Friday, October 10, 2008
Tyler's article
Tyler got an "article" published in the Foreign Service Journal about his Peace Corps and diplomatic experience. If you want to read it, go here: http://www.afsa.org/fsj/oct08/fromThe.pdf and see pages 44 and 45.
Tyler's article
Tyler got an "article" published in the Foreign Service Journal about his Peace Corps and diplomatic experience. You can read it here: http://www.afsa.org/fsj/oct08/fromThe.pdf Pages 44 and 45
Tyler's Article in the Foreign Service Journal
Tyler got an "article" about his Peace Corps and diplomatic experience published in the Foreign Service Journal. You can read it here: page 44 and 45. http://www.afsa.org/fsj/oct08/fromThe.pdf
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Surfing
Let me share with you about our surfing experience. Tyler and I (but mostly Tyler) decided that while we are in Costa Rica we might as well learn how to surf. So we went to another friend this past Saturday. Side note – the friend’s name is Juanfer…short for Juan Fernando, but still funny. Nicest guy ever – Juanfer - if you read this, don’t feel bad.
We went to the closest beach to San Jose which is about two hours away. The beach is called Jaco. As a side note, just a few days after our first surf lesson, I read that this beach is contaminated. Great. The beach is dirty, I should have known better…
When we arrived, we looked out at the waves and were not intimidated by their size but rather the fact that there were manta rays jumping out of the water – not like a few “can you spot one?” but absolutely hundreds all over the place. My Wikipedia research informs me that this is practically the same as a sting ray. (Many of you may be familiar with the story about Tyler’s first surfing experience…when he caught one wave, jumped off the board onto a sting ray, and had to be carried to shore by his best friend.) Fantastic.
Anyway, by the time we had received all of our instruction and jumped on and off the board on the sand and faked surfing poses on an old beat up surfboard sitting on the sand with no ocean or waves, the manta rays had disappeared and I guess we were ready to give it a try. We all got assigned boards and went into the water with two instructors. It actually wasn’t terribly difficult to stand up – for about 5 seconds…but what was REALLY HARD was getting back out into the water. The waves were not teeny and the boards are big. So, we did this routine – spend 15 minutes getting out to the wave and then catch it, stand up for 5 seconds (or about 8 if you’re Tyler), fall off, and trudge back out again – for about an hour and a half. Needless to say, I was knackered after that. We had a little break with a snack, and then I was told we have another hour of surfing left. Yeah! Not yeah!
So I walked, dragging my feet back to my surfboard and was dreading fighting the waves again. Instead of guiding my board, I decided I would just attach it by the strap to my ankle and pull it into the water. I fully recognized that this was a bad and very unsafe idea (if you don’t know why, you’ll read in a second). I was about waist deep when I saw a big wave coming. I knew that not having a grip on my board at that time was a very bad idea, but I couldn’t get to it fast enough. The board got yanked by the wave and slammed back at me. Thankfully, it was slammed back into my thighs (where I have a little padding) and not into my face. I have a few bruises but nothing major.
So, I sulk back to the beach, having given up for the day on this new hobby of mine. The instructor comes and sits next to me and I ask him if he has another smaller, lighter board. He tells me that he gave me the smallest, lightest board he had. He also points out another girl in our class who has a board that’s (according to him) “much heavier, and much bigger.” As I look at her, I see that she is actually surfing. Good job her. Bad job woosy me. Then, to make me feel more woosy (although I know he is being nice), he asks if I want him to walk the surfboard out for me and then I can surf back in. Although tempted, I do not take up his offer to look like the woosiest person on the planet (or at least at Jaco Beach that day).
We went to the closest beach to San Jose which is about two hours away. The beach is called Jaco. As a side note, just a few days after our first surf lesson, I read that this beach is contaminated. Great. The beach is dirty, I should have known better…
When we arrived, we looked out at the waves and were not intimidated by their size but rather the fact that there were manta rays jumping out of the water – not like a few “can you spot one?” but absolutely hundreds all over the place. My Wikipedia research informs me that this is practically the same as a sting ray. (Many of you may be familiar with the story about Tyler’s first surfing experience…when he caught one wave, jumped off the board onto a sting ray, and had to be carried to shore by his best friend.) Fantastic.
