The above picture was taken in 2004 in front of La Basilica de Guadalupe in Mexico City. That's my friend Karen and I standing awkwardly with our arms linked and big smiles plastered on our faces. What can I say, we were excited to be there. This picture was taken on our last day in Mexico and I distinctly remember that feeling of dread and melancholy that always settles in when you know that your trip is coming to an end. I promised myself that I would go back. Honestly, I thought it would have happened sooner, but life got complicated and I needed to do other things for a while. But Mexico has always been in the back of my mind. A couple of years ago I finally got to the point where it actually seemed feasible to start planning a long trip. So I saved my money, applied to an internship, moved home, gave my notice at work and bought myself a one way ticket.

And here I am now -my last night before my flight to Mexico. Goodbye family & friends! Goodbye cold wintery Chicago! See you when I see you.