amkean pronunciation

I'm telling you, I sprint like a jackrabbit across the streets every time because my pedestrian instincts are totally failing me with the driving on the left thing.You'd think it'd be as easy as doing the opposite, but with turns i get completely confused. Leaving tomorrow on safari though. Survived the botanical gardens today. No carnivorous plants.

tags: africatrip

There are a few things different about Africa, I've noticed, even in South Africa, the most Western African country. I need a key to get out of my hotel room if I lock it. The fire marshal has not inspected the hotel, I guess. People riding in the backs of pickups on the highway. Townships. Asking for a 5am wake up call so that I can get picked up at 5:30 and getting my call at 5:24. I forgot that 5am in Africa means "sometime after 5."

I abseiled off Table Mountain yesterday. I dove with great white sharks today. The weather has been perfect. I had to plan those activities for right away to have a back up day for bad weather, but now I'll be spending my backup day doing leisurely touristy things, like riding a tour bus and going to museums.

I was warned off of hiking up Table Mtn. on my own, but I hiked down. Reasons why it's smarter to hike up: falling on the way down means broken bones, and I got really fatigued and almost bit it a few times. I guess that's the main reason, but it seems cooler to hike up than down even if down is more dangerous.

I am a horrible photographer.

There were a few Americans on the boat today from DC and Chicago. The Americans did awesome. Except for being multilingual. Everyone else beat us at that.

tags: africatrip

I arrived tonight and should be in bed, but I wanted to let people know I arrived safely and everything. That was a lot of time on planes and in airports. Tomorrow the holiday begins with Table Mountain (weather permitting). I've taken zero photos.

Before I leave for Africa today, I will watch the final scene of the Glee pilot. I am very excited for this show.

The job I'm taking next year is in the northwest suburbs, the part of the metro area I'm by far the least familiar with. It's an inner ring suburb, so it's like WSP. The change in geography means that I've suffered through the crosstown construction for the last year and a half without getting the benefit.

My flight leaves this afternoon. Not packed.

The practice of saying "________ on steroids" is worn out. Usage: This [new thing] is like [old thing] on steroids. It was good for a while but now it's worn out. The trash heap has spoken. Nyeah.

I'm leaving for Africa on Sunday. I have almost everything ready for the trip, but that wasn't true a few days ago. Somehow, very recently, I decided to do more adventure-y stuff while I'm there. I've never been a big adrenaline person. I've never really wanted to go bungee jumping or skydiving. But on my first day in Africa, I'm going to rappel 367 feet. I think maybe the thing isn't that I haven't been at all interested in doing outdoor adventure activities, but that the barrier to entry in terms of equipment was holding me back, along with me having plenty of other stuff to do and a feeling of contentment doing it. But on my trip, I'm in money spending mode, so I'm going to do whatever is there because it might be my one chance.

I got a job for next year. It will be in alternative education, like my old school, but probably in a saner and better structured/organized/more functional environment. The strange thing was that I don't think I applied for the job because I was just applying to mainstream and/or middle school jobs, and this was a high school job, .5 math and .5 science. I don't think I would have applied to an alternative job that was part science in a high school, but they called me and I wasn't feeling picky. Luckily, the job sounds great, although I'm nervous about teaching science. Still, I had thought about being a science teacher and, of course, YAY SCIENCE!!

CHG and I went to Canada...actually she got a job and went, then I stayed home and worried about jobs, then went. We watched Canadian TV, including the original "The Longest Yard," then golfed a par 3 course and went to the horse races, the ones where the jockeys ride in carts behind the horses and the horses trot. We both drove back all in one day/night and I had my most disappointing Taco John's experience ever. It was too close to closing, so their salsas were put away and their soda machine didn't have any ice. You know how it feels when your expectations for some little treat are crushed?

I was in Luck last weekend where tubing behind the boat helped to prepare me for Africa. NHL Hitz, euchre, moving a hide-a-bed, putting in the boat lift and banging my shin into said lift.

I shall not prattle on about productivity guilt. But it is there.

Labels: africa, canada, jobs, luck, work

I'd totally spend money at Musicland right now if it still existed. Their loss.

I got a job offer this morning and it (in combination with several other things) caused paralysis in me for the rest of the day until about 5pm. It's an "alternative" school, so I got a really lowball offer which I just couldn't accept. I called back later intending to finish the business, either by getting a big raise right off the bat, or saying no. Instead, I was offered a medium raise and told to think about it and not make a hasty decision. So tomorrow I'll probably turn down the only job offer I've had and call myself crazy. I said I'd be picky, and here I am. I had an interview with a mainstream school district, and they said I interviewed well and wanted me to interview for a possible future job opening this summer. I'm discombobulated.

Summer vacation has only given stress from the job search and an impending overseas big trip. Speaking of Africa, I'd been frustrated for a long time with my travel agent. I was searching for info on the web and found a knowledgeable poster on some forums who owns an agency in the Cities. I contacted them and got set up with an agent. I thought that would be wise, considering that I was experiencing info overload trying to do things on my own. I'd email my agent and it would take her a long time, or sometimes never, to respond. I agonized about what to do about this situation, more so than I needed to, as it turned out. In the same way that I put blame on myself where none existed in Norway, I wondered in this situation how to address the problem with the person rather than going above her head. In the end, I went above her head, and got this response: [she] "is no longer with Travel Beyond so that may explain the service disruption." Oh, really?!

I'm home alone for a week, which is also causing problems with my...I don't know...mental health around the house or something? I have no purpose, too much free time. Time to sell Joe Montana rookie cards.

I watched more of the Stanley Cup finals this year than I had since Carolina won because of CHG. Game 7 was awesome. Fleury was amazing. I didn't watch *any* of the NBA finals, for reference. There have been times when the NBA has not been boring, but that's the exception. Kobe's game isn't boring, but the Lakers are boring. The Kings circa 2004 or 2005 were an example of something not boring. When Spree was with the Wolves, that wasn't boring. The NBA in the 80's wasn't boring. Everything else...boring.

Labels: africa, basketball, teaching

I got stuck six times with needles today to get ready for Africa.

1. Polio
2. Hep A/B
3. Yellow fever (not necessary for the countries I'm visiting, but I wanted as many shots as I could get)
4. Meningitis
5. Flu
6. Typhoid

I forgot which ones cause the most pain afterwards, but my arm feels as if it was given weakening serum. I went to the Park Nicollet travel clinic and was super impressed. They really know their stuff, and they're efficient and professional. I found out at the end that my travel nurse had never even been to Africa, but I wouldn't have thought so from talking to her.

I told the last people in charge today that I wasn't coming back next year. Not all my colleagues now, though. After a month of applying and no responses save a few rejections, I got two calls for interviews to good jobs today. I don't know if I'll even be teaching next year. There are other things I could do.

I watched the movie Bully. I thought it was good, but a little nihilistic or something for my taste. I'd rather watch Glee.

Labels: africa, movies, tv, work