tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67328368071788635332024-03-05T03:07:00.912-08:00Borders Are Imaginary Boundaries"Not knowing where you're heading isn't always a bad thing. But you have to maintain confidence that you'll arrive. Sometimes, you don't even know why you're doing what you're doing. But you have to remind yourself of why you started." - V. WalstraUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-47455501873886543672018-01-01T13:07:00.002-08:002018-01-01T13:08:08.659-08:00NEW ADVENTURES, NEW BLOG!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello!<br />
<br />
It's been a few years, hey? I've stopped posting here, but it's definitely not over! I've reincarnated this blog on a new site with new adventures, as I head off to Kenya and Ethiopia for the next few years!<br />
<br />
You can read all about it here -- <a href="https://samesphere.wordpress.com/">https://samesphere.wordpress.com/</a><br />
<br />
Thanks!<br />
Diana</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-14903636776808152472015-02-25T07:14:00.002-08:002015-02-25T07:14:34.520-08:00Bagan: The Beauty of the Details<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hello! I spent the day today wandering the temples and pagodas of Bagan, a religious city in the north of Burma/Myanmar (I won't get into that debate at the moment). Now, if you know me, you know that I'm extremely short-sighted, and tend to see the little details before the soaring spires you'd imagine first when thinking of pagodas. So, I'd like to share ten pictures from my shots today that show the little bits of beauty here in Bagan. Enjoy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWzavQfRcFfeVbf3k95ihhIIxW07FLvghfOG4UslePaAvAXlqDcm4F1gWoB3pyPvNHPj_vhHDRCrY3JJF02wb8iaLMV2GNyINNbyv_DXa3uURS3u3lTug4r0bWKtUB7feiefezTnc42SO/s1600/blog1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWzavQfRcFfeVbf3k95ihhIIxW07FLvghfOG4UslePaAvAXlqDcm4F1gWoB3pyPvNHPj_vhHDRCrY3JJF02wb8iaLMV2GNyINNbyv_DXa3uURS3u3lTug4r0bWKtUB7feiefezTnc42SO/s1600/blog1.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDNVn8Gfj5Cpu3TaEa35cwlPZlv4cwj5bt78xBtxnGv1bObOAqDpcq3DrppvV7WUV4q2JeYmUMzHFvjf0Qi7E0TcOz9ENPbEV48-TVOPJ9eV_7U5PX2M-TKJIO5S7pgDQaJNZfbJWEEJS/s1600/blog2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDNVn8Gfj5Cpu3TaEa35cwlPZlv4cwj5bt78xBtxnGv1bObOAqDpcq3DrppvV7WUV4q2JeYmUMzHFvjf0Qi7E0TcOz9ENPbEV48-TVOPJ9eV_7U5PX2M-TKJIO5S7pgDQaJNZfbJWEEJS/s1600/blog2.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fkm2CQaE5FWrvmD51mguJMbG7PBwoHiUMugGdzQFPaU5qdy6zZLKnJcFaedmeF66VB5c4z3VOoF4YvPDXAkRJT0eE9lZfckzg72ArcOXODGexuEMvwpSWL-9ttD6_B5yHDjtVt387qdS/s1600/blog4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fkm2CQaE5FWrvmD51mguJMbG7PBwoHiUMugGdzQFPaU5qdy6zZLKnJcFaedmeF66VB5c4z3VOoF4YvPDXAkRJT0eE9lZfckzg72ArcOXODGexuEMvwpSWL-9ttD6_B5yHDjtVt387qdS/s1600/blog4.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XAZj9126b5CbYdju-4ZHuqDwSlvzmUyCSuAStMvOBBWfX1VrCu9axAwGFa7GszLycUD3plDHsq9GjkUT1ur9clGzWob_H_rUq7r7MZ_wWeswznKJl4rofZj0AZMJYIORO5fIkjpg_0Vh/s1600/blog5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XAZj9126b5CbYdju-4ZHuqDwSlvzmUyCSuAStMvOBBWfX1VrCu9axAwGFa7GszLycUD3plDHsq9GjkUT1ur9clGzWob_H_rUq7r7MZ_wWeswznKJl4rofZj0AZMJYIORO5fIkjpg_0Vh/s1600/blog5.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKJlSybEeLEscym5VE6a4ryonW86TFnKnHDVO0EOB9PprLBy79qLcwpgG-nXBl8Q_EY7d_ui2bAQ4O-z4qItTS8-ShhCcGDB4t17YnTG0ZPVt8VKT2LObz7zylQKiu7Oqt9dDqFIOGQZH/s1600/blog6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKJlSybEeLEscym5VE6a4ryonW86TFnKnHDVO0EOB9PprLBy79qLcwpgG-nXBl8Q_EY7d_ui2bAQ4O-z4qItTS8-ShhCcGDB4t17YnTG0ZPVt8VKT2LObz7zylQKiu7Oqt9dDqFIOGQZH/s1600/blog6.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG0zpFrSLNR09znFZQwwInMdNNv5ghWsiWxRaisbAcvogi9NcvSHaTmo8SI91ozY_LTKXSKPN0W29ysZMaLFvCNmkLpK7ZDYr2LVxNsxgBGa0Hq_jlxXMfFZQvpthWLo1ydIGIf9UCJUh/s1600/blog7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG0zpFrSLNR09znFZQwwInMdNNv5ghWsiWxRaisbAcvogi9NcvSHaTmo8SI91ozY_LTKXSKPN0W29ysZMaLFvCNmkLpK7ZDYr2LVxNsxgBGa0Hq_jlxXMfFZQvpthWLo1ydIGIf9UCJUh/s1600/blog7.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfHK5dYbdUAGhoCgtYMf9i8HEtrydtXfT2u5pj3mFU7iMkIG5O-hPxuYl_3HUmAbH2AtEvyXh4-VG2ezUI5NIcpRH9BLzt4UDmb8dy-JVNIavl808j3C4X2IwymDwJfLDS-xWiSp0V7DZ/s1600/blog8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfHK5dYbdUAGhoCgtYMf9i8HEtrydtXfT2u5pj3mFU7iMkIG5O-hPxuYl_3HUmAbH2AtEvyXh4-VG2ezUI5NIcpRH9BLzt4UDmb8dy-JVNIavl808j3C4X2IwymDwJfLDS-xWiSp0V7DZ/s1600/blog8.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1z_FkjOQUNyXsARoMRmojFX_KPKgPYr7Zivv0uLUlqo_jp3UVJG6ybcUshQEI0Km9pQtlasFu186NCEcMzNx4IHh2WB8T_5teMkAneSUjgD6Nh9tmh7C1qn0JmXZwaBM82BdXBk2Ywbx/s1600/blog9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1z_FkjOQUNyXsARoMRmojFX_KPKgPYr7Zivv0uLUlqo_jp3UVJG6ybcUshQEI0Km9pQtlasFu186NCEcMzNx4IHh2WB8T_5teMkAneSUjgD6Nh9tmh7C1qn0JmXZwaBM82BdXBk2Ywbx/s1600/blog9.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKQlpeh4tIa4trFZNamOjNEjHvs9BAApo7k-QxgLDeQD0leVOpIT1KBpwPM1dJTL1Wpn_-UkyVOPLOmed80XiyIH-BOTqKXE-C37E2tErrsyXS6sECToDcJrZrDusQp0L6eiUQ6bMXGYR/s1600/blog10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKQlpeh4tIa4trFZNamOjNEjHvs9BAApo7k-QxgLDeQD0leVOpIT1KBpwPM1dJTL1Wpn_-UkyVOPLOmed80XiyIH-BOTqKXE-C37E2tErrsyXS6sECToDcJrZrDusQp0L6eiUQ6bMXGYR/s1600/blog10.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhm073_6uaXxHfK21A5tFNRjqGd2PoGXfrbnXcZbTzt6PeUXWXe1iyt0bpIQ6S4hSDWFrRx1OzLJxPVq23QJNsiS6xPvnuduyMjVaLwBSBD0O732AXTx-aROlp5L6EtjiDA7Yt053qjn4/s1600/blog11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhm073_6uaXxHfK21A5tFNRjqGd2PoGXfrbnXcZbTzt6PeUXWXe1iyt0bpIQ6S4hSDWFrRx1OzLJxPVq23QJNsiS6xPvnuduyMjVaLwBSBD0O732AXTx-aROlp5L6EtjiDA7Yt053qjn4/s1600/blog11.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-45292476861498606072015-02-21T21:02:00.001-08:002015-02-25T07:15:35.181-08:00PIRATES, AHOY!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div data-html-editor-font-wrapper="true" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I would just like to throw at you guys a bit of a fun fact about life on a ship. At the moment, we are sailing through pirate-heavy waters, between Singapore and Burma. Therefore, the ship has a few preventative measures put in place.<br />
<br />
1. There is a dummy tied to the back of the ship, as if it is standing there at the railing, watching. We call it our "scare-pirate."<br />
<br />
2. There are two high pressure hoses, one on each side of the ship, tied to the railings, both ready to fire out lots of water at potential attackers, and there to remind potential attackers that we can fire lots of water at them.<br />
<br />
I know that this is a very short post, but I just thought you might appreciate knowing that I am safe and sound from the pirates. We had our monthly lifeboat drill yesterday morning, and so we're all kind of wondering when the mandatory sword-fighting lessons are going to come. Because, I mean, the scare-pirate is great protection, but he can only do so much. :)<br />
<br />
Burma, I'll see you in two days!<br />
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-29567400235755498222015-02-16T01:46:00.001-08:002015-02-25T07:15:53.971-08:00China, Japan, Vietnam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div data-html-editor-font-wrapper="true" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><em>Oh my, I am far behind in posting. You would not believe how low the internet has fallen on my chain or priorities, but I still would like to write. And yet, I really just don't have time to type out my journal properly. But, I just wound up writing this email to my mother, and figured it's the best summary I've got of the last month, and so I'm sticking it here as a post. Enjoy!</em><br /><br /> Hey,<br /><br /> I'm so sorry for the silence, if you can imagine how insane things are this side, multiply by three thousand and you might get close. All my clothes are dirty, I have homework that's overdue, a skirt that got ripped by a Vietnamese motorcycle that I need to sew, and three billion pages I wish I could write. The strangest thing is how the countries have started to blend into one - not in a forgetful way, but just in the way that places don't seem so different anymore. Japan was fascinating, although in all honesty it kind of freaked me out - a bit too organized and structured for my liking. From where you were meant to stand on the platform to wait for the different trains, to the manner in which department stores open in the morning, nothing is left to chance. And yes, I did (and have been, still) eating with chopsticks.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And yes, I spend my time perpetually lost. I think that time that I was the most lost, though, in Kobe, some Japanese man gave me a ride on the back of his bicycle, because I was running late. Every city looks different, but admittedly lots of streets within the same city look the same. Although, you might be surprised to hear that Vietnam has been the easiest to navigate thus far, because even in the less wealthy areas, every storefront is labeled with a full street address and neighborhood name, so you at least know where you are. The fact that they use the Roman alphabet might have helped as well... characters are cool and all, but after a week in China, I hadn't quite reached fluency... oops.