Welcome to Abu Dhabi!!

I have made it!  I'm here in Abu Dhabi!  After a rather uneventful 13 hour flight where I met a pretty cool 17 year old girl who kept me company, I was greeted by Mr. Alan Drummond and a red rose AAAWWWWW!  We had somewhat withheld but warm greeting on both our parts.  We grabbed a cab and headed over to the staff housing, which is a bit outside of the main city and in a very "in construction" area.  It does seem like a lot of this place is under construction.  I met one of the flat mates and we discussed food, as the flight did not provide very well.

We made an attempt at grocery shopping for a healthy home made diner, but just ended up exploring the little mall as indecisive as could be.  I think I just need to chill out before I can make any grocery decisions.  We ended up at this little Lebanese restaurant situated on the top of the mall.  They had that delicious greasy flat bread that I used to eat as a kid in Dubai from this bakery, so I had that with hummus  and a green salad, which was very simply and lemon juice as dressing.  I actually felt very satisfied after that, I think because I was just craving something fresh and tasty, and this fulfilled that requirement. Alan's chicken shawirma did not unfortunately.

No unpacking done yet as there is not much space to store my things.  I am excited about our near future trip to Ikea and being properly organized with my stuff.  My goal is to have some good physical organization for my clothes and things.  Also on the list, very important, is a transformer, to be blessed with the electricity that runs through my beloved Vita Mix blender.  Soon, so soon.  Then some yummy cooking and blending shall proceed.

Alan is working on some projects for the hotel, mainly housekeeping right now.  Improving the system already.

Until next time!

Away Again

I am at the airport ready to fly again. Abu Dhabi awaits! I am thoroughly excited! Everytime I travel and have all of my things to choose from, I am always impressed, and rather overwhelmed, with the amount! I had a lot of trouble deciding what would have to stay and what must come with me. I made it in the end with all the gifts for friends and family. Phew. For me, that is the most stressful part. Once the bags are done I'm riding smoothly.

Alan seems to be having a great time so far, still getting aquainted with the place and people. He saved the decorating and furniture buying for my arrival, which is really wonderful.

It has been so nice to see everyone one more time before leaving again. I love you all and hope to see you soon!

Settling in

I have been back in CT for a week now, and Alan has been in Abu Dhabi.  He let me know of his fun times and all of the people he has met.  He seems to be settling in well.  The first 2 nights were spent at the hotel and then the 3rd, he was moved to the staff housing.  The flat-mates are really nice and seem to be more westernized.  All ex-patriots it seems, though, alan has already bonded with a local or 2.  This was a pleasant surprise as we thought the locals did not like us non-locals, but his local friend took him out and about and treated him to sheesha.  I'm excited to go over there and meet these people.  I will also know some friends from my mom's work in the UAE mission to the UN, so that will be nice.  I'll also spend sometime with my family who live there and have them show me around.

I have been mostly relaxing, but now it is time for a busy schedule.  Seeing my friends, finishing the clean out and pack up of my room and personal items, and packing for the big move.  I went back to the Waldorf=Astoria on Monday, and will go again on Friday.  I was helping the security officers as much as I could.  The security is so tight right now with metal detectors and scanners for bags and things like that.  some of the guests are not too happy with all of the precautions since things move a fair bit slower than usual.  I spent 6 hours there and then we reunited at a bar afterwards.  Many good times.  I really do love the Waldorf! I'm looking forward to Friday already.

Right now I am in Baltimore Maryland visiting a friend and enjoying the Free WiFi of Starbucks!  While here I'm going to finish up my internship report I need to submit to get my SHA diploma from school.  One step at a time.

Alan and I chat when we can, but the time difference is a killer.  I'm really looking forward to get over there!!

