Reno Happenings

My time in Reno has been fairly unremarkable. I am staying at a location right downtown, so most things are within walking distance, the weather has been wonderful, there are many things to do (even during what appears to be the downtime in which I came), and should you choose to gamble or go out for cheap meals, that is an option as well. Other than that, I am sure most people would be bored here.

Arriving late at night, I decided to stay at the La Quinta Inn close to the airport that first night. They offer a complimentary airport shuttle, breakfast that starts later than most, and as an Elite member, I get a bottle of water and a cookie upon check in :) Of course paying for it with points didn't hurt any either! I had a great night sleep, a bite to eat in the morning, and reserved a shuttle back to the airport for around noon (check out time).

I was a half an hour early for my car reservation but decided it was close enough. Not really knowing where I was going or how to get around, I felt that a car would be a good idea. Then I discovered that I was staying right downtown and just about everything was either within walking distance or reachable by the RTC Sierra Spirit! And if it isn't on this bus route (.25/ride), one could utilize the regular bus service RTC Ride. I could have saved a bit of money, but at least I am earning bonus miles for my trouble.

I have spent a lot of time in my room while here, and I am good with that. It has given me the chance to relax and recuperate and get work done. I did, however take walks around town nearly every day. I happened past the Bowling Center, the Automobile Museum, went down the River Walk, and even walked past City Hall which is conveniently located approximately 500 yards from two different wedding chapels!

I did also utilize the rental car. I drove to Carson City via Virginia City and Gold Hill, I went out to Sacramento and traversed Lake Tahoe on the way back. This involved traveling along the Mt. Rose Highway (is that its actual name?), which was a bit on the nerve-wracking side for me!

Last night I went to the comedy club "Catch a Rising Star" and had a few laughs, some at my own expense. Tonight it will be the planetarium where I will include two of the shows: "Extreme Planets & Starlight Express" (this may actually be two separate shows, but they are listed together) and "Pink Floyd's Darkside of the Moon." I am really looking forward to these. 

Travel Begins (MBS - DTW- SLC - RNO)

I arrived at the airport with plenty of time. When I got to security, I had all the stuff out of my pockets and my shoes loosened as MBS doesn't have TSA Pre-Check. As it turned out, they have implemented an expedited screening program.While one is still required to remove laptops and liquids from checked baggage, shoes and light jackets can be worn through the machine. As I travel wearing a leather jacket with all of my metal items in it, I took that off, but I left my boots on (thank you DoD for issuing a composite boot that won't set off the alarm).

True to form, during all of this I was a bit on the flustered side. I managed to drop my watch and not notice it for about 10 minutes after getting to my seat. Thankfully the airport is small and a security guard noticed me looking and asked if I had lost my watch. They captured the dropping event on video, so they knew it was mine, though they still grilled me about its description nonetheless.

The flight to DTW was uneventful. I ended up in the Southern side of the terminal (I think), and entered the Sky Lounge right as you exit the train that runs from one end of the terminal to the other. I had never been to this particular one. It was small by comparison, but still offered the same relaxing environment I have come to expect from Sky Lounges.

The DTW - SLC leg, while uneventful, left a bit to be desired. The flight attendant didn't seem to have her mind on the job, and I received a very lightly packed bag of peanuts! I managed to get a little sleep, so it ended well.

SLC - RNO was great. I was upgraded to first class, and while I had to sit near the window, I sat next to an elderly gentleman who owns car dealerships in Florida and Alabama and is on the Citrus Bowl committee. We chatted for most of the flight, and he offered me a ride to my hotel which I accepted. If this was to be any indication to my impending trip, it would be a good one!

The Flight Home! (TPA - FNT)

While I have been told repeatedly that Delta is not the way to go, I have stayed loyal to them for many years. I do not see that changing anytime soon unless something drastic happens. So, once again, I used them to get me back to my place of origin, or at least as close as I can get by air.

It started out as many other days. I awoke in a drab hotel room with very limited lighting, turned on the shower that would take 10 minutes to heat up to lukewarm (good thing there was little pressure as well), worked away at the spinach alfrado pizza from the previous evening, and tried to mentally prepare myself for the journey that lay ahead.

The hotel shuttle was scheduled to leave at 5:15am (the free breakfast starting at 5:30am of course), and my flight was scheduled for a 6:00am departure. The airport was almost 10 minutes away, so I was a little more worried than I normally am when I entered the lobby 5:05am. Fortunately, the driver was sitting on the lobby couch and pounced on the opportunity to ask if I was going to want a cup of coffee. I grabbed a coffee from the not yet open breakfast set-up, followed the driver to the van, and prayed that traffic would be light and the lights would be green.

We arrived at the airport safe and sound. I was going to check my backpack so I wouldn't have to deal with the inconvenience of carrying both it and my computer bag on board, but with running late, I barely felt like I had time to print the boarding passes from the machine (I had left my smartphone on the seat of my car at the airport in Flint! Apparently while the phone may be smart, I am not!). I rushed to the shuttle that takes one from that portion of the airport to security. By this time I was counting the seconds: they were already boarding my flight! Fortunately Tampa has TSA Pre-Check, so I was able to breeze through security at a fairly rapid rate. I made it to the gate where there was a long line. This was not general boarding yet, but there were already a large amount of people boarding. I got in line knowing what the end result would be: I would be unable to find a place for my backpack and would have to have them valet check it for me. I was almost right. Happily, while I didn't get upgraded, my backpack did!

The flight itself was uneventful. We arrived at the Atlanta airport where I would have a short hour and a half or so layover. We landed at gate B 33 and my next flight was at B 36! It was less than a five minute walk to the Delta Lounge where I decided to sip on an orange juice and surf the net. The next flight left on time. I missed getting upgraded on that flight by one; however, the middle seat was empty, so I wasn't complaining! I did manage to spill the apple juice I got on the plane though :(  Arrival in Flint was relatively painless. I had parked in the economy parking lot at around $6/day, and the shuttle took me right to my car. My phone was still there with the 5 missed calls I received, and I was on my way home to once again pretend to relax after the successful end to yet another journey!

Too Much Time?

Why is it that I always allot myself such an overabundance of time? While I hate being late, I know that others generally are, so I end up waiting not only the amount of time I am early but the amount of time they are late as well. It really adds up!

