The Grass is Always Greener…

A little background: I have been a full time student for as long as I can remember, and I can’t remember ever having a summer vacation that lasted more than two weeks in the past four years. I worked 14-hour days at a minimum almost every day as a full time student.

This is the first summer of my life that I have actually felt as if I were not a student, but a human being that works and toils for shelter and grub (mostly grub). I also feel a lot more stupid. My work can be challenging at times (and I DO love my job), but it is more of a “time management” challenge than an “intellectual” challenge. My brain is painfully letting evaporate all the swollen cells of knowledge that I wept proudly over during graduation.

Ironically, even though I now have a fixed 40-hour a week schedule and a steady income, I find myself lacking the energy after work to do anything. I get a lot less done in terms of “MM-things” (like crocheting and swimming). I also feel a lot poorer than I did when I had only a part time job. How is this possible? Am I comparing myself to a new set of impossible work-standards instead of student-standards? Am I being nostalgic about my student days? Or am I simply going crazy because of the summer heat wave?

In Monterey

This that have happened since my last post:
- I fell in love with a pair of Aldo shoes that I cannot buy. It is against my principals to pay so much for a pair of shoes.
- I made a commitment to train for my walkathon. I begin Monday.
- I have learned a lot at work. I like my job a lot.
- I've been pondering about starting a yoga class.
- I enrolled in a business class for next semester (I can't help myself. I must study)
- I saw Superman (the movie) with Alan.
- I got a pedicure and manicure for the first time in my life. It was so indulging!! I would love to do it again.
- Fourth of July came and went. There was a big party at my place. It was fun. I ate at least three times my weight in food during the course of said party. And of course, I went to the Alameda Parade. This parade is a mix of Mayberry meets Tehegraph avenue= the best!

It Is About Time

That I started telling people I'm in the 20th Annual Aids Walk in San Francisco. I'm actually really excited about it. The 16th of July, if you look hard enough, you might see me in the crowds... marching along with my ideals about how the world would be a better place to live in if we could find a cure for Aids.

The reason why I have taken so long to blog about this major event that could change the world: I hate asking people for money. But I need to get over that: So give me money!!! It is for a good cause. I am registered under Margaret Bryden, with the UCB team. You can also send me checks/cash/money orders... anything that would help.

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support AIDS Walk San Francisco
Thank you.

Discovery of "A Sauna"

I have lived in an apartment complex with a sauna since I turned 18. I had never gone to the sauna, until last week. I went because of the terrible cold I got from all the flying. – the hot steamy air helped me breath through my nose again- I stayed because it was the most wonderful heat-experience I have ever had. I always thought the idea of sweating in a hot box was gross… but it makes you feel so good and relaxed! It helps you breathe better and shed toxins. I now understand the value of a good sauna.

Merida

Lovely, Lovely Merida. I love that city. It reminds me of Berkeley because:
1) It has a lot of hippies.
2) It’s existence is fueled mostly by the presence of the University of the Andes (Where I studied for 1.5 years).
3) I have really great friends there.
And Also:
4) The climate is not as hot as where I lived before I moved to Merida (Ciudad Ojeda), therefore making it heaven.
5) It is surrounded by gorgeous mountains.

Alan Arrived Sat afternoon. He met my mom, who as a token of friendship gave him a hamaca (hammock). The hamaca is very special because it was made by hand, and it can hold two people. I think she likes him, which makes me happy.Here is Alan the day after he arrived in Merida, with my mom.

Maracaibo

Maracaibo is the capital of Zulia State. It is also one of the biggest cities of the country. It’s location is about 1.5 hours from where my family lives: Ciudad Ojeda. I hate both Maracaibo and Ciudad Ojeda. I can’t stand being there. It is too chaotic, hot, irritating. I don’t know how to describe it, but just being there makes me annoyed. I can’t help it. I only go there because I love my family. My mommy is so sweet: She made me tons of scrumptious venezuelan food! My mom looks better than ever. My brother was super excited about the new i-pod I brought him...

I got to Ciudad Ojeda on a Wed. night. We all had family fun until Friday night, when we left for Merida.

Miami

I had not planned to stop in Miami, but when the people of American Airlines offered $800 (in flying vouchers) food, transportation, and accommodation in a five star hotel, and a seat in the next flight leaving for Maracaibo (Where my mom lives) I was very tempted to stay and have a little fun. I had never been to Miami before, and I couldn’t see myself planning a vacation around this city, so I decided to take a chance… and the 800 dollars.

When I got to the hotel, which is conveniently positioned next to a mall, I did what any normal girl without luggage would do: I made a mad dash for clothes and underwear. It was 10 min to 6pm, and the mall was closing as I walked in. It was almost a miracle that I found such a cute black and white dress (with a moderate price tag) and a cheap pair of sandals to go with it.

