mirrored

Lately I've been feeling quite nostalgic. guatemala has been weighing heavily on my mind and I am missing it immensely. Sometimes it just takes sitting down and focusing on reflecting for the emotions and feelings to come.... sometimes they stay buried below the surface, but sometimes... they flow quite freely. I have found that the right music often helps bring these feelings out. Currently, regina spektor's human of the year song... specifically at minute 1:57... is helping me to release some of this... it's such a beautiful little insert to this song... it's quickly become one of my favorite pieces ever. Anywho, enough of the staging to this post.... I can't really explain it fully, but I just feel like a piece of me is still in Guatemala.... Ithink about my sponsor child, Leidy, every day. I feel so lucky to know people who are in Guatemala that can ease my mind a bit; they update me on the happenings and allow me to feel connected to the world down there. For instance, two specific experienes in the last weeks have delighted me. Someone from the office in Bismarck recently visited Guatemala and spontaneously took a picture of Leidy and her family. After having a brief conversation with her, she sent me the picture... which made my day... Leidy was featured with a huge smile on her face...wearing the tank top I sent her only weeks before. Her smile is pure radiancy and I just adore that little girl. Here is the picture I received...



Another connection to guatemala has allowed me to get daily updates regarding Leidy and what's going on with her each day. A fellow NDSU grad is living and volunteering down in Antigua and after asking him to keep tabs on leidy, he's had consistent conversations with her on a near daily basis. I asked him to seek her out and give her a hug from me whenever possible. He shares with me, their conversations and how she's doing. I love having that connection to her and having her know that I am thinking about her every day. I am awaiting the response to what her favorite subject in school is and what her favorite color is. I can't wait to see her in May when I get to travel down again. I have also been unable to quench my desire to learn more about guatemala and the atrocious history the country and its people have endured. I have a new sense of understanding for what these people have lived through and more fully understand the struggles and barriers that have been purposefully placed to inhibit their growth and success as a country. The fact that our country has played such an integral and awful role in this history often leaves me ashamed to identify myself as an american. it's difficult to identify with a country that has had so little grace for other nations and its people.

in the last weeks I have been focusing more on my thesis... and i have fallen under the spell of mr. paulo freire. now, i know that he has his critiques, and I am well aware of that. but, for the first time in my life, i read a piece of literature that named something for me. banking education and the release from it allowed me to feel like the feelings i have toward the education system are legitimate and that the work i'm trying to do is founded in deeper theoretical research. it puts a smile on my face to be able to tie my love of social justice with my love of education and the teaching of a critical pedagogy. i am so excited to have been able to tie these things together for my thesis and to really feel like i am furthering my self development. i think people are often writing a thesis to get a piece of paper... i am writing a thesis to discover more about myself and what i can do to further my pursuit in life. . . it's truly been a great experience thus far and i can't wait to see where it leads me as i continue to move forward.

even though this semester has been crazy with the number of obligations i have commited myself to, i have fully impressed myself with my ability to stick to a routine. i have been running 3-5 times a week ( in the MORNING... for those of you who know me... you understand what a feat this is!). I can't tell you how much I love returning from a good long run in the morning and drinking my cup of coffee to prep for a long day of teaching, learning, reading and working. It's really been a piece of the puzzle that has made me feel much more human. It's true... running is addicting.

there's just been so much going on and i know that i have dropped the ball on the blog. reflecting on things is often just cumbersome to think about.... but, i am trying to devote more time to thinking about all that is going on.

for now, i must be off to delve into the world of social theory....

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