Las Estacas & Home

For our last weekend, Sylvia invited us to a beautiful park.  We brought all swim and park appropriate wears and drove off on Saturday.  We met up with Alan's aunt, uncle and cousin and they joined our lively group.  We arrived to a large green park with a winding river that pops out from a spring.  Though it looks like a meandering lagoon, it is in fact pulling quite strongly.  So, after some tortas Isa made us and g\checking into our little cabin, we threw on our bathing suits and played around for the rest of the day.  To swim up stream without assistance from flippers or hand flippers was nearly imposible for us.  It was much more relaxing to go to the head of the river and simply allow that current to carry you back to your towels on the grass, then lay and dry off in the sun. Mmmm!  So nice.  We finished the evening with a hefty meal at a small eatery just outside of the park.  I don't know the name of what I ate but it consisted of a long , handmade, tortilla with cheese, cactus, avocado, tomato, and cream.  We were all stuffed by the end and I hit the pillow pretty hard once we got back ot the cabin.

The next day was spent at the isolated pool near to our cabin playing Marco polo and laughing at each other stumble around blind!  More relaxing and chatting, walking and playing, and we checked out and headed out into the city of Cuernavaca for dinner at a wonderful restaurant, but unfortunately we were still rather full from breakfast, so soups and smaller portions.  Still yummy!!

Once we got back home the next few days consisted of saying goodbye to friends and packing up our stuff.  Alan had a fair bit more than me, obviously, and we made sure to carefully pack out Nespresso machine and Valentina bottles...it's the important things :)  By Weds we were ready, woke up early, grabbed some fruit for the road and off to the airport.

My flights went relatively well, apart from double booking my seat and having to move me next to a very heavy set man, the kind who blur the barrier between his seat and mine.  After one trip to the bathroom and my polite "excuse me" in order to reenter my middle seat, he stated in a heavy russian spanish accent "THIS IS THE LAST TIME!  THE LAST!" As if it was my fault that it took more effort than was comfortable for him to get up.  I was pretty stunned as I never really expected someone to be so selfish as to not understand that in flight, we are ALL in uncomfortable situations, and must each do what we can for each other to make the trip more pleasant for those around them.  I went again, later in the flight.  He didn't say anything, but he did get up.  2nd flight was as smooth as it could go.

Vera Cruz

After a couple days of resting at home Alan and I departed again for a visit to his housekeeper's (Isa) family.  It is usually something like a 4-5 hour drive to get there, but we outsmarted the horrible Mexico City traffic and left at 4 AM after a quick breakfast of quesadillas.  It only took us 3 hours and we were extremely pleased though thoroughly sleepy. We arrived to a town called Perote by 7 AM and I took a nap in the car (necessary for my social functioning ability) while Alan went to look around the square.  We usually drive in alan's mom's car which is a small Honda, but we were instructed by Isa to take Mr. Drummond's car, a larger CRV with 4 Wheel Drive capabilities.  We doubted its necessary presence.  My nap over, we shared a scone and contacted Isa who met us, with her boyfriend, in the square and we all went for coffee.  Vera Cruz coffee is delicious of course, as are thier sweet breads that they serve with it ;D  We had been rather eager to meet Freddy, Isa's man, as we had only heard occasional mentions of him.  Both of them were extremely welcoming and we all chatted and joked around with much translating done by Alan.

 

We then drove to Los Altos where Isa's family lives.  This is where we were grateful we did not take the Honda.  Alan did an apt job of describing the state of the street by asking Isa later why she had us drive up the rapids instead of the road.  It had long gashes created by the extrordanary amounts of rainfall that season and potholes made to hold onto your car.  Quite a fun adventure.  We belted road-trip music all the while.  After avoiding numerous strays who clearly didn't care if a car was about to run them over and a herd of goats, we came upon the modest home.  I really loved the place.  We were ushered into the main building, which consisted of a concrete floor, concrete walls, and a roof made of sheets of bent metal with a slight hole in the middle that let the occasional rain drop through.  It was a simple rectangular building about the size of 2 king sized beds placed end to end.  Very cozy and intimate.  Inside there were 2 stoves made of overturned metal barrels with a small hole ontop for the smoke to escape, and a hole on the side to place wood into.

