Business Projects and More

Last week I made a visit to the far Northern point of Nicaragua. There is literally a peninsula that stretches out into the Gulf of Fonseca which is the open body of water that separates Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador. On a clear day you can see the miles into all three of these countries. As part of my work with a Nicaraguan organization called Fundacion Lider I am working with a cooperative of communities that want to develop an eco-tourism project in this region of Nicaragua. The inferastructure is severely lacking, however the natural resources more than make up for the defeciencies. We will be using a solar panel for electricity, well for water, and most all the food that will be prepared for travelers will be from fruits and vegetables raised in the community. This is a really neat project to be a part of because up until now there has been no real tourism businesses established in this part of Nicaragua. It's hard to believe that one of the most beautiful regions of this country is still completely untapped. There are hundreds of acres of land that just sit completely unused. Much of this area is protected by the Government as there are Wetlands, sea turtle nesting grounds, and exotic wildlife galore. There are Islands of rock that spur out of the ocean like glaciers. These "pierdes" serve as landing strips and nesting grounds for the birds of the open seas. The only down side to working on this project is that it's nearly 4 hours by bus to get to the point. The distance is less than 40 miles, but the roads are very bad and you end up spending most of your trip bouncing from rut to rut as your 1970's school bus does it's best rendition of "mudslinging".

In another project I am working with two different cooperatives in a beautiful coastal community just an hour outside of my pueblo. One group is a farming cooperative that has come together after receiving the funds to build a production center. They are now working weekly to develop strategic plans for how to grow and become more effecient. My job is to help them identify new markets and to teach them things about business concepts such as marketing, start up capital, and flow charts. These farmers are very advanced and already more than 60 perecnt of their produce is being sold to Hortifruti Inc. which is the official produce purchaser for Wal-Mart in Nicaragua.

The second group is a fantastic group of ladies who have begun making their own jam from fresh pineapple and papaya. There product has been tested and meets all quality standards needed to sale in supermercado's all over Nicaragua. Currently we lack only a barcode and a good marketing plan to bring this business up to the level that it can start to improve the financial conditions for many of the people involved. I must say the jelly is pretty tasty. Don't be surprised if this is what you get as your Christmas present from me this year.

Getting back in the Flow!

Not so different from life in the U.S. after a long weekend it can sometimes be a challenge to get back into the flow of things. I can report that the waves were wonderful this weekend, and it's really nice to get out and surf with some good friends. I love the beaches here in Nicaragua, and if your reading this blog you should probably consider coming down sometime to visit. Work here is really slow right now because it is raining every day, and when it rains here it is not the same as an afternoon thunderstorm in North Carolina. Usually the rain starts in the early afternoon and does not stop until after I'm already asleep. During the 6 or 7 hour downpour's electricity is nonexistent, the streets flood, and it is impossible to do anything outside of your house. It's actually impossible to do anything inside of your house. We patiently await the last rain which will come sometime in November and then for 6 months we won't see a single drop. Of course the temperatures will average somewhere around 110 degrees for the dry season, but at least you can leave your house. It's hard to understand how difficult it can be to travel from my town to others pueblos when the rains are bad, but if you can imagine walking through waist high puddles of water, climbing onto a packed bus, riding into the center of a Central A merican market and changing buses, only to have the second bus break down and return home later in the afternoon water logged, you are starting to have an understanding of what it's like in the rainy season here in Nicaragua.

Many of the homes are without much needed rough repairs so during these storms the buckets are scattered throughout the rooms, sometimes on top of beds and collect water so fast that it is a full time job to empty the buckets and replace them throughout the night. If you neglect even one bucket the dirt floors in the homes will rapidly turn to 2 inch deep mud without realizing it. This is not a reality that is reserved for the poor here, but for the general population in Nicaragua. Sure there are folks that have tile floors, and others that have homes that would rival some of the more decorated pads in downtown Raliegh, but they are few and far between.

Business Competition and More

It's been a while since I have had a chance to update my blog and upon the request of "mi amiga Blair" I am throwing something together today before I start my long weekend. We have an Independence Day Celebration that will be taking place on Sunday and Monday which means that school will be cancelled until Thursday or Friday. While that doesn't seem too logical it is the way things are done here. I must take this opportunity to brag on my students. Yesterday "El Instituto Miquel Jarquin" hosted it's second annual Business Competition. After just 5 weeks with the students I must say that I was not completely convinced of their capacity to show off their newly learned entreprenurial skills in a formal setting. After getting a call early in the week that Peace Corps would be sending our national director to the competition in El Viejo I became a little nervous about how all of this would work out. When I got to the school on Wednesday morning I realized very early on that the students were more serious about this competition that I had given them credit for. Nearly all of the groups where setting up at 7 am, which is the time I asked them to be setting up. Keep in mind "Hora Nica" as we call it is entirely different that a set time as we are accustomed to. Generally 7 am would warrant expectations that your students might show up by 8, but for the competition everyone was in their places by 7. The only issue I had with the competition at all was that when the judges were passing each of the tables the students were not able to keep their presentations to the given 4 minute time block, thus pushing everything back. Our final presentation of the awards had been planned for 10 am but did not end up taking place until nearly noon. The best thing about all of this was that the director of my school, who I have really been trying to improve my relationship with, was able to deliver the commencement speech. I believe that he was impressed that our competition had been deemed worthy of having the Peace Corps Director in attendance, and thus he complimented everything about our competition, something he hasn't done since I arrived at his school. Perhaps the greatest success in all of this is that the students business ideas were fascinating. The display of creativity, organization, and personality was tremendous. I have many students who I am really begining to see the brilliance in. The winning idea is really a form of art. After taking recycled trash, mostly paper out of the streets and processing it, the group uses a formula to create a paste that is used to fill a frame. The us color markers and draw interesting landscapes of Nicaraguan culture on the mushy substance, and then after 3 weeks of curing this framed concoction is full hardened and ready to sale as a unique work of art maded completely of recycled materials. "Dog Beauty" another winner that will continue on to the regional competition is a group of very smart young girls who has designed beautiful doggy clothes that would probably work better in a rich childrens clothing boutique. The best marketing tool they had is pictured above in their cute dog who slept most of the day in a series of different dresses. There were 5 winners in all and more than 25 participants. The competition was a huge success and I am so proud to have been a part of it. On top of everything I had one of those Peace Corps moments last night when I was walking back home just before sun set and I heard a "Profe" in the distance. It was one of my students who attends school in the mornings and then works hard for his parents delivery service in the evenings. He rides a bike with different products all over town sweating and breaking his back for a few cordobas a day. He had a big smile on his face and let me know that "No ganamos, pero la competencia fue divertido" We didn't win, but the competition was really fun". For some reason it just made me realize that this program and these activities are defenitely not missing the mark, and when you have that kind of reassurance it makes you know that you are right where you need to be.

