We finished up our Morocco map project. I'm very happy about it and can't wait for mom to see it in person (which is in 2 weeks!) I think it is really beautiful and eye catching. I'm proud of it.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Congratulations Ellery
This girl
+
This school
=
Two happy cousins jumping for joy.
Congratulations Elle, you made it into MSU. I couldn't be more proud and happy for you. You worked hard and you dreamed hard and you deserve this so much. I'm already planning my visits there to see you. You are going to have such a wonderful time at such a wonderful school. I love you!
Thankful
These emotions can drive us crazy just like the misfortunes that are happening.
For me, in these situations, I choose to take it as another opportunity to be thankful for what I have.
Being thankful is truly what grounds me. It is the center of my spirituality. I don’t take the fact that I have health, a supportive family, a good education, and all my basic needs met very lightly. I know how simple it is to have something taken away.
As America changes while I am gone it’s easy to panic. It’s not difficult to see injustices happening and we wonder what we can do about them.
I know that I have a lot and I know that I can share that. It’s what I know I can do to deal with the sadness I might feel toward the things that are happening that are not ok with me.
I’m not a politician, a celebrity, or a billionaire. But I think I am something better than all those things. I am a simple American citizen, just like so many others. We couldn’t survive without the raw, genuine compassion and assistance that we give each other every day.
When I get back home I am going to continue to be thankful for what I have, especially after living life in a different way. And I am going to continue to give parts of myself to make someones' life a little easier. It makes my heart feel strong and full.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Women's health workshop details
The idea was born for this workshop in December 2010. I met my new friends Khadija and Soukaina at the end of that month. After getting to know them for several weeks I asked them if they would be interested in helping me with this project.
In February we started talking specifics. I gave them my ideas and I gave them time to think about theirs. Pretty soon we decided on the content we were going to present.
We had four sessions and these are the subjects:
-Nutrition
-First aid including CPR
-Self breast exam and contraception
-Exercising and stretching
Later on that month we decided on a place to hold the workshop. We wanted to have it at a women’s center here in town. Since there are two we planned to look at both and pick the best one. The first one did not greet us very enthusiastically. We were told we would have to have permission from people in the provincial capitol to hold our event there. We walked away discouraged.
We moved on to the other women’s center and the women there were much more accommodating and friendly. They told us that all we had to do was give them our dates and they would have the place set up for us.
Now we were left to prepare our information, which we divided up. We also had to figure out how we could get cookies and tea for the event, as it is a standard addition to any Moroccan event.
For a few weeks we worked independently on our presentations.
The week before the workshop I wanted to return to the women’s center just to finalize our plans and tell them our program.
That was when the s*** hit the fan. The women acted very differently this time and told us that we would have to have permission to have our event there. And at that point we only had three working days before our event was to happen.
Also we had already given out invitations with that location on it. This is when I lost it. I got angry and frustrated and had a good cry. The following day I had to talk to my friends so we could figure out a solution.
It seems in Morocco that nothing is privately owned. Every venue in our town that was big enough to have an event like this required permission from the mayor of the city hall in order to hold our event.
The issues with that were:
-The city hall was on strike the day we wanted to get the permission
-The mayor isn’t the nicest or friendliest guy around so most people don’t like dealing with him
But we decided we would have it at the town library because it is perfect for events like this. We wrote up our request and skipping forward to the good part-we got the permission., the Friday before the event took place.
My friend Saida got the copies we wanted for free at the city hall because she works there. That saved us quite a bit of money.
We gave the women copies of :
-The food guide pyramid in Arabic
-A self breast exam chart in Arabic
-A sheet of drawings (by Khadija) of all the exercises and stretches the women can do at home
Saida also offered to make the cookies and prepare and serve the tea for the event. I gave her 200 dirhams to purchase all the ingredients.
We used a projector to show pictures and videos to illustrate our information. Jolie kindly brought hers and after about a 20 minute freak out we got everything running smoothly.
