Christmas Day

I have been in NJ working with the Air Force and since I don't have a car (Megan has it back in Yorktown for her job teaching German) I got a ride to my brother's house in Easton, PA. The downside is Megan is with her Grandma in NC, and I am in NJ. Not fun. At least I am with some family. Since Megan and I took our 3 week tour of Europe this past April I am itching to get back. I have my sights on USA-Italy in the World Cup this June. ....
Anyway, I forgot to post some photos of Kyrgyzstan this past year and some of Megan and I.

Long, Long Time

So I am in Yorktown, VA now. I like the work. I am a Transportation Specialist for the US Government. It is not a bad. We are settled in, however there is always something to do---or not do! Procrastination is my worst enemy.

Has it been this long?

Ok, so it really has been this long. Sorry for the delay. But then again, no one is actually reading this and if they are right now--good for you. So I am on my way to Kyrgyzstan on the 21 of February to be an election observer and it will be a great time and a bit scary not knowing much about what I am doing. But I am greatly looking forward to it. Megan and I are preparing our move out to San Jose so we can help out Daryl and also spend some time with him and Stefan as we are going back east at the end of May. It is odd to think how far away we will be from family and friends, but also very exciting to know that it will be a new land of opportunity. I just got a call the other day from the Army notifying me of a package they sent out, I am waiting for it still. Time seems so short right now until June--especially when you want to go to Europe, AZ, and visit family all before you leave. Can't forget to organize the move as well.

Glad to see the soccer labor dispute is solved, not so happy that Blackburn lost to Chelsea, and loving Sounds Eclectic 3. Great album.

I hate the internet

I wrote a huge long blog but it got erased when the internet connection failed. BLAH. I had some good stuff as well...Perhaps more another time.

Here is a quick recap:
Listen to Pinback's new album "Summer in Abandon" (thanks Lyn and Jason)

Let me vent on US Soccer dilemma over players and the Federation....they both stink and if we lose the first game against Trinidad on Feb. 9th because we used replacement players I will blame someone (not sure who yet)!

Watched the inauguration today. No comment yet. Although I think ABC has the best contributors when it comes to dissecting speeches/events. PBS is a close second, only because they have Brooks and Shields, and not that third "George Will"

Life is good, esp. when you might go over to Moldova, or Tajikistan, or Kyrgyzstan (why do I always have to look that spelling up?).

Enough--I have written too much and don't want to give into the internet slap to my face by writing any more.

Post Mortem Oral

So I passed the Oral exam, but only got a 5.4. I needed a 5.6 to start the paperwork to become a Political Officer. Oh well. I felt great during the exam but during some parts of the interview I felt it was not going very well. Tonight we are in Sacramento and staying with Heather and Gordon. It was really fun to be up here again and see Travis, Carolyn, and Maria. They are all so cute and fun to talk to. Maria is very different since last time I saw her--more hair and more words.

Tomorrow we head back to San Jose and pack up as we have an early flight on Thursday morning. It has been 3 weeks since we were last in Provo. I am glad to be coming home, but that will last one day and I will realize I still don't have a job yet. I am a bum, but a bum with a job that starts in June! So somehow Megan and I will work to save up more money for savings and perhaps a trip to Europe will be in order as well.

Time to sleep as I have kept Gordon up talking till 12.30 in the morning. Great host!
Rijen

Oral Exam

It is 11pm and I need to sleep for tomorrows Oral Exam for the State Department. I am always weary of this test...it is a job I desperately would love to have, but hopelessly resigned to know that is it luck and 'a good day' that preside much more over skill level. Of course skill in needed, but I just can't get over the fact how much the stars have to be in order to illuminate all 13 Dimensions throughout the all-day process. I am crossing my fingers and saying my prayers tonight of course.

I look forward to the experience and hope to score better than I did the last time. Thanks to all who have encouraged me and sent kind words as well. Good times, and more to follow tomorrow.
Rijen

Megan at a shop on Portobello Rd in Notting Hill, London.

Los Amigos at Nizwa, Oman

A cold one with Esther....

A Soldering we will go....

Today was a good day, I slept in till 11am and it was because I could not sleep till 2.00am. Nothing better than the life I lead I suppose, but this is not good training for me with the 7am starting time for the Oral Exam. I enjoyed today as I was able to read, watch Jim Leher NewsHour at 3pm (love this Pacific Time Zone), and learned to solder a circuit board with my father in law. As Megan says, I 'bonded with my father in law--literally.' Cheesy I know, but true. It was fun to sit there on a work bench in a small office that looks like a electronic repair shop in townships. I felt that if all else fails with my job searches, I could go to Asia and work in a sweatshop. Just play me my NPR and give me a soldering iron and I am content.

tomorrow I plan to do more work with the electronics, get my forms ready for the State interview, and get a haircut. I can't believe how relaxed I am for this big interview. I think having a job already in hand makes me more relaxed. I hope I can translate that into a confident job interview.