 

We said our hellos and introductions and sat down by the stoves.  In the back corner was the mother.  she was the oldest one there, turning 61 next week, but looked about 70.  she was kneading corn flour in a large bowl which would later become gorditas (fat torillas).  There was also a pregnant woman who looked to be about 19 or 20.  She stayed relatively to herself.  Then there was Isa's sister, a strong, capable woman who also worked in the city like Isa, for a family.  Hiding almost behind one of the stoves was the cutest girl I have seen, Aida.  An extrordinarily polite 7-year old.  As we all chatted, the men arrived from the fields.  We had planned initially to begin our visit with some time picking corn in the fields with them, but they decided against it due to the cold and rain.  They came in a flurry of corn stalks, big smiles, and a huge, memorable, waterproof poncho that was made out of a tablecloth.  Jesus, one of Isa's brothers,was the talker of the family.  He made fun of everyone and seemed like he loved his life in all aspects, and you couldn't help but feel animated by his presence.  The other brother, Max, was also a big joker, a bit more subdued than Jesus.  The spirits and beer came out and the corn, freshly picked from the fields was thrown onto some coals on a grill-like thing.  Then, to my excitement, Lima beans that were also picked just then were tossed ontop of the stove to heat up.  The mother was proceeding to shape the gorditas and place them on the stove to cook.  When they cooked enough they were shaped more to give them edges.  We munched on the Lima beans while the gorditas were topped with pig fat, salsa, and fresh goat cheese and onions.  They also threw on some Tamales of different varieties to heat up.  We ate and ate and ate and it was so delicious and fresher than anything I've had in a long long while.  No salt or seasonings needed as the freshness had all the flavour!

 

Following the feast of a lunch, the rains had essentially stopped, so we decided to pick corn and lima beans after all.  The sisters doted on any need I had, it was so hospitable of them.  They lent me a raincoat, long socks, boots, and en route an umbrella was given to me too!  We walked for 3 or 4 hours I think, to the fields, and through them.  We began by picking small peaches from a peach tree they had, then we were taught about how to tell if the corn was ready to be picked and we picked 3 different varieties: blue, white, and yellow.  Then I went mad in the lima bean area and filled my pockets with them.  The rains had started again and continued for most of what I can only describe as a jaunt.  Upon our arrival to the cars the beers were opened and music was played setting the mood for the rest of the evening.  It wasn't until after the walk that I finally emerged from the foggyness that had surrounded my sleep deprived brain. Yay.

 

Back to the main building.  Immediatly Isa grabbed a pair of wool slippers for me and put my boots and sneakers and socks to dry by the stove.  I had planned to some extent and had an extra pair of socks in my purse for both Alan and me.  Everything was steaming and drying.  We had planned to leave that same evening, bringing Isa with us so she didn't have to take the bus, but with one invitation by Isa to stay the night and no hesitation at all, we grabbed a few more drinks and laughed a little bit more freely.  The decision already made, though not known but the rest of her family, we were asked to stay by the others and as a gift for staying, or to make us stay, they offered to kill a goat in out honour.  Wow...That's certainly never been offered to me before seriously.  Alan and I exchanged a smile and took the invitation again, with even more enthusiasm than before. 

 

A few more 'Saluds!' and the rest of the family started to wander in.  First there were more little girls, a 2 year old with pigtails, and a couple of 9 or 10 year olds.  They teased the 2 year old relentlessly and she held her ground rather impressively.  Two 17 or 18 year old boys came in a bit later, one with a lip peircing, and the other with a nasty pus covered burn on his shoulder.  When they entered, the 2- year old screamed 'Dad is here!' in spanish and ran toward them.  I was impressed with the youth of her father, but then an older man, around mid-forties came in with metal outlined teeth, a hefty presence, and a very tough, but happy, look to him.  He was the faher, and his wife looked to be in her 40s too and she was preganant again.  Apparently he had 2 wives, but I honestly couldn't tell sometimes if people were just joking around with me or serious.  He was also the police chief for the town, and he had 2 wives.  I donno.  More tamales, lima beans, and corn were thrown onto the stoves and everybody ate.

