I had a very nice dream a few nights ago... I was In Telchac Puerto. I was there with my mother who was spending one week with me, and I was to stay there for three months. I was Susan's guest (she is the home manager we rented a couple of houses from in January and February, and she is also the fundraiser for Telchac Education. We seem to hit is off and get along right away, one of these nice unexpected friendly encounters). We were in a beach house, and there was a strange routine that all the neighbours took part in... they would all go swimming at sunrise, and the town fishermen would gather nearby on their boats. They were trowing shrimps overboard to the swimmers, who were catching them with delight... a very strange playtime which I chose to not join for the moment. I was feeling very happy to just be there, so comfortable and relaxed... glad to be with people who share my fond interest and attachment to the place. And then I remembered that I had forgotten to tell Tim and the boys that I would not be home for three months. Big woopsy!
This dream has been on my mind since, and I think it's a very plain and simple picture of my reality. As much as I want to go back and spend more time in Yucatan in the coming years, I am very likely to do it alone. Tim is not into the idea, he did give it a good try - and I am grateful for the fact that he did step out of his comfort zone to follow me to Mexico for a 3 month trek. Tim and the boys would like to go back for visits of course, but not for the long stays I have in mind. It's difficult to not be able to share this goal with my family, but I will find compromises to still make it happen.
I am still hoping to go in late April, and I am waiting to see how my business year develops. The little kinks I encountered do have an impact on my overall revenue, and I am still working on bringing things back to normal. I'm almost there!
It all began with our great 3 month family adventure in the Yucatan Peninsula... or was it way before that?... Follow the behind the scenes prep and deployment of the next Yucatan trip - because there is always a next trip!
Somewhere between Izamal and Sudzal, Yucatan.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Kids Lunches Galore - Burritos!
And so the fall begins, and school days make our weeks seem like we live on fast forward again. So far so good!
I have prepared some lunches for the freezer to facilitate the daily routine, but also to make sure that our boys eat good home made and non-processed food. It feels good to know every ingredient they have in their lunch box... Here is how I make burritos - the longest of all recipes! A bit tedious because I make everything from scratch (no canned beans or commercial salsa), but once the fillings are prepared it's easy to make a couple of dozens.
Chicken Burritos
-First, I cook a whole bag of black beans. Make sure to not put any salt or spices in the water when you cook dried beans, it would prevent them from getting nice and soft. Once they are cooked and cooled, put the beans in your blender with a little water - start with about half a cup and add more if needed - you are looking for the consistency of a creamy hummus. Season with some lemon juice, salt, one or two cloves of garlic, cumin, and chili powder to taste - blend until smooth.
-While the beans are simmering, I cook one whole chicken in the oven. I fill it with chopped onions and two or three heaping tablespoons of salt - rubbing the skin as well with salt and a little olive oil. It will eventually be deboned when cooked, so there is no need to roast it - keep it covered until it's fully cooked, and debone it. Chop the meat in small pieces and set aside.
-Still while the beans are simmering, and while the chicken is cooking - I cook a pot of rice, parboiled is fine, and I also season the rice with salt, chili powder and cook it in half water or chicken broth, and half tomato coulis.
-Finally, I make my own salsa by simply pan frying one chopped white onion, and once the onion is starting to soften - I add four to six chopped tomatoes (which I have emptied). A little salt, a little origano, and a little lemon juice, et voilà! But commercial salsa is just fine of course, especially organic salsa.
-Grate some cheese (medium cheddar), and line-up all the above ingredients to get ready for the assembly!
I use the large tortillas - easier to manipulate. I place 4 tortillas side by side and fill them in this order :
-Spread a spponfull of beans in the centre of the tortilla, leaving a wide edge all around (to avoid messy rolling and folding...).
-on the half closer to you, form a thick line of rice, and chicken (much like a thick caseless sausage).
-Top the rice and chicken with some salsa, and cheese.
To roll them : Lift the edge of the tortilla that is closer to you, and cover the line of filling - tightening it by pulling delicately towards you - and roll it forward about half a roll. Now fold both sides inward to enclose the sides, and finish rolling - still tightening by pulling the roll delicately towards you. It might take a bit of practice... adjusting the amount of content as you progress from one burrito to another. Thick is good - but too thick is impossible to seal properly.
