I woke up this morning to learn that I certainly wasn’t alone last night in watching the election results come in hour by hour. Already, statements of support from political leaders both stateside and overseas are pouring in on day-one for the new president-elect. People and leaders of the world are hungry for an era of constructive dialogue and it is most encouraging.
In the past, I’ve often felt set-back internationally when trying to share my beliefs and worldview. I was all to often overshadowed by a reputation that preceded me via short news sound bytes of political leaders, headlines concerning foreign policy endeavors, and even music videos.
With more international conversation and dialogue from our very own president, it is my hope that we’ll have a more positive and considerate reputation of collaboration that precedes us in the years to come.
Tonight I heard the stories of seven; all current residents of Syracuse but from many walks of life and stories between here and Cambodia, Macedonia, Mexico, Onondaga Nation, Cuba, and Sudan. The stage was taken not by actors, but by real neighbors in an interview-based stage production, Tales from the Salt City.
It was a narrative of heritage, adjustment, hardship, joy, and humor which brought warmth to the late-October night with their honesty. I too am settling into life in Syracuse, welcomed by the local voices that “carry us around the globe and bring us home with a more complete understanding of how the world out there is the world right here.”
On a personal note, this comic is entirely too true:
It was sent to me this morning from one of my past roommates at 6:47 am. He now beats my morning routine by about 30-min and I’m sure he doesn’t miss my repeated use of the snooze button before step 1.
For those of you looking for cheap international calls to stay in touch with friends around the world, someone told of this one: jajah.com
It uses existing cell and phone lines; calling both phones and then connecting you. It’s a fraction of the cost and sometimes free depending on the paired countries.
Never turn down the opportunity to go to a kite festival. There was one in Lowville this weekend, a perfect destination during my 3-day break from studies.
Some things just make one happy; perhaps it’s simply the bright colors, the sun, the green grass, the autumn leaves and the blue sky. The only downside was that there wasn’t enough wind to fly the larger house-sized kites. However, it didn’t stop kids from making their own wind by sprinting up and down the field.
I stumbled upon some amazing photos tonight! Within 3-months of visiting my friend Josh and the village communities in Dodoma, Tanzania, they’ve already constructed multiple sand dams to provide a more stable water supply for the upcoming year!
The dams are constructed and owned by the nearby villages with the help of MCC. Village water committees take ownership and contribute resources needed for construction. The design of the dams which hold back wet sludgy sand into the dry season originated in Kenya.
Check out more photos of the construction (and Josh’s new puppy).
I’m continuing to find the food I grew to love this past summer in Israel within walking distance of my apartment here in Syracuse, NY. Yesterday I ate at King David’s with Stefan and Anjuli. Light food flavored with olives and cheese certainly hit the spot for the study-break.
Munjed’s Middle Eastern Cafe is just up the street in the laid-back Westcott neighborhood niche. It’ll be nice to go there some night for tabouleh and tea, especially once the Westcott Theater reopens later this month. It’s currently being restored to its grandeur and will soon be showing independent and classic films.
My refrigerator is once again stocked with humus and whole olives. Sadly, I’m unable to get fresh pita daily from Afife’s bakery, resorting to stocking up at Wegman’s and freezing it for continued snacking.
Most importantly, I stumbled upon Samir’s Imported Food’s an hour ago, finding a store packed with zataar spices, sopping salty buckets of olives, and arab coffee with the scent of cardamom. Yes my friends, it’s time to get my bling-bling coffee pot from Nazareth down from the shelf.
My instructor introduced the course as the study of “the intricate relations that lie just beneath the skin.” Agreed. Knowing and seeing the physical structure alone opens up understanding of our body’s ability to sustain, repair and grow. Many things are suddenly intuitive when one considers what lies beneath the skin
With much of the body understood via its construct, where to we place the inexplicable? I’m wary to separate it completely along with a non-physical mind.
Instead, I appreciate more now the awe of communicating with body language, novels becoming page turners, empathy causing our hearts to ache, political passion of candidates, and rhythm inclining us to dance. We don’t need to understand the ‘how’ to realize their importance in our lives and get out there and enjoy the day.
It’s been 4 months since I moved out of my place in Goshen, IN. Settled now in Syracuse, NY, to attend medical school at SUNY Upstate, summer experiences play daily into my current life as a student.
The countless thoughtless hours of sipping nescafe on the Nazarene rooftop balcony prepped my mind for the onslaught of knowledge uptake and studying. The days spent on planes and buses throughout Israel and Africa has indeed increased my sitting tolerance. Dave’s sage leaf tea is an excellent evening memory drink. Lastly, even though I haven’t undergone a language switch in weeks, I’m learning daily the vocab and semantics of science, medicine and especially anatomy.
No longer living out of bags and luggage, I reflect quantitatively on the journey…
Goshen house number: 1601
Syracuse house number: 418
days between the two locations: 121
countries lived: 4
languages used: 7
airline miles: 21,847
in-flight movies: 4
the above movies worth watching: 2
nights payed for bed: 0
nights outside: 3
nights in airport: 1
Israeli Shekels in a dollar: 3.2
Tanzanian shillings in a dollar: 1,163
French C.F.A. in a dollar: 444
Afife’s pizza: 6 shekels
chicken and chips: ask Josh. he payed.
cup of cafe tuba: 100 CFA
bottle of Ale-8-One: 0.95 USD
jetta road miles: 5,683
gallons of diesel fuel: 137
hours of med school lectures: 22
days until first exam: 20
cups of coffee: countless
Nothing says ‘welcome home’ like getting picked up from the airport in an open air jeep, cruising back on North Temple street to your sisters house in the Salt Lake City avenues.
Of course, we stopped at Red Iguana for lunch and later to get my car and meet the huskies. Dirk and I also immersed ourselves in American luxuries such as bluegrass, movie theaters, and desserts. (no more deserts)
With the trip to the beach canceled, my last day in Senegal has me rained-in and left solely to packing and napping for the upcoming final flights of my summer. It’s a treat to be flying with Air France and Delta at this point in the game, giving me many luxuries and the ability to choose my exact seat online beforehand.
After an 11-hour direct flight from Paris to SLC, I look forward to taking in the
Yonder Mountain String Band and
Keller Williams tomorrow night in downtown Salt Lake City. Echoing the good times and great oldies from summer ‘07, quality americana bluegrass and acoustic tones will welcome me home along with my sister’s two huskies, Evie and Leroy.
Indeed, it’s been a long summer with many nights in many places. Assuredly, travelling will not stop for me once back in the states. From Salt Lake to Lowville, I look forward to seeing many of you soon. (huskies included)
