Preparing various futures

2-24-10
Before bed, I decided to write down cities that I am considering looking for jobs in post grad. Yes early, but this way I can start making a list of places for employment in each of these cities. There were several qualifications: 1) Big city, 2) Some form of sports team in the area or easy to get to and last 3) A good music scene. My list is the following as of now in no order, and these are just possibilities: Phoenix, LA, San Francisco/Oakland, San Jose, San Diego, Denver, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Cincinnati, Austin, NYC, Charlotte, Boston, DC, Baltimore, Atlanta, Detroit, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, New Orleans. This is all subject to change but I need to start look at possibilities to start preparing. On the same thought process, I am thinking I might need to start looking for a summer job soon, maybe. I would like to have something lined up by the time I come back stateside. So I need to get the ball rolling on that.

Today, I woke up and got my stuff together and formally checked out. I had breakfast and read. Then read some more. I wrote in my journal. Then I watched Lost and talked to Abbey for a bit. Then I grabbed lunch and read some more. I am nearing the end, so a run to a bookstore is in order soon because I only have 20 pages left. I have been hanging out for a little bit. My 14 hour bus leaves in like 3 hrs hence why I am writing this now. I also made some emails. I find out my camera´s fate tomorrow. I am a bit nervous. I am expecting the worst or if it is alive, I am sure it might be cheaper to buy a new one than repair it and I would have a replacement sooner :D.

Mom and Dad, if you read this entry, I will email you two when I find out what happens so we can figure out the next course of action. Love, Jack

Walk, Run, Fly or "Excuse me while I kiss the sky"

2-23-10

I woke up around 9:30 so I could have breakfast. I ate some crossiants which hit the spot. I read during this time. The book is really picking up and I will probably finish by Sunday at the latest. I then showered and got ready for the day. After reading for a bit, I walked around and grabbed some lunch. I then went back and relaxed some more, including reading. Like I said, hard to put down. I was slightly second guessing my decision to go paragliding.

Eventually, the van came and picked me, and two girls from Buenos Aires up. We picked up a German from another hostel, and headed out on our bumpy way. We passed many places I had yet seen including a Walmart (weird). Eventually, we picked up the people flying with us, along with the gear. Then we headed up high, very high. The road was windy around a mountain. I fought slight motion sickness along the feeling that the truck was going to fall off the cliff. It was really scary. Eventually, after far too long, we got to the top. It was beautiful. I could see so much. Eventually, we put on our gears and got strapped to our guides.

First you walk, then you run, then you fly. I closed my eyes shortly after take off but eventually I felt comfortable. It was amazing. I so could do this again. I loved it. The rush was enjoyable. I was around 2000 meters if not more above the ground. I really enjoyed it. My guide was really cool. Eventually, we tried some tricks like going really fast in a circle, but this got me sick so I told him not anymore. We eventually hit the ground, with my butt instead of my feet but I was ok. We enjoyed a nice cold beer after which helped me relax.

After back the hostel, I relaxed for a bit. I then headed out to drop off a roll of film. Then I wrote this (the computer at my hostel is broken). The rest of the night´s plan, eat dinner, pick up my photos, then read and relax.

Lost Photos

I woke up around 9ish and hung out for a bit. Then Michele, Natalia and I ran some errands. We stopped for breakfast. After, we went to a Bolivian tourism office since the girls are headed there next. After we went to an office where Natalia asked about Machu Picchu. You can helicopter up but it costs over $500. Then Natalia went one way, and we went the other. We dropped off Michele´s camera which broke yesterday to try to get fix. Then she went into a clothes store and I in a bookstore. I looked at the shelves and pondered various choices. I was going to do the Lord of the Rings but they didnt have the Fellowship. I ended up buying the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I am excited.

At the hostel, I relaxed and talked to Abbey for a bit. I grabbed lunch and relaxed before the school. At the school, I got my group changed to the oldest group. I am also tutoring in the first part. It was fun but two girls were having a lot of trouble which was kind of frustrating. After in the circle, we talked about cleaning up. In my new family, we chose Colombia. We discussed what we know, but have some learning to do. We then had our meeting.

At the hostel, I relaxed and ate food. I tried to move files from my computer to my harddrive. Unfortunately the computer froze when I moved the photos of the kids. When the computer restarts here, any new stuff gets deleted. So I lost all my photos of the kids. After I had three people calm me down, I realized it could be worse. I could have lost my pictures from yesterday. I have four days to make up for the ones lost. It won´t be the same but something is better than nothing. It majorly sucks but I will have to deal.