Sushi with Ron

After one of our practices this week, we went out for sushi for dinner. Our first restaurant choice was closed, so we ventured to another. After we sat down and ordered, we saw one of the local coaches, Ron Montez, come in. For those of you who haven't heard of Ron Montez, here's a brief description of his dancing accomplishments:

Ron Montez is one of the most respected personalities in the dance business. He previously held title as the 7-time undefeated United States Professional Latin Champion. He achieved 4th place in the World’s Professional Latin Championships held at Royal Albert Hall in London. He has reached the final of the prestigious British Championships in Blackpool, England. Ron is recognized as a World class adjudicator, dance coach and choreographer in both American and International styles.

He's also had TV gigs, organizes competitions around the country, and he's received the United States Dance Championships Hall of Fame Award. So he's kind of a big deal. 

We saw him sit down by himself at a table. Ibrahim thought about inviting him to sit with us. Normally, we would have been too intimidated to ask, but I think the fact that Ron was sitting by himself and that he had recently lost his young son, we thought maybe he would like some company. Ibrahim got up and asked him to join us and then went to the restroom to wash his hands. Ron came over and sat with me and while I was glad to have him, I suddenly realized I didn't know what to say. I couldn't ask a man whose son died about a month ago how things were going. We talked a bit about sushi and I hoped Ibrahim would come back quickly.

I didn't have to spend too much time by myself, and Ibrahim was good at keeping the conversation going. I felt like we had one of those rare opportunities to get insight from a dance legend, but I didn't know what to ask. 

Ron shared a little bit of dance history with us and it was clear that he had some strong opinions about Latin dancing. Even though he was a champion several times, he repeatedly said that the British (the ones who created the ballroom style) didn't get it. As he put it, they took dancing that developed in the Americas, standardized it, and then they took it back to the Americas (and the rest of Europe). Ron also didn't like jive. It was "boring" and too technical. There wasn't anything interesting about it for him...it didn't move him. Ibrahim and I realized and discussed later that Ron was more of an artistic, feeling kind of dancer. He danced in a technically conscious way, but he seemed to place more emphasis on creativity of movement. He really liked other variations of swing...east coast, west coast, jitterbug. Jive, not so much. 

"An adult woman jumping around, spreading her legs, and doing kicks in these sleek dresses looks ridiculous. Walter Laird (the father of latin dancing) even said, 'jive is for kids!' It's a kids' dance." 

Mostly, though, I was under the impression that Ron thought the British created a version of dance akin to Frankenstein's Monster: it sort of resembled the real thing, but it was a perverted version and probably somewhat offensive to the cultures from which the dances originated. I don't disagree...I've heard several times that the British saw latin dancing and then made something up that had a latin idea. 

Over time, latin dancers have incorporated more of the original movement of the dances into latin, and I think the progression toward authenticity will continue as dancers look for new choreography. 

Opinions like Ron's, though, put a developing dancer in a conflicting situation. When I first started dancing, I didn't particularly care for latin. I wasn't interested in how it looked or felt. However, after dancing it and seeing it over and over, I became used to it and started to enjoy it. Now, I'm trying to learn the style and fit into its standards so I can compete and do well in competition. Then I'm told things like, it isn't natural or it isn't authentic. It makes me question what I'm really trying to do...if these statements are true, am I really trying to be a good dancer? Or am I trying to fit into an artificial system of standards? I also had a half-formulated question I wanted to ask but couldn't find the right words at the time: how did he value ballroom and latin dancing? It's a world in which he lives and works...it is his whole world, essentially, and yet he seems to think part of it artificial. 

Of course, I couldn't quite frame the question at the time, so it went unasked. I may never get a chance to ask again as we found out Ron is moving to Phoenix next month. Not that we'll never see him again, but a chance for dinner is unlikely. 

Anyway, Ibrahim and I discussed some of these things afterward. Overall, our experience with Ron was pleasant. He seems like a genuinely nice guy. He has strong opinions about styling and some of the money-driven operations in the dance world, but otherwise he is surprisingly humble and approachable. I'm glad we chatted. Also, who knows...maybe he'll remember us better at competitions when he judges ;).

