I saw America....and it was GLORIOUS

For those of you who don't know I took a brief hiatus from the BG and headed back to the land of the free and home of the brave. AMERICA.

The questions that most people seem to ask are generic but still the amazement that comes with it is genuine. 

"How was it?"

There are no words to describe how good it was being home. The best way to describe it was if I had been holding my breath for 13 months and when the plane landed in Newark I was finally able to exhale. I didn't think I would be so emotional, but broke down when I saw my mom for the first time. She quickly soothed me with a tall coffee light frappucino. She knows me too well. 

Was it weird being back?

Definitely not. It was weird how easy it was to slip back into my life. How simple it was to be back with my friends without skipping a beat. Knowing that even though I don't talk to them all the time it doesn't change how much I miss them, or how much they miss me.  I'm truly lucky to have such wonderful people back home supporting me, I didn't think it would matter as much as it does. I wish I could have been home longer, I didn't get to spend nearly enough time with my favorites. 

What did you eat? Did you eat Mexican?

What didn't I eat?! Of course I ate Mexican! I think I ate about 3 pounds of guacamole and a burrito the size of my head. What surprised me is that I didn't eat fish. I've been a semi-vegetarian for about 14 years now but went ovo-lacto a year ago. I wondered if I would be tempted at all by the promise of wild salmon from my local farmers market but resisted. Oddly enough the hardest moment was seeing a tuna fish sandwich at Pax. Yeah I know. Of all the things I could crave, I really wanted that tuna. 

Is it hard being back?

Yes, definitely. But do I regret my decision to come to Bulgaria? No not at all. In fact, I think going home affirmed more than ever that I made the right decision. I was stuck in a life rut before I came to Bulgaria, being here only makes me see how much beauty, life, and creativity there is in New York. Before I wasn't sure if I wanted to be back there ever, but going home made me appreciate how much difference is celebrated in the city. In New York no one is stared at for being different, everyone is different.  I know some people were worried that I wouldn't come back. I know I was worried that I wouldn't come back. I woke up every morning elated for the first week, then the second week I woke up every morning saying "I can't believe I have to go back to Bulgaria". However once I got back my perspective on everything changed. I was excited to see my friends and I actually got excited about starting my second year. I feel more confident in myself, my Bulgarian, and my abilities as a teacher, and I know that I can speak up more for what I believe in after having paid my dues for a year.


 Also, and I know I say this all the time, the friends I've made here both American and Bulgarian keep me sane, keep me motivated, and keep me from taking the easy way out and getting that one way ticket back home. 


Today marks one year as a Peace Corps Volunteer which means that this time next year I will be done. 365 days. 
365 Days
Piece.
Of.
Torta