Heading to my Island!

As the year is finishing I am very happy to return to "Home". Home, where the morning always smell like coffee and "caressed" bread, or how we call it "pan sobao" . Home, where our mothers or our elders will scream in the mornings to the rest of the house, yet they just really want to wake you up so they can spend quality time with you or get you to participate in shores.

Home, where either the beach is close enough, or you have the mountains as a view or the city view of colorful buildings. Home, where nothing is boring, not even our clothes. We wear colorful busy designs, specially in the holidays, and we can easily single point who is not, by wearing solid earthy colors or just trying to much with the big flower shirts and visors.

I am so eager to feel the sun on my cheeks for just 15 seconds (to not get burned), because I have indeed frozen my little butt cheeks for a while. Just watch me complain of melting out by the end of the night and pumping my air conditioner up. I will be craving all the delicious carbs, consciously knowing I must lose more than 10 pounds, but it's the Holidays at home, and how can you say no to your grandmas or aunts food?

Splitting and juggling time is going to be another challenge. Days and hours are counted for, but you must visit those you said you would and parties are a must. Blessing for those who have party-families and strength to those “party-orphans” who will go with the highest bidder, or make your own silly plans praying it will all go well. 

And don't you hate that you are in an island, but all your friends are now scattered. Oh and the weddings and babies you must see. Because we are on our twenties meeting thirties and that's the thing to do nowadays. I bet you, you either going to one wedding, or knowing some of your friends are getting hitch this Christmas, the only time we can all gather in the island. And Godparents, you better fetch a good gift to your godchildren, they are expecting it!

For those who won't be traveling for Christmas to the island this year, I know it will be a tough one. A white Christmas because of snow, instead of of white because of rum. Soft melodic songs, that will definitely make you tear-up, because either its too sad it self or it so beautiful it will make you melancholic instead of the loud orchestra with instruments made by any reaching object that can be found. 

Yet, you know it will be a special one, because you will make it special. You will make the “coquito”, or arroz con gandules (if you can, and let me know). You will learn to do flan for the first time, calling you aunts for their special recipe. You will gather with other home-islanders that as well could not make it "home". The 3-kings tradition will continue to be seen in the house. Because no matter what life bring us, we don't stop being puertorican because we leave our “home” Island in seek of a better future.

The day we stop being puertorican, is the day we stop teaching about our culture. [This is the “coquito” we drink, or this is the “sandwichitos de mezclas” we take to parties.] To hell if we speak spanglish, if at least 75% of the words are in “español”. 

The day we stop being puertorrican, is the day we forget how rum tastes like. How we forget to call our loved ones in the middle of a busy party. The day, we forget to say “Te quiero” or “Te amo” when the new years come, the Island's new years, because you know you will celebrate that hour more than the actual hour of wherever you are.

So in overall, you will never stop the inner boricua in you, no matter where you have your holidays.

Home, yes, it will be warmer. But you definitely will be flipping coins with your partner or family to either where to go together or go separate ways to visit loved ones. You will have to carry your luggage, and hold your breath you have space for when you go back. And we can continue going on and on. But I bet you have a pretty good darn reason for not coming home for the holidays, a special new one, a new job, a new memory to make. Not because we are building our future, means we will destroy our past, that is not possible. As long as you make it however you wanted it to be, that's what counts.

Yes, I look forward to going back "home", to my new apartment I haven't spent much time in. Looking forward to kiss my family and hug my friends. Because, I am sure someday,  I will too be buying that "one way ticket" we often say and I will have to spend some Holidays freezing my behind. 

I don't looking forward to packing out today and checking out from the hotel to take my belongings to the kind soul who is giving me some space in their house. But, that’s part of it for now, someday, everything will be different, for better, never the worse. But for now, I will be back in Atlanta for three-kings day and for all,  coquito up and Salud! 

2014 I am ready for any travel you bring me!

WEST JET, HOLIDAY MIRACLE!

Check what WestJet did for one whole Flight!!!!!!!!

Question is, why Delta, South West or American does it?! It is great promo.

I know what I will ask! Either two first class tickets to Japan! or a shopping-spree Visa card. Maybe I should just ask them to pay-off my debts... But I think I would definitely go with tickets for Japan :)

Check it here!

WEST JET, HOLIDAY MIRACLE! or click here

Summary of Orlando!

We wen't to mostly all the Disney parks, except Magic Kingdom! and we also did Island of Adventures. A big surprise was that my Navy friend who is stationed in Okinawa, Japan! Natalia, was literally, 2 doors down from my hotel room. Not only did I get to see her pretty face, but she and her hubby joined us on Island of Adventure trip!