At the moment I am sitting at the airport waiting to board a plane for San Antonio. I arrived here just after 1 pm for a 4:00 pm flight. I had set up a fingerprinting appointment prior to the time I wanted to arrive at the airport. I was about half and hour early for the appointment, and didn't take very long to complete. I also easily found the airport from there. So, now I am spending an abundance of time at the airport wondering why I generally have such large amounts of time for waiting.

Of course I really don't mind. I have my laptop, my kindle, and I like to people watch; there are tons of activities I could easily participate in. I have always preferred to be early no matter how ok being late seemed to be. I guess it has just been instilled in me to such a degree that there is no changing it. And as long as I use that wait time to do something I enjoy, there is no need to attempt to change it anyway.

Where Have I been?

Create your own travel map - TravBuddy

The above is a map of the places I have been. It seems that there are still a number of locations left to go! I can only hope that I am able to get to them soon. What a strange thing to think about for me. And life continues to surprise me. 

It Truly is a Small World!

While sitting in the classroom waiting for the first class to begin, one of the other students and I struck up a conversation. We were talking about the difficulties that come with attending seminary and such things. As we talked, we happened onto my transient lifestyle.

It turns out that we were actually at Shindand Air Base in Afghanistan at the same time for about two months! This could be part of the reason that he looked familiar, though I tend to have that be the case even when there is no connection.

I wonder how many other connections I will come across in my time here.

International Flight from Hawler (Erbil/Arbil), Kurdistan, Iraq!

It seems that the Royal Jordanian EBL (Erbil) - AMM (Amman) - ORD (Chicago) is a very popular route. Not only were a number of passengers on both legs, but even the crew was the same! It was an odd feeling having the same flight attendant for two different flights, one just a few hours after the other.

The truly interesting leg of the flight was the one from Amman to Chicago. At first, I was sitting next to what turned out to be a soldier from Yemen on his first trip to American. And why was he going? He was in an instructors' course at the Defense Language Institute (DLI)! This connection with my former employer was unexpected at best.

In front of me was a woman from Israel, to my right was a family from Palestine. Just after we lifted off, the Palestinian man had me switch with his wife who was sitting in the seat in front of him as he wished to sit next to her. At that time, the people I was sitting next to were from Jordan. At first it was two teenage girls, but their mother and younger brother were seated closer to the front and kept visiting, and eventually changing seats.

The young boy, Jordan let us call him, was just under four years old and just recently graduated from pre-school. As such, he was overly energetic and was finding it difficult to sit still. I became his playmate for a portion of the trip. He had two toys: a tiger and a lion. We would use them to fight, he found it necessary to use the wet-wipes we received in order to give them a bath. Playing was fun, but it was not always easy to understand him. He was bilingual but was obviously more comfortable in Arabic as this is was the language he would use with me most often.

During play time, the mother was sitting next to him talking with the person at the end of the row. They soon turned their attention to me, and it turned out that the woman at the end was in a management position with the Modern Montessori School in Amman! She told me that I should send her my cv as they are looking for teachers for the fall! This means that I have to decide if I want to take a job in Jordan, Iraq or stay in the US. I could try to get a job in Denver and take residential classes in order to get my GPA back up and see what comes from it... Oh the decisions!

You Need at Least One Woman!

I have once thought this myself, and perhaps have even said it in jest, but the man behind the counter was quite serious in making this statement. It was Friday night, the weekend here in Iraq, and at the particular establishment we wished to enter, it was couples night. My friends who have been to the restaurant before had never heard of this, and as it was my last night in the city, and it was the only Chinese restaurant, they weren't going to back down without a fight!

The location: a hotel with a Chinese restaurant on the 6th Floor, which we were attempting to go to in Sulaimaniya, Kurdistan, Iraq. We exited the cab in front of the hotel, and entered through the main door: a large rotating, glass door that places you right in front of a metal detector. I take my phone, my money clip, my wallet out of my pocket and place them on the machine. Since there is no place to put my coat, I wear while I walk through the machine knowing it will go off. When it does, I start to take off my jacket. The guard stops me when I have opened it enough to show that I am not carrying a gun. A wonderful beginning.

It was after going through this rather minor inconvenience that we realized that we had entered through the wrong door, and that the old adage "you can't get there from here" actually did apply. So we went right back out the door and attempted to go in the correct one when we were stopped by the security guard who informed us that it was "Couples' Night".

The two friends I was with, an Iraqi and an American, decided that trying to deal with security was pointless; we returned to where we had just left. Fortunately it had been such a short time that the security guard allowed us to just go through. We approached the front desk and asked them about this rule and see if we could bypass it.

--It is couple's night. You must be a couple to go.
-- Well, in some places a couple can be two men, a boyfriend/girlfriend.
--That is country to country not universal. We have to listen to what the restaurant says.
-- Is it possible to sit down here and have them deliver the food to us.
-- No. But you can enjoy our Italian food.
-- My friend is gluten intolerant. He can't have pasta or pizza.
-- You can come back another night.
-- My friend is leaving tomorrow, and we are leaving not to long after that.
-- I am sorry.
-- Couldn't you just let us go.
-- It is the rules; you need have at least on woman. It is couple's night on weekends.
-- Do you know where we can get a woman?

We decided to try the Italian Restaurant. However, when we turned to leave, the person at the desk asked us to hold on. We sat in the lobby and waited. After the time it takes a person to smoke a cigarette, we were told that someone had come to take us up to the Chinese restaurant! We were escorted to the guard at the other entrance where we were stopped and told to wait. The security guard made a couple of calls on his radio, and begrudgingly let us enter.

The restaurant was almost completely empty, and never became any fuller the whole time we were there! Not too long after we ordered, what appeared to be the head of security approached us and asked us if we were "in the hotel". Of course we were not guests, and we told him so, though I am not sure it should have made a difference. He noted this on his clipboard and walked away scowling. We never saw him again!

Apparently, rules are rules, even if it costs you money, and you can get around those rules if you are persistent and the people feel there is benefit from doing so.... Oh, how I miss Iraq!

A Long Trip Home!