Aside from the work I've been doing in the schools it is always nice to show off some of my new friends in "Villa Santa Catalina" where I am working with a micro credit program. There is a pattern that has been developing over the last several years of my life and it has to do with my infatuation with the female gender. Specifically the young girls, I am talking about the very young girls. It seems that everywhere I go I seem to fall in love with a "nina". This can be troublesome because it often renders me completely useless to the people around me, of course that is everyone but the cute little girl that has become the object of my affection, and for her the world is at her fingertips. I laugh as though there is nothing in the world I wouldn't do for my new crush, and in reality there probably isn't. If you can recall your first debilitating crush, the boy or girl that you just absolutely had it in for. Most every night you probably listened to songs and every world pierced your heart as you thought specifically of that person's eyes or voice. Well, that is kind of what it's like to have a little girl who is perfect in your eyes, go without food, be left at home for hours at a time by herself in a hammock, and constantly be sick with everything ranging form a productive cough to heat rash. But when you show up a smile just comes over her that tells you no matter how bad things might be the Love you bring in to this room and the way that you look at me makes my stomach full and heart complete. So while I am still able to do my work I look forward most to the second I walk in the door to see her face smiling up at me. She knows that I will pick her up and we will just walk around with out a care in the world.

Nicaraguan Classroom

In just three weeks in El Viejo my life already seems so settled here. The Birthday celebration this week really made me feel like I had become part of the community. It's difficult to put into words what you feel like on the morning of your 27th birthday, when realizing that through drug and alcohol addiction, university degree, great job and responsible life, you have arrived at school teacher in poor Central American pueblo. Most of the time this is a great feeling, but in complete honesty their are gaps where your still have lingering thoughts of something that resembles the American Dream, and when you have even just one of those images in your mind the last place in the world you would want to be to make it a reality is in a classroom of 60 screaming Nicaraguan teenagers who think that Continental America is a place in Africa. I am not saying that this is the emotional state I awoke to on my birthday, but clearly my detailed description of what that might be like suggests that I have had more than a split second thought of my now, very glamorous past life in the U S of A. Oddly enough there are no doubt Peace Corp Volunteers all over Nicaragua, and the world for that matter that would argue my life is still pretty glamorous. Whatever, I got a bed, a table, and one of the hottest PC site in the Western Hemisphere.

On Thursdays I spend my mornings in the big public institute where more than 1000 teenagers attend classes every morning, and another 1000 or more come in the afternoon. Many of the classes are filled with boyfriends and girlfriends who spend more time whispering sweet lollabyes to one another than they do taking notes. Many of these couples have come to the conclusion in 15 years that they are undoubtedly in Love in a way that no human being, especially some Idiot American Profe could every understand. It's hard to laugh at them when you've been there, but I ask them please to consider their circumstances before deciding to make whoopy in the park bringing yet another starving infant into our sweet Nicaragua. Of course like in any school there are the kids who study hard and dream of the day when they will sit in a University class room in Leon or somewhere fancy studying Literature or some other fascinating subject that the their friends wouldn't even understand. I had a girl tell me the other day she wishes to speak Arabic. ARABIC! Why? She told me it was a beautiful language and she wishes there were a place in Nicaragua where she could pursue this dream. Clearly there are more than a handful of students with great potential, and it is for those students I hope I may somehow bring new insight and motivation to accomplish goals that others wouldn't even think possible.

As for my party the kids first wanted to break an egg over my head in customary fashion, but I declined that offer letting them know that I had another school I was required to teach at and rotten egg dripping from my face wouldn't serve me well in my first lesson. At the end of the first class they started taking cordobas so that they could afford to buy a pinata. 30 minutes later one of the girls who had dissapeared to run into town returned with a beautiful, colorful pinata that was filled with candy. This was an event not just for my classes, but for the entire school. It didn't matter that only a select group had chipped in to buy Profe's gift. By the time we had this bad boy strung up on a tree outside the class there were hundreds of kids around. I think people outside of the school heard about our celebration and made their way in with hopes of snatching a chocolate. After being blind folded and spun I attached the air with a tree limb that had been passed to me in the preperation process. This is common in Nicaragua, that is to use wood, machetes, and other strange objects for things like fixing bikes, breaking pinatas, and whatever else might come up during the day. Either way the wood stick was functional, and actually kind of empowering. There I was in front of several hundred Nicaraguan teenagers violently waving a stick at the air. I finally struck the pinata, and because I was late for my other class I grabbed it by the neck and just started pounding. Pounding with the stick, with my fist, with all of my power I pounded. I finally felt the break and immediately was tackled to the ground. I managed to get my hands on one tootsie roll before the madness had settled. It all happened so fast that I didn't even realize how special it was until later. With the head of my pinata tied to the back of my bike, sweating from the activities of the morning, I made my way to my second school, proud to be a teacher in Nicaragua.

My Pad

Ok, so I realize this looks pretty nice right? I must admit the bed is very comfortable, but it is also very freaking HOT! Not a night goes by that there are not bombs exploding in the streets. There is no war, but the entire month of August is filled with street parties in celebration of yet another patron saint. In the absence of television, and my recent disgust with reading, I have been watching movies on my laptop on a nightly basis. Last night I enjoyed "Juno" which was one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. It's amazing the power that movies have over my psyche. After two hours in front of my computer I can almost forget that I live in Nicaragua, and movies, especially when seen in a big theatre, are absolutely positively American.

Anyway, I also have a shared space in the back yard where sits some fruit trees, a big hamac, and my cooking and washing stations. The bathroom and shower are also in the patio which I share with the kind Senora Norma that lives next door. The privacy has been a breath of fresh air, and I am feel like having my own space if the first block in building my own life here in "El Viejo".

Good Times!

