Dear Ozzy, I was absolutely gutted when I heard the news of your passing. You will always be one of the greatest dogs that ever lived. I hate to think of not seeing your sweet face when I pull up to Kate’s house or feeling your nose nudge my arm in the hopes of more head scratching. I swear you could read my mind and always greeted me with your tail wagging at full speed. Don’t tell the Freemans but when I came to visit, I really just wanted to rub your tummy and have you put your head on…

There is nothing that quite beats hanging out with someone you feel you can completely be yourself around. The idea that you can just say whatever, eat whatever, and wear whatever and they would be like, awesome. I was informed when I first started teaching internationally that no one back home will really care about my experiences overseas. That person was so right.  I was hanging out with some people I went to high school with last night.  Some I knew better than others. Then one guy asked me a few questions and just seemed amazed that I could pack…

Dear California, I feel like a schoolgirl because I am crushing on you so hard right now.  I don’t know if you have heard, but I am currently living in China.  Please don’t get jealous because really, China has nothing on you. Sure it has The Great Wall, pandas, and Hong Kong.  It also has skyscrapers for days and a pretty efficient public transportation system, but whom am I kidding?  California, you have my heart. Obviously, you are pretty busy with the Royals visiting, and the mess that Arnold made of his marriage. I can’t kid myself into thinking that…

Being home is wonderful.  This morning, I got into my mom and dad’s comfy bed while my mom was fixing her hair; we were chatting about all sorts of stuff and there was this great breeze coming in the window.  I thought this is one of those great, small moments that I will fall back on when I am feeling homesick. I am not going to lie.  Last year was incredibly difficult at times.  Sometimes, I just got through the day, barely, only to get up and start all over again in a foreign land.  Many times, it was a…

I am always amazed by clouds because these fleeting forms can be so visually stunning.  I begin to think about the water cycle and how we (meaning the human race) only use about 1% of the 3% of the fresh water that’s in the world or some small amount.  We are drinking the same water the dinosaurs did type thing.  That’s amazing.  And there I was, flying through these beautiful masses of water particles in the air, heading home to homemade cookies and cakes.   Simply incredible.      

Will you make me a sandwich?’ I always know my mom will.  Even if she is busy with something else, I know in my heart my mom will take the time and make me a delicious sandwich, exactly how I like it.  On top of that, she will usually add a little extra something on the plate, like a homemade brownie or some chips.  That’s the kind of mom she is.  Then she’ll ask if I want something to drink with that.  And she will say, ‘Don’t get up’ and mean it as she brings in a refreshing beverage. That’s…

Some photos from around San Diego: