chapter: peru.

it’s 10.26, i’ve been in peru since 10.3…i have opened up my MacBook multiple times trying to put in writing what i’m doing, what i’m experiencing, what i’m feeling...is it weird that this doesn’t feel weird? like this is what i was supposed to be doing all along?

oh a little background, since i didn’t broadcast my new adventure to the whole world…

…i wanted to do this back in 2017, but as we all know, dad decided he wanted to make the year about him instead….(lol thought i add some humor into this). so i started focusing on other things instead and just thought this wasn’t for me. i always thought the universe had my back, but for a couple of years after dad’s passing, i was just lost and just didn’t care about anything anymore. but one morning in 2019, i woke up and realized this isn’t me, more importantly, this isn’t healthy. i started focusing on bettering myself - like seriously, i had to get it together i was broken in all aspects of my life. i quit my toxic work environment without anything lined up, i let go of relationships that added no value in my life, i had really hard talks with my siblings, i moved back to Georgia to be with my mom, a reality check on wtf am i doing with my life… and let me tell you… slowly but surely, i found myself again. honestly, i think the new me is better than the old…i’m excited for you guys to meet her if you haven’t had the chance yet. the sad thing is my dad isn’t around to meet her…but maybe he had to leave for the better version to come out?… but anywho, i digress.

earlier this year in March, i decided i was going to this… told my sister, she cried. told my brother, he knows me well enough so this didn’t phase him at all. told my bil, he didn’t believe me, until my sister made him realize i wasn’t joking and had already applied and got accepted. told my mom, she immediately asked if there are going to be other indians there? (typical indian mom question). i know, what you are thinking…. i have been on my own since i was 18, but still, in my 30s, i need some sort of confirmation from the family before i do something drastic. SO! all that was a GREEN light for meeee! so for the last 7 months, i’ve been anxiously awaiting this new adventure…but i still wanted to enjoy all my present moments, so i didn’t talk about this much.

but now, i’m here. in peru. for the last 3 weeks. with 22 strangers through a program i found online, years ago. i still work 40+ hours a week. i am constantly exhausted from so many activities. i socialize way more than my battery allows, but then i yell out after an event, “ok bye, don’t talk to me for the next 3 days” and they all respect me and just wave at me from afar, except evan.. evan loves to chat…i’ll have to tell you all about evan later, along with kadeem and heidi - my daily doses of calm, and omg ebony, my roomie! and kathy + ariel, the heartwarming mamas of the group. and there is ray, who is obsessed with the Malaysia Airlines flight 370 disappearance as much as i am, whoa. the list goes on actually, everyone in the group is pretty awesome. each time something mind-blowing happens, i love to scream out, we have only known each other for X days y’all. but seriously…we have only known each other for 3 weeks and it feels like for 3 years.

let me try talking about some adventures… actually, i can’t. just know i made tons of memories with some ppl + moments i won’t forget. those will stay near and dear to me.

oh, and let me make it clear…it has not been rainbows and butterflies. the internet has been down multiple times causing conflicts with work; everyone’s stomach has had its up + down; i’m pretty confident my lululemon (2 leggings, to be exact) disappeared while i dropped off my laundry; 3:30am wake up calls seem to be the norm on the weekends for any activity we do; people from our group have gotten covid that also restricted the entire group from leaving the hotel until they tested negative; we have stayed in freezing hostels; we have eaten cheetos for dinner; two people have dropped out of the program already; we’ve taken too many cold showers; and most recently, personally - i have gotten 78 mosquito bites in two days. (yes, i counted).

look, i’m just grateful. i’m finally traveling the world. i hope to hit 33 countries before i make it back to the states in april 2023. but more importantly, i hope to come back a better version of myself - happier, healthier, more cultured…and let’s not forget, funnier. i think i’m pretty awesome, but everyone can always improve you know? so i’m working on myself. along the way, i’m doing a lot of crazy adventures, meeting a lot of strangers, trying new food, losing a lot of sleep, gaining a lot of memories, and according to my sister, i’m going to fall in love. it hasn’t happened in the last 34 years, doubt it will happen in the next year but if the universe is listening… i would like him to be a nice guy, who enjoys the simple things in life, someone who is obsessed with his family and friends, who will laugh at my dad's jokes and of course, loves being a nomad, just like me. thanks in advance.

so now that we are all caught up - 1 month down…17 more to go. colombia, see you this weekend. xx, nesi.