2009

By this point, many of you know that I am home. If not: surprise! :) I am home and living in Chicago with a dear family that I nanny for. I surprised my family two weeks ago and showed up at our family Christmas party. It was joyous. My family was beautiful and incredibly supportive of all of the changes. As much as things have changed, many things have not and that includes my family and my love for them. It has been wonderful to catch back up.

Yet, difficult. Terribly difficult in fact. And so, if I may, take a minute to thank my family and my friends for their support. There have tears and fears from the day I landed in Chicago and they have been patient and understanding. They have understood that they pain of leaving Bolivia does not mean that I am regretting being back or that I wish I was with my Bolivian family over this family, just that I cannot compare my lives. Bolivia is irreplacable in my life. And they have not tried to fill that hole. Thank you.

Change is good. Change is inspiring. Change is encouraging. Evo represented change in Bolivia. And Obama here in the States. Change seems to be the basis of this next year. Not simple, difficult. But I'm ready. Ready to struggle for the greater good of myself and of those around me. Ready to struggle to be better and to fight for more. Not easy. But that's exciting.

Yes I spoke in Spanish when I landed. And cry everytime I recieve an email from a student, but its more than that. Bolivia and I were in a relationship. I felt as if I was having a love affair with Bolivia. As much as I love Chicago -long term, commitment sort of love. But Bolivia was a different passion. And so here, I mourn that loss. But celebrate in the time I had. Celebrate knowing that Bolivia and I will be together again.

I am catching up on the lives of my friends and family. Slowly eating and fighting a few last parasites. I am enjoying the snow, but shivering heaps. I speak in Spanish and Australian as much as possible. And I hug my family as much as I can. Because I know that in Bolivia I missed that. I certainly missed that.

Gram says that "Home is where your heart is." I am grateful to have two homes. Two places that welcome me with love, joy, and embrace me as their own.