"Mainstream journalists should not "emulate the seedier tabloid tactics," Kurtz admonished in a March, 1999, column. The only thing Kurtz and Steyn agreed on is that tabloids did a better job covering the O.J. Simpson trials than the mainstream press.
I agree that tabloid news should never interfere with - or considered as - news with journalistic integrity and so I'm like many others, that when I hear The National Enquirer got it right, I am disappointed - when I shouldn't be. The truth should be valued and celebrated. It's when the tabloids are too busy spreading rumors and sensationalizing juicy stories that we shouldn't give them any credit for.
With that said, tabloids - in my opinion - shouldn't be held responsible or taken seriously on a daily basis. If anything, their rumors, speculations and research can - and should - be used by other, serious journalists as grounds for further investigation. That's the only time I can think of this sort of information coming in handy. And not the stories about Lindsey Lohan being a lesbian or Britney Spears going to rehab.
-----
An interesting side note: The other day, an article written by Steve Friess for the New York Times titled, "The Final O.J. Story for Dominick Dunne" accompanies the idea behind sensation in the media. However, in this case, it's from the inside - out. Usually, subjects - like celebrities - are attempting to avoid tabloids exploiting their stories for sale.
Not Dominick Dunne. He was honest about his disappointment when his latest O.J. Simpson trial wasn't slapped across every newspaper and TV screen. I guess he got a little too used to the idea during his murder case - and now, a few stolen figurines just isn't as juicy. Ironically enough, Dunne is retiring after this case.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/fashion/21dunne.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=O.J.&st=cse&oref=slogin
9.9.08
A glass of your daily news.
Reality, in terms of it being infiltrated to the masses, is often directed to them through the news media. Understandably, it is effected along the way. The old saying, "Don't kill the messenger" applies here. However, the messenger most definitely should be held responsible. Information, like acid rain (if you will), hits a variety of effecting sources as it travels to it's final destination: the news consumer. Acid rain is no pleasant way to think about your "truth-gathering" media sources, but in my opinion, we should never be so comfortable as to take in the news believing that 100 percent of the time it is pure. Just like our water.So basically, I agree with the existence McComb's Agenda-setting Theory, 1972. He says:
"Newspapers and TV news, even the tightly edited pages of a tabloid newspaper or internet web site, do considerably more then signal existence of major events and issues."
"Throughout their day to day selection and display of news, editors and new directors focus our attention and influence our perceptions of what are the most important issues of the day. This ability to influence the salience of topics on the public agenda has come to be called the agenda-setting role of the media."
While it's frightening to think that this is all being down out of our control, it's imperative to continue to analyze, question and consider the fact that the news isn't in our hands. It's been touched by hundreds of people, memories, biases and motives before it's printed in our paper and consumed along with our morning coffee. Or not consumed. Unfortunately - the part that is most disturbing to me - is the content that is left out, never seen, never heard. That's what we should be working towards, as journalists and story-tellers: to telling the truth *as best as we can*, and not let anything slip away.
(Picture above taken by Adam Polessli, called "Acid Rain", found on Flickr)
A Year in the News
As the Project for Excellence in Journalism addressed in their 62-page report, "The State of the News Media", the battle to be the top story in American news media this year has been brutal. The two top players: The Iraq war and the dueling campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, completely dominated. No issue was more apparent, and noting it came to no surprise to me. What did come as a bit shocking, was their findings that celebrity topics like Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears were not as broadcast as we all complained them to be. That give a little hope, maybe making up for the pattern of saturation of news content in the media today and the tendency to keep news consumers devouring under a handful of stories at a time: "almost one-third of the overall newshole for the year [accounted for] U.S. foreign policy and U.S. politics and elections" alone. Having said that, the topics are without question the most important. However, in a society where news sources are already, and obviously, biased (a.k.a FOX News) and citizens are unknowingly taking in this information - without questioning it - that's when the problems of ignorance and miscommunication begins. And isn't news...all about...communication?
5.9.08
What picking Palin means for green
An article published in the New York Times Sept. 2 written by Thomas L. Friedman speaks directly to college students about how both presidential candidates are handling the "green" issue in their campaign. It's focus is mostly Sarah Palin's past neglectfulness but more importantly it reminds us not to be so easily swayed - on ALL issues - by politicians' empty promises and speech writers' ability to paint a picture prettier than reality.