Anyway, by the time we had received all of our instruction and jumped on and off the board on the sand and faked surfing poses on an old beat up surfboard sitting on the sand with no ocean or waves, the manta rays had disappeared and I guess we were ready to give it a try. We all got assigned boards and went into the water with two instructors. It actually wasn’t terribly difficult to stand up – for about 5 seconds…but what was REALLY HARD was getting back out into the water. The waves were not teeny and the boards are big. So, we did this routine – spend 15 minutes getting out to the wave and then catch it, stand up for 5 seconds (or about 8 if you’re Tyler), fall off, and trudge back out again – for about an hour and a half. Needless to say, I was knackered after that. We had a little break with a snack, and then I was told we have another hour of surfing left. Yeah! Not yeah!
So I walked, dragging my feet back to my surfboard and was dreading fighting the waves again. Instead of guiding my board, I decided I would just attach it by the strap to my ankle and pull it into the water. I fully recognized that this was a bad and very unsafe idea (if you don’t know why, you’ll read in a second). I was about waist deep when I saw a big wave coming. I knew that not having a grip on my board at that time was a very bad idea, but I couldn’t get to it fast enough. The board got yanked by the wave and slammed back at me. Thankfully, it was slammed back into my thighs (where I have a little padding) and not into my face. I have a few bruises but nothing major.
So, I sulk back to the beach, having given up for the day on this new hobby of mine. The instructor comes and sits next to me and I ask him if he has another smaller, lighter board. He tells me that he gave me the smallest, lightest board he had. He also points out another girl in our class who has a board that’s (according to him) “much heavier, and much bigger.” As I look at her, I see that she is actually surfing. Good job her. Bad job woosy me. Then, to make me feel more woosy (although I know he is being nice), he asks if I want him to walk the surfboard out for me and then I can surf back in. Although tempted, I do not take up his offer to look like the woosiest person on the planet (or at least at Jaco Beach that day).
Monday, September 15, 2008
I got a job.
If I have to make that a title of a blog post for every place we move I might go crazy.
Anyway, if you've been reading the blog, you know that I was doing consulting in Kosovo this summer. At the same time I was applying for, interviewing for, and negotiating for a job with the Embassy here in Costa Rica.
The process was long and arduous, but it finally worked out and I started a job two weeks ago. I work four days a week (less than I wanted) and I am working in the Economic section. This means that I am keeping an eye on the economic situation here. Some particular areas I'll be working on are: training for Costa Rican business and government having to do with trade, real estate, tourism, aviation (airlines/airports), corporate social responsibility, and little bit with the transportation sector.
The job will be very different for me and a good challenge. I work with two other people in the Economic section but, obviously, with a lot of other people at the Embassy in general.
Anyway, if you've been reading the blog, you know that I was doing consulting in Kosovo this summer. At the same time I was applying for, interviewing for, and negotiating for a job with the Embassy here in Costa Rica.
The process was long and arduous, but it finally worked out and I started a job two weeks ago. I work four days a week (less than I wanted) and I am working in the Economic section. This means that I am keeping an eye on the economic situation here. Some particular areas I'll be working on are: training for Costa Rican business and government having to do with trade, real estate, tourism, aviation (airlines/airports), corporate social responsibility, and little bit with the transportation sector.
The job will be very different for me and a good challenge. I work with two other people in the Economic section but, obviously, with a lot of other people at the Embassy in general.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Prizren, Kosovo
Yes, it's true. Once again I am back in Kosovo - for the third time. I'm certainly not complaining. I really like working here and exploring and trying to understand the country.
The first time I was here I was just trying to figure everything out. The second time I was here it was for a short time (about a week) and I worked every day from 8 AM to 10 PM to try to get a proposal finished before I left. This is my first trip where I have felt like I had time to be a tourist. (At least for today...I anticipate the rest of my time here to be quite busy.)