Unfortunately my blog entries can not be accompanied by pictures until I get my hands on an Olympus cable. Either way it is worth mentioning that pictures would have a tough time telling the stories of the past several days. I have learned my first lesson on receiving visitors in Nicaragua. KEEP IT SIMPLE! Doing anything in this country as a tourist is equally as expensive as it would be traveling to some place in the United States for a weekend. The nice restaurants are priced not for Nicaraguans, but for Americans. Somehow these people have heard what it costs to buy a nice steak and lobster dinner. The first question I should be asking myself right now is what the HELL was I doing eating a steak and lobster dinner? Well, you would have to know my visitor to answer that question, but I was. The price? Well, we don't really need to break down the budget item by item, but we started out in the hole after a pick pocketing incident, and the 180 bucks I spent to get my surfboard down here was definitely a shot to the trusty Peace Corp salary. To only make matters worse, financially that is. I have to buy a bed, a fan, really I need like 12 fans, but a single fan will have to do for now, and whatever else you might think of buying to survive living on your own down here. I don't know, a little mini stove, refrigirator, que mas? Either way it's gonna get expensive. The bed I bought this morning set me back 3400 Cordobas, divide that by 19.45 and you get the dollar amount. I don't want to look at it otherwise I would just tell you what it was. It might not sound like a lot, but if you keep in mind that I will not make much more than that amount in the entire month of August you start to understand my pain.
I know that you can't put a price-tag on having a friend visit you, but if you could it would be an expensive one. Back at it this morning in my site and judging by the looks of my bank account I'll need stay away from all places that even know that Americans exist for at least the next 9 months. For some reason Nicaraguans have in their minds that American's have money. When I see folks traveling from Europe I grab the closest Nicaraguan and do a quick conversion from Euro's to Cordobas just to put things in perspective for them. You should see their eyes when we convert Pounds to Cordobas. That is when they get really excited. Still no matter what I say they never seem to truly buy in. The common belief is that while I live here and don't make money now, somewhere in the United States of America sits a bank account full of money that I will use to buy all of my dreams with once I return from this 2 year retreat into poverty. I only wish that their idea was in fact my reality. There have been occasions where I was approached by a sick, possibly starving child in the streets. Of course I would love to hand each of these children the keys to a bright future, or at least enough money to buy themselves some clothes and food. But instead I had to explain to them that no matter how long they looked at me with their saddened faces it would not change the fact that I can not share my money with them. My food? Yes, when there is any left over, which we know is not very often, but not my money. I try to explain that I am a volunteer, I don't actually make very much money, but of course I just get that look that says, "you selfish American, go ahead and eat your jumbo hotdog while I try to fight these parasites off another day".
I can hang my hat on at least one thing this week. On Thursday I will be 27 years old, and I know that everyone has sent big checks to help me save the world. If not, at least pause today and remember me when you stop by Starbucks to pick up that Iced Cappacino.

WORK HARD! PLAY HARD!

After just three weeks into my new life in "El Viejo" Chinandega I have found my days full, often running from my wake up call at 5 am until nearly 6 or 7 in the evening. You might think these seems odd because historically I haven't had a reputation for overworking myself. However here in Nicaragua it is a little different because most of the time I don't really feel like I'm working at all. Whether it's in the school observing and helping with classes, or in the village making visits to the homes of the small business owners who wake up every day in hopes that they may generate a few dollars of income to feed their families, I am always on the go. The diversity in my work has kept me excited just about all the time over the first several weeks. I manage to mix some diversity into my weekends as well. Usually on Friday I am looking forward to at least on day in the ocean. Lately I have been spending a lot of time with some really cool Nicaraguans who live on the beach and keep my weekends interesting. One individual specifically Patricio, a 17 year old surfer who grew up on a surfboard reminds me of myself when I was his age. Which I might add is a little scary.

There are so many people to work with and help that sometimes I just have to step back and realize that there is not time limit on any of the work I'm doing here. All that I can do is prepare myself for each day and try to make people see the goodness in their own lives. Some of the best days I've had so far have come when I spent several hours just talking in some ones home. It feels good when they start including me in the gossip. Well... As long as I am not part of the gossip.

There are so many great stories to share that sometimes I start to feel like it's not worth even trying to describe them. I think I may have found a house in "El Viejo" where I can live for the next 2 years. The home is owned by an elderly woman who lives next door. Her commons area would be shared with me and I would end up sharing her shower and bathroom also, but for the money it is definetively the best place that I could find. At 60$ a month I think that I will almost be able to live on my astonishingly low Peace Corp salary. We won't talk about that right now though. I know times are tough in the United States with the economy and all, but I might mention their is a World Food Crisis and Nicaragua is in high risk of being impacted by the escalating cost of produce. Let's just say the people here aren't so concerned with self-awareness and finding themselves as much as they are finding FOOD!

Your gift baskets are always appreciated...

I have started working a lot in Micro-Finance and most of my time is spent with the women and families that are recieving the small loans. Most of them are very poor and appreciate anyone taking interest in their business. It's really kind of fun to start thinking creatively with someone about how they can maybe sale a few more pieces of bread every day. Other folks are buying clothes and re-selling them in different markets for a nominal profit margin. One woman has a molina which is used to grind corn into batter in order to make tortillas. Tortillas, along with beans and rice are just about all most of these people eat. So, naturally her business thrives, but she is undercharging people to use her machine, and of course she assumes the cost to repair it. At the end of the month she doesn't have any idea what her maintanence costs are or how much revenue was generating by renting out her machine. The project at hand in this situation is to first figure out if she is making money or loosing money. Keep in mind many of my business owners do not read or write so the task of taking accounting, marketing, and budgeting has to be simplified and translated in order for this program to reach the people in need.

The challenges are immense, but the reward is great, and the relationships are so fulfilling. I am starting to sound like a broken record but it is the small things that have the greatest impact.

Swearing In and More

There have been no new photos posted to my very simple blog lately because I recently lost the cable that I use to upload my photos to my computer. Im sure at some point in the next two years Ill find a place in Nicaragua that sells the cable that I need. Ill do my best to describe some of the great moments over the last few weeks which have made it at times very difficult to make this adjustment.
First of all my host family in Catarina was absolutely wonderful in bidding me farewell. The day before I was to leave Catarina I came home to a huge spred of traditional Nicaraguan food, and every member of my 16 person family waiting for me with small gifts of gratitude. I was formally asked to be the padrino of my little Nicaraguan neice. This is an honor in the Catholic Culture of Nicaragua and not something you take lightly. After discussing the implications for a while I decided to accept the ivitation to have Lillian Michelle Gaitan become my hijata or god daughter. Over the next couple of years this will mean that we will exchange gifts around Christmas and in the future I will send something to Nicaragua and stay in communication with this wonderful family for years to come.
My host mother began getting pretty emotional the night before I left, and by the morning of my departure her and my host sisters were pretty much crying uncontrollably. At this moment I even got a little emotional. I must say it caught me off guard, because although I had been there for 3 months, it is hard to know what kind of impact your presence has on a family. I have been fortunate to live with great people who love deeply, and as I walked away I knew that I will always have a home in Catarina Nicaragua.
The two days leading up to our swearing in ceremonio were tough. We had to attend two more days of long charlas before swearing in on Friday. By Thursday afternoon I felt like I was defenitely getting what would have been my first parasite. With a splitting headache, horrible nausea, and constant diarreah I tried my best to get through the 2 days of preperation for Swearing In. By the day of the Ceremonio I was feeling a little worse and made a doctors appointment for immediately after the festivities. I managed to enjoy seeing my host family and of course my host mom was very worried about me and apparently has been concerned for the last several days even though I assured here yesterday that I felt wonderful. The test results came back negative making me feel like a big wimp for whining the last several days, and of course I was feeling better by Friday night. So, it turns out I managed to stay out dancing and partying with the other 40 volunteers until 3 oclock in the morning. My plan to leave Saturday was changed after I realized how difficult it was to walk away from our comparatively luxurious hotel accomodations in Managua. We were sitting by the pool drinking coconut milk and catching up all day. I just didnt have the energy or the willingness to leave that until I had too. Sunday morning was goodbye time for everyone. It made for an interesting day to say adios to everyone that has been part of your life for the first 3 months in this country and accept that many of these people you will not see much of over the next two years. We all left and went our seperate ways and by 6 oclock in the evening I was at my new site having dinner with my new site mates talking about the Peace Corps gossip network. I can not explain how consistent Peace Corp gossip is. For example, not only did my site mates who I have never met, and live on the far end of the country from where I was living before know that I did not drink, but they could tell me things about my reputation with my peers that I didnt even know. Really, Really interesting. I dont know whether its good or bad, or both, but you really have to assume that your life is being broadcast not only to the Nicaraguans in you community who notice everything about you, but also to your fellow friends in Peace Corps Nicaragua. Gotta run, Lotsa Love