Check it out at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/opinion/03friedman.html?em
Check it out at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/opinion/03friedman.html?em
3.9.08
Switching Gears, and onto the "Politics" of Palin... politics, right???
So as I attempt a graceful return back into an American academic lifestyle, so does my blog. For assignments issued through my senior journalism course Issues and the News, I will be producing posts about...Issues... in... the news throughout the entire fall semester. First up, Sarah Palin. What a way to start off the year.
I'm going to preface this post with saying that while I haven't been 100 percent in keeping up with American politics while abroad, I have tried my best to log onto computers whenever I could and I think I have stayed somewhat on top of it. Having said that, I don't know if it's my never-ending jet lag that has me dazed enough to say the first positive thing I've said about Senator John McCain - but damn, that adorable brunette with bangs is the best decision he's made all year.
If McCain wants to be treated like a celebrity - which his Democratic rivals have insisted upon painting him as (and his lifestyle, including Barbie Wife, has only supported) then the scandals the media has scrounged up from Palin's past and present life to sprinkle on top of the rest of the campaign issues (which are often, actually issues) are working in his favor to get the celebrity attention the media is giving all the candidates this year.
However, the past weekend has proved that Palin may take the cake. A pregnant daughter engaged to a boy-band look-a-like hockey player, an untold past of heated actions like firing a brother-in-law who may have threatened the family's well bring, and a husband who may (or may have not) been involved in a political group attempting to remove their home state of Alaska from the whole of America - well done McCain! Celebrity treatment granted. At least from the media.
Now, of course feeding the gossip-hungry news teams across America was not the reason he picked Miss (Wasilla Pageant) Palin as his VP. And it's definitely NOT to win over the Clinton crowd. That would be too obvious.
However, it MAY JUST BE former Tennessee Senator Fred Tompson's favorite Palin characteristic that won over McCain:
"She's the only nominee in the history of either party who knows how to properly field dress a moose," said Thompson at the Republic National Convention Tuesday night.
At the end of the day, let us not forget that. Moose: They will be properly dressed.
-----
(On a more serious note, and probably the only one I will make for this post - because my only response to the rediculousness of peaking around Palin's past for dirty little secrets and smearing the choices (be they bad or good) of her teenage daughter all over every source of our news' top headlines for consecutive days... days... on end, is... that it has been, rediculous.)
13.7.08
I <3 Mbale
So we're at about the half way point - does this stuff always have to go so quickly? The days are slow - especially the work days, pumping out a hundred or so bricks a day really tires you out - but the weeks fly by.
Our schedule is pretty routine by now. Every day we work from about 9 - 4 at the work site. Some days we make it to town to use the internet or shop for the house, but transportation is a whole chaotic ordeal of bargaining down 'mzungu prices' and finding enough moda-bodas (motorcycle taxis - which are my new favorite thing, by the way) to get us all there. So, we usually save it for the weekends - in between our day trips.
Friday night we went to the Jewish community here in Mbale where just two days earlier Uganda's first Rabbi had been officially announced. There are about 500 practicing Jews in Mbale - a small number as a result of Idi Amin's persecuting 'reign' as President. The open-air synagogue is located on top of a hill, just above a store called "Shalom Shopping Center" where I bought a Coke before Shabbat (oh, new thing - I drink soda. It's the most refreshing thing in the world after a hot work day. That, and this natural juice stuff they call Splash and comes in Passion Fruit, Pina Colada, Mango, mmmmmmmmm. Mgy sweet tooth is OUT here - I think it's a result of a lack of fresh foods in our diet. More about food later.) The service included mostly traditional Jewish ceremonial practices (says my Jewish friends), with African music and a change of order (and adorable Ugandan boys running around with yarmulkes on their head).
