It was TOTALLY worth it!!

Obviously, as you noticed from my last email/post, I very much needed a trip back home. Fabulous I thought it would be and, fabulous it was. I attended 2 weddings, celebrated my baby bro's 23rd birthday, attended my dad's MBA graduation, and hung out with tons of friends and family (and ate and drank it up!). It was amazing and fun! Thank you so much to everyone that made it that way!! :)

For my current Peace Corps thoughts, click here and read "Reality".

The BIG Question...
I was at Motorola on the last day in the states, and a co-worker of my dad's started talking to me. She and her husband (who also works at Motorola) had a daughter a year ago and right before I left the country, I went to the hospital with my dad to congratulate them. Since then, I've received notes and gifts from them.

Melanie (the mom) was showing me a photo of Elizabeth (her daughter) and said, "Bui (her husband) and I want to ask you something. He wanted to ask me with you, but he had to go to China, and since you're here for only a short time, I am going to ask for the 2 of us. Bui is always talking about you and how he wants Elizabeth to be just like you when she grows up. So we were wondering, would you be willing to be Elizabeth's Godmother?" I was like, "What?" She said, "Really, we want Elizabeth to have someone to talk to when she doesn't want to listen to us. We want her to have a role model. And we want her to be like you."

Needless to say...the tears started. It was SUPER sweet! So...I guess that's the role I'm going to play. I keep wondering, "Am I even old enough to be a Godmother??" But, I guess I am... :)


The Columbus Voyage...
It didn't look so promising as I was leaving El Salvador. One of my closest friends (that, as a side note, was taking me to the airport) was really irritated at me, and likewise, me at him. So that made for somewhat of an uncomfortable trip. But, when I got to the airport, everything was good. I was excited, happy, blah blah blah. Then I reached the counter and had the following conversation:

Airline attendant: Fijate que (yeah, you know what is coming)...your flight is delayed which is going to cause you to miss your connection in Florida which means you'll get into Columbus a day late.

Michelle: What? Well, can you put me on a different plane or through somewhere else?

Airline attendant: Fijate que, since your ticket is not a full-fare ticket, we can't do anything.

Michelle: What are you talking about?

Airline attendant: It appears that this ticket was purchased with miles, so it's not considered full fare so we can't do anything about it.

Michelle: What are you talking about? American Airlines told me they would get me to Columbus, Ohio tonight at this price. It doesn't matter what the PRICE of the ticket is...it was an OFFER from your company!! That's like me going to get my hair cut and the girl telling me it will cost $5. Then, when she's halfway done, she has a seizure and dies and the haircut place says, "Oh, sorry. That isn't our normal cost." Are you kidding me??!
Airline attendant: [silently begins looking for other options]....[joined by 2 additional attendants]

...blah blah blah...[we look for connections through DC, Chicago, Iowa, etc., then flights into Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, etc.]

...an hour and a half passes at the counter and nothing comes up...

Michelle: Ok, well, thank you for looking.

Airline attendants: No problem. Sorry we couldn't find anything. When you get to Miami, the American representatives will provide you with vouchers for transportation, food, and a hotel.

Michelle: Thanks. [back to being super excited about going home]

...flight takes off, gets into Miami 2 hours late to catch connection...Michelle finds (after about 30 minutes of looking around with this other passenger) the rebooking area.

Miami Airline Rep: Here are you new tickets. Because this flight was delayed due to weather conditions (FYI, "weather conditions" from the day BEFORE), American cannot pay for any hotels.

Michelle: The people in El Salvador told me I would be receiving vouchers.

Miami Rep: Yes, well, apparently they told EVERYONE that [hands Michelle a form letter]. If you have a problem, please talk to our supervisor at the end.

Michelle: Thanks. [thinks, "At least she told me right away who I need to talk to...]

...walks to supervisor...

Michelle: Hi. I am coming from El Salvador and missed my connection because we were delayed. The people in El Salvador told me I would be receiving vouchers for a hotel, transportation, and food, but the woman at the end told me that is not feasible. I am currently a Peace Corps volunteer and make like $5/day and don't have money to pay for a hotel, but need to shower before leaving tomorrow. What do you suggest I do?

Miami Supervisor: I don't know.

Michelle: Ok...well, can you honor what I was told in El Salvador?

Miami Supervisor: I am not authorized to give out vouchers.

Michelle: Ok, can I please talk to who is?

Miami Supervisor: No, it's late and everyone is at home.

Michelle: Ok, can we call them on their cell phones or home phones?

Miami Supervisor: No. You're not getting anything! This is a weather-related delay!

Michelle: Ok...but your employees in El Salvador they told me I would receive a hotel. So are they incompetent, or liars?

Miami Supervisor: If I give you a room, I will have to give everyone a room. (and he's a TOTAL jerk, by the way...just making sure you're reading it the way it was...)

Michelle: Listen. Everyone else has left. They're obviously FINE with your decision. I am still here. I am definitely NOT fine with that!

Miami Supervisor: Well, I'm not doing it.

Michelle: Well then I'm not leaving until I talk to someone else!

Miami Supervisor: Well, no one else is here. If you have a problem, you can call our 1-800 customer line!

Michelle: I want your business card!

[he throws it across the desk]

Ok, I'm getting irritated all over again. Let's just say I will NEVER be going back to Miami EVER again. (I thought it was American that I was irritated with, until I got to New York.) I ended up staying in a hotel room, thanks to my dad footing the bill and calming me down after I called him collect screaming about the incompetence of American. But I got room service and a hot shower. :)

Anyway, I had to fly from Miami to New York, and then from New York to Columbus. I cannot even explain to you what happened when I got to New York. It was like a wave of calmness overtook me. I mean, I could PHYSICALLY feel a difference. I had no idea I was so wound up in El Salvador until that happened. And it stayed for the entire time I was back home. I was myself - supper happy, enjoying life, etc. And the minute I got back to El Salvador, the same thing happened in reverse - a wave of anxiety hit me, physically. I don't know what the deal is. But I'm in the capital right now talking with the nurse to figure it out and solve it.


Another Day?!
So, I was delayed on the way in, and the same thing happened on the way out. THIS time, however, when I was stranded in Los Angeles (for a real weather-related delay, I might add), they gave me (and everyone else in the room) vouchers for everything, including a hotel room for 2 nights! I was like, "Darn. I have to stay in Los Angeles for a day. Whatever will I do?" So, of course I took a city tour, and ordered movies in my hotel room. What a bummer. :)



Foot in the Mouth
There are 4 geographic sections of the country and there are 2 Peace Corps volunteers (warden and asst warden) that are in charge of each geographic area (in case of emergencies and for any geographic conferences that we want to have). The last conference was held while I was back in the states and a new warden and asst warden were elected.

I found out via email that I was elected as the new warden of the western region. So I have a little bit of an idea of what I am supposed to do, but would like to get a job description or something so I make sure I do everything.

So, I was going back to my community on Sunday with another volunteer that lives close to me. And I said to her, "Do you know what I'm supposed to do as warden?" She said, "YOU are the new warden?" I said, "Apparently. I got an email about it." She said, "That was a BAD decision." I just looked at her. She was like, "Wait...I don't mean....I mean....you'll be GREAT at the job...the best warden ever...I just meant...you're already a representative on the volunteer action committee...and..." I was laughing SOOO hard. Thanks, Rachel. :)


That's all for now. I have to go sort out my current emotional instability. :)