Friends & Family of People Living Abroad: Take Note

There's nothing quite like receiving something in the mail with your name on it in a familiar handwriting with a return address that you know by heart.

Especially when living far from home, anytime anything comes for you in the mail is cause for celebration. And when it's your birthday, well - let me just say I haven't been this excited about getting presents since the days of waking up at 5am on Christmas Day.

It's so nice when a little piece of home finds you when you're somewhere far away.

And while, as one friend exclaimed, this year I got "a good haul,"

which I did,

it's still the people behind the gifts that mean the most.

Because, in addition to there being nothing quite like receiving mail with your name on it when you are living in a foreign country, there is also nothing quite like receiving a phone call from across the equator, or talking face to face with a familiar face via video chat through the interwebs.

Nor is there anything quite like waking up on your birthday to a knock on the door and a smiling friend handing you breakfast.

So I guess what I'm mainly trying to say is...THANK YOU to everyone for the wonderful gifts, kind wishes, personal messages, long distance phone calls, and skype dates. And front door delivery breakfasts. I know it cost money and - in some cases - technical troubleshooting on your end.

All your efforts - and all of YOU - are very much appreciated. I couldn't do what I'm doing without you behind me.

Feeling very loved,
And sending everyone some birthday mojo from south of the border,
Jordan