Fijate que...Life of an El Salvador RPCV

Writer's Block: Friend Me

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:48:44 GMT

They say love lasts three years -- what about friendship? How many people are you still friends with that you were three years ago? Whose lost friendship do you miss the most?

First question listed was submitted by wild_chingu. (Follow-up questions, if any, may have been added by LiveJournal.)

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I am lucky that I am friends with many people I met 3 years ago, and even longer ago. I don't always make friends quickly, but the friends I have are close. Thanks to the wonders of Facebook and Social Media, I have reconnected with childhood friends. Not sure whose friendship I miss the most, though. I miss the friends from Peace Corps. We still keep in touch but don't see each other very often.

Back in the Saddle

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 01:55:57 GMT

It's been a long time since my last update. I am just now getting back online after not having internet at home for about 10 days. And the tech who was supposed to be here between 8 and 11 didn't come til about 1:00 today. I was not a happy camper. Time Warner is giving me a $20 refund. Better than nothing at all, but still.

I have a new job which I LOVE and I have cable now (on a brand new cool TV) which I also love. This is the first time I've ever actually paid for cable, and I kinda like it ;) I've had it at other places, but always included.

Just a quick update. I'm tired and hungry (but of course I want nothing in my house) and enjoying watching TV ;)

Will be hopefully updating more frequently as I get settled. But the connections I've made are awesome, and everyone has been nothing but helpful.

Writer's Block: The nickname game

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:11:55 GMT

Which nicknames have you given to your friends, and why? Have they embraced them?

View 863 Answers

During high school, there was a group of 4 of us who were tight-knit. Others came and went out of our circle, but the 4 of us always were, and have remained, close. We went through a period where we gave each other nicknames of Winnie the Pooh characters, but those didn't stick for too long. But the other nicknames have. Wendi was Duck, because she always said everything was just ducky; Kelly was Bubbles because she tended to be a bit flighty. Those are the two that have stuck and they've embraced them I guess (probably because they had no other choice!). We nicknamed Jason "Drew" for some reason--I think it had something to do with the Drew Carey Show, but I don't remember now, and that didn't stick much beyond high school either. Mine haven't stuck. My Pooh nickname was Piglet; some people still call me that, but not too often.

Today was a rough day. I woke up in a bad mood and couldn't shake it. I kind of got into a "fight" of sorts over Gmail chat because I allowed my bad mood to read too much into the IM session, and then she felt the need to explain herself, probably to make me feel better, but it just made me feel like an &*^ for misinterpreting it. But I just got to video chat with some friends from PC, which made me feel tons better. Now I have eaten, am watching old episodes of Grey's, and keep stuffing my face with sugar (which I have been craving super hard core the past couple days, so I'm thinking that coupled with my mood swings are indicators of something else).

Tomorrow starts Spring Break. And Friday I head to Columbus to get Zack (one of my dearest friends from PC), eat pupusas, and continue on to Pittsburgh to meet up with some other RPCV friends. We are decking out my car to look like a Salvi bus and going to "hillbilly watch" at a truck stop between Columbus and Pittsburgh. Zack is a ball of energy and it is sure to be a great trip. Now I just need to make it til then, because I still have to work 2 days this week.

Great day!

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 04:02:00 GMT

Overall, I must say that today was a really good day. I edited and pared down my policy paper for today from just over 9 pages to 7.5 pages (only 1/2 a page over the maximum length). I went to the allergist this morning, who was kind of condescending and didn't really believe me, but then quickly changed his tune after examining me. I walked out with 3 new meds, came home and immediately took the ones I could--and felt immediate relief. Class went fairly well, we got out early, and then I convinced 3 other friends to join me at IHOP for free pancakes!!!

Now that I am finally able to breathe and feel much less congested, and the weather seems to be sucking less, I am a much happier person. Spring break is just around the corner, so time to catch up on work and the neglected apartment and, the best part, to Columbus for pupusas and onto Pittsburgh for a mini PCES reunion. Only drawback is it will only be a couple of days with people I haven't seen in a year or more. But better than nothing and the timing could not have been better.

Off to watch an episode of Grey's before bed, and hope my good mood and productivity continue into tomorrow.