I was happy and hungry, which lead me to my next adventure: seeking food. The hotel recommended a little restaurant in South Beach. This restaurant would send a limo to pick me up from the hotel, and take me back to the hotel whenever I felt like it. Needless to say, I chose the limo. While I was riding in the gigantic car all by myself, thinking about how lucky I was, I figured the food would be expensive and good. I only got one adjective right: It was expensive and BAD, really bad. I couldn’t finish my main plate. Even my cappuccino was watery. I didn’t mind so much because I figured I was paying for the limousine.

After dinner I walked all around South Beach. I was mesmerized. Almost all the stores were open… most of them stayed open regularly until midnight or more. This was a Tuesday night, and I thought there wasn’t going to be much going on. I was pleasantly wrong. Everything was going on. There were people shooting themselves up by the beach, there were bars and discothèques and rows after rows of nicer restaurants than mine (none with a limo though). People were out and about. I went into almost every store I saw, just to look. I didn’t have any money.

When I got tiered of walking, and I realized that my cheap sandal had broken, I decided it was time to go home. By the time I got into the limo I was feeling kind of lonely, so I made some chitchat. The driver ended up giving me a tour of Miami! I will never forget what he said about the city: “If you do not speak English with an accent, you are an outsider”.

The next day I went to the downtown area, to see what it was like. It seemed like most of the city was under construction. It was even hotter and more humid than the night before. I took busses, to see the real face of Florida. Not surprisingly, they were all Latinamerican. I wondered how many of them were legal, and why they had come.

My plane left at 4 pm to Maracaibo.

Dear Loyal Blog Readers.

I am sorry I haven’t been able to update since I returned to the States, but I have unexpectedly come down with a terrible cold from all the flying , and Alan is hoarding the pictures we took.
Otherwise, I am doing well and tomorrow is my first day of work, so I am very excited. AAAACCHHHUUUUUUUU.

Adventure Travels

Since I graduated I have been a bridesmaid in my uncle’s wedding, and shortly after I skipped the country. The wedding was fabulous, even if it did rain. On the way of getting out of the US I made an improvised short pit stop in Miami, Florida. (I was not impressed by this city.) Now I’m in Venezuela!!! Aside from having very little time to sleep, everything is good. Mom keeps feeding me wonderful Venezuelan food that you can’t get in the US. Maxwell took me to see his university, and soon I will be in Mérida visiting friends.
Mom, Max and I are leaving for Mérida tonight, by bus. The bus ride takes aprox. 6hours.

My pictures have a mind of their own, and refuse to upload at this time. I will beat them into submission later.

I Graduated!!

... but I still have three finals to finish this week. These are pictures from my Linguistics graduation. During my 2min. speech, I cried like a baby: So embarrasing. I took a lot of silly pictures with my friends. All in all, it was wonderful. I loved having all my family and friends there. I'm so happy Grandpa + Judith, dad, Alan, Uncle Robert and Karen could come.

My Play Was Awesome

Le Leg (the inheritance) is the name of the play. It was pretty nerve racking at first, especially because I was in the first scene. But everything worked out really well, and once I was on stage I wasn’t nervous anymore. The play was entirely in French, and this was my bio.
Mxxxxxxx xxx: Hortense
MM is a double Linguistics and French major. This play marks her exciting debut as an
actress, and culminates her last semester at Berkeley. MM describes herself as a fun-
loving, CHONG-obsessed, half-Venezuelan chocolate-lover. She is also an officer of SLUgS
(Society of Linguistics Undergrad Students). She wishes you to kick back and enjoy the show.

What May Means

Psycho paper. Finals. French play. New JOB? GraduationS. Family visiting. Stomach hurts. Second mid-term Monday. I was supposed to have lunch two hours ago. I'm going to Venezuela! I'm a bridsmaid. I'm 22, does that mean anything? Am I a student? I don't want to be here. I need to buy a suit. Have you seen my Ruby Slippers? Obviously, it is time to spontaniously cumbust.

The Categories of: JOB

I seriously want a job.
Today I went to the Career Cal Job Fair, and it was awful. Just terrible. How is it possible that I spent the last five years of my life working my ass off so I could get a double major from one of the best universities in the world, and I can't find a job doing what I love? At the fair, there were basically ZERO jobs for linguists or for French majors. Once I realized this God-awful-fact, I went into a state of almost-panic and flirted with the idea of becoming a high-school teacher. (Which, by the way, was the only job I was qualified to apply for according to the Job Fair).
I quickly discarded this idea, as it was a really bad one: I do NOT want to teach high schoolers. I never have wanted to. I hated high school, why would I want to go back?

Every job that I have seen basically falls under these three categories:
a- Teach
b- Need some sort of Business degree
c- Only need high school diploma. Doesn't pay a living stipend

I don’t know what to do anymore. I have applied to what seems like a million jobs since this semester started and nothing, nada, rien. Merdeeeeeeee.