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I did learn a few phrases in Japanese and in Chinese, but my Vietnamese is probably my strongest language of this trip so far. It might have helped that I spent three days staying with a Vietnamese family I found on the internet (safety first, but maybe this time it can be adventure first, safety second?). They were absolutely fantastic, although I learned very quickly to ask what I was eating after I had finished, at least, if I wanted to be able to stomach it (fish sperm mixed with snails, anybody?). I also currently have half a notebook that looks like a children's dictionary, after spending last night sitting with Xinh, a twelve-year-old girl who I was drawing pictures with, and then labeling in both languages. Sneaky child, acted like she didn't speak English, but then blew her cover by spelling rectangle and motorcycle correctly. My attempts to spell in Vietnamese started as laughable, but I eventually (to her great astonishment) got pretty good at spelling words she told me.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">China was strange, just because it seemed like a "five years later" sort of thing, after the last time we were there. the section of the wall that we went to this time was much different though - no tourists, no restoration, just a long pile of crumbling bricks, stretching out onto the mountains. It was somehow more poetic that way, though. Our hiking group was the only group of people there; other than us, it was entirely deserted. It is strange though, that after walking for three or four hours, the Great Wall of China turns into any other trail - put one foot in front of the other, and eventually you'll reach the peak. For lunch, though, we had McDonald's on the wall. At first it seemed silly, but in a twisted and warped world, it's strangely appropriate. Also, you have to realize two things about McDonald's in China. First, it's fancy American food. Local food is much cheaper, and McDonald's is the sort of thing you would take a date to for a good impression. Secondly, it's what they thought that we would want to eat. So hey, we had food that is fancy here, that they thought we would like. A strange notion, though, to see a Big Mac on such an ancient structure.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Even stranger was the fact that during our entire time in Tienanmen Square, there was not a single mention of the protests and the students. Censorship at its greatest, I suppose. The other interesting censored moment was a shrine in Kobe with a plaque that made reference to "the [incident]" of a particular day, where incident was a separate bit of metal, stuck on top of the original text. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And the strangest of all is the fact that now, I'm back on the ship, cleaning up from Vietnam and getting ready for Singapore. On-ship time is in about an hour, when everyone will have to be back, and we'll all sit down for dinner together and recollect ourselves. It's strange to be technically living together, but only see everyone for two days a week, so it's good to "be home," if a large hunk of floating metal can be that. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">With love from Vietnam,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Diana</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-28479032260388367192015-01-22T21:57:00.001-08:002015-02-25T07:16:09.803-08:00Three Weeks at Sea - Shipboard Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div data-html-editor-font-wrapper="true" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I am currently writing to you from the middle of the Pacific. We have traveled over 2,800 nautical miles since leaving Hawaii (plus a few thousand if you want to count since San Diego), and I haven't posted yet, which is terrible! Anyways, here are the updates, in a few short lists:<br />
<br />
WHY LIFE ON A BOAT IS WEIRD:<br />
1. There is no dirt whatsoever. Even if I tried to find dirt, there is none. The only slightly "dirty" thing are the tables after the salt water gets on them and then dries, leaving this salty residue, but even then, it's white. There is no dirt.<br />
2. We haven't stopped moving in nine days. Please take a moment to think about that - for the last nine days, I have not once been still - not even for a single moment.<br />
3. Sometimes, you realize that there are five kilometers of water beneath us, and a heck of a lot of life in that water. This is weird because we can't see any of it.<br />
4. We have monthly lifeboat drills. The chance that it's going to sink is minuscule, but it's strange to be living somewhere that could potentially fall to the bottom of oblivion.<br />
<br />
WHY LIFE ON A BOAT IS WONDERFUL:<br />
1. There are no cell phones. This is not an issue for me, but it's fantastic to have not a single person checking their text messages - ever.<br />
2. Board games are making a comeback. With all the time that we have to burn, we've reverted to doing things that we're too embarassed to do in our real lives - but on the ship, we don't care anymore. Hide and Seek, anyone?<br />
3. Meals are loooooooong. This is also a result of having nothing else to do, so we just sit and talk for hours.<br />
4. SiSwati lessons - I've started teaching siSwati to people, which is hilarious and wonderful all at once. It's making me so much less homesick for Swaziland to be able to walk down the hallway and have random people greet me in (wonderfully terrible) siSwati.<br />
<br />
WHY I'M READY TO GET OFF THE BOAT IN JAPAN:<br />
1. I miss mountains. I need to walk uphill.<br />
2. We are 800 students living all together, and while everyone is great, I need some new faces.<br />
3. DUDE, WE'RE GOING TO JAPAN! How could I not be excited?<br />
<br />
I'm sure at some point I'll write some more about living on a ship, but hopefully that's a bit of a start. Right now, I'm about to go on a tour of the bridge to see a little bit more about how the ship functions, so expect some of that at a later date, and then I'll try to write a bit more about how life really works on-board, but for now, I'll leave you with one last list -<br />
<br />
SEA CREATURES I'VE SEEN SINCE LIVING ON THE SHIP:<br />
1. Dolphins<br />
2. Humpback whales<br />
3. Seagulls<br />
4. Flying fish<br />
<br />
Bye!</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-77313249452496636772015-01-06T23:04:00.000-08:002015-01-06T23:04:59.450-08:00Pre-Embarkation Thanksgiving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Knowing that I'm leaving to drive to San Diego in t-minus five hours, I figure I'll share some pre-embarkation thoughts with you.<br />
<br />
I am thankful to the world. I am thankful for this scholarship and the opportunity it brings, and the fact that I can live my dreams without having to ask my family to pay for it. At the same time, I am thankful for the fact that my parents are open and willing to let me continue running around the world. I am thankful for the chance to travel, and learn, and live.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for everyone who made this possible, from the man at the Indian Visa processing center who told me where to take new passport photos to the man who helped me work the fussy ATM when I realized I needed more cash to pay for these overpriced photos. I am thankful for all the embassy workers who kept track of my passport, and the Chinese lady behind the desk who smiled when she handed mine back to me with my final visa stuck in place. I am thankful for the international admissions person at Semester at Sea who took care of us international students when we had issues with our scholarships, and who never lost her cool with us. I'm thankful to my extended family who has taken me in, and done more than their fair share of work for this embarkation.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for every single car that has not hit me when walking to the embassy, and every single bone in my body which remains intact as I prepare for this trip around the world. I am thankful for the fact that I have good health to carry me around foreign cities and ports and stormy seas. I am thankful for the fact that I am able to get new lenses for my glasses to help my eyes see this incredible world.<br />
<br />
And I know that these seem like simple things, having a passport and good health and all, but as I've seen over the past few days, there are too many people struggling to make the logistics of this thing work. Life throws some crazy punches in the way, and I know that I am surrounded by tough people who are working through heck and high water to get onto this boat.<br />
<br />
So, while I am sure there are many people simply looking forward to tomorrow, when we get on the boat, I invite everyone to pause for a moment, and be thankful for what exists now. I know you are all looking forward to foreign lands, but take a moment to appreciate the people around you. Give them one more hug, and thank them for being the characters of the beautiful life that you are living. Close your eyes, take a breath, open them, and find the beauty in the scene in front of you. Now, smile, because you're going on the trip of a lifetime :)<br />
<br />
<i>And cross your fingers that they find A's passport, which has been lost in the mail... maybe if the internet sends some good vibes this will all work out by tomorrow.</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-55451241796070126252015-01-04T11:01:00.002-08:002015-01-04T11:01:37.507-08:00I'm Leeeeeaving, On a Jet Plane!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
