While I have free time during my summer vacation (remember, summer and winter is opposite in South and North American), I decided to go home for a visit. Mostly, I visited with friends and family.
My trip started out at my dearest grandmother's house for a few days and then I went into the city for the weekend to run some errands (get a visa from the Peruvian consulate) and visit some of my favorite people and places. First, I went to my old school in Brooklyn to visit. I felt like a rock 
star as kids literally screamed when they saw me. After school, my newspaper staff and I went out for drinks and catch up. Sadly, the newspaper has not really gotten started. While I didn't feel a pull to be teaching there, I am incredibly disappointed that my girls haven't been motivated enough to get this done without me there breathing down their necks. Anyway, after hanging out with students for non-alcoholic drinks, I met the ACORN staff for real drinks. It was great to catch up with everyone!
star as kids literally screamed when they saw me. After school, my newspaper staff and I went out for drinks and catch up. Sadly, the newspaper has not really gotten started. While I didn't feel a pull to be teaching there, I am incredibly disappointed that my girls haven't been motivated enough to get this done without me there breathing down their necks. Anyway, after hanging out with students for non-alcoholic drinks, I met the ACORN staff for real drinks. It was great to catch up with everyone!The rest of the weekend was spent with friends -- eating. I had brunch with the "A-Team" which turned into a late afternoon coffee. Then, I met all of my oldest and dearest friends. I felt very lucky because one friend came into Brooklyn from Washington D.C. (and she's 4 months pregnant!) for the weekend. Two other friends traveled in from Long
Island and New Jersey for a 
wonderful Saturday night dinner gathering with a delicious dinner and desserts. I got to eat at my favorite sushi restaurant, had a big sleepover party for a weekend and got to see all of my closest friends. I couldn't ask for me - but there was more!
Island and New Jersey for a 
wonderful Saturday night dinner gathering with a delicious dinner and desserts. I got to eat at my favorite sushi restaurant, had a big sleepover party for a weekend and got to see all of my closest friends. I couldn't ask for me - but there was more!The end of the weekend came and was, again, filled with more eating. After brunch, I met
Arturo's brother and fiance to see the tree at Rockefeller Center and have lunch at Pardo's, a Peruvian chicken restaurant which has a branch in NYC. It was wonderful to see them. I just wish they lived in Peru, too! To help with my sadness, I had a dinner (yes, eating again) with some college friends which was a blast.Finally, the weekend really ended and I went back to Long Island for the week with grandma. The week included a lot of shopping - buying, returning, buying and so on. There are some things, such as sheets and cooking equipment, that are much cheaper in the U.S. Other things, 
such as clothing, just fits better and, depending on how hard you search the racks of TJ Max and
Marshalls, can also be less expensive. In addition to the daily shopping excursions, I got to spend a lot of time with grandma, which included, of course, several excellent scrabble games.
such as clothing, just fits better and, depending on how hard you search the racks of TJ Max and
Marshalls, can also be less expensive. In addition to the daily shopping excursions, I got to spend a lot of time with grandma, which included, of course, several excellent scrabble games.At the end of the week, grandma and I drove upstate to visit the rest of my family: mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, niece, nephew, aunts, and cousin. It was quite a 
reunion! While we did have amazing food and a lovely white blanket of new snow to enjoy, the best part was seeing everyone. I was able to spend quality time with everyone and it meant a lot to me. Luckily, the family visits continued when I got back to grandma's house with a lunch with
family friends and a lovely dinner with cousins. I definitely don't miss NYC -- it's the people I miss!
reunion! While we did have amazing food and a lovely white blanket of new snow to enjoy, the best part was seeing everyone. I was able to spend quality time with everyone and it meant a lot to me. Luckily, the family visits continued when I got back to grandma's house with a lunch with
family friends and a lovely dinner with cousins. I definitely don't miss NYC -- it's the people I miss!However, my trip did come to an end. And the surprising thing is that I was more than ready for it. After about two weeks, I started to miss home -- and by home I mean Peru. Who would have thunk it?
