For Christmas this past year, I got the best present in the whole world!!! Can you guess what it was? No, it wasn't a video game or Pokemon cards. Not even close! I was able to go home to Los Angeles and see my friends and family.

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To you, that may not seem like a big deal. But for me, it was amazing. I have not been home since July 1999. Ever since then I have been travelling with the Odyssey. Exploring new places is a lot of fun, but as the saying goes, there is no place like home.

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While I was home I got to do all of my favorite things. My mother and sister made my favorite foods for me. They even made my favorite cookies! I spent a lot of time talking to my family. We are very close and Christmas and Kwaanza are very special times of the year for us. I also got to see many of my friends. Some of them did not know I was coming back for a visit. So they were very surprised to see me.

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But I was the one who had the biggest surprise. It came on New Year's Day when my boyfriend, Guy, asked me to get married.

Before I knew it, my trip had come to a close. It was time to rejoin the team on our next adventure. Part of me wanted to stay with my family and my new fiancee. But I knew I had to go back. I have a job to do. I am a trekker and the team and all of you are depending on me. So ready or not, here I come!

Jasmine