30.

Today my favorite person in the world is going to be celebrating her birthday 3084 miles away from me. I haven't seen her in person in 165 days. I haven't talked to her in 36 hours. I haven't seen her through Skype in 29 days. She missed our niece Liani's birthday, she missed my birthday, she missed our sisters Norma and Claudia's birthday. She missed Halloween, and is missing Thanksgiving. She's going to miss our brother's birthday. She's missing out on our beautiful California autumn with the red, orange and yellow trees. She's missing out on spending time with her boyfriend. She is missing out on kissing our nieces and nephew. She's not here for our mom's cooking, and her warm and safe hugs.

She is serving the Peace Corps in Guatemala. Yes, she's missing a lot, but the things she is missing out on now are things that she will have when she gets home. We will always be here, California will always be beautiful, and every year we will be celebrating the same things with the same people. In fact, she is gaining so much more by being in Guatemala.
If she wasn't there...
She would be missing out on waking up every morning to gorgeous fog in the mountains. She wouldn't see the wild spirited animals walking the same roads she does to work. She wouldn't be immersed in a different culture than her own. She would not have met all her fellow Peace Corps volunteers that she will forever have a bond with. She would not find her passion for working with the youth. She would not have a reason to learn an ancient Mayan language. She wouldn't wonder "What if i had gone into the Peace Corps...?"...she would know. She wouldn't have learned how valuable having a warm shower AND light on at the same time would be. She wouldn't see how educators around the world have a completely different role in their schools than they normally do in the United States. She wouldn't know how important she is. Because although she is one person, she is impacting so many children.

And she doesn't even know it. <3

Rosa: I miss you more than words can say, but I'm happy to let the Guatemalan people borrow you for however long you desire to stay. As much as you are gaining from your experience now, remember how much more you will learn and teach the longer you are there. For someone who is just turning the big 3-0, you've accomplished enough for a lifetime. I love you with all my heart, you make me so proud just to know you.

I'm so excited to see you for Christmas break. 21 days.

Happy 30th birthday to my Rose.