I've been holding off...

to post until I uploaded my photos from San Francisco. But, I still have yet to upload those photos and it is now nearly two weeks later. I will do my best to get those darn photos uploaded soon... they really are fun :) A lot has happened since I last updated. I quit my job... I suppose that's the biggie. While in San Francisco, I had a revelation that made me realize that I needed to get back on track with my academics and ultimately, my thesis. My last day was August 14th. Since then, I have enjoyed doing a lot of reading, cleaning, and getting things back-on-track. I also have been putting in a few hours at NDSU to get prepped to start my assistantship again. I can't believe that we start school in only 4 days... where on Earth did this summer go? It's been nothing short of crazy. Beyond that though, we have had some recent visitors to the F-M that have been very nice! Michael's parents were here, as were his sister Serena and her husband Mike and their 5 little kids... :) And tonight, Jason (another of Michael's siblings) is coming with his family. We are really excited to see them... as it's been since their devastating fire in early November since I've seen them. I have been lax on taking photos to document all of these great visits... but, I will do my best to take some photos today/tonight when Jason and the fam. get here.
I also must pay homage to my day of substitue sitting for the owner of the Najmania blog. If you are a parent and want some laughs... you should check out this blog.. http://najmania.blogspot.com/ or, in my case if you just love reading about what it's really like to parent... you should check out this blog.. http://najmania.blogspot.com/ I am always laughing when I read it... But, the day with those boys was great. I really enjoyed them thoroughly and even though the youngest little guy got in trouble for not being nice to me, I really think he was just doing what was natural, testing his waters with the new authority figure. I enjoyed myself completely and am excited to make a return appearnace to their household.

Michael and I are currently enjoying the luxuries of heaven... yes, that's right.. we have discovered heaven on Earth. We haven't had much time to spend together due to my long hours working with the campaign and with trying to get things back in order before all the family came to town, so we decided to check ourselves into the Staybrdige Suites hotel last night. Little did we know, that we were entering heaven on Earth. You see, this isn't your average hotel; this is something much, much more. They serve dinner. Yes, you read that right... They serve dinner, and all-you-can-drink free beer and wine... Yup, you read that right again. They also have unlimited fountain soda, milk, coffee, and juice. As if that's not enough, they have a swimming pool, jaccuzzi, sauna, in-room kitchenette, down comforter and pillows, tv on a swivel stand (so it can be turned in all sorts of directions), a breakfast BUFFET that included bacon, and of course, WIFI internet. Oh, and did I mention that we were thoroughly blown away by all of this? Well, we were and still are. We have really enjoyed spending some time together and it is allowing us to recharge our symbolic batteries before school gets up and going again... in four days.... !!!

But, Michael is watching animal planet and pleaing that we make a return appearance to the pool... so, with that, I hope you're doing well and I will work on getting those photos up soon!

Go Together Like Peanut Butter and Jelly

What you're asking.... go together like peanut butter and jelly? Well, let me just tell you...

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Friends Forever.

I simply cannot describe the level of excitement that I have for my approaching trip to San Francisco. I am so eager to be amidst like-minded people who are interested in engaging in thoughtful conversations about the world around us. The Sociology conference is going to be great! I am equally excited to see the Golden Gate Bridge and the Castro. I will surely take pictures and document them upon my return. Please leave me any advice that you feel may be beneficial during my stay in San Fran.

life as of late

My life = The Campaign toward real healthcare reform. Here are a few of the things that I've been up to in the last weeks.... and seriously, my life consists of nothing more than 12 hour work days and sleep when it's possible. For all of you who think I'm purposely avoiding you.... think again!

A day of stalking the senator ended with this shot :)

looking for Conrad at Meritcare...

Healthcare rally on the Main Ave. Bridge

3,000 letters and postcards from people who WANT CHANGE

in Conrad's office when delivering the cards/letters

7.28.09 healthcare press conference outside pomeroy's office in Fargo

photos

Mikey and I got the opportunity to model for a local photographer's photo shoot... how do you think we did?

I don't mean to belabor the fact that it's been crazy here..... but, it's been CRAZY! The campaign for healthcare reform is in FULL swing and we are working 12-hour days on a regular (and consistent) basis. It's been an incredible challenge, but my fellow organizers have pressed me to push on and work toward being a part of some of the most important legislation to ever occur during my generation. This is our time, generation y, to flex our political muscle and show that we're really made of something real and that we're willing to put in the long days to ensure that CHANGE happens.