Catching up

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:34:09 GMT

So the past couple weeks have been crazy. I was in bed all weekend 2 weeks ago fighting respiratory issues and this past weekend I had a conference here in BG, which meant I got really behind on work. I had a proposal due Monday that I really couldn't start until Sunday afternoon, and that was a bit stressful because I had trouble narrowing down my research topic. Now I can breathe again (as long as I don't really exert myself, which kind of defeats the purpose, but at least I can do daily things without getting winded), but my body must think it's Spring because my sinuses have been killing me, and nothing is really working (including 3 rounds of different antibiotics, 2 of which are sinus-infection specific). I'm seeing an allergist next week, and hopefully he will give me some answers. I need to get healthy so I can be more productive.

So the conference I mentioned earlier was the Ohio Latin Americanist Conference (OLAC), and was held on the BG campus. Since my thesis is on migrants, a couple professors suggested that I present. So I did, and it went fairly well. I got a few comments about more directions I could go in (but, really, a 20 minute presentation doesn't have much room for more than "my research in a nustshell"). A few of my professors were there, including my committee chair, and today one of the other grad students told me that same prof was talking about my presentation and said she was impressed! Yay! It's coming along slowly but surely, and I have learned a lot since my last conference in October. And the thesis conveniently aligns with classes I'm taking this semester, so I don't have to reinvent the wheel and can use my data for those papers!

We (my partner for my assistanship) got a surprise e-mail yesterday from one of the professors who works with us, and wants us to make 52 packets for Monday. Of course, we cannot print on site, and BGSU now charges for printing, and we don't have enough supplies for all 52 packets. So we had to e-mail another professor, notoriously lax on e-mail, and figure this out. Finally figured out where we can print, but now we need to get one final thing from the first professor so we can just print everything at once. Hopefully it all works out.

Tomorrow is a presentation on Peace Corps and how it's lead me to grad school and where I am now. Should be fun. I LOVE talking about PC and El Sal. And I get to give a snapshot of my research.

Spring Break is in just over a week and I am so looking forward to it. I have a paper due this Monday, but met with my professor and now have direction. And, for the first time in a long time, I have plans to go meet up with friends! A good friend from Peace Corps lives in Columbus, and he's lured me with the prospect of eating pupusas and speaking Spanish. Then, we'll continue on to PA to visit some other PCVs from his group. I haven't seen Zach in over a year, and it's been about 2 years since I've seen the other PCVs. So I'm super excited!

Ok this has turned into a longer post than anticipated. But for the handful of people who actually read this, thanks for bearing with me :) Oh, and as a completely random side note, I have been trying to figure out where Off the Map is supposed to take place, and am pretty sure that it's Ecuador. One of the characters said "chuta madre" which is very Ecuadorean. But, at the very least, it's set in the Andes (but filmed on the set of Lost...).

Snowed In!

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:33:22 GMT

Not sure about most of the rest of the country, but BG is officially snowed in. Even the video store is closed. It's a mix of snow and ice, and there are apparently bad drifts. Campus is still open (of course), but area schools are all closed for the second day in a row. We are apparently under a Level 2 snow emergency, and the surrounding counties under a Level 3. It's treacherous, even to walk. Roads are bad (although I do hear plows) and sidewalks are just as bad because there is only about one shovel per mile in BG I've decided. I mean, seriously--it's OHIO, not the South. We get bad weather. Be prepared people. Ok, I'm done ranting. I think :)

I'm going to stay in, try to get ahead on some class work for next week, and catch up on the TV shows I've missed. Speaking of, the 2 websites I used to use to watch TV live online have been shut down. Sad...guess I'll have to wait til they come on Hulu.

Stay warm out there!

On the Upswing

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 04:25:41 GMT

Last week was a pretty horrible week. I got a bad infection, and because ever since PC I don't handle antibiotics well (and over the summer developed allergies to 2 different kinds of antibiotics), I didn't get much relief. Then, I ended up having complications from the antibiotics (but after a 2 hour ordeal at the health center and a wonder drug, it's gone away) and on top of that I'm fighting a virus probably because I had a low-grade fever (sure didn't feel low-grade to me...). It hasn't turned into anything much, yet. I have a stuffy nose and I'm still feeling a bit run down and under the weather, and still have to be careful what I do, but emotionally today I was great. I think it's going to be a great weekend. I have my lit review to work on, which is going to suck, but I have til Monday. Originally it was supposed to be due tomorrow, but I e-mailed my advisor and told her I may need a few extra days because I was so sick all week. Plus emotionally things were rough, too. But I think things are going to be ok, and this weekend I don't have to be anywhere. I have to go to campus at some point to print articles for class and grab some books, but I have an open schedule, which is nice. Next week is going to be busy as well, and I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed, but just taking things as they come.

