Hi,
Well, I think I need to travel somewhere new every two weeks, so I can keep up the trend of a new place in every subject line for every message. I am now in Miami, returning from Toronto back to San Jose. But first, back to the beginning...
When I returned from Mexico, I found a new proposal for Nicaragua on my desk. Originally, we had been looking at Nicaragua in terms of the traditional 10-week program that is currently in place in Guyana and Costa Rica. However, this new proposal talked about copying the success of YCI's new 6-week program in Vanuatu. Immediately we saw the synergies between the two ideas. Tomas and I spent 2 weeks writing and rewriting proposals about the idea. In the end, we decided with Toronto to do a 6-week program alone in Nicaragua, as it is less costly and therefore less risky. But in any case, it is a good start. Nevertheless, the proposal is far from a done deal. There is a lot of work to be done, and of course, I have to finish the feasibility study.
Also, during this period, I started guitar lessons. I am really enjoying it - although I have only been to one class so far. I am not very good at it yet and am failing miserably to do my 20 minutes of practice a day, but now that I am back in San Jose, I hope to get into a routine and learn to play a few songs at least. I missed the second class because I was in Toronto, but it was for a good cause.
I was scheduled to do a trip with a high school group that was coming, which would have been fun, but it was unfortunately cancelled.
Met an alumni from the Asian program at Capilano College, who works at the Marriott in Marketing. Unfortunately, she is moving next month to Florida, but it was fun to make that connection.
Now to the subject of this message. I was "summoned" :) to Toronto for an interview and meetings about Nicaragua. I was interviewed for a position as Program Manager in Nicaragua but also for the Field Program Manager position in Costa Rica. It was all rather sudden - I was asked on Thurs if I wanted to apply for the Costa Rica position (I already had an idea about the Nicaragua one) and then asked if I wanted to fly to Toronto on Sunday for an interview. Yikes. I thought about it seriously for the whole day on Thurs and then said yes. I found a relatively cheap flight and flew on Monday. It was pretty funny because Mark (the Executive Director of YCI) said, make sure you don't get delayed, we need you to be fresh on Tues. Naturally, the flight was delayed by two hours.
So I arrived in Toronto and Dino, one of my participants from last fall, picked me up - even though we came in two hours late and he had to work the next day. He kindly chauffeured me to Ramin's house and I said hi and crashed for a few hours. Got up and at 'em early for my interview. Took the subway in to YCI and got in at 9:30, although I didn't to be there till 10 - I think I scared Mark, who definitely looked frazzled that day. I visited with Cynthia, Heather, Cindy and Andrea, then Mark and I met for the morning. We caught up on some things and were just feeling each other out.
Then came lunch and an interview with Heather, Mark and Ali (chairman of YCI board). It was interesting - I think I have never spoken so little in an interview in my life. With those three, it was hard to get a word in edgewise sometimes, and I am hardly verbose at the best of times. Anyway, it went ok, and at the very least, I haven't felt so comfortable in an interview in my life, I don't think - perhaps because I didn't have to talk to much. :) Next came more meetings, etc. In the end, nothing was really formalised and I won't know for sure about the job(s) until March. But that's ok by me, although waiting beyond March might be too much.
Tuesday night I had dinner with Cindy and Dino - we cooked a lovely meal with tofu - I had a craving. It was great to catch up and we looked at each other's pictures, and talked until nearly 3 am. Of course, Wednesday's meetings were a bit more difficult, but it was fun. Wednesday night and Sunday night we had FOG board meetings to take advantage of the cheaper phone rates.
Thursday and Friday I visited my family and had a good visit with my nephew, my brother, my mom, dad, and grandparents. Unfortunately I didn't get to see my sister. Friday night Dino, Ramin and I went to see the Rheostatics - a fun band. Saturday I did my dutiful shopping for the many people in Costa Rica, as well as the odd thing for me. Had a great visit with my friend Christine on Sat night. Sunday I was hoping to see Crouching Tiger - I hear so much about it - but Ramin and I went to Ratcatcher instead - it was also good. Had lunch with Jamie, Elaine, Gord and Jen and their babies. That was fun too.
Overall, a quick but fun trip - always wishing I had more time to see everyone, but it never is enough. However, I definitely enjoyed the time I did have... Now I am back and have to get back to work, I suppose. Mark, my co-leader from the fall, is back in town tomorrow - should be fun to see him again and there is a party tomorrow night. I'll be tired, but hopefully I can survive until the pumpkin reverts.
Hope you are all well, and that those of you in Toronto that I didn't see aren't too bitter...
Take care,
Rob