 

A few drinks later and a baby goat was brought in.  they were playing with him and then Alan informed me that this was the sacrifice.  Again, couldn't tell if they were joking around to see this white girl's reaction or not since they were all playing with him.  All was clarified when they took him outside and he screamed a couple of times and a goat carcass was hung next to the door.  I was totally not picturing a baby goat, but Alan said that he was cheaper and more tender.  Gave me a little shock, not gonna lie.  Something about killing a domesticated animal bothers me more than going out hunting for a wild one.  I got over it.

 

We finished the homemade spirits and the beers.  Some of the kids went to bed, but most stayed or returned later with the biggest marshmallows I have ever seen in my life.  We got sticks and roasted them all the while making jokes about the men lending thier sticks and whose was stronger and other such jokes about each other's moms.  Everything that night was fun, warm, happy, loving, joking, familial, light-hearted.  It struck me multiple time throughout the day and night how much love there was.  everyone made fun of eveyone and nobody was allowed to be uptight because they would just be made fun of more.  The kids played with each other and if they did anyting wrong they were let to feel the impact of thier mistake as it was or were just made fun of more for it and embarassed a bit, then everyone went back to laughing and story telling.  I couldn't get over how different the dynamics were to most families and communities I know of.  I guess this is more common with simpler living.  Happier and closer knit.  Everyone took care of each other.  I could have stayed many many more nights and been very happy.

 

By 11 PM people were hungry again, I swear all they did was eat!  I was stuffed at every meal, so we took a drive down to a Sunday Taco place and chilled there.  More laughing and eating.  I had hit a wall by this time, very hard, and simply focused on not falling asleep on the chair in the Taco place.  When we did begin getting ready for sleeping, a bed was set up for Alan and I in another building right next to the main one.  It had 2 other beds and a loft where they used to store crops.  The mother slept in a room attached to ours with a girl who lived nearby who kept her company.  The girl told her stories and just slept next to her so the mother was not alone at night, as the father had died not too long ago.  The sisters put 4 or 5 blankets on the bed to make sure we would not be cold, gave me fluffy thick socks to wear and a pair of pajamas as well as a pair of crocs for if I needed to use the outhouse in the middle of the night.  I will never forget how nice they were.  At the end our bed, to our surprise and amusement, was the goat carcass, hanging from the ceiling.

 

I have not slept so well in a very long time.  We woke up at 8.45 and were told by the other women in one of the other beds to go back to sleep.  They and us had no work to do so no need to wake up until later.  No reason to argue with that.  By 11.30, though, we got dressed and joined the family in the main building.  They were preparing the goat organs in a soup, and cooking some other good things.  They set out a little table for Alan and I with Cafe de Olla and some buscuits.  The peaches from the day before were boiled with cinnemon and some sugar and were just so good.  Then Carnitas, a pork cooked in some delicious way which we ate inside a fresh corn tortilla.  Then the goat was cut up and cooked outside on the open fire grill.  Served with more tortillas, salsas, cucumber, lime, a cooked cactus leaf (Nopal), and more lima beans.  We ate and ate and ate!  I was encouraged to try the soup which also has the goat hoof.  I really enjoyed it with all the organs (intestines, a stomach, liver, heart, kitdneys etc.) but I couldn't do the hoof.  I tried.  I really did.  Stuffed again!  What a breakfast!

 

The brothers took Alan and I out on the horses to go foraging for mushrooms.  We decided that we wanted to try barebacking it!  So one horse was left with only the bridle, the other 3 were saddled.  Alan rode up the mountain sliding onto the horse's butt and getting a couple of bucks for that.  He said it was easier than he expected so I did it on the way down.  Lots of fun!!  Definitley harder than with a saddle!  At one point we tied up the horses and explored the mountainside on foot, searching for edible mushrooms.  We found something like 5 of those red ones with white spots too!  We didn't eat them.  Late afternoon/evening fell as did the rain, so we headed back with our bag of goodies.  Drying off by the stove they heard me say the word Esquites (a yummy food) and the brothers jumped up to prepare it for me.  I wasn't asking for it, as I really wasn't hungry, I simply asked Alan something about it.  They harvested more blue corn, cut the kernals off and boiled it in salted water with some kind of herb.  Served in a cup with a spoonful of mayo, fresh goat cheese, a sprinkle of chili, and lime.  One of my favorite Mexican foods!  Fresh and delicious once again, blew me away.  By this time it was evening and time to go home.  We collected all of our things said our good byes and thank yous and left.  Everyone came out to see us off and we brought back some of the Goat cheese, peaches, corn, and lima beans.  I will never forget that family and the amazing experiences we had.  We were, of course, invited to return and they would take us to more places to see and try more things.  How could we say no.

