Saturday, September 24, 2005
Missing
It's really unnerving to see the word "Missing" printed above a picture with the familiar face of a friend.
It's one of those things you never want to expect to have happen to you or someone you know.
Where are you?
It's one of those things you never want to expect to have happen to you or someone you know.
Where are you?
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Summer 2005
During final exams in April
Send application to CCI for one of their Bolivia volunteer placements postings
April 25th
Last exam. Ever. (...maybe)
April 26th
Leave on a flight from Vancouver to Lima, Peru.
May 3rd
While travelling in Cuzco, Peru, I find out via email that I've scored an interview for a volunteer position. I can't get to the CCI-West office in Vancouver for an interview (for obvious reasons) and arrange for a phone interview.
May 12th
By now my travel companion (Robin) and I have made our way from Cuzco and across Lake Titikaka to La Paz, Bolivia. From an internet phone call-centre I make a 1 hour long phone call to CCI for the interview. At 1 Boliviano per minute, I get a decent connection and do the best I can to ignore the delay and echos over the line.
May 24th
I am in Huacachina and Woohoo! I find out I've been offered a placement in Potosi, Bolivia as a Database Programmer and Manager.
May 29th
Arrive home after spending 4.5 weeks in South America. Get a haircut.
May 30th
Graduation ceremony at the UBC Chan Centre.
June 23rd
Fly to Edmonton for CCI overseas placement training and meet other CCI participants.
June 26th
Fly from Edmonton to Toronto. Spend a "as comfortable as can be" night at Pearson Airport...
June 27th
...and after a delayed flight due to mechanical problems, fly to Montreal, hop on two busses and a taxi to arrive in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec at UQTR (Universite de Quebec Trois-Rivieres). Spend the ensuing 6 weeks immersed in Franglais... err, I mean Francais!
August 5th
Return home.
August 11th
Start work at Harman/Becker. *phew* - it's more driving than I anticipated! But being able to take home the Charger is kinda nice.
August 20th
Amanda gets married!!
August 24th
Fly to Montreal for 4 days of Netcorps overseas training in St Jean with Netcorps participants from all across Canada. Meet lots of great people and have a wonderful time! Pleasantly surprised by the number of ultimate players.
August 29th
After Netcorps training, I spent a night/day with Erica and Andrea (from CCI) wandering the city of Montreal.
August 30th
Then I spent a shorter than expected night on a bus from Montreal to Toronto. Lacking sleep, ended up taking two separate naps in two separate locations in Toronto's downtown while waiting for SL to finish don training for the day. We met up later towards evening and had great Thai food for dinner while catching up on everything that's been happening in our lives. Conclusion: we don't see eachother often enough. After some dessert and steamed soy milk, we're both more than ready to crash.
August 31st
While waiting for my luggage at the Vancouver airport, I realize that my greatest pet peeve are people who stand right beside the luggage carousel. If everyone simply took 3 steps back, then everyone could see the luggage that was coming and one could quickly step in to claim their luggage and step out. Instead, people like me who tend to stand back a little, look like jerks when they move in end up elbowing people out of the way to pick up their bag. Grrrr.
September 2nd
Finish contract job and am super excited to be leaving on the 15th for the volunteer position in Bolivia.
September 8th
One week before my flight, Foreign Affairs Canada makes a decision not to allow any more Canadian volunteers to be sent to Bolivia. Period. FAC believes Bolivia to be dangerous because of possible political unrest surrounding the December 4th elections. According to the Canadian consulate in Bolivia and the Bolivian Ambassdor in Canada, all is calm and there is no reason to worry or prevent the volunteer placements from happening.
September 13th
We're all hoping FAC will change their mind. But no miracles happen.
September 15th
Am a little sad I am not on the flight I was hoping to be on all along. But CCI presents an alternative and now I have to opportunity to be placed in Guatemala. The date set is September 30th. Andrea and I want to go to Guatemala early and ideally would leave on the 25th.
