First NFL game ever!

Not traveling has not meant the end of new experiences for me. I am still learning a lot at my new job and today I'm going to my first ever NFL game! We're going to INVESCO Field to watch the Broncos, even though they are out of the running for the playoff. I've heard that pro football games are tons of fun. So my expectations are high :-)

Coming up soon I'll get to experience my first New Year's Eve NOT at an AIESEC US conference and I'm really looking forward to that. I would have liked to go to NY but maybe next year.

Then I'm getting my wisdom teeth out on Friday. It's about time!!! And a few short days later I'm flying off to California to visit with the family. Yay!

Well, that's my short update after not writing for over 2 months. I'm enjoying life outside of the internet and it's marvelous. Now the burden is to stay in touch with my dear friends around the globe while not being attached by the hip to the internet. love ya'll, write to me :-)

one step at a time

I've got a job, a car, a cell phone, some new clothes and the money is on it's way. Juggling career options is hard but I finally just took in the dark and accepted the position with OppenheimerFunds. I was never a fan of working in a call center but there's something about this company that makes me think it couldn't hurt to try it out for a year and get my foot in the door into the financial industry. Meeting up with old friends is an ongoing process. It's so hard to hear the sad stories of people I used to be so close to and also the beautiful moments that I've missed.

Waiting for stability? What's that supposed to mean? When do you know when you've reached that point? I just know I need to get my act together and take it one day at a time. Enjoy - this is life after all, right?

Looking at your life through a new lens

I've made it full circle back to the place where I was born and raised: Colorado. I arrived a little over a week ago and have the pleasure of dealing with reverse culture shock, get caught up on what's going on here, and start a job hunt. The culture shock is complex but I'll just point out the part where you come back to everything that is still so familiar but you see it with a new pair of eyes. A pair of eyes that has seen the windmills of Holland, the Rhine of Germany, the narrow streets of central Brussels, and the Spanish Royal Palace. It's not the places but rather the experiences that add a new dimension to my perspective and give me all new things to reflect upon about Colorado and life here. Once I get settled in more with a job, house, and money I'll write more.

the nomad life

A strange phenomena has occurred where I see everything pass before my eyes in a blur. Not that every thing is actually fuzzy but that the images are coming and going at such a rate that my visual life seems to be speeding by like a movie on fastforward. My theory is that I have gone above and beyond my normal level of insane travel and work. I'm curious about what would be the next level after this, but I don't wanna test my heart more than I already have.

stupid and bold

Two words I use to characterize myself all too often. These are the words I would use to describe my actions this past weekend. Although seemingly well thought out, I under-estimated something that generated a huge amount of stress for what was meant to be a relaxing, care-free weekend. So here goes the story...

Cindy, Martin, Zeno, and myself planned on going to Dusseldorf by car. I decided put the effort into making a reservation and renting the vehicle and putting the down payment. I was also aware the cheapest option was manual and not automatic. So, I thought I'd just have somebody teach me to drive a stickshift real fast and then we'd be on our way. hahahahahaha, riiiiiiiiight.

Well we didn't have too much time for just teaching gwen how to drive so we went on our way as soon as everybody was ready. I must have destroyed the clutch and/or engine this weekend. But I learned fast how to drive a manual :-P Wouldn't you also call that stupid and yet bold?

Beautiful weekend spoiled by criminal act

The weekend started out on a positive note as I arrived to Brussels on Friday night and went out with a bunch of AIESECers to a club party organized by a group of the EU. I started late on Saturday but we filled the entire afternoon with tons of sightseeing. I must give a huge thanks to Pedro (a mexican on the Belgium national committee) who spent his weekend taking me around the city. And then on Sunday we went with a few people to the beautiful city of Brugge. Pictures are coming soon. I bought chocolate, drank belgian beer (the peach flavor is awesome), and ate the famous belgian french fries and waffles.

Unfortunately the weekend came to a close when I was informed Monday morning that the office had been burgled and 8 laptops were stolen, including my own :-( It is a piece of shit 5 year-old laptop, but still, it was mine and I'd kept it in great condition over the years. I find it kind of ironic that nothing this big happened to me during 2 years in developing countries, but that after a little over 2 weeks in the Netherlands I would be robbed. Strange, huh? Just another point proving that crime exists EVERYWHERE and not only in developing countries.

Summary of a great weekend

With just a week in the country I was already antsy to get out and do something beyond the city, so with great connections I was able to plan a weekend to Amsterdam and it was amazing. I slept for maximum 5 hours total and saw tons of the city including the Red Light District (5 min), churches, canals, the streets, the discos, ducks, boats, the city center square where the palace is, and a beautiful big park.

I must give a huge thanks to Mischa who hosted me at his family's apartment home. Within ten minutes of walking through the door he gave me keys to the apartment, a bike, a cellphone, and a map of the city! And on top of all that he offered all the fruits and food in his home and his mother cooked for us. All of this made the experience so wonderful and relaxed and comfortable and Mischa has raised the bar for hospitality.

Photos of Amsterdam are here. But I didn't take any at night of the discos :-( but at least you can see the city.