Cause I´m leaving on a jet plane...

Don´t know when I´ll be back again, Oh baby, I hate to go...

Exactly two months from today (August 25th), I will be boarding a plane in Lima and moving back to the U.S. I have been experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions as I start preparing for my departure. As I start to plan out my next steps, I have received a wide range of questions from friends and family. Where will you be living? Do you have a job lined up yet? Will your pet alpaca fit in your checked luggage? (Just kidding.) Are you bringing a hot Latin guy back with you? (For me or for them?) Will you be ´going blonde´ again?.... Some have answers, others don´t and no, I don´t think I´ll go blonde again.

I know that there will be a lot that I will miss about Peru; my friends, the priviledge to work at ECLOF Peru, the slower paced life, the food and the warm culture. However, there are 10 things in particularly that I am REALLY looking forward to once I get back to the U.S. (Of course, this is in addition to the obvious: friends, family, loved ones and white cheddar Pirate Booty popcorn).

1. Public bathrooms with toilet paper, paper towels, toilet seats and running water in the sink. Not to mention not having to worry about whether the toilets flush and whether there will be puddles of ´water´ on the floor.
2. Not having to pull out my air traffic controller flares to get the attention of waiters at restaurants.
3. Not being forced to play games of ´Twister´with strangers trying to get up and out of packed combis.
4. Wearing jewelry and skirts and maybe even dying my hair blonde again.
5. Starbucks runs before work and never having to drink instant Nescafe again.
6. Not having to wake up to the smell of fish flour in the mornings (aka. it is like a pile of dead fish is being dumped on my comforter every morning)
7. Silence....I think y´all know how I feel about the ice cream vendors here. Grrr...
8. Experiencing the four seasons. As much as I have loved not having to wear boots and gloves or carry an umbrella, the two weather choices (cloudy grey skies in the winter and hot sun in the summer) are getting a little old. I miss the autumn colors!
9. Not being bombarded with questions about my martial status or what I think of Peruvian food EVERY time I get into a cab.
10. Being able to throw TP in the toilet.

Yes, my list started and ended with things relating to a toilet, but those of you who have spent any time in South America will understand.