No joke. I had to verify that it was indeed the Charles. And this was day 2 in Dorchester…

It stopped snowing, but all that meant was freezing temperatures and black ice. Good times. But seriously, the best part of my trip was this…

This is my chickie Martini and her husband, who were so kind to host me for the weekend. It has been 10 years since I last visited Boston (I stayed with her then too AND it was snowing when I left) and although the city has changed a bit, it’s always a treat to spend time with her and her family. However, I made her promise that our next meet up will be in warmer temperatures

This blog initially started out as a platform for anyone who was growing up in a culture other than that of their parents. As a first-generation immigrant raising second-generation immigrants, I was constantly facing choices where there were no right or wrong answers; just a question of how much of my culture of origin I wanted to infuse in my children’s lives. Once we decided to move to Venezuela, I knew that the initial idea still applied, but I would have a lot more to talk about while transitioning into expat life.

Being an expat blogger is somewhat complex. You often find that you’re a cross between several genres: travel, parenting, politics, cultural assimilation, etc. I knew when I started putting my thoughts out there in cyberspace that I was most likely not going to (nor really wanted to) fall into only one niche. For the most part, we are all complicated people with various interests. I couldn’t in good conscience force myself to write about the same topic every day. That means that sometimes I’m criticized by more successful bloggers who feel that my posts are “all over the place”. My answer to them is that’s because I’M all over the place . Today I may be having issues with my children adapting and tomorrow I may be in awe of how clean and efficient the subway system works. Whatever it is, I want to share it.

Now, two years and over 200 posts later, I’m wondering if I’m still headed in the right direction. Am I still writing about topics that interest me: yes. Does the blog still genuinely reflect my thoughts and who I am: yes. Most importantly, do I still enjoy it: YES. So the last question is to you my wonderful readers – without whom I would essentially be having a conversation with myself – what can I do differently in order for you to better enjoy visiting the Balanced Melting Pot?