First things first - I have to pinch myself every five minutes to remind myself that I am indeed actually going on a trip around the world, and that it has finally started (almost).<br />
<br />
I have one thing to say about the airport - PEOPLE, GET OFF YOUR CELL PHONES! I spent two hours in O'Hare last night, a massive international airport full of people, and it was literally near-silent. Everyone was plugged in, hooked up, or in some other way attached to an electronic device, ignoring the world around them. I used to think that airports were entertaining because of the people-watching they provided, but last night, the people weren't doing anything worth watching. I beg of you, fellow travelers, you are going to make my life much more interesting if you get off your phones and do something.<br />
<br />
Other than that, the flight was great! Chicago to San Diego is about four hours, which felt like nothing after the fact that my last five flights have been over fifteen hours each. I'm a bit spoiled though - there was an awful moment when I realized that domestic flights meant no food and no personal movie thing.... oh darn.<br />
<br />
So, we're staying with some family here in California for a few days before getting on the boat next week. I was a bit "ehhhh" about coming here so early, but apparently a massive snowstorm is now hitting Chicago, with flights getting cancelled and such, so HA! TAKE THAT, WORLD! I WIN!<br />
<br />
And so it goes! I'm looking out the window at a mountain range, so life is good! Although I've been told that we're not going to go climbing, sadly... it's okay, we're heading to Joshua Tree National Park before we've left here :) Other than that, we're just chilling, and heading down to Mexico to catch the boat on Wednesday!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-19546790949899179862015-01-02T14:57:00.003-08:002015-01-02T14:58:23.066-08:00SAS Spring 2015 Mailing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Hey! These are the addresses that mail needs to be sent to for anybody doing the Spring 2015 Semester at Sea (including me!). Looking forward to getting postcards (thanks Uncle Bill!).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HpzzfcwXy7gR6ougqdt2eDIZZ_NMJxWq7YR9r3MHUsjCGb7Ap_UQEbO1dCn9swpeB55XuJsoNBnTcxUvsyOzcVAwj_156HQJxJTZaFyxOh8cXml_MCYPOfJAE3PO9VQEzGZgTsDXge2O/s1600/Spring+2015+SAS+Mailing.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HpzzfcwXy7gR6ougqdt2eDIZZ_NMJxWq7YR9r3MHUsjCGb7Ap_UQEbO1dCn9swpeB55XuJsoNBnTcxUvsyOzcVAwj_156HQJxJTZaFyxOh8cXml_MCYPOfJAE3PO9VQEzGZgTsDXge2O/s1600/Spring+2015+SAS+Mailing.bmp" height="640" width="450" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-55423685418083217192015-01-02T12:24:00.002-08:002015-01-02T12:24:56.443-08:00One Day More!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'M FLYING TO SAN DIEGO TOMORROW TO START A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD!<br />
<br />
Sorry, just had to get that out of my system...<br />
<br />
I'm flying to San Diego tomorrow, although we don't actually leave on the boat for another four days, I believe. But, it's still the start, and I couldn't be more excited! After a solid time ringing in the new year, I'm stoked and set for the next adventure. I've got my bags packed (almost... give me an hour more), the paperwork is all set, and I'm ready to go! It's strange to realize how lucky I've been to travel internationally before, because I'm realizing that I'm very casual about everything. I see posts from other voyagers in the FB group trying to figure out details of the trip, and my brain is literally set to the "details? what are details? eh, whatever..." setting. Twelve countries? I'll figure it out as we go :)<br />
<br />
For the moment, my brother is watching Tarzan on Netflix, so we'll just chill, because tomorrow, craziness starts again!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-77543526542998039432015-01-01T19:09:00.001-08:002015-01-01T19:09:22.294-08:00NSLI-Y Reunion: Part Four<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Every year, a group of us who studied with NSLI-Y in Jordan way back in 2011 get together in Chicago for New Year's - this year marked the fourth annual get-together! I'm just so grateful to have such a wonderful group of people that are always there, even when we don't get to see each other all the time. They are all doing such fantastic things, studying in Oman and Jordan and working with the State Department. I'm kind of the odd one out, as I've left the Middle East and headed south, they've all continued in their studies, exhausting the Arabic classes of the top universities in America, all essentially fluent in the language that we all started together, preparing to rule the world. (I'll just chill in the back with my siSwati skills, yo).<br />
<br />
But, as we all know, the greatest thing you get from studying abroad is not the skills on paper, but rather the people, and the JO Crew is a group of people I wouldn't give up for anything. With all the craziness and travelling and feeling like a nomad without an anchor and whatnot, it's really nice to know that no matter what happens during the year, we're going to end it the same way that we started it - in Chicago, with hugs and laughter, surrounded by these people and love and happiness, and I am ever so grateful for that.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKviU5v0zvldHEdxKQa-aAQyyUcCBiVWmhOfdA6RoNPMQuJVr5MkGLMNGgAZ8oKMsisy56tGrhLQf0qiTfo2NFm40gM-wKS-Im0swpCyokHUjcCF5drf6sQvaO5hxT1USjyDuWcL01rKL/s1600/10891639_918933374783984_6539708215736980092_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKviU5v0zvldHEdxKQa-aAQyyUcCBiVWmhOfdA6RoNPMQuJVr5MkGLMNGgAZ8oKMsisy56tGrhLQf0qiTfo2NFm40gM-wKS-Im0swpCyokHUjcCF5drf6sQvaO5hxT1USjyDuWcL01rKL/s1600/10891639_918933374783984_6539708215736980092_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Photo credit: A. Gegios, my zoji :)</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-4032641404811021112014-12-28T19:23:00.002-08:002014-12-28T19:23:24.897-08:00PACKING FOR SEMESTER AT SEA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello! Now, I know that I have not gone on the trip yet, but in the past when I write on packing lists, it seemed to be very popular, so I thought I'd share my packing list for Semester at Sea, for a semester-long (112 days) voyage. But first, a friendly reminder of my personal commandments of packing:<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Thou shalt not pack clothes you never wear.</li>
<li>Thou shalt not pack more than you can carry.</li>
<li>Thou shalt not pack high heels.</li>
<li>Thou shalt not pack a fanny pack.</li>
<li>Thou shalt not pack in a suitcase if a backpack will do.</li>
</ol>
Then, without further to do...<br />
<i>DIANA'S PACKING LIST FOR THE SPRING 2015 VOYAGE OF SEMESTER AT SEA:</i><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Clothes</b>: As much as possible, things are synthetic fabrics to dry quickly, as everything needs to be drip-dried in the bathroom. Also - <b><u>this is <span style="color: red;">not</span> a minimalist list.</u></b> While I love backpacking, Semester at Sea is not a backpacking trip. I have a room on the boat, and don't have to carry all of this whilst I'm travelling in-port. There is no need to wear the same two shirts over and over like I would normally do on a backpacking trip.<br />
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Yoga pants (2) - just for the ship</li>
<li>Hiking/"travel" pants (2) - they fold into nothing, weigh nothing, and dry quickly</li>
<li>Shorts (4) - just for the ship</li>
<li>Long skirts (5) - lately I just like skirts more than pants</li>
<li>Leggings (1) - also folds into nothing, yay for layers!</li>
<li>T-Shirts (7) - necessity</li>
<li>Tank Tops (7) - they're tiny, which makes packing them nice</li>
<li>Underwear (12) - running out sucks</li>
<li>Bras (6) - not sure what to say...</li>
<li>Hiking socks (1) - quick dry, keep away nasty feet</li>
<li>Other socks (2) - I usually wear flip-flops</li>
<li>Flip-flops/ncops (3) - one dollar each from Swaziland Shoprite :)</li>
<li>Dress sandals (1) - can't always wear ncops</li>
<li>Active/hiking/gym shoes (1) - mountains in ncops? maybe not...</li>
<li>Formal dress (1) - short dress, small to pack</li>
<li>Suit (1) - there is a chance of a university interview along the way in-port</li>
<li>Scarves (8) - to cover butts, shoulders, hair, and anything else that happens to be haraam</li>
<li>Jersey (sweatshirt, my dear Americans) (1) - it gets cold, bros</li>
<li>Long sleeved shirt (5) - layers, man</li>
<li>Rain jacket (1) - Christmas present :)</li>
<li>Bandanas (8) - most of the time I wrap my hair in either these or a scarf</li>
<li>Swazi outfit (1) - I'm technically registered as an international student from Swaziland, so I figured I should :)</li>
<li>Beanie (1) - my head gets cold</li>
</ol>
<b>Electronics:</b> I usually go much more minimal here, but I do have to survive a semester of university, so this is what I'm bringing (plus chargers and outlet adapters)<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Netbook (my trusty computer, duct-taped together but still clicking along)</li>
<li>Nice camera (somewhere between DSLR and point and shoot)</li>
<li>Waterproof/shockproof camera</li>
