Public service announcement: To all my fans, but especially those who live alone. Please take my advice very seriously as it is offered through experience.
We are on the brink of cold and flu season. Make homemade chicken soup, fresh squeezed orange juice, or whatever your preferred "sick" foods are NOW while you are healthy and freeze them for later. Also, stock up on OTCs NOW bc once you get sick, you are not going to have the strength to go out and get this stuff yourself, and no one is going to rescue you bc they don't want to get sick either.
Thank you.
(written while wrapped in layers of blankets with used Kleenex strewn all around)
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Here I am!
I bet you thought I wouldn't keep updating this old thing now that I am gainfully employed. Hah! Here I am again to give you an update on my amazing adventures through daily life.
Job: I just found out that I can't actually use my employer's name while social networking/blogging without their prior permission so I will just refer to it as... Lemons. Working for the Lemons is amazing! My department is quite small (6 people) but everyone is very nice and welcoming. Last week was a little chaotic because it was the biannual reunion of the Lemons' planning committee and included Lemons and professional consultants from the World Health Organization, the Carter Center, and the International (I can't remember the full name). They flew in from Sri Lanka, India, Geneva, and Japan and spent an entire week hammering out the details of this year's grant applications and future policies on different subjects. I will admit, I was very intimidated at first. But at the end of the day, they were all normal people and very friendly.
After being a fly on the wall for a week and eating my fair share of catered meals, it was time to get into the nitty gritty. This week will be spent with the girl I am replacing. She is going through all 50 of the current Latin American grants, explaining where we are at, the behind the scenes (and not so behind the scenes) politics involved with Lemons' projects, and what's on the radar in the next 6 months. She explained the potential travel schedule (looks like Colombia might be my first stop come November) and the impromptu televised interviews that these will more than likely involve (ahhhh....). And that's about all I can report on the job front for right now. Ask me more about it in a month.
Home: After looking around Berwyn and Oak Park a little bit I decided to take my friend Tony's advice and live where I want to be during my evenings and weekends - Chicago. Kelly spent her entire Sunday traipsing around the Northern barrios, looking for rentals and we hit the jackpot! Tomorrow I will be putting in an application an apartment in North Park right near North Park University. Its a beautiful, character filled one bedroom with formal entryway, living room (built in bookshelves and fireplace), dining room, a good sized bedroom, an interesting kitchen, and an awesome bathroom with old fixtures and yellow and black subway tiles. It was love at first sight! So please keep your fingers crossed that my application goes through!
What else can I tell you? Paco is going through the tourist visa application process and we will know on September 13th whether or not he can come and visit me here in the States (once again, please keep your fingers crossed.) And that's about it folks.
I wish you all a good night~
Job: I just found out that I can't actually use my employer's name while social networking/blogging without their prior permission so I will just refer to it as... Lemons. Working for the Lemons is amazing! My department is quite small (6 people) but everyone is very nice and welcoming. Last week was a little chaotic because it was the biannual reunion of the Lemons' planning committee and included Lemons and professional consultants from the World Health Organization, the Carter Center, and the International (I can't remember the full name). They flew in from Sri Lanka, India, Geneva, and Japan and spent an entire week hammering out the details of this year's grant applications and future policies on different subjects. I will admit, I was very intimidated at first. But at the end of the day, they were all normal people and very friendly.
After being a fly on the wall for a week and eating my fair share of catered meals, it was time to get into the nitty gritty. This week will be spent with the girl I am replacing. She is going through all 50 of the current Latin American grants, explaining where we are at, the behind the scenes (and not so behind the scenes) politics involved with Lemons' projects, and what's on the radar in the next 6 months. She explained the potential travel schedule (looks like Colombia might be my first stop come November) and the impromptu televised interviews that these will more than likely involve (ahhhh....). And that's about all I can report on the job front for right now. Ask me more about it in a month.
Home: After looking around Berwyn and Oak Park a little bit I decided to take my friend Tony's advice and live where I want to be during my evenings and weekends - Chicago. Kelly spent her entire Sunday traipsing around the Northern barrios, looking for rentals and we hit the jackpot! Tomorrow I will be putting in an application an apartment in North Park right near North Park University. Its a beautiful, character filled one bedroom with formal entryway, living room (built in bookshelves and fireplace), dining room, a good sized bedroom, an interesting kitchen, and an awesome bathroom with old fixtures and yellow and black subway tiles. It was love at first sight! So please keep your fingers crossed that my application goes through!
What else can I tell you? Paco is going through the tourist visa application process and we will know on September 13th whether or not he can come and visit me here in the States (once again, please keep your fingers crossed.) And that's about it folks.
I wish you all a good night~
Friday, August 5, 2011
52 job applications and 11 interviews later....
...and I am gainfully employed!!! Woohoo! Its your birthday! Shake your booty!
I am officially the Latin American and Caribbean Sights program coordinator for Lions Clubs International Foundation based out of Oakbrook, IL. I get to assist the entire Spanish speaking world as they apply for Lions Club grants related to blindness prevention.