I am finally back in Standish visiting my brother. It took a long time to get here, and there were many side trips along the way. I returned to the US from Afghanistan in March. I did my out-processing in San Antonio, TX and then moved on to Dallas for a week to attend a conference. In an attempt to relax and learn a bit, I headed to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a couple of months. 

During that time, I took a weekend trip to Phoenix, Arizona and a week-long trip to Hawaii to take care of some school business. This made for a bit of a stressful situation that precluded the chance of any real relaxation. I also had a  week trip to Denver to add to that as well. 

When I finally found my way out of Mexico, I ended up in Toronto for 4 days or so! From there I experienced a number of delays and issues, but I finally made it here! This will last for a couple of weeks. I am not sure what I am going to do here, but I am sure I will think of something. I am hoping to be able to visit a few friends, take a test, and get some other little projects accomplished (though I am feeling very unmotivated at the moment).

All in all, this trip back to Michigan ended up taking just under 3 months to accomplish. I am in the process of looking for my next job. I thought I had two different ones, but apparently those aren't going to happen, and I have one that is a really good possibility, but I won't know anything for sure until about the middle of the month. I think I can hold on that long, but with the pay issues I have been having, I am not sure... I guess we shall see how it all works out. It has been an adventure.

Sleepless in Toronto

Seattle has the Space Needle; Toronto has the CN Tower, but apparently both are ripe with reasons to not sleep. Unfortunately, my reasons are less enjoyable than what could normally be the case. I arrived at my hotel a couple of days around 1:30am. I took some time to wind down and then finally went to bed to get 2 - 2.5 hours of sleep. I figured I would sleep the next night as I would be so tired from the days activities and not having slept that night.

The following evening, however, was even worse! Apparently the hotel at which I am staying does not have soundproof walls, though one would assume this to not be a problem. Sadly, there are currently a group of either high schoolers or first year university students staying in rooms on either side of me. They decided that Friday night was a good time to have a party, get drunk, fight, make a lot of noise, and stay up ALL night! And I suffered through it all. If I would have thought about it, I would have brought ear plugs along with me for just such an occasion. So, after a night with no sleep, I sat through presentations, went to a party, and finally returned to my room about 10:30pm. Of course sleep did not find me until around 2ish, but at least it was quiet!

Hopefully tonight will be quieter. I don't currently have anything planned for this evening, but that has been known to change very quickly here. I guess we'll just have to wait and find out. 

Flying Tomorrow

As many times as I fly, I am still a nervous wreck. I don't know what I am nervous about, and I really have no visions of anything bad happening. It is just this intense feeling of anxiety over nothing in particular. I know that when I am in the air, I will be in the ideal place to relax and think, but the night (or two or three) before, I try to eat, but nothing tastes good, I can't sleep, and all the things that I generally still find passably amusing are tasteless.

I have taken to deep breaths and looking out the window. It is relaxing, so I keep doing it. Perhaps one of these days I will have this under control and it will be the fun it should be.. Perhaps if I weren't transiting 3 countries in a day, things would be a bit different as well!

Finally, a Little Good News

I woke up late this morning after being up very late last night. I did my morning ritual of checking my email, and saw one from my job (which I technically separate from today) marked "URGENT". As I have been having pay issues, I was a little worried as to what might be in this email.

The email told me to call them as they had something important to tell me. This normally means bad news. Filled with apprehension, I called. The person told me that part of the problem with my pay had been that the payroll office hadn't imputed my travel compensation time. They had managed to fix that, and I should see the results early next month. Unfortunately, this is the only problem they have solved up to now.

So, for now, I will be happy with this and 'patiently' wait until the rest of the mess is figured out. If they still expect them to pay even more than they have already taken from me when they shouldn't have taken it from me to begin with, I am not sure what I will do. I have to wait for the results until I can even begin to figure out what to do about it.

And This to Shall Pass....

Well, as my time in Mexico starts to wind down, I am thinking more and more about my next step. I received word from the job I was really hoping for that they couldn't open my attachments. I resent the attachment, but they had already filled the position. At least my resume will stay on file.

I have heard once again, in a cc, from the Saudi position. The contract agent still hasn't heard from the company, which is why I haven't heard back from them. Perhaps that is still in my future, just a little later than expected. I will wait for that and the other positions I have applied to. Maybe none of them will materialize, and I will have to find something a bit out of the ordinary. That would be alright as well, though  a bit on the scary side.

I am still dealing with pay issues from my last job as well. I have requested a pay audit to see if things will get straightened out that way. As long as I don't end up having to pay more than they already took from me, I will almost count that as a success!

I guess for now I will just have to trust that things will turn out well and wait until they do!

Ramen and Wine.

What is better to have for lunch than Ramen noodles and red wine? That is what I decided to have today. At 3:30pm I poured myself a glass of red wine, poured my ramen soup in a bowl, and sat at the couch to divide my attention between the cooking show on Fox Life and the beautiful ocean view I have from my current living room.

Perhaps this relaxation activity is what vacation really should be about. There is no stress to get things done, no one telling you that white wine would be better with the chicken flavored ramen, and absolutely no pressure of people staring at you because you, as usual, just don't fit in. Perhaps it will also be educational as cooking shows can have numerous tips that could be incorporated in future actions. Perhaps I will even go somewhere and take a cooking class!!

In addition to the rather mundane exercises in relaxation, I also decide to start another, perhaps more appropriate, blog. You can find this blog at http://travelwithfear.wordpress.com/ . This is going to be a more travel related blog that discusses the issues I have with the things I do. It combines the idea of fear and travel and how one does not preclude the other. This is something that, believe it or not, is very close to my heart.

I think the rest of the day, and perhaps the rest of the weekend is going to be as equally unproductive as this morning and early afternoon has been. I will attempt to not feel guilty about it! I wish you all a great weekend!!

Breakfast Mission Accomplished!

The room at the Ramada Airport Hotel, which I booked with points, was pretty nice. Unfortunately we couldn't stick around for the free breakfast, but I did make some of the bad hotel room coffee before we left.  I didn't really sleep all that well, but I still managed to function well enough to get to the airport, wait for my friend to check her bag, and then head to Krispi Kreme for the classic glazed doughnut that my mouth has been unknowingly waiting for for many years!