Tonight I had some friends over for an "anti-thesis" meeting. We had dinner and talked about our theses and other life things in general. We're making it a weekly thing, and I look forward to them. It's an excuse to get out and be social, and since we're all in the same boat, we can relate to one another.

Well, that's all for now. I'm beat from cleaning and cooking all day, so I think I'm going to curl up in bed and watch a DVD or something.

Ramblings

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 04:42:28 GMT

I can't fall asleep so I suppose I'll blog. That's been happening a few times this week, but when I take the laptop to bed to watch TV online, I suppose I'm asking for it. I should just go to bed when I'm tired.

Today was spent doing errands and not thesis. I spent the morning doing nothing because, true to form, I wasn't feeling great. I had an appointment with the doctor this afternoon anyway in an attempt to get new (cheaper) asthma meds, because mine weren't really working. I got new meds, but nothing cheaper. And more antibiotics. It was enough to make the person who checked me out make a comment on how many drugs I was walking away with. And the pharmacist knows me by name and remembers my history. Wonder if he's available? :)

So if all goes well, tomorrow I hope to keep cracking at the thesis, but plan to venture to the library where I can sit at a table and not be distracted by checking the internet all the time. We'll see.

I am supposed to give my advisor a date for when I'll get her my next chapter. She e-mailed last week and I have yet to respond with a date or touch that chapter. But, my independent study with her is linked to my progress so I need to get a move on.

I watched Shaun of the Dead tonight with a friend, and actually found it quite humorous. Note to self, avoid getting bit by zombies.

I think I'm getting back on track emotionally, slowly but surely. Fingers crossed. People are starting to notice my "dark" side coming out. 7 more months of this...!

Well, I guess I should try to sleep again. I don't have to be up at any certain time tomorrow, but I also don't like lying awake for long. Sigh.

A Third Goal Kind of Week

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 03:11:55 GMT

Two posts in one day! This one is going to be super short, though. It's been a long day, and I'm beat.

But this past week, I met with two people to talk about my experiences in Peace Corps. One is leaving in a couple months, and another is thinking about applying. Plus, the video that went around on Facebook earlier in the week made me laugh and rethink my PC experiences. I realize that I just LOVE talking about PC :)

Good night all!

Highs and Lows

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:07:38 GMT

This semester has been one of extreme highs and lows. I am still having trouble getting back into a routine (yes, I do realize it's only the first week of classes, but deadlines are quickly approaching and I'm feeling the pressure). I've also been experiencing high highs and low lows. Not sure what's causing this--maybe I am more of a social creature than I realize. I've found that if I make myself leave my apartment and go to campus to the GA office, usually there's someone there, and just having that human interaction makes me feel better. Messaging on Facebook or Skype just isn't the same.

Last night, I went out to karaoke with a group of friends. I found out about it kinda last-minute, and was kind of upset that I was left out (turns out it was an oversight and I should've been invited in the first place). Then, when I was ready to go, I texted my friend to see if they were there yet, and they weren't. So I asked her to text me when they got there, and after about half an hour, I texted her again to see when they were leaving, and they'd already gotten there. I was annoyed again that she didn't text me to tell me they were there. I had a blast, but at some points I did feel rather left out. I hate feeling like an outsider! Again, I was in one of my moods, and I realize it was not a big deal. But, as the night went on and more people came, I loosened up and ended up staying out much later than normal and having more fun than I have in a long time.

Today, I'm off to visit a friend who served in El Salvador with me, and I'm in a good mood, so I will enjoy it while it lasts! Tomorrow is an MLK day of service all day (with all meals included even!) and Tuesday it's back to normal. I think knowing that I am doing something each day helps my mood significantly, gives me something to look forward to. But I still am not keen on BG. I am trying to make more of an effort to be social and take the initiative on social things, so we'll see.

Back at it, again?

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 23:17:37 GMT

Hi everyone,

I've been gone for a long time (I lurk on LJ almost daily, but seem to forget that I also have a blog and can post...). Last night, I decided that I really need to start blogging again to help mainly with stress issues, and to give me a break from thesis writing.

It's the first week of classes and I'm having trouble getting mentally back into academic land. I came back to school about a week before classes started, trying to give myself time to readjust, but with hardly anybody around, after the first couple days I realized quickly that I was lonely and started realizing I hate this town. To top things off, I have decided I am allergic to BG because I got sick just a few days after getting back. Nothing major, just a headache that wouldn't go away and prevented me from being able to do much more than watch movies. Speaking of, I did take myself to a movie. I saw Black Swan, alone. It was a great movie, but INTENSE. I loved every minute of it (ok, minus the seemingly unnecessary graphic parts), though driving home was a bit scary afterwards.

