From the Eyes of Gwen

2008-04-27T15:35:00.002-04:00

I get complacent every now and again about the election. I stop caring about all the politics and drama and I focus on my day to day business. But then I'll watch a move like "Sicko" by Michael Moore and fill up with emotion. Barack Obama as president would be a miracle for our poor nation. Thanks to our criminal of a president, the US is tanking, all for the political and profitable gains of a few.More to come as I vent.

2008-04-27T15:35:00.001-04:00

election year

2008-04-27T15:31:00.000-04:00

More to come as I vent.

election year

2008-04-27T14:59:00.001-04:00

2008-04-27T14:52:00.001-04:00

Election 2008

2008-03-22T01:13:00.000-04:00

Election 2008

2008-03-22T00:47:00.002-04:00

Election 2008

2008-03-22T00:47:00.001-04:00

Election 2008

2008-03-22T00:41:00.003-04:00

First NFL game ever!

2007-12-30T13:38:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-08T20:58:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-18T13:52:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-25T10:20:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-17T11:33:00.000-04:00

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

2007-06-18T10:24:00.000-04:00

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

2007-06-12T06:38:00.000-04:00

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.

1st time getting lost in Holland

2007-06-08T15:08:00.000-04:00

Well, I knew it was going to happen. My first experience trying to travel to somewhere outside of Rotterdam and I got lost. But so much more than that happened. Getting lost was combined with my natural spaciness and here is the story...

I arrived to the Central Station in Rotterdam at6:15 to take a traine at 6:29. This wouldn't be a challenge for any normal person but being my first time buying a ticket and finding the platform, that amount of time was unrealistic. I first had to pull out money, buy something to get coins, and find a ticket machine that takes coins instead of cards. I couldn't use a credit card because they only take Mastercard and not Visa. So weird!!!

Finishing the story:::
I go to the platform to take the train and I had missed it by 3 min! Ok, no problem. I was going to just take the next train. But somehow I missed that one too :-S uff So I was definitely going to be late meeting my friend who was going to pick me up from the train station. As I waited for the next train I decided to ask somebody instead of assuming and he explained to me that because of the bad weather everything was delayed and they were changing platforms (how was I going to know that!) But he helped me get to Amsterdam and the only problem then was that I was 1.5 hours late, my friend had gone back home after waiting for at the station, and I had left his phone numbere and address in the office. So my only hope was going to an internet cafe to look up the map he had sent to my email earlier that day. And thank god I connected to the internet because he was online and came for me immediately. Phew, no problem. All is well.

Settling in

2007-06-07T04:26:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos finally. They begin with a walk down the street we lived on in Mexico and to the office. Then a few going away photos with my friends. And at the end are just the few photos I have taken so far in Holland. You can see them here.

Alive and well in Holland

2007-06-04T05:27:00.000-04:00

I can't even begin to describe all of the culture shock I have lived through in the past 4 days, but I will try to give you a hint of the experiences I've had:
- A supermarket that doesn't accept VISA! :-O I never though I'd see the day
- Bicyclists receiving as much right of way as pedestrians (or more)
- Cube-shaped apartment houses next to a pencil-shaped apartment complex
- An open-air market selling anything and everything under the sun, including turkish pizzas and the not-so-popular european fashion
- Kroket - fried meat and potato sausage thing

I'll try to write more later but I've actually got to work :-P Cheers!

the beginning of the end

2007-05-18T22:34:00.000-04:00

The unavoidable goodbyes are in full swing. Today we went to the airport once to bid farewell and warm wishes to our dearly loved Colombian, Sebastian and then once again for hugs and tears with our dearly loved Turk, Ahmet. This is just the beginning of a long month of goodbyes for a team that has grown, cried, laughed, loved, and lived together for one year under the same roof. But our friendship is deep and this is not goodbye forever.

There's nothing like a year as MC.

Short trip to Holland before back in Colorado

2007-05-14T18:02:00.000-04:00

And just like that in 1 week your life can change directions. Last Monday morning I was happily imagining going back to Colorado and looking for an interesting job when I received an email that invited me to apply for 2 month project with AIESEC International in Rotterdam. I sent in the application and one week later I got the call that I was selected. Now I'll be going to Rotterdam in the next 2-5 weeks. Wow. Life is like that sometimes.

The project is to manage the preparation of the Annual Report for AIESEC International. Once it's all printed and done in August I'll head on back to Colorado. Dear, sweet Colorado, where my friends and family are waitin.

beautiful Saturday

2007-05-05T22:16:00.000-04:00

Slept in late, til about 10ish. Went to the market for fruits, eggs, bread, and veggies. Cleaned the few left over dirty dishes from last night. Cooked breakfast with Ahmet and served it to those of us who were in the house.

After such a fun, relaxing, and good breakfast Ahmet and I met up with a friend in la Condesa, chatted for a while with him and his friends and then had lunch at a really cool African-Arabic restaurant. It was so nice. Now we're going to Dani's bday party at her house. It's turning out to be a beautiful Saturday.

Moving on

2007-04-24T23:00:00.000-04:00

Not being chosen is never good for one's self-esteem and so it's been hard to be cheery these days, but I'll survive. I just needed one good night of whining and complaining to get it all out of me, realize how ridiculous it was to be upset, and start the next day with a whole new attitude. So far I have completed this cycle and am just waiting for a full recharge of energy to be able to start the search again for a next step to my life. I've finally remembered the things I had mentioned before submitting the application that "it doesn't matter, I have lots of opportunities". Now I just have to actually take advantage of them.

The waiting game

2007-04-14T00:50:00.000-04:00

It's Friday night and I don't wanna go to bed quite yet. I've been checking my emails like mad today but everybody seems to be on vacation because I don't get anything. I'm waiting to find out whether or not I was selected for the AI position that I applied for. They'll make the announcement on Monday.

For the weekend I'm once again going back to Kike's house in the town of Tlahuelilpan in the state of Hidalgo. His mom invited me this weekend for her cousin's wedding, which should be interesting. And then Kike and I are making plans to go clothes shopping on Sunday in Pachuca where the prices are supposed to be a little cheaper. We'll see if I can't find a nice shirt and some shoes :-)

Anyway, life is good. Ahmet and I went to play pool 3 times this week and sadly I think I got worse and worse every time we went back :S Tonight I lost quite a few games but won one fair and square.

Cindy just gave me a small gift from a trip she went on last week to Oaxaca, it's a small bottle of coffee flavored Mezcal and I'm just dying to try it, but I'll wait until next week. She and her boyfriend won't let me forget the how if it wasn't for me getting totally wasted at my bday party then they would have never met because they both were taking care of me. Ay ay ay. sooo. that's a few random thoughts for you to skim through to find out what my day to day is like :-P Cheers!

From the Eyes of Gwen

election year

election year

Election 2008

Election 2008

Election 2008

Election 2008

First NFL game ever!

one step at a time

Looking at your life through a new lens

the nomad life

stupid and bold

Beautiful weekend spoiled by criminal act

Summary of a great weekend

1st time getting lost in Holland

Settling in

Alive and well in Holland

the beginning of the end

Short trip to Holland before back in Colorado

beautiful Saturday

Recommended videos

Moving on

The waiting game