Valle de Bravo

September 3rd - I am back from the little 'couple' vacation that Alan and I took. We ended up going to a place called Valle de Bravo. It is really beautiful, on a lake with tons to do. So much, actually, that we couldn't cover anything close to all of it. We arrived on Tuesday and scouted out a few Cabanas to rent. They are like small cabins with a kitchen and fireplace. We ended up happily choosing a place that wasn't a Cabana actually, just rooms next to a roaring river with really nice big jacuzzis, but this place was completely empty and the owner was allowing us complete use of the restaurant kitchen she had. She lived in another building down road, so we had the whole place to ourselves, and Alan was able to bargain and get 3 nights for 1,400 pesos total!! We cooked the first night with some supplies we had brought from Alan's house, but we bought every other breakfast and dinner at the restaurant. She would come over in the mornings and evenings to cook for us and WOW was it amazing!! She raised chickens on the property so our Huevos Rancheros were super fresh and all the sauces were prepared a la minute! Seriously the best I've had yet! Since it is near the lake, they catch trout and we also had that prepared for us for a dinner :D
Enough about the food though. The morning after we arrived, Weds, we departed around 1.30 for a loooong hike. Valle de Bravo has really wonderful hiking and things like that. First we just went to check out some falls, then we went to an osterich farm, pictures to come soon. We ended up picking up some meat on our way home on Friday...a kilo of meat for $13.  We continued our hike off of the highway and onto the mountain trails where we met a man who was picking mushrooms. We bought a rather hefty amount off of him that day, which we ate sauteed with butter, garlic salt, and onions prepared with love by our hotel owner the next day. Then, continuing the hike, we went to where the paragliders jump off the top of a mountain. Really cool, thoguh none were there when we went. At this point a crazy strom broke out and we were inside of one of the clouds that was producing lightning! So scary, so loud, so wet, and cold!! What an adventure. We scurried, or shivered, down the mountain. On our way, while hiking the main road, we encountered 3 trees that had fallen on powerlines! The police were there as were small crowds of locals discussing the situation. We luckilly didn't drive up because no cars were getting through that night! Night fell, and our hike turned into a cold desperate scramble to get back to the warmth of our rustic hotel with a hot shower and warm meal. I don't think Hot Chocolate ever tasted so good...seriously, it was mexican and well deserved. We passed out as soon as dinner was in our bellies.



Thursday was bright and sunny allowing us to dry some of our stuff. After the crazy hike, the american camper in me craved pancakes, so I had an order with hot cocoa again :D I need to bring some of this stuff back for you all to try. We actually were early enough that day to eat breakfast with her husband and daughter. All as positive and caring as she. We got some advice on where to find cheap fishing gear and headed out with full intentions of bringing home dinner. After a few failed searches, Alan asked a random rough looking fisherman if he had any rod we could use and he did! He pulled out a looooong bamboo stick, some fishing line with a hook, a mangled peice of styrafoam, and a small peice fo lead. Then he dug around in the dirt for a bit and filled a cup with worms. $2. We went to a spot suggested by the hotel owner's husband, near the paraglider's landing zone. There we found a few others with similar rods trying to fish with little luck. We asked one if we could fish by him, since room was limited, and he ended up helping us out with hooking the worm the right way etc. He was catching one fish after another, while nobody else was. Alan caught one too, and I had a couple bites, but didn't jerk it in time, alas. The rains were coming in again, as they seem to do every afternoon, so we gave the fish to our mentor (it was a bit too small for us to bring back for a meal and he seemed to be collecting a bunch of similar sized ones). The next plan was to find a SPA and have a couples massage or some kind of treatment, but the options were limited and pricey, so we found a wonderful cafe were we read our books, sipped cappucinos, and enjoyed some pasteles (cakes).

