The Great Outdoors

It has been about two and a half weeks since I have been back in the US and I'm surprised to say that nothing has changed really at home except me and some people around me of course. It's honestly the weirdest feeling--I feel like I was only gone to Chile for a week, sometimes it even feels like it didn't happen. I guess it will just take a while for me to adjust. I have swung right back into the summer and working groove. I don't remember a summer where I didn't work. I've been a waitress since I was fifteen and my dad sold most of the farm to start teaching. I work at a small family restaurant and bar called the Lion and Rose British Pub. I have been there for a while now so it was easy to get right back to work. I love the vibe of a restaurant and all of the people that I work with. They have made coming back to work easy and enjoyable for me. I am trying to make up for lost time and earn money to pay for my apartment this school year so I am working quite a bit--so much so that my boss told me today that I needed to be careful on my overtime...whoops. I really do love working, I can thank my wonderful parents for that.

During the summer I also have lived with my aunt, uncle, and their three boys for the past two summers. I love hanging out with the boys, they bring so much more energy, fun, and of course loudness into my life. I have been around long enough that we all act like siblings more than cousins and I couldn't be more blessed to come home to a welcoming family. The boys are pretty easy to please...I take them to HEB at night when I get off work and they think it is like heaven on earth. We also have two cats and the dog (Ru Ru) who live in the house. The animals are much like my two dogs, Reggie and Raider, all three act like extra children in the house.

I was able to speak to Mamá and Papá for a few minutes the other day and it was so wonderful to hear both of their voices. They told me that they will be getting a new international student next week. I am so happy for them, and that kid is sooooo lucky. Talking to them made me miss them that much more, but I find comfort in the fact that I know some day I will be able to return to my home in Chile.

It feels good to be back in summer and in Austin. I have spent my couple of off hours in the day, when I am not hanging out with the boys, hiking and swimming at the Greenbelt. Because of all of the rain that we have been getting, the Greenbelt is full. My friends and I actually took a couple of tubes down the other day and floated--there were some pretty big rapids and we had an absolute blast! There are also all sorts of rope swings that are loads of fun. The outdoor life in Austin is something I never grow tired of. I love being surrounded by hills, lakes, rivers, and creeks.