September 17th
Spend a weekend up at Elfin Lakes with the EWB-UBC exec crew. Gooooood times :)
September 21st
It is evident we will not be leaving on the 25th
September 22nd (today)
But we get some good news and are told we can probably swing leaving on the 27th! Woohoo! Now...what were the things I needed to do before leaving again?
Send application to CCI for one of their Bolivia volunteer placements postings
April 25th
Last exam. Ever. (...maybe)
April 26th
Leave on a flight from Vancouver to Lima, Peru.
May 3rd
While travelling in Cuzco, Peru, I find out via email that I've scored an interview for a volunteer position. I can't get to the CCI-West office in Vancouver for an interview (for obvious reasons) and arrange for a phone interview.
May 12th
By now my travel companion (Robin) and I have made our way from Cuzco and across Lake Titikaka to La Paz, Bolivia. From an internet phone call-centre I make a 1 hour long phone call to CCI for the interview. At 1 Boliviano per minute, I get a decent connection and do the best I can to ignore the delay and echos over the line.
May 24th
I am in Huacachina and Woohoo! I find out I've been offered a placement in Potosi, Bolivia as a Database Programmer and Manager.
May 29th
Arrive home after spending 4.5 weeks in South America. Get a haircut.
May 30th
Graduation ceremony at the UBC Chan Centre.
June 23rd
Fly to Edmonton for CCI overseas placement training and meet other CCI participants.
June 26th
Fly from Edmonton to Toronto. Spend a "as comfortable as can be" night at Pearson Airport...
June 27th
...and after a delayed flight due to mechanical problems, fly to Montreal, hop on two busses and a taxi to arrive in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec at UQTR (Universite de Quebec Trois-Rivieres). Spend the ensuing 6 weeks immersed in Franglais... err, I mean Francais!
August 5th
Return home.
August 11th
Start work at Harman/Becker. *phew* - it's more driving than I anticipated! But being able to take home the Charger is kinda nice.
August 20th
Amanda gets married!!
August 24th
Fly to Montreal for 4 days of Netcorps overseas training in St Jean with Netcorps participants from all across Canada. Meet lots of great people and have a wonderful time! Pleasantly surprised by the number of ultimate players.
August 29th
After Netcorps training, I spent a night/day with Erica and Andrea (from CCI) wandering the city of Montreal.
August 30th
Then I spent a shorter than expected night on a bus from Montreal to Toronto. Lacking sleep, ended up taking two separate naps in two separate locations in Toronto's downtown while waiting for SL to finish don training for the day. We met up later towards evening and had great Thai food for dinner while catching up on everything that's been happening in our lives. Conclusion: we don't see eachother often enough. After some dessert and steamed soy milk, we're both more than ready to crash.
August 31st
While waiting for my luggage at the Vancouver airport, I realize that my greatest pet peeve are people who stand right beside the luggage carousel. If everyone simply took 3 steps back, then everyone could see the luggage that was coming and one could quickly step in to claim their luggage and step out. Instead, people like me who tend to stand back a little, look like jerks when they move in end up elbowing people out of the way to pick up their bag. Grrrr.
September 2nd
Finish contract job and am super excited to be leaving on the 15th for the volunteer position in Bolivia.
September 8th
One week before my flight, Foreign Affairs Canada makes a decision not to allow any more Canadian volunteers to be sent to Bolivia. Period. FAC believes Bolivia to be dangerous because of possible political unrest surrounding the December 4th elections. According to the Canadian consulate in Bolivia and the Bolivian Ambassdor in Canada, all is calm and there is no reason to worry or prevent the volunteer placements from happening.
September 13th
We're all hoping FAC will change their mind. But no miracles happen.
September 15th
Am a little sad I am not on the flight I was hoping to be on all along. But CCI presents an alternative and now I have to opportunity to be placed in Guatemala. The date set is September 30th. Andrea and I want to go to Guatemala early and ideally would leave on the 25th.
September 17th
Spend a weekend up at Elfin Lakes with the EWB-UBC exec crew. Gooooood times :)
September 21st
It is evident we will not be leaving on the 25th
September 22nd (today)
But we get some good news and are told we can probably swing leaving on the 27th! Woohoo! Now...what were the things I needed to do before leaving again?