Once they are rolled, I place 4 to 6 burritos in a large zip-loxk bag, and cool them in the fridge. Once they are cold, I transfer them to the freezer.
To heat them up, I place two frozen burritos in the micro wave for about 5 minutes, and transfer them to the oven at 350F for about 15 to 20 minutes - for a golden and crisp finish.
Buen provecho!
I have prepared some lunches for the freezer to facilitate the daily routine, but also to make sure that our boys eat good home made and non-processed food. It feels good to know every ingredient they have in their lunch box... Here is how I make burritos - the longest of all recipes! A bit tedious because I make everything from scratch (no canned beans or commercial salsa), but once the fillings are prepared it's easy to make a couple of dozens.
Chicken Burritos
-First, I cook a whole bag of black beans. Make sure to not put any salt or spices in the water when you cook dried beans, it would prevent them from getting nice and soft. Once they are cooked and cooled, put the beans in your blender with a little water - start with about half a cup and add more if needed - you are looking for the consistency of a creamy hummus. Season with some lemon juice, salt, one or two cloves of garlic, cumin, and chili powder to taste - blend until smooth.
-While the beans are simmering, I cook one whole chicken in the oven. I fill it with chopped onions and two or three heaping tablespoons of salt - rubbing the skin as well with salt and a little olive oil. It will eventually be deboned when cooked, so there is no need to roast it - keep it covered until it's fully cooked, and debone it. Chop the meat in small pieces and set aside.
-Still while the beans are simmering, and while the chicken is cooking - I cook a pot of rice, parboiled is fine, and I also season the rice with salt, chili powder and cook it in half water or chicken broth, and half tomato coulis.
-Finally, I make my own salsa by simply pan frying one chopped white onion, and once the onion is starting to soften - I add four to six chopped tomatoes (which I have emptied). A little salt, a little origano, and a little lemon juice, et voilà! But commercial salsa is just fine of course, especially organic salsa.
-Grate some cheese (medium cheddar), and line-up all the above ingredients to get ready for the assembly!
I use the large tortillas - easier to manipulate. I place 4 tortillas side by side and fill them in this order :
-Spread a spponfull of beans in the centre of the tortilla, leaving a wide edge all around (to avoid messy rolling and folding...).
-on the half closer to you, form a thick line of rice, and chicken (much like a thick caseless sausage).
-Top the rice and chicken with some salsa, and cheese.
To roll them : Lift the edge of the tortilla that is closer to you, and cover the line of filling - tightening it by pulling delicately towards you - and roll it forward about half a roll. Now fold both sides inward to enclose the sides, and finish rolling - still tightening by pulling the roll delicately towards you. It might take a bit of practice... adjusting the amount of content as you progress from one burrito to another. Thick is good - but too thick is impossible to seal properly.
Once they are rolled, I place 4 to 6 burritos in a large zip-loxk bag, and cool them in the fridge. Once they are cold, I transfer them to the freezer.
To heat them up, I place two frozen burritos in the micro wave for about 5 minutes, and transfer them to the oven at 350F for about 15 to 20 minutes - for a golden and crisp finish.
Buen provecho!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
September!
September 1st already... Crazy times for my two music schools. Late August and early September is always moving way too slowly for my eager impulse to confirm everything with everyone. People never return my calls fast enough. The thing is... it's still summer vacation for pretty much everyone else! So I just have to chill and wait. Fine. sigh
I interviewed another teacher today, and it will be a difficult decision... which I have to make by tomorrow. yikes.
I was supposed to fly to Quebec this morning, and spend a few days at the cottage with my mom and my sisters. I just cancelled that... never did this before. It was way too stressful to leave so much unfinished business, and quite honestly my emotions are completely upside down when it comes to my siblings. It feels like I barely processed my last trip there, and going back is not on my top ten list right now... it might not be for awhile.
On a brighter note, the boys are happy and healthy, ready for school. Dylan is making a big move to middle school, and he is very excited to begin this new phase. Léo is also looking forward to seeing his school friends, and we will make efforts to nurture his social circle this year. As the little brother, he always had a tendency to hang out with Dylan's friends. Now that Dylan is moving on to a new school, Léo will gain some independence. Should be interesting!
