Quote

It is one thing to talk abstractly about human goodness and our
potential to be kind, but it's quite another to come into direct
contact with hundreds of real stories of real people exercising their
power to heal, to help each other, to make a difference."
--Caroline Myss

Well, I've got about 80% of my stuff out of the apartment thanks to my dad coming down with a truck today. Tomorrow I will weed through some paperwork, head to the doctors for the completion of my physical, and start cleaning. I want to have everything done by friday morning, so that I can get my landlord in there friday afternoon of sat. morning in order to cut me a check. On a good note, my spanish is picking up pretty well because I've been spending a lot of time hanging out with Kristen and some guys from the salsa club. I've learned that it's a lot easier (and MUCH more fun!) to learn new words and frases from real people and experience that it is from a book. Ok...i'm off to bed. Got a few long days ahead of me....heck, it might be a long 10 days!

Busy

Hey all. Just running around like a chicken with it's head cut off these past two days. Trying to get packed and cleaned and all that other stuff before this weekend. Guess I'm starting to feel that pressure a little bit. Some good news: My professor wrote me and gave me the numbers and email addresses for his parents (doctors in San Pedro Sula) in case I would like to stay there for a day or two or get picked up from the airport or have emergencies......most of you know I'm pretty shy, but if I'm going to do this World Traveling thing I better start making connections and get over myself, right? I need to grab some food and get back to my place before my grandparents get there. I'm out of boxes and tape again!

ME

Very Brief

I apologize for making this so short, but I have my FINAL final exam in about 10 minutes (i should be studying, but haven't had much luck with that!). Been having a hard time realizing that I'm leaving so haven't gotten as much done as I could...but for those that know me well, you know that I am a definate last minute person. I seem to work best under pressure, so no worries...all will be done. Well, better get upstairs and at least do a quick review of the main events in South American history so that I can write a decent essay.
~*~ me ~*~

Estoy un poquita enferma

Well, not to much to update on right now. Except that this is my last week at work, and I am sick. I thought it was allergies, the doctor said a minor case of upper respiratory infection (yay) which I'm starting to agree with seeing as there is a constant pressure in the top part of my lungs. Don't worry. I've been resting and drinking and taking pills. Of course, it happens the week I was planning on a salsa dancing marathon with Kristen, but I don't think I'll be going out tonight OR tomorrow. I have to rest so I can at least be ready to go dancing friday and hopefully saturday as well. Oh well, there's always next week. I better get to class! CIAO

I agree

"Every person has to seek in their own way to make their own self more noble and to realize their own true worth. You must give some time to your fellow man. Even if it's a little thing, do something for those who have need of help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. For remember, you don't live in a world all your own. Your brothers and sisters are here too." --Albert Schweitzer

Welcome to August

August 2nd?! Where does time go... I sent in my acceptance packet and materials for the Costa Rican Work Visa Application today and put down a $1000.00 down payment on friday, which officially puts me a few steps closer to moving to Costa Rica. I spent a few hours talking to Kristen sunday night (she just returned from one month in Copán) and I'm fueled from hearing how great her month was; her and courtney are having/had SOOOO much fun that I can't wait to get there. I keep doing a little bit of packing here and there and have taken a few boxes to my dads...nothing much, but enough considering I'm pretty busy with a lot of different things right now (mainly school). It's just that I'm so antsy to go, if you've ever had that feeling around christmas/birthday time where you know someone bought you that present that you really REALLy want, but you CAN'T have it until that ONE day...it's like that, but much more intense. Of course I'm still nervous, this is a huge change for me and room for a lot of error/problems, but I'm ready. So ready.

I've been doing some thinking about what I want to do with my time while I'm down there, and aside from the obvious (studying spanish, meeting new people, learning new things, volunteering, etc) there's some things that I'm really looking forward to doing:

• I want to reflect on Life. Yes, it sounds corny but I learned alot during my time in school and it's time to sit back and assess it all, come to some conclusions of my own. Start seeing what I feel is truly meaningful and important to me, find what it is I miss the most and what I am able to live without. Find out more about the World and its People. Figure out how people manage to get by without all/most of the things we're told we must live with and still manage to be happy...are they truly happy?! What do I really believe in? WHat are my strengths? Weaknesses?..........I could go on forever, but I feel that I'll be in a better position to think about these things down there, where there is often such a tranquil environment that has the awesome ability to instantly quiet your mind as it demands that you respect it peacefulness...not to mention all the free time I'll have.
• I want to read! No more 100+ dollar text books that somebody else requires that I read. I want to read something that I find enjoyable. Take a mental break. And then, when I'm ready, I'll go back to the intellectual stuff!
• Taking a break from US Politics and depressing over-hyped media coverage of all things negative. I've told some people this, but I've been without a TV in my home for about TWO years now, and I only occassionally watch TV with other people. But, without it, I have felt better than ever, less depression less despair about the World, and I've been able to get more done, I rarely miss it. All this is good of course, because I'm going to end up going another 15 months without it, so I won't be missing anything.

Ok, there's much more to this but I need to stop writing and get some other things done. I will check in again soon.