My new Friends... The next Generation of Pro Surfers

Bienvenido a Chinandega!

Welcome to El Viejo, Chinandega. I have included one of the only pictures of my new site that I was able to get on my brief visit a couple of weeks ago. The visit was really nice. Not only was I able to enjoy some great beaches that are very close to my site, but I was also fortunate enough to meet some wonderful Nicaraguans who I expect to work with over the next couple of years. The weekend was full of meeting new people, organizations, foods, and streets. In just three months my little pueblo has become a home to me. I have found myself over the last week or so really starting to realize how much I will miss my training town. Not so long ago everything was so new, and now I find myself haggling with my brothers here over silly things at night. Othertimes I just walk through the streets of a town where everyone knows me, and doesn't treat me as some tourist just passing through. Of course I will have all of these comforts in time, but there is just something special about Catarina. I played my last basketball game last night and it was just nice to hang out with the guys. I have made the ride to Masaya in the back of the truck more than 8 or 9 times now, but last night the weather was nice, stars filled the sky and the clouds formed curtains around the moon. I spent much of the ride back staring up into the Nicaraguan sky thinking about what the same road must have been like just over 20 years ago when fighting would have been a reality of the times. It wasnt until 1991 that Nicaragua was even considered to be no longer in a state of War. The country still faces the reality that in regards to political development it is in the infant stages of Democractic rule.
The country as a whole couldn't be more friendly. When you think about it how could any place with as many small children as Nicaragua has be anything other than welcoming? I think that there are a great number of opportunities for the people of Nicaragua and I intend on doing something about it over the next couple of years. El Viejo is going to be a great place for me to set up shop. There are a lot of places for me to spend my leisure time, what little bit that I do have. Nicaraguas largest Volcanoe is just a few Kilometers away from my town. San Cristobol, although one of the most active volcanoes in the world, is regularly hiked by backpackers from all over the world. The beaches in Chinandega and Leon are also very nice and have plenty of great waves. Perhaps the thing that I am most excited about is the fact that I can get my hands on very fresh sea food anytime I want and we are talking right out of the ocean. There is a small pueblo on the beach where the young boys starting at the age of 10 take 15 ft boats out for 30 hours at a time to catch Red Snapper, Tuna, and just about anything else that they can sale in the market. When the fish are biting the town has money, or at least the children have food to eat, but when the fish aren't biting which can happen for weeks at a time, the children are starving. The reality is that in Chinandega a majority of the people live off the land, and when the land isn't producing enough to sustain the people starve.

Nicaraguan Dogs Need Help!

Living up the last moments of the weekend!

Today was really nice to be able to get out and experience some of the neat things going on in my region of Nicaragua. This morning my brother Ernesto accompanied me to Granada. I was finally able to get a cup of really good coffee. Although Nicaragua grows some of the best coffee in the world, the only coffee available in Catarina is instant coffee. This doesn't exactly fulfill my deep addiction for a quad shot venti latte. I can thank Starbucks for helping me acquire such an addiction. Ernesto, David, and I spent much of the morning walking through the market and seeing what Granada has to offer a Peace Corps Volunteer. Although it is actually one of the sights, Granada is known for it's high population of ex-patriots, and certainly it is more expensive to live in for the very reason that it is very popular for backpackers. Among some of the interesting images we found in Granada were dying dogs, clowns who defenitely make the children laugh, and an abundance of foods sold in the local market, some more appetizing than others. The trip was a nice day in a place that seems so different than where I'm living now. My brother enjoyed getting away, and I was able to take a deep breathe before heading back to Catarina.
On the bus back to Catarina I met one of the coolest backpackers I've every come into contact with. The Portugese Neuro-Surgeon decided that his days in the operating room were no longer satisfying his need to experience things he wanted in life. So without a second thought he decided he was going to spend the next 3 months of his life traveling from Costa Rica northward to Mexico City. He is a brillant young man with a promising future as a doctor, but he told me that neuro-surgery was just not for him. I don't think he'll have any problem finding his place in this world because he can speak Spanish, Portugese, Italian, English, and French. He defenitely has plenty of places to choose from when he decides what exactly he wants to do next. Needless to say I am defenitely planning a trip to Portugal to hang out with my new friend soon. There are great people out in the world, and it is cool to come into contact with them a long the way. In reality it reminds me that there really aren't amazing things to be done, but small things to be done by amazing people. I think I'm stealing that from Mother Theresa, but it sounds good.

The FAM...Or at least half of them.

Well today has been a long day. I usually sleep pretty well, but last night sometime around 1 Oclock in the morning the electricity went out as it often does. This occurance prevoked all of the stray dogs in town to go after one anothers food supply. The result was obnoxious dog barking and fighting that lasted more than two hours. I obviously was not able to sleep through the chaos, and in the window of time that I was tossing and turning I started to have a neurotic, incoherent, internal monologue in spanish that ultimately kept me up until almost 5 am. My alarm was set for 5:45, so you can imagine how excited I was to go catch a bus to the neighboring town where we were to recieve our lessons this morning. The first words out of my mouth this morning were "No Dormi Nada!" "Yo voy a tener un mal dia" "I did not sleep any" and "I'm going to have a bad day". When you set out with that kind of attitude it can be difficult to change things, but after teaching my 2:00 class this afternoon I felt like a million bucks. There is something that just feels right about taking a group of kids that don't know much about business or creativity and showing them that they actually know more than they ever imagined. I started my lesson by talking about products like cell phones which now have camera's, stereo's, and computers in them. I showed them my book bag which has a water cooler attached to it, and explained how all of these products were a result of someone's creativity. After doing my best to teach them about product development they all recieved a blank paper cut out of a shirt, shoe, or hat. Each student had 20 minutes to design their own product and then sell me their product in the market, and explain to me how they used their own creativity to inhance their product.

