Staging

Well as I sit here on this computer in this hotel in DC at 4:15 in the AM waiting to leave to Guatemala shortly, I think & reflect back on the last two days of staging that were an experience of a lifetime. We were surprised by our instructors regarding a special meeting we were invited to. We were told we had been priviledged to meet the President at the white house to take pics with him and attend a press conference regarding Volunteer week. yesterday we set out to The White House and met the president. He was actually a very funny down to earth guy. He praised us for our service and called us Soldiers of Compassion. Bush is really fond of the PC and it shows. The photo op with him was great and the experience to go to the White House for the first time made me even more eager and proud to be part of this experience. Orientation was intense but worth it, by 2:00 this PM we will be in Guatemala for more orientation and briefing and our journey will continue. Sorry no pics at this time.

TTY Later.

April Recap.....

Afar from all the craziness this month has brung forth, I have had a good time. I will have to start with the event of me leaving my job.

April 4th was my last day of work. This last week at my prev. job was great in the fact that my former colleagues threw me a farewell team meeting that Tuesday with great food, Sorry I was late but I had some bus. to take care of... In addition the lovely staff of FIS also threw me a Farewell Luncheon that Thurs at my fav. Casa Spain in Kenvil. (left my Cam in my beg at my uncles so no pics are available.) All at FIS will be remembered and thank you for all of the gifts. (As a matter of fact, some of those gifts have already come into use).

We also did a happy hour at the Laughing lion that weekend.


I will definitely miss all of U guys.



On Monday the 7th, I flew down to MIA, FL to visit my parents. It was great to see my parents. It has been almost a year since I last saw them. When I saw my parents I made it my mission to spend as much time with them as I could. Me and my dad jogged together , we all cooked watched TV together and reminisced.


It was a great time.




On Sat. the 12th my Girlfriend Leidy came down to visit me. We spent a couple of days at the Parisian and that Sat.night we went both to Love Hate and Automatic Slims. My girl was ecstatic being I have given her a promise ring earlier that night. It was a token of my appreciation for the love and care she has shown and portrayed to me during the last five years we have known each other. I love my Girlfriend very much and I felt there was no other moment to show her how much I felt for her besides this one. I am not a material person nor do I believe a rock really symbolizes love, but I did feel a sense of pleasure giving my girl these precious stones...











Later on during the week, me and Leidy stayed at my parent's house and shared some good moments together as well. Me and Leidy took my parents to an Argentinian Restaurant named Baras located between 5th and 6th on Washington which was extravagant. My father loves eating meat so he was in heaven, me my mother and Leidy got tipsy off the wine.




We also visited some family in Fl, visited my grandmother, aunts and cousins.




We`also met up with a long time friend of mine Alex who had lived in P-town. Alex and his girl where kind enough to take us out around town to Cielo, a beautiful Lounge located in Coconut Grove.




It was back to NY on the 17th, UGHHH! When I returned to my sis in the BX I got sick with allergies... I was not happy. Although it was time to return, I was ready to catch up with the black hole of a never ending Peace Corps paperwork, including more trips to the PCP in Paterson. Good thing this past Sat. my sis had set up a Lil party with my aunt in Dover. It was supposed to be a surprise but I found out before hand. Some of my friends showed up including Jason, Daniela and Evelyn. Thanks guys, I had I blast.

Moving out Yo!.

This Past weekend was my last weekend at my Apartment, my roommate moved out to his one bedroom apartment in the same complex, so he is fine. I had one of my best friends Gus come over to help me move my final things out. I also had my sis and brother in law come over to lend a helping hand. I thought it was going to be pretty bad but it went smooth. We had some beers and talked a lot of shit throughout so time flew.

That Saturday night my friend Jason along with his girl picked me and my girl Leidy up and we went to a baby shower. My college friend Enrique's wife is having a girl, so we had to show Love. It was nice to see Enrique after almost a year.

Sunday my sis and brother in law took me to Houston's in the city for a farewell dinner. Gus, his girl and my girlfriend all came. We ended up going to the Nuyorican poets cafe afterwards to watch an Afro Cuban Jazz Band Perform.

This is me in front of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

One of my favorite places to go in NYC.

So that's it I Moved out and I am homeless, I turned in my keys on Monday afternoon, and I am officially living out of my van (My uncles van). For my final week of work I will be staying at my uncles house in Lafayetter NJ. On April 7th I will be flying to Miami for two weeks. I will be spending as much time in Miami with my parents as I can. when I return I will stay with my sis in the Bronx for a week until I leave for Peace Corps Staging on April 28th.

These past few weeks have been difficult but my friends and family have been very helpful and attentive. It is surreal but it is finally becoming a reality.