[20.11.2002]
As predicted, the dating thing didn´t really set. Anyhow, I´ve had a great, if busy, month. I went to the beach to catch the meteor shower but we were two days early. We tried to get a glimpse at the meteor "storm" on monday, but it was raining all over SJ, so we gave up and went home.
My ex called me while I was at the beach and left me a message on the voicemail. It really caught me off-guard. I called back and got voicemail again, and then she called me, we talked some and decided it would be good to go out for coffee and chat on. Since I manage a weird schedule, there was no set date, just a "call me when you´re available". And thus, I called a few minutes ago because I didn´t have anything to do in the afternoon except run a zillion errands.
I´ll log off now and get a head start on them.
[13.11.2002]
I have to admit that life is moving quite smoothly, even if it´s the end of the busiest semester in my life as a student (which basically sums it up).
Halloween caught me dressed as a ladybug, and it met with general approval at the halloween get together my sister and me hosted at our appartment. She dressed as El Chapulín Colorado.
I´m seeing someone right now and while its been fun, I´m really not that interested. I enjoy the times we spend together, but I am aware that it´s not intended to last more than a little while. It could be my own self imposed emotional distance.
Next year´s Kinder University program is moving along. I´m very excited about its implications and all what I´m learning about education on site.
[19.10.2002]
I bought a sweater and a top today as I was browsing through secondhand stores. A 100% brown wool sweater, and a halter top from Abercrombie&Fitch. All for $4. A steal of a deal. And then I bought two magazines and then I bought makeup and a body spray and hair gel and moisturizer. I felt like shopping and I usually don't buy things for myself.
I'll be working next year as Education Coordinator for an NLP children's academy. I begin training possibly next week. I'm very excited, this opportunity landed on my lap at the best time. I've decided to stay at the sportbook until I get my Xmas bonus and then quit, with money in my bank account.
[12.10.2002]
This years has flown by. Its almost december and people are already decorating for Christmas. Ugh. Annoying carols pop into my head.
I'm going to a job interview next tuesday. There's a chance I could be working as a pre-school teacher at an NLP center here in Costa Rica, which also involves Montessori and Waldorf guidelines. This would mean that I'd start training later this month. I'm very excited about this, specially because it could mean that I'd finally be able to quit my job as a sportbook clerk. JOY!
This has also sent me into a mental spin, specially when I start thinking about all the things I want to do next year. I want to do my practice in Montessori, I want to take this job, I want to keep in school. I have eight courses left for graduation, and overachieving me wanted to take four first semester and four second semester, and add the community service term necessary for graduation, and therefore graduate march 2004.
For now, I'm thinking of taking the NLP teaching job, quitting my weekend job (which sucks anyway), and getting Montessori practice hours in the afternoon at a Montessori daycare run by one of my Montessori teachers, which is located a few blocks away from the NLP school. I'm thinking about how much I could learn by working next year but I am afraid I'm going to burn out. And I don't think I'll have time to pencil in my college courses. I need to figure out how it's going to work. Regardless, I'm excited.
My oldest brother is a Diving Instructor and I couldn't be more proud.
[22.09.2002]
Gender issues have become an Issue at the office, and I've decided that I didn't want to become involved. I've decided not to take it personally. After all, I realise that I'm not in any position to make claims. I know I'm working in a business where the main objective is to get more money, and our job is to get these people to wager and loose as much as they can, because that guarantees that we'll get paid. I do not have delusions of grandeur. I know why I'm working here (the money and schedule), and I know that I need to get my spiritual enrichment anywhere else.
I know that many would quit. I know that I should stand up for what I believe and claim that using women along with sexual references is wrong and should be stopped. But I'm working at a sportsbook. I know that other places are worse. I know I could be doing worse. I knew that the likelyhood of something like this happening would be high, and I prepared myself. I'm not planning on staying in this job for another year. I decide I'm not taking this personally. I'm still offended, but I'm dealing with people who've chosen to create a company that wins when other people lose. That's not the most ethical mission statement for a company. I know it. I knew it when I considered this job. Thus, I'm zipping this mouth... at least for the time being.
[15.09.2002]
"Lo que pasa es que mi familia es inmensa y mis abuelos eran inquietos, y en el Cartago de aquellos años no había tele."
Abel Pacheco, tras negar que favoreció a familiares dándoles cargos públicos
Costa Rica´s President portrayed in La Nacion´s weekly frase
A former Lincoln School student who I once bumped into a hallway has directed a documentary on Humpback whales in Costa Rica's coasts.
While kayaking last december in the small bay in Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste where our timeshare condo is located we rowed over a very big whale shark. At first I didn't know it was an animal, because I just saw a large dark shape in the water and I thought that it was strange that the ocean level was so shallow that there were rock ridges in the middle of the bay. But when we went closer, I realized that the white spots weren't rocks and that we were actually kayaking over a huge animal. My sister, who was rowing ahead of us, looked back when we yelped that something huge was swimming underneath our kayak and screamed back: Shark!. She claims she saw two big fins behind our kayak. Initially we thought we were talking about two sharks, but actually, whale sharks have two big fins.
Today is Costa Rica's Independence celebration. As ironic as it could be, its mandatory for teachers and students to attend the parades. By parades, I do mean little kids walking around for hours under the sun, with heavy clothing, and drums, xylophones, trumpets, and other unlikely paraphernalia in a country that pats itself on the back for not having an army but demands that little kids march in formation in a completely alien celebration of Independence.
Granted, we have a beautiful parade the night of the 14th, where we light lanterns and remember how people were walking around with lanterns during the night of the 14 of september, 1821 waking their neighbors to tell them the news of the independence. But school kids barely know this. All they know is that they'll get extra credit points for making or buying a lantern (even if it comes in the shape of a bear, harry potter or a pokemon).
[7.09.2002]
I was handpicked by the Costa Rican Montessori Association's President to work as an assistant guide in a Montessori environment that will be created during the 9th LatinAmerican Feminist Convention that will take place in december here in Costa Rica.
How did the Association's President know I existed? I visited her classroom last month and we talked for a long time about my interest in the Montessori Method. I found her to be a very interesting person and it was great talking to her. As luck would have it, she was in fact looking for an assistant and found someone who was already involved with the Montessori Method but who wasn't working and therefore could take the week off to go to the Convention.
I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity.
And this week I visited a school that had a preeschool, elementary and highschool that followed some Montessori guidelines, and after walking around the campus with the director, and talking about Montessori, she asked me if I wanted to work in that school next year. Alas, it was for an Elementary Teacher position and I need to work in preschool in order to finish my practice in the Montessori course. I let her know that if she had an opening in preschool, that I would be more than interested, and she told me that she'd definitely call me and have me over another morning to sit through some classes and see how the day progressed.
So things are looking up.
