Skiing in July!!!

About three weeks ago I went up to Squamish BC to do some climbing with my friend Dane. Unfortunately he had to to go to work and so I found myself alone in Canada. The good thing about being in a campground frequented by climbers is that you are bound to meet some really awesome people, which I did. I spent a few days climbing with a really cool 6th grade teacher from Washington named James. When he took off I met Nigel and Chelsea, a great couple who are living on Vancouver Island. We did some climbing and made plans to have an adventure on Vancouver Island a few weeks later. I met them on the island, rented some backcountry ski gear and we set out for Mt Myra. We hiked up to the snow line the first day and camped out out a beautiful little lake, waterfall view included. We woke the next morning and started climbing/bush-wacking until we reached enough snow to put on our skis. My first time skinning went well, except for adding a few more expensive items to my gear wishlist. The last push to the summit was a fun little scramble. Looking around it as hard to believe that I was on an island, surrounded in every direction by snow covered mountains. It was absolutely gorgeous. The ski down was great, but really who an complain about skiing in July???

In other news, I was offered a TA position through OSU which means my tuition will be waived in exchange for teaching Spanish 101. I am ecstatic that going back to school is not going to put me in massive debt (although i did manage to convince them I was an Oregon resident...Ariel the Oregonian). I am looking forward being back in an academic setting and being forced to use my noggin a little more.

Life is good

A couple years ago my friend Molly and I came up with the motto, "people should pay to have our lives". During my time in Korea I definitely did not feel like that. I remember thinking every month of hanging in there for the money was more freedom to travel when I was done. In general I find this to be a quite despicable mentality and I hope to never find myself living so out of the moment again... although now I feel really lucky to have this summer for myself. Once again I feel like "people should pay to have my life". (If anyone has any ideas on how I can capitalize on that idea I am open to suggestions).
Last week was a very eventful week. I spent 4 days rock climbing, attended both a bachelor and bachelorette party, along with a wedding and climbed Mt Hood. (I also unfortunately missed an important wedding in NM). I am realizing that not only am I grateful for my free time this summer, but also for all of the amazing people I have been able to spend it with. I have been really lucky to be able to catch up with old friends as well as share new exciting adventures with them.
Other than that i have been doing lots of paperwork to try and prove to OSU that I'm an Oregon resident, not so easy when I have been out of the country for a year and a half. (No i haven't paid Oregon income tax since 2006, in fact i have not paid any taxes at all...isn't calling Oregon home enough????)

updates

So much for being good about blogging this summer...
Thought it was about time to give an update as to how life has been going in the rainy Northwest. Life is good being unemployed, but it is mind blowing to me that despite not having a job I don't have any free time...hmmm. I have been babysitting 2 days a week which has provided little extra spending money and been good apart from an eight year old trying to lock me out of the house. I have also been volunteering one day a week at a community acupuncture clinic. I stumbled upon this place when I tweaked my shoulder a couple months ago and instantly fell in love with the place. They provide affordable acupuncture on a sliding scale in a community setting. This is their website if you want to take a look. For those of you who live in Portland, this place is well worth checking out!
http://web.mac.com/pinestreet/iWeb/PSCA/Location%20and%20Hours%20.html

After my long 3 day work week I have been keeping myself entertained with 4 day weekend climbing trips. Luckily I seem to know a lot of people who are willing to leave town for a long weekend, including my sister and friend Mikey. We went to Washington a few weeks back and did a Marathon, trying to climb all the routes at the feathers area. Since weather did not cooperate we were not able to start until noon, but still managed to climb 20 routes that day. We finished the remaining ten the next day.
We also took a trip down to Northern California and spent 3 days camping and bouldering on the beach. It was incredible. We were the only ones out there and were lucky enough to see whales every day. There have also been trips out to Smith Rock and lots of time catching up with old friends.

Plans for the rest of the summer include Ian and Col's wedding, Squamish, Yosemite and the John Muir Trail. I got word from OSU and I was admitted to the Masters program, so I will be starting school in the end of September. I am a little scared to go back to school but am pretty sure I will get excited about it once I start.

Now what?

Have you seen the Seinfeld where George gets fired from his job and decides that instead of seeking other employment he would rather enjoy a "summer of George" which consists of watching tv, eating junk food, and doing whatever he feels like? After being home for about 2 months, not finding a job and not really feeling like working anyways George Castanza is my inspiration. I have deemed this the "The Summer of Paco". The good life started at home skiing, eating good food and seeing lots of great friends. It continued with a road trip with my friend Michelle, skiing, hiking, climbing and biking in NM, UT and CO. In Boulder I visited some good friends from college and then made my way back to Oregon and arrived just in time for a beautiful sunny weekend of climbing at Smith Rock. Since then I have got some skiing, biking climbing and quality time with friends in.
I have filled out job application after application and realize I am not really qualified to do much of anything, or at least other people who have spent much more time in the "real world" are more qualified than I. The only "job" I have come across is babysitting two days a week (I guess I am qualified to hang out with kids). I decided to be happy with the two days of work a week and enjoy my time off because I deserve it after working on Korea for a year. The first time I said this out loud I realized how ridiculous it sounds since most normal people work for many years straight without a break...but I guess I'm just not a normal person. You may be wondering, how can you have a "Summer of Paco" on no income? Well that's where the blueberry farm comes in. I am planning on working for about 6 weeks during blueberry season on a friends farm, hopefully doing some translating for migrant workers and whatever else it is you do on a blueberry farm.
Then the "Summer of Paco" will continue, my friend Colleen and I are planning on hiking the Washington section of the PCT in August. If everything goes as planned I will start grad school in the Fall. Maybe then I will be qualified to get a job, if not at least I will have a masters and feel like I should be employable, or at the very least I will feel more accomplished.