Monday, June 27, 2011

A New Career

Well, as today is a momentous day, I googled the phrase "work sayings" and came across www.quotegarden.com for a fabulous new quote to help kick off this new post.

A lot of fellows nowadays have a B.A., M.D., or Ph.D. Unfortunately, they don't have a J.O.B.

~"Fats" Domino


Suffice to say, I am no longer one of those people that don't have a J.O.B. I have a job and it's going to be a wonderful start to my glorious new career in Civil Engineering. I will start working July 1st, 2011 as a Transportation Technician 2 with the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT). As far as I can interpret, this position takes place out in the field where I will be taking samples and performing material tests, and things of this nature.

I am excited to finally get my foot in the door and start moving down the path of obtaining real job experience. I hope to build and expand upon the scholastic foundation I received while attending the Civil and Environmental Engineering program at the University of Washington.

Speaking of engineering, heres my favorite comic related to the field. I ran across this a few years back while researching a paper, and I think it's quite brilliant. Enjoy.

If you cannot read it, click the comic to open in a new window.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

USA Upset in CONCACAF 2011 Gold Cup

If you weren't following, the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup Tournament Final was yesterday. If this is foreign to you, Wikipedia describes it as an international "competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF," played to determine "the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Carribean."

CONCACAF = Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football

Yesterday, June 25th 2011, was the final between The United States and Mexico, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California. In preperation for this event, I went out to purchase two of the newer US Men's National Soccer Team Jerseys for my brother (Kyle) and I to wear in support. We were sporting the "third" jersey, pictured below which is red with a blue stripe.

Unfortunately, and despite our faith and hope and jersey wearing, in the end Mexico won with a 4 - 2 victory of the US, coming back from a 2 goal deficit to score 4 goals and take the championship out from under the US team. It was a sad day for US Soccer fans with hopes and aspirations of winning ther Gold Cup. Yet, second place isn't all that bad, and I have to say that the US team played great and had several opportunities to tie the game up, but we just couldn't capitalize when those opportunities presented themselves.

If you have time and want to take in the breadth of the tournament in a quicker, trimmed down Youtube version, I have provided links to all the games below.

Game #1 - USA (2) - Canada (0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9bH5w9azb0&NR=1

Game #2 - USA (1) - Panama (2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzqyUVNawyw

Game #3 - USA (1) - Guadeloupe (0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSgii83h4nI

Quarter Final - Game #4 - USA (2) - Jamiaca (0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn0DMJuwS0w

SemiFinal - Game #5 - USA (2) - Panama (0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aaMNmzubcM

Final - Game #6 - USA (2) - Mexio (4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRDYTm-Q2T4

Mexico Played a fine game and proved their worth and merit with a fabulous win against the United States, showing some creative resourcefulness, their mental fortitude, and some flat out brilliant skills with the goals they created. Well done.

I look forward to another great tournament in 2 more years.

Monday, June 6, 2011

The Journey to Washington State

In my last post, I had made my flight from Montevideo to Lima Peru. I caught the flight out of Lima headed to San Jose Costa Rica on an Airbus A320 - very similar to the A319 from the flight before. I spent most of the flight reading my book (Viven!), doing a spanish/english crossword in the inflight magazine, and watching a fairly horrible movie called "Our Family Wedding".

It wasn't until we were almost to San Jose that I sparked up a conversation with the guy next to me. He was from Brazil, heading to El Salvador to go surfing. He, like I, bought the cheap 5 flight package, although he was on flight #4 while I was on flight #2. We were chatting about normal stuff, he was a policeman in Brazil, the Brazilian team Santos is in the final of the Copa Libertadores, etc. when the plane started hitting some turbulence. He didn't quite like it, but I assured him it was much better than my last flight.

We continued talking, and finally took note that we were not landing at all. We were circling in the air, mainting a holding pattern, and I think, attempting to land every so often but forced to pull out of it due to the turbulence. It was super super cloudy, and I couldnt quite see anything, but the stomache clenching drops and plane shudders were on the minds of everyone within.

Even on schedule, I only had 40 minutes between flights in San Jose. I was already wondering if my luggage would make it onto my connecting flight. As the minutes ticked away, I slowly realized that it wouldn't be much of a problem cause I wasn't going to be making the connecting flight either. Circling in the air, jostling in the storm around us, many things run through your mind. Do we have to land here? Do we have enough fuel to land somewhere else or do we have to run the gambit of this storm? How much pressure does it take to rip a wing off a plane? Can the pilots see any better than I can? What are we doing? Whats the problem? and of course, much much more.