<li>iPod (my mom found one of the old models used for $50 - will be great for checking internet in ports, seeing as how there's no internet on the boat, and I don't want to bring my laptop into ports)</li>
<li>Extra memory cards + flash drive </li>
<li>Ear buds (I've had a pair for years that has been through hell and high water and the washing machine and still works - I think they came free from some promotion... who knows?)</li>
<li>Phone: (the basic Nokia brick - for me, it's essentially an alarm clock)</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>School supplies:</b> I mean, it's a semester at sea, not four months of nothing at sea.</div>
</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Textbooks (9) - required, I had to buy eight and print out one from a PDF a professor sent</li>
<li>Binder/filler paper/dividers (1) - I have one two-ring binder from Swaziland that I just filled with the paper I had left over from IB. It'll be plenty for four months of school.</li>
<li>Full pencil case (1) - some pens, some pencils, a highlighter, a Sharpie. Nothing fancy.</li>
<li>Empty expandable folder (1) - I'm assuming I'm going to get some papers at some point.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>Room stuff</b>: The cabin is supposedly small, but I have a feeling after Waterford QB's, it'll be massive.</div>
</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Magnets (a massive amount): The walls are metal, and we're not allowed to use tape, so magnets are needed for decorating. I bought a roll for magnetic tape at Walmart for two dollars and spent some time making my own.</li>
<li>Air freshener (2): Small room, no windows, bathroom in the room, going to have to drip-dry clothes in such a room... just trying to avoid a disaster</li>
<li>Pictures for the walls (lots): because white walls are my worst enemy</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>Travel necessities: </b>Seriously, though. In my book, these are almost always necessities.</div>
</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Sleeping bag and liner: I have a small-ish one that's warm almost all the time. It makes risky hostels a lot less disgusting. I use a liner just to keep the bag clean, as the liner is much easier to wash. Also, camping.</li>
<li>Passport: Duh.</li>
<li>Credit card and debit card: As much as I budget travel, some money is going to be spent. Withdrawing from ATMs in foreign ports is so much easier than trying to find a currency conversion place.</li>
<li>Travel towels: I know this is random, but seriously, don't bring a normal towel. I use a konga and a microfiber towel, and have a microfiber facecloth as well. Not only do these not take up space, but they dry amazingly fast, which is the important part.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>Bags</b>: Because I'm not going around the world with this stuff loose.</div>
</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Backpack: My trusty thing. I stole it from my mom's closet in 2010 and it has been attached to my back ever since.</li>
<li>Overnight bag: Medium sized, with a shoulder strap</li>
<li>School pack: For classes on the ship</li>
<li>Shoulder bag + tiny purse + string tie backpack: They take up very little space, and it's nicer to have the right bag for the day, whether it's hiking a mountain or going out at night. </li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>Other: </b>Because no list would be complete without the miscellaneous.</div>
</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Glasses</li>
<li>Toiletries (pack for yourself, you know what you need)</li>
<li>Journal</li>
<li>Host family gifts</li>
<li>Jewelry</li>
<li>Goggles</li>
<li>Hair ties and clips</li>
</ol>
<div>
Okay, that's it! Good luck, enjoy packing!<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-25961407748615213812014-12-10T09:08:00.001-08:002014-12-10T09:08:25.441-08:00Evening of Dance Videos: Waterford Kamhlaba 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know that I'm about three months late, but if you are interested, here are a few of the videos of performances from the 2014 "Evening of Dance," at Waterford Kamhlaba, where students perform dances from around the world. Just follow the below links and enjoy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTekAhgny4Y&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Indian Dance (choreographed and led by Deepali)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsyvpM_eHIU&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">American Dance (choreographed and led by yours truly)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nq8ekg30zo&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Maldivian Solo (choreographed and performed by Nayifa)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxRm__BUXxo&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Contemporary Dance (choreographed and led by Sofie)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-3uw3DCn60&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Contemporary Solo (choreographed and performed by Sofie)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFdtz_XDS1s&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Contemporary Solo (</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-3uw3DCn60&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">choreographed and performed by </a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFdtz_XDS1s&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Stella)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klizci-gW3M&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Hip-Hop (3D, choreographed and led by Fernando)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klizci-gW3M&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Tumbling</a> (not sure who was leading this)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1EE-VCQ128&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Goodbye Dance (performed by the teachers, including MMw's famous solo)</a></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-40038267260649381452014-12-08T17:04:00.001-08:002014-12-08T17:08:40.719-08:00Swaziland, America, and a Boat?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes I have to pinch myself to remind myself that I don't live in Swaziland anymore. The most difficult part in getting that fact through my head (other than the fact that our hostel family has been scattered across the world) is that my replacement, at least until May, is to go live on a boat (and I'm not exactly sure where after that). I'm so excited about the whole boat thing, but admittedly, this whole affair has got a little bit of the "homeless" vibes to it - but, that's kind of what I signed up for with this whole wandering the world thing :)<br />
<br />
Other than that, I have very little to announce, other than that I'm leaving in less than a month! Until then, you can find me busting my butt working long shifts at Toys R Us. I assure you, spending ten hours at a time in a store filled with colored plastic is not helping with my culture shock on being in America... but I just remind myself - one weekend there paid for my flights within India to be reunited with my other half, and that is definitely worth it :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-23095655401380499612014-12-02T06:28:00.001-08:002014-12-08T17:19:33.162-08:00The Next Great Adventure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Now that I've been back from Swaziland for just over a week, I'm already in knee-deep in preparing for the next adventure - Semester at Sea. So, I figured I'd write a little bit about what it is that I'm going to be doing from January to May.<br />
<br />
Semester at Sea is a semester of fully-fledged university (sponsored by the University of Virginia), where a bunch of university students live on this boat (MV Explorer) for four months, and sail around the world. It's quite expensive, but thanks to the never-ending generosity of the Davis Foundation, I haven't even seen a price tag. I'll be taing classes every day when we're on the boat, and then I'm free to roam in the ports where we will be stopping.<br />
<br />
For classes, I will be taking Travel Writing, Gender and Society, Systems of Inequality (a sociology course), and Global Health. I'm really, really excited for these classes! it's nice to finally be able to just take classes that I'm interested in, instead of for requirements for graduation (I'm looking at you, IB). If I were in university already, the credits would transfer, but because I'm planning on university in Europe, and the ECTS system is so different from the American system, it won't transfer. For those at American universities, though, the credits do indeed count for a semester of classes! As for me, I'm just taking it for the fun of it - my grades and credits don't count for anything. Makes for a nice, relaxing semester!<br />
<br />
Each class meets when we're at sea, so there are no classes when we're at ports. But, three of the classes do have "field labs," which are one-day programs that we have to do in a port for the class. But, I've picked my classes so that I'm excited about the field labs, which include, in my case, a visit to a market and station for travel writing, and visits to local NGOs in Vietnam and Morocco for systems of sociology and the gender course. Should be good!<br />