So I took the opportunity to go to Prizren. Prizren is about two hours from the capital of Prishtina and in the southwest part of Kosovo. It is considered the cultural capital and I could understand why after spending about 30 minutes there. The first thing I did (after I found a strategically placed tourist map) was hike up to the ruins of an old castle that overlook the entire town. On the way up I saw some barbed wire on either side of the path I was walking on and big signs saying "Entry prohibited, use of weapons is authorized." Yikes. Should I keep walking? Do they mean the path that I am on right now or just the areas on the sides of it... So I decided to proceed, since nothing was blocking my way, and try to look really stupid, innocent, and harmless. I walked up about two more minutes and saw a beautiful Serbian Orthodox church surrounded by barbed wire. The path split off in three directions at that point, one way to the church (with big signs saying Entry Prohibited, use of weapons is authorized) one way to two big doors that said KFOR and Entry Prohibited, use of weapons is authorized and one way that were stairs up. No other signs. You can imagine which way I decided to go. But, the path was steep, the day was insanely hot, and I was dripping. I decided to sit on the steps and have a drink of water.
Conveniently enough, just as I was sitting down, up rolls a jeep that had come up the path behind me with two German soldiers in it. (I know this because the license plate had the German flag on it as did the arms of the soldiers' uniforms.) I hope this is not the time when they think use of weapons is authorized and I don't know how to say anything else in German except for alveeterzain (I know that is the wrong way to spell it) which I learned from the "So long, Farewell" song on Sound of Music.
Luckily for me, the soldiers get out of the car and #1 says "hello." Good sign. People do not say hello to the person they want to draw their weapon on. A little yelling and shouting later (in German) some other soldiers trounce out of the Serbian Orthodox church in plastic sandals and uniforms to help these guys unload some stuff from the truck.
Although I could guess the answer, I thought maybe my sweaty good looks and wedding ring would convince the soldiers to have a look at the church even though it didn't appear to be allowed. I asked #1 and he very gently let me down by telling me that the chief doesn't allow it. I checked with him that the stairs were the way to the castle and he told me yes and off I went.
Strange encounter #2: As I was walking up, I saw a guy walking towards me. Since I was alone on the path and was still within shouting distance of the German KFOR I decided to stop and pretend to admire the view while this guy passed. Using my excellent Albanian (the language of Kosovo predominantly) I said Hello (merdita...in case you're interested in learning). He responded and then I promptly said "I speak English" (in English.) He didn't unfortunately and he suggested "italiano", I shook my head and suggested "espanol", he shook his head, I suggested "bulgarski"...obviously that didn't work either. We "chatted" as much as two people can chat who don't speak each other's language, but the common words in Italian and Spanish plus his knowledge of a few words of English had us talking for about 15 minutes. I bid him farewell (didn't think to use alveetersain that time) and went on up.
The views from the ruins of the castle were amazing and that's when I really understood why they call Prizren the cultural capital. From what I could see, in the center of town there were seven Serbian Orthodox Churches and 17 Mosques. That's insane. Even in Istanbul I don't recall there being so many. Unfortunately, when I descended the mountain and began really exploring the town I was disappointed to find that nearly all of the churches and mosques were completely closed. During the war in Kosovo, the Serbs bombed many of the mosques and the Albanians bombed many of the churches. Some are completely ruined and others are empty shells or have walls that are falling down that make them dangerous to enter. So I admired many of them from the outside.
Quickly about my bus ride...in Bulgaria I took buses everywhere and they were generally comfortable (not always, but mostly). Sometimes they had air conditioning, sometimes not. Sometimes they had heat, sometimes not. The buses I took to and from Prizren were not super fancy, but they were 1) air conditioned - since it was about 90 today, that was important, 2) cheap - 3 Euros or about 5 bucks each way, and 3) had good service - they served little snacks and drinks at no extra charge - on the way there I got a piece of chocolate and on the way back I got a little cookie and a coke. Tell you what, that's much better than the service on most airlines these days.
The first time I was here I was just trying to figure everything out. The second time I was here it was for a short time (about a week) and I worked every day from 8 AM to 10 PM to try to get a proposal finished before I left. This is my first trip where I have felt like I had time to be a tourist. (At least for today...I anticipate the rest of my time here to be quite busy.)