Photography Meeting

I met with Ed the photographer on Saturday. I was a little nervous and not sure of what to expect. However, I knew I wanted to do this, so I was going to make it work regardless. He would have to say something outrageous for me to pass on the opportunity of dance photo shoot. Well, he didn't...and we ended up talking for two and a half hours. We chatted about his life, my life, the photo sessions, business, other clients, and the nature of his work. I liked him because he was real. He didn't try to give me any bs or sell me anything. He just wanted to have a conversation and meet the person who he could potentially work with, no strings attached.

There are many photographers out there, each with their own flavor. However, I see two types of work: one is functional and one gives you an experience. Some people just need the business headshot, a nice family portrait, school photo, or marketing image. That's fine. It's a quick and easy job. But it sacrifices substance. I look for option two: I want to feel emotion when I see a photo. I want to be there and know what the subject knows - the calculation of a leopard, the burning limbs of an athlete, the loneliness of a refugee, the curiosity of a physicist...doesn't matter. I want the photo to live. I've only found two professional photographers in Tucson who can capture this...one is mainly a women's photographer (the subjects tend to be women and their bodies - old, young, pregnant, yogi) and the other is Ed.

One of the amazing things about Ed is that he has a solid business that's sustained mostly by word of mouth, and a little bit of social media. He admits he's not very good at marketing and doesn't quite understand Instagram, even though he uses it. I think his clients are his main form of advertisement: he takes such amazing photos that people love to share them with his name. He's known for his work in dance, but he does a variety of subjects: designer shoes, plastic surgeons, jewelry, and non-dance photo shoots are just a few examples. People go to him because they want something different; not necessarily outrageous, but not cliche. Ed is not a person you go to for predictable, "safe" photos in which you know what you're going to get. You take a little leap of faith with him.

Through our conversation, I realized that Ed is one of those who uses photography not only as an art form, but also as a means of healing. He mentioned his clients who come in and want their photo taken, but they point to his other work and say, "I'm not that flexible/strong" or "I'm only a beginner" or "My body doesn't look like that," etc. He says his goal is not to make them look like professional dancers, just themselves...let their real personalities show. He says that if someone looks at the end result and says, "I didn't know I could do that or look like that!" he's done his job. He gave examples of clients calling him after doing sessions and sharing that their lives have changed. Mainly, they've gained a new sense of self and confidence. Ed wasn't egotistic when he said this, but instead expressed a feeling of joy that he could help people live better with a positive self-image. We spent a little bit of time talking about what I wanted. This is what I told him:

"I have three personas: my public/professional persona, my ballroom persona, and my private persona when I'm alone in a room. (I probably have another one for family and friends, too.) People see my public persona and some people see my dance persona, but I want to bring my private self into the public sphere and let it be seen. This photography experience isn't so much about me looking at a photo and saying, "I didn't know I could do that," but rather, "I knew I could do that...I want everyone else to know it, too."

I have this inner freestyle dancer that's lived inside of me for years that some people have glimpsed, but it has never gotten a chance to be fully in the light. Even in the various dance forms I've done, it's been Amy the Dancer within a structure. I want to do something unstructured, uninhibited, and I want it to be larger than life. I want my emotion to pour out of the pixels. We'll see if that happens! I haven't scheduled a session yet, but it will be sometime this summer.

Aura

I was waiting at the bus stop and looked up to see if it was coming. Instead I saw a small, young Indian woman (about my age) walking toward me. There was nothing remarkable about her appearance - she was rather plain, actually - but from 30 feet away I sensed a goodness about her. When we made eye contact, she started to smile and I started to smile in return. But then I thought it was weird and stopped. I didn't know this girl. As she came closer, that feeling of goodness became stronger. It was so strong that when she stood next to me, I felt an invisible, but tangible glow around her...a three-foot radius of calm, peaceful goodness. It seemed like nothing negative could touch her.  She made me feel relaxed, and very present. We had a short conversation about when the bus was coming, but I couldn't say much more after that. I didn't know what to make of the situation, honestly. I was a little confused. I did keep thinking, though, that one day I wanted to emanate goodness in the same way.

