*sniff,sniff* I smell McDonalds fries, Starbucks coffee, and a slightly salty Mission Bay breeze. I'm home!!! I can't believe it. Actually, that's not true. I believe it but I can't believe I was just in Latin America for 5 months. I can't believe I was sweating on the Caribbean, shivering near the Andes and drinking coconut water on Copacabana Beach. It feels like I never left. Suddenly everyone speaks English (I miss Spanish already, I might need to go to Tijuana pronto), the majority of people are overweight and everyone around me is on a smart phone or some kind of electronic.

It's so strange hearing everyone say "Happy Thanksgiving," it doesnt feel like Thanksgiving at all! Especially with no school break. In fact, it doesn't even feel like winter to me. Maybe because just a week ago I was living near the Amazon and the last few days Ive been sweating from eating spicy Mexican food. In any case, I AM home and it was such a comforting relief to see my mom there waiting for me just outside security (exactly where I'll be waiting for Ricardo in 2 days!). I barely have any stories or pictures to show and tell because this blog and skype have kept me caught up with all the updates. Of course we still somehow have plenty to talk about.

Now I can sleep peacefully in MY OWN COMFY BED and spend tomorrow relaxing and eating a big fat turkey, grateful for all the amazing adventures I had this year, the great new friends I made (and boyfriend), and I was safe and healthy the whole way (minus the lice that is).