Belated- but here it is :) My post-GRE, Quinceanera and beginning Lima adventures

Alright, so I'm still getting used to this whole posting thing, but here it is. Sooo, things have been quite busy, I took my GRE and am happy with my scores and can now coast fairly easy for a while until next year when I start applying......
I packed up a whole bunch of shit in my room so that my family can use it for their own purposes. It was a strange thing to see, everything neatly arranged in large plastic bins from Big Lots, stacked in my closets. I left a few things hanging around that I intend to bring to Lima after my Christmas break in a few months. While cleaning and organizing is certainly something I absolutely love, it was a bit surreal the last week to be living out of boxes and suitcases in what (was?is?) my room. I was torn between being sooooo excited about my return to Lima a year after departing and leaving home to try my hand at in the world of work, living on my own and travelling to a (fairly) new country.

The big event that dominated my last 2 weeks was my sister Lindsey's Quinceanera. It was to be held in Los Angeles as that is where the majority of my family (on both sides) resides. It was put together quite haphazardly and despite our efforts to plan ahead a little bit, stuff was still left to the last minute, and when I say last minute, I literally mean minutes before the supposed start time of the event. But, such is my family and nothing less is expected at such a momentous occasion. It was still a fun occasion and it was amazing to see all my family together again before my departure, all gathered together for the celebration of my little squinky who is not so little anymore. We had the semi-traditional part at the Church we always go to first, then continued on at a club of sorts for the reception where I danced folklorico despite my not totally being prepared in any way to do so, haha. Ces't la vie. I am soo grateful for my amazing cousin V for rescuing me and taking us plus my other cousin/her sister Christina and our other cousin Natasha to get some dranks over at their place. Nothing a little alcohol can't help when you're rushed and stressed.

Anyways, we stayed until Monday the 20th when my father, brother and friend Venice and I drove back up North to the Bay Area. My mother flew out Monday morning to go to Mexico for work and my sister stayed in LA with our cousins to continue in her fun-times. I got home and got to see Eric again after many days apart (although we unfortunately did not celebrate with LOST watching...tear...). I washed clothes, went to buy last minute supplies, and stayed up all night long with Kelly and Eric before my 7:30am flight out of SFO. It is great to come home and know that there will always be people there to spend time with, laugh with and be mushy and sentimental with (a new acquisition of mine, oy, emotions, where did you come from ?!).

The past week has been busy, but relaxed at the same time. I have been spending time with Alvaro after 3 months apart, looking for work, and hanging out in the Bayona household which is so graciously keeping me during my settling period. I have found work at a very small international school in a district called Magdalena. I am supremely excited to be doing this and get from 3pm onwards off to do some private tutoring and just attend to my own needs and desires. It isn't a super high paying job, but something I'm stoked to embark upon. I have a new cell phone, am getting a bank account here, and will soon start the apartment search. It all seems to go by so slowly, yet so rapidly in equal quantities. I had many days of rest as I arrived (after 7 hours of extreme delay in the stupid Houston airport...grrr) since I had the weekend plus tue and wed (28th-29th) were holiday. We took a short evening vacation with 6 of Alvaro's friends to Huachipa and El Bosque which are a bit north of Lima. Now it's the weekend again and while I continue looking for more work tutoring, I'm happy with the position I have and I can't wait to start working again.