In addition to the lovely, not quite hot, doughnut I purchased an English Breakfast Tea Latte from Starbucks. While it was alright, I would definitely not recommend this to people. I think I am just going to stick to coffees of the day from now on!

The Aeromexico Premier Lounge was a bust! As we had not yet been assigned to a gate, we decided to go to the lounge to see if they would let us in. Unfortunately, the person I spoke with did not seem to informed about the rules of entry or how to read the boarding pass that gave her all the information that she needed (and had proceeded to ask me). I read the rules before I went to the airport to be sure I knew what they were, and according to them, I should have been allowed in. Unfortunately, the woman at the door did not feel this way. We left and did some walking around while we waited for the gate to be assigned.

We arrived in Puerto Vallarta with high hopes. We had finished two things on our list of things to do today: get Krispi Kreme and get Starbucks. The only thing left was to go to the drop our clothes off at the laundromat. Unfortunately, being Sunday, it was not open, but we considered it a victory anyway because we actually went to attempt to do it!! 

Mexico City Airport Surprise!

This is the week my friend whom I haven't seen since my time in Iraq comes to visit! With proper excitement, I decide to meet her at the airport in Mexico City where she has a 21 hour layover... or whatever you want to call something like that. I diligently don't sleep, and leave the apartment in Puerto Vallarta around 4:30am to get to the airport on time to meet her.

My arrival to Mexico City is 3 hours before hers. To keep myself occupied, after figuring out that exiting with my luggage doesn't really mean exiting the building, I walk in the large area with shops, hotel representatives, restaurants, and rental car booths. Among these is a prominently placed Starbucks (right next to the Carls Jr.!). I know anything I decide to get there will be on the expensive side because it is at an airport, but I didn't eat breakfast, and I could really use a coffee!

I enter slowly. I don't want to spend any of my cash as I know I am going to need it later, and I am not sure I am going to be able to get any more. Then I notice a sign. It is something talking about the Starbucks reward card!! Previously I have been told it doesn't work outside of the US, but when I ask about it, sure enough, they take it! I purchased my slightly over priced over-priced coffee and go upstairs to the ticketing level to see what is there.

As I am walking, I notice a long line. When I look up to see what they are lining up for, I can hardly believe my eyes: it's Krispy Kreme! While I did not wish to wait in such a line today for a nice, hot doughnut, my friend and I probably will tomorrow. There is just something about an occasional bad for you breakfast that does something...

and perhaps I will attempt to get into the Aeromexico Lounge as well :) More on that as the situation develops. 

Water Taxis

Yesterday I managed to finally meet up with my friend and her family. Being the introvert that I am, I was a bit out of my element, especially since she wasn't too forthright in telling me who all the people were! Still, when she called and asked if I wanted to go to the beach with her and "her mother's family," I gladly said yes.

When she said "go to the beach" I was not anticipating getting into a boat and traveling out into the ocean to an island where we would eat at a medium priced restaurant. These water taxis are your normal small boats with a motor at the back that I would have road in to go fishing in the lake when I was younger. The trip over was relatively calm and smooth.

The island also presented no problem until the check came. The family did not want to pay the tip, and my friend was visibly upset by the discussion that was taking place. I just took deep breaths and tried to stay out of the way. I had no idea what was going on most of the time, and I think perhaps at this point, it was probably better that way.

The trip back was a nightmare! The boat, which appeared to be the same one, didn't seem to handle all the people quite as well as it did on the way over. It tilted to one side and was definitely back heavy as well. Every wave felt as if it would turn the boat over, and it was a bit rough that evening, so there were a lot of them. I was extremely thankful to make it back to shore again. All in all, a great day, but I don't think I will want to do it again anytime soon. 

HNL to PVR!

First one way, then the other. Isn't it amazing how this life works! The time in Hawaii was great,  as I have previously stated, and the travel back was much better than the travel there. The biggest reason was that I decided to finally use some of my hard earned miles to purchase a year membership to the SkyClub Lounge.  I have been in them previously and found them to be worth the $25 I payed for the day-pass with my Delta American Express. But a year's membership?

I am so glad that I did it! First of all, there is no free wifi at the airport in Honolulu, so this allowed me to have access to be able to chat and get some work accomplished. Then there were the free snacks and drinks. With the cost of food at the airport, these little tidbits were just what the doctor ordered! And while the crowd in Honolulu wasn't quite so bad, having access at LAX was wonderful! I had a four hour lay-over and being in a place that was quiet, and had an assortment of breakfast food available, allowed me to catch a nap before making my way to the plane that would take me to Puerto Vallarta!

I am not sure if I would get the value out of it if I had paid the monetary price or not, but I am going to find out! I will use it whenever I fly and do the research that will really tell me how often I have to use it to personally feel like I get the complete value out of it. I am inclined to think, however, that just for the drink and relaxation factor alone, it just might be....

Meeting Up in Hawaii

A Russian who has found a way to make the Big Island her home. She is an extremely hard worker who plays even harder! She has found a way to enjoy life, and has allowed the island to enter her blood and take hold. Will she ever really leave? Perhaps for vacation, but maybe for nothing else.

I met this woman while I was in Peru. Her sister, her, and I hiked up Machu Picchu and explored Cuzco together. I had arrived there a bit before her, and I took it upon myself to show her around. This time she returned the favor and then some! The food, the tour of the UH-Hilo campus, and the performance up near the ocean with the lava fields were all things that helped me actually feel that I was finally on vacation. Perhaps I can keep that feeling for some time longer.

A Georgian whom I had met during my time at school here. We met up for a sandwich and conversation. There was a lot of catching up that needed to be done for this immigrant who has started his own business and has run the Georgian-American cultural committee (or something like that). Very intelligent, he was where I went when I had cultural questions during my time in Georgia. He also took me to the airport. This was definitely not necessary, but I appreciated it.

A woman from Taiwan. I hadn't really kept in touch, though I had been kept updated through Facebook. She married an Italian and now has a baby. It was interesting to hear her story and all that was happening in her life.

Someone from high school. I didn't realize that this person was here when I was previously, but I knew he was here now. We met up on numerous occasions for dinner, just to converse, and he also allowed me to spend my first night on his floor. I was able to meet his Japanese wife and hear all about what has been going on in their lives. It was odd talking with someone I hadn't seen since 1997, but very interesting as well! I say bring on more of it!

