Rocking that *International* Paradise

Warning:   This post is not about Puerto Rico, or teaching, or huge life changes for me.   If those are the reasons you are reading this, permission granted to close the tab.   This post IS about travel, however, and about what is going on in my life.   Please keep reading if you’re interested.   I spent last week in an escape from daily life, camping in Ontario, Canada with four of my closest friends.   The group of us went camping in Canada last year as well, and this summer we extended the trip from 3 days to 5 and moved from Kakebeka Falls Provincial Park to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park (which is 2 hours farther for us).   We quickly learned several things when we arrived in Canada this year. 1)       Tourist season doesn’t start until June.   The campground was deserted (I think there may have been one other set of tent campers in the ground.   Maybe 3 RV’s…and that’s it.)   The Visitor Center was closed, and the Park Office was running on shortened hours.   The touris

I like hugs.   A lot.   Sadly, I live my life with a fear of making strangers uncomfortable, so I don’t always give or get as many hugs as I would sometimes like to.   Last Sunday, however, I received (almost) enough hugs to last me my entire two years in Puerto Rico .   Last Sunday was my going away party, and I hugged people when they arrived, when they left, and sometimes while they were there…just because I could. Reactions to my leaving vary, depending on the person.   One of my uncles assumed he wouldn’t see me for two years.   When I told him I’d be home for Christmas, he scoffed and said, “So since I’m seeing you today, I’m probably seeing you MORE than I would normally!”   Not quite true…but close.   Conversely, one of my cousins told me her 3 rd grade son, who couldn’t make it to the party, has been crying because I’m leaving.   I think I’ll have to introduce Aiden to Skype (with the help and permission of his mom, of course).   But let me tell you a little bit more abou