With that I am preparing a bunch of lunches ahead of time - freezer friendly home made favorites. Chicken burritos, filled with refried black beans, rice, chicken, salsa and a little cheese. I also made some mini beef pies, filled with a 'stew' made with ground beef, diced onions and potatoes, and ground tomatoes (from fresh tomatoes). A little origano, a little garlic... and I simply wrapped a scoop of this mixture in pie crust which I cut with a big round pastrie cutter, and fold in half. The result is a bunch of half moon pies, perfect for the lunch box. I also made pulled pork, and froze it in zip-locks in quantities just enough for 2 or 3 sandwiches. It's a good start, but I will also prepare some hearty soups for the thermos, a great way to incorporate lots of veggies!
I will gather some lunch recipes and make it my next post. Stay tuned!
I interviewed another teacher today, and it will be a difficult decision... which I have to make by tomorrow. yikes.
I was supposed to fly to Quebec this morning, and spend a few days at the cottage with my mom and my sisters. I just cancelled that... never did this before. It was way too stressful to leave so much unfinished business, and quite honestly my emotions are completely upside down when it comes to my siblings. It feels like I barely processed my last trip there, and going back is not on my top ten list right now... it might not be for awhile.
On a brighter note, the boys are happy and healthy, ready for school. Dylan is making a big move to middle school, and he is very excited to begin this new phase. Léo is also looking forward to seeing his school friends, and we will make efforts to nurture his social circle this year. As the little brother, he always had a tendency to hang out with Dylan's friends. Now that Dylan is moving on to a new school, Léo will gain some independence. Should be interesting!
With that I am preparing a bunch of lunches ahead of time - freezer friendly home made favorites. Chicken burritos, filled with refried black beans, rice, chicken, salsa and a little cheese. I also made some mini beef pies, filled with a 'stew' made with ground beef, diced onions and potatoes, and ground tomatoes (from fresh tomatoes). A little origano, a little garlic... and I simply wrapped a scoop of this mixture in pie crust which I cut with a big round pastrie cutter, and fold in half. The result is a bunch of half moon pies, perfect for the lunch box. I also made pulled pork, and froze it in zip-locks in quantities just enough for 2 or 3 sandwiches. It's a good start, but I will also prepare some hearty soups for the thermos, a great way to incorporate lots of veggies!
I will gather some lunch recipes and make it my next post. Stay tuned!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
The Power of One
Yesterday, I joined the People's Procession for Jack Layton's funeral. I never did anything like this before, but I felt it was the thing to do. Jack was known as a politician, a good politician - smart and passionate, and above all a very brave speaker and fighter for social justice and plain decency. His passing brought his accomplishments to light for many of us, and like thousands of people across the country, I was shaken by his life story. So many accomplishments that affect our day to day life... amazing generosity.
If you are not Canadian, you should know that during the last federal election here in May 2011, many more people started to pay attention to his views and many switched their vote. I remember thinking of him as our Obama phenomenon, and the sense of hope that he brought is almost like a religious wave of belief in salvation.
I spent most of the week processing his passing, trying to find a meaning to all this. Jack wrote a letter to all Canadians on his death bed, a strong message of love, hope and optimism - that's what he lived by. And during the funeral, his son Mike summed it up for me when he quoted a couple of Jack's advices : to 'always dream for more than a life time', and to 'not wait for the perfect conditions, make the best of what you have now'.
His words bring me back the clarity I need to keep the course with renewed determination.
Thank you Jack.
If you are not Canadian, you should know that during the last federal election here in May 2011, many more people started to pay attention to his views and many switched their vote. I remember thinking of him as our Obama phenomenon, and the sense of hope that he brought is almost like a religious wave of belief in salvation.
I spent most of the week processing his passing, trying to find a meaning to all this. Jack wrote a letter to all Canadians on his death bed, a strong message of love, hope and optimism - that's what he lived by. And during the funeral, his son Mike summed it up for me when he quoted a couple of Jack's advices : to 'always dream for more than a life time', and to 'not wait for the perfect conditions, make the best of what you have now'.
His words bring me back the clarity I need to keep the course with renewed determination.
Thank you Jack.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Viva El Crockpot ! Maple Ginger Chicken
One of my sisters shared this casserole recipe about 10 years ago when I was looking for new ideas. It's very cosy-cushy- with a sweet twist, great fall comfort food for family dinners, or for the thermos. Make it with the best boneless chicken deal you can find - white or brown meat works well with this. Enjoy!