Sometimes it can be a real challenge to get the kids to think for themselves. They are very accustomed to just copying the ideas of others, or taking exactly what their teachers give them and writing it down word for word. The "La Empresa Creativa" course that we are teaching is geared towards a new style of teaching and pushes us to expect more from the students. The truth is that if Nicaragua has a future it is in the hands of the kids that are in our classes. Over 60% of the countries population are under 30 years old and less than 5% of the countries population is college educated, so we have to start now and show them a path to a brighter future. After leaving my class I felt renewed and made my way up to the soccer field to get into another game of pick up. There is just nothing like unwinding on the soccerfield with the everpresent Volcan Mumbacho staring at me as I soak up the last bit of sun on a Wednesday afternoon.

Soccer?

Today marks the first time in my life that I have every played a competitive game of soccer. After finally giving in to the temptation around me to involve myself in this competitive sport that I never even considered playing, I walked to the local tienda bought a new pair of soccer shoes, and a soccer ball. The soccer ball by the way immediately makes me the most popular person in the town. I rallied my brother, David the other PC Volunteer, and his brother and we made our way up to the Football Field. Oh yea, and Football is actually soccer everywhere in the world other than in the United States.


The young Nicaraguans who are in much better shape than I was at anytime in my life were poised to run us all over the field. The only request they had was that we play each game for 5 dollars. Just so you know 5 dollars is equal to approximately 100 Cordobas which would surpass the amount of money that many families make in one week. Not to mention It's more than 10% of my weekly pay. Besides I didn't think it was a good idea to mix gambling, my competitive nature, and the fact that I am trying to build bridges not burn them. Either way after sitting out one game we finally had our chance to play against the winning team. My team of five consisted of 2 American non soccer players, my Nicaraguan brother who is less athletic than I will be when I am 60 years old, and 2 guys who could barely match up with the worst 2 players on the opposing team. This made us the clear underdog.

After going down 2-0 in the first several minutes a fire started burning inside of me. I suddently felt that SOCCER was something I should naturally be good at. I mean what have I ever not been good at? At least this was the question I asked myself, so humor me for a minute. On the very next play we broke up the field and one of my teammates centered the ball to me. Without a flinch I struck the ball perfectly so that it went into the upper right hand corner of the goal. Of course my immediate reaction was to scream GOAL!!!!! as loud as I could despite the fact that we were still down by one goal. What happened in the next few minutes I couldn't even believe. I scored the next 3 goals as we stormed to a 4-2 lead. Each time I scored the celebration became more obnoxious. By this point many of the school girls had began watching and giggling at my on field celebrations. Furthermore much of the crowd will be in my class tomorrow afternoon when I show up to teach.

The game only got more exciting as I realized after scoring our 5th goal that we actually were playing first to ten. This posed a minor dilemma since I was already ready to throw up the rice and beans I'd eaten for lunch. Nevertheless I dug deep into the reserve tank and reminded myself that this was one place that I could gain some respect. Soccer is very popular here and they didn't care whether this was my 1st ever competitive game or my 101st game. We went down 9-8 on two really bad goal keeping errors at which time I demanded to take over as goalie. Immediatelely after making this executive decision I was able to stop two shots on goal, and preserve a final chance to get back in the game. After one save I found one of my team mates streaking up the field completely free of defenders, and so I threw the ball as far as I could landing it just ahead of his sprint, just as he reaached the ball the goalie started after him to try and stop the shot before it got deep into the zone. Just one great cross step later my team mate Orlando had an open shot on goal that he walked in to tie the game at 9-9. Of course I wouldn't even be telling this story if we hadn't won the game in dramatic fashion.

The most amazing thing about this afternoon is not that I played competitive soccer for the first time in my life and won on a last second goal, but that this morning I was sour. I couldn't seem to get excited about anything. This is really how fast the tide can turn. In the morning I can be struggling to spit out a few sentences in spanish, and by the afternoon I can be celebrating a victory on the soccer field with my new friends. It just goes to show that every moment be it good or bad will pass and open the door for something new and never before experienced. And for these and many other reasons I absolutely love every second of every minute of every day.

Mom, Dad, and Ernesto

Religious Parades are something that I am starting to get used to here in Nicaragua. Nearly every month of the year is a celebration month for one of the many patron saints. The various peublos in Nicaragua each celebrate a Saint at a different time during the year. These festivities are characterized by very loud noises. It is not uncommon to awake at 3:30 in the morning to a full 20 person marching band playing their songs in between explosions of home made fire works. This would seem unusual in most parts of the world, but you must remember that many of the citizens that are over the age of 30 years old in this country can remember days when the explosions were not homemade fireworks, but gun shots and bombs in their streets. From 1978 until 1985 Nicaragua was in a constant state of 'WAR". Thousands of Nicaraguas children were killed, and many families fled so that their children's lives could be spared. Today we celebrate with many of the same sounds and the excitement that floods the streets on the days in which Saints are being celebrated, I must admit can be contagious. Although, it does cause a little frustration when it comes before 6:00 am on a school day.

It's Sunday morning and I am getting ready to go on a hike down to the Laguna near my house. It's about an hour hike down, and after sitting in the sun for several hours it's always a little longer getting back up. The weekends are usually very relaxing. Last night one of the other Peace Corps Volunteers had a birthday party and we also spent the day at Volcan Masaya which is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
Today is fathers day, and the US Open is on television in the U.S. I can imagine a nice, warm, Sunday afternoon of laying on the couch watching Tiger Woods and other great golfers slug it out while the burgers cook on the grill outside. I recieved an email this week that the HEELS are back in the College World Series, and beach trips to Wrightsville would be a weekly necessity by this point. These are just a few of the things that come to mind on a Sunday far away from home. The truth is that while it may sound like home sickness it is really just part of the cultural adaptation process. I love so many things about the life that I left behind in order to understand how others live. Nobody ever said this was going to be easy, and although it is the most exhilirating time of my life it is at times very challenging. Family and friends are so often taken for granted, but when you have to experience life without them around you start to realize how they are in so many ways the fuel for your life. Unfortunately those friends and family can't always give you the purpose that you crave in your life, and sometimes your pursuit of purpose can take you away from them, but on the other side of it all is the time when you get all of those relationships back and you have gained a new perspective on life a long the way.

Welcome to Catarina!