Yesterday was a super frustrating day at my assistanship. We had a meeting after school and realized that there was a giant miscommunication which was beyond our control but still would make us, the GAs, look bad. To top it off, the person whose "fault" it was is someone who thinks he is our supervisor and gives us "pet projects" to do. Luckily, it's not just us. One of the other people at the school let us vent a bit and said that he is bothering everyone. Right after we found out about this miscommunication, I received an e-mail from my thesis advisor asking me to give her a date for when I will submit my next thesis chapter. The two combined were enough to send me over the edge and affect the rest of the day. After I got home, I was still in a bad mood/overwhelmed, so I vented to a friend and decided to go to her place for a bit. I also decided I needed pizza and cheesy garlic bread,a decision I was sure I was going to regret later. I felt a bit bad last night after, but woke up in a GREAT mood this morning, so I guess it was all worth it :)

I am hoping to be done in August. It seems so far away but it is definitely going to creep up. I have 2 classes, a conference (or maybe two) to prepare for, thesis, and whatever else life decides to throw at me. At least I can make my classes work with my thesis stuff. Which makes life a bit easier.

I hope to keep blogging occasionally, and will try not to make it only a venting place :) Now, to kill time til Zumba starts, and finally head home for the day. I've been super productive b/c I have been on campus all day, but did not expect that at all.

Writer's Block: Cinco de Mayo

Wed, 05 May 2010 21:51:10 GMT

Do you celebrate your country's independence? If so, how?

View 1175 Answers

This is the first and probably only writer's block I'll respond to. But 5 de Mayo is celebrated in only one area of Mexico, commemorating the Battle of Puebla day. It is NOT independence day, and is an Americanized holiday, just another reason to party. That's my two cents!

El Sal trip pics

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:44:39 GMT

For those of you who read this and aren't on Facebook, here's a link to my pictures on Snapfish. I went to El Salvador to visit for a week and had a blast! Enjoy!

http://www5.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=3197773008/a=60277076_60277076/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

El Salvador and Ida

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:23:12 GMT

You may or may not have heard by now about the landslides in El Salvador from Hurricane Ida that have left 130+ dead. The department that was hardest hit was where I, along with all the other volunteers, did training the first few months in country. There have been casualties among host families, and the community of Verapaz that was most affected is one of the training communities. It's been called the worst natrual disaster since Stan in '05. Details are still pretty sketchy, and we're still finding out about host families and such. I just ask that you send your thoughts and prayers out to everyone there. It's pretty hard to imagine, especially since I have ties there. I want to just go back and help and do what I can, and just be with themBut, unfortunately, at least right now, I can't. I'm sure this will be a long rebuilding process and hopfefully . These families took us into their homes, were patient while we learned their language and culture, cared for us when we were sick and did everything they could to make sure we wouldn't get sick.

Happy Things

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 02:32:00 GMT

Slowly, life is starting to really seem like my icon. Things are all starting to fall into place. I have a job (kind of--substitute teaching at the local Catholic elementary school), and I just found out that I got accepted into my grad school program (Bowling Green State University in Ohio)!! It was a Peace Corps program, and there was a fellowship attatched, but unfortunately, I didn't get that part of it. I'm going in August. So between now and then, I need to file the FAFSAs, learn how to do my taxes on my own, and get a job so I can pay for grad school (or loans or whatever), and find somebody knowledgeable at financial aid because I have an educational award from AmeriCorps, but the details on exactly how to use it are sketchy. I'm super excited and really looking forward to the next step. And living alone again!

So if anyone has any advice or knows of anyone in the Bowling Green/Toledo area that needs a roomie or tips on housing or anything, shoot! :)

Oh, yeah, and today is my middle sister's 19th birthday so I am staying the night with her at school. Fun times.

So everything is slowly falling into place. Now if I could only find my missing meds and my mp3 player...(still living out of a suitcase, one that one of the animals decided to "christen" at that, and having two "homes" doesn't help things)!

Meme

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:44:24 GMT

You Crave an Exhilarating Life

Your dream is to live a life of inspiration, ideas, and wisdom.

There's so much to do in the world, and it's important that you accomplish something great.

You desire success, but not necessarily material success. Success could be helping others find the right path.

More than anything else, you want to reach your goals... no matter how high they may be.

The Sunset Test

Long overdue...

