updates on professional life

Yesterday, I gave half of a presentation on "how to choose a college major" ... in Spanish! I thought it went pretty well and I did a decent job in explaining - especially to the parents - the confusing system of a liberal arts education: how a major is just a part of your whole undergraduate degree, what it means to major or minor, how it is possible to have a major and a minor, two majors at the same time, etc. I was proud that I managed to stick to most of the public speaking principles that I've learned: energy level, interactiveness, eye contact, etc. and that I was fumbling on my Spanish. Still, I need to get the feedback from Megan.

On a less positive note, I just received a rejection email from Mundus M.A.P.P, the Master program in Public Policy in Europe. It's a downright rejection and strangely, I don't feel that rejected --- maybe i'll start tormenting myself once i've had time to chew on it more, but right now it's just a bummer.

the invisibility of disaster

I'd read about the torrential rain in Cusco (and other regions in Peru) this year from the Peruvian blogs that I follow, but it only made international news when the tourists got trapped in Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes after the Urubamba river swelled up and cut off the railroad tracks, forcing the government into helicoptering them back to Cusco. What never seemed to make the news is the ruined lives of the indigenous who live in pueblitos in the mountains, whose house have been destroyed, whose little stock of food has been swept away.

Lunar New Year in Mexico

which was also Valentine's this year, was spent in Veracruz carnavaling.

The parade itself was ok. The seats were charged 60 pesos each. I didn't pay - we were among the illegals - but still thought it should have been free for all. There were raised platforms everywhere along the seafront where the parade took place. Before and after the parade, each of these platforms had their own programs to entertain the public. Some had bands playing, but most were just doing stupid games where half-naked or almost naked people humped each other on stage: guys-girls, guys-guys, girls-girls. I was really glad that I was with a couple of (Mexican) guys. I wouldn't have felt comfortable at all if I had been with just the girls.

The beer and the dancing were the best part - it's a party after all. On Saturday, after the parade had ended around midnight, we headed to a free salsa concert by a supposedly very well-known singer from Puerto Rico. I was pretty bad in the beginning - could barely follow the beats, but I did manage to learn a few steps by the end. Latin American guys are just so gracious when they dance *sigh*. There was an American girl in our group, Chelsea, who studied abroad in Columbia, and she danced super. I have to be honest to say that I was a little jealous to see her move. On Sunday, we started drinking around 4:30 p.m. and I didn't sleep that night - was out until 5 in the morning. We walked from street to street, and stopped to dance whenever we came across a mariachi band or even if it was just a cervezaria blasting out music.

the woe of traveling

is meeting people that you know you will have to part soon and might never have a chance to see again. I often try to persuade myself that it's all worth it, being able to make special connections with people you hardly know, sharing so many beautiful moments and the joy of life, learning how to live better each day. It's a little bit easier when the connection is platonic; friendship is something that I can try to keep through the internet. But if it's romantic, what am i supposed to do?