What is the one thing you would do if you had the day off today?

I would have slept in.

And then I would catch up on some reading . . . pleasure reading, that is.

Then I would have a nice leisurely lunch, take stock of my pantry, and go grocery shopping.

After that, it's anybody's guess.

   

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Loneliness

I said I'd post some more about why I was so profoundly lonely . . . it didn't hit me until yesterday that I was.  The reason is actually simple.

I'm far away from all of the people I love most.

My boyfriend is in metro Detroit right now while I'm in the Lansing area.

My best friend is around Chicago.

My sister is in Quito.

I'm around people all day, and I've even seen people that care about me with some regularity.  But after living with my best friend for a semester and seeing my friends in Quito every day, it's natural to feel a little isolated.

Loneliness

I just realized how profoundly lonely I am.

More on that later, if I have time.

Twinges

I'm back to East Lansing full time, working two jobs and waiting for class to start.  So far, I feel pretty well-adjusted to life in the States, although I periodically miss llapingacho and buses that play salsa music.  That's it - the twinges.  I had them for a long time after I got back from Mexico, although they were gone by the time I left for Ecuador.  I assume I'll have them for a long time now that I've left Ecuador, maybe until I leave the country again.

Two Weeks

I've been home now for two weeks (hard to believe!) and so much has happened.

I spent my first weekend unpacking, went back to MSU to get the keys to my apartment and do training for a new job, and then headed back home for a couple days.

A week after I got back, my sister left for Ecuador and I flew out to Gettysburg for a wedding, heading home on Memorial Day.  I spent another day at home, and then headed back to MSU to start my aforementioned new job.  It's an office job, but I feel like my work is important and that I can do it efficiently and successfully; I couldn't ask for much more.  I'll be home again this weekend, work three days next week, and then head home to help with preparations for my brother's graduation and graduation open house.

Quito feels very far away, not only geographically, but also in terms of time because I've been so busy.  I'm not sure I've processed how all of this is going to work on a deeper level; maybe I've tried to put it off.  I'm guessing that in the next couple weeks, as my life slows down a little, I'll start sorting through things, and I'm pondering making a scrapbook to help me with that.