December 30, 2007
Samaritan's Purse
Please click on the link above for a fast and informative look at the type of work that Samaritan's Purse does, and the impact that they are having on the world. I am applying to work for this organization, probably within the next two weeks.
December 25, 2007
Death of an Egotist
September 25, 2007
Soft, what bit of Shakespeare
Can I apply to this moment of my life?
Surely the Bard has words aplenty
On human frailty and endless need.
What wisdom can I pull from the pages of the Greats
Who populate the world with
Anti-heroes
Humble peasants
Prophets and warriors
And maybe, somewhere, someone like me?
Psychology tells me "ego boundaries" decide
Where I end and others begin.
Despite simplicity of key terms, there is no set line.
(That was the Alamo, enviable in a way.)
Today my ego boundaries are "permeable."
If you approach me, I'll let you in
But be prepared to confuse me
When I realize I've grown to need you as much as you need me.
Oh bleeding heart that soon needs staunching by the wound giver.
Where is the staunch MacBeth with his bloody hands?
Boundaries resilient, confirmed, no permeation.
No, I despise his supremacy of self.
Instead, in stead.
To look at someone and see their inherent frailties
To understand and yet truly love
To release the death grip on self, falling, falling
And, continuing sweeter still, to someday reap what you've sown.
Soft, what bit of Shakespeare
Can I apply to this moment of my life?
Surely the Bard has words aplenty
On human frailty and endless need.
What wisdom can I pull from the pages of the Greats
Who populate the world with
Anti-heroes
Humble peasants
Prophets and warriors
And maybe, somewhere, someone like me?
Psychology tells me "ego boundaries" decide
Where I end and others begin.
Despite simplicity of key terms, there is no set line.
(That was the Alamo, enviable in a way.)
Today my ego boundaries are "permeable."
If you approach me, I'll let you in
But be prepared to confuse me
When I realize I've grown to need you as much as you need me.
Oh bleeding heart that soon needs staunching by the wound giver.
Where is the staunch MacBeth with his bloody hands?
Boundaries resilient, confirmed, no permeation.
No, I despise his supremacy of self.
Instead, in stead.
To look at someone and see their inherent frailties
To understand and yet truly love
To release the death grip on self, falling, falling
And, continuing sweeter still, to someday reap what you've sown.
Conclusion of Afghanaid Internship
This was the conclusion to my 3,400 word paper about my internship experience. Most of the content was filler, but the conclusion is honest. I was often bored with the actual tasks completed, but I did enjoy being there and was privileged to work with some truly fun and altruistic people.
In addition to intimately learning about a worthy organization, growing professionally, and becoming more culturally versatile, my London internship placement has increased my self-confidence in my abilities to adapt and grow in new environments. Rarely does one get a chance to experience such a safe and beneficial challenge. I leave London satisfied that I am a more capable person than when I arrived and that I was able to help the underprivileged in the process.
In addition to intimately learning about a worthy organization, growing professionally, and becoming more culturally versatile, my London internship placement has increased my self-confidence in my abilities to adapt and grow in new environments. Rarely does one get a chance to experience such a safe and beneficial challenge. I leave London satisfied that I am a more capable person than when I arrived and that I was able to help the underprivileged in the process.
December 13, 2007
Speck and Log
Slightly revised mail I sent to a friend earlier today - a topic of recent contemplation.
Last night I went to a film screening at Canda House in Trafalagar Square. It was a co-sponsored by the Canadian High Commission and the organization for which I am interning, Afghanaid. It seems that Canda is relatively committed to assisting Afghanistan, which was quite gratifying to hear. However, as we consumed delicious refreshments (including delectable cheese mini-quiches, champagne, and Jellie Bellies), I could not help but notice the extreme contrast of wealth between those attending the screening (even myself) and the young refugee boy in the documentary film. Though one of the topics of conversation was the proportionally low amount of income that goes to development, I wondered what our individual levels of aid were. How can we condemn countries for giving away such low percentages of their gross national income to overseas aid if we are not willing to do the same as individuals? As an aside, I discovered the other day when researching a paper that although the US gives the largest amount of ODA (Overseas Development Aid) of any country, it has one of the lowest percentages of giving of the developed countries. I believe that it was a mere 0.17% of GNI in 2005. Sweden and Luxembourg were at the highest with 1.03% and 0.89%. I know that the people attending the filming probably give away larger portions of their incomes. Still, how much of our income finds its way to those who truly have nothing? This is something that I continue to struggle with as a Christian, aspiring development worker, and Western citizen.