Allright, well the long awaited first blog entry from Catarina, Nicaragua is here! I have told many of you that internet connections are really slow here. That information is true, but naturally I was waiting for the anticipation go grow so that when I finally released the first blog entry we would have somethings to really get excited about. The photograph above is a picture of the nearby volcanoe and laguna where me and my friends pass time on the weekends. The school that I am teaching in sits at the top of a hill and the photograph was taken from that very spot. My family here in Catarina is a traditional catholic family with strong values and great love for one another. They have taken me in as one of there own, and although I'm sure at times they are second guessing their decision, for the most part they seem pretty happy to have me around.
Pictures have a tough time telling the story of what my days are like here. In the mornings at around 5:30 or 6:00 I wake up to a refreshing bucket shower. Within minutes of bathing I usually have a wonderful breakfast of beans, rice, eggs, and several cups of instant coffee. At 8 oclock I start class, but I usually spend an hour or so trying to finish up the homework I put off from the night before. After four hours of learning spanish in a 1 on 2 setting I return home for lunch. The afternoon consists of either talking with community business owners, or giving lessons in the secondary school, IN SPANISH! I can only try to paint the picture of an open air classroom with 50 students ranging in age between 15 and 18 years old trying to listen to the cocky american give his first 45 minute lesson in Spanish. Let's just say their is plenty of room to grow...
The weekends never come to soon because I'm usually exhausted and looking forward to the break. I have managed to join the local basketball team in Catarina which plays in a competitive league in a local city. When I say competitive I mean referees, fouls, 4 quarter times basketball. The excitement level in these games is like nothing I've ever experienced in all my years of competitive sports. OK, maybe there have been a few moments that exceed the Masaya Basketball League, but as far as I'm concerned this is ACC hoops at it's best, and let me tell you I hold my own out there.
On Sunday I was given the opportunity to know the source of my food a little more intimately. I knew something was up when a chicken had been tied up to a bench outside my room for two days but I didn't think much of it. I made the mistake a few weeks ago of joking with my mama that I'd like to learn to prepare Arroz y Pollo at some point. Well, what I didn't realize is that this would involve first killing the chicken. So naturally after I had slept in until about 9 oclock Sunday morning the entire family was gathered outside of my room awaiting what would be my next lesson in how different things are in Nicaragua. My intitial reaction when confronted with this opportunity was to back down, but with my little nephew Alex staring up at me and gesturing with his arms as though he himself were ringing the neck of the chicken I just couldn't say NO! So after the legs of this poor animal had been tied together I was shown how to hold the neck. Without thinking of what was really going on here I closed my eyes, squinted in fear, and let loose slinging the chicken into a wind up that I'm sure only prolonged the suffering of what would become in three hours my lunch. Of course after all that I assumed the hard part was over, but I was sadly mistaken. The process had only begun, we had to of course remove all of the feathers after bathing the dead chicken in boiling water, and then the slicing and dicing began. Intestines were removed and it turns out that the stomach is actually a fine piece of meat once you've separated the lining from the eatable section. So after about an hour of prep the chicken was finally ready to go into the stew of vegetables and rice that would feed our entire family for just one simple meal.
It is experiences like this that I am starting to really enjoy. The beauty of the simple things that happen every day is starting to win me over, and the people albeit difficult to understand at times have really stolen my heart.

The End of the Road...

After last night we are all a little exhausted. The airports are full of somber carolina fans who would pay anything to get out of San Antonio. The going rate for one ticket to the National Championship game... Whatever you can get! I sold my ticket before the game had even ended for 100$. To make matters a little worse I've finally come down with a nasty cold. San Antonio was great for a basketball tournament if you were on the winning team, but I can't say that I'm eager to get back. The river walk, albeit a friendly stroll on a spring afternoon, gets old after about 20 minutes. No matter how bad it seems we all have one thing to be grateful for today. We don't live in Kansas. If I were an economist I would predict a sharp decline in consumer spending for the state of Kansas in 2008. The reason cited is that more than 15,000 people spent half their annual income on bringing their families to San Antonio to watch Kansas beat Roy. I did get the chance to sit beside a 10 year old boy last night who had no specific ties to any of the teams. After going down 40-12 in the first half I told the kid I needed him to be a big UNC fan and reassure me that a comeback was not out of the question. The kid did exactly that prompting a 24 point swing over 12 minutes with his tarheel pom-pom. By the end of the game the boy from San Antonio was more deflated than I was about the failed comeback effort. The only consalation that I had to offer the kid was that he should work really, really, hard in school so that one day he could come to school at UNC, where our storied basketball tradition and wonderful academic standards make us the most hated University in all of the country. Of course being a kid I had to reassure him that if for some reason, like our comeback efforts, he failed... He could always attend Kansas. My only thought now is to get back to Raleigh and enjoy my last several weeks of Spring in the only home I know. What a long strange trip it's been. My life has no doubt been enriched by the experience of seeing 17 States over a 6 week span. Meeting wonderful people along the way I feel much more complete in my understanding of what it means to be of "America". A place where our political idealogy often gets in the way of willingness to help each other become better people. Without getting sentimental, which is hard to do, because there is just something very sentimental about having your eyes fill with water when you come to the ledge of the Grand Canyon, not because your sad, but because your mesmorized. To my mother who thought this cross country trip was a bad idea, but gave me the benefit of the doubt. I wouldn't give it back for anything. Defenitely not a bad idea. Love you Mom~

For the last couple of years Austin, TX is a place that I've heard a lot about. Friends have often mentioned this city among the hottest, and most trendy communities to live in the U.S. There are many reasons that Austin somehow ends up in just about any conversation about great places to live. The arts thrive in Austin, TX. A place where there is actually a festival called "Keep Austin Weird", this capital city also boasts several major annual film festivals, as well as the Austin City Limits Music Festival, and South by Southwest Music Festival. Aside from the many co-op groceries, state monuments, and super parks, Austin is the home of the supersized public university. Most visitors find themselves seeking out the nighlife of famed 6th st which sits in the middle of the scenic downtown. The poppulation seems very health conscious, and can easily get its fare share of excercise in the moderately warm climate of South Texas. The accessibility of running trails and river walks makes Austin a great place to enjoy the outdoors. Local businesses survive and even thrive in a place that still holds onto much of it's old Texas roots. I get the feeling that I'm back in the South here in Austin, and I must admit I kind of like that about the place. The community itself is like a built up "Carrboro" for those of you who are familiar with the progressive suburb of Chapel Hill. Another aspect of Austin often overlooked is that the economy here is blessed with several very large corporate entities, the best known of which is Dell Computers. Most people have grown fond over the years of eating and shopping at Whole Foods Markets. It's a trend that has taken flight in the era of target marketing, and this Austin founded company has created quite a buzz. Just ask yourself when the last time you sat down with your overpriced, organic compilation of meats and vegetables was? Austin's Whole Foods Market was the first in the U.S. opening in 1980 with just 19 employees. Now there are thousands all over the world, and if you want to get an idea of what kind of people flood the streets of Austin you need look no further than your local Whole Foods Market employee's. They would almost all fit in well here. Other featured delicasies of the city include it's enormous public pool which is more like a public lake, and of course there is a great river that run's through the outskirts of downtown where people jog, kayak, canoe, and enjoy the great views from a natural setting. If you needed any further confirmation that Austin is in fact one of the coolest places on earth right now, I will add one more variable to the equation. "The Tree of Life", a movie being filmed in Austin, TX has brought Brad and Angelina to the city as permanent residents for the next year, and their have been citings all over the city, not to mention Brad Pitt, who is taking the role in Heath Ledger's absence is co-starring with Sean Penn in this film, and yes... Sean Penn has also planned to be in Austin for another 9 months. The city has got a whole lot working for it, and sometimes when you are walking through the streets you almost forget that you are still in Texas.

