earth

rhhhhubarb, aaaasparagas, bluooooberries, earth squishing up between my toes. I love you Kalamazoo.

Obama - a question

I recently listened to Barak Obama's speech on race and racism in America. I was once again captivated and inspired... yet there is one line in there that urked me. In the first third of his speech, Obama was commenting on the controversial statements made by his former paster...

"But the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren't simply controversial. They weren't simply a religious leader's effort to speak out against perceived injustice. Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country - a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America; a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam."

My acquisition of historical knowledge and current political climates is admittedly limited to that a U.S. citizen, small-town-country-girl, who rarely watches TV news, or reads a newspaper. Even so I do have strong opinion on this issue, and I tend to blame Israel (and its allies) for a good portion of current conflicts in the Middle East. I am attempting to decipher Obama's stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict/occupation. From what I hear and read he has recently been a quite outspoken in his support of Israel...

So, as bright and aware people of the world, what is our opinion on Obama's climbing into bed with AIPAC? Does his worldliness and charisma make up for it? Is he so great that one can just overlook this great flaw? As long as we have health care and peaceful race relations at home... it won't matter that we continue to monetarily and militarily support genocide and apartheid in the Promised Land?

Making Histroy

Last night I found myself in Minneapolis, Minnesota as Obama and his supporters rallied together to celebrate his victory in the Democratic primaries. So, my hosts and I crossed the river to St. Paul, found the Excel arena, and followed the line for a half hour until we finally found the our place. The doors were opened at 7:00 pm, but we did not budge an inch until at least 7:30 and then slowly started to make our way through the line, returning to the arena. Two hours and 20 blocks later we reached the main entrance and they closed the doors right behind us. We were some of the last of the 17 thousand people who attended the rally. According to the fire-marshal, another 15 thousand waited and watched from outside.

* Change means using "not just firepower, but the power of diplomacy"

* Things you won't see used in this campaign are "religion used as a wedge and patriotism as a bludgeon."

Watch Barak Obama's speech from St. Paul, MN.

I was honored to be witness and participate in such a historic victory. But more than anything else I was in awe of Barak Obama's oratory skills. I appreciate his choice and/or use of words, and his enthusiasm. I was surprisingly moved and inspired.

cambio de planes

aquí todo sigue maravilloso.

tengo muy buenas noticias y noticias bastante tristes.

el bueno es que ahora (mañana) voy a subir el tren para ir de aventuras. tengo una entrevista con una escuela de mis sueños. hace unas semanas les mandé mi resume y una carta de presentacion. ahora tengo entrevista para un trabajo de tiempo completo como maestra de español. es un poco retirado. bastante lejos de donde vivo ahora, pero les cayo bastante bien y van a pagar el pasaje. (me crees?) estoy tan emocionada que casi no me contengo.

el malo es que ya decidí que hablar con la gente del proyecto verano en puebla a decirles que ya no me iba. ya no voy a aceptar la posicion. y por eso... ya no pienso en regresar a mx. tan en seguido, tan rapido. sino con despacio. al rato.

como me duele decirsela, pero ya.
un abrazote

playing with pescado

My first fish filleted, and I have won the fish filleting competition of the evening! This little black knife was my best investment ever.

una buena noticia y una pregunta grave

Muy buena noticia! Me seleccionaron como guía/facilitadora para el Proyecto Verano del American Friends Service Committee en Puebla, México! El Proyecto Verano es un especie de intercambio inter-cultural y proyecto de servicio. Estoy muy emocionada pero todavía pensando en mi decisión final. Tengo una semana para entregar mi firma y mi contracto con ellos! La verdad, después de terminar este trabajo el 6 de Junio, no sé que hacer. Bueno, pues, la vida siga ofreciéndome las oportunidades mas preciosas que puedo imaginar.

...

Pues, estoy pensando en que hacer con mi vida. Es un asunto grave que me cuesta mucho trabajo. La pregunta del siglo, ¿no? So, I am constantly asking myself is if teaching is enough... I love working with youth. I love speaking Spanish. Why not combine the passions? But, am I just taking the easy way out by succumbing to a broken and disfigured educational system within a broken and disfigured nation? I feel like it is my best choice, but I also don't know what other choices I have... I feel like I should be challenging some status quo, or organizing against some vile and nasty fumigation project in Colombia, fighting for the rights of the oppressed, or exposing the destructive forces of some corporate giant... But I am tired of fighting, I want to create and inspire and encourage. Can I stay here and still make a difference in the world? Can I live simply and thoughtfully and not be accused of selling out or giving in?

shocking and shocked

Teaching Spanish to these moody, excitable, and skeptical high school youth rocks my world! We make a good match, these 15-somethings and I. They are equally shocking to me and shocked by me.

Lately a couple students have been lingering around my classroom after school is over... Occasionally they tell me I had assigned them after school detention. Occasionally they talk about their father's job, co-ed wresting tournaments, or their librarian. Occasionally they are not even my students. Either way, they are pleasant company while I grade quizzes and prepare for the day to come.

Today I was delightfully surprised by an unexpected high-five! Y'all know me, right? I am an avid fan and advocate of high-fiving. As I raised my hand to wave goodbye to my last class of the day, a hand reached up and made smacking contact with mine! That positive affirmation was the proper conclusion to a robust and rewarding week.

Another perk of this low paying job is the unlimited and magical copy machine. Yesterday I copied the entirety of my new favorite library book Ki Kiri Ki, a collection of bilingual children's stories(!!!).