Getting back into the swing of things!
For the meantime, I think I should convert this into a travel-blog since my solid month of Jojoscon 2k13 (see also: Ryo meetups; Kaijucon) is fast approaching!! But more on that later, right now I'm in my second week of Panama visits with my family.
So far we've gone to all my favourite restaurants, including my all-time favourite cafe, Niko's, and I've gotten to eat all my favourite foods! My godparents are wonderful, so funny and so kind at the same time they don't take shit from anyone. My sisters are endlessly hilarious, I don't think I've stopped laughing since we landed and my little sis actually yanked my bags out of my hands at the aero and demanded I paint her nails before she had to go back to school (which doesn't alow for any decorative fashion of that sort. So very not sorry I left). Unfortunately, my older sister had to leave a few days ago, a week after I arrived, so she could get ready for her last year of university in Miami. Which was really sad for me, I adore her and we only get a week or two together of the year.
Last Thursday, the day after Sis left, I went in to have my eyes surgically corrected. It's been such a dream of mine for YEARS, and I only got serious about collecting the money for it about two years ago. I was trusted to the two family optometrists who've operated on everyone from my grandfather to my sister to the tiny sis's godfather and the nurse we all love like an aunt held my hand through the entire thing. I'm glad for it, too. It was the most terrifying thing I've ever done. I still can't tell if it was worth it. I'm not good with dramatic change and this was definitely a very dramatic change. I cried for a straight hour when it was over.
We've been doing things like shopping and eating an enormous amount and I've met my mum's attorney (who I dislike vehemently). We went to a baptismal for cousin Jorge's baby, who is adorable even if I hate children. I've got all my gifts for the friends back home and overseas, and more chicheme and empanadas from El Chichemito in Chorrera than I could probably ever eat or drink. Still sad forever that the godparents' bakery burned down... their new business is more financially stable but oh my god. I could eat the meringue and tamales from the last shop for AGES..
So that's been my week+!! I bought my ticket for the flight Ryo and Annie will be on from Korea back to Melbourne so I don't have to navigate by myself then, and I've enlisted my sister (some kind of relation??) Jo to help me find a few cheaper alternatives for getting there.
It's happening.
After actual years of planning, it's finally going down. I'm meeting Ryo face to face!! It's a bit strange for me because we haven't been talking much after her split from tumblr, mostly because scheduling conflicts and an unstable way of getting her attention when I want it. Nevertheless I am more excited than I've ever been!! I love Ryo to bits, she's my best friend in the world and I sure hope she still holds me in as high regards as she always did in the past..!!
So far we've gone to all my favourite restaurants, including my all-time favourite cafe, Niko's, and I've gotten to eat all my favourite foods! My godparents are wonderful, so funny and so kind at the same time they don't take shit from anyone. My sisters are endlessly hilarious, I don't think I've stopped laughing since we landed and my little sis actually yanked my bags out of my hands at the aero and demanded I paint her nails before she had to go back to school (which doesn't alow for any decorative fashion of that sort. So very not sorry I left). Unfortunately, my older sister had to leave a few days ago, a week after I arrived, so she could get ready for her last year of university in Miami. Which was really sad for me, I adore her and we only get a week or two together of the year.
Last Thursday, the day after Sis left, I went in to have my eyes surgically corrected. It's been such a dream of mine for YEARS, and I only got serious about collecting the money for it about two years ago. I was trusted to the two family optometrists who've operated on everyone from my grandfather to my sister to the tiny sis's godfather and the nurse we all love like an aunt held my hand through the entire thing. I'm glad for it, too. It was the most terrifying thing I've ever done. I still can't tell if it was worth it. I'm not good with dramatic change and this was definitely a very dramatic change. I cried for a straight hour when it was over.
We've been doing things like shopping and eating an enormous amount and I've met my mum's attorney (who I dislike vehemently). We went to a baptismal for cousin Jorge's baby, who is adorable even if I hate children. I've got all my gifts for the friends back home and overseas, and more chicheme and empanadas from El Chichemito in Chorrera than I could probably ever eat or drink. Still sad forever that the godparents' bakery burned down... their new business is more financially stable but oh my god. I could eat the meringue and tamales from the last shop for AGES..
So that's been my week+!! I bought my ticket for the flight Ryo and Annie will be on from Korea back to Melbourne so I don't have to navigate by myself then, and I've enlisted my sister (some kind of relation??) Jo to help me find a few cheaper alternatives for getting there.
It's happening.
After actual years of planning, it's finally going down. I'm meeting Ryo face to face!! It's a bit strange for me because we haven't been talking much after her split from tumblr, mostly because scheduling conflicts and an unstable way of getting her attention when I want it. Nevertheless I am more excited than I've ever been!! I love Ryo to bits, she's my best friend in the world and I sure hope she still holds me in as high regards as she always did in the past..!!