Wednesday, July 25, 2012

California dreamin'

HOW IS THIS SUMMER ALMOST OVER???? It's been an action packed and amazing one that's for sure. I just returned from a short stay in lovely Southern California. Should I mention that I plan on living in Malibu some day? Alright, maybe that dream is a bit of  a stretch, but I would love to make my way to SoCal at some point. I'm sure the fact that it's so different from where I grew up makes it seem more awesome, but really, it's warm all year, there are palm trees, beaches, and civilization. I'M THERE.

Anyways, the Ullrich family was nice enough to let me invade their lives for a week in Simi Valley, about 30 minutes north of LA. Of course, I use 30 minutes loosely since traffic all around Los Angeles is insane, but you get the point. I finally got to meet Brock, which has been a two year long struggle. It's difficult to look at pictures of him all the time but be too far away to pet him. Dream fulfilled. Stop looking at me like that. MY LIFE IS NOT PATHETIC. Even though Kat and I claim to be really boring people....and let's face it, we are, we still had a nonstop week. It's been years since I've been in that area, and honestly I don't remember it too clearly, so I loved getting to go back. I returned to mah roots at Angels Stadium yeahhh. Sure my home team was chillin back in the east, but I pretended to be a temp Angels fan for the day. That doesn't extend past a day. Don't get any ideas. But games are lame if you aren't rooting for someone. We also hiked all over the SV and even made our way to Malibu (my future home). We are the most active people alive. Don't be too intimidated. One day we even woke up at 5:45 to hike 6-8 miles. We aren't actually sure how many miles it was, but I'm gonna guesstimate somewhere around 105. Olympic athletes? But seriously,  I had a great time eating delicious food and chilling by the Pacific. The Ullrichs were crazy generous to me and made meh feel supes welcome. Thanks, y'all. Kat was a decent host I guess. Jokes, I didn't really have to make any decisions until the last day, and that one decision was enough to make me collapse on the kitchen counter.  My favorite part may or may not have been all the food I consumed. It lived up to the hype. The Pacif Ocean was decent as well. JOKES IT WAS GREAT. Caught myself a wave. Sat on the beach. Got sunburnt. I'm basically a Californian. ha.  Maybe someday. Peace out East Coast. I'm only slightly obsessed with California. I get why people from California freak out about it all the time. I would too. Ok, this is becoming a mess.

Time to wrap it up. Who knows how much more I will update this before Denmark, but I'll be sure to blog on the regz when my life gets a little more exciting than the GC and facebook. Although are sunset castle picnics really more interesting? oh wait, yes they are. On a sad note I had to bid farewell to Brys today, which is always not fun, BUT she should be collecting her pennies to spend Thanksgiving at Legoland con mi. RIGHT!? seriously, there's probably a penny on the sidewalk right now. GO GET IT. Miss ya already.

excuse the awkwardness, but I need to prove I went on Jurassic Park

90834598203495043295 mile hike. casually standing 100 feet from each other.

Malibu

Point Dume



WHY WAS I BORN ON THE EAST COAST??



beach wedding! Obsessed.

BROCK


so pleased to be in my presence

mi favorito


Alright, I'm going to walk amongst the nature with mi madre since it's actually not oppressively humid today. Enjoy your summers! 

Sunday, July 1, 2012

The real grand finale.

Como, it's really over now. I'm sitting in the Miami airport, so I'm offish sad. Guatemala is the best. America is not. Just kidding, but not really. It is so strange being back, even though technically I'm not all the way home. I think my biggest culture shock so far actually came when I was able to order food in English. Como, what? But seriously, it's weird having most people actually speak English. I miss Spanish. I'm basically just sulking. In reality, I'm so crazy thankful that I got to stay in Guate for a month, but it's hard not to be sad it's over. I'm now just annoyingly bursting to talk about it. I'm so pathetic. Someone asked me my favorite part of it all when I was on the plane, and I just burst out, EVERYTHING!!! It's true though. Best four weeks of mi vida.

Ok, so starting at the beginning, I woke up bright and early at 3:55 AM for my 4:30 departure con Ann. We were weirdly on the same flight, so I didn't have to say goodbye just yet. Como, yay! I'm gonna miss that girl so much. Kat was a nice esposa and woke up to say goodbye, which was sad, it was a super fun five weeks, yo. But we'll be reunited in three weeks, so está bien. Although apparently I missed out on a really romantic weekend. Shame.

Anyways, Ann and I were rolling through a ghost town at 4:30 AM, but the aeropuerto was surprisingly busy. It was really nice having her there to make general traveling and customs less stressful. Plus, Ann is just the best. We chilled at our gate and just chatted until miss fancy pants first class left me with the other lowly coach dwellers. Just kidding, there's a serious story behind her first class ticket. The actual flight was super smooth. I ate cookies. Exciting, right?

Customs took about a year and a half since the USA is probably the most paranoid, strict country ever. I suppose we defz have reasons to be, but it's just funny since I strolled right into Guatemala, no probs. I could have had a bag full of guns and I would have gotten in. I was quickly reminded that Americans aren't nearly as welcoming and nice as Guatemalans. No hugs here. Ann and I spent our time waiting in line to be readmitted into the country hating on our own culture. Welcome home.

We had to part ways at our gates, which was super not happy, but I for reals plan on CCS reunions, so it's not forever. Está bien.

I spent my layover eating. Surprise. Since I've lived off of beans, rice, tortillas, and hot sauce for a month, I was nervous about going hardcore with American food and then getting on a plane again. I stuck with fries and a frappaccino. God I'm so healthy. DIABETES. Now here I am, somewhere over the East Coast en route to the homeland. muy weird.

Crazy kinda story. Some woman on my flight is named Maria Del Carmen AKA MY FAV MUJER ANCIANA! I wanted to cry. P.S. I did cry on my last day at placement. I had to hold in my sobs. Probably one of the hardest things I've ever done was leaving those lovely ladies, especially when some of them started crying. Leaving friends, both young and old was so very difficult. But I'm thankful, beyond thankful, that I got to be a part of their lives and they got to be a part of mine. I'll be thinking of them all Monday at 8:30 AM. If only I had faith in the newbs.

Oh hey, reading the Spanish magazine on the plane. Infinitely easier than trying to read it on June 2nd. Look who's a Spanish GENIUS. Jokes, being back in the homeland already makes me feel dumber. So basically I'm going to buy libros en español and miro soap operas on the regz. Hold me to that, por favor.

The best cook and most awesome person I know

I love this group of people

Our last day! muy triste

Julieta! She folds blankets like a boss. But really. 

Juan Carlos y yo. so much swag.

Kiki! ella es muy linda!