<br />
Now, as for the exciting part... the PORTS! We will be stopping in the following places:<br />
Hilo, Hawaii,<br />
Yokohama and Kobe, Japan<br />
Shanghai and Hong Kong, China<br />
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam<br />
Singapore, Singapore<br />
Rangoon, Burma<br />
Cochin, India<br />
Port Louis, Mauritius<br />
Cape Town, South Africa<br />
Walvis Bay, Namibia<br />
Casablanca, Morocco<br />
Southampton, UK<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We usually have five or six days in each port, with a few exceptions. Once we're in the ports, other than the field labs described above, it's up to me what I want to do! Right now I have a few plans and a few open pages, but I'll leave that for another post. For now, just looking at this list makes me really excited!<br />
<br />
And that's about it! I've been hustling around trying to do all the preparations I've supposed to been doing since October in this last month, as much of it wasn't possible when I was in Swaziland (either that, or not probable, because I had southern hemisphere exams to deal with). Anyways, now, I'm just getting ready, and slowly starting to pack again! I mean, my backpack is never really empty... I submitted my Indian visa yesterday and am waiting for that back, and I've ordered my textbooks last night! Soon enough, it will be January, and I'll be on my way!<br />
<br />
Until then, enjoy December!<html><head></head><body><div data-html-editor-font-wrapper="true" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
</body></html></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-8487356371695860732014-11-25T09:50:00.000-08:002014-11-25T09:50:42.402-08:00Upon Returning to America<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A few weeks ago, I read quote along the lines of "the point of travelling is not to be a foreigner in a foreign land, but to return to your homeland as a foreigner." Having returned to America after two years in Swaziland, I assure you, that is very much the case. As such, I would like to describe the top six things which have stood out to me over the past two days as points of major culture shock, which I am currently experiencing in my homeland.<br />
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>TELEVISION: I'm not sure if I got just a little bit too used to SABC (South African Broadcast Company) or Swazi TV, but American broadcast television (we don't have cable or satellite) is just bizarre. Infomercials, the extent of repetitive reality TV... I don't know why it's bizarre, but it just is. I haven't seen the United Auto Insurance commercial in a while, and it freaked me out. In other news, apparently if you have had a bladder sling and it has gone wrong, they want you to call their 800 number... I'm already yearning for the South African commercials.</li>
<li>TRAFFIC: In America, it's so much more organized, and somehow that makes it that much scarier. In Swaziland, if they have an intersection, one road will go, and then the other. Here, they've got these massive systems of lights and signals and lanes and turn lanes and straight lanes, so that everyone is still driving all the time. I practically had a panic attack yesterday, half because I'm used to driving on the left and everything is backwards here, and half because there were a million cars going every direction when I thought only one side of the road should be driving!</li>
<li>FENCES: There are none here. Anybody who has ever lived practically anywhere in southern Africa will understand how weird it is that there aren't any here. No barbed wire, no Inyatsi Security signs, no nothing. </li>
<li>FOOD: It's not a joke. American food is over-sized, over-processed, and kind of weird. The sugar has all these tiny white grains, compared to the big brown grains from the less-processed sugarcane in Swaziland. The pizzas are massive, maybe three or four times those from SD. Cookies are too perfect, and everything strikes me as just being a little bit not-food-ish. Even the vegetables are weirdly shiny. I scrubbed a pepper for twenty minutes yesterday, and then decided not to eat it, because it was just too polished.</li>
<li>AMERICA IS A GHOST TOWN: There are literally no people outside. I know that it's cold, but there's not <i>that </i>much snow, and even when it's pouring rain outside there are people around in Swaziland. Even in summer, people aren't outside here. It's bizarre. It's like the aliens have come and abducted everyone in America except for me... and then I see a car drive by. But still, there's nobody outside here.</li>
<li>BOILING WATER: Strangely enough, the electric kettles that we use in Swaziland are faster at boiling water than using the metal kettle and the stove like I do here. My tea takes forever, and I feel impatient. Just so you know that Swaziland is more efficient than America, in at least one area.</li>
</ol>
<div>
And that's my list. There are many more, as I'm sure my mother will tell you... apparently I've been walking around the house like someone who has grown up underground and is seeing the sky for the first time in forever.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-26271407744597717282014-11-24T08:00:00.000-08:002014-11-24T08:00:03.641-08:00It Shall Come To Pass.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
And so that's it. Two years in Swaziland, I blinked, and it's over. I spent the last two days in airports and planes, flying from Johannesburg to Abu Dhabi and back to America. It's crazy to think about the day that I first got the letter from UWC, asking me to apply, all the way until now, as I've technically become an "alumni," but it really doesn't feel like that. I feel like in the middle of January, I'm going to get on a plane and fly back to Swaziland for another year. Logically, I know I'm not, but that doesn't change the feeling.<br />
<br />
Despite my tears and frustrations at being scattered from my best friends and adoptive family, it's strange that life goes on. I got back to the States last night, and I have a job interview in approximately an hour (kind of panicked at what I'm supposed to wear, looking at my haphazard suitcase in front of me), an appointment with the Indian visa people in a week to process my visa for March, a whole lot of other things to do for Semester at Sea, and a rather neglected life and family here in Illinois that I have one month to catch up with before leaving again.<br />
<br />
It's strange. There's really no other word for it. During exams, we would joke that no matter how much or how little you study, the exams will simply come to pass. Time keeps going, and no matter what we do, it's going to pas us by, whether we like it or not. When I think about the fact that three days ago I woke up next to my best friend in Swaziland, and now I'm looking out the window at America, my head kind of spins. It all seems so big, somehow overwhelming to even think about the distance between myself and so many of the people I love so dearly. And then there's always that realization that no matter where I go, there will always be someone I love who is on the other side of the world.<br />
<br />
And that, as they say, is the price we pay for the life we live.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-80703563399587115602014-11-14T05:58:00.001-08:002014-11-14T05:58:23.522-08:00Diwali at Waterford UWC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Hello! All right, let me try and get this blog back on track.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In July, my friend from India asked me how to write an event proposal. A few months later, we were shopping for, preparing for, and setting up for a Hindu festival called Diwali, which we were hosting as a cultural event here at school.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
First of all, there was the food. Waterford so generously gave us funding for the event, so we were able to make a bit of Indian food for everyone to try. So, all morning was spent in the kitchen, working to make pakuras from chickpea flower, onions, and some spices.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkDiR2SjCcj9NRr7-0p_8g2Ie0cRwEcgB_LBRlzzhwa-ALd4R2ntt6Tlgw-CXgDx0N4BKibZ-Eb9N8fdX7O1BtXy3LCttR-pLOg6GCetlKN5AFFBFnDxwOHsRiE4WRAQmEk700KNw1kSJ/s1600/Food2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkDiR2SjCcj9NRr7-0p_8g2Ie0cRwEcgB_LBRlzzhwa-ALd4R2ntt6Tlgw-CXgDx0N4BKibZ-Eb9N8fdX7O1BtXy3LCttR-pLOg6GCetlKN5AFFBFnDxwOHsRiE4WRAQmEk700KNw1kSJ/s1600/Food2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Photo Credit: Deepali Tikone</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then, I left to start working on set-up. It took about eight hours to get all the furniture and equipment moved between buildings and set up properly, and then to set up all the decorations, including many strings of lights and about 200 candles, but in the end, I'm really proud of how it worked out!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wUdQamal6GPyqdqfr0zFbjxy5fT0RrcrCWtt32NqzG998LeQBNL1CaLuB4-1f7HVtUWH0BMn8sap83DY73bc7tie9q3Z17Hz5d8pjRh5gD5mqVhH_IA5QrUeEUrcKrXqAooUkA6LtlJv/s1600/Decor1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wUdQamal6GPyqdqfr0zFbjxy5fT0RrcrCWtt32NqzG998LeQBNL1CaLuB4-1f7HVtUWH0BMn8sap83DY73bc7tie9q3Z17Hz5d8pjRh5gD5mqVhH_IA5QrUeEUrcKrXqAooUkA6LtlJv/s1600/Decor1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Photo credit: Sarah Hahn</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We rushed around like chickens with our heads cut off for the entire day, but the event itself was well worth it. We set the limit at 80 people to attend, because of the food and space limitations, and every single ticket that we gave out returned to us with a lovely person, complete in their requisite Indian attire, or at least a valiant attempt at such.