And my plans have changed once again.
Turns out I am not moving back to Brazil, though I am here right now!
When I was home in the states I got a call that plans had changed and the office here no longer needed me. So we made some quick plans and I came back here for a few days to get all of my stuff and move back home.
I really would have been happy to work here for more time, but I am also pretty excited at moving home and starting my life up again there!
Part of the fun was seeing my friends and family at home - it was SO nice to be back with them.
Besides being in Chile (which I fully intend to post on as soon as I upload pics) Here is a little of what I did:
Me and my friend Lisa in Chile. At some point I got all jaunty and started wearing this hat everywhere. I'm sorry.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLrbEStBkMZlA3kKMfilLxfthaQqv_iV29fSsuBnYlMPzgcF7FifaP2hheLGZxU7euCTkdWWCq-sQD78U_74vCGJSJhwSgSBj5ikxkz1NGxtezPaxVwGnmGJ500V4twNHW2JArERJYdg/s400/kelbach.jpg)
Kelly had her wedding shower. She got lots of nice gifts and I had a great time meeting new people and drinking champagne (In the interest of full disclosure, I did spell it champaign first, then erased it and wrote it correctly) in the morning.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG95fwxGZEYe_5F9__OMnm5_dK_uQKWjgcv8ZPX7LosH9tYWSQ53QHgXKV8VqmgiGlREUzMriZWPIMNus9TmD1LEV0y-AdvogWT1iUi36Zlq-fKPUnqJnuLm8ZWeT2HA6sIJf7Ovk3haw/s400/natpants.jpg)
I cooked dinner with Natalee. And by cooked dinner I mean Natalee bossed me around, I got stressed out, and we ended up eating basically raw meat stuffed inside peppers and squash. No idea how we didn't get ill.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLcbBDyp_wJpr2UO_MHQG1Q7e_i62MZg-mKNqWmjWpB6F3tIRHPF77DF-Ke4bM_TDoKyyfTjCnobuD8LB5ZPfGgtn5EE7sKjtkDD2KuzIhuE74maobzg2DDi3k61_44l8wOR4jX2B_Jg/s400/ladies+night.jpg)
Went bowling with my friends :)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjUcf2EDlS1TOCUmwshDYkSkFIe-60zpUtX_8KHBzL6E9iZvccQtSnsDfqhyphenhyphenemnPGLsUZ0F3JuU5CTVv8xBLw66XnccVo8tT7jO2fsNrOFmF56GAgzrkOBcS73x-CrHjKnne_StBMIlk/s400/bean.jpg)
Played tourist in Chicago and went to take a self-pic in the Bean!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4T9-NHnnbsRmwl32q6YiHctVqn72V8kqWBjl0VZf49KgVAWU0917zKxFvL8W7TsNNRYZf36SD_TEM5X0gsOClESByPXQeRcs3CrJaiR99ZZrepHaNcAX0TZYpOUQ0WXelNjUkuf-XZ-c/s400/obama.jpg)
Bumped into Obama as his motorcade passed me on LSD. nbw.
But even counting semi-seeing Obama and eating tons of pretzel MnMs, the best part of being home was definitely this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOYaCOAmCb-TV3mrXDjpJjygTGmJaUVxwoVFLrKSUUo9hWQ_VsNvrg5pXHyPt7mtzC8OcKT5cOxFo425DMtuulhrikStkcMwuyon905B2Alz_8_zlko9GFVacQ7M-JQh5x1YKWSYmMs8/s400/ginamark.jpg)
My good friends Mark and Gina got married :)
Gina was the most beautiful bride I have seen (and Mark looked OK, too) and the wedding was absolutely perfect. It was beautiful and classy and very "Gina." There was also a lot of dancing :)
Congratualtions, friends! And thanks for an amazing evening!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZB7iueG8eNSTbr_OvWuYVQ_7cILnBARSgioGtYJe3Je1DTAYeqpfmszyq8VfTswcgHfjhRNECu86o7WebJE4bA3RPU6h1BgY976XsVdrZDRJK7H988zFjo62TB7HSAsNGJQC249g8iI/s400/besties.jpg)
So back home I go tomorrow (just 48 hours here in Brazil). I am headed to Chicago first to find myself an apartment and then to Champaign to spend some QT with my family there.
My life continues to change daily, but I just try to see each change as a new opportunity; everything happens for a reason and I am certainly enjoying the ride!