The Boyz Week in Colorado Video Highlights!

Sweet Colorado

It's been a few days since I had a chance to update the blog. On Wednesday night I picked up Josh and Brad in Denver. Denver is a very nice, small city just on the edge of the Colorado Rocky Mountain Range. The streets and downtown area remind me a lot of Nashville TN. Denver has more non-profit companies than any other city in the United States, and is also the smartest city in the country per capita. The food is rated as some of the best with the local cullinary institute placing many great chef's in the community restaurants. Unfortunately we couldn't stay in Denver long because we had hotel reservations in Frisco, CO placing us in closer proximity to Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, and A-Basin. Brad and Josh were both very excited to get out in the snow on Thursday. With 6" of fresh snow on the slopes we set out on an epic journey. By 2:00 on Thursday we had the idea to hike up to the top of a peak that was a little ways off the beaten path. The hike was much more than we had bargained for. Each step was a risk to drop into an open gap beneath the snow that could be as deep as chest high. On several occasions we were forced to pull one another out of the snow, but in the end it was all worth it. 1500 ft later we had reached the peak where we decided we would drop down into the untouched powder. This was an experience for all three of us, and the rush that came from flying through the snow on the side of a jagged rocky mountain face was equal to anything i've ever enjoyed. After the day was over we piled into the VOLVO for the ride home. We realized quickly that the altitude, wind, and snow had worn us down immensly, and the hike also had something to do with it. Either way we were all three in bad shape. Splitting headaches plagued us, and soar muscles kept us bed ridden for the remainder of Thursday night. Friday and Saturday brought much of the same with fresh new snow in Breckenridge, and Vail. Outside of a minor mishap in Vail where Josh and I were ticketed for using someone else's lift tickets the week went wonderfully. The highlight of the week thus far came tonight when the HEELS punched their ticket to San Antonio. This has huge implications for me because had they lost I would have been heading back to Raleigh on Monday morning. The plan now is to drop off Brad and Josh at the Denver airport and head East on 70 and then South on 35 through Kansas and Oklahoma all the way to the Final Four. Look's like that ticket I bought back in January was a good investment! Next stop... Austin, TX. I'll have a few days to hang out down in South Texas before the games next weekend, so who knows I have my eyes set on getting into Mexico before it's all over.

Learning to Love Snowboarding!

Well, I arrived in Frisco, Colorado a day before my buds from the east coast. Of course sitting around today was not an option, so by 10 o'clock this morning I purchased a lift ticket and was headed up the mountain for another day of snowboarding. I've never really been into snowboarding. Today actually marks the third time I've ever been snowboarding, but I must admit the better I get the more fun it becomes. The drive over from Utah was beautiful. I stopped in and visited with an artist from the Navajo tribe who specializes in horse hair pottery. The process has been around for centuries, and although I don't exactly understand it, there is a very interesting way of weaving in horse hair for added detail and texture to the pots when they are fired. The result is beautiful pottery, and it can be purchased for wonderful prices on the side of the interstate somewhere in the middle of Utah. Don't ask me how to get there though, because honestly I didn't even know what state I was in when I stopped. After taking a breather at the Colorado River State Park I decided to finish the 7 hour drive on Monday. There was a woman on the side of the road trying to hitch a ride to LA. For a second it crossed my mind to pick her up and head back, but instead I just wished her luck and told her I was headed east. Colorado is very nice to drive through. The winding mountainous roads take you up in elevation steadily. In Frisco we're hanging out at about 9700 ft. Many of Colorado's' ski resorts peak at over 13,000 ft. This is what I call a tummy teaser, because going up to that altitude is sure to make you at least a little nauseous. This morning I lost last nights dinner on the dash of my volvo when I hit 11,000 ft. I'm just kidding, but there have been moments where I thought it was coming. Back in the hotel here in Frisco, and looks like I better take this extra time to study some Spanish. It'd be good to know a little of that before I wake up in May and find myself living in Masaya.

Wasatch Range, Salt Lake City Utah

Another destination, and another series of lasting memories. I've had to pinch myself several times on this journey to make sure that I am not actually dreaming. How exactly do you explain the view of Utah's most picturesque mountain range from 12,000 ft just seconds before descending into white powdery snow that accumulates at about 500 inches per year. The ski lift will only take you up to about 11,000 ft, so your on your own from there. Hiking up the last stretch of the mountain took a greater physical toll on me than anything i've done since... well since paddling out into the rough waters of "Steamers Lane". I feel more alive than I have ever felt. Just when I think this whole traveling thing is getting tiresome, I'm revitalized to new experiences. The landscape just doesn't get old. As I drove across the state of Nevade I noticed smoke rising from the earths surface. Curious, I got off the interstate at the next exit and drove a mile down a dirt road to find the source of the smoke. The geothermal activity had created a boil in the earths surface. The dirt around the whole was moistened and the steam rising out of the ground was so hot you couldn't even set your hand over it. With just a couple of weeks left on my trip, I think back on the countless moments of ecstacy, and I think of ways that I can bring this excitement into my life for all of the days to come. Maybe I'll wake up one day to find it was all a dream, but until then I figure I'll just keep living it as the only reality I know.

Steamers Lane, Santa Cruz CA

Steamers Lane in Santa Cruz California is known by most surfers for it's legendary point break first featured in the "Endless Summer". I am fortunate enough to have friends that live in Santa Cruz, and surf this break regularly. For an amateur surfer with little experience surfing overhead, coldwater conditions, I must say it was a little intimidating. On Tuesday evening I found the waters mostly friendly. The shoulder high clean waves made my introduction with "The Lane" as the locals call it, one I won't soon forget. We decided to pull out a little early to save some energy for the Wednesday morning swell that was forecast to grow in size significantly over night. By 7 am the next day I could hardly recognize this now viscious slice of Pacific Coast. One key difference was that high tide leaves you only one option to paddle out. You would stand at the edge of a 15 ft. embankment, wait for one crashing wall of white wash to pass, and jump into the water. The key here is that you must be fully prepared to duck dive the oncoming fury of breaking waves which are fully capable of sending you directly backwards into a wall of jagged rocks. With little energy to spare I made it out into the open waters where I assumed I'd be safe for a while. Little did I know that the next oversized set would once again put me in harms way. Having not made it completely to the outside of the breaking waves, I was bombarded by a huge set of waves that must have been ten footers that lined up with no time in between. It took only a matter of seconds before I was feet from the wall of rocks. Climbing out of the water I realized the power of unfamiliar ocean waters and was humbled by mother nature once again.