It was here that I got the E-mail about Sophie's being put to sleep, our beloved dog of 18 years. I was so sad and was crying right there in the cafe. Alan held my hand and comforted me. Mommy later told me how she went, and I am glad that Khaled and daddy, you guys were with her at home. I'm also glad I will be able to see her ashes and hopefully help spread them or bury them. We had a glass of red wine, which just made me cry harder of course. She had been with us for many years and was very smart and loving. I will always remember and love her very much. Alan is right when he says that she did live a very good life and was a very happy dog.

We decided it was most appropriate to drive home at this point and leave the night to end calmly. We enjoyed the mushrooms from the previous days adventures and some quesadillas with cheese and chorizo. A simple dinner. The owner allowed us to make a small campfire inside where we roasted some marshmallows we had brought with us with Lindt 70% dark chocolate. We also finished off the red wine and then fell asleep. And in the morning we said our goodbyes, paid our bill with ended up being only $30 for all the meals and drinks we had throughout our stay, plus about $110 total for the 3 nights, and drove home.

Acapulco

I just wanted to pass on some of what I've been up to since last time.  The majority of my time was spent really doing nothing, to the point of feeling like I was doing a bit too much of nothing.  Been eating really delicious food of course.  I've got the Drummond family recipes, and my next task is to translate them into english for reference.  I am still learning spanish, though somewhat more slowly than anticipated due to lack of planning.  I watched the movie Great Expectations, which is a modern version of the play, and it was very well done, and very heart clenching.  I cried pretty hard.  I've also been doing a lot of paint by number.  It is coming along nicely.  I tend to have mornings to myslf, which is when I paint it.  Richard and Alan tend to sleep a few hours longer than I do, but they tend to stay up later as well :)

 

We took trip to Acapulco.  We left on Friday and returned to Mexico City on sunday.  It was very nice.  Friday was really rainy, so when we arrived we spent most of the day in the mall chatting and went to see Salt.  It was entertaining, nothing extrordinary though.  Then we met up with Alan's friend, Kekey, who was staying in the house owned by another friend.  It is located in a security guarded community of people who can afford to own a home in Acapulco, walking distance from the beach.  It was barebones!!  Hahaha, there was nothing inside except one couch and an army spring and canvas "cot" if it could even be called that.  Alan's friends had arrived earlier and the owner had bought them a couple of cheap beds.  Alan and I got the couch with a sleeping bag we brought from his home and Richard got the weird army bed thing.  It was something of a laugh, but I slept amazingly well and we all really enjoyed the house.  

 

The first night the boys went out clubbing and I stayed in the house and passed out early, as usual.  the next day though, we went to a place called The Beach Club and it is a rather exclusive day club that basically takes advantage of the clubbing scene but during the day and creates a beach party ambience very successsfully.  Alan always seems to have the right friends because we got in for free by taking Kekey's advice and telling the security that we were invited as guests of the manager, which we were not.  The security guard called the manager and said an Alan was here as his guest with 4 friends, and I guess the manager said fine, and we went in.  He must have been busy or couldn't recall his special friends who he gave invites too hahaha.   When you know how these industries work, you know how to work it I guess.  It was a really posh place and so beautiul.  The lounge chairs were covered with plush deep red towels and set so that they looked like king sized beds placed by a meandering pool.  There was a little path to the beach too, which we walked around for a while.

 

That night we explored the tourist night scene, full of rowdy bars and girls dancing, trying to lure people in.  The sad part was at 3 AM seeing little children walking around trying to sell things with thier mother or father, or some parents who clearly were not done growing up because they actually took thier kids out to bars and clubs while they drank and had fun and ingored these 4 year old children.  I kept thinking how easy it would be for someone to snatch the kids that would lag behind or wander off.  I guess I'm becoming more grown up and responsible, or maybe it is just my maternal instinct.

