Missing out

Being away from my friends and family for two years doesn't seem like a long time when I first decided to join the Peace Corps, I thought nothing has happened in the past 27 months, so its unlikely anything will happen in the next 27.


Well I was wrong!  So many exciting things are happening on the other side of the world.  Here are some of the top ones:

1. One sister is having a baby
2. One sister just got engaged
3. Nephews growing up (turns out they don't just freeze in the age I remember them)
4. My dad is doing triathlons 
5. Cousins having babies
6. Cousins getting married (well only one, but there could be others)
7. Friends finishing their masters/doctorate programs
8. Friends getting married
9. Friends having their first babies

I am so happy for everyone, even though I'm not there to join the party! 

I may be missing out on some fun times back home, but I'm having my own fun over here.  Here are some of my top: 

1. Teaching nursing research to third year students
2. Assisting with conducting and completing a research project
3. Learning how to cook
4. Visiting some of the most beautiful beaches in the world
5. Making new friends 
6. Teaching aerobics (I'm turning into my mother)
7. Becoming OK with sweeping frogs out of my house and killing mice & bugs I would've normally ran away from.
8. Learning to live with 50+ mosquito bites at times (yes, I counted one night)
9. Seeing so many stars at night - especially when its new moon
10. Learning to drink beer

g