There's no place like home...

It’s funny. This world traveler I met recently told me something really important: “Out of everywhere I’ve been all over the world, there is TRULY nothing like home.” She could have taken the words right out of my mouth. There is NOTHING like home. And now more than ever I’m realizing it! It’s the holidays and I’m working 12+ hours a day with this resort, and while it keeps me busy, I miss cuddling around the fire with our dogs lying near, a Christmas movie on TV, my sister reading a book, my mother baking, and my dad nearby on the computer. It’s the little things you don’t realize that are apart of you till you don’t have it.

But if there is another thing I’ve learned since I’ve been here, it’s that it is OKAY to miss home!! Of course you do. And it’s also still okay to celebrate Christmas and embrace it, even though you are not with your whole family! Christmas isn’t about you, or the media, or what you see on TV. It’s about the birth of Jesus Christ and being thankful for what you have and the love in your life. I’m thankful for having a killer first job here in Panama and the experience I’m getting. I’m also thankful for an amazing and very loving family. (Shout out to the sis who’s coming down in a few days!) Even though I’m not with them, this Christmas will be one of a kind and as special as ever. But only this Christmas will I be away from my family. I’m excited to see what Christmas will be like here. Besides the craze of tourist who are on their way (we’re booked next week), I’m excited to spend this holiday in another culture. It’s a different feel here than in the U.S. (I’ll write more about it as I find out).

Let’s just hope that by Christmas the sun will be here because this past week it’s rained EVERY day!!! Haha Talk about being in the rainforest, this month is truly proving that point. It’s been nice though having cooler temperatures. Kinda like a “Caribbean” winter with this 70/60 degree temps on the island! Haha and even though it’s just been a week, I’m over it!! Haha I WANT SUN!!! And I can’t wait for my sister to get here. Maybe she’ll bring the sun! Anyway, that’s all for now. Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday!

-F