Saturday we climbed Mount Wanali - a five-hour guided hike in Mbale. The mountain is stunning, and we can see it clearly from our compound and work site. People live all the way up the mountain, so the trail led right through people's backyards and at the very top, over 3,000 people grow crops and collect rainwater to survive, barely ever coming down. I saw about 20 - I don't know where the rest were hiding. Despite the fact that the mountain is one of Mbale's only tourist attractions, we saw no other hikers and the natives at the top started covering themselves a little more when we arrived. I'm assuming they usually just run around naked - it's like another world up there. Children living and playing on the edge of a mountain, women gracefully balancing baskets of goods on their head as they climb the path barefoot, as we pant and sweat.
The hike was great, and the guide stopped enough to let us breathe and talk about local traditions on the mountain, including sacrificial practices pre-circumcision ceremony. OH and how to kill a leopard - which apparently inhabit the area. In case you didn't know, here's the best way to kill a leopard:
1. Bring along your machete. That way, when the beast roars at you, you can grab his tongue and slice it off - automatically killing the leopard. (?)
2. Just in case you forgot to bring along your machete the day - ya know, just in case - there are a few things you can do. If you are weak - or a woman - lie on your back and allow the animal to tear at you until you bleed. Once it sees blood it will leave you alone and thing you are dead. If you are brave and man and strong - make a 'V' turn (because leopards apparently can only make 'U' turns), grab it's tail and spin as it spins, and scream for help until someone comes to help.
And that is how you kill a leopard. Good luck.
Saturday night we spent drinking the noun wine we've found here - yes, the convent is also a winery, and the only wine we have found in town. It's very sweet and comes in a variety of random flavors and recycled bottles. OH and we had alter wine that was given as a present to one of the members in our group. So we spent the night wondering if we were drinking the Blood of Christ or just having fun. Who knows. A bunch of our Ugandan friends joined us for it - along with a dinner of rice. lots of rice here. and then a few of us went to dance party up the hill. That was good and fun - it's nice to be so accepted by the community here - but after a while the amount of attention you get for being a mzungu gets old, and we went home.
So here we are on Sunday. There are so many stories that happen every day. I try to keep track of them in my journal, but I feel like every time I put my head down to write them down, I miss something.
Like the always-developing and ever-changing tale of Gifty. Gifty is a 3 year-old that lives next door with her mom, Joy, sister, Blessing, and aunt, Naomi (who is 9 - more like a sister). Joy's husband is a soldier and comes home 2-3 times a year. When we first got here, we didn't know if Gifty was a boy or girl because every time she saw us, she would run screaming back in the house, crying out of sheer terror at the sight of our skin color. It's been about a month now, and I'm happy to report that Gifty is our most frequented visitor. We often see her big eyes peeking through the lace curtains of our front door at breakfast. And when it's play time, she's a riot. She has so much attitude and such a little personality already. Sometimes I catch her making dinner for the family - yesterday she was cutting up eggplants - and when she saw one of us, she just said in a demanding tone, "Mzungu come." She refuses to learn our names, pops every bubble we blow at her, and when she doesn't want to do something she pretends to not understand English. I love her.
There are so many other little stories like Gifty - in the people, in the animals, in the earth. You can find pleasantries in everything here, if you just dig past the rest of it. Sometimes its hard to forget - or make others forget - that my skin is a different color, that my cultural, financial and spiritual background is completely different - but there are tiny moments that do occur when everyone forgets, and those have been my favorite so far.
Our schedule is pretty routine by now. Every day we work from about 9 - 4 at the work site. Some days we make it to town to use the internet or shop for the house, but transportation is a whole chaotic ordeal of bargaining down 'mzungu prices' and finding enough moda-bodas (motorcycle taxis - which are my new favorite thing, by the way) to get us all there. So, we usually save it for the weekends - in between our day trips.
Friday night we went to the Jewish community here in Mbale where just two days earlier Uganda's first Rabbi had been officially announced. There are about 500 practicing Jews in Mbale - a small number as a result of Idi Amin's persecuting 'reign' as President. The open-air synagogue is located on top of a hill, just above a store called "Shalom Shopping Center" where I bought a Coke before Shabbat (oh, new thing - I drink soda. It's the most refreshing thing in the world after a hot work day. That, and this natural juice stuff they call Splash and comes in Passion Fruit, Pina Colada, Mango, mmmmmmmmm. Mgy sweet tooth is OUT here - I think it's a result of a lack of fresh foods in our diet. More about food later.) The service included mostly traditional Jewish ceremonial practices (says my Jewish friends), with African music and a change of order (and adorable Ugandan boys running around with yarmulkes on their head).
