sometimes europe isn’t the greatest place to live

because when your family lives in america,

you just don't get to see them that often.

my mom emailed me this photo today

of her birthday party yesterday.

my sister made this cake

(it's says "whoooo's 56?")

and my mom is wearing the necklace i gave her

as a birthday gift!

i can't look at this photo and not smile.

there are times i get very sad

that i'm so far away from my family.

someday, someday....

i'll live there again.

but until then,

i'm still here

and loving it

(99% of the time).

***

and for the record:

i know that you don't wear a swimsuit in saunas

(regardless of where you live in the world)

but i've been to saunas in america

in which you are allowed to wear a towel

(being naked underneath).

what i was referring to in this post

is that i was told (by an employee at the aquapark)

that i had to remove my towel completely

if i wanted to stay inside the sauna

(this also played a role

in my walking out 30-60 seconds after entering).

and call me conservative,

but when a room full of naked polish men is staring at me,

the last thing i want to is remove my towel and be naked.

(this applies for any nationality of men, come to think of it...)

just getting that straight.

okay, done.