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:08:28 GMT

This entry is long overdue. I really haven't had much to post about since I've been home, but now some things are finally happening.

I am applying to grad school at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, to the Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural and International Education program. I take my GREs on Wednesday Feb. 25 and have spent most of my free time the past couple weeks studying vocab and reviewing math.

I think I've pretty much readjusted (I am still always cold, but that's WNY weather for ya!). I've kinda figured out how the world works again and am ready to start doing something with my time and making money again (once I get my GREs done that is). So we'll see.

For any interested, I got this e-mail a couple weeks ago about the Fresh Air Fund. They are looking for hosts and for college-aged counselors. I know most of you who read this probably don't fit the description, but I'll put it out there just in case. freshairfundcounselors.smnr.us/

That's all for now...will try to be more dilligent about updating and checking.

Fish out of water

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:19:36 GMT

As I'd probably said before, readjustment and culture shock is coming in waves. First it was the weather, then it was the hurry up attitude of everyone here in the States. Then, realizing that my relationships had changed despite my best efforts to keep in touch, and then realizing that with some friends you can just pick up right where you left off. Lately, it's the whole speaking English thing (I'm not so much thinking in Spanish anymore but I just can't think in English that quickly...earlier today I told my dad to "up" the window!) and feeling like a fish out of water. I feel like I've missed SO MUCH during the two years I was away, not only in my family's and friends' lives, but I feel so behind technology-wise and pop-culture-wise too. I got an mp3 player for Christmas and downloaded a bunch of Spanish songs because I don't know any of the new songs and still need that little piece of El Salvador with me. Same goes for my cell phone. My ringback tone and ringtone are both Spanish songs that remind me of life alla. And I just don't know how to act sometimes...I feel like I'm kinda bumbling about, but I don't really fit in. I need to eventually find a job, but the thought of job searching or making any kind of decision like that, terrifies me. So right now, I'm just chilling, trying to catch up on what I missed while I was gone, and taking life one step at a time. I do know that I will NOT be leaving the country for any extended length of time anytime soon.

Feliz Navidad

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 23:54:29 GMT

Just a quick update. Things have been crazy lately, so no time to post. But I am back Stateside. I got back yesterday (the 23rd) and for the first time was thankful for flight delays! I got delayed out of San Salvador by an hour, and would've missed my connecting flight in Atlanta had that not been delayed, too! I landed around 11 and finally got home around 1:30 am. It's still all surreal, not really hitting me yet that I'm home for good. But, on the upside, I talked to my little best friend today, and I am actually adjusting to the cold better than I thought. More thoughts on readjusting and post-Peace Corps reflections another day.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season.

Peace Corps Moments

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:59:07 GMT

Yesterday was a very typical day in the life of a volunteer, one of those days with lots of Peace Corps moments. My APCD came (the supervisor of the Youth Dev program), we had lunch in the pueblo, I had English class with the 6th graders (and they did AWESOME), then a parent´s' meeting where my APCD reminded them about the responsibilities of a volunteer (I'm requesting a replacement), the community's part, etc. One of the things she mentioned was that they could teach me some cultural things, like learning how to make tortillas. So after the meeting, my best friend's mom passed by my house and told me to come to her house. I got there around 3 or 3:30 and stayed til dinnertime, so taking to heart what Steph said in the meeting, she decided to try to teach me how to tortillar. It didn't go so well..I don't possess the necessary coordination to make them! Everyone had a good laugh at my expense, it was good fun! Then, after dinner, I was running around with the girls because they were chasing chickens to catch them and put them in their pen. They solicited my help and I succeeded in chasing them but was too afraid to pick them up (yet the 2 year old goes and picks them up like it's nothing!). Good times!

Things workwise are good...my 3er ciclo kids (7th-9th graders) are awesome and finally have quitared their pena (shyness) and are starting to participate a lot more. They all know that they have certain phrases that they have to ask in English, including May I come in. So on Thursday the bell rang and some kids (and the prinicpal) were still outside, so those inside made everyone ask permiso to come in before they'd let them in the classroom. Then, they did the same thing for the principal! And when he refused, they made him stay out!

I have my official COS date...it's December 23, the same day I fly home. Just in time for Christmas! So providing I can stay healthy (or semi-healthy) between now and then, it will all be good. But that's easier said than done...I was hopsitalized a month ago with a sinus infection and put on IV meds because I couldn't handle them orally, and also have an inflammed colon because of the massive amounts of meds I've been on this year. So I'm on a no fat diet. It sucks. And I managed to get another uti, so I'm on yet another round of antibiotics (#10 or so this year alone). I just found this out so we'll see how I handle these meds...I've been on Bactrim before, and it's better than Cipro (which was the other option).