New Home

With my short-term lease being up, I set out on Craig’s List and found an inexpensive room to rent about 20 minutes by bike from where I worked. I now live in a small, but really cute home near the northern part of town with a woman, “Cindy,” and her daughter, “Rae.” Cindy is an event coordinator for a historic building, where many weddings are held, and Rae is a high school student and classical violinist. The other two occupants include a dog named Reese, and a cat named ZeeZee.

I personally love this house. Cindy has been living in it since the 1980s, and she loves to decorate it and be a homemaker. In fact, she redid my room a few times before I moved in – matching bed sheets, pillows, furniture, and decor with the painted walls.  I received updates via email on every new change. Then after I settled in, she told me to always ask before I went out and bought something, because they probably had extra on hand. Cindy and Rae aren’t wealthy, but they’ve hosted several visitors in the past (foreign students and friends in transition), and they all tend to leave things behind. This is great for Cindy, Rae, and now me: we have tons of extra toiletries, hangers, and more blankets and pillows than we know what to do with.

Another thing I love about my new house is the tile work. Cindy’s brother tiled the kitchen and bathroom walls, making them into works of art. The kitchen has a landscape of Tucson and the entire bathroom shower has the ocean, with sailboats and seagulls. I mention these features specifically, but the whole house is filled with little works of art, and each has a story.

Finally, I enjoy each neighborhood I’ve lived even more than the last and this one seems to top them all. First, the hostel was in a historic district, and then the apartment was in an eclectic, progressive part of town. This home resides in a middle class area and close to the mountains. I love getting up in the morning and seeing the mountains so close to me now…like they’re literally just down the street. At night, they disappear from view, but the tiny lights from houses light up the foothills. Day or night, it’s picturesque.

I wasn’t sure how I would adapt to a new home with roommates, but so far I love it – Cindy is a cheerful person and Rae is “cool” doing her own thing. The amenities are an upgrade for me, too: I have my own room, refrigerator, and bathroom. I have a full kitchen to use, a washing machine to do laundry, and a front yard to hang my clothes. The neighborhood is pretty quiet and domesticated, with grocery stores and two libraries near by. I also don’t have to park my bike next to my bed anymore out of fear someone will take it if I lock it up outside. There’s no end date for how long I’ll be here and Cindy and Rae have taken me in like a family member. I imagine I’ll stay for a few months…until I’m ready to move on to my next adventure J.

P.S. As soon as I find my camera, I’ll post photos…

Put Yourself Out There

If there is one lesson that I've learned thus far from moving to Arizona, it's to put yourself out there and I'm having it taught to me in many ways.

First, I'm discovering that opportunities only happen if one makes his or her needs known. This lesson was driven home by someone I met recently named Tanya. She told me that she found her sublet simply by putting an ad on craigslist outlining exactly what she wanted: a furnished efficiency for $300 downtown with all utitilities included. Someone contacted her and she had a home. I know people have done this with jobs and rides as well. I wish I was smart enough to think of that myself - if I can get a dance partner online, I should be able to get housing and even a job - but I guess my practical ingeniuity needs help sometimes.

Second, Shey keeps telling me - like a broken record - to be open. I followed his advice when applying and interviewing for a job and I got it. I emailed the employer and told her who I was and what I was looking for. When I went to the interview, I didn't prepare - I simply went as I was. As weird as this sounds, I didn't think it would work. I thought people didn't want to hear you being genuine - they wanted to hear that you had the skills they were looking for. I was wrong.

I'm also learning that being open and honest is good advice in general. It's what Shey lives by and he seems pretty happy. Keeping to myself is partly an act of pride: I'm afraid that if I reveal too much truth about myself, I'll be humiliated. How does the saying go? "Better for the fool to keep his mouth shut than open it and prove it?" Being open is something I'll have to practice.

