I’ve been back in the US for 4 months now. And maybe you’ve seen what I’ve been up to, but also maybe you haven’t. So, what have I been up to in the last 4 months.

FEBRUARY
This month was all about adjustment. I’d actually arrived back in the stars on 1/29. I eased into being social. Also, I’d be missing out on Lunar New Year. I went out for drinks with Henry one night at a martini bar. We celebrated Lunar New Year at Ed’s with hot pot. My brother and I had lunch with Katie. I got my official state ID (I didn’t quite have the paperwork to transfer my driver’s license yet). I went on my first date in Chicago (it was with a guy named Steve). Near the end of the month, it was my “nephew’s” birthday. And we went to our first Foodball event (Laos To Your House @ Ludlow Liquors). I also went on my second first date this month (he was a guy named Daniel).

MARCH
This month started (literally on the first day, with a date with a guy named Ryan). But we also had our first Fish Fry Friday at the Globe Pub. It was your standard fish and chips from a pub; nothing too spectacular or special. I went on a 2nd date with Daniel. We also celebrated Ed’s birthday by going to brunch at Nellie’s (we all thought it was a bit overrated. Ryan and I took advantage of free museums days and checked out the dinosaurs at The Field Museum. The 2nd Fish Fry Friday was at Will’s Northwoods Inn and Ed went to the wrong restaurant [insert handslap emoji]. He even picked it. Daniel and I went down to Chinatown and got some hotpot. It was pretty good, but not all that spicy (he doesn’t do very spicy). That night, the girls went to a play, that turned into a musical – The Penelopiad. I also go back to the DMV to transfer my driver’s license and to get a real ID. We go north for our 3rd Fish Fry Friday and check out L Woods (we’re definitely coming back here – it was delicious and, apparently, a part of Lettuce Entertain You). March means St. Patrick’s Day. Katie and I went downtown. Our main goal was green beer, Irish beer, a shot and the green river. We also met up with Zack and AJ (and other CSers). To say the least, we ended up very, very, VERY drunk. We went from downtown to the Guiness Brewery Block Party, to Estelle’s, to Royal Palms and finally to Humboldt Haus. I had my 3rd and final date with Ryan (we went to Phodega – that place has really lost it’s touch, it’s really made for it’s audience. I’m sad to have lost good pho nearby). Our 4th Fish Fry Friday and Rachana’s last is up in Kenosha, WI at Birchwood Grill; it’s a buffet. The next day, we celebrated Holi at Navy Pier and ended up hanging out with other CSers. I had another first date (his name was Jutichai). And as March comes to a close, I drive Rachana to the airport. She’s headed off to India for 5 weeks. Ed and I celebrated Fish Fry Friday (the last) at the local VFW. I went on a first date with Ses. Then I had another first date (a lunch date with Moon Ki). And met up at night with Jutichai. My time is running short before I run off on my own vacation. On the last day of the month, other than working, I went out for KBBQ with Ses.

APRIL
It’s time to travel! This month, I’m headed out to Seattle and then it’s south to Cabo San Lucas. But before I went, I had another date with Jutichai and video interview for a job. It was for a non-profit, but a job I was interested in. Then I worked a ton before flying out. The first couple days in Seattle I spent working. I worked less and less as everyone arrived. At the beginning, the everyone was dealing with jet lag anyway. Once I got to Cabo San Lucas (and La Paz), I was officially on vacation. After my vacation, I immediately got back to work and started having 50+ hour weeks. What is this insanity? There was one Saturday where I went on an independent bookstore crawl with Liz and Katie. I had a disastrous date with Ses, but it was more of a hang because my brother was invited. We did get to eat at Warlords though.

MAY
The month started off with Rachana still in India, but she’d be returning soon. It started with a happy hour with Paychex at the Lazy Dog in Oak Brook. There was one night Liz needed to go out for drinks. We hadn’t really had time to just hang out 1:1, so we just ended up at the bar from 7:30p-1a. Oops, but quality time spent together. I picked up Rachana from the airport and had lunch with Bella (both me and Liz). I probably haven’t seen Bella in almost 5 years or more. There were major updates to her life. Well, maybe also mine and Liz’s as well. I also called it a day with Ses. We just don’t gel (to put it nicely). I did NOT get to see my mother on mother’s day. She had to drive my brother to the ER because of pancreatitis due to heavy drink. He was admitted for about a week. We celebrated Laura’s bday at Sandwich. Ed and I hung out at the Art Institute. Ed, Katie and I had a family day. We went to Begyle Brewing (for Laos To Your House), Hopleaf (for mussels), and Kilwin Creamery (for ice cream). We had our first ladies brunch (Liz, Abbey and me were in attendance) at Alpana. We celebrated Liz’s birthday with dinner (Thattu) and a movie (Mad Max: Furiosa). And, at the end of the month, My came to visit from Atlanta, GA. We spent a whirlwind 3 days together. We walked a lot, hung out a lot and ate a ton.

JUNE
And now, it’s June. It’s officially Baramee Birthday Month. My went back home on the 1st. And that evening, we had a board game night. We played 4 games (Pandemic: The Cure, Anomia, Blockbuster and Same, Same, but Different). The people in attendance: Joanna, Chatty, Henry, Ed (for a hot second), Rachana, Tony and me. The next day, Ed, Katie, Tony and me had brunch plans at Sinha (a Brazilian brunch buffet). I ate so much I was pretty much full the entire next day.

*More updates: I have 2 trips booked. In June (in a few days), I’ll be headed to NYC to meet up with my friends who I haven’t met up with in FOREVER. I miss them and they’ve, now, all gone off, gotten married, and had kids. So, other than catching up with them, I’m also super excited to meet the kiddos.

*Second update: I’m already headed back to Thailand. I really only have “plans” for Bangkok, but knowing myself…it’s highly likely there will be a baby dive trip and probably a trip up to Chiang Mai as well. I’ve only been gone a while, but it’s already felt like forever. I’m going because my cousin is going. She’s going for the first time, so, of course, I have to show her all the cool stuff…right?