8 Months - The Countdown to Home

I have decided to leave the family and come home. I mean that in every sense of the word. I am moving into my house with my parents. After months of conversations with friends, the family, my family etc. I made the decision that it was time for me to head home.  The family doesn't know anything about Paris and as far as I can tell it has fallen completely out of the conversation in the last two weeks. 

So now my count down has begun. I have a lot to accomplish before I leave but I have also a great year to look back on and it isn't even over yet! I am going to miss so much about this lifestyle (aka. little work and a lot of play). I have also started to understand how hard it is going to be to leave the family. I have my fair share of complaints but at the end of the day these kids have stolen my heart ten times over! To make it worse, G has begun to make it clear how sad she is that I am leaving and that "I should stay for forever with her."  

This begins the countdown. Summer is around the corner and I have several more trips to be planned before I head back to San Diego at the end of August. I am heading to Spain and Amsterdam this week, Paris (for real this time) in June, a few more places in Switzerland (including paragliding!), and possibly Scandinavia in August before heading home. My schedule is packed and I love it! I am hoping a weekend trip in May to Rome if I can make it work.  I will also be going to the South of France twice with the family not to mention actually enjoying Zurich for the summer! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

So this is the second Thanksgiving I am not in San Diego for. However, last year I shot up to Boston and spent it with my Aunts and Uncles and of course my "little" brother Stephen! It was a great substitute but of course spending Thanksgiving in San Diego with football, turkey, pie, and our annual game of  Battle of the Sexes Trivia Pursuit is irreplaceable.

This year is much different. I am abroad. This translates into Thanksgiving being a non-existent holiday.  My American friends and I have been talking about what do today for a couple of weeks and we are having a traditional Thanksgiving. However, I will not be any family, there will be no football, and I spent the morning looking after a 7 week old baby.  Needless to say, it just doesn't quite feel like Thanksgiving.

I am super excited that we will be having turkey today, which is a feat in itself because the Swiss don't eat turkey! I also spent the morning baking an apple pie and peeling 3 kg of potatoes to make into some (hopefully) delicious mashed potatoes. The dinner I am going to will have people from all over the world (potentially 6 of the 7 continents) and many Americans. I am excited to enjoy a massive feast with my new friends!

In keeping with tradition here's a list of things that I am unbelievable grateful for (in no specific order):

1. I am so thankful for having an amazing and supportive family! I decide to do and say ridiculous things all the time knowing that they will be behind me in the end. I love you all sooo much and wish that I could be with you today!
2. All of my friends from high school, college, life in DC, and everything in between! I am so lucky to have each of you in my life! I miss you so much and am so excited every time I get talk to you all the way in Switzerland!
3.  Video Chat, facebook, phones, online television..etc. Without this technology I am not sure that I would EVER be able to live over 6,000 miles away from everything and everyone I know! 
4. My mother - She gets an individual shout out for countless reasons! I am learning so much about what it takes to raise a family and make a Thanksgiving dinner! I am shocked everyday that you were able to do it all! I love you and thank you times a million! 
5. Living in Europe! This is such a great opportunity and it has been so much fun already! The new friends I have made are fantastic! I have been able to travel and my month of December is going to absolutely jammed with exciting adventures!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! And a Happy Thursday to those of you who won't be celebrating Thanksgiving! Much love and safe travels!

Three Months Down

I have created a life of constant change for myself. I feel like I haven't been in the same place for more than a year for going on SIX years now. While I was at good ol' Chappy for four years, each year required a move, and for the most part a new group of people. I have a few consistent friends from all four years, but between people graduating, moving off campus (which really did put them off the radar), different activities, classes, and a new Resident Advisor staff every year, I was constantly meeting new people and creating different core friends. I was always living in a different hall/apartment.

I think that this constant change is good. It keeps me on my toes. Meeting new people is always important and I never want that to stop! On the other hand, there are moments when I wish I could round up my friends and put them all in the same place.  We could recreate the idealistic college life we had and I could throw some high school and post-grad friends as well!  It would be an epic lifestyle! Unfortunately, I have adapting over the last 6 years to living away from my family and friends so while it is difficult at times to only be able to call/video chat, this is not something new to me.

I have found that you can't let yourself ponder what you don't have for too long or you just get depressed/lonely/etc. I have an amazing life in Switzerland and I am enjoying taking advantage of it all! The three month point is the big hump you need to get over. As an RA in college, this was when homesickness settled in for first-year students. You realize that the honeymoon is over, you are away from what you know, and this is now just life. This can be an AMAZING and/or SCARY revelation!

