I bet you didn't know you were reading a celebrity blog. ;)
The South Idaho Press ran this on Saturday:
http://www.southidahopress.com/articles/2008/01/12/news/local/9766africa.txt
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
All of that... is going to fit in there??
Want to know what a Rotary Scholar does 2 nights before they leave the country????
This is where it starts getting really ugly.
My mom finally got tired of me just staring at my stuff, so she laid it all out in the bedroom downstairs so we could size up how much of it is actually going to fit into my bags. Here is a picture of my bags. They are quite wonderful, by the way--- super light (under 10 lbs each), and almost the maximum size that airlines will allow. Two of them will be checked and I'll carry on the other one.
The catch:
Tonight's mission: Get all of that, in there.
I'm doubtful. Looks like there is going to be some cutting down.
Wish me luck.
This is where it starts getting really ugly.
My mom finally got tired of me just staring at my stuff, so she laid it all out in the bedroom downstairs so we could size up how much of it is actually going to fit into my bags. Here is a picture of my bags. They are quite wonderful, by the way--- super light (under 10 lbs each), and almost the maximum size that airlines will allow. Two of them will be checked and I'll carry on the other one.
The catch:
Tonight's mission: Get all of that, in there.I'm doubtful. Looks like there is going to be some cutting down.
Wish me luck.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Obama-Drama!
One thing I am terribly sorry I will be missing while I am abroad is extent of the the dirty dirty details of the 2008 presidential race that are covered on American television. I have never appreciated them more than now, as I realize I probably won't have access to them to the same extent.
I have been glued to the television all day twice in the last couple of weeks - one was in shock and horror the day that PM Bhutto was assassinated, and the other was in sheer fascination last night as Huckabee and Obama took Iowa in the first presidential primary.
The latter made for some great television. Though I don't usually get my news from television (I am far too impatient for commercial breaks and endless analysis and reanalysis), I couldn't get enough of it last night. This is the second presidential election in which I will be able to vote, and I am ENDLESSLY more excited about this election than the last.
In my opinion, there are so many incredible things about this election.
1. There are no incumbents running, so the drama is across both political parties.
2. The front runners are all fascinating people.
3. The front-runners from BOTH political parties took a hit in the first caucus.
The idea of a caucus itself fascinates me. Watching the seemed chaos of people running around in a middle school cafeteria trying to convince one another as to the merits of their favored candidate renewed in me a sense of pride over the "grass-rootedness" of our political process. Here in Idaho we don't get to see many national politicians trumping in our town halls, and I admit that I had become rather cynical about whether or not my vote "counted" or not in the last presidential election. However, watching the Iowa caucus last night reminded me that at our roots, we are essentially deciding the next leader of one of the most powerful nations in the world over the same tables that middle school students decide white or chocolate milk. There is something incredibly basal and refreshing about that.
So enjoy the Obama-drama if you are in the states, I will be watching from far away. The South African presidential election is in 2009, so I will be sure to share what that race is like from the ground, as well as how the U.S. race is perceived.
Here's to absentee ballots!
***********************************************************
I must add a side note - in between the over-analysis of last night's caucus, I have been watching news of the election riots in Kenya. My heart aches for the situation there. As drama-filled as the U.S. elections are, the drama is contained in newsreels and campaign ads.
How fortunate we are.
I have been glued to the television all day twice in the last couple of weeks - one was in shock and horror the day that PM Bhutto was assassinated, and the other was in sheer fascination last night as Huckabee and Obama took Iowa in the first presidential primary.
The latter made for some great television. Though I don't usually get my news from television (I am far too impatient for commercial breaks and endless analysis and reanalysis), I couldn't get enough of it last night. This is the second presidential election in which I will be able to vote, and I am ENDLESSLY more excited about this election than the last.
In my opinion, there are so many incredible things about this election.
1. There are no incumbents running, so the drama is across both political parties.
2. The front runners are all fascinating people.
3. The front-runners from BOTH political parties took a hit in the first caucus.
The idea of a caucus itself fascinates me. Watching the seemed chaos of people running around in a middle school cafeteria trying to convince one another as to the merits of their favored candidate renewed in me a sense of pride over the "grass-rootedness" of our political process. Here in Idaho we don't get to see many national politicians trumping in our town halls, and I admit that I had become rather cynical about whether or not my vote "counted" or not in the last presidential election. However, watching the Iowa caucus last night reminded me that at our roots, we are essentially deciding the next leader of one of the most powerful nations in the world over the same tables that middle school students decide white or chocolate milk. There is something incredibly basal and refreshing about that.
So enjoy the Obama-drama if you are in the states, I will be watching from far away. The South African presidential election is in 2009, so I will be sure to share what that race is like from the ground, as well as how the U.S. race is perceived.
Here's to absentee ballots!
***********************************************************
I must add a side note - in between the over-analysis of last night's caucus, I have been watching news of the election riots in Kenya. My heart aches for the situation there. As drama-filled as the U.S. elections are, the drama is contained in newsreels and campaign ads.
How fortunate we are.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
One week to go...
One week from today I'll be on a plane headed for Cape Town.
