Not yet, not quite

Last time I posted on this blog I said I would tell you, as soon as I know, where I am headed after this year.

And I'm so close to knowing! Here's what happened. I applied to JVC Northwest for an additional year, did three interviews, and was matched with a potential placement. Oh, what a good placement it is. I want to write about it. But I haven't heard back yet from my potential future supervisor if he wants me for the spot. So, I'm going to wait until it's definite before writing about it here.

Instead, I'll write about a new book I've been reading. A series of books, actually. A young adult series called The Hunger Games. I am the last person in my house to read these books, and at first I definitely didn't want to. The print is large, the final book came out just last year, and I didn't want to waste my time wading through three volumes of the latest cheap-thrill book fad. Right?

Wrong, as I learned when I stayed up until 4:30 am last Saturday reading the first book. Yes, these books will probably never be regarded as classics of American literature, but I recently read one of those, David Copperfield, and was underwhelmed. That's a book I had to wade through. In contrast, I have cried, actually cried, while reading The Hunger Games. I've also had a lot of fun reading it. And I have to admit I know exactly what Stephenie Meyer is talking about when she wrote (and it shows up on the back cover of the books) "even after I was finished, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it." I still have no desire to read Meyer's books, but in this I can sympathize. My housemate Jen has said she thinks I should choose books that I actually enjoy reading instead of books - let's see, my last one was All Quiet on the Western Front - that I choose because, to be perfectly honest, I want to be able to say I've read them. Well, not entirely. If they're famous books, I reason, there has got to be something worth reading in there, right? And often, there is. But it is a lot more fun to be totally riveted, wondering what's going to happen next, rather than wonder how many more pages I have to read until the chapter is over. I finished the third and final book today, and I started the series eight days ago, if that tells you anything.

But back to this potential new position. Since I don't want to reveal it entirely in case it doesn't work out, I'll just say that I would be outdoors. I would also be closer to home, which is wonderful. I've learned that the Northwest is, for me, home. Probably Oregon, specifically, but I'm not sure about that yet. All I know is that this year is the longest time I've spent outside of the Northwest, and even though I've loved it and Tucson feels comfortable and familiar and has grabbed my heart a little, I don't see myself staying here. In fact, if I had to bet now, I would bet that I'll end up in the Northwest. When that is, however, I can't predict. Probably not next year, even if I do move back for an additional year with JVC. The thing is, I still have the travel bug. I want to see new places. That's why part of me doesn't want to go back to the Northwest but instead wants to convince my friend David to quit his job so we both can travel around the world (disregarding, of course, the obvious: that I don't have much money after a year of volunteer service and still have student loans to think about). Luckily, there's enough novelty to this position - I would be doing something I've never really done before - that I think I would be able to reconcile these two desires. I would be closer to my home, to those I care about, to those who know me best. At the same time I would be exploring, not unfamiliar countries, but unfamiliar situations and circumstances.  and yet challenged by new situations. Perfect. Or, at least close.

So, I'll tell you when I hear back....

Parents and a birthday!

I'm currently sitting in Cafe Passe, one of my favorite coffeeshops in Tucson, listening to a really great solo guitarist playing everything from Bon Iver to what sounds like Brazilian music. A great place to update my blog.

In February I was lucky enough to have my own parents come visit! First we took a trip up to the Grand Canyon, which was absolutely beautiful because it was snowing there!

Then we drove back to Tucson and I got to introduce them to my house, casa mates, and the food bank. There was so much to see, and so many people to meet, but I tried to not overwhelm them (or myself) by planning too much. I had a great time with them. Some of the highlights for me were introducing them to Casa Mariposa, the intentional community we frequent on Wednesday evenings, showing them around the food bank's farm, and enjoying a delicious breakfast they made in our house. I love you two!

The week after they left, my house plus some of our other volunteer friends hiked Picacho Peak, an imposing rock jutting out of the ground about an hour north of Tucson. I had heard the hike was tough, but I was still surprised when we had to climb steep inclines using cables as supports. Gloves are definitely a good idea for this one.

And for my last installment in this blog, I recently turned 24 years old, and have had several small celebrations, which has been a lot of fun. My housemates - oh they know me well - bought me some beautiful greens and veggies from the local food cooperative. Swiss chard and purple kale. Delicious.

Also at work, my coworker Dulce got me an ice cream cake! I shared it with the staff.

So, as is usual around my birthday, I've been thinking more about my life. Is 24 young? Old? It depends on who you ask, I learned. Compared to my coworkers, I'm still fairly young, not even at the quarter-century mark. Compared to most of my volunteer friends, I'm on the older side of things, however. And to me, I'm wondering where the years went! Wasn't it just a little while since I was in El Salvador? Was that really over two years ago? Is it time I decide to find a job that makes me a living, or am I ok being the "old guy" doing JVC for another year? That's a question I've been asking myself recently, and I think my answer is, yes, I'm okay with that. In fact, I have reapplied for a second year of JVC. I won't be in Tucson again, that much is for sure. It was a hard decision, because Tucson is a great place, as is the food bank, but I finally decided I wanted to go someplace new. Where that is, exactly, I don't know yet, but I'll post it here as soon as I do!