Last night I went to a film screening at Canda House in Trafalagar Square. It was a co-sponsored by the Canadian High Commission and the organization for which I am interning, Afghanaid. It seems that Canda is relatively committed to assisting Afghanistan, which was quite gratifying to hear. However, as we consumed delicious refreshments (including delectable cheese mini-quiches, champagne, and Jellie Bellies), I could not help but notice the extreme contrast of wealth between those attending the screening (even myself) and the young refugee boy in the documentary film. Though one of the topics of conversation was the proportionally low amount of income that goes to development, I wondered what our individual levels of aid were. How can we condemn countries for giving away such low percentages of their gross national income to overseas aid if we are not willing to do the same as individuals? As an aside, I discovered the other day when researching a paper that although the US gives the largest amount of ODA (Overseas Development Aid) of any country, it has one of the lowest percentages of giving of the developed countries. I believe that it was a mere 0.17% of GNI in 2005. Sweden and Luxembourg were at the highest with 1.03% and 0.89%. I know that the people attending the filming probably give away larger portions of their incomes. Still, how much of our income finds its way to those who truly have nothing? This is something that I continue to struggle with as a Christian, aspiring development worker, and Western citizen.
The not so green, green grass of home
Last night Greg (flatmate)and I spontaneously created a top five list of things we are most looking forward to on our return to the States. These are things that have consistently been running through our heads and bubbled forth when someone mentioned the H-word.
1.)Seeing family, friends, and pets.
2.)Having prices actually reflect what you are going to pay (i.e. no exchange rate).
3.) Wearing different clothing than we have worn for the past 3.5 months and less of it.
4.) Food - American foods we miss and also free food from parents
5.) Driving
Ah, four days and a travel day away!
1.)Seeing family, friends, and pets.
2.)Having prices actually reflect what you are going to pay (i.e. no exchange rate).
3.) Wearing different clothing than we have worn for the past 3.5 months and less of it.
4.) Food - American foods we miss and also free food from parents
5.) Driving
Ah, four days and a travel day away!
December 4, 2007
"Good art is honest"
This is the first two paragraphs from an assignment I recently wrote asking me to visit Britain's two most famous art galleries, the National Gallery (paintings pre-1900) and Tate Modern (contemporary art post-1900)and explain which I thought came closer to my sense of the purpose that art should play in people's lives. I enjoyed this assignment quite a bit, particularly as it afforded an opportunity to define my perception of art.
Thankfully, one of the few qualities about art on which everyone agrees is that it is incredibly subjective. This was important to keep in mind as I roamed the galleries of Tate Modern, pondering a personal definition of art. Somewhere betwixt and between canned feces and Russian propaganda magazine covers, I realized that I believe art is a created tangible object appreciated by someone. This can include nature, if one believes that it is created by God, or animal creations such as beaver dams and spider webs. This definition lets the viewer deal with the questions of aesthetics, as in the old maxim, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." My definition also requires an appreciator; an object is not art if it is not appreciated in some way.
What about the role that art should play? One of my favorite professors once told me that good art is honest, which I find to be a commentary on the ideal function of art as well as a standard for what makes art "good." On this subject, I asked one of my closest friends for her personal definition of art, which turned out to be proactive: “Any creation a person makes to send a message to the world.” My idea of art’s role lies between these two thoughts: Art is a medium for bringing truth into people’s lives and for lifting and stirring people’s inherent self-focus. Truth is more important than beauty, but the two often come hand in hand. Moreover, something traditionally thought ugly can be perceived as beautiful when it is true, such as a portrait of an old woman. Art reminds us as human beings that there is more to the world than ourselves and makes us examine our closely guarded notions of how the world is or should be.