 

Sunday, we went a bit out of Acapulco to a more local beach, which have restaurants right on the beach.  We went to one called La Morena where you pick the fish and the shrimps that you want from the fish they have caught, or bought from a fish market (I'm not entirely sure which one is true).  I picked the freshest of the local fish (they are all fresh), and Alan picked the shrimps and they cooked the fish in a traditional way with tons of spices and garlic and red chili and they cut it open so it lies flat and they cook it over fire and coals. We ate it by hand with fresh handmade tortillas and lime!  Wow!  Amazing!  They also cooked the shrimp in some amazing way with garlic butter, but better.  We sipped pina coladas from freshly opened coconuts and layed in the hammock they brought for us.  After digesting we went to the waves!  This part of the beach is turmoil!  It is not calm and relaxing waves, it is big tunneling waves with strong tides and currents that will toss you around and flip you upside down underwater.  And that is what we let them do for a good long while, until our muscles asked for another pina colada, and perhaps some frozen yogurt.

 

We then drove back to Mexico City, very thankful for fresh sheets, showers, and a soft bed. So, as you can see things have been going fairly well, though I started to get some tummy troubles the last couple of days, but I'm somewhat used to tummy issues by now.

Arriving in Mexico

Beginning of trip-around July 20th I've been finally feeling like I can relax and feel calm.  Alan even said that he noticed my shoulders have been dropping and my face is looking more "well" which is nice.  I'm still adjusting to not having to commute an hour and a half to work everyday, or worry about anything.  I forgot what it is like to have no plans what so ever and just feel and do how the day goes.  Our schedule is very open, which is nice, and the rain has actually prevented us from going out of the house much to see the sights.  It seems like it will be raining to some degree everyday for the next few weeks.  It has been pretty consistent since we landed.

Richard, a German friend from school is also here for 3 weeks, so we have been all having fun.  Richard also broke his arm in the exact same place as my mom by falling down when he was playing soccer.  He got screws in the bone and set off the metal detector in the airport. His stitches are not healed yet though.  And he is still in a removable cast and cannot move his fingers very well.

Tonight we are going to the VIP cinema, where the chairs recline and there are servers who come to your chair and serve you.  It is very nice.  Otherwise we have gone to some really nice markets and essentially just been enjoying the house and chilling.  All fun
though.

Renewal

Hello All!

I have decided to restart my blog in a more private fashion.  I will be focusing more on the adventures and travels as well as tid bits about developments in my life and all of that fun stuff.  Recipes will pop up every now and then of course.  To recap since November of 2009:

I finished my management semester with a higher average than I expected, which pleased me of course.  Did not fail my big IP project, which was a relief.  Alan and I moved to Connecticut/New York for 6 months for my internship at the Waldorf=Astoria.  I started at the Front Desk, but after only about a month they moved me into the Lost & Found Department.  I was in charge of it, which was actually pretty cool.  I learned a whole lot more from it than I expected, and I was part of the security department, so I got to know them very well and even got to do some security officer training.  i did a side project of bringing some awareness and knowledge about healthy living to the employees.  I got to see parts of the hotel most have not, and ran into an old Les Roches classmate too!  All in all I ended up enjoying it, after not enjoying it initially, and learning a lot.  Alan began by working in a Lebanese restaurant called Al Bustan, which he helped to open.  He was consulted for the lounge, wine list, cocktails, layout, furniture, etc.  When that finished he went to Europe for 1 month, at which point all of our things moved from NYC apartments to my parents home in CT.  While in Europe he did his big interview with Starwood, which was a success!  Upon his return he began working as a server in a nice Italian restaurant very close to the house.

As my internship came to a close my sister Erika and my nephew Chase came for about a month to stay with us.  It was a really wonderful thing to bond and spend so much time with family I had not seen much of before.  With thier help the whole lot of us moved from one house to another, which will be rented for one year, then there are plans for my parents to move to Costa Rica.  By mid July, Alan and I packed up our things and flew to Mexico, where we met up with Richard, a German friend from school.

From this point I have the stories written out and I'm post them as seperate entries.  I'm glad to be writing again!