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The program for the evening included a dance, a presentation about the history and religious significance of Diwali as the Festival of Lights, an lesson in dance, food tasting, and a fireworks display. For all of you who know Waterford, you might have a small inkling of how proud I am that we got fireworks on the field, smack in the middle of the cricket pitch! <i>The following photos are credit to Kim Sinnige.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2ecboBhGYjRI9hUs7xYUdZTxDivTmQcCLZL_M4axRyEL3bJUueAmgRucSPYmvLmWg-lRUsCNoCAcB8UJYPBQXEhycuAU8zZL4TLHZt1Wj6x8aOvrxl_G27ncAfr1sEVWxWECDz-Qdvoe/s1600/Blog2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2ecboBhGYjRI9hUs7xYUdZTxDivTmQcCLZL_M4axRyEL3bJUueAmgRucSPYmvLmWg-lRUsCNoCAcB8UJYPBQXEhycuAU8zZL4TLHZt1Wj6x8aOvrxl_G27ncAfr1sEVWxWECDz-Qdvoe/s1600/Blog2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaNnFnLrW9Tikpfz8rqLd21UUSBneTFGRkZIYhxIfRHF1S6ZLX6jmMcNkN6Gpr3Fu9wRApMaZ3XDtCyeK6ANnsFk3QcLF4-FLBphmgJ_TPBkPmype9yeFJobHBycoVnWCNApD0MBjrat8/s1600/Blog4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaNnFnLrW9Tikpfz8rqLd21UUSBneTFGRkZIYhxIfRHF1S6ZLX6jmMcNkN6Gpr3Fu9wRApMaZ3XDtCyeK6ANnsFk3QcLF4-FLBphmgJ_TPBkPmype9yeFJobHBycoVnWCNApD0MBjrat8/s1600/Blog4.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I almost had a change of life plans after this event, thinking I wanted to be an event planner or something. Anyways... I really encourage anybody at a UWC (or even another school) where you think you are lacking in cultural events to get up and do one yourself! Diwali here was something really special, and I hope that it's started a tradition in cultural events for years to come. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Oh, and one massive final thank you to Deepali, my partner in crime in having the idea for, planning for, and getting this whole event to happen. Also, thanks to Nayifa and Sarah for working themselves silly all day setting up and cleaning up, and also to Waterford's administration for being so generous with the funding for this event, so that nobody had to pay anything to get in the door. And thanks to everyone who came and enjoyed!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gq2KU2L3q6hOl8e1L7FXm9F-2wiKJLmPXZcHm8t1BHeVgEhwB-EVVPfX1OwHWUW7HsgEY9qF9MRYk8BSzN_Jr6AnIJfBuylzJiV8uXovZ5d1FiFY6b9KzmcYEcOzJ04Z6igRtgsHIy8h/s1600/Decor2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gq2KU2L3q6hOl8e1L7FXm9F-2wiKJLmPXZcHm8t1BHeVgEhwB-EVVPfX1OwHWUW7HsgEY9qF9MRYk8BSzN_Jr6AnIJfBuylzJiV8uXovZ5d1FiFY6b9KzmcYEcOzJ04Z6igRtgsHIy8h/s1600/Decor2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-13846691336358652832014-11-04T23:39:00.001-08:002014-11-04T23:39:11.688-08:00Epilogue to Swaziland and Prequel to Semester at Sea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello! I feel like I've completely abandoned this blog, but someone just told me that their husband found it and was reading and laughing at the stories, and so I'm feeling inspired to start writing again.<br />
<br />
I finish my time here in Swaziland in just over two weeks, which, after two years here, is a crazy notion indeed. For those two weeks, I'm busy writing my final exams, and so there won't be much posting in that time. But, once I return to Chicago in December, I'll try to fill in some of the better stories that have happened here in the kingdom over the past few months.<br />
<br />
And soon enough, the next adventure is going to start! The guy who has paid for my time here in Swaziland (Shelby Davis, super cool dude, spends all his money on international education scholarships), has given me a full scholarship to participate in the Semester at Sea program. So, I get to live on what is essentially a converted cruise ship and sail around the world for four months, starting in the beginning of January. So, I assure you, the adventures are not over, and this blog was merely in hibernation, not entirely dead.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I'll just tell you that there is a eight inch long spider (maybe twenty centimeters) chilling in the bathroom, and we're all admittedly a little bit scared of it. Admittedly, I'm also going to miss the fact that all the insects here in Swaziland are humorously big.<br />
<br />
Until December, when you can expect a few more Swaziland stories and some preparation tales for Semester at Sea!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-69415886808082241532014-09-21T03:31:00.001-07:002014-09-21T03:31:16.901-07:00Guess Who Came to South Africa?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, during the last school holiday, my family came to South Africa - I have literally been the biggest slacker with this blog, but for your viewing delight, I have decided to share a few pictures from their brief encounters with my land. Be prepared for animal pictures, though, because we touristed :)<br />
<br />
Without further to do, I present, "Two Weeks, Ten Pictures."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTvfjIyOCkdZ7zYMtnlFSbg35EtlXg1BnyjudGcdKu7SjeeZjWT_u1JTExRtbSnYy0oisvRStAuC4SPif28Cwrh0KumfEq1Z02Rojaddsyq0Ap3vdG8WVK3_unj4T5ed0MqJlHQBBVb5c/s1600/Blog1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTvfjIyOCkdZ7zYMtnlFSbg35EtlXg1BnyjudGcdKu7SjeeZjWT_u1JTExRtbSnYy0oisvRStAuC4SPif28Cwrh0KumfEq1Z02Rojaddsyq0Ap3vdG8WVK3_unj4T5ed0MqJlHQBBVb5c/s1600/Blog1.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOtSyD-kxUUfN2BB77UycWFrKnIUzVnoUNsmztMobxwvsvQRjcp_7eSnGty-q_VdGoR62CTmL3scLlw3bqiMJP18xw4vTV5HbKfInZtabWKdzbraAg2F_AH0jnlgWOk3Nm6ppa6dWWJYN/s1600/Blog2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOtSyD-kxUUfN2BB77UycWFrKnIUzVnoUNsmztMobxwvsvQRjcp_7eSnGty-q_VdGoR62CTmL3scLlw3bqiMJP18xw4vTV5HbKfInZtabWKdzbraAg2F_AH0jnlgWOk3Nm6ppa6dWWJYN/s1600/Blog2.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0lrDsFRgtbHhKoz7JlUdgFaNgI7I2YlyuBT-fm8HaPuo4FgsPkbC_yDSWx_npjomav2x9u6iKPORbAXsZg818nMdl-nmP235DGW5fE8K3B2nwAwJ2DT01XrVP2JJCSwUB43eurJIEdpm/s1600/Blog3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0lrDsFRgtbHhKoz7JlUdgFaNgI7I2YlyuBT-fm8HaPuo4FgsPkbC_yDSWx_npjomav2x9u6iKPORbAXsZg818nMdl-nmP235DGW5fE8K3B2nwAwJ2DT01XrVP2JJCSwUB43eurJIEdpm/s1600/Blog3.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjRkvRzIYtBMaU1Ea-5Eal_PdEgGBER6qJScbOEZLUhnPy_l7TeidSrs7KtnMstkKRHrMuG3Yx-WqWuC8WpZ6dIyzejdAqnCmO0f8Ku72lKFl1BtEWkeg1s8PqpUYl4gGpxY-MmW_NeMg/s1600/blog4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjRkvRzIYtBMaU1Ea-5Eal_PdEgGBER6qJScbOEZLUhnPy_l7TeidSrs7KtnMstkKRHrMuG3Yx-WqWuC8WpZ6dIyzejdAqnCmO0f8Ku72lKFl1BtEWkeg1s8PqpUYl4gGpxY-MmW_NeMg/s1600/blog4.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4Y_6rU1JX4BhqHRVk863JQzRkPeAqvbFGTtPpch5aT7lz8F0Fhv0d7J8-m5Z1qsOIiP0jxLgBJukV0T4EsC9cyN-vAe0ki_06inXpXzZIObcYLtqI3sC32VXdHmgHfsMnU1h7II1N4Or/s1600/blog5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4Y_6rU1JX4BhqHRVk863JQzRkPeAqvbFGTtPpch5aT7lz8F0Fhv0d7J8-m5Z1qsOIiP0jxLgBJukV0T4EsC9cyN-vAe0ki_06inXpXzZIObcYLtqI3sC32VXdHmgHfsMnU1h7II1N4Or/s1600/blog5.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj3_mdkxHEXkJM4gVsbqfUDDOt8gpCPO6dYzvzdEUGTSYzo8aJUVyIm_Bc_-cwOI2tzB-V5_9siDNyIpBCYnHWEG2AM7nqcHEcs7NoiQWYlE1rxooITdiVr6B3vPd2ns-Do9dTn-5NMKc/s1600/blog6b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj3_mdkxHEXkJM4gVsbqfUDDOt8gpCPO6dYzvzdEUGTSYzo8aJUVyIm_Bc_-cwOI2tzB-V5_9siDNyIpBCYnHWEG2AM7nqcHEcs7NoiQWYlE1rxooITdiVr6B3vPd2ns-Do9dTn-5NMKc/s1600/blog6b.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKk8Hd2qzunFqHRpxH7IZrzjW3no6iXxRWKzbxzg-oc1Cn5r_gDXZJkI_edLeqO63Dd0vyDtAZsTofzgyUv1OkTH0s2AbaFyQ5FcHhWfj6uJwlWp_dvOK_vwTj_6b06ixu_xhjeYQ7uNm/s1600/blog7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKk8Hd2qzunFqHRpxH7IZrzjW3no6iXxRWKzbxzg-oc1Cn5r_gDXZJkI_edLeqO63Dd0vyDtAZsTofzgyUv1OkTH0s2AbaFyQ5FcHhWfj6uJwlWp_dvOK_vwTj_6b06ixu_xhjeYQ7uNm/s1600/blog7.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR71e8igu9VX9hkMSTWQbsjdF0WkF29lHTGiMwa9RVdxLT7T0bzPBkoYGQ0-EGPBv8wDnGRJ4Y5rxg8xaW4elqQRbN8UQcesxfWhPIKRJFTG49taes32CisLSN4X0J5kfX-LtkbkAtJwF8/s1600/blog8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR71e8igu9VX9hkMSTWQbsjdF0WkF29lHTGiMwa9RVdxLT7T0bzPBkoYGQ0-EGPBv8wDnGRJ4Y5rxg8xaW4elqQRbN8UQcesxfWhPIKRJFTG49taes32CisLSN4X0J5kfX-LtkbkAtJwF8/s1600/blog8.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIfToyZ6Gui9lm0cqbQdze4HNzqwqdOlIje9j1G6H2nDMKNJJ-l_MELmpeWRcy48vihjZv-kxleKWsBaNaqwFWLJB32LwE2snKWy5oGP4UMLSY3e007zx7j1zCB1UPwAjspYPgLAznvui/s1600/blog9b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIfToyZ6Gui9lm0cqbQdze4HNzqwqdOlIje9j1G6H2nDMKNJJ-l_MELmpeWRcy48vihjZv-kxleKWsBaNaqwFWLJB32LwE2snKWy5oGP4UMLSY3e007zx7j1zCB1UPwAjspYPgLAznvui/s1600/blog9b.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM7pw51q52y3uHw-MZ4ccd5n4RTV89y7rYMIBEn2FRY0frRSTRQr1zv7mXi0EL2xPoM0sia7b9jiK7q-0kT5jh7AmhdlD8cglvKbka6MS_bDQjuGdC7Mdc-Gb35feKo9nD9_qPdBY6tI0/s1600/blog10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM7pw51q52y3uHw-MZ4ccd5n4RTV89y7rYMIBEn2FRY0frRSTRQr1zv7mXi0EL2xPoM0sia7b9jiK7q-0kT5jh7AmhdlD8cglvKbka6MS_bDQjuGdC7Mdc-Gb35feKo9nD9_qPdBY6tI0/s1600/blog10.