MAPLE GINGER CHICKEN
Coat about 1lb of cubed raw chicken with flour, brown in a skillet with some oil, and place in your crockpot. In a bowl, mix 1/4 cup of maple sirup, 2 Tb spoons of each chili sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, fresh grated ginger, and fresh grated lemon peel. Add 2 crushed cloves of garlic and 2 finely minced green onions. Mix well with about 1/2 cup of chicken brought, and poor mixture in the crockpot over the chicken. Cook on high for 4 hours. Serve on rice, with your favorite green vegetable. Very nice!
Yummy!
MAPLE GINGER CHICKEN
Coat about 1lb of cubed raw chicken with flour, brown in a skillet with some oil, and place in your crockpot. In a bowl, mix 1/4 cup of maple sirup, 2 Tb spoons of each chili sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, fresh grated ginger, and fresh grated lemon peel. Add 2 crushed cloves of garlic and 2 finely minced green onions. Mix well with about 1/2 cup of chicken brought, and poor mixture in the crockpot over the chicken. Cook on high for 4 hours. Serve on rice, with your favorite green vegetable. Very nice!
Yummy!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Simplifying
Now at 47 years old, it appears that I have an irresistible urge to simplify my life. Okay... my version of simple may not be the best to define the word... I have a natural tendency to develop a simple idea until it's all but simple! Not always a bad thing, but certainly a trend that may change along the next few years.
For our little family, simplifying should be tied to a fine budget review - and the time has come for us to implement small reforms in our lifestyle. Everything is subject to examination, like our wireless/phone/cable expenses for example. But first and foremost, I believe that our choices of food supplies and eating habits are the right place to begin.
Timing is great, I feel inspired to enter a cooking spree. School will begin in a couple of weeks, together with our regular school year schedules of work and activities. Having meals prepared ahead of time will be very helpful to ease into the fall. I want to roll along the harvest, exploring some healthy weeknight helpers, and new ideas for the boy's lunches (and mine too!). More fresh and non-precossed foods, back to the basics. Simplifying! I would like to preserve tomatoes too, but maybe it's another one of my Martha Stewart meets Debby Travis thing... so I'll just keep the preserving as a slight possibility : )
We just spent two weeks at the cottage in beautiful South Muskoka, and I found one of Tim's mom's old cookbook, straight from 1972. Perfect! I made the cheese scones recipe, the boys loved it. It was a bit blend so we agreed to improve the recipe in the future. Leo voted to add bacon... and Dylan would flavour them with pesto and mushrooms. Interesting. In any case, scones make a great side kick for a hearty soup in a thermos! I must say that the boys and I have been watching some cooking shows this summer (Les Chefs, and other occasional screenings on the cooking network. It has inspired both of them to cook and try new things, especially Dylan. I will involve them actively into the choice and preparation of their various lunch dishes. Hearty bean soups, paella, burritos, panzeroti, cornbread pockets, and more.
And what shall I do with my spare time? Ha ha! Here is the catch... I don't have any. Work - Family nurturing - and Personal nurturing (like working out!) will be the theme of the school year. And if all goes well - Yucatan in late April!
Recipes will be flowing in again very soon - happy harvest!
For our little family, simplifying should be tied to a fine budget review - and the time has come for us to implement small reforms in our lifestyle. Everything is subject to examination, like our wireless/phone/cable expenses for example. But first and foremost, I believe that our choices of food supplies and eating habits are the right place to begin.
Timing is great, I feel inspired to enter a cooking spree. School will begin in a couple of weeks, together with our regular school year schedules of work and activities. Having meals prepared ahead of time will be very helpful to ease into the fall. I want to roll along the harvest, exploring some healthy weeknight helpers, and new ideas for the boy's lunches (and mine too!). More fresh and non-precossed foods, back to the basics. Simplifying! I would like to preserve tomatoes too, but maybe it's another one of my Martha Stewart meets Debby Travis thing... so I'll just keep the preserving as a slight possibility : )
We just spent two weeks at the cottage in beautiful South Muskoka, and I found one of Tim's mom's old cookbook, straight from 1972. Perfect! I made the cheese scones recipe, the boys loved it. It was a bit blend so we agreed to improve the recipe in the future. Leo voted to add bacon... and Dylan would flavour them with pesto and mushrooms. Interesting. In any case, scones make a great side kick for a hearty soup in a thermos! I must say that the boys and I have been watching some cooking shows this summer (Les Chefs, and other occasional screenings on the cooking network. It has inspired both of them to cook and try new things, especially Dylan. I will involve them actively into the choice and preparation of their various lunch dishes. Hearty bean soups, paella, burritos, panzeroti, cornbread pockets, and more.