Crazy Things Can Happen Sometimes

I emailed my dance teacher Maja two weeks ago, essentially telling her that I was setting ballroom dancing aside for right now. I explained that I couldn’t go back to working a draining, full-time job like I used to in order to compete. While I didn’t say this next part, the truth was that I couldn’t pursue standard dancing by myself. I needed at least one other person to do it with me – a partner. Remember the post about community? I needed ballroom people in my life in order to pursue it. The email to Maja took me a month to write. I was sad to send it, but it needed to be done. I mean, who was I kidding? I hadn’t practiced any standard for months and I needed some closure on the whole dancing thing.

Then – exactly 24 hours later to the minute – I received an email from DancePartner.com. Someone had sent me a message asking if I would be interested in practicing sometime.

I. was. shocked. Then I was ecstatic! Months ago, Maja helped me make a list of my ideal dance partner characteristics. While this person – Shey - didn’t have all the characteristics I listed, he had the important ones. He was a local and newer professional in Tucson who had no experience in standard but really wanted to learn it. I liked his enthusiasm and thought, “This could be it!” But I remembered I didn’t want to go back to a 40-hour job and I had already made a plan to become a yoga teacher. I wanted to just pick something and stay with it for once. I also wanted to only make enough to live on and be happy with that. I decided to email him and say, “Thanks, but no thanks. Dancing is done for me.”

But then he sent me another message, saying he really hoped we could meet up and practice sometime. His energy for dancing standard was heartbreaking, because I no longer had what he had. However, after thinking it over and having three people tell me I should at least meet him, I emailed him back saying we could practice. I made sure to say that I hadn’t practiced in months and I was planning to become a yoga teacher…basically, “Don’t get your hopes up.” He was still interested, and we made plans to meet up the coming Saturday.

Our practice/meeting turned out really well. We danced a little bit and I was happy to know I could still move well across the floor – yay! As far as competing together, we both recognized that it probably wouldn’t work, because he was a bit too short for me when I was in heels. However, I don’t think either of us had too much interest in competing at the moment. We watched some videos on standard and spent some time learning and practicing the steps – lead and follow parts. We stopped after two hours, though, and started talking dance philosophy and approach. We quickly discovered we were on the exact same page.

Our conversation took many turns, from body mechanics in dancing to body mechanics in weight lifting and yoga. Then it we went into our “normal” lives (where we worked) and talked about our life goals and what we were doing in Tucson. Talking to Shey was surprisingly easy. We achieved a familiarity with each other in a couple hours that you normally wouldn’t see right away. I liked the way he thought about things and he spoke with a sense of security and confidence in what he was saying…something I have yet to master. He wants to be a dance coach and I can see him being a good one– this generation’s Bill Irvine (a short, but great ballroom master) :). 

While we agreed to meet next weekend, I was still unsure if this was a direction in which I wanted to go. I still didn’t have a drive like his.

He gave me a ride home and before I left the car he asked,

“What do you love?” I paused, frustrated/tired. I've been asking myself that for the past year.

“I don’t know. I’ve said my normal answer so many times I think it might be mechanical.”

“What do you answer normally?”

“Dancing. But I like writing - I do that every day. I have to...otherwise I can't function. I like teaching, too. And learning about the body.”

“What makes that answer mechanical?” Thinking about dancing and my on/off relationship with it, I answered,“Is it really ‘love’ if don’t do it all the time? …What does it even mean to 'love something?'”

I was home just then, so we never answered the question. A question for the future, I suppose, for the future.

A "Most Excellent" Lunch

Thomas is one of my coworkers at the hostel. He's a pretty awesome guy - he's from Canada, wears only Dr. Martens boots, and came to Arizona to watch the cacti bloom. However, he's leaving to go back home next week, so we had to have a lunch event. We went to La Taqueria Pico de Gallo, which supposedly has the best, cheapest, and most authentic Mexican food in town.

We both wore our Dr. Martens to celebrate the occasion.

 Excited faces!

 I ordered a chicken taco and fish taco. Thomas ordered a beef burrito and cheesecake to share.

 The food was fantastic :)

Aaron: Pop Art in Human Dimensions

Rapid-fire. Asymmetrical. Strategic. Fluid-talker.