The faculty was also great to see again. Perhaps I will be able to come back again sometime. It is difficult to come out to Hawaii, but when you get here there are ways to cut costs. I will have to work on that for later!

From Puerto Vallarta to Honolulu!

The day started very early, about 4am! I wasn't really ready for breakfast after only about 2 hours of sleep, but I had a couple of bananas, gathered my things and walked out the door! While not entirely sure, I had read somewhere that the buses didn't start running until 5:00am. That would be just about the right time, but I had to make sure to keep an eye out for taxis as well, just in case!

I started walking and waiting; I find it much easier to wait while I am doing something... something like walking..absolutely strange, I know, but such is life. As  I was going, I noticed just how easy it would be to get a taxi: they were absolutely everywhere! Armed with the knowledge of approximate price, I hailed one... and then another, and then another. The third or fourth one finally stopped! He wanted to charge me 100 pesos which is a full 20 pesos more than I was told it should cost (on the high end). So, I refused and kept walking. A few minutes later, the same taxi stopped and offered to take me for 'only' 80 pesos. Of course I accepted. When we finally arrived, I payed him 90 pesos. I wasn't going to, but it was the easiest thing to do.

No one was working yet, so I could relax a bit before I checked in. The flight itself was wonderful. The seats had individual screens with USB charging ports. They were comfortable, and the flight was not very long. I was flying from Puerto Vallarta to Mexico City where I would transfer for a flight to Los Angeles. This particular plane was going to continue on to New York City after the stop-over; I almost decided just to continue on to New York along with it!

The flight went smoothly, and just as we touched down, my overhead bin, out of extreme courtesy decides to open for me. Perhaps this wasn't such a good thing, but it seemed helpful at the time! It made up for the rather odd treatment at the priority screening line in Los Angeles. They sent me through the regular line right after allowing another to go through the priority line. Normally this wouldn't have bothered me, and it really didn't this time either, but the airport is really poorly set up. I flew into Terminal 2 from Mexico City, but I had to leave from Terminal 5. I didn't know at first, but there is no way to get there short of exiting Terminal 2 and walking around the outside of the airport until one arrives to Terminal 5. It seemed to take forever, and I had a very limited time after having spent a half an hour going through customs and immigration (which is currently another bone of contention with me).  I did make it, however, and I got to fly 1st class from both Mexico and Los Angeles!

Nacho Mayhem!

Well, it appears that I purchased way too many tortillas! I am just not good at that whole weights and measures thing, and it was easier just to ask for what he had just put on the scale than try to figure out how much I would actually need!

The tacos El Dorada I made with them turned out quite nice, but then I made the fatal mistake of putting the tortillas in the refrigerator! Apparently this is not quite an issue if you have an oven of some sort (microwave or conventional), but as I do not, this turned out to be the end of my taco making possibilities with these particular tortillas. At a loss for what to do, I left them out over night to see if that would help.

Of course it didn't seem to, at least not much. I decided on the spur of the moment to attempt to just turn them into chips! Nachos Jason style!! Not having most of what one should probably have (ie knowledge, equipment), I proceeded with reckless abandon. I managed to get oil everywhere, burn the index and middle fingers on both of my hands, and end up with rather bland chips. I could have added salt but didn't think about that until after I was finished, and a bit of lime would have really perked things up as well.

Almost ready to eat!

My nachos waiting for additions!

My Time Grows Short!

I am back in Puerto Vallarta after my week-long stay in Colorado. While I have until the end of May before I leave for good, I will first spend next week in Hawaii. I will get to meet up with a friend I haven't seen in ages, and hopefully not fail the test I have to go there to take. People see all of these places as wonderful escapes from reality, but they are only that if you are going to escape from reality. For me, they are more of what haunts me on a day to day basis!

Returning to PV was good in some ways, but very difficult in others. The weather cooled down a little, which I was grateful for, but it felt as if I had to start over with everything I was doing. At least the apartment provided a bit of familiarity. The influx of new assignments made for a bit of an overload as well. I am still not sure I am cut out for this; perhaps I should just have quit last quarter and called it good. This may be the last one anyway, so I guess I will wait and see what happens.

I did decide to eliminate part of my load. I hated to do it, but I think it was for the best. I can now focus solely on my online classes and not have to worry about my day being taken up by other things. Unfortunately this makes them harder to get to! I guess I just need to get on the ball and get them done!

The Squirrel Told Me "You Must Be Nuts!"

I arrived to the building around ten minutes before it was to be opened. I was not looking forward to the early morning class, but I wanted to be on time and felt as if I were running late. There were three other students already there; three students and a squirrel! 

Just outside the doors, there are two large cement blocks and a trash can. At this moment, inside that trash can is a squirrel foraging through the garbage. He notices me watching him. He keeps glancing up and then back down. Then he looks up. He turns his head and peers at me with one eye and gets a serious look upon his face. I can tell he is assessing me to decide just how much protection he will have to provide his stash. Is it possible to keep it safe from me?

Feeling a little uncomfortable with the looks the squirrel was giving me, I walked over to the side of the concrete block closest to the door. Now that things were safe, the squirrel gave into his curiosity. He jumped   to the first block, looked at me, then started fiddling with his hands as if to say "I'm not doing anything!" I could, however, tell differently!

He jumped to the second block and repeated his actions there. Then he became braver. He looked me straight in the eyes, cocked his head, wrung his hands, and cocked his head the other way. I could see the curiosity on his face. On all fours he inched a little closer, eyeing me with great interest. He jumped back, and then inched forward some more. He stopped at the edge of the block. He looked me up and down and appeared to be getting ready to jump. 

One of the other students then mentioned that there was a squirrel where I was. When the squirrel heard that he was being talked about, he looked me up and down again, and then bounded off around the back of the block. As he exited the premises, I could imagine him saying "You must be nuts!"

Test Taking Security!

As you may or may not know, I have been engaged in a rather extended process of obtaining state teacher certification that would enable me to be employed at international schools and/or state schools here in the US. As with everything else, I seem to have came at this a little backwards, but at least I am moving toward the goal! The latest step was to take two more subject tests; this time at the testing center in Colorado Springs, Colorado!

