Thankfully, I have an in-person interview scheduled for next Wednesday. It's for a teaching associate position. I really want to teach abroad but many organizations and schools require at least 1 year teaching experience which I don't have. I'm also technically not certified to teach, fortunately the job I'm being interviewed for doesn't require that. So this is my plan: secure some sort of teaching job, take whatever tests are needed when they are available to get certified to teach, and when the time is ready -- get out of the U.S. and explore another part of the world! I'd like to teach something along the lines of peace and conflict studies, conflict resolution, and/or non-violent transformations of conflict, etc in the Middle East... especially with all the revolutionary activity and civil struggle going on in the Arab world. We'll see how it goes, all I can do for now is work hard and try my best to make my dreams come true

As for training, I joined a gym today. It's a bit more than 4.5 miles away, a nice bike ride along the beach. Baldy and ninearms would love this place -- over-tanned guidos and juiceheads like whoa. I was waiting to see Pauly D or The Situation any minute. The gym is grungy, "hardcore", and I love it.
I borrowed a small Valeo belt today and it fit like a glove. I'm a bit confused with the weights though. The labels are inconsistent - kgs or lbs and sometimes both or not even marked. My deadlifts were all sorts of messed up today. After doing (more like attempting) the math when I came home, apparently I hit around 105kg again which is awesome since I haven't lifted that heavy in months!
No training plan in mind exactly, would like to work on deadlifts and catch up to Linnéa after she totally blew me away with her 115kg lift! Crackpipe goal = deadlift twice my bodyweight by the end of this year

cardio: 45+ minutes biking to and from gym (a little under 10 miles)
deadlifts: 2X5 69+kg, 82+kg, 3X 91kg, 1X 100.09(?)kg, 1X 104.6+(?)kg
DB incline chest press: 3X10 15lbs
DB shoulder press: 3X10 15lbs
barbell bench press: 3X10 40lbs
DB single arm bent over rows: 2X10 20lbs each arm
assisted dips and close-grip chin ups: first round 5 reps each, second round 6 reps each
abs: leg raises, scissors, stability exercise, captain's chair
The ocean was awesome today, played in the waves with my brother. He goes back to school in a month, it's nice spending time with him. I missed him! It feels nice to be home again.