At first, he just looked like a kid trying to stand out. This 20-something guest was of Korean descent and wore simple clothes: jeans and a white t-shirt. His hair, though, made him different. It was cut asymmetrically, with one side longer than other, and spiked: forward, sideways…but not random - designed. He seemed average when I met him: looking at his laptop, organizing photos.  However, Aaron’s fascinating life caught me completely off guard over the next 24 hours, as pieces of his story surfaced in conversation.

Originally from Seattle, Aaron moved to New York when he was 19 after dropping out of college. He applied to “9,000 jobs” and received one phone call from a hair scissors sharpener (arguably an insane one). Needing an income, Aaron met the man’s absurd hiring demands and became his apprentice for a year and a half, finding himself unexpectedly in the beauty industry (hence the trendy, spiked hairstyle). Independent now, Aaron travels around the country selling his own self-designed scissors to stylists and boutiques. I saw a photo of them on his computer and they’re incredibly well-thought out. After listening to him talk about them, I could see that he thought 10 steps ahead of the curve. The handle, for instance, was designed to give the stylist more mobility in the thumb. Increased thumb mobility then gave the stylist more flexibility in his/her body and allowed him/her to cut at many angles easily. The center of gravity of the scissors (between the finger loops and the central connecting point) was specifically placed in order to keep the stylist’s hands from getting tired. “Keeping the weight here,” Aaron pointed out, “makes the scissors feel light in the stylist’s hands for a longer period of time.” It was pure physics. He even incorporated a feature that silenced the scissors as they cut, so the client didn’t feel as though he was being sheared. This guy amazed me - he was 24 and already an expert in his craft.

At one point, after asking me about my interests, we started talking about writing and he showed me a book he was working on. It was the story of his life, consisting of short accounts of the people he’d met while he traveled. He talked me through how he met them and what their personalities were like. Intertwined in these stories were the tough situations that taught him how to sell; instances of meeting half-insane, wealthy people who just gave him things; and ways he found places to sleep for free (one involved an urban roof that belonged to a guy who slept with his eyes open). Aaron’s ultimate goal was to turn these stories into comics or graphic novels, which seemed to fit him perfectly. His speaking voice was so dynamic that I had visions of geometric and vivid language in his work. I couldn't wait to see what he would put together. 

If there is one story of Aaron’s that I could share, though, it wouldn’t be about a crazy adventure. It would be when he lived for a few weeks with two guys who had cystic fibrosis. He told me that these guys approached every day like it was their last, because “they knew they only had about 10 years to left live.” One of them, for instance, taught himself to hip-hop dance to a “near pro-level.” Aaron said that being with them was amazing…just in how they pushed the boundaries of their opportunities and capabilities every day. He reminded me, though, that their lives were not without hardship. They lived like hospital patients half the time and had to wear masks at night for help with breathing. The story of these two guys showed me that having an exciting, incredible life doesn’t involve security in all aspects. They have limitations, just like the rest of us. Fortunately – or unfortunately – for those of us who are “normal,” our limitations tend to only involve money, possessions, or stability.

I gave Aaron my contact information in case he ever wanted to send me his writing and get feedback on it. I don’t know if I’ll hear from him again, though. 

To me, Aaron's life was a collage of other people's stories (in addition to his own). He was a living piece of popular art: dynamic, vivid, and colorful…very Andy Warhol-esque. According to him, though, he was "just doing what he could to get by." Down the road, I look forward to reading his book…or several books. I have a feeling that when published, I'll know them when I see them: they'll be bold, asymmetrical, and trendy…just like his hair.

Che Guevara by Andy Warhol

Several "Dads"

While preparing for and returning from my trip to LA, I had several people looking out for me: my Dad, the manager at the hostel, Jimmy, and my friend/hostel guest, Tim. They all wanted me to make sure I arrived safely, had enough money, and had transportation to and from the bus stations. I just want to acknowledge them, because I appreciate how they look out for me. I also want to acknowledge my friends in LA who let me stay with them, took me around town, and even treated me to a meal. The only one old enough to truly be my dad is my Dad, but it's really great to have other friends around who care about your well-being, too. I only hope that someday I can give them back as much or more than they've already given me.

Thanks.