Saturday we climbed Mount Wanali - a five-hour guided hike in Mbale. The mountain is stunning, and we can see it clearly from our compound and work site. People live all the way up the mountain, so the trail led right through people's backyards and at the very top, over 3,000 people grow crops and collect rainwater to survive, barely ever coming down. I saw about 20 - I don't know where the rest were hiding. Despite the fact that the mountain is one of Mbale's only tourist attractions, we saw no other hikers and the natives at the top started covering themselves a little more when we arrived. I'm assuming they usually just run around naked - it's like another world up there. Children living and playing on the edge of a mountain, women gracefully balancing baskets of goods on their head as they climb the path barefoot, as we pant and sweat.
The hike was great, and the guide stopped enough to let us breathe and talk about local traditions on the mountain, including sacrificial practices pre-circumcision ceremony. OH and how to kill a leopard - which apparently inhabit the area. In case you didn't know, here's the best way to kill a leopard:
1. Bring along your machete. That way, when the beast roars at you, you can grab his tongue and slice it off - automatically killing the leopard. (?)
2. Just in case you forgot to bring along your machete the day - ya know, just in case - there are a few things you can do. If you are weak - or a woman - lie on your back and allow the animal to tear at you until you bleed. Once it sees blood it will leave you alone and thing you are dead. If you are brave and man and strong - make a 'V' turn (because leopards apparently can only make 'U' turns), grab it's tail and spin as it spins, and scream for help until someone comes to help.
And that is how you kill a leopard. Good luck.
Saturday night we spent drinking the noun wine we've found here - yes, the convent is also a winery, and the only wine we have found in town. It's very sweet and comes in a variety of random flavors and recycled bottles. OH and we had alter wine that was given as a present to one of the members in our group. So we spent the night wondering if we were drinking the Blood of Christ or just having fun. Who knows. A bunch of our Ugandan friends joined us for it - along with a dinner of rice. lots of rice here. and then a few of us went to dance party up the hill. That was good and fun - it's nice to be so accepted by the community here - but after a while the amount of attention you get for being a mzungu gets old, and we went home.
So here we are on Sunday. There are so many stories that happen every day. I try to keep track of them in my journal, but I feel like every time I put my head down to write them down, I miss something.
Like the always-developing and ever-changing tale of Gifty. Gifty is a 3 year-old that lives next door with her mom, Joy, sister, Blessing, and aunt, Naomi (who is 9 - more like a sister). Joy's husband is a soldier and comes home 2-3 times a year. When we first got here, we didn't know if Gifty was a boy or girl because every time she saw us, she would run screaming back in the house, crying out of sheer terror at the sight of our skin color. It's been about a month now, and I'm happy to report that Gifty is our most frequented visitor. We often see her big eyes peeking through the lace curtains of our front door at breakfast. And when it's play time, she's a riot. She has so much attitude and such a little personality already. Sometimes I catch her making dinner for the family - yesterday she was cutting up eggplants - and when she saw one of us, she just said in a demanding tone, "Mzungu come." She refuses to learn our names, pops every bubble we blow at her, and when she doesn't want to do something she pretends to not understand English. I love her.
There are so many other little stories like Gifty - in the people, in the animals, in the earth. You can find pleasantries in everything here, if you just dig past the rest of it. Sometimes its hard to forget - or make others forget - that my skin is a different color, that my cultural, financial and spiritual background is completely different - but there are tiny moments that do occur when everyone forgets, and those have been my favorite so far.
6.7.08
I'm here!!!!!
I have been for two weeks now, but this is the first working computer I have come across! Ayyyyy where do I begin?
I am very happy. Haha, overall the past two weeks here have been eye-opening like no other experience I have ever had - even more so than I expected - in both good ways and - not bad, but uncomfortable. However, it's the uncomfortable situations that are making me feel so good about being here (visiting a tribal area where female mutilation is still practiced, travelling on a bumpy dirt road in a taxi with enough seats to fit 10 yet 25 are squeezed in there with chickens and children and the guy is filling the gas tank by putting gasoline into his mouth and spitting it into the car, making bricks - totally not my forte, etc. etc. etc.)
