Home sweet home

I am a very lucky girl. With the help of my parents I was able to visit home for the Easter holiday and see all my loved ones! I was home in the states for two whole glorious weeks and had such an amazing time experiencing all the things I miss in Jamaica including family, friends, special foods, even little things like the joy of carpet and well stocked public libraries! (Did that sound nerdy?)

The first stop of my journey brought me to Philadelphia. Dad, Vicki and the boys were all there to pick me up from the airport and were surprised to see my tears of joy at being home, back in the states. Immediately following greetings and hugs and kisses we went out for cheese stakes and I got to enjoy my first cold draft in over nine months!

As we drove around on the highways and roads I was seeing familiar places through different eyes, eyes that have seen a different way of living and experienced a different culture. For instance, I was very impressed with the quality and vastness of public infrastructure that surrounded us, which is lacking in most places in Jamaica.

Luckily the boys were on spring break while I was visiting so I got lots of time to play with them and go exploring. Dad took us down town to the art museum, one of my favorite places in Philly. We went to a Phillies game and got to see the 2008 World Series Ring Ceremony before the game, a pretty cool event although I didn't follow baseball at all last summer/fall cause I was in Jamaica. I stole this pic from the Phillies website!

The next stop on my trip was to Cleveland where I got to spend time with Mom, Shane, my brothers, and Grandma and Grandpa Mac. Mom and Shane picked me up at the airport and mom had a great big sign "Welcome Home Janelle!" I felt very loved! And I was greeted at home with more big hugs from everyone. On saturday we spent the day dying easter eggs, frosting Grandma's famous easter cookies. We all watched Wallie in the evening and I got to cuddle with Spencer, he's such a cuddle bug! Easter morning we all went to church and then we were off to Hocking Hills State Park where Mom had rented a lakeside cabin for us to stay in for a few days. We explored the nearby state parks and saw some AMAZING views. Waterfalls, caves, cliffs... absolutely gorgeous.
My next stop was to D.C. where I got to see all my friends that I had been missing while gone in Jamaica. Even though I'd been gone for almost ten months we were able to pick right back up like I hadn't been gone at all. I also made a visit to campus and got to chat with some of my old professors and coaches. It was fun to share with others about my experiences and learn about what's been going on while I was gone. There are a lot of changes at Mason, the school is really growing fast! Go Patriots!

The vacation ended back in Philly where I got to celebrate the Greek Orthodox Easter with Dad, Vicki and the boys and our extended families and friends. Dad cooked the lamb on saturday morning/afternoon and then we went to midnight service as always later that night. On "Greek" Easter day we rented a pavilion at a local state park and spent the whole day eating massive amounts of yummy Greek food, dancing to Greek music and playing in the park.

But way too soon it was time to come back to Jamaica. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone and to my home, but I know that I have more to do here on the rock and more adventures to look forward to over the next year. And hopefully some of the special people I miss will think about coming to visit me!! :D Hint, Hint! Until then, I'm sending love from Jamaica to all of you back home. Be thankful for what you have in life... you are very blessed!