I do have a recommend to all those who like good music--Polyphonic Spree. www.thepolyphonicspree.com and let me also suggest watching the SpongeBob SquarePants movie. I took my nephews to it and laughed my head off. Plus great music from Wilco and The Flaming Lips make it a great soundtrack.

My last rant has to do with the US Soccer Federation and the growing argument with the Players Association. I am unnerved that they will really force head coach Bruce Arena to qualify for the World Cup with rookie players that have never been capped before. It also bothers me that for once in my life I am taking the side of players who make pretty good money already when they play for the National Team. Something about that isn't right--taking the side of players who get about 2ooo bucks a game to play. I suppose I just see this as the very profitable US Federation keeping so much for themselves. They players claim to just want to be paid according to other countries' Federations. Arggg. If the US do not qualify for the World Cup then no one is making any money. So there!

Ok enough is enough. I have changed the same of the blog as well as I feel it more truly reflects my life right now...
Rijen

Arrival

We made it to San Jose and now after a 4 hour nap late this afternoon I feel refreshed and also reminded why I am actually out here. First, we are here to visit Megan's dad and spend some time with him. Second, I am here to take the Foreign Service Oral Assessment on 10 January. I would really like to pass it this time (I didn't pass my first attempt) and get in the system to be hired as a Foreign Service Officer. In very simple terms, this is the position that works in embassies around the world in different capacities. I have applied through the Political 'cone' which seem much more exciting to me than the others (Management, Econ, Public Diplomacy).

At the same time I am experiencing the sad hangover of leaving a very fun and comfortable place. In this case it was Phoenix, but throughout my life I always got attached to places I enjoyed and the nostalgia started the moment I leave. I remember doing this in London (twice), Oman, South Africa, and even Provo. Funny how that happens.

Tonight got a new episode of Lost and an interesting program on PBS regarding the way Americans speak and the evolution of the language today. I think it is called "Do you speak American?"

I am excited to get to work and realize that if nothing else changes, I will be working in Newport News, VA in 5 months. I am excited at the prospect of being a logistical, or at least training to be one and seeing if I am cut out for the work--or rather if the work is cut out for me. I still have my London School of Economics application still out there and have decided that I will not seriously consider attending (IF I get accepted that is) unless I get some sort of scholarship to help defray the cost. It is just too expensive. Yet, a small part of me worries that this will be my last chance at Int'l Relations career--which is foolish and false. Just the wanderlust in me wanting to get back to London and the great atmosphere. But then again, when sterling is reaching a 2:1 with the dollar......Maybe staying away is a good move.

A quick addition

So the flight situation in the country is messy. Megs and I will leave tomorrow morning at 8.30am and stay here in AZ for one more night--whooooo hoooo. Read an intersting baseball link that Gordon and Joel may have some interest....
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=kimmel/050104

Anyway, exciting times tonight with USC and Oklahoma battling out. I hope it is a good game.

In the beginning....

What time am I writing this...I implore you to look at the bottom timestamp. What is happening now, well.....Megan is playing 'Sims Busting Out' and I have a feeling she will keep playing it into the wee hours as she has done the past two days. It is our little secret ;) I am going to get some sleep as I have successfully set up a blog. Hurray!

What does one actually say on a blog. They can get bland, boring and/or tedious; better yet, they can be painfully honest and woefully misguided which leads to very interesting reading. I suppose I will just ramble today.

I have discussed making a blog and getting my point of view out there, but I realize that I am really only going to reach people from my family and friends--and that is okay. I figure it is a good way to keep in touch with everyone.

Tomorrow we leave for San Jose and leave wonderful Phoenix behind. I will miss the Wakefields as they always provide a great time. We learned a new game --Volcano and it has the makings of international fame. I wonder if ESPN2 would have a live tournament one day? Joel is currently sick but a very good sport nonetheless and Aleida has lived up to her self-proclaimed title "Favorite Person in Any Category"

It should go without saying that kids will be missed and pictures will be posted from our holiday fun.
I leave today with a nice article I read the other day from The Economist http://economist.com/world/na/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3518560

It covers a favorite topic of mine---the socioeconomic aspect of Americans and whether the birthplace and circumstance you are born into determine your future...anyway, a good quick read.


Good night (and please excuse all spelling/grammatical errors).