Our whole group is working together to keep eachother sane, safe, aware, helpful, open-minded and educated. We have all become so close so fast - as environments like this tend to encourage - and have eachother's best interest at heart (every morning at least one person shouts out "MALARIA PILLS!" for anyone that may have forgotten to take them...)
Here we are known as "mzungus" (moo-zoon-goos) - a non-derogatory word (?) for white people - and we can hear it being shouted from the hills as we pass through our village, especially from the mouths of children who are always soooo excited to see us. Some come running up to come shake our hands, some kneel as they do, while the others run in fear - tears streaming down their adorable faces. Of course, I'm constantly running around looking to hug them all and since it's about a 25% chance you'll get a cryer - I've since recieved the nickname, "mzungu monster". Someone has already taken the title from me with a triple-whammy (making three cry in a row) but I'm sure I'll grab it back some day, haha.
So our daily schedule is 8-5 building a volunteer house for FDNC - the organization we are working for here. The organization is amazing, the people are light-hearted and helpful. The site we work at is a vocational school compound, including a special needs community, a children's band that plays all over town, tailoring school, beauty school, and a comptuer science school. We're having a blast with all of them who are making us feel so welcome, and completely immersed as people - not just crazy mzungus (and they totally do think we're all crazy) haha.
This past weekend we went to Sipi Falls (which I thought was Sleepy Falls until we got there) and sat behind waterfalls, hiked up mountainsides, climbed into a bat cave (gross but awesome) and while I was sitting next to one waterfall I found myself in the middle of a rainbow!!! Full circle, streams of color surrounding me - ah, what a spiritual experience that was, and really hard to explain in words.
Ok time is running out but I will write soon. I really want to get into words how I feel about my true purpose being here but I am changing my mind about that every day. Maybe I'll save that for the last post.
OH and OF COURSE! The donations. OMYGOSH if you could only see the reactions from those soccer balls... I have never seen bigger, brighter smiles. I laugh as I walk the mile (uphill, cough cough) to work every day and I see one of the balls come bounding across a field. They've infiltrated the community and even though they seem simple material objects - those balls have helped to keep the people light-hearted despite the intense poverty and hardship that truly devestates this area. So thank you thank you thank you. You have brought smiles to some of the most precious faces I have ever seen.
And as for the school supplies - I am bringing them up next week. I decided the best use for them was to the Special Needs school because they literally have nothing. And unfortuantely, the special needs kids as a group have been rejected for years (not unlike the U.S.) and the people that are running it are having a hard time finding sufficient support. And these kids. wow. All kids come running and laughing - but this community comes leaping. They love people, singing, and talking with empowerment about conquering their disabilities which ranges from physical to mental and everything in between. I've learned a little sign language to be able to communicate with the three deaf girls (one I have not met, because she can't afford to get to school all the time - this is common everywhere).
In conclusion, thank you all for your support. This trip is pushing my comfort levels in all sorts of intense, necessary ways and I am happy as a clam in the sea (or a white girl in Uganda) haha.
Much love to all!
I am very happy. Haha, overall the past two weeks here have been eye-opening like no other experience I have ever had - even more so than I expected - in both good ways and - not bad, but uncomfortable. However, it's the uncomfortable situations that are making me feel so good about being here (visiting a tribal area where female mutilation is still practiced, travelling on a bumpy dirt road in a taxi with enough seats to fit 10 yet 25 are squeezed in there with chickens and children and the guy is filling the gas tank by putting gasoline into his mouth and spitting it into the car, making bricks - totally not my forte, etc. etc. etc.)
Our whole group is working together to keep eachother sane, safe, aware, helpful, open-minded and educated. We have all become so close so fast - as environments like this tend to encourage - and have eachother's best interest at heart (every morning at least one person shouts out "MALARIA PILLS!" for anyone that may have forgotten to take them...)
