Happy Monday!

It's the last one of August everyone, so live it up!

Life as an RM.

Ever since I got home, whenever I see someone I haven't seen in a long time they normally ask at least one of the following questions, if not all of them:

1. How was your mission?
2. How is it being back?
3. What are your plans now?
4. So, are you dating anyone?!/Can I set you up with "so-and-so?" (Ps. Did you know that "so-and-so" is actually found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary? #FactoftheDay.)

Question #1-How was your mission?
I’m sorry. That question can not really be answered in a word or a sentence. Nor can it be summed up in a sacrament talk in church. It's indescribable. Serving a mission is….. Look. I’m trying and I can’t even explain it. No hay palabras. It is the most all-in-one-experience you could ever have. It’s wonderful. Hard. Life changing. Challenging. Demanding. Intense. Unexpected. Joyous. Unforgettable. Incredible. Wonderful. Rewarding. All of that and more. And on some days, it wasn't uncommon to feel all of that in just one hour. 

So how can you explain all of that in one word?! I think it's a gift from God that you can't, because it makes it even more special.

Question #2-How is it being back?
 How is it being back? ha Well...it's the same kind of a concept. It's a mix of emotion. Most of the time it's really great! And then there's those days when you realize just how awkward of an RM (Returned Missionary) you are because you feel like:

• you have to say Hola/Buen dia/Buenas Tardes to everyone that walks by.
• Or how you naturally feel like sharing a scripture after eating a meal.
• Or wondering why you don't have to call your district leader at 9:30pm to pass on the datos.
• Or feeling like you need to give everyone a beso or a handshake.
• Or how you still think in Spanish--which makes you stutter as you try to figure out how to say it in English.
• Or walking outside on a windy day and out of habit slapping your leg to keep your skirt from flying up...and then remembering that you're wearing jeans.
• Or how light switches here in the US generally flip up and down rather than from side to side.
• Or feeling like you need to call a Remis (taxi) to get home when it starts getting dark.
• Or you turn the knob on the sink that says "C" expecting hot water to come out...
• Or realizing that you're actually at the point where you feel like you can express yourself better in Spanish rather than in English.

It's weird. But there's fun things too, like:

• carpet!
• dishwashers, washers & dryers
• not having to wear flip flops in the shower
• being able to drive a car
• air conditioning
• ovens with temperature control
• streets that don't flood over when it rains
• unlimited email time
• TECHNOLOGY! Please. It's changed so much. 
• or being able to talk to someone of the opposite sex for more than 5 minutes and not feeling bad for it
• peanut butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, Ranch dressing, cheese that isn't queso cremoso, Mom's cooking, & milk that actually takes good!
• sleeping in past 6:30am, or staying up later than 10:30pm
• being able to hold babies!
• running water. And hot running water that doesn't run out

Question #3-What are your plans now?
School and work, people. That's what you should do when you're twenty-something. Luckily it was easy for me because I already finished a chunk of my major before my mission, so now it's back to the books, the classrooms, and the sewing lab! 

Question #4-So, are you dating anyone?!/Can I set you up with "so-and-so?" 
That's always a funny question. But to answer: No, and yes.

When I look back at my mission and the rules I had to live by, or the sacrifices I had to make to go without the simple day-to-day things we take for granted here in the United States--I'm happy. I loved every minute of it. 

It's just good to be back.

I'm home.

Hello everyone! I'm HOME! 

And trying to learn how to be a normal person again. ha 

I'm amazed to see how many people are still visiting my blog! I feel bad I've taken so long to post something, because you're probably waiting for an update. As they say in Spanish: mil disculpas! (1,000 apologies)

Well. As for an update: I've been home for about four months already. I can NOT believe how fast the time has flown by. Here I am now with school starting in less than a month! What?!

Many people still ask: What's it like being home? It's...strange. Luckily the adjustment coming home wasn't too hard for me. But it wasn't easy either. Just strange. Sometimes it feels like I'm in a dream, like I'm going to wake up any minute to an obnoxious alarm in Argentina at 6:30am and roll over to the cold tile floor to start another day with a prayer. I miss that. But I know that all good things come to an end.

What's interesting to me, is the "mini-identity crisis" returned missionaries go through when they come home. You see, if you did it right, you don't come home the same person. You come home and realize that the world really did keep going without you, and you need to figure out how and where you want to fit in the world.

Luckily I've figured it out a little. While on my mission, I realized just how passionate I am about teaching and helping others be happy. I'm going back to BYU Provo to finish my Bachelor's Degree in FACS-Ed (Family and Consumer Sciences Education). I only have about a year and a half to finish. Woot! But until next month when school starts, I'll be busy working. Working a lot. (With an emphasis on the lot part) Being a big kid and being a college student includes many bills and expenses that add up quite quickly. I'm currently working two part times jobs. One of them is at VitalSmarts, which is a súper awesome company. Check it out, they'll change your life for good. And then I teach Spanish at the MTC! aka: the second coolest thing I've ever done in my life! (My mission being the first coolest thing)

But, in a nutshell, that's the update. I'm busy, happy, and finally blogging!