The Gem Show

The Gem Show was here in Tucson January 27 - February 12. It was a fantastic few weeks at the hostel and I've been meaning to post about it for a month now.

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show is the largest in the world and people come from all over to trade, sell, and buy gems and stones. We housed gem buyers/sellers/enthusiasts, jewelry makers, geologists, professors, and other vendors. It was a lively group of people, who would come back talking about their bartering adventures and share what they found. I have footage of some "show and tell" below. Unfortunately, the direct videos aren't functioning, so you'll have to visit Youtube by clicking on the links.

Gem Show Show-and-Tell

Many of the people who come to the gem show have stayed at the hostel year after year (since the 1990s). Because of this, the gem show is almost like a family reunion. Every year, the owner Peter dresses up in a roadrunner costume and puts on a pannekoeken dinner. "Pannekoeken" is Dutch for a giant pancake filled with meat, cheese, and/or fruit.

Pannekoeken

Some Favorite Roadrunner Guests

The hostel has a fun community atmosphere: many people (both staff and travelers) eat, cook, and socialize together. Right now I'm enjoying the flow of new people during the busy season, and I make new friends almost every day. Some of those friendships last only for a day (because people leave) and some last longer. Let me introduce you to some of them:


Marta
Marta is a cake-decorator from Buffalo, NY. When the bakery where she worked closed, she took off for Tucson. She's my age and very athletic: she cycles, lifts, runs...probably pushes boulders in her spare time. She's one of the better friends I've made here. Marta wouldn't stand still long enough for me to take a photo of her, though, so it's a little blurry...but she's standing next to the chocolate cake she made for a coworker's birthday. 

Todd

Todd was here for the gem show as a non-gem vendor. He travels around the country selling sunglasses. I stopped by his tent and he helped me pick out a cool pair...and then we commenced topractice our modeling skills. 

Todd also writes and was in the film industry for a while. He's a pretty chill guy, but quick-witted, too...he can give me a run for my money sometimes. Sometimes.


Egyptian Military Parachuters
These guys were just fun. They were in Tucson for training, because we have a military base here. Only a few spoke English. I managed to catch one of them (Elsaid was his name) near the end of his praying and asked him to read some of the Quran. He didn't speak English at all, so there was a lot of gesturing. I've never seen the holy book up close before and I wanted to hear the correlation between the text and the words. He was more than happy to show me and even pulled up some online translations later. From left to right, we have: Elsaid, Monsour (Mano), Sabry, Morhtar, and Hassan.

Mano teased me about my feet and how small they were, so we had a running joke about shoe sizes. I'm holding up my hand for size 3 and he for size 5. 

Goran
Goran was also here for the gem show - he's a geologist. He's from Serbia, but moved to Vancouver to pursue his dream. He's soft-spoken, tranquil, and one of the sweetest men you will ever talk to. 

He would make these frappachino drinks in the kitchen all the time. He offered me one a few times, but it always at night and I didn't want to be wide awake on caffeine right before bed. I liked to watch him make them, though...frothers are the coolest gadgets!

Dan
Dan, in her own words, is "French-educated, Vietnamese-born, a Canadian and Dutch citizen, raised in New York City." She is one of the most fantastic people I've met. She's animated, talkative, very responsive to your thoughts, and funny. I enjoyed being around her because she made me laugh all the time. Dan was also at the hostel for the gem show; she is a dealer and works with only rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. She lives in Holland right now, but doesn't care for the country much. In her spare time, she's a farmer on Farmville and takes great pride in planting crops and caring for her animals. I love this woman so much, lol. (Photo courtesy of Facebook)

Living and Working at the Hostel

I now work at the hostel where I'm staying. The deal is a work exchange: I work 3 shifts a week and get a place to live in return. It's nice for someone who doesn't have a place to stay or know anyone in the area. I get my own private room, furnished with a bed and dresser, and I have access to a full kitchen, free wi-fi, and free laundry. Essentially, free room and utilities in exchange for 24 hours of working a week. With my rent taken care of, I now have to find a job to buy groceries and other things that I might need. The nice thing is that they're really flexible here, so if I do find a job, they'll try to work around it.