Here we are known as "mzungus" (moo-zoon-goos) - a non-derogatory word (?) for white people - and we can hear it being shouted from the hills as we pass through our village, especially from the mouths of children who are always soooo excited to see us. Some come running up to come shake our hands, some kneel as they do, while the others run in fear - tears streaming down their adorable faces. Of course, I'm constantly running around looking to hug them all and since it's about a 25% chance you'll get a cryer - I've since recieved the nickname, "mzungu monster". Someone has already taken the title from me with a triple-whammy (making three cry in a row) but I'm sure I'll grab it back some day, haha.
So our daily schedule is 8-5 building a volunteer house for FDNC - the organization we are working for here. The organization is amazing, the people are light-hearted and helpful. The site we work at is a vocational school compound, including a special needs community, a children's band that plays all over town, tailoring school, beauty school, and a comptuer science school. We're having a blast with all of them who are making us feel so welcome, and completely immersed as people - not just crazy mzungus (and they totally do think we're all crazy) haha.
This past weekend we went to Sipi Falls (which I thought was Sleepy Falls until we got there) and sat behind waterfalls, hiked up mountainsides, climbed into a bat cave (gross but awesome) and while I was sitting next to one waterfall I found myself in the middle of a rainbow!!! Full circle, streams of color surrounding me - ah, what a spiritual experience that was, and really hard to explain in words.
Ok time is running out but I will write soon. I really want to get into words how I feel about my true purpose being here but I am changing my mind about that every day. Maybe I'll save that for the last post.
OH and OF COURSE! The donations. OMYGOSH if you could only see the reactions from those soccer balls... I have never seen bigger, brighter smiles. I laugh as I walk the mile (uphill, cough cough) to work every day and I see one of the balls come bounding across a field. They've infiltrated the community and even though they seem simple material objects - those balls have helped to keep the people light-hearted despite the intense poverty and hardship that truly devestates this area. So thank you thank you thank you. You have brought smiles to some of the most precious faces I have ever seen.
And as for the school supplies - I am bringing them up next week. I decided the best use for them was to the Special Needs school because they literally have nothing. And unfortuantely, the special needs kids as a group have been rejected for years (not unlike the U.S.) and the people that are running it are having a hard time finding sufficient support. And these kids. wow. All kids come running and laughing - but this community comes leaping. They love people, singing, and talking with empowerment about conquering their disabilities which ranges from physical to mental and everything in between. I've learned a little sign language to be able to communicate with the three deaf girls (one I have not met, because she can't afford to get to school all the time - this is common everywhere).
In conclusion, thank you all for your support. This trip is pushing my comfort levels in all sorts of intense, necessary ways and I am happy as a clam in the sea (or a white girl in Uganda) haha.
Much love to all!
21.6.08
A nation united
NYC
Outside the UN building
Inside the UN building
On the balcony, the Uganda group #2!!! Our leader is the farthest left.
Corryn and I outside the front of the UN building at the beginning of the day.-----
One for all and all for one! Solidarity is our motto or so it seems to be for now. That was one of the messages I soaked in from today's mass...a compilation of prayers for all of the traveling groups and a celebration of the past 50 years of successful Crossroad groups! There were speakers from past years - including one guy from the first year of Operation Crossroads' birth! 1958! Very cool. After a mass filled with dancing, singing, gospel choirs and motivational speeches we made our way to the UN Delegates Dining Room for a celebratory dinner. It was so moving to be in an area where people have made decisions that have changed the world so drastically. The whole experience reminded me of all the reasons I am participating in this program.
Some "celebrities" showed up like Miss Liberia and Malcolm X's daughter - who was a past Crossroader herself. We had food from all over the world - Red Snapper from East Africa, Avocado from South Africa, coffee from Kenya and delicious delicious treats... that we WON'T be having for the next two months. Apparently I'm looking forward to a lot of rice and beans. (Which I can't really complain about...yet) :)
We leave tomorrow at 11 p.m. for Dubai. Then a quick sleep in a hotel and another flight to Uganda. I'm so excited and will be in touch asap. Included are some pictures of my Uganda group at the UN and the rest of the day. Enjoy! Best wishes to all and peace (in solidarity!)