Thankfully, one of the few qualities about art on which everyone agrees is that it is incredibly subjective. This was important to keep in mind as I roamed the galleries of Tate Modern, pondering a personal definition of art. Somewhere betwixt and between canned feces and Russian propaganda magazine covers, I realized that I believe art is a created tangible object appreciated by someone. This can include nature, if one believes that it is created by God, or animal creations such as beaver dams and spider webs. This definition lets the viewer deal with the questions of aesthetics, as in the old maxim, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." My definition also requires an appreciator; an object is not art if it is not appreciated in some way.
What about the role that art should play? One of my favorite professors once told me that good art is honest, which I find to be a commentary on the ideal function of art as well as a standard for what makes art "good." On this subject, I asked one of my closest friends for her personal definition of art, which turned out to be proactive: “Any creation a person makes to send a message to the world.” My idea of art’s role lies between these two thoughts: Art is a medium for bringing truth into people’s lives and for lifting and stirring people’s inherent self-focus. Truth is more important than beauty, but the two often come hand in hand. Moreover, something traditionally thought ugly can be perceived as beautiful when it is true, such as a portrait of an old woman. Art reminds us as human beings that there is more to the world than ourselves and makes us examine our closely guarded notions of how the world is or should be.
December 2, 2007
Coypu
For some valid reason elusive to memory I was chatting with my roommate Sarika about the giant rodents that plague Lousiana's swamps. Ah, yes, now I recall that the nutra rats (also known as nutria or coypu) were brought up in the context of being fodder for alligators. We were discussing alligators as a shift from crocodiles, which were sighted by Sarika on her visit to Australia. And we like to talk about travel in general.
So now that explanation is out of the way, I can share this fascinating fact that emerged from a quick visit to Wikipedia:
The coypu somewhat resembles a very large rat in appearance. Adults are typically 5–9 kg (10-20 lb) in weight, and 40–60 cm (15-24 inches) in body length, with a 30–45 cm (12-18 inches) tail. They can also be identified by their bright orange-yellow incisor teeth (unlike rats, which have brownish yellow incisors). The nipples of female coypu are on her back. This allows their young to feed while the female is in the water.
Who knew that rodents were so versatile? Maybe that is why there is such a profusion of them.
Also, today I received my first henna tattoo and also wore my first bindi (Indian forehead "dot" or other geometric forehead decoration). Don't worry, I haven't converted to Hinduism. It was for a charity event.
So now that explanation is out of the way, I can share this fascinating fact that emerged from a quick visit to Wikipedia:
The coypu somewhat resembles a very large rat in appearance. Adults are typically 5–9 kg (10-20 lb) in weight, and 40–60 cm (15-24 inches) in body length, with a 30–45 cm (12-18 inches) tail. They can also be identified by their bright orange-yellow incisor teeth (unlike rats, which have brownish yellow incisors). The nipples of female coypu are on her back. This allows their young to feed while the female is in the water.
Who knew that rodents were so versatile? Maybe that is why there is such a profusion of them.
Also, today I received my first henna tattoo and also wore my first bindi (Indian forehead "dot" or other geometric forehead decoration). Don't worry, I haven't converted to Hinduism. It was for a charity event.
November 29, 2007
Paris, round two
This past weekend I was blessed to visit Paris yet again. This was my free trip with Greene's Travel Service, generously bestowed due to the plethora of mishaps that plagued the first. This past weekend flashed by with no such catastrophes. On Saturday we took the Eurostar (Chunnel) from the new departure station of King's Cross St. Pancras and were in the heart of Paris in just over 2.5 hours. That afternoon I ditched the tour and went to the Musee D'Orsay, which I have since nominated for my favorite art museum. Who knew that so many of my favorite paintings/artists were collected in one place? It was incredible. My favorite moment was turning a corner and suddenly finding myself facing Olympia by Manet, one of my favorite paintings. It was pretty incredible. And their collection of Degas is superb! His pastels! But if you haven't seen them or even reproductions, then it is no use elaborating.
Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera on this trip. It was a blessing and a curse as it forced me to concentrate more on absorbing the moment at hand (and I am an extremely visual person) but ... I have no pictures! Greg and Veronica (two of my flatmates who also came) have promised to share, and Veronica was a gem in loaning her camera.
On Sunday I went to Versailles. The gardens were incredible! It takes an hour to walk through them one way, yet the parts that I saw were all quite well-kept. The palace itself still has such a long way to go in terms of restoration, but one can readily imagine the original opulence. I do have to say that it was smaller than anticipated, but I think that was only in comparison to the Louvre.