This brings me to the point of the post. I continue to move place to place and as I look into the future I can't imagine that I will find that city to settle down (whatever that means) in for a several more years! I do, however, miss things, people, and certain concepts. I didn't have a culture shock when I moved here. I was immediately surrounded by English and the food wasn't all that different. I have gotten used to not being able to communicate very well with people at restaurants and for the most part I have started to just speak English with hand motions in order to get my point across.

So here's a few things that I miss (obviously I miss you too!)

1. Shopping for and making my own food

2. Having privacy (the laundry room is accessed through my room...and we all know the laundry is never done!)

4. Being able to send people a text when something reminds me of them

5. Calling people while I walk to and from and sending texts with random moments from the day (However, I read a lot more now!)

6. Jamba Juice (I missed this in DC too)

7. Frozen Yogurt!

8. The warmth of the sun


And things that love about being here:

1. The free time to read

2. Walking outside and seeing snow capped mountains everyday

3. Learning French

4. That the hardest part of my day is getting 2 kids to brush their teeth

5. Being able to be in 4 different countries within 3-4 hours

6. Traveling!

7. Meeting new people from all over the world

8. Walking places

9. That a 50 degree rainy day is now good weather! (I am changing!)

This month is going to go by so quickly and so is my year here!

Election Day!

Yesterday was election day. I can only assume that most people didn't go out to vote or care that it was election day. I was sad yesterday when I came back from getting dessert with some friends to realize that I was missing out on the ridiculous Election Day coverage on Network TV. As soon as the kids were on the bus this morning, I was on my computer to see what the results were.

I am not shocked. I am glad the Barbara Boxer is still my Senator. I know that Duncan Hunter will be my SD Rep until he dies.  I am ecstatic that Meg Whitman is not the governor elect in California, but not sure that Jerry Brown is going to solve the problems my favorite state faces. I am a little disappointed about Prop 19 (legalizing marijuana), I think it would have helped California more than hurt it.  There isn't a winning solution to drugs, but the current laws we have are failing just about everyone involved.

I then listened to the new Speaker of the House's speech, John Boehner.  His speech did not give me hope that things are actually going to be different in politics. His speech brings to light the hypocrisy that exists on both sides of the aisle.  It is moments like this that my idealistic and hopeful view of the world is crushed slightly. I think about how many people didn't go out to vote because they think it doesn't matter, or worse, because the candidates are all saying the same thing in a slightly different way.

In a way, I hope that this can bring about some bipartisanship back to Washington. I want to see President Obama reach across the aisle and continue his ambitious agenda.  After President Clinton lost his majority, things changed in but there was a new level of compromise (even through the Republicans trying to get him impeached).  This is when we started created a budget surplus for our nation and unemployment declined.  That is was we need to see.  I hope that we can see this as an opportunity to unite our country. I hope that we can stop bickering and give 9/11 first responders the healthcare they need and deserve. I hope that we can talk about how to deal with immigration and get all of the nominations that are being held up confirmed or denied instead of allowing them to stay in limbo.

I am glad that the craziest of the tea party candidates failed but I hope the ones that did get elected hold the Republic party to a new standard of fiscal responsibility.  I hope that Nancy Pelosi can take the higher road and treat the new Speaker with respect.  I hope that we can repair the beautiful and amazing country that I am from.  I hope that the change the country voted for is what we are given in the next two years. I am cautiously hopeful for the future. Progress is bound to happen let's just hope it is forward progress.

If you didn't watch any of Jon Stewart's Rally take 12 minutes to watch his Moment of Sincerity.  It is another heartfelt speech by Jon and one of the many reasons why I love and respect him so much!

I would like to make one more shout out to my BFF Ellie!!! She has been working tirelessly for months to get Senator Harry Reid reelected. I haven't spoken to her nearly as much as we used and I know that the last 2 months have involved little to no sleep.  It paid off. I know that she was such an asset to the campaign and I thank her for allowing the Dems to at least keep the majority in the Senate! She is a phenomenal woman who is going to be leading campaigns before we know it! Congrats Ellie!!! Can we talk now?? =)

You can take the girl out of DC but you can't take the DC out of the girl!

Fourth of July weekend in DC!