20.6.08
THE ROCK SPOT
I was waiting outside Borders for friends today on the corner of 7th and 36th? I think. Somewhere around there. I heard a lil rumor that Chris Rock was inside so I ran - of course - to the 2nd floor, spotted the man himself behind a shelf and shook his hand! He was really sweet and dealt politely with me bothering him during his book search. Then he paid for his stuff, with gawking eyes all around him, walked outside and into his chauffeured shiny car. Twas totally cool. :)
A quick hello
So I haven't made it too far yet... Garden City to be exact. We're in the city/Long Island for the weekend until our flight leaves Sunday night for Dubai! We spend a night there - and from what I hear, there we get a hotel and free food! YAY! Then we're off to our destination for the following two months: Mbale, Uganda.
I've met our group: 8 girls, 1 boy. (poor kid...or not? haha) They're great. We're all ready to adventure, ready to explore, ready to help, see, listen, build, blah blah blah. No decisive plans on what our one-week travel experience will include butttt we're thinking safari, white-water rafting, waterfall climbing, etc. I'm realllly looking forward to that trip! For now, we're focusing on our goal: to build a house, start to finish, while we are there. THINK WE CAN DO IT?!?!
Haha, I hope so. We shall see... stay tuned for more updates. I won't have internet access in the compound we are living in, but I will be able to go into town sometimes and use it. So I'll make sure to make updates here when I do. Thats when the pictures will come... the good stuff. :)
I've met our group: 8 girls, 1 boy. (poor kid...or not? haha) They're great. We're all ready to adventure, ready to explore, ready to help, see, listen, build, blah blah blah. No decisive plans on what our one-week travel experience will include butttt we're thinking safari, white-water rafting, waterfall climbing, etc. I'm realllly looking forward to that trip! For now, we're focusing on our goal: to build a house, start to finish, while we are there. THINK WE CAN DO IT?!?!
Haha, I hope so. We shall see... stay tuned for more updates. I won't have internet access in the compound we are living in, but I will be able to go into town sometimes and use it. So I'll make sure to make updates here when I do. Thats when the pictures will come... the good stuff. :)
17.6.08
TAKE TWO
OK so we're trying this again. Or should I say, I am trying this again. Ah, growing up and owning up. This is my second attempt at starting up this blog. Despite my mom's persistent requests for pictures and stories, I couldn't get this thing up in running. After a long and strenuous battle to set this thing up IN SPANISH, I still couldn't frequent it enough. I could blame it on the annoyingly intermittent internet situation in Spain but a more appropriate blame can be placed on my reflex to go run and play in the Rio in Valencia rather than wait four hours for pictures to upload. SO I deleted the previous posts in an effort to clean slate.
And on to new adventures...
After five glorious months of running around Europe, lucky little ol' me gets to run around Africa for two months this summer. I have an slight feeling the two trips will differ... just a tad? I have mentioned to my mom a few times in the two weeks I have been home, that I am currently in a state of transition: from total "me" time to total "them" time (whatever that means... we shall find out!) And I couldn't be more thankful for it. Europe was AMAZING and self-indulging in every eye-opening, academic, expensive, fun, delicious, playful sense of the word. I learned so much and I'm sure my experience in Africa will only make me more thankful for having been able to have it.
As for my future "jaunt" (not quite so sure if the blog's name is any longer on-par with the meaning behind my volunteer trip but I guess the shoe could fit if I shove it in there) -- I am first and foremost thankful to my family for putting up with my coming and going and all the requests for help in between. Secondly and very importantly, Bob Iger, for making this trip possible for me. This opportunity is just one more reason I consider enrolling at Ithaca College the best decision I ever made. Thank you Mr. Iger, the Simmons family and everyone in Park, especially Dean Lynch and Melissa Gattine for their support.
And I can't forget all the WONDERFUL people in Delmar, New York who donated everything from school supplies to deflated soccer balls to send down to Uganda with me. I hope to return the favor with plenty of photographed moments of these items being put to good use.
Much Love to all, and expect the upcoming posts to include more detail on my actual trip in Uganda -- as I will be there! June 25 - Aug. 11. No promises of any better internet connection than Spain - probably worse - BUT I have learned my lesson from the disappointed faces back at home whom are just simply curious to my where-abouts and whos-abouts. So I will do my best to keep in touch through this.
For more information on my program, here are some websites if interested:
www.operationcrossroadsafrica.org
www.fdncuganda.org
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