I'm excited to go home but am not sure exaclty how I'm going to manage to say goodbye and leave all these wonderful people behind...!

Thoughts on COS

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:35:12 GMT

Last week was my Close of Service Conference...which was all about taking the next step, how to wrap up our last 3 months, how to do our final reports, etc. I really wasn't prepared for the emotional exhaustion, but it took a lot out of me. I really hadn't thought much about COS til then. It was always some far-off date in the future. But it's all so real now...picking dates, scheduling interviews and medical examinations, writing our final reports (3 of them...I'm just about done with one!), etc. And once you look at it, there really isn't a whole lot of time left with all we have to do, saying goodbye, etc. Now that I have my date, I'm telling my community when I'm leaving (though it's complicated because I leave for 3 weeks in November to do a training in the capital, then come back for a week before I fly home) and it's starting to hit. Plus they're starting to take claims on my stuff, so I have to figure that out.

We were doing this guided fantasy and at one point, the person running it said to imagine your family meeting you at the airport. Your sister wanting to tell you about her new outfit, everyone trying to update you on the latest news. Then you get home...your mom goes to cook dinner, your dad's on the phone, and you're left alone, so you go to your room. That part really struck a chord. Here where everyone has time for everyone else and has the time to just "pasear" for a few hours at a neighbor's house drinking coffee and shooting the breeze. In the States, nobody has time for anyone but themselves. Everyone's in a hurry and doesn't have time to just sit and chat for a few hours (with exception of course). I'm afraid I'm going to get trapped into the consumerism and all the evils of US culture...and not fit in anymore because I've changed so much during these two years here (physically and otherwise). Plus the job hunt and all that goes along with that. We got a ton of resources at COS and part of me wants to hit the ground running, but I know that I'd hit a brick wall eventually. They tell you to wait a few months for a reason! So I'll just chill and see where the wind takes me. I can always get a job translating at a hospital...certainly have the medical vocabulary! Eventually I would like to live overseas I think...but extending here or somewhere else a 3rd year isn't an option. I need to go back to the States and get healthy again. As it is right now, I'm fighting respiratory issues still (which are better now, but still always an underlying issue) and an inflammed colon due to being on too many antibiotics in the past few months...that landed me in the hospital a couple weeks ago. So I'm on a no-fat diet (again...but different this time because I really can't tolerate anything greasy at all), which means lots of veggies and fruit but always being hungry.

I'm ready to take the next step...but also not sure how I'm going to leave everyone here.

Going to need a trip to Central PA for some pot pie and pb pie I think :)

Meme

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:14:54 GMT

Meme, stolen from mindykim
(the computer doesn't seem to want to post this right...apologies!)

Your result for The Heart Test...<h4>Slave to Emotions</h4><img src="http://is1.okcupid.com/users/200/416/2004179830107632772/mt1172806131.jpg" width="" height="" />
<div><center>
The Slave to Emotions 
Dependent, Idealistic, Intimate, Indulgent 
</center>You are the most emotional of hearts, the Slave to Your Emotions. You crave love, and have high standards for love. You are very intimate and value harmony with a mate. Sometimes you may feel that you are over-emotional and see this as a curse at times, because you are so emotionally-charged, and you so greatly desire love. You might want to break the emotional chains that bind you, but find that the ideals of love and intimacy are firmly shackled to you and cannot be severed. 
Matches for the Slave to Emotions: 
<a href="http://www.okcupid.com/tests/describescore?testid=4870700699364858717&category=5">The Bleeding Heart</a> 
The Bleeding Heart is idealistic and indulgent as you are, and just as love-needy, making for lots of shared common ground. You'll also find the Bleeding Heart to be more passionate and fun-loving, something that at first might turn you off, but you will find this will provide a perfect balance to your intimate nature. 
<a href="http://www.okcupid.com/tests/describescore?testid=4870700699364858717&category=15">The Heart of Gold</a> 
The Heart of Gold values harmony and unity just as you do, and shares your ideals of love and intimacy, but is more independent. The Heart of Gold will never leave you and always be there to love you, and this above all else you will appreciate. The Heart of Gold's loving nature will make you feel as if you have found someone to help carry your rattling emotional chains, and that they are glad to do it. 
<a href="http://www.okcupid.com/tests/describescore?testid=4870700699364858717&category=1">The Patron Saint's Heart</a> 
The Patron Saint's Heart craves love just as you do and value harmony and togetherness as well, but is more down-to-earth and passionate than you. However, you will value these more sensual qualities, and the Patron Saint's more protective and loving nature will make you feel loved needed, something value greatly. 
Your exact opposite is <a href="http://www.okcupid.com/tests/describescore?testid=4870700699364858717&category=8">The Lord's Heart</a>. 
Avoid Explicits when possible. They're open and frank nature is contrary to yours. You may also want to avoid Independents unless they have other qualities you seek to balance them out, as you are a person who craves closeness with another person.</div><a href="http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-heart-test">Take The Heart Test</a> at <a href="http://www.helloquizzy.com/">HelloQuizzy</a>