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-78586524866364173962014-05-31T06:43:00.003-07:002014-05-31T06:43:43.087-07:00Namibia and Botswana - One Month, Ten Pictures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I just spent a month hitch-hiking around Namibia and Botswana, but sometimes pictures are just better than words, so here are ten of my favorites from the month. Enjoy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddbOpOOGCLF2qSjVPWYaYoZgrKFJcd6Zr-mFqxNdBQLD59D5Rjv1DMQEKZldawWAg3YsXWtcR0Kjbq7v2HgWJta5pPrN8VhjoLIqa-kAxXSO4pKX7CYHRZBGbTSSKIneruCSF9kvD2JQw/s1600/DSCF8061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddbOpOOGCLF2qSjVPWYaYoZgrKFJcd6Zr-mFqxNdBQLD59D5Rjv1DMQEKZldawWAg3YsXWtcR0Kjbq7v2HgWJta5pPrN8VhjoLIqa-kAxXSO4pKX7CYHRZBGbTSSKIneruCSF9kvD2JQw/s1600/DSCF8061.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSItActj0QpFIY-jW5AIH8eDD3aS3mb3vG42EPKFc-segqDXOKT8rxIL9CizLCBVmp5TE2_0AUwhnFLhVZ29jd1n_g0JzbeB3ugtIpugkY_t91bzXr83oAZZKc_6fXXYbGXlMRmQRqeQX/s1600/DSCF8759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSItActj0QpFIY-jW5AIH8eDD3aS3mb3vG42EPKFc-segqDXOKT8rxIL9CizLCBVmp5TE2_0AUwhnFLhVZ29jd1n_g0JzbeB3ugtIpugkY_t91bzXr83oAZZKc_6fXXYbGXlMRmQRqeQX/s1600/DSCF8759.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB80lIvxfhE_ErEOKK-Vt_2T5xQyapwcAfYdlFFL9FUs_8_1Nrygmlc3WxOmQ6buyIztP6iKfxl0GFV6k749GYzp0-GJ46AYE-hTYuyGf_Kk2Yv_WQ9XlSe1AlF43bVhrM3ZCVOVABEh3K/s1600/DSCF8854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB80lIvxfhE_ErEOKK-Vt_2T5xQyapwcAfYdlFFL9FUs_8_1Nrygmlc3WxOmQ6buyIztP6iKfxl0GFV6k749GYzp0-GJ46AYE-hTYuyGf_Kk2Yv_WQ9XlSe1AlF43bVhrM3ZCVOVABEh3K/s1600/DSCF8854.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xXNy7BdVFEnM5-QSH8yrT8Hy5DC5CGMfKDIu985vN8VCqD_KNwC7TGq2k-6pzdXTuWQn6Nx92JrGZdA0LXM9pMC4V0uuz_NIb3ygYB-0em_Xcol6sKOmg94wxBFxJaD9NUug-K3N_StR/s1600/DSCF8946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xXNy7BdVFEnM5-QSH8yrT8Hy5DC5CGMfKDIu985vN8VCqD_KNwC7TGq2k-6pzdXTuWQn6Nx92JrGZdA0LXM9pMC4V0uuz_NIb3ygYB-0em_Xcol6sKOmg94wxBFxJaD9NUug-K3N_StR/s1600/DSCF8946.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq1pyagQN-AC-gtSL99-nkszugY8IYr3GmVMci7yscw4Q7TWGJfc8uPFzoYMRv25mHE8fHVueQLiRyjEpmKettLknFNMV2V5hn4h7dpWxn2J3-JjGp0Za2K1A7ITXk-b311DisSOxIa_J/s1600/DSCF9049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq1pyagQN-AC-gtSL99-nkszugY8IYr3GmVMci7yscw4Q7TWGJfc8uPFzoYMRv25mHE8fHVueQLiRyjEpmKettLknFNMV2V5hn4h7dpWxn2J3-JjGp0Za2K1A7ITXk-b311DisSOxIa_J/s1600/DSCF9049.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmo4ALOZxFmUFdDZgl-RdDXe3qhHjRuIwuxpX2AORAcg35cJcyUqjsTi8uj73kYL5EdxEltlanjYyXROjZVm4DESDhqIqioXptUzhm7RcoIDE75xSHnON9_tL_Cf34rHLfur9wdAuohRq0/s1600/DSCF9112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmo4ALOZxFmUFdDZgl-RdDXe3qhHjRuIwuxpX2AORAcg35cJcyUqjsTi8uj73kYL5EdxEltlanjYyXROjZVm4DESDhqIqioXptUzhm7RcoIDE75xSHnON9_tL_Cf34rHLfur9wdAuohRq0/s1600/DSCF9112.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffWclIPKNKCrn9SL5s3dBF7rwfCCUXEutAuE1e7vIjBiicXXhS4afVtTYYYxJkenxdo6GwAfcSOGnWUQdZ8f08Sed6zkAgnfoYt9SGjlslctv_QSxm_lOSeMRw6ihpZyuXvW5C2xOs-oH/s1600/DSCF9127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffWclIPKNKCrn9SL5s3dBF7rwfCCUXEutAuE1e7vIjBiicXXhS4afVtTYYYxJkenxdo6GwAfcSOGnWUQdZ8f08Sed6zkAgnfoYt9SGjlslctv_QSxm_lOSeMRw6ihpZyuXvW5C2xOs-oH/s1600/DSCF9127.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bqLnx-RABQdp2iNKrV0qU7iXTHS-CpY2tZVSRIpZe6FudZGKj_hOg02DSyPhPuLavnL23UrP82BpbiTKlHFWd8uMGZq-ra2BJxTyt2tN7K0UOJkIIlrSysBj5lc_dblktl32fQdYDxpc/s1600/DSCF9206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bqLnx-RABQdp2iNKrV0qU7iXTHS-CpY2tZVSRIpZe6FudZGKj_hOg02DSyPhPuLavnL23UrP82BpbiTKlHFWd8uMGZq-ra2BJxTyt2tN7K0UOJkIIlrSysBj5lc_dblktl32fQdYDxpc/s1600/DSCF9206.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh919xG5D8eBsmcz21UGk90v3l81m5SgwVXlkaAreu-6xv4Y4dbSIxpf-CeoLrRhICRmyHzMlPwiqZaij9IcqPQ2WxrSm1_hGxF4qzhYqlLclyiVohPLG3Cuak6ghht4LWhVgw-CA-HM2tx/s1600/DSCF9266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh919xG5D8eBsmcz21UGk90v3l81m5SgwVXlkaAreu-6xv4Y4dbSIxpf-CeoLrRhICRmyHzMlPwiqZaij9IcqPQ2WxrSm1_hGxF4qzhYqlLclyiVohPLG3Cuak6ghht4LWhVgw-CA-HM2tx/s1600/DSCF9266.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEEO6DmFB8ghEB_5eAUBZlKID84tWdhht_XRw1bPR_g01t5AuFTzdLs2sPcFgTkcMsROERKUJh5Yj0BZ3I3NJGqKiUE9utYW3Yp3CyRcyclGpCKurLV1E8kfpE0FRvnvi4suYZBITucNp/s1600/DSCF9449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEEO6DmFB8ghEB_5eAUBZlKID84tWdhht_XRw1bPR_g01t5AuFTzdLs2sPcFgTkcMsROERKUJh5Yj0BZ3I3NJGqKiUE9utYW3Yp3CyRcyclGpCKurLV1E8kfpE0FRvnvi4suYZBITucNp/s1600/DSCF9449.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-76360180144017507852014-05-28T08:04:00.002-07:002014-05-30T04:10:48.261-07:00Women's Empowerment - So, are you empowered yet?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This year, I'm helping to lead a women's empowerment group here at Waterford. We visit local schools with a program that is meant to empowerment the female students, and hopefully inspires them to dream beyond what is there in front of them.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure if it's working.<br />
<br />
The issue we had was deciding what really was "women's empowerment." I'm a very hands-on, do-it kind of person, and after having read "Half The Sky," (great book, highly recommend it), I was convinced that the only real way to do any women's empowerment was to pick an issue blocking empowerment, and work against it. For example, work on a project specifically focused on maternal health, sex trafficking, education, nutrition, etc.<br />
<br />
The other view was that as students, our presence in simply speaking to students at various schools would be enough to inspire some sort of change, or at least plant a seed in one of the student's minds of what the future might hold, should they decide to chase it. My challenge with this is that it provides students with no support, and nothing that might make reaching their goals any easier. Sure, we've told them to dream, but all I can imagine is us leaving, and having them rolling their eyes and saying "we <i>are</i> dreaming... stupid Waterford kids."<br />
<br />
So, here's what we've come up with as a middle ground. It's not a direct project, but it's also not just going to a school for a week, saying what we're going to say, and then leaving.<br />
<br />
The plan is that we're going to be working at Motjane High School for the rest of the year. We're going to have four weeks with one group of thirty girls, and then four weeks with another group of thirty girls. Once a week, we will go down to the school and run a session around a specific theme. Each session will include activities, discussions, and lessons in which the goal is going to be to empower the girls as much as possible by "tricking" them into leading the sessions themselves, with as little guidance from us Waterford students as possible. The themes are going to be:<br />
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Gender Roles: How to break them without making everyone angry</li>
<li>Goal-Setting: How to make a reasonable goal and what to do to reach it</li>
<li>Relationships: Self-Esteem to Self-Defense</li>
<li>Women in Leadership Roles</li>
</ol>
<div>
Hopefully going back so often should have some sort of an impact. I'm really excited to start this section of the project, and see how it goes! I've found that every project is a bit of an experiment, and whether or not this is the absolute best way to empower this specific group of thirty girls, it's definitely not the worst. The school is keen to have us, and I can't wait to get started!</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-24870427434995589512014-04-16T04:16:00.001-07:002014-04-16T04:16:53.401-07:00DIY: How to Live Out of a Backpack for a Month<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, today was officially finished term one of the new year! If you've read this blog before - you know what that means. If not, let me tell you: IT MEANS ADVENTURE TIME.<br />
<br />
The last time I went meandering around the African continent, I headed north to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. This time, I'm going to be going west instead, to Botswana and Namibia.<br />
<br />
I'm leaving tomorrow morning, bright and early at six o'clock to catch a bus to Johannesburg from Swaziland, and then hopefully it will all unfold from there! I don't have much to say about a trip in advance, other than how to pack, and so I figured that's what this post can be about. So...<br />
<br />
HOW TO LIVE OUT OF A BACKPACK FOR A MONTH (or more!)<br />
<br />
First, you need a tent. I'm borrowing a backpacking/cycling tent from a maths teacher here at Waterford (because that's just how we operate at Waterford). I mean, you could try and not bring a tent, but it's much harder to find places to stay if you don't have a tent. If you're absolutely loaded with cash, skip the tent. But, let's just say that I'm planning on relying heavily on the house of cloth.<br />
<br />
Then, depending on where you're going, you need a sleeping bag. I'm going to be in the desert for lots of this time, where it will get crazy cold, so this is definitely a "yes" for me. I'm borrowing one from my tutor here at school (that's kind of a boarding school thing - your tutor is like your parent, but not really). I didn't know what it was going to look like, but I just went and picked it up, and it's perfect for backpacking (small and such), so it's all great!<br />