Equaling my pleasure/excitement/awe of the Musee D'Orsay was climbing to the top of Notre Dame and viewing Paris from the vantage point of the gargoyles. They are not uniformly hideous, by the way. Some of them are even a bit endearing. Personally, I liked the elephant.
Random Paris Fact:
The metro has a stop named "Franklin D. Roosevelt."
And just prior to leaving, I bought a beret. :) Oh, Paris!
Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera on this trip. It was a blessing and a curse as it forced me to concentrate more on absorbing the moment at hand (and I am an extremely visual person) but ... I have no pictures! Greg and Veronica (two of my flatmates who also came) have promised to share, and Veronica was a gem in loaning her camera.
On Sunday I went to Versailles. The gardens were incredible! It takes an hour to walk through them one way, yet the parts that I saw were all quite well-kept. The palace itself still has such a long way to go in terms of restoration, but one can readily imagine the original opulence. I do have to say that it was smaller than anticipated, but I think that was only in comparison to the Louvre.
Equaling my pleasure/excitement/awe of the Musee D'Orsay was climbing to the top of Notre Dame and viewing Paris from the vantage point of the gargoyles. They are not uniformly hideous, by the way. Some of them are even a bit endearing. Personally, I liked the elephant.
Random Paris Fact:
The metro has a stop named "Franklin D. Roosevelt."
And just prior to leaving, I bought a beret. :) Oh, Paris!
November 23, 2007
Dear Diary
This morning my alarm failed to rouse me, and I awoke to the sound of my roommate blow-drying her hair. This was 45 min. later than scheduled, but strangely I was only 10 min. late to work. Somehow that extra 15 min. delay meant that the Tube was empty. Spent 3.5 hours trying to figure out Adobe applications at work, and then wondered how I was helping the Afghan people. I felt quite unproductive and unprofessional, though for once I was actually concentrating steadily on the task at hand.
Thankfully, this was my short day at internship, and I proceeded straight to Bible study afterwards. This is the best Bible study of which I have ever been a part. We are a group of students from my church purposefully proceeding through Romans, one of my two favorite Bible books. And we always have tea (or coffee!) and biscuits.
My friend Judith came home with me after Bible study and we had pesto and telephone cord pasta and visited for a couple of hours. Now I am procrastinating on packing for Paris, but I really should be more responsible as I have to awake at 4:30am to catch the bus to the Eurostar station. (That would be the Chunnel.)
Random London trivia:
Dr. Watson evidently had his medical practice in Kensington - my neighborhood!
Sorry that this post is rather mundane. Paris deserves more from me than procrastination. I plan on buying a beret ASAP.
Thankfully, this was my short day at internship, and I proceeded straight to Bible study afterwards. This is the best Bible study of which I have ever been a part. We are a group of students from my church purposefully proceeding through Romans, one of my two favorite Bible books. And we always have tea (or coffee!) and biscuits.
My friend Judith came home with me after Bible study and we had pesto and telephone cord pasta and visited for a couple of hours. Now I am procrastinating on packing for Paris, but I really should be more responsible as I have to awake at 4:30am to catch the bus to the Eurostar station. (That would be the Chunnel.)
Random London trivia:
Dr. Watson evidently had his medical practice in Kensington - my neighborhood!
Sorry that this post is rather mundane. Paris deserves more from me than procrastination. I plan on buying a beret ASAP.
November 22, 2007
8.) Brad Pitt (from a purely aesthetic point of view)
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15
In the absence of family, I joined my new American friend Shelley for Thanksgiving dinner. She and her two flatmates work for Campus Crusade in London. We were joined by four other Crusade staffers and two additional guests. CCC is actually called Agape (but pronounced a as in mad - ga as in gash - pay)in Europe as the word "crusade" has a terribly negative connotation, especially in relation to the church. It was a blessing to be with Christians and Americans on this day of giving thanks. Also, the dinner on Tuesday with the flatmates was indeed a resounding success. Not only did we conjure up a feast out of our tiny kitchen(and I do not exaggerate on either count), but we actually very much enjoyed being together. Fourteen of us participated: good times.