Pics

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:39:31 GMT

No time to write and entry but just wanted to post a link to new pics on my Facebook acct. I put the privacy as public, so everyone should be able to see them regardless of whether or not you have Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51501&l=7a142&id=558527273

Thoughts on COS

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:12:40 GMT

Things have been crazy lately, hence lack of an update. But this week is our COS conference, which means our group goes to the beach for 3 days and we talk about what we need to do in these last few months (as Jon pointed out, we will have exactly as much time left after the COS conference as we had in training--10 weeks) and we have to pick a COS date. So by Friday I need to tell Peace Corps when I want to stop being a volunteer! I'm not sure I'm ready for it. But at the same time I'm ready to leave and see what else is out there. I was talking with a couple of the 8th grade girls yesterday just shooting the breeze and realized that I finally have the much-coveted confianza with my community and the kids are comfortable just hanging out with me. I usually am not comfortable around teenagers but I felt totally at ease with them. And I realized that I am going to miss that, the warmth and curiosity of the people and just being able to hang out. Sometimes two years is just not long enough because it takes about a year or so to get that confianza with your community and to figure out what exactly it is you're there to do and how things work. This year work-wise, despite health issues and being out of my community a lot, has been amazing. I have a great English teacher who is taking advantage of me being there and has a lot of ganas to work, and is totally open to new (and sometimes funky) teaching ideas. It's been a struggle getting the kids up to where they should be and getting them talking but I can see their progress. So hopefully he will take what I have given him and run with it. And I'd like to request a replacement volunteer so hopefully s/he can pick up where I left off and do all the things I just never got around to doing.

I'm going to miss all the friends I've made, but like I said earlier, I think I'm ready. It's been a rough year health-wise (I've been sick with something or other since March, and ended up in the hospital on IV meds last week) and I think I need to live Stateside for awhile. Now to figure out what I want to do! I've pretty much decided I still enjoy teaching, but do not necessarily want to teach Spanish. I really like ESL and working with people. We'll see what pans out...I can always sub for awihle when I'm home and go from there.

And, randomly, today was a weird day. It was one of those days where everything worked out. I needed to find a random stomach medicine in La Palma, and the second pharmacy I went to had it. I had to meet one of my scholarship kids and was worried because I hadn't been able to get a hold of him. But he texted me today and we met. I also managed to meet my other scholarship girl and talk with her. And I found a bunch of good DVDs (Wall-E in English, Harold and Kumar 2, and some others), plus a CD with random 80s music translated in Spanish (Total Eclipse of the Heart, Lady in Red, etc). The CD may not sound like anything special but it's part of the Salvi experience. And I bought a mixed CD with Low. Great day!
Well, all for now...I've been online for way too long and nowhere near done, but it's time to call it quits for today. Happy weekend all!

Meme

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:23:11 GMT

A fun meme because I'm waiting for a friend at the ciber...bolded ones apply to me. Cheers!

appearance:
- i am 5'4 or shorter.
- i think i'm ugly.
- i have many scars.
- i tan easily.
- i wish my hair was a different colour.
- i have friends who have never seen my natural hair colour.
- i have a tattoo.
- i am self-conscious about my appearance.
- i have/had braces.
- i wear glasses.
- i'd get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free, scar-free.
- i've been told i'm attractive by a complete stranger.
- i have had more than two piercings.
- i have had piercings in places besides my ears.
- i have freckles.

family/home life:
- i've sworn at my parents.
- i've run away from home.
- i've been kicked out of the house.
- my biological parents are together.
- i have a sibling less than one year old.
- i want to have kids someday.
- i have children.
- i've lost a child.