So I took the opportunity to go to Prizren. Prizren is about two hours from the capital of Prishtina and in the southwest part of Kosovo. It is considered the cultural capital and I could understand why after spending about 30 minutes there. The first thing I did (after I found a strategically placed tourist map) was hike up to the ruins of an old castle that overlook the entire town. On the way up I saw some barbed wire on either side of the path I was walking on and big signs saying "Entry prohibited, use of weapons is authorized." Yikes. Should I keep walking? Do they mean the path that I am on right now or just the areas on the sides of it... So I decided to proceed, since nothing was blocking my way, and try to look really stupid, innocent, and harmless. I walked up about two more minutes and saw a beautiful Serbian Orthodox church surrounded by barbed wire. The path split off in three directions at that point, one way to the church (with big signs saying Entry Prohibited, use of weapons is authorized) one way to two big doors that said KFOR and Entry Prohibited, use of weapons is authorized and one way that were stairs up. No other signs. You can imagine which way I decided to go. But, the path was steep, the day was insanely hot, and I was dripping. I decided to sit on the steps and have a drink of water.
Conveniently enough, just as I was sitting down, up rolls a jeep that had come up the path behind me with two German soldiers in it. (I know this because the license plate had the German flag on it as did the arms of the soldiers' uniforms.) I hope this is not the time when they think use of weapons is authorized and I don't know how to say anything else in German except for alveeterzain (I know that is the wrong way to spell it) which I learned from the "So long, Farewell" song on Sound of Music.
Luckily for me, the soldiers get out of the car and #1 says "hello." Good sign. People do not say hello to the person they want to draw their weapon on. A little yelling and shouting later (in German) some other soldiers trounce out of the Serbian Orthodox church in plastic sandals and uniforms to help these guys unload some stuff from the truck.
Although I could guess the answer, I thought maybe my sweaty good looks and wedding ring would convince the soldiers to have a look at the church even though it didn't appear to be allowed. I asked #1 and he very gently let me down by telling me that the chief doesn't allow it. I checked with him that the stairs were the way to the castle and he told me yes and off I went.
Strange encounter #2: As I was walking up, I saw a guy walking towards me. Since I was alone on the path and was still within shouting distance of the German KFOR I decided to stop and pretend to admire the view while this guy passed. Using my excellent Albanian (the language of Kosovo predominantly) I said Hello (merdita...in case you're interested in learning). He responded and then I promptly said "I speak English" (in English.) He didn't unfortunately and he suggested "italiano", I shook my head and suggested "espanol", he shook his head, I suggested "bulgarski"...obviously that didn't work either. We "chatted" as much as two people can chat who don't speak each other's language, but the common words in Italian and Spanish plus his knowledge of a few words of English had us talking for about 15 minutes. I bid him farewell (didn't think to use alveetersain that time) and went on up.
The views from the ruins of the castle were amazing and that's when I really understood why they call Prizren the cultural capital. From what I could see, in the center of town there were seven Serbian Orthodox Churches and 17 Mosques. That's insane. Even in Istanbul I don't recall there being so many. Unfortunately, when I descended the mountain and began really exploring the town I was disappointed to find that nearly all of the churches and mosques were completely closed. During the war in Kosovo, the Serbs bombed many of the mosques and the Albanians bombed many of the churches. Some are completely ruined and others are empty shells or have walls that are falling down that make them dangerous to enter. So I admired many of them from the outside.
Quickly about my bus ride...in Bulgaria I took buses everywhere and they were generally comfortable (not always, but mostly). Sometimes they had air conditioning, sometimes not. Sometimes they had heat, sometimes not. The buses I took to and from Prizren were not super fancy, but they were 1) air conditioned - since it was about 90 today, that was important, 2) cheap - 3 Euros or about 5 bucks each way, and 3) had good service - they served little snacks and drinks at no extra charge - on the way there I got a piece of chocolate and on the way back I got a little cookie and a coke. Tell you what, that's much better than the service on most airlines these days.
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