<br />
Then, you need water. I never carry less than two liters, and for this trip, considering the fact that it's the desert, I'm planning to bring three liters. I used a canteen last time, but it was somewhat annoying, as it didn't fit in the pack, so this time I'm just bringing five or six 500 ml bottles.<br />
<br />
Speaking of packs, you need a decent pack. Some people go on about weight distribution and frames and blah, blah blah. That's silly. Get a small pack that's big enough for what you need, and not big enough for anything else. That way, you won't bring too much and hurt your back. Just make sure it's comfortable and sturdy, and you're good to go.<br />
<br />
Other than that, just make sure you're wearing decent shoes that dry easily (don't pack any extras - that's silly), enough toiletries and meds, and that's about it! Extra clothing, while usually on the top of a packing list, is on the bottom of this. I bring one extra t-shirt, a jacket, and a flannel shirt. That's it. I mean, if you're living out of a backpack, expect to look like you're living out of a backpack.<br />
<br />
And then own it, because backpacking is awesome, and even though you are going to look like a homeless tramp, enjoy it.<br />
<br />
Yeah, so that's about it! I'm leaving tomorrow, and I'll be back to the Kingdom of Swaziland near the end of May! </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-65612828420669593882014-04-06T22:46:00.000-07:002014-04-06T22:46:35.393-07:00No Water? No Problem.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We woke up this morning to a campus without water. I kind of paused, and then brushed my teeth with the little bit of water left in my water bottle. I threw on a shirt, and left my room to go to breakfast. This is rather a normal thing here in Swaziland, at least in Term Two, when it stops raining, because that's where we get out water from ("god bless the rains down in Africa...").<br />
<br />
But, upon opening my door to the big, wide world, I had to practically climb over the mangled ruins of IB1s who had never dealt with a lack of water before. I could hear screaming, quite a few moans, and one siren wail of "what are we doing to dooooooooooo?" It's like they were incapable of remaining human without instant water.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure if I should say I helped or anything, because there's not much you can do (other than wait) when the water stops coming out of the taps at school. So, I went to breakfast, where there was Muesli, which is massively special, and none of the other IB girls got to see, because they didn't dare go out in public without a shower.<br />
<br />
I just laughed. Not showering for one day? That's fine. I once spent five days in Malawi without a shower, and that wasn't even considering the cow pie smeared across my back.<br />
<br />
<i>Anyways, gotta go do my siSwati prep</i>. Which can also be done without water, no problem. I mean, other than my tears at the fact that it's so much harder to reach the word count in siSwati because words are combined... <i>example: Ngingatijabulisa = I am able to make myself have fun</i>. DO YOU SEE WHAT AN ISSUE WORD COUNT IS?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-11503006774944976892014-04-01T09:14:00.001-07:002014-04-06T22:46:53.977-07:00Performances - Waterford Kamhlaba UWC Day 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(Please read the original post about this year's UWC Day <a href="http://bordersareimaginaryboundaries.blogspot.com/2014/03/waterford-kamhlaba-uwc-day-2014.html" target="_blank">here</a> - this post is just some of the videos of performances from the day)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are some of the videos of the performances that took place yesterday at UWC Day - some are full performances, and some are just clips. Apologies to Russian Choir, Indian Dancing, Finnish Duet, Zimbabwean Choir, and Zim-Zam-Malawi Dance, which I didn't get the chance to film. Other than that, here they are!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHhj9iiW1eE" target="_blank">AZONTO DANCE</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r9Z71V-rWo" target="_blank">SOUTH AFRICAN DANCE</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIblBsG64DM" target="_blank">GUMBOOT DANCE</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myjBlAMGqaA" target="_blank">MADAGASCAR DANCE</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ChWyA7LJDg" target="_blank">MEN'S VOCAL QUINTET</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQwYZNf3eIk" target="_blank">SWAZI GIRLS DANCE</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOJjMMZm5Ys" target="_blank">SWAZI BOYS DANCE</a></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732836807178863533.post-87001443706628628322014-03-29T14:00:00.001-07:002014-03-29T14:00:14.411-07:00Waterford Kamhlaba - UWC Day 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today was Waterford's annual UWC Day here on campus! So, since we're such a diverse school and everything, a lot of the times we forget exactly how diverse we are. I mean, I sit between a Tanzanian/Rwandan and a Swazi in maths class, and live across the hall from a Zimbabwean, so it's pretty obvious that "diversity" is kind of an everyday thing for us here.<br />
<br />
So, once a year, we have UWC Day, which is our big international festival. Oversimplified, we dress up like ridiculous patriots and traditional people from our respective countries and cultures, make lots of traditional food, and then watch each other singing and dancing traditional pieces.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBIJ9WeKCsASEet8-3a1jmCcx4-galxSTCC7WiVy7ISm4KGjPsWciMH3BD5lgUzofhHUmg9OQBjQtfgdFFWVplekPaD6CpWEiRivdmVloPGMYEMOywOUrcHMHV8mHRxsyOkeBOxzUFoE7/s1600/bloggggg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBIJ9WeKCsASEet8-3a1jmCcx4-galxSTCC7WiVy7ISm4KGjPsWciMH3BD5lgUzofhHUmg9OQBjQtfgdFFWVplekPaD6CpWEiRivdmVloPGMYEMOywOUrcHMHV8mHRxsyOkeBOxzUFoE7/s1600/bloggggg.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7ZA3zSb-HlrzdHc2jlxfSvlvgG5U-JPcoAh3-mRDFn4OcltBkv7jUUeMyoECgWEqtkM4T9WYtmmv2zsuxAmMH3goboB4FukhgP1YL8zeXumAtY8GiU9wgFfsH_tYVm6drzYdqt3SFxmu/s1600/blogg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7ZA3zSb-HlrzdHc2jlxfSvlvgG5U-JPcoAh3-mRDFn4OcltBkv7jUUeMyoECgWEqtkM4T9WYtmmv2zsuxAmMH3goboB4FukhgP1YL8zeXumAtY8GiU9wgFfsH_tYVm6drzYdqt3SFxmu/s1600/blogg.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The great question every year is "what do you wear for a national costume if you're _____?" In my case, what the heck was I supposed to wear as an American? Last year, because I did Indian dancing (my lovely Indian friend in the blue above did it again this year), I avoided the question. But, this year, as the Russian choir I was singing in didn't have a set outfit, I was left to dress like an American - here is what I came up with.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-fAW1NAiO6yk_Fq6G2w3HSRp1aNmCTM2-Vs15BAdAsDpWYIpvHhAVFFO8aQyI_Ahyphenhyphenvd0F6iQQIh7JE60yDKT8LIYP_EniWGAs6iAF_X8AHiXmW9vFapio9CAgAJzqP4Il7Xu4rj8ugo3/s1600/blog1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-fAW1NAiO6yk_Fq6G2w3HSRp1aNmCTM2-Vs15BAdAsDpWYIpvHhAVFFO8aQyI_Ahyphenhyphenvd0F6iQQIh7JE60yDKT8LIYP_EniWGAs6iAF_X8AHiXmW9vFapio9CAgAJzqP4Il7Xu4rj8ugo3/s1600/blog1.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Overall, the day was definitely a success. I performed with the Russian choir, and then spent essentially the rest of the day hanging out, watching different performances (I'm going to attempt to post some videos later today), and eating lots of different kinds of food. Some of my favorites were the banana creme pie from the Britain stall, and the burfee from the south Asian stall, and of course, the caterpillars from the Lesotho stall. There was a specific name for the caterpillar, but I was too busy making this face as I ate it to remember...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9UkmdLHFrhpLxaUjt9o0I5tNzaGJr0xGAj40K01aLsrnxyczz-y1i76OMJAzGtWSesj_-17FPErgm-19LvA_iWyo6Hq2wK4P8kE2esPxy1Wv9rslWJoaCIDIg3t68611YKaVUpDoxH-S/s1600/blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9UkmdLHFrhpLxaUjt9o0I5tNzaGJr0xGAj40K01aLsrnxyczz-y1i76OMJAzGtWSesj_-17FPErgm-19LvA_iWyo6Hq2wK4P8kE2esPxy1Wv9rslWJoaCIDIg3t68611YKaVUpDoxH-S/s1600/blog.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Let me tell you - that was not a small caterpillar. Strangely enough, once I got over the fact that I had just ingested a two-inch long insect larvae, the taste wasn't all that bad. Kind of spicy, actually.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At the end of the day - I'm tired, thirsty (from eating Zambian salty snacks) and with aching feet, but I'm also smiling and chilling. Just as I think the "UWC Day" is over, my friend from South Africa walks into my room, and I realize that it's not over, at least until we graduate. And then a Zimbabwean comes in and asks if I've seen her phone, and I hear a Tanzanian laughing in the corridor. Thing is, I haven't thought of anyone by their nationality in a long time. I guess it's just today, and tomorrow, I'll forget we're all from different places, and we'll all just go back to complaining about teachers and homework (some things are the same everywhere).</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0