Yosemite

Perhaps I am not the most qualified to comment on the beauty held in the hands of Yosemite National Park. Ansel Adams once said, "Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space." My thoughts were that even Ansel Adams who spent a lifetime capturing the most magical moments this park has ever offerred to a camera, would have probably agreed that no words or images could ever fully capture it's majesty. Driving into the park is a step up a spiritual ladder that no doubt leaves you feeling closer to GOD than you were before you crossed into this mountain range of glory. The fir trees at the base of the mountains congregate around reflecting pools of water. This time of year as the snow packed peaks begin to thaw out there are hundreds of water falls that flow endless from the blue sky's above. One could spend a lifetime in this park and never see the same thing twice. Boulders as big as suburban dream homes fall to their death from thousands of feet forever changing the image of a mountian that was there before the water reflecting it's beauty. Men will come and go, and their hearts will change like the earth beneath their feet, but Yosemite will testify that I did, for at least one day, truly breathe the air of the spirit.

San Fran and I Bid Farewell

Sometimes we go places and meet people in our lives that have a profound impact on us. I don't mean that we leave the place thinking about it, or that the goodbye's are hard because we've grown so close. The idea is that for a moment in time you can comprehend foreverness, and somehow experience the standing still of time with a place and a body of people. This idea may seem farout for someone who has yet to experience it themselves, but once it's glory has found it's way into your heart there is always a trail back should you wish to return.

Fear transforms without even knowing it and is replaced with a faith that works. The loosly connected ideas that once seemed difficult to implement suddenly have rock solid footing in your walk. No person, or place is insignificant, and with the freedom comes great responsibility. So to San Fransisco I say farewell my great friend. Those I have met here and grown to love can't possibly know the impact they have had on my heart. The journey continues for all of us, and we can know that while we may be seperated by space we are one in our walk.

San Fran Welcomes Me

After spending nearly an entire day driving through wine country and along sections of the Pacific Coast Highway that I would have easily exchanged for others that I accidentally missed, my arrival into San Fransisco was timed perfectly. Friday afternoon in this city is something to behold. First of all, the vast majority of the population are young, attractive, working professionals that carry themselves with confidence on these beautifully kept, hilly streets. It's no wonder Danny Tanner on Full House was always so happy. Living in a pastel painted three story house in San Fransisco must of cost Danny a pretty penny. The work day ends, and the bars and restaurants fill with the type of people that make family reunions louder than grandma can stand. Opinionated, well spoken, and intelligent people share their ideas over coffee at corner cafe's, and the water that surrounds the peninsula on three sides reminds the land mass and it's people that while they may be free thinkers and have great ideas that could work without the likes of DC buerocrats, this body of land is still under the governorship of the Terminator, and by virtue of being only a peninsula still connected to both California, and the United States of America.

The downtown city scape shines in the night sky like a Manhattan or Chicago. But in all of it's glory it wakes up not to dirty streets, but remains sparkling so that it can host friendly park picnics, and welcome the weary into it's lovely charm. Art museums, financial districts, and seedy back street bodega's can all be found without looking very hard. Whether you want authentic Asian, Indian, or North Carolina barbeque, there is something for you when it comes to San Fran's cullinary provision. With a decent job, and a few friends I could see how someone might prance through the streets at 40 looking suprisingly like the 26 year old they were when they found out about this great place. Simply put, it's just not a community that is condusive to aging, or leaving behind the healthier, more vibrant years of your life.

Back on the Road

Well after what seems like a year in Southern California I'm finally making my way north this morning. No regrets here, Palm Springs, Pasadena, and LA have been nice, but I'm defenitely craving some new visual stimulus. What a great day to travel the famed pacific coast highway. The clouds have began to roll in, and it's a good 20 degrees cooler today than it has been the past week. Perfect for some base jumping off the ledges of the Monterey Bay... I'm just kidding mom!

California: Take 1

The most recent pictures are of traveling that I have done in Southern California. My first stop after driving across California was in Pasadena. It was nice to finally make it all the way to some West Coast beaches. The volume in LA was turned up pretty high even for a Sunday night. I found myself sitting in traffic on a hot, sunny, day in Southern California without AC in the VOLVO. I must say, it beats the heck out of the hot days in Washington DC when I was dressed down in a black suit just trying to figure out how I'd keep myself from sweating before I walked into an office for an architectural presentation. All it took was one good walk through the streets of Pasadena to realize that the people out here are glamorous. If your not in the top 5% percent where you live, than it is probably not gonna be a good idea to move to LA anytime soon, I just think we'd all feel a little ugly out here.

My good friend Caitlin and I made our way out to Santa Monica Blvd. and the run on the beach was excellent. By the time we stopped we had crossed over into Venice Beach. For those of you who aren't familiar with the freak show that is Venice Beach, just picture a boardwalk that is tripping on acid. The rest of the evening in Santa Monica was beautiful. The sunset was tremendous, as most all of them have been in my first week of travel. The weather couldn't have been any more ideal. I'm waiting for the weather to take a turn for the worst. It appears that their may be some rain on the way, but at this point I haven't seen a day under 65 degrees, and the last several in Indio, CA have been nearly 90. Santa Monica Blvd is just like you would imagine it to be. Street preformers, coffee shops, bars, and of course shopping, make up the 3rd street promonade. The only pedestrian mall in the U.S. that I've seen that is anything like it is the Lincoln Road Mall down in famed South Beach.

After arriving in Indio, CA where Caitlin's grandparents live we took a day and made our way 20 miles east to Joshua Tree National Park. Famous for it's rock formations and fascinating desert wild flowers, this park see's it's fare share of tourists. However, it's an enormous park and easy to get lost in, which of course I set out to do. After a couple of hikes, and a walk through the rock maze I decided I needed to run a few miles in the middle of the desert to feel like I'd really experienced the full scope of Joshua Tree. Insistant that Caitlin drive the car up 5 miles and wait for me, I set out on my trek. After nearly breaking my ankle a couple of times and begining to hallucinate from the heat, I finally made it back to the car. Caitlin was smiling with a bottle of water. She had no idea how bad I needed that water.

With three National Parks under my belt now, I am anxious to get up to cooler climates. It's been really nice down here in the Valley. Caitlin's grandparents have made staying in Indio, CA a first class spa. This morning I played tennis, lifted weights, and sat around by the pool for a few hours working on my tan. Which I'll need to compete in the glamour war when I get back to LA tomorrow. It's easy to feel at home on a trip like this when you have friends to spend your time with. Caitlin leaves Friday morning, and I'll make my way up the Pacific Coast to see new things. Some of them by myself, and some with new friends along the way.