No Bird Sightings Yet

Hello familia/amigos!
It is 1:30 here in Washington D.C. and I am whooped from a long day of staging and we leave for the airport in less than two hours! However, because I care for you all so much I am taking the time to write this blog rather than sleeping. Your welcome internet.

First, I would like to thank everyone who could make it out for my going away last Saturday! It was great to see so many of my friends and family, and it gave me a lot of confidence knowing that I have your support. Plus it was wicked awesome to see the parents (cheaters!) playing civil war with the youngins.

Yesterday was...emotionally draining. It turns out I hate goodbyes more than I thought I would and having to leave behind my family and my brothers and walk alone into the airport was a very surreal moment. It's difficult to describe that feeling other than to say it makes you wanna lose your lunch (or in my case two breakfast burritos).

My fam

Sammie haha

Today on the other hand was emotionally invigorating. I met so many interesting people who come from all walks of life. A lot of California represented here, a couple Floridians, and surprisingly a lot of Michiganders  Even have one person from Montana, which is incredible because I assume that the whole state has like 100 people. It's good to be in this environment where most people are having the same anxieties and we can crisis manage each other. I don't have much to report so far since I'm still in the U.S. but I had a moment of clarity last night as the cab drove me to the hotel; I was jet lagged, tired, and drained but on impulse I turned and looked out the side window. There in the frame was the capitol building across the street and it was a very uplifting sight. It made me think about why I was here and the American image I was trying to promote and create by serving abroad.

Sorry for the short post, but I hope it finds you all well and the next time we talk it will be south of the border! 

(P.S. Uncle Dale thanks again for showing Grandpa this blog, and since I know you are reading this now consider this your shout out, I will send you a postcard soon)

It Goes By Quick

What up friends and fam! I'm leaving for Panama in T-minus 7 days so I figured I better start this blogging business now. This is my first time using a blog so hang with me if it seems a little rough at first. Think of it as the prologue to what's about to be an epic tale of adventure (like Lord of the Rings but with less wizards and more canals)
First, a little bit about what I've been up to the past several months:  

I've been working for the YMCA after school program up in woodland since late October, getting some more experience working with kids. Needless to say, I had a blast working with the kids who are so full of energy and have provided me with countless amounts of crazy stories. All my co-workers were great and had a lot of wisdom to offer. I owe a great deal of gratitude to my boss, whom I have so much respect for her dedication to childhood development. I learned so much in such a short time and I'm stoked to bring that with me to Panama!

Also, for those who don't know, over the past year and a half, I have been a volunteer tutor at CDCR San Quentin. It has been such an eye-opening experience working with the student inmates and getting to see how education in prison impacts the process of rehabilitation. From that first nerve wracking trip walking across the yard, to right now I have grown confident in my abilities as an educator and to handle situations that are out of my element. I want to thank the San Quentin staff for accommodating our little group and for the Teach-In-Prison program for giving me this opportunity (any Berkeley students reading this right now need to seriously get at this decal!) Finally I want to thank Shenel for being my prison buddy and making those long trips with me every week!

As I said earlier this is my last week in the states so what better way spending it then with my buds in...Las Vegas!?! We got back late last night, but we had a blast this past weekend. Now I know what you are saying "But Nick, didn't you tell us that it was 5 GUYS driving 10 HOURS down in a PRIUS to stay at the COSMO...that sounds kinda lame???" Well, you are gonna have to speak a little louder cause I can't hear you from the 61st floor of the cosmopolitan

This view+50 miles to the gallon, no my friend not lame at all

We had a great time with a lot of laughs and some shenanigans, but nobody got stranded on the roof and Mike Tyson's tiger is still at Mike Tyson's mansion (I assume). I'm definitely gonna miss these guys

My Wolf Pack

There is probably a lot more to tell, but this whole blogging business is a lot more draining than I had anticipated so now I'm gonna go replenish myself with 200cc's of In-N-Out stat! I'll likely have one more post before I leave so stay tuned amigos!