I like being at the hostel, to be honest. At least for right now. I meet so many interesting people every day. Here's a brief list:

Young British people (several individuals) who quit their jobs to travel
A cycling crew going from Tempe to Tucson
Students from Ohio taking a week-long nature course
A young woman heading out to LA, who is writing a book about her crazy life
A massage therapist
A yoga teacher in training
Foreign exchange students from East Asia
Students from Virginia who brought quail eggs for cooking
Egyptian army men - parachuters here for training (it's fun to watch them cook in the kitchen)
A cake decorator from Buffalo - she's my age
A Dutchman biking across the southwest
A gem seller from Toronto who lives London
Two young women (not together) traveling around the US figuring out where they want to live
A man who practices shamanism and likes wheat grass cocktails in the morning - he told me he liked my energy and that I was like his spiritual "sister"...which made me chuckle :). He's a nice guy.

I like meeting all these people and hearing about their lives. It's reassuring to find people my age and older who are in transition and don't always know what they're doing with their lives. It's also great to meet people who do know what they're doing and to find out how they got there. The gem seller, for instance, told us about several jobs he had. One of them was a pillow factory. He had to jump off a high platform and land on the pillows as part of his work. I imagine that's fun :).

Every day is interesting and it's never the same. The only thing I wish right now is for a little more privacy. I don't have my own room yet, because the famous gem show is coming and all available space is given to guests. I also need to spend my first two weeks as an employee living in the dorms - it's part of the protocol. So I'll have to wait a little longer before I really have my own place.

Computer Lessons

I met a senior woman at the hostel. Her name was Cynthia. We exchanged life stories and hers was just as interesting as some of the "foreigners."

I don't know how old the woman is, but she calls herself a senior citizen. She moved to Tucson to do hospice care. Originally, she wasn't a nurse, but recently felt called to take up this profession...essentially begin anew in the second - or possibly third - stage of her life. She essentially packed her bags and moved to Tucson, like me...except she had a job. She told me about how she felt out of place beginning all over again and how the younger hospice care workers would scoff at her. Cynthia, however, was determined. It was something she felt passionate about, though she didn't share exactly why.

I suppose she felt touched by my reasons for moving to Tucson and took a liking to me. She gave me a ride to the mall the other day to pick up a pair of jeans I ordered. We got lost, even with her GPS announcing directions for all to hear. However, I was glad for it, because we shared more about how things in our lives seemed to bring us to where we were. She calls it the "Universe" while I call it God. Regardless, it was really great to share the feeling of being where we were supposed to be.

Earlier that morning, Cynthia asked me to help her with the computer. She needed a map and some location information. I pulled it up for her and she was amazed. She asked me to show her some other things like just pulling up a browser and finding a store. The computer was very foreign to her and she was so grateful to me for taking the time to show her how to use it. Cynthia told me about how librarians in the town where she lived "ran away" when they saw her coming, because they didn't like answering her questions. I told her I was more than happy to help. She asked me if I would be interested in doing this regularly, and - not having anything else to do - I said, "Sure." She said she's wanted computer classes for three years now and would be happy to pay me. She asked me to think about a rate. I felt bad taking money from an older woman, but I accepted it as a form of gratitude. I learned a few years ago that accepting "thank you" is just as important as saying it.

Today we had our second session. Cynthia amazed me at how new everything was to her - everything that I took for granted. Simple things like knowing which windows to close (some have multiple X's in one) and replying to e-mails. She took notes and told me she'll have to practice. She thanked me at the end and I assured her that it was my pleasure to help. She insisted paying me at a rate double of what I was going to ask. It's not enough to cover groceries for the week, but it will definitely help :). I have a feeling this is going to be one of those token friendships you read about in books and see in movies about a young person and an old person benefitting from each other unexpectedly. The funny thing is I think only a few times in my life have I looked forward to working with an older person. Usually I just get frustrated and therefore avoid it. However, today I was glad to see her. A computer lesson gave me a sense of purpose for the day, which is so important when I wake up feeling like a failure because I don't have a job.

She probably doesn't even realize how she's helping me in more ways than one. I look forward to the next lesson.