On the larger drops in the sky - the ones that make you realize just how valuable life is and that you really do want to go on living and not plunge to the earth at 800 miles per hour - my Brazilian seat mate favored the spanish expression "La puta que te pario" while I favored the american classic "holy shit" while clutching the arms rests on either side of my seat in some ill attempted fear of desperation. There were two girls sitting behind me from Oklahoma City returning from a dental volunteer program who were considering using the barf bags supplied with each seat. Most impressive, was a 3 or 4 year old girl sitting in front of me who didn't cry, or make a single noise the entire time, unlike myself. She was quite valient.

I have to say, there's nothing like a little air turbulence to bring people together. When the pilot announced we were rerouting to El Salvador their was a collective sigh of relief. The remainder of the flight was normal and when we landed everyone clapped and cheered to celebrate our safety. And then we all wondered if we would ever make it home, as we had all missed our conncetions, except for my Brazilian friend who was able to shave a few hours off his trip to El Salvador.

Exiting the plane in San Salvador, we entered the airport where an assistant pointed us to new gates depending on our lost connections. I made my way to the Los angeles flight, to find that the plane was still on the ground in San Jose and hadn't yet left due to the weather. Luckily, I am blessed with a great abundance of patience for situations like these. So I waited, knowing that ultimatlely, my flight from LA to Seattle didn't leave until the following day regardless of my current situation. I sat chatting with others - from Peru and Honduras - in both spanish and english, and we were able to bond through our shared hatred for the last flight and speak about general things.

Eventually the plane arrived, and luckily we all fit. It was an Airbus A321, which was a bit larger than the last two planes. I was stuck in the odd seat next to the emergency exit, but felt lucky to be on a plane headed somewhere at all. During our delay, the entire airport shut down, food and drinks and bars and all, and I couldn't help but wonder about the possibility of being brushed off until the following days flights. Once boarded we waited on the tarmac forever....... and finally headed off to Los Angeles. Like on the Lima bound flight, I watched a movie starring Dennis Quaid as President Clinton about his sex scandal and his association and friendship with Tony Blair. It was decent, but a bit much to watch twice in one day..... but I did it. I slept a bit, I talked with my seat mates who were returning from the Galopogos Islands in Ecuador, and I read my book.

We arrived at LAX around 1:20 am. Deboarded, picked up my luggage, made my way through customs, and exited the airport to find myself outside - wondering where to go to find a connecting flight. I found a police woman who directed me towards the Alaska Airlines Check in area. I walked there to find a deserted wasteland of cleaning staff, and maybe 3 or 4 others like myself lingering on benches with luggage waiting for their morning flights. Exhausted, I took a seat and did my best to sleep, fighting the uncomfortability pre designed into seat.

At 4:30 am I checked in, made it through the inspection process, and arrived at Starbucks 5 minutes before their 5 am opening. I took my american and sat at my gate (31a) to wait for my 8:20 am flight. Around 6:30 the shops started opening, and my sheer boredon forced my attention to perusing magazines, books, candy, tshirts and all the other knick knacks of inherent in airport shopping. While in the shop, I struck up a great conversation with the woman working who was originally from Guatemala. She congratulated me on my good spanish and introduced me to her friend who was from El Salvador. I explained my journey and they told me all about the dangers of there past cities. It was refreshing to find myself using my spanish in the states, and they were both very very nice and wished me the best as I headed off in search of my friend and family.

After much too many hours on the road, I finally boarded the plane and felt like I was finally going home. I slept almost all of the two or so hours home, and enjoyed the birds eye view out of my window seat of lush green mountains, puget sound coastal towns, and the City of Seattle from afar.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Montevideo to Peru

Well, I made it to Peru safe and sound, yet this is only one of my five flights to get back to Seattle.

I awoke this morning at 4 am in order to make it to the airport by 5 am to catch my 7 am flight out of Montevideo. Mari and I went out last night for dinner and drinks with Patricia and Nicolas, and didn't make it to bed until about 1 am. Thankfully, the 3 hours of sleep was adequate enough.

Ruy and Mari took me to the airport and waited around while I checked in, then we said our good byes and I entered into the departures area and headed to my gate. I had another 40 minutes or so to kill, and I sat thinking about general stuff.