The event took place over two afternoons. We talked a lot about days and times trying to pick the best when we thought women would actually show up. It was Monday and Tuesday 3-6pm. But we told our invitees to come at 2:30 hoping that would make them arrive at 3. Moroccan people are usually late. We didn't end up getting started until 3:30 each day and participants kept arriving until then.
In February we started talking specifics. I gave them my ideas and I gave them time to think about theirs. Pretty soon we decided on the content we were going to present.
We had four sessions and these are the subjects:
-Nutrition
-First aid including CPR
-Self breast exam and contraception
-Exercising and stretching
Later on that month we decided on a place to hold the workshop. We wanted to have it at a women’s center here in town. Since there are two we planned to look at both and pick the best one. The first one did not greet us very enthusiastically. We were told we would have to have permission from people in the provincial capitol to hold our event there. We walked away discouraged.
We moved on to the other women’s center and the women there were much more accommodating and friendly. They told us that all we had to do was give them our dates and they would have the place set up for us.
Now we were left to prepare our information, which we divided up. We also had to figure out how we could get cookies and tea for the event, as it is a standard addition to any Moroccan event.
For a few weeks we worked independently on our presentations.
The week before the workshop I wanted to return to the women’s center just to finalize our plans and tell them our program.
That was when the s*** hit the fan. The women acted very differently this time and told us that we would have to have permission to have our event there. And at that point we only had three working days before our event was to happen.
Also we had already given out invitations with that location on it. This is when I lost it. I got angry and frustrated and had a good cry. The following day I had to talk to my friends so we could figure out a solution.
It seems in Morocco that nothing is privately owned. Every venue in our town that was big enough to have an event like this required permission from the mayor of the city hall in order to hold our event.
The issues with that were:
-The city hall was on strike the day we wanted to get the permission
-The mayor isn’t the nicest or friendliest guy around so most people don’t like dealing with him
But we decided we would have it at the town library because it is perfect for events like this. We wrote up our request and skipping forward to the good part-we got the permission., the Friday before the event took place.
My friend Saida got the copies we wanted for free at the city hall because she works there. That saved us quite a bit of money.
We gave the women copies of :
-The food guide pyramid in Arabic
-A self breast exam chart in Arabic
-A sheet of drawings (by Khadija) of all the exercises and stretches the women can do at home
Saida also offered to make the cookies and prepare and serve the tea for the event. I gave her 200 dirhams to purchase all the ingredients.
We used a projector to show pictures and videos to illustrate our information. Jolie kindly brought hers and after about a 20 minute freak out we got everything running smoothly.
The event took place over two afternoons. We talked a lot about days and times trying to pick the best when we thought women would actually show up. It was Monday and Tuesday 3-6pm. But we told our invitees to come at 2:30 hoping that would make them arrive at 3. Moroccan people are usually late. We didn't end up getting started until 3:30 each day and participants kept arriving until then.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Women's health workshop
More than anything this experience is something that had a full and complete life. It started with an idea, a planning process, and it saw a successful end.
I had the idea a long time ago to have a small women’s health workshop here in my town. This is a pretty common project for volunteers here, especially female ones, who care about women’s health.
Jolie started talking to me early this year about having a workshop together. Just when she said this I met my two friends, Soukaina and Khadija, who are nurses and asked them if they would be interested in helping us out. They were, so that is where the project was born.
I could kick myself for not blogging through every part of this process to show the ups and down, successes and obstacles, but I can’t go back now.
Stay tuned and I will break down the process here with details and a time line. But for now please enjoy these photos of our Women’s health workshop that was very successful.
Clockwise from left: Soukaina gives her presentation about nutrition, a participant looks on at her food guide pyramid, Khadija demonstrating the recovery position, Khadija teaching about burns.
Me showing how to warm up your shoulders, some of our participants looking on, one of our beautiful trays of cookies (Thanks Saida for making them, and thank MaryAnn R. for providing the funds!).
