After seven months in Peru and elsewhere in South America, our family has returned home to Portland, Oregon. It was quite a trip and I can't speak for the whole family about all of our overall feelings about it. But I think we all found it at different times rewarding, challenging, fascinating,beautiful, trying and certainly significantly different from our life here in the US. Hopefully, we've all come back with a different perspective both on life in Peru and on life here in North America.
We've now been back about a week and are still adjusting to some degree to the culture shock of returning. Just being in my own house has a bit of a surreal feel to me at times. And not only are we adjusting to a return to school for kids and work for Cathy and I, but we are also getting used to having a new family member here. As many of you who have followed our blog or communicated with us recently know, we brought a Peruvian exchange student back with us. Bruno Naylamp Adananque moved into Katie's room last week (she'll live in the attic while he is with us) and began his sophomore year at Cleveland High School this week. Living and going to school in the US will be a serious change for Naylamp but he is a smart, outgoing and resilient kid and we're confident he'll make the best of it. And having a teenage boy in the house is big change for us but also a great opportunity and we're really looking forward to the coming year.
I'm not sure how many new blog posts you will see in the near future and we may eventually leave this blog in a state of suspended animation. However, at least in the coming weeks, we will continue to add more pictures from our travels and possibly some of our thoughts on our trip and experiences as we reflect back on them. As always, thanks to everyone who has supported us in this adventure.
Matt