And what shall I do with my spare time? Ha ha! Here is the catch... I don't have any. Work - Family nurturing - and Personal nurturing (like working out!) will be the theme of the school year. And if all goes well - Yucatan in late April!
Recipes will be flowing in again very soon - happy harvest!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Top 15 Tips for a Family Escapade
I never really compiled the pointers I shared along our three month journey to (and into!) Yucatan. If you are planning on traveling with your family, here is a very good start for your long 'to do' list. The trick is to start planning at least 8 months before departure, and budget for ALL expenses involved. It will seem like a lot to do, but if it all flows nicely over a few months - your prep work will pay off with peace of mind and more enjoyment while you're away.
-Research your destination thoroughly : main airports, average flight cost, different types of accommodations, language, food, currency and pricing, banking, schools, transportation, main attractions in the vicinity, etc.
-If you intend to sub-let your residence while you are away : do you need to fix-it up or renovate? How much is it worth for rental? (see sabatical.com, or vrbo.com) Will you need to hire a maintenance service for the renters, snow removal, etc.
-Get everyone to the dentist, and to the doctor for vaccinations - about 2 to 3 months prior to departure. This step might have a pretty price tag for the whole family... one expense I did not plan for. Ouch!
-Insurance : Look for decent health and travel insurance, and if you intend to drive, look into liability insurance too (chiching!).
-When shopping for your flights (I used Kayak.com), make sure to look into the luggage policy. Many charge extra for check-in luggage. I recommend to bring one suitcase for every two persons, and plan on coming back with one each. Note that a suitcase exceeding the maximum weight will cost you much more than checking in an extra suitcase. Also assess what you can buy once at destination, and discard or give away before you return (things like a cooler, soccer ball, life jacket, beach towels, and basic toilet items, etc).
-In light of all the info and pricing above, make your itinerary, set your departure date, and make a complete budget.
-Prepare a will, and a living will to the best of your ability- even if it is not notarised. Bring one copy with you, and leave one copy with your main contact at home.
-Make sure that all passports and health cards are valid for the entire duration of the trip. Join a copy of all these documents to the will papers, and copies of your insurance info - all for your main contact at home.
-If you intend to home school, arrange for a couple of meetings with the teachers at least 3 months prior to departure. Ask to borrow the essential books (be careful to not take too much...some teachers may get carried away). Look for a small and cheap printer (or buy it on location) so that you can print assigned homework or various exercises, and have a camera or iPhone to take a low resolution picture of the completed homework- which you email back to the teacher. I recommend to allow for 2 small school shifts per day (90 minutes per shift), and BE CONSISTANT with your school schedule (make weekly plans for a varied program - including sports and Arts). Plan for possibly hiring a tutor to help with the re-integration after you return home.
-If you intend to drive while you're away, try to produce one or two colour and laminated photocopies of your driver's license. I know I know... but it might save you some good bribing money! And on the topic of driving... for convenience and comfort, consider buying a roof bag like this one : http://roofbag.com/
-Set-up your banking so that you have one main bank account, and one back-up bank account. You may use your bank card abroad instead of buying the currency before you leave. Most banks will charge you a $3 flat fee for each withdrwal, and calculate the going exchange rate of the day. However beware of President's Choice banking... they also charge a hefty percentage of each withdrawal! Notify your bank and credit card company of your destination and timing - otherwise they will block your accounts.
-Get Skipe, or any other cheap online long distance deal. It cost us about $3 per month for unlimited calls from Mexico to Canada via Skype. And make sure that you have an updated list of phone numbers, emails, and addresses for postcards.
-DO NOT bring your iPhone !!! You will get skinned alive with insane roaming fees... and I do mean insane. Instead, buy a cell phone there, or use your computer to communicate.
-Bring one or two USB keys to store computer information, or to send and receive documents and photos from an internet cafe. If you don't have internet where you will be living, you can organise everything in files, and just go to town and connect to proceed - send what you wan, etc.
