My own place: rented!

I believe it was more than 1 year ago I wrote about the first investment of my life. An apartment... not sure if it was a sudden urge of independence or just knowing I had an option... to do whatever I wanted.

I signed papers on the 4th of May of this year... I picked up a set of keys and opened the door for my future home. Unbelievable... I'm stuck the next 30 years of my life paying for it... but worth it... absolutely worth it.

After staring at the open door for 5 minutes to a completely empty apartment I saw the inevitable coming, furniture, cable, telephone, electricity, water, maintenance, paint... and food.

Better idea... let's rent it. Screw the independence. Money decides.
Suddenly, Manuel needs an apartment, he is staying in El Salvador and needs to move out from the apartment his old company was renting for him... guess what! I HAVE AN APARTMENT TO RENT!

The deal: he buys the furniture that is left (I already have a living room, kitchen, laundry) and I rent it to him at a very conveniente price! So that was the best deal... now I am sitting in the living room of the apartment I rent to my boyfriend, watching the amazing view to San Salvador while waiting for him to cook me dinner....
Ahhhh this is life!

Two years full of joy!

It only took a huge Barney piñata. That was it. The rest was birthday cake and presents... but let's stick to the Barney.

Barney is for me, the equivalent of Ronald McDonald for Digs... it sucks! and this Barney piñata was huge, ugly and it deserved a good spanking!

As I say... the rest was history... 2 years ago, I was in the hospital never ever having changed a diaper, or carried a days old baby... nothing... and here I am, teaching my daughter to speak, to say thanks and please, to obbey at the first order, taking her to the first day of school (my own school 19 years ago)... life is simply amazing.

Welcome to the Alma Mater

As mother as daughter...

The intense years of math, art, language, english, religion and biology have started.

Its true. She just turned 2 years. And school... real school has started. And the best thing, its the same kindergarten I went to. Its called "Horizontes" (Horizons).
She attends from 7:30 am to 11:30 am
She has everyday math, english, religion and language class. Twice a week she receives physical education. Language classes switch 3 days a week to "arts and culture"where she listens to classical music, watches pictures of famous paintings, sculptures and buildings!

hehe... she definitely is screwed for the next 20 years of her life...
Here are some pictures of "the first day"

"Mexico lindo y querido"

Test number 1: Colombia and friends
Grade: Approved

Test number 2: Mexico and girl friends
Grade: Approved

Test number 3: THE Mom
Grade: Pending

Test number 4: Christmas with the family
Grade: Subject to approval

So... it seems test number 2 is over. Here are the sequels of 48 hours in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Can someone send me to an international conference?

I want to go to an international conference.

I miss the fret, the mess, the hundreds of people moving from a session to another, the intense working days, the working groups… the 4 am legislations… the 7 am sunrises…. The 8 am plenaries… the chants of people “no more potatoes, we want rice!”… the parties, the nordic highway… drinking the nordic highway twice…

I miss teaching stiff europeans to dance latin music. I miss roll calls, practicing roll calls and never coming up with a good one. I miss singing in a bus on our way to somewhere… “this is number 1 and the fun has just begun!.. Roll me over…”

I miss going to bed at 5, waking up at 7:30, having a 10 minute breakfast and starting all over again… for 10 days.
I miss dressing up for a formal dinner… and actually looking good in the formal dress I wear.

I miss the people, the diversity in one room, scheduling meetings at 8 am the morning during the americas party, the morning after the americas party…

I miss the conversations, the motivation and passion in people, to motivate with my own passion, to change the world over a couple of beers.

I remember WACK, going along with the pranks…
I remember the “day after” gossip… following the “Golden Rule”.
I remember Hessel waking up in plenary in order to be on time.
I remember Suzanne fighting over Education Traineeships
I remember Joe fighting Suzanne over Education Traineeships
I remember Digs screaming to the top of his lungs 2 inches away from my ear “Are you a leader!!!??”
I remember Swedish back massages
I remember having beers with Luis Couto
I remember having conversations about girls with Nuno Cruz…
I remember teaching stiff europeans to dance latin music.
I remember ditching legislation plenary with Reetta to go and have some beers with the gang because we were bored inside.
I remember my forever roomate Ying Ying
I remember pictures in typical customes with Minni

I am nostalgic…. I want to go back in time to many international conferences and live them all over again.