I won't lie, I'm nervous. This is a business suit kind of job that deals with health ministries all over the world and foreign dignitaries. (ahhhh....) My future boss told me we help write blindness prevention policy in other countries. (double ahhhhhhh.....).
Deep breath. Its going to be awesome! (I hope I don't throw up from nerves on my first day.)
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Creative Solutions
Last week
was a little rough here in El Salvador. Between the rain, Paco working, and the random throat infection that I mysteriously contracted (it wouldn´t feel like El Salvador if I wasn´t taking some sort of antibiotic), by the end of the week I was starting to feel a little caged in. Being the creative problem solver that he is, Paco jumped to my rescue. First he took me on a scenic drive along the coast where I got to witness him and his skateboard friends clocking 30 to 40 miles an hour around tight curves on a steep downhill road (it was simultaneously nerve wracking and exhilerating). Then we stopped at El Zonte (a beach that I have never been to before) for a quick splash and lunch. Later in the week, he taught me how to create designs out of batik, popcorn kernels, rubber bands, and indigo. Then we went to a bead store, bought a bunch of materials, and he told me to teach him how to create something. Although he still has not sat down to string a single bead, Monica and I have been having a blast! Posted are the designs I have created so far.
This was all follo
wed by Paco requesting some homemade American food. What did I make? Italian pasta salad, curry shake and bake, and cheese cake. There was a slight set back when I realized the oven was out gas but by 10pm the kitchen was once again functional. Moral of story, if you find me pacing the floor and looking like I am going to yank my hair out with boredom, expose me to fresh air, give me some fabric and beads to play with, and tell me you love my cooking. I will quickly perk up and be happy as a clam. Oh, and always check your gas supply before undertaking a large meal :)
was a little rough here in El Salvador. Between the rain, Paco working, and the random throat infection that I mysteriously contracted (it wouldn´t feel like El Salvador if I wasn´t taking some sort of antibiotic), by the end of the week I was starting to feel a little caged in. Being the creative problem solver that he is, Paco jumped to my rescue. First he took me on a scenic drive along the coast where I got to witness him and his skateboard friends clocking 30 to 40 miles an hour around tight curves on a steep downhill road (it was simultaneously nerve wracking and exhilerating). Then we stopped at El Zonte (a beach that I have never been to before) for a quick splash and lunch. Later in the week, he taught me how to create designs out of batik, popcorn kernels, rubber bands, and indigo. Then we went to a bead store, bought a bunch of materials, and he told me to teach him how to create something. Although he still has not sat down to string a single bead, Monica and I have been having a blast! Posted are the designs I have created so far.This was all follo
wed by Paco requesting some homemade American food. What did I make? Italian pasta salad, curry shake and bake, and cheese cake. There was a slight set back when I realized the oven was out gas but by 10pm the kitchen was once again functional. Moral of story, if you find me pacing the floor and looking like I am going to yank my hair out with boredom, expose me to fresh air, give me some fabric and beads to play with, and tell me you love my cooking. I will quickly perk up and be happy as a clam. Oh, and always check your gas supply before undertaking a large meal :)
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Suchitoto
After almost 4 years of living in El Salvador I finally made it to the infamous Suchitoto! Although insufferable humidity and an extremely tight budget prevented me from partaking in what this colonial pueblo is best known for (souvenir shopping and ecotours) I managed to enjoy myself with the beautiful views and great company =)The Saint Lucia church was constructed in 1853 and appears to be under renovation. First thoughts upon entering, ¨This place smells old!¨
Meanwhile, Lake Suchitlan was artificially created in 1973 and features a number of islands, wildlife, and a quaint ferry that believe it or not can carry 4 cars or 100 people!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Colorful Inspiration
Hi everyone! I am writing this blog entry extremely quickly in an attempt to get everything in before Jack comes home and starts banging on the computer. The job hunt it now up to 50, the most interesting entries being...
47. Rotary International (yet again) - Promotion/Program Coordinator
48. Downer's Grove Public Library - Children's Librarian
50. Lions Clubs International - Sight Program Coordinator for Central America
Yes, that last one would be a 50% international job. What can I say? I just can't get enough of Central America.
I received some good news and bad news and questionable news in response to a number of my previous applications. For example...
Good: "How about a second interview on Thursday?" and
"We actually have two children's librarians who are leaving." (YEAH!)
Bad: "Unfortunately, we filled the spot with someone who is more qualified than you." (Hey!!!)
Questionable: "You are an awesome candidate and highly qualified for this position but unfortunately you do not fall into the 'non-competitive status' category". (What does that even
mean?)
Aside from all that, I have been doing GREAT! Aunt DD has me landscaping her yard and although we disagree on most things gardening related, it is somehow coming together. I went to the Chicago Botanical Garden with my good friend Sarah for some inspiration. Check out her amazing pictures here.
I saw an AMAZING fireworks show at my Aunt Betty's
house over the weekend and played a frighteningly competitive round of Monopoly. (Voices were raised, small green houses were chucked across the table.) I'm creating beaded lace necklaces if anyone is interested in purchasing one for a small donation to my personal unemployment fund (hint, hint). And, I'm going to visit Paco in El Salvador this weekend. Yeah! I don't think summer gets much better than this.
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