-Pack a basic first aid kit, a couple of bungie cords with a dozen clothes pins, a deck of cards or other small games, load your audio device with a good selection of music, and you're good to go!
-Make plans to manage everyone's well being for at least 3 to 4 weeks post return. Some people get a little depressed, or overwhelmed with the change of pace, etc. Pamper yourself a little, and engage in regular activities (like the gym!)
I hope this is helpful... and to finish off this post my main advice here is simply... GO FOR IT !!!
-Research your destination thoroughly : main airports, average flight cost, different types of accommodations, language, food, currency and pricing, banking, schools, transportation, main attractions in the vicinity, etc.
-If you intend to sub-let your residence while you are away : do you need to fix-it up or renovate? How much is it worth for rental? (see sabatical.com, or vrbo.com) Will you need to hire a maintenance service for the renters, snow removal, etc.
-Get everyone to the dentist, and to the doctor for vaccinations - about 2 to 3 months prior to departure. This step might have a pretty price tag for the whole family... one expense I did not plan for. Ouch!
-Insurance : Look for decent health and travel insurance, and if you intend to drive, look into liability insurance too (chiching!).
-When shopping for your flights (I used Kayak.com), make sure to look into the luggage policy. Many charge extra for check-in luggage. I recommend to bring one suitcase for every two persons, and plan on coming back with one each. Note that a suitcase exceeding the maximum weight will cost you much more than checking in an extra suitcase. Also assess what you can buy once at destination, and discard or give away before you return (things like a cooler, soccer ball, life jacket, beach towels, and basic toilet items, etc).
-In light of all the info and pricing above, make your itinerary, set your departure date, and make a complete budget.
-Prepare a will, and a living will to the best of your ability- even if it is not notarised. Bring one copy with you, and leave one copy with your main contact at home.
-Make sure that all passports and health cards are valid for the entire duration of the trip. Join a copy of all these documents to the will papers, and copies of your insurance info - all for your main contact at home.
-If you intend to home school, arrange for a couple of meetings with the teachers at least 3 months prior to departure. Ask to borrow the essential books (be careful to not take too much...some teachers may get carried away). Look for a small and cheap printer (or buy it on location) so that you can print assigned homework or various exercises, and have a camera or iPhone to take a low resolution picture of the completed homework- which you email back to the teacher. I recommend to allow for 2 small school shifts per day (90 minutes per shift), and BE CONSISTANT with your school schedule (make weekly plans for a varied program - including sports and Arts). Plan for possibly hiring a tutor to help with the re-integration after you return home.
-If you intend to drive while you're away, try to produce one or two colour and laminated photocopies of your driver's license. I know I know... but it might save you some good bribing money! And on the topic of driving... for convenience and comfort, consider buying a roof bag like this one : http://roofbag.com/
-Set-up your banking so that you have one main bank account, and one back-up bank account. You may use your bank card abroad instead of buying the currency before you leave. Most banks will charge you a $3 flat fee for each withdrwal, and calculate the going exchange rate of the day. However beware of President's Choice banking... they also charge a hefty percentage of each withdrawal! Notify your bank and credit card company of your destination and timing - otherwise they will block your accounts.
-Get Skipe, or any other cheap online long distance deal. It cost us about $3 per month for unlimited calls from Mexico to Canada via Skype. And make sure that you have an updated list of phone numbers, emails, and addresses for postcards.
-DO NOT bring your iPhone !!! You will get skinned alive with insane roaming fees... and I do mean insane. Instead, buy a cell phone there, or use your computer to communicate.
-Bring one or two USB keys to store computer information, or to send and receive documents and photos from an internet cafe. If you don't have internet where you will be living, you can organise everything in files, and just go to town and connect to proceed - send what you wan, etc.
-Pack a basic first aid kit, a couple of bungie cords with a dozen clothes pins, a deck of cards or other small games, load your audio device with a good selection of music, and you're good to go!
-Make plans to manage everyone's well being for at least 3 to 4 weeks post return. Some people get a little depressed, or overwhelmed with the change of pace, etc. Pamper yourself a little, and engage in regular activities (like the gym!)
I hope this is helpful... and to finish off this post my main advice here is simply... GO FOR IT !!!
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