I obtained my directions via the testing website and google maps. As the center is right on a main road close to my hotel, I figure it would be easy to find given the information; I was wrong! Perhaps it was because the road I needed to use to make the U-turn (which I think would have been illegal) was not properly marked. Or perhaps it was the that the center is hidden in a complex of stores/businesses behind even larger businesses. One window with the curtain drawn and the one door with a small, barely visible sign, that faces the parking lot is not enough to alert you to its presence until you have parked and already walking toward it!

One must walk through this door, inform the person at the desk who you are, take the clipboard with information you need to read and a number. And then, as if sitting at a doctor's office waiting to be called by the nurse, you wait.

When your number is finally called, you sign in, show them your two forms of identification, get your palm read and your picture taken. They must watch you turn off your cell phone. They have you put your belongings into a small locker and continue with security screening. They make you pat down your pockets or turn them inside out to make sure there are no scraps of paper. You then have to pat around your belt and run your hands down your pant legs to show that there is nothing hidden there as well. Then long sleeves must be rolled up to show nothing is there except your arms. If you happen to have long hair, you need to move it out of the way so they can see your ears and check behind them as well!  When they are satisfied that dirt is the only thing that can possibly be behind your ears, they lock the locker and give you the key. It is time to be escorted to your computer to take the actual test.

Before you are allowed to enter, the staff informs you that any contact with other test takers, including eye contact, is strictly forbidden! You must raise your hand if you have a question or when you are finished. If you feel the need to get some water, you can come to the door and have them go and get you a cup from where you were sitting just around the corner. Unfortunately, one is unable to get it themselves because once you pass the lockers, if you are to return you must be screened again! That extra 5 feet (at the most), though still within the office, is apparently not secure.

When I tell people that I have traveled to many foreign countries or that I have visited various governmental buildings within the US and overseas to include the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta, if they ask where the most extensive security measures were taken, I know what I can tell them: Pearson VUE Test Center in Colorado Springs!

Rough Day!

Today was one of those days I just wanted to hide away in my apartment. Of course, it seems like that has been what I have mostly been doing, but today was much worse. I did, however manage to go to Starbucks after class and make use of the internet there. It appears to be quite strong and therefore will be of good use when I need to do google hangouts and such!

I seem to have overlooked the question I am sure most are asking at the moment: "Why would you want to hide away when you are in such a beautiful location?" I agree! It IS a beautiful location, and there is plenty to do here. I unfortunately am starting to really feel the stress come up. I am taking classes, and this is a huge stressor to me at the moment. Being forced to speak in English is bad enough, but when you are expected to do it in another language (without even translation to rely on), it becomes a nightmare! I am also in a situation that people don't seem to understand. They figure that since I travel so often, I should be able to do what I need to do without any problem. This is a reasonable assumption, though strongly incorrect! Unfortunately, I hold the same one, and it is frustrating that it is so difficult for me to do things that should be so simple. The acts of going to the store or interacting with a stranger are terrifying for me. It takes me forever to accomplish these relatively easy tasks, and it is so draining that I do them as little as possible.

It has been some of these things that has made me decide that I am not going to go to Saudi Arabia. I am not in a position mentally to be able to do it at the moment. Perhaps someday that will be different, but that time is not now. Hopefully there is something better for me on the horizons, and even though I am not sure of that, I am going to trust that there is. It is time to really start listening to my body and doing what I need to do to get back on track with myself!

When Will I relax?

This question rings through my head on a daily basis! I am constantly reminded by others that I need to "take it easy" or "settle down for a little while." While these are generally well meaning, and perhaps correct to a certain extent, they are generally stated by people who really don't understand the way I live. It is definitely more powerful when I receive the advice from someone who does, however.... and I have recently been getting the same suggestions on that front as well. And my time here in Puerto Vallarta may be bearing that idea out as well.

I am in a city to which many tourists come in search of Paradise. Few go away disappointed. I came to study Spanish. I have since been inundated with invitations to various places that I would love to go, but I am not sure I am going to have the time to do. Studying Spanish takes up a lot of time, and in addition to that, I have two online/hybrid courses I am taking as well!

But even if I weren't so busy, I wonder if I would be able to relax. Each morning I wake up, check my emails, take a shower, perhaps have some breakfast. As I leave, I instinctively check to make sure my side arm is there, though I haven't had to wear it since I left Afghanistan. I feel neither need nor desire to wear it, but habit can be a difficult thing to break.

I did go to a Couchsurfing meeting last night. It was fun, though a bit loud, and as it was mostly Spanish being spoken, it gave me a good opportunity to practice my listening. Those who attended seemed quite nice, and actually a little familiar, but I couldn't help but be uncomfortable. The loud, unfamiliar surroundings accompanied by unknown people, nice as they were, was very overwhelming. I enjoyed myself, don't get me wrong, but I did so in spite of the situation not because of it.

So, when will I relax? As soon as I can figure out how. I am not so sure it is going to even be a possibility for me for sometime to come.

Struggling Again!

It seems that time is upon me once again; that one where I start to feel overwhelmed and wonder why I am doing all the things I am doing. True, it is a lot, but I don't think that is the whole story. I need to relax and just breath a little bit, but I can't seem to bring myself to do that.

I have my Spanish class, which is going well, though I don't know if I am actually going to be able to retain it. I am taking two courses for my M.Div. These are the ones that are giving me problems; at least one of them. It is just extremely difficult to be taking them internationally. Perhaps it is just me and the way that I view things getting in the way, but that is the way it seems. That and I haven't been able to focus. I have basically outline a book, and I can't seem to do it. It appears that the others are having no problems with it, which actually makes it worse. Perhaps I should just forget about attempting to do these hybrid/online classes and go to Denver and do them residentially. I like to know when things are happening and how; I don't like to be tied down, but I like a schedule. Grrrrrr...

On a slightly different note, I took the Florida Teacher Certification Exam for ESOL K-12. Not quite sure what else I have to do, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. I have a couple more tests to go, which I hope that I pass! I guess after that, I will contact them again to see what they have to say.

Hopefully my brain will settle down soon enough for me to not totally destroy my grades. Either way, I am going to attempt to enjoy my time here and not let this get to me too much. Here's to hoping!

Puerto Vallarta!!

