time to say goodbye

I also found a Brazillian woman covering this song, which would be more appropriate, considering the content of this post, but I can't embed it and the quality isn't as good.

Project B$ is really taking off. I'm probably at least year from being ready to go to South America, and I've already made connections to help me out, not just with my research, but also to get acquainted with the area in general. This is doubly amazing considering the organizations with which I'm trying to get connections tend to be highly insular and not very open to "outsiders". Regardless, over the course of a single conversation with the bossman of my "top choice" organization, I managed to mollify his concerns and even get an open invitation to their operation.

When first learning the methods I use for my research, I was told to be prepared to be rejected access to sites quite frequently...in fact, most of the time. Maybe it's beginner's luck, but I've always had a way with people and I'm a pretty likable guy. I haven't had a problem with access so far. Quite simply, I'm the most charming person in my field. What can I say? It's a gift.

Anyway, that's where my attention has been lately. Side note, the (now ex)GF and I decided to go our separate ways. Just thought you all would like to know. Don't bother asking why. It's been, it's done. The important thing is that I'm okay with it, and hey, I still have my health (and I do still have my health, ex-GF, thanks for your concern).

Back on point, I'm checking out of blogging for a while. This is the part where a blogger usually says, "don't worry, though, I'm still going to read blogs...etc." but I'll be honest, I'm not. As is, I've been pulling 12-hour days at the office. I'm on such a roll and have so much momentum going that I'm going to ride it out. I've been working on my Spanish, too. I'm at the point where it's starting to get pretty difficult, but it's cool. I know I'll be ready in time. Also, I've recently had another kind of tutoring...



because being able to integrate myself culturally is, like, important to my work...or something like that. :P Salsa rocks! I did pretty good on my first lesson. Once you learn the basics, the rest of it kind of falls into place. Granted, I'm nowhere near as good as that guy in the video, but I'll have plenty of opportunity to practice when I get there. I'm seriously planning to do some hardcore salsa-clubbing. I figure that my research is going to have me doing about two weeks on/two weeks off, with a couple months a year where I'm not really working at all. La vida es bella...

So I'll be checking out for a while. The next few months in particular are pretty critical, as I'm teaching a course that I've barely started designing, preparing for a really difficult exam on which I absolutely need to do well, cracking down on my Spanish, and researching grants to pay my way in South America, and probably other stuff that's not coming to mind right now. If all goes well, it'll be pretty smooth (or at least smoother) sailing until I leave the U.S.

I'll possibly be back to blogging in a few months. I definitely plan to start a travel blog once I get there. But, for now, I have to get to work. Wish me luck... :)