20 days to go...

So today was kind of boring. I have been working on my application to work next year in Palo Alto, which is not the most fun way to spend a day, but I suppose it's better to get it done early. I have also been thinking that I should get a new laptop, because the one I have is a little Sony Vaio and it's just old and has a ton of accessories which I don't want to crate around, so I want something with everything included. You know, so that I can put new canciones on my ipod, new fotos from my camera (see below), and a video to see mis amigos when I call them on skype!!! (If you don't know about it, skype.com is a website that allows you to make phone calls over the internet. I will be downloading it shortly and hopefully many other people will have accounts so that we can chat in person!)

I am hoping to find a deal at Fry's or something, Levi is going to help me out this weekend which should make for a great day...hopefully not as painful as the camera experience. I was so drained from looking at hundreds of cameras and about to cry by the time I decided on the one I (finally!!!) wanted that he taught me the little acronym HALT to keep the crank-meter down. It's great. When you get cranky, figure out why. Are you Hungry, Angry (I put frustrated in this category), Lonely or Tired? Like my fancy lettering? I am so nerdy. Liz just called and was like "What are you doing?" "Blogging." "Oh, you're talking?" "I'm blogging." "You're walking?" "No! I'm Blogging!" (Laughing hard) "Oh my god! You're blogging!"

So I am trying to figure out my finances as well, and what I thought would pull me through my time down south is really not going to stretch as far as I thought. Turns out apartments are pricey ($500 a month), I need insurance ($580 for 9 months of coverage), the course was expensive ($1590), my camera retailed at $279, which really meant a little over $400, and now I need a laptop ($500?). Plus trips to Antarctica (my dream destination) start around $3000! To visit is a bargain, there is so much to be had for so little once you are here. But to put your life on hold and head there for 9 months is a lot more of a financial commitment. And of course the wages there are roughly equivalent to between $2-5 an hour at the language schools, and then about $8-10 doing private tutoring. So don't all come a-knockin' to borrow mi dinero because clearly that will just make me laugh. BUT--I would love visitors or to meet with people who plan on coming down. I am thnking I will work through December, travel Jan. and Feb. then work through March/mid-April when I will return for interviews. I am also looking for apartments to share, but for the fist month I will probably be on my own in a little apartment somewhere in Recoleta. My fingers are crossed that I will happen upon something good. In the meantime I am going to go find my transcripts, reread my cover letter and think about my personal essay on what teaching means to me...