As you know, after the long tiring trip back from Afghanistan, the in/out processing at DLI, and the TESOL conference in Dallas, I have finally made it to Puerto Vallarta! I can see why people have decided to make this a wonderful vacation spot!

I decided to rent an apartment located on a hill so that I would be assured some exercise while I am here. I am not much for going to the gym, so I do what I can to attempt to stay healthy. On the left you see the house directly across from where I am staying. Notice the angle at which the road comes up into the picture as if it is trying to take off in a huge hurry!

I must say that the everyday almost mountain climbing I due is definitely worth it. I have a beautiful view of the water and an fairly open floor plan. I could see myself living in a house like this.

View from my balcony

I am living with a nice host family here in Puerto Vallarta. We took a walk on the Malecon last night and went to a cafe to meet up with their family. It is Holy Week so it has been busy and quite crowded here.  I am hoping to be able to make it to church on Sunday, but we shall see what happens.

Same balcony.

Response

As much as it seemed I wouldn't, I did make it to TESOL. I believe there was no other way! I finished in/out-processing much quicker than most, and things went relatively smoothly.

I have no idea what direction the chaplain thing is going to take. Perhaps I am a bit too easily distracted, in which case it wouldn't work out anyway. I will have to keep you updated on that as things unfold.

I was all set to go to the first meeting in Denver to talk about my trip in November! I had booked the trip with 3 different airlines in order to accommodate my rather tight schedule. I was really bummed when the meeting was cancelled. Little did I know, however, that due to this cancellation, I would be able to hang out with one of the most fantastic people I have ever had the opportunity to meet! I met them at a session about the State Department's English Language Fellows. I had been to a similar one in the  past, and it really didn't provide any new information, but somehow, this person and I started talking. They had to go, so we decided to hang out the following day. It was good having someone to go to the plenary with (I hate large stadiums), and to try to figure out what sessions to go to.

I also was able to walk through the TESOL exhibit hall and randomly run into a professor of mine from Hawaii Pacific University! I would be able to go out to dinner with her and two of my colleagues from there as well. We went out to this Tex-Mex restaurant and had a wonderful time. We talked about who we still kept in contact with, what we were presently doing, and all the normal things people talk about... I think. We also were able to get an interesting and much too happy person to take this photo for us. It will be great for memories someday, I am sure!

Then there was the company that stopped me as I was wondering aimlessly around the exhibit hall. I found myself being pulled aside and asked about the possibility of teaching in Saudi Arabia. I happened to have a copy of my resume on me. When she saw it, she made sure to get me scheduled for an interview right away (which she could do because the one who reviews the resumes before oking an interview happened to walk by right at that very moment). The interview went very well. The two who were interviewing (a Saudi math teacher and a British English teacher) asked a lot of different grammar, methodology, and classroom management skills questions. Apparently I answered well enough as they both wanted me to go to their respective sites to work! I was offered the job and now just have to decide that this is what I want to do.

And then I had to check out of the hotel. That caused a bit of a mess, but it all turned out alright. I managed to get to the airport in plenty of time. I probably would have barely made it, but the flight was delayed! It was delayed but not enough to make me late for the next flight. I made it to the next flight with a little more time than I thought because it was delayed slightly as well. When I arrived to Mexico city, I had to wait a little while longer than the other places, but I was able to get through customs and recheck my bags with little difficulty. Even the light on the random selection station was cooperating this time around!!

All in all, the things that really annoyed me all seemed to result in things that couldn't have happened otherwise, and I wouldn't change these things for the world!

Why me??

Some people feel that they always have bad luck. Perhaps they are jinxed or just not able to focus enough to keep themselves out of trouble. Apparently I am one of those people. Here are just a few examples as to why this week has made me focus a little on this.

This past week was the TESOL conference. I figured I was going to be in the area, and it would be a good place to perhaps find a job in case other things don't work out. I was told that I would finish processing in plenty of time. It turned out that in/out-processing took a bit longer than first thought. I almost didn't make it here.

Then I called the Chaplain recruiter and FINALLY got in touch with him. He doesn't want to send me an application because in all likelihood he wouldn't be able to process it until October anyway. He wasn't too optimistic about  the whole process, so I had to shelve it for a few days at leas. :(

Then there is the meeting in Denver that I made plans to go to which was cancelled. This meant cancelling flights and losing out on some money. Not a happy thing.

Checking out today, my roommate and I went to the front desk so that we could split the bill. When he checked in, for some reason his credit card did not work, so he prepaid a large portion of the bill (enough to cover around 4 nights, I think). When I checked in, there ended up being a problem with the reservation. It seems that when we set up to be roommates, they added us to each others' reservations. This meant that when I checked in, I was put in the room of my original reservation while he was in his. We managed to figure it out and get my room cancelled and switched to his, but my card still has the hold on it for that room, and a little bit more! We explained what we were going to do when we checked out so that they were informed about the need to refund much of my roommates money. Apparently that word didn't get passed on.

We both went to the desk and requested that my card be charged and his money be refunded. The clerk had minimal funds and was not sure she would be able to refund the necessary amount. She was finally able to do so with a large number of 10s and 5s. As for me, my card would not go through. She tried it a number of times, and even attempted manually all to no avail! I called the company to make sure that everything was alright. They assured me that all was perfect on their side. I had the clerk run it again, and the card agent said that nothing even showed up on their end! They told me that I would have to pay with a different form of payment, which I didn't have.

This all culminated in my long wait for the shuttle to the airport due to the shutting down of the major roads. They did this because of the Rock and Roll Marathon that they ran this morning! Grrr.....

Brief... very brief!!

My time is once again being taken up by grand adventures and questions of the future. I am at the TESOL conference in Dallas, Texas at the moment. I am staying up way too late due to an unknown illness, but am relieved to know that it isn't anything serious... at least that the doctors could find.

I am not yet officially unemployed, but I am taking the next 2 months off before that happens! I am in the process of planning for the first weekend in June as well. I will be in Toronto for a conference there. Perhaps I can start to focus a little more and get into what I have wanted to for a few years now: travel writing/blogging. I have not been so good at it because of my lack of focus, but now I may be able to figure it all out.

Freedom to be a Chaplain???

