Thanksgiving vacation

It's been a wonderful week off with plenty of pie and downtime.  Reading, playing games, eating, watching movies, a couple of family day trips, and so much cuddling and coziness. My favorites.  This has been especially enjoyable because we have a big adventure planned for Christmas break.  After 21 years away, I'm returning to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, accompanied this time by my family!

On August 25, 1991, I first headed south with the Rotary exchange program, spending an amazing ten months living with the Sandoval family, parents Pedro and Gladys, sisters Pili (Claudia), Mily (Rita), and Sily (Cecelia). Youngest sister Tila (Isabel) was on exchange herself in my home state of Ohio.  I was welcomed immediately into the fold, with my name printed on their Silver wedding anniversary party invites as Peggy "la quinta" (the fifth daughter).  Dad visited during that first year. Mom returned with me for a month in 1994 during my college winter break sophomore year. My last return visit was over spring break in 1997, when there were a few more nieces (Valeria, Fabiana, and Camila).  Now there is a new generation of grandchildren,and it's time to introduce my own children to my second family.  Visiting Bolivia will be a new level of adventure for my kids. Though they have been to Canada (Niagara Falls) and even three times to Costa Rica, this will be different and exciting.  We've been trying to figure out a trip there for several years, especially since my host parents 50th anniversary two years ago.  My host father Pedro passed away earlier this year, followed by his sister and recently one of my host mother's sisters (Tia Norma) unexpectedly had a fatal car accident.  So after being discouraged by long travel itineraries of 24-30 hours at high ticket prices, we finally determined it would work better to travel first to Miami for a couple day layover, and on to South America.  We haven't been back to Miami for six years, so we are also excited about that part of the trip.  I am excited to see my cousins and meet their children as well.

CA History

When I moved to California in July 2005 I found a teaching job in South LA at a charter school. They gave me the option of Kindergarten or 4th grade. I had never taught either.  On the one hand, I thought, teaching 4th grade would give me a quick education in California history, which could be interesting and helpful as a new resident.  On the other hand, fourth grade math.  ( ha ha). So I went with Kindergarten.  Now that I have a fourth grader, I have a new opportunity to educate myself about California history.