going to DC gives me immediate blood pressure problems, so despite the fact that I have SO MANY people I want to see up there, I really had to limit my time in the area to save my sanity. I do always make time to see two beautiful Mama's- Cara and Amanda! I stopped first with Amanda and Chris in Woodbridge and got to meet the BEAUTIFUL Brooklyn, who was gorgeous (mainly because she looked so much like Amanda!) After a wonderful winery day and fun evening in the Proch mansion, I spent the next evening with Cara and James, and their two wonderful little people Richard and Katie! Richard has a very special place in my heart- he is such an active and intelligent little man. I love playing trains with him (and I am sure Cara and James are also thrilled that I play lots of trains when I visit!) Cara and James are so kind to always open their home to me when I am in town, not only giving me a place to stay but feeding me half their fridge as well!  They always know to have chocolate chip cookies and milk for me- what more could I ask for!

The next day Christina, Anne and I took off for our EPIC girls weekend in Rohobethe Delaware, where Emily and Sarah would join us the next day. I had never been to a beach north of Virginia Beach, so I was really excited to check out Rohobethe and stay in Christina's little childhood beach cabin! We had a literally incredible weekend. It was one of the best weekends I have had in years. SO much laughter, snuggling and clean fun. Even though the weather wasn't cooperating, we had a blast. There was lots of skeeball, "make-your-own-karaoke-party" shamelessness, outdoor showering, delicious dinners and boardwalk food, and moustached REAL kareoking. We all decided that we would return to relive the magic next summer and I am already looking forward to it!

After the beach, I had one more night with Cara and James and the next day after some outlet shopping with Cara I headed home for my last week back with my parents. I spent a lot of time with my mom, grandparents, aunt, uncle, dad and stepparents. I am so happy in the valley spending time with family! I took a few breaks from the family bonding, one to see Drew and Shayna at Blue Mountain and another to spend a couple days in Cville with Christina, Arin, Brendan, Jen, Andrew, Martha and Jason! My last Saturday in town was EPIC. Christina, Arin, Brendan and I went to Paul's Creek, a natural creek/rock slide, only to discover that two fallen trees had totally ruined the swimming hole! We decided that the only option for water fun then became setting up a pool and slippin slide in Arin's front yard! Which we totally did! We used the hose on a tarp for the slippin slide and set up the pool, fixing the hole in the bottom with a sticky bug catcher and a rock. We were SO PLEASED with ourselves! We grilled, chilled and got a special unexpected visit from Andrew Morgan! Our night digressed into some karaoke, cards against humanity and late night deep conversations. It was perfect! The next day we had brunch at Blue Mountain and then, we were all so hung over, we went to our respective homes to nap! 

That night, I got to go to my first of two really great baseball games with my dad. There is a local county team that plays near his home and I love going to the games. It's laid back country fun! The next day, I got to have another meal with adopted dad Tom, his lovely wife Sue and Christina, which was SUCH a treat. After another Pauline haircut/color (I miss my hair dresser SO MUCH), I headed back home to my mom's for my final couple of days home. The next day was spent packing, but my final day in town my mom and I spent the day together just hanging out- Chinese for lunch, taking a walk by the river and generally enjoying each other. I got to spend my final hours with my dad as he drove me to the airport and after two very easy plane rides I was back in the arms of my wonderful Ivan! I love seeing Ivan at the airport- I can't think of moments in my life when I am any happier than when I give him that first hug after a long absence. He got another huge hug after I got home to a clean apartment and the biggest bouquet of flowers ever! A dozen roses, six huge sunflowers and many of Ivan's favorite flowers interspersed. It was BEAUTIFUL. 

Transitioning back has been a true joy. The grocery stores are a little more stocked than when I left, all of my utilities, bank card, etc were functioning and things and school have been SO MUCH smoother than last year. I know what I am doing now and have more confidence in my job and responsibilities. We lost a few of our more problematic families this year and that has also made a world of difference. The icing on the cake is that I have started using my moped to go to and from school, which has given me so much more freedom to go and come whenever I want to without having to wait for a ride or other people to walk home with. I'm not quite ready to take it much farther than from school and back, but it's a start! 

So, to summate: that was one incredible summer and a great start to year two of my Venezuelan adventure! Can't wait to see what is in store for me this year!