Happy Anniversary

Whelp.
I've been here a year. One year. A year? Sometimes it feels like I just got here, other days I can't even remember what America is like. I think we all know how challenging this year has been, firsts of everything usually are. So I thought instead of dwelling in self-reflection I'd dedicate this post to a couple of my favorite "seconds" as I look forward to my second year in the BG.

Second CD ever purchased: Now & Then Soundtrack. What little girl doesn't remember loving this movie?



Second Choice High School & College: I think the saying "first is the worst second is the best" is fitting when it comes to Kent and Colby. These are two places that I still consider to be home and think they were the best fit for me. I miss all of you dearly and there are few things I wouldn't do for a sandwich from Stroble's or Riverside/Big G's right now. Seriously.

Second time I ever left the country: Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica.
Second city I ever lived in (post-college): Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Second year out of college was spent repeating. Thank you for calling Anthropologie 5th Avenue, this is Elani. Not the most glamorous job, especially when you see "ladies" get crazy when they think they see a sale rack. However, laughing at the situation with all of my favorites in the stock room made it worth it. First day? Thank you.

Second concert ever attended: Dispatch .
Second cat owned: Doc. Other aliases include "No Diggity, no Doc", "Diggity", "Digs", "Monkey" and "Baby Cat". My companion during my post-workout ritual of eating breakfast while Maury Povich revealed paternity tests. It's his favorite.

My mom's second choice for my name: Elani. It was A LOT better than the alternative.

 We may fight, cry, bicker, and gossip but we also laugh until it hurts, remember it's silly to hold grudges about anything insignificant (in all likelihood it probably is), and dance party our hearts out. Here is to our SECOND year in Bulgaria, I look forward to starting it with people who I once thought of as friends but now I think of as my family.