One major thought is that I am currently reading the Spanish version of Alive, called Viven! As you may recall, there was a movie a few years back that illustrates the story of when the Uruguayan Rugby team crash in the Andes on their way to Chile. My flight was headed here to Peru, but I know the Andes are there as well. I started wondering how I would hold up if this little A319 120 person plane went down in the artic weather of the Andes Mountains. I have a coat with me, but no major winter coat. I have one packet of cookies in my bag for a snack, and not too much else - a camera, a broken ipod, some gifts when I return home.

Then, I started sizing up the other passengers. Who would I choose to eat if it came down to it? And what cut is the best on the human body? And was I the only one thinking this thought, or were others looking at me like I might be dinner?

Luckily, I was tired enough on the 4 hour flight that I slept through at least half of it, but I still awoke to the shaking turmoil of turbulence that this little plane was subjected to up in the sky. And with every shake and altitude drop I could imagine the mountain peaks just below.

But, all for not, I arrived safe and sound and now sit with an americano in front of this computer telling my tale. Its 11.05 am, and my next flight doesnt leave until 2.15 pm.

My itinerary



  • Leave Montevideo 6.53 am

  • Arrive Lima Peru 10.05 am

.



  • Leave Lima 2.15 pm

  • Arrive San Jose Costa Rica 4.53 pm

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  • Leave Costa Rica 5.35 pm

  • Arrive Guatemala City Guatemala 7.15 pm

.



  • Leave Guatemala City 8.00 pm

  • Arrive Los Angeles California 12.00 am

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  • Leave Los Angeles 8.20 am

  • Arrive Seattle Washington 11.00 am

Friday, June 3, 2011

Mariana´s Commercial

A few weeks back, Mariana and a friend were asked to "star" in a commercial for a local credit card company. Mari was paid $80 USD to spend a few hours one afternoon downtown in a friends flat for the filming. We have been waiting for the commercial to hit the air.

Finally, two days back a friend called to say they saw her on TV. We spent the last 2 days watching the local channels without luck, but finally someone posted it on facebook.

We are happy to announce the arrival of Tarjeta D.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Kissing Montevideo Goodbye - for now

I have bought my ticket and am returning home. I fly out of Montevideo on a three legged journey on June 4th and arrive in Los Angeles California early on the 5th. Then I catch another flight headed to Seattle where I will touch down around 11 am. It´s going to be 32 hours from initial takeoff to my final landing, excluding the fact I will arrive a few hours early to the Montevideo airport for check in, and also excluding the time it will take me to exit Seatac airport and get home. I am guessing all in all it will be around 35 hours of travel time.

The problem with cheap tickets, so enticing yet ultimately horrible.

I am currently packing and gathering all my stuff and pondering how to protect fragile items.

Mari is going to stay in Montevideo a bit longer. As neither of us has much going on back in the states, she can continue to remain here and hang out with friends and family a bit more. She is also pursuing the removal of her cyst, which now lies deflated and dormant, but still gives a twinge of pain here and there and needs to be taken care of once and for all.

Personally, I need to get myself back to the states and start seriously searching for a job in order to get myself into my career path. Look out engineering firms, here I come.

Mari´s Breaking News

Mari wrote another article for the Latin America News Dispatch.


It´s entitled "Uruguay´s Growing Economy Stimulates Reverse Migration". If you would like to read it, click here.

Seattle Sounders and Uruguay

Back in early may, after returning back home from Buenos Aires, I recieved a package from my mother in the states for my birthday. Although Mari took the liberty of opening it for me, inside I found my gift - a jersey for the Seattle Sounders. I promised my mom, long ago, I would take a picture and send it to her. I am a bit overdue, but........ I did it.


For those of you who dont follow the Sounders too closely, there is a Uruguayan that plays on the team named Alvaro Fernandez, or as he is referred to here - Flaco Fernandez.

Its funny, while here in Uruguay I get asked all the time where I am from. I always answer - The United States (Los Estados Unidos) and then refer to my hometown as Seattle. I would say the majority of people do not know Seattle, and dont recognize the name of the city when I say it. But I have found that after this exchange, if I follow with a reference to Flaco Fernandez, the name Seattle suddenly takes meaning as nearly all Uruguayans know Flaco Fernandez and that he plays for the Sounders in Seattle.

In past blogs, I have referenced the fact that I am a Nacional fan here in Montevideo. Flaco Fernandez played for Nacional for 2008 and 2009, before heading to Seattle in 2010.