Afterall...

Self explanatory...

And Kelly wanted a shoutout... So shoutout Kelly!

The Team...

So I realized that I have not really taken the time to talk about my team at all, which both make me weird and a horrible teammate.
It makes me weird because I share a corner with all of them (no we aren’t prostitutes, we just have our desks there), and I will live in a van with them for the next couple of months.
I’m a horrible teammate because I haven’t really mentioned them on my blogs.
So I’m dedicating this whole blog to my team, and to people who I which were on my team… So basically I’m just going to mention them… haha

Ok so lets start:

The first one I met is:
Chad Houseman, he is pretty much the coolest person ever. He is just uberly hyper, and pretty much gets along with everything that moves and breathes.
Then we have Rob Juarez, who up until today I hadn’t really talked to. He is pretty cool as well. He is a totally smart guy.
Then we have Willie Chase, who is probably the coolest person in the world, but he does not realize that he is yet. He is smart, has an awesome Spanish accent, and is a loud human being.
And finally we have Andrea Nakhla who I have not gotten the pleasure to talk as much as the guys, but the couple of conversations we’ve had had been pleasant. We share a common taste in music, which is good.

We also have Colleen Dougherty who isn’t technically on the Mexico Tour but she basically owns our hearts and souls. She has to be the best assistant of the world. She has it covered.

Ok so that’s my team…
Haha

Horrible teammate.

So today I helped translate the movie we are going to show while touring. It seriously took me 30 minutes to translate a 5:30 minute video. Which I did not realize was in English until half way through it. I was reading the subtitles and they made total sense, I realized they did because they were in English. That’s when you know you have way to much on your brain when you do not know what language you are reading, but you still comprehend it.

Kelly left me. Just in case she reads this she should know that I don’t like her right now, but I appreciate her sharing her pasta with me tonight.

We made a bit to much pasta by the way, like two containers too much.

I think I might be done. I am rambling, and I am kind of tired.

Just remember… Mexico kicks ass….

First Weekend in Sandy Eggo

It’s been an interesting weekend.
We went to work on Friday, and were let go early so we could participate in a picture scavenger hunt.
The rules were as follows:
1) You had to stay with your team.
2) After staying with your team. You had to find other complete teams, and come together to complete a group of 15.
3) The Mexico team and two others got together. (I have no clue what teams they were. I know the people I just don’t know what region they have.)
4) We went to take a couple of pictures in different parts of San Diego.

After that, the Mexico team went to have dinner. We went to some Japanese restaurant. It was delicious. We talk. Shared food. Acted like a team. Etc.
Got home (the villa) and I went to sleep, because I am tired and I am an old lady inside.

Saturday.
I woke up kind of early. I showered. Ate breakfast. You know, the average stuff.
I was reading in the garage, and was in the midst of a couple of girls talking about going to get their nose pierced. I told them that they should do it, cos I’m supportive like that.
I saw Kelly and Shannon walk by the garage door so I got up and followed them (mostly because they are my favorites)
They invited me to go to some stores. I decided to go. We went to Mission Beach.
Sabrina went as well. She is awesome! She is my bed neighbor.
We walked around some stores. We went to stick our feet in the water (it was freezing.)
We got lost on our way back, but while Shannon and Sabrina were freaking out on the front sit. Kelly and I started talking, and found out we had a little too much in common.
We got to the villa. Shannon and Kelly left for their team dinner. I sat and bothered other nice people. I read a couple of more chapters from my book.
Shannon and Kelly came back. Kelly and I stayed out in the balcony for a while before I went to sleep.

Sunday.
I went to OB today. Lisa (one of our Regional Managers) goes there every Sunday to have a cook out with a couple of the local homeless people.

It was amazing.

I respect her so much. I mean she works for IC, which I already respected her for. It was just seeing her today though she had a personal relationship with almost every person on that beach. I think it’s beautiful to see so much beauty coming out of one single person.
So I went there. I saw an awesome homeless guy singing songs. He had a pretty good voice.
I then went to Nico’s and had a “burrito.” I came back to the Villa. I decided to ditch the concert for several reasons. Kelly and I went to Vons to get some groceries. I was an interesting experience coming back to the villa. Lets just say I lost some sensation on my hands for a couple of minutes.
It was a good weekend. Tomorrow is back to work. I am looking forward to it.
It was a good to be able to rest for a little while.