Yesterday I went to the National Gallery for the second time. It's free, as are most museums in Britain. Thank you social welfare state. This time I saw the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Degas is incredible! I also really liked Picasso's Child with a Dove, which was painted before he became too blue for my tastes.
6.5 Things for Which I am Thankful
(specifically, the first 6.5 that popped in my head)
1.) See's candy
2.) My comfy plush blanket from Korie that makes me feel like my London room is cozy
3.) British theatre
4.) My family
5.) My friends
6.) Being literate
7.) Not living in Afghanistan
Oops, I got carried away with the half. If you ever want to know about Afghanistan, I still don't know that much about it but I'm learning about the average families and their struggles.
6.5) My one rose earring that is still intact even though the other one was tragically parted from its stud. And what a terrible calamity, to be parted from one's stud.
In the absence of family, I joined my new American friend Shelley for Thanksgiving dinner. She and her two flatmates work for Campus Crusade in London. We were joined by four other Crusade staffers and two additional guests. CCC is actually called Agape (but pronounced a as in mad - ga as in gash - pay)in Europe as the word "crusade" has a terribly negative connotation, especially in relation to the church. It was a blessing to be with Christians and Americans on this day of giving thanks. Also, the dinner on Tuesday with the flatmates was indeed a resounding success. Not only did we conjure up a feast out of our tiny kitchen(and I do not exaggerate on either count), but we actually very much enjoyed being together. Fourteen of us participated: good times.
Yesterday I went to the National Gallery for the second time. It's free, as are most museums in Britain. Thank you social welfare state. This time I saw the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Degas is incredible! I also really liked Picasso's Child with a Dove, which was painted before he became too blue for my tastes.
6.5 Things for Which I am Thankful
(specifically, the first 6.5 that popped in my head)
1.) See's candy
2.) My comfy plush blanket from Korie that makes me feel like my London room is cozy
3.) British theatre
4.) My family
5.) My friends
6.) Being literate
7.) Not living in Afghanistan
Oops, I got carried away with the half. If you ever want to know about Afghanistan, I still don't know that much about it but I'm learning about the average families and their struggles.
6.5) My one rose earring that is still intact even though the other one was tragically parted from its stud. And what a terrible calamity, to be parted from one's stud.
November 20, 2007
Let us return to Murad
Currently reading: Turkish Gambit by Boris Akunin (originally published in Russia). It's an adventure/detective story.
"However, let us return to Murad. He was a handsome youth, by no means stupid and actually extremely well read, although he had a tendency to drink to excess and suffered from an entirely justified persecution mania."
Highlights of today:
My delightful, artsy professor (who is unfortunately - or fortunately - married, thus preventing my being in love with him) said that he is an ardent feminist. (Okay, ardent was my word, but that was the gist of it.)
Thanksgiving dinner with the roomies. Actually, this is an anticipatory highlight. I am avoiding our tiny kitchen for the next two hours, as I have already made my contribution. Thus, I am reading and blogging and avoiding looking up info on London NGOs because that constitutes research, which I generally abhor.
And don't worry, I seriously doubt that I will be posting with this frequency in the future. :)
"However, let us return to Murad. He was a handsome youth, by no means stupid and actually extremely well read, although he had a tendency to drink to excess and suffered from an entirely justified persecution mania."
Highlights of today:
My delightful, artsy professor (who is unfortunately - or fortunately - married, thus preventing my being in love with him) said that he is an ardent feminist. (Okay, ardent was my word, but that was the gist of it.)
Thanksgiving dinner with the roomies. Actually, this is an anticipatory highlight. I am avoiding our tiny kitchen for the next two hours, as I have already made my contribution. Thus, I am reading and blogging and avoiding looking up info on London NGOs because that constitutes research, which I generally abhor.
And don't worry, I seriously doubt that I will be posting with this frequency in the future. :)
Reader, be warned
Once upon a time I started a blog.
The template was green, reminiscent of frogs.
A happy alternative to work of the home
With pics, contemplations, and stories from Rome.
Expectations come with this deed,
But if you want something brilliant to read,
May I suggest Wodehouse or Lewis
And I can't think of anything off-hand that rhymes with Lewis except, "view this" or "few miss," both of which have potential that I do not currently have the energy to explore. That in itself should paint an accurate picture of posts to come.
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