Have any of you had this thing happen: someone tells you they just got ordained and they show you their card "Rev. ---" with the Universal Life Church online... ordination happens within 2 days of submitting your name and address...and they are so excited to become a chaplain through a new online program through Universal Life's website as well. I was speechless. I'm paying a ton of money and putting in a ton of time and energy... I feel very snarky right now. And totally self-righteous...because I'm going to be about a million kajillion times more qualified to do my thing... but geez... (Posting by friend and fellow seminarian on facebook)

As I read this post on facebook, many thoughts ran through my head: everything from "you are absolutely right" to "hang on a sec". I had to ponder it a bit more to see just what I thought of the situation. It hits a bit close to home as I am also attending seminary with the chaplaincy in mind, have had a couple of friends ordained by the Universal Life Church, and have, nine years ago, done the same myself.

When I think about ordination, I recall the fights that happened within certain denominations about requiring formal higher education as opposed to just the mentoring/apprenticeships previously accepted. There were good reasons to require the training: it made sure that prospective ministers were educated in the Bible and the ways of the denomination. It also gave a broader perspective that comes with education.

Nowadays, not all denominations require formal seminary, nor do I think they should. There are certain activities that should probably be regulated, and as such, require a degree, but much of it does not. We can help people without having a degree; we can preach and minister without such (as long as our denomination states we can). Why should we have to have a degree that costs thousands of dollars in order to officiate a marriage or comfort someone who is sick or dying?

Then we enter into the arena of titles. Many places that hire Chaplains, require that they be certified as such. The ULC "program" would not qualify for such. Should they, then, be allowed to call themselves Chaplains? I don't think so! If we can not call ourselves massage therapists or receive money for giving massages without having a certification, then the title of something as important as Chaplain should be protected as well! Chaplains are not merely denominational workers that serve members of their own church. They are by definition those who go out in the community and serve not only their own denomination but a vast array of denominations. They are required to perform services for which one needs to be properly qualified and not just something they make up as they go along.

Do I think that ministers ordained by the ULC should not be allowed to perform weddings, funerals, or the like? Absolutely not. I am proud to be ULC ordained! I appreciate the openness and equality that this is trying to present. I agree that anybody should be allowed to perform these rituals as long as the ones receiving them agree. I also believe that if a denomination wants to be open to who performs such things, that is a great thing. I do, however, object to the use of the term chaplain for anyone who is not trained in such a capacity. There is a certification process for chaplains to ensure that they are able to perform their services knowledgeable and ethically. Anyone may be able to minister according to their own religious/spiritual tendencies, but chaplaincy is much more than that and is not something that can be learned in a short online course.
 

Back to the Grindstone!

It appears that the government actually wants me to work! I would never have believed it, but I received an email yesterday telling me that since I was gone from my specified duty location for more than 21 days, I would be charged with one day of being Absent WithOut Leave (AWOL). I would not have found this so distasteful had I had any control over the circumstances, or even if I would have been stuck in a location that felt at least tolerable. Unfortunately, however, I was stuck on a base that I would rather have never been with no way out due to runway maintenance and such at my base. I am not sure how things like this are normally dealt with, but it seems this time around, I am getting a bit of the short end of the stick.

Of course, being back in Shindand is a bit of a shock after my three weeks away. I did not teach my first day back, and yesterday and today I will only teach in the afternoon. Tomorrow I will happily be back in the classroom starting in the morning. Amazingly, I am really happy to be back; I really missed my students. I always find it difficult leave my students.

I have so many things to write about my time away that I am not so sure where to start. I think I will ponder it some more and attempt to write about all of it later. Ask questions if you have them so that I can have more of an idea what to write about.

Meal in Hong Kong!

I haven't been feeling the best during my time here in Hong Kong, so I decided to do a lot of napping and treat myself to a meal at the hotel restaurant. It seemed like it would be a little on the expensive side, and it probably was, but it was well worth it!

While I ordered everything together, they brought it out in courses. I was entitled to a sample of some sort of crab cake and snow peas with some sort of sauce. Then they brought out the tea. I waited for what seemed like forever for the next course to come out. This course was the soup: snake soup with chrysanthemum.The snake tasted like chicken and the chrysanthemum added a touch of sourness, sort of like a dash of lemon.

After that came the main course: Lamb curry cooked in spiced coconut milk gravy, flavored with lemon grass, ginger, garlic, and chili. I had to purchase a bit of steamed rice separately to combine with it. It was spicy  and quite a large portion. I am glad that I ordered the half portion; I don't think I could have handled the standard!

I finished off the meal with a nice desert: pan-fried pineapple and mashed pumpkin cake. I didn't recognize it when they brought it. It was 4 dough like balls that were coated in coconut. There was a drizzle of gstrawberry sauce on either side, a stick of whit/black swirled chocolate on top, and 4 blueberries, 1 half strawberry, 2 grapes, a slice of honey dew, 2 slices of watermelon and a slice of pineapple to the side. The melons and pineapple formed a kind of tent as a way of accentuating the plate and setting off the four balls.

It was the type of meal that makes one understand the importance of aesthetics in culinary delights as well as the taste. The cold sweetness of the fruit offset the hot, not quite sweetness of the main desert dish. It was a satisfying, pleasureful way to end a meal.

If I had been with someone else, the hour or so that this meal took would have been joyfully well spent. On my own, it was a bit drawn out and slow. Interestingly, as long as the servers took to get the meal portions out to me, they were very attentive to my tea needs. They seemed to know exactly when I needed more, and they were there to fill it... at least most of the time. There were a couple of times that I was out of tea and was uncertain what to do. They left the teapot on the table, so it was easy just to pour it myself, but knowing that they were supposed to pour it left me in a bit of a quandary. Would I, by pouring my own tea, be insulting their service? Would I be stepping over some imaginary  line that one should not step over. I could see how one who is used to being served would find it difficult to be in a situation where the idea of being served either was not there or, worse, was ambiguous. How odd the shoe fits.

After the meal I was given the bill to sign so they could charge it to my room. They did not give me a reciept; I should have requested it. I am really not trusting that everything is going to go alright with it. I have already had experiences here that would make me slightly distrustful, so I am a little on edge. I guess we will see what happens when I check out in the morning.

All in all, the meal was a decadence I may have to treat myself to on occasion in the future.