I’m looking forward to Mexico, with both anxiety and excitement. I’ve been reading up on all the things that have been going on in Mexico lately, and part of me is dying to go just to assure myself that not all of Mexico is like that. I want to see it first hand that Mexico has hope. I am, after all, a Mexican.

I feel like I’ve been in San Diego for more than a week. I feel like I’ve been here for at least two weeks. I think I feel like this because I have never done anything as useful all my life. I feel like I’ve been studying Uganda’s history all my life. I feel like I’ve known these people for months now. I like that. I like that people like Kelly, Shannon, Sabrina, and Mallory have me figured out. Today, Kelly was talking to one of her friends on the phone, and I was sitting at the kitchen table and Kelly told her friend that she couldn’t say something at that precise moment. I think her friend probably asked who she was with, and Kelly said that she was only with me, that she wasn’t worried about me hearing what she was going to say that she was worried somebody else might walk into the room and would get insulted. Then she said something along the lines of me not being capable of ever getting insulted. Which I thought was hilarious, and a complete compliment.
Anyways after that lovely compliment, and me shinning like the bright star that I am. Kelly and I (I know you probably hate Kelly already, you shouldn’t she is awesome. Don’t tell her though) went to Vons cos I needed to buy some food. So we walked to Vons, which is kind of far away. I loaded the cart with things I needed, and realized after I payed that I was going to have to carry them back. It was unfortunate. I did buy enough food to last me the next two weeks.

Right now I am in the process of finishing doing laundry (which by the way Kelly participated in as well… hahaha… next blog I promise to find another character as well. Kelly will probably take place in it as well) So I decided to write a blog, which I know have a feeling is a bit to long.

Anyways,
I love you mother,
I love you father,
I love you sister,

And

I love you whoever else might be reading this.

This week is finally over

First week of training is over, and I am completely drained.

I have been running in less than 5 hours of sleep a day (that doesn’t sound as bad as it feels.)
I love it though, every single aspect of it.
I love not being completely aware of where it is I am going yet.
I love not being able to run and hide. I live in a house with 44 other people.
I love that within these walls I have met people that I feel like I’ve known for a couple of months.

So here are a couple of things I’ve done this week that have really stood out.
1) We got a lesson on life by Jason. Who, by the way, is the most incredible person. ever.
2) I got to eat with the entire Mexico team. Woot woot Mexico!
3) I have has some crazy awesome conversations with this girl named Mallory. She pretty much kicks ass at life, and everything to do with it.
4) I have made so much of fun of Kelly and Shannon. Pretty much in a way that should either be illegal or documented for the world to learn.
5) I have heard the first bit of mouth trashing other people (I hope this doesn’t end bad)
6) I was questioned, and responded in Spanish. Which ended up in a loud response of applause, because it wasn’t expected.
7) Gabe’s mom brought all the roadies food. Not exactly sure what it was, but by God was it delicious.
8) Have a new appreciation for food.
9) Have become extremely budgeted. I am scared of running out of money.
10) Have gotten in fights with people from El Paso. Weird.
11) Took a quiz.
12) Watched Scrubs. Oh yes I fit it in.
13) Talked to my lovely father for a couple of minutes today. He is awesome.
14) Talk to my sister. She’s pretty.
15) Took some pictures with another two teams.
16) Translated a couple of emails for some of my teammates.
17) I like Kelly Baker. Just a random fact that I thought everybody should know.

I love this city it’s amazing.

I’m kind of falling asleep while I am typing this. So I’m going to go.

Good night lovelies.

Besos

Training is what's up!

Today was the first day of training.

It was intense.

Amazing though, African history totally blows Mexican and American history off the radar. Like we have so much back stabbing in African history that it makes all the soap operas seem like crap (although technically they all are.)