1. You want to be a Friday night regular at your local taverna in Greece

2. You enjoy figuring new things out for yourself

3. You’re addicted to world history

4. You want to speak Portuguese like a native

5. You still have things to learn

6. You want life to be an adventure

7. You want to really understand other types of government

8. You’ve always wanted to run away to a Banana Republic, and write a novel about it

9. You’ve never felt that you truly belonged in the country in which you were born

10. You love to travel, but you want to experience another country as a local

11. You want to prove your belief that people everywhere are more alike than they are different

12. You want to learn how to make the perfect cup of tea in the UK

13. You want to become an expert on the Moscow subway system, especially the ornate architecture of its stations

14. You want to write a book on Barbaresco wine

15. You’ve longed to live the French way of life

16. You love cricket, and you’re an American

17. You want to live in beach hut, and own nothing but swimsuits and sarongs

18. You want to slow down

19. You want to speed up

20. You need a change

21. You want to study Buddhism in Kathmandu

22. You believe absence makes the heart grow fonder

23. You want to volunteer in a country that needs your expertise

24. You want to become an expert on authentic Thai cuisine

25. You want to take advantage of exchange rates to make your money stretch further

26. You want to study the Amazon rain forest

27. You want to be a gaucho on the Pampas

28. You want to be a chocolatier in Belgium

29. You believe working remotely must have more advantages than just working in your pajamas in your bedroom

30. You want to raise global children

31. You intend to write the seminal work on German beer

32. You believe we really are one world and one people

33. You want to prove to yourself that you can

34. Because job opportunities don’t match your skills in your country of birth

35. You’re certain you’ll be the next champion Samba dancer in Brazil

36. You’ve always known that you were meant to live in Barcelona

37. You’ve fallen in love with another country

38. You’ve fallen in love with someone who lives in another country

39. Because time stands still for you in Acqui Terme, Italy

40. You want to hike the Scottish Highlands, over and over again

41. You want to watch the South African wine industry evolve from a front row seat

42. You want to understand why Denmark has the happiest citizens in the world

43. You don’t believe your country of birth does everything best, and you’d like to learn what other countries do better

44. You’ve longed to know the tides off Australia’s coasts as only someone who surfs them everyday can

45. You want to be a shopping guide at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

46. You want to write a book of poetry in a cottage on the Irish Coast

47. You want to learn to paint with the glorious light in St Ives

48. You want to be a fisherman in a tiny Mexican village on the sea

49. You want the simple life

50. You’d like to watch the sunset every night in Barbados

51. You really love a challenge

52. One word…Provence.

53. You want a fresh perspective

54. You’d like to go to the Saturday morning market every weekend in Saumur, France

55. Because you can

56. Because change is good

57. You’ve run out of reasons not to

58. Because sometimes the grass is greener

59. Because you need to learn how to take life a bit less seriously

60. You’ve grown tired of knowing your life “like the back of your hand”

61. You want to appreciate what you have

62. You want to learn about all that you don’t have

63. You want to see the world through someone else’s eyes

64. You want to cross off number 5 on your “Top 10 Things I Want to Do in My Life” list

65. You want more sunshine

66. You want more snow

67. Because life is more fun when you take a risk or two

68. You want to live in the unspoiled natural beauty of Finland

69. You can’t imagine not living in the warmth of Costa Rica

70. You want to become a karaoke star in Tokyo

71. For the lower cost of living

72. For the higher quality of life

73. You want to study abroad

74. You want to bring what you’ve learned back home

75. You want to be able to say that you did

76. You want to make new friends

77. You want to find the love of your life

78. Because you’re a free spirit

79. You want to jump start your creativity

80. You want your retirement to be more than rocking chairs and “Wheel of Fortune”

81. You want greater economic opportunities

82. You want to be a dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet

83. Because your current plan is to runaway from home when the last kid goes away to college

84. You want to escape urban congestion and traffic

85. You want to make corporate life a distant memory

86. Because there’s a whole, big world out there to explore

87. You want to open up the world to your grandchildren

88. Because you know that you can change your mind and return to your own country if you’re homesick

89. Because you’re more likely to regret the things you don’t do

90. Because it will force you out of your comfort zone

91. Because you can afford to buy your first home in many other countries

92. Because people are friendlier, and take the time to know their neighbours in many other countries

93. Because you want to live in a country that cares about global issues, like New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance

94. Because there are obvious places to live to pursue your hobbies (Belize for scuba diving, for example)

95. You enjoy the feeling of being so immersed in another culture that you’re almost disoriented

96. You’re looking for a way to get the children and grandchildren to visit more often

97. You can’t imagine a conventional life

98. You want to face your fears

99. You want to create lifelong memories and experiences

100. For reasons only you understand

A friend is one with whom you are comfortable, to whom you are loyal, through whom you are blessed, and for whom you are grateful.
- William Arthur Ward

Throughout my three decades on this planet, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some incredible people. I can still remember who my best friend was in the first grade (kindergarten was in iffy year ), so little things leave a lasting impression with me. No two friends that I made during childhood were the same in terms of background, family or interests. I simply wanted someone who could keep up with my on the monkey bars – I could have competed professionally ’cause I was that good

Then of course as I got older, my friends looked more like me and we had a lot more in common. The funny thing was that didn’t necessarily make me more comfortable. Even though my older sister helped break down some barriers, my family was still very traditional. This meant that I couldn’t go out on dates or go out and simply be home by curfew. Everything that I did had to be pre-approved by the Family Council of 5 uncles and then approved by the Grand Poobah, otherwise known as my mother. Sometimes I didn’t even bother asking for permission to do things just to avoid the pomp and circumstance. So, this could sometimes make for uncomfortable situations with friends who didn’t understand that I really did want to hang out – it just wasn’t gonna happen.

Then I started to become the person who chose the road less traveled, so that took me away from familiar people and I had no choice but to try and make new friends. I soon realized that friendships are like romantic relationships, you have to work to maintain them or else they end. I may have learned the lesson after letting a few fantastic people walk out of my life, but it definitely stuck. Now that I’ve chosen to live like a gypsy, my friendships are what keep me tethered to some semblance of normalcy. It would be so easy to fall out of touch with the people who I’ve gotten to know and love, but I don’t know where I would be without them.

These are the people who may not hear from me every day, but know that they are always in my thoughts. These are the people who know that after a two-month hiatus, I will call them and continue the conversation we were having the last time we spoke as if no time has elapsed. These are the people who when I tell them about my next adventure will not laugh or think I’m crazy, but instead start telling me all the things they are going to do to help make it happen. Yes, amazing people they are, indeed.

So, to all my peeps past and present, here’s to you!