The other night my fellow organizers and I did some canvassing in one of the low-income areas of Fargo-Moorhead. For anyone who doesn't believe that poverty exists in this community, I challenge you to move beyond your neighborhood and pleasantries and really go examine the way that we're allowing our community members to live. To put it simply, no human being should be living in the conditions that we witnessed. I know that often canvassers are seen as a nuisance, but for many of these people, we were a link to the world that provided an opportunity to use their voice. This population that is so often shunned and ignored was sought out specifically to be provided with the tools needed to contact their delegation and let them know how important this effort is. I don't know that I'll ever know or experience anything closer to the definition of empowerment. I will take that memory and put it in my back pocket and carry it with me always.

On another note, yesterday I got a card from Leidy, my sponsor child in Guatemala. She was holding the package that I had sent down for her about a month ago. I can't even explain how excited I was to get that card. When I see her smile, I can't help but to grin myself. The long days and taxing hours can make it hard to remember the humanity in life, and this card really pushed home the reason that I started and am still doing this work. There are injustices in this world that need attention and I hope to be part of the answer.

keep on keepin' on

The last weeks have been absolutely insane. There is no other way to describe it. I started my job with with the Change that Works Campaign a few weeks back. The campaign is focused on attaining health care reform that would allow ALL Americans access to QUALITY, AFFORDABLE health care. My story, like many others, hinges on the fact that the current system renders people helpless and uninsured. The lack of access to health care is devastating people's lives all over the state and country. Day after day I hear horror stories of lives and futures lost due to the seriously broken system. It's been great to work with people that are so committed to this progressive movement.... I've already learned so much from them and have grown leaps and bounds in the last weeks. They are great people that I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know. I must admit that I have been challenged incredibly by the campaign and am working diligently to try and make everything in my life mesh. It's an uphill battle, but hopefully things will soon work out and lead to a bit more of a rhythm that is sustainable. Do you have a health care story? I'd love to hear about it..... just post a comment or drop me an e-mail at: impact.the.present@gmail.com

bitter sweet sympony

This story from my experience in Guatemala is one that is constantly bouncing around in my head. I think about this man at least once a week, if not on a daily basis. He touched me. His story shaped how I think about things. I will not forget him. Ever.

Our service team was split into three groups. Each evening, one of the groups took the opportunity to serve the individuals at the Homeless Shelter run by the Nuestros Ahijados. Because there were only two instructors, I went with the third group. Little did I know, but this second trip would directly shape my world view. It would be a moment in time that I will think back to for the rest of my days.

The students served the individuals just as each other team had done. The people at the center are so grateful for the services they receive. A warm meal and a roof over their heads is something that they don't have access to otherwise. This homeless shelther is the only one in Central America. Just think for a second about how backward that is.... there are millions of people who need the assistance, and there simply aren't resources to serve them.

Anyway, while the students were washing the dishes, I had the chance to chat with a few of the individuals at the Center. I was completely taken aback when one individual spoke to me in perfect, accent-free English. I spun around and proceeded to see him translating for others around him. He was sharing their thanks for our service. I kneeled down to be at eye-level with him and shared with him the purpose of our service team and that we were thankful that they had allowed us to serve them. That we were hoping to do our part to ensure that they knew we care about them. He asked why people would come and do such work; especially people from America. I responded by detailing the notion that our group was there to garner a world view. To better connect with the rest of the globe's inhabitants.

By this time, he and I were just chatting, the others had moved on to other things. He looked at me and told me that my group and I were great people. I looked him in the eye and responded by telling him that he, too, was a great human being and that the only thing that separated the two of us was chance. This conversation allowed me to share the common experience of humanity because there truly wasn't anything inherently different about us. We were two people living completely different lives, but I could have just as easily been in his place or he in mine. After I told him that he was a good person, he told me that I shouldn't say things like that. For a moment I felt that I had overstepped my boundary and that I had intruded on a past that he didn't want to share. But, I followed it up by saying that we shared the common human experience and that he simply had faced different barriers in his lifetime. I repeated myself, tell him that he was indeed a good person and that he deserved the best in life. He just looked at me and said, you really shouldn't say such things..... you're going to make me cry. At that point, I was holding back tears and hoping that he understood that I was being entirely sincere.

He shared with me that he was adopted as a child and grew up in Oregon with his adoptive family. He had lived the luxury of America but had decided to return to Guatemala. He had lost everything and was now standing before me embarassed to be in such a condition where he was forced to use the toilet and shower in front of me, a woman. That his life had been reduced to something that he was ashamed of.

Just as we began to move on in the conversation, Hector tapped me with his umbrella and told me that it was time to head back to our host families.

The gentleman looked me in the eyes and said words that I'll never forget, "Thank you for coming here; I hope that we will meet up some day in the states and I can help you like you've helped me here."

I walked out of the shelter holding back tears knowing that I had accomplished everything I had set out to do on this journey.