Ok so here is what I did all through the day:
1) Woke up at 5 45 am. For no reason I just did, and could not go back to sleep so I snag the shower before anyone else could.
2) Ate some delicious cereal I bought at Vons.
3) Drank coffee, and sat looking at the sky from the awesome balcony expecting to see the sun rise until I realized I was looking west so it didn’t work out for me…
4) Prepared my backpack for work.
5) Snagged a ride on a van driven by pretty much the best female driver in the world.
6) Sat next to Kelly who in 10 minutes became my favorite person in the world.
7) Got to work. Sadly got separated from Kelly in order to go on a tour of the office with out RM’s.
8) Went to look at our desks. I share it with this totally awesome girl named Colleen. She is the Mexico Regional Assistant.
9) Took a minute to look at our awesome binders.
10) Went to a staff meeting where I found Kelly, and we became best friends again.
11) Took a 15 min break. Kelly and I went to the restroom.
12) The staff was introduced
13) Lunch. Willie, Kelly, and I went to buy caffeine.
14) Went back to the conference room to have a quick expectations meeting.
15) Took a break. Kelly and I and about other 8 girls went to the restroom.
16) Went back and started getting the history of the war.
17) Took a break.
18) Went back to get the second part of the history of the war.
19) Took a break. I ate goldfish crackers. Had a thought on why the fish were so happy.
20) Went back and had a brief history of how IC started.
21) Packed up, and headed for the vans.
22) Got to sit next to my girl teammate (Andrea) had our first actual conversation. I liked her already then she told me she like Tegan and Sara, and that “like” turned into “love.”
23) Got home. Called the parentals. Told them what I did. We bonded for a while.
24) Got inside changed into pjs.
25) Went downstairs to a house meeting.
26) Came to the room, and talked to my roommates about random things.
27) And now this.

Yesterday was pretty amazing as well.

We went to a theater where we met Jason, and Bobby (two of the filmmakers.) We heard a girl named Achi Nancy, one of the first girls from Northern Uganda to come to the US on a full scholarship, speak.
We then saw a film called “Man on Wire” if you have not seen this film go out right now and rent it.
We then came home. Mexico though was still missing on of its team members. So as we awesome Mexicans do (actually there are only 2 of us) went and picked up our last teammate to arrive.
So the Mexico tour was united. We all pretty much kick ass. Like seriously.
We are all different, but in the 5 different ways of cool.

Anyways. I am trying to keep you posted. This has been an amazing experience already, and I am barely getting started.

I send my love to all you El Pasoans.

Roadie Adventures- Days 2

So I promised I would do this.

For those of you who don’t know I recently moved to San Diego to work for a non-profit called Invisible Children. I am a roadie. What that initials is traveling from city to city talking about the situation in Northern Uganda. There are about 60 of us who are doing this. We all get put into separate regions, and got to cities within that region. IC is going international for the first time this semester, and of course I got put into an international team. My amazing team is going to Mexico.

So this is what I’ve done thus far that I have never done before:
1) I traveled U.S. Airways.
2) I drove in a big black van with “Invisible Children” written on it.
3) I had people who did not know me wait for me at the airport with unbelievable enthusiasm.
4) I got into a van with 3 complete strangers, and never experienced a moment of awkwardness.
5) I got into a car with 4 complete strangers, and felt a little bit of awkwardness but was quickly changed into just plain awesome conversation.
6) I went to two different Targets in one day.
7) Went to Vons (cool super market)
8) I freaked out about how expensive food is here in California.
9) I got a Vons card.
10) I slept in a room with 3 other girls.
11) I will sleep tonight in a room with 5 other girls.
12) I can’t remember names. I’m usually amazing at names.
13) I’m living in a house with another 45 people. Which one of the assistants described as “Not one of the most legal things to do” I thought it was hilarious.

It’s been an incredible experience already, and this is barely my second day. I am excited to meet all the rest of the roadies who still have to come in. I still need to meet some who are already here.

I will keep you all updated.

I love and miss most of you…

Hehe

Zari