Home Leave by the Numbers

Home!  With the added bonus of spring.

The goal of home leave for the Foreign Service is that it keeps officers from "going native" and encourages (actually, requires) us to spend a chunk of time in our own country in between overseas assignments.  I had wondered before actually starting my leave if it was really necessary in today's day and age.  After all, I'm able to skype with my family every week, read US newspapers and magazines online daily, etc.  

However, in practice I found that home leave was not only enjoyable, but did feel useful.  It had been a year and a half since we had been in the US, and while we certainly thought of our home country fondly and often, it was all rather abstract.  Now, after four weeks of family, friends, and lots of driving and eating all over the Northeast, I do feel much better re-acclimated and in touch.  And lest you think that we have just been wasting time relaxing during this period....

# of weeks of home leave:  4

# of people we spent a period of real quality time with:  at least 29 (possibly as many as 41; it comes out different every time I total it up.) 

# of times we changed overnight locations:  9

# of different places we stayed:  6

# of miles put on our rental car:  close to 1,000

# of different locations I ran at:  6

# of mountains we hiked:  3. 
We did Hunter Mtn. in the Catskills with Andy's brother Luke, a very good sport, as the day we had chosen was relentlessly pouring rain.  So we hiked up a sheer ascent for a lovely view of a cloud and some nice whipping winds.

 We then took in some nice views from Millbrook Mtn in the Shawangunks, and then did Mt. Mansfield in VT with two of my brothers. 

# of games played:  at least 7, including disc golf, hide & seek, volleyball, croquet, and lots of games of Settlers of Catan!

# of times we thought we might actually lose it if we spoke/heard/thought one more word about Mongolia:  more than once.

Glad to be back!