embarrassment:
- i've slipped out a "lol" in a spoken conversation.
- disney movies still make me cry.
- i've snorted while laughing.
- i've laughed so hard i've cried.
- i've glued my hand to something.
- i've laughed till some kind of beverage came out of my nose.
- i've had my trousers rip in public.
- i've had stitches.
- i've broken a bone.
- i've had my tonsils removed.
- i've sat in a doctor's office with a friend.
- i've had my wisdom teeth removed.
- i've had serious surgery.
- i've had chicken pox.

travelling:
- i've driven over 200 miles in one day.
- i've been on a plane.
- i've been to north america.
- i've been to niagara falls.
- i've been to japan.
- i've been to europe.
- i've been to africa.

experiences:
- i've been lost in my city.
- i've seen a shooting star.
- i've wished on a shooting star.
- i've seen a meteor shower.
- i've gone out in public in my pyjamas.
- i've pushed all the buttons in a lift.
- i've been to a casino.
- i've been skydiving.
- i've gone skinny dipping.
- i've played spin the bottle.
- i've crashed a car.
- i've been skiing.
- i've been in a play.
- i've met someone in person from the internet.
- i've caught a snowflake on my tongue.
- i've seen the northern lights.
- i've sat on a roof top at night.
- i've played chicken.
- i've seen the rocky horror picture show.
- i've eaten sushi.
- i've been snowboarding.

relationships:
- i'm single.
- i'm in a relationship.
- i'm available.
- i'm engaged.
- i'm married.
- i've gone on a blind date.
- i've been the dumpee more than the dumper.
- i have a fear of abandonment.
- i've been divorced.
- i've had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.
- i've told someone i loved them when i didn't.
- i've told someone i didn't love them when i did.
- I've kept something from a past relationship.

sexuality:
- i've had a crush on someone of the same gender.
- i've kissed a member of the same gender.
- i've had sex with someone of the opposite gender.
- i've had sex with someone of the same gender.
- i've had sex with more than one person at the same time.
- i am a cuddler.
- i've been kissed in the rain.
- i've had sex outdoors.
- i've hugged a stranger.
- i have kissed a stranger.
- i have had sex with a stranger.

honesty/crime:
- i've done something i promised someone else i wouldn't.
- i've done something i promised myself i wouldn't.
- i have lied to my parents about where i am.
- i am keeping a secret from the world.
- i've cheated while playing a game.
- i've cheated on a test.
- i've driven through a red light.
- i've been suspended from school.
- i've witnessed a crime.
- i've been in a fist fight.
- i've been arrested.
- i've shoplifted.

drugs/alcohol:
- i've consumed alcohol.
- i smoke cigarettes.
- i've smoked pot.
- i regularly drink.
- i've taken painkillers when i didn't need them.
- i take cough medication when i'm not sick.
- i've done hard drugs.
- i've been addicted to an illegal substance.
- i can't swallow pills.
- i can swallow about five pills at a time no problem.

mental health:
- i have been diagnosed with depression.
- i shut others out when i'm depressed.
- i take anti-depressants.
- i have an eating disorder.
- i've slept an entire day when i didn't need it.
- i've hurt myself on purpose.
- i'm addicted to self harm.
- i've woken up crying.

death:
- i'm afraid of dying.
- i hate funerals.
- i've seen someone dying.
- i have attempted suicide.
- someone close to me has attempted suicide.
- someone close to me has committed suicide.

random:
- i can sing well.
- i've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant (not a fast food place, but does stealing trays from Baker count?).
- i open up to others too easily.
- i watch the news (when I have access to a TV).
- i don't kill bugs.
- i hate hearing songs that sacrifice meaning for sake of being able to rhyme.
- i fucking swear regularly.
- i sing in the shower.
- i am a morning person (not by choice).
- i paid for my mobile phone ring tone.
- i'm a snob about grammar. (Spanish grammar at least)
- i am a sports fanatic.
- i play with my hair.
- i have/had "x"s in my screen name.
- i love being neat.
- i love spam.
- i've copied more than 30 cds in a day.
- i bake well.
- my favourite colour is either white, yellow, pink, red or blue.
- i don't know how to shoot a gun.
- i am in love with love.
- i am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
- i laugh at my own jokes.
- i eat fast food weekly.
- i believe in ghosts.
- i am online 24/7, even as an away message.
- i can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.
- i am really ticklish.
- i love white chocolate.
- i bite my nails.
- i play video games.
- i'm good at remembering faces.
- i'm good at remembering names.
- i'm good at remembering dates.
- i have no idea what i want to do for the rest of my life.
- my answers are totally honest.