The last few weeks I have had the chance to speak to many groups about my Rotary scholarship. Part of the requirements for the scholarship is to make around 15 presentations about your experience before, during and after you return. I was able to speak to 2 Rotary clubs in Houston, and a Rotary club, a Lion's club, a PEO group, a Senior Citizen's group, and 4 high school classes here in Idaho. It is really wonderful to be supported so strongly both in Houston and in my hometown of Burley. I am very much looking forward to sharing my experience. My heart was especially in the presentations I was able to give to the high school classes, as it made me miss my own students in Houston terribly. It is SO important that students are exposed to opportunities early on, as I believe strongly that if they set high expectations for themselves, they will rise to meet them. I sincerely hope that this experience ahead of me can be used to open the eyes of at least a few students both in the U.S. and in South Africa to an opportunity they otherwise did not know exist.
In other news, I have been saddened deeply the last couple of days about the news of new conflict erupting in Kenya, and of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. It only renews my belief that our world is too small to not seek to understand one another.
On the lighter side, my last few days are filling up with last minute preparations, mainly tasks that I have put off for the last few months, like finishing my best friend's wedding present. :) I am all together avoiding my brand new empty suitcases, half hoping they will fill themselves.
I am also distracting myself with reading anything I can get my hands on, whether it is about South Africa or not. Today I began reading Kabul Beauty School, and although I haven't finished, I am recommending it to everyone - it is utterly inspiring, and I am only about 1/3 of the way through. It is the true story of an American hairdresser who is in an abusive marriage and decides to go on a medical missions trip to Afghanistan shortly after the fall of the Taliban. While she is there, because she has no medical skills, she ends up exploring Kabul. She discovers that nearly all beauty shops have been wiped out by the Taliban, and those which are still running have no supplies and the beauticians have little or no cosmetology education. Her skills are therefore actually in high demand, and she has people lining up to have their hair cut. After returning to the United States, she decides to open a beauty school in Kabul to train beauticians with the intent of empowering women and allowing them a means to support themselves apart from their husbands. It is so far a beautiful story and is being added to my list of 'must reads.'
Signing off with a week left -
The last few weeks I have had the chance to speak to many groups about my Rotary scholarship. Part of the requirements for the scholarship is to make around 15 presentations about your experience before, during and after you return. I was able to speak to 2 Rotary clubs in Houston, and a Rotary club, a Lion's club, a PEO group, a Senior Citizen's group, and 4 high school classes here in Idaho. It is really wonderful to be supported so strongly both in Houston and in my hometown of Burley. I am very much looking forward to sharing my experience. My heart was especially in the presentations I was able to give to the high school classes, as it made me miss my own students in Houston terribly. It is SO important that students are exposed to opportunities early on, as I believe strongly that if they set high expectations for themselves, they will rise to meet them. I sincerely hope that this experience ahead of me can be used to open the eyes of at least a few students both in the U.S. and in South Africa to an opportunity they otherwise did not know exist.
In other news, I have been saddened deeply the last couple of days about the news of new conflict erupting in Kenya, and of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. It only renews my belief that our world is too small to not seek to understand one another.
On the lighter side, my last few days are filling up with last minute preparations, mainly tasks that I have put off for the last few months, like finishing my best friend's wedding present. :) I am all together avoiding my brand new empty suitcases, half hoping they will fill themselves.
I am also distracting myself with reading anything I can get my hands on, whether it is about South Africa or not. Today I began reading Kabul Beauty School, and although I haven't finished, I am recommending it to everyone - it is utterly inspiring, and I am only about 1/3 of the way through. It is the true story of an American hairdresser who is in an abusive marriage and decides to go on a medical missions trip to Afghanistan shortly after the fall of the Taliban. While she is there, because she has no medical skills, she ends up exploring Kabul. She discovers that nearly all beauty shops have been wiped out by the Taliban, and those which are still running have no supplies and the beauticians have little or no cosmetology education. Her skills are therefore actually in high demand, and she has people lining up to have their hair cut. After returning to the United States, she decides to open a beauty school in Kabul to train beauticians with the intent of empowering women and allowing them a means to support themselves apart from their husbands. It is so far a beautiful story and is being added to my list of 'must reads.'
Signing off with a week left -
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Counting down..
Happy New Year!!
Hello! This blog will hopefully serve as a means to communicate with my family, friends and the Rotarians who so generously have given me the opportunity to serve as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to South Africa.
I will be leaving the United States on January 9th, and two days of layovers later, I will arrive in Cape Town for 3 weeks of Xhosa (pronounced "click"- hosa) training. On February 4th I will arrive in my new home for the next year - Grahamstown, South Africa.
While I'm in Grahamstown, I will be studying International Studies at Rhodes University.
I think it just dawned on me this past week that all of this is reality and is really happening.
This scholarship is such a phenomenal opportunity, and I cannot thank Rotary enough for the chance to travel and study in Southern Africa. I will provide more details over the year, but if you are interested in more information about the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, follow the link.
I will update this blog as often as possible during my year abroad, so stay tuned!
Here's to the adventure that is 2008!
Hello! This blog will hopefully serve as a means to communicate with my family, friends and the Rotarians who so generously have given me the opportunity to serve as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to South Africa.
I will be leaving the United States on January 9th, and two days of layovers later, I will arrive in Cape Town for 3 weeks of Xhosa (pronounced "click"- hosa) training. On February 4th I will arrive in my new home for the next year - Grahamstown, South Africa.
While I'm in Grahamstown, I will be studying International Studies at Rhodes University.
I think it just dawned on me this past week that all of this is reality and is really happening.
This scholarship is such a phenomenal opportunity, and I cannot thank Rotary enough for the chance to travel and study in Southern Africa. I will provide more details over the year, but if you are interested in more information about the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, follow the link.
I will update this blog as often as possible during my year abroad, so stay tuned!
Here's to the adventure that is 2008!
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