Some more of our participants, me demonstrating using water bottles as weights, serving tea and cookies at the end, our planning crew, (myself, Soukaina, Saida, Khadija, Jolie).
I had the idea a long time ago to have a small women’s health workshop here in my town. This is a pretty common project for volunteers here, especially female ones, who care about women’s health.
Jolie started talking to me early this year about having a workshop together. Just when she said this I met my two friends, Soukaina and Khadija, who are nurses and asked them if they would be interested in helping us out. They were, so that is where the project was born.
I could kick myself for not blogging through every part of this process to show the ups and down, successes and obstacles, but I can’t go back now.
Stay tuned and I will break down the process here with details and a time line. But for now please enjoy these photos of our Women’s health workshop that was very successful.
Clockwise from left: Soukaina gives her presentation about nutrition, a participant looks on at her food guide pyramid, Khadija demonstrating the recovery position, Khadija teaching about burns. 
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Grilled cheese and tomato soup
This one is worth blogging over. Jolie was in town and I had the idea to try one of the soup recipes in our Peace Corps Morocco cookbook. We decided on creamy tomato. I've never made tomato soup from scratch before and it was surprisingly easy. It's the first time I've had tomato soup in nearly 19 months and boy did it hit the spot. And to top it all off we paired the tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches. Perfect for dipping.Saturday, March 19, 2011
A place I miss
It amazing how a book can spark a feeling.Today I started reading an Ian McEwan novel (he wrote Atonement) and it brought delight but also a feeling of longing for a place I miss.
That place is a book store. Most specifically Schuler Books at the Eastwood Towne Center in Lansing, MI. For the last year that I live in America I used to go to Schuler Books to get away, be alone (although surrounded by other customers), have a hot drink, and curl up in a chair with a book.
My favorite spot there was near the fireplace. Although it wasn’t often lit I loved the big, cozy chairs and couches there. I used to walk through the store hoping there was at least one spot left in that area where I could plant myself for hours on end enjoying the serenity that the place gave me.
When I needed a break I would wind myself through the aisles of bookcases, full of words, wisdom, and escape. I find some of the greatest comfort being surrounded by books. Places full of them harbor endless possibilities to discover. Their silent demeanor will never judge and the feel of their spines is strong and solid.
The tiny anti-consumerist in me had the idea once to read a book from cover to cover in the store without ever buying it. It was The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan. It was a short book so for a few days I would read part of the book, remember my place, and put the book back where it belonged. I was excited to return the next time to read more of it.
My heart longs for this place and the comfort it brings. Here in my Moroccan town I don’t have a “place” to call mine. I have my apartment, which I can be alone and myself, but I miss those places to go to get out of the house.
Soon enough I will be able to fine a new “place” for me when I get settled someplace new. It’s definitely something to look forward to.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Tabata
I’d like to let you in on my newest obsession. I found this new workout through one of my favorite yoga websites and I am loving it already.
It is called Tabata, named for the Japanese man who created it.
Let me get straight to the point already, this workout only lasts four minutes. Just four short minutes for a fantastic cardio workout.
The way you perform this work out is as follows:
20 seconds of high intensity activity
10 seconds rest
20 seconds of high intensity activity
10 seconds rest
20 seconds of high intensity activity
10 seconds rest
20 seconds of high intensity activity
10 seconds rest
Times 2
So in total you will have eight 20 second intervals of high intensity activity and eight 10 intervals of rest.
These are some ideas for your high intensity activity intervals:
-Jumping Jacks
-Push ups
-Squat thrusts
-Running in place with high knees
You can use this free online timer to time everything out for you. Make sure under select saved options you select Tabata.
It is called Tabata, named for the Japanese man who created it.
Let me get straight to the point already, this workout only lasts four minutes. Just four short minutes for a fantastic cardio workout.
The way you perform this work out is as follows:
20 seconds of high intensity activity
10 seconds rest
20 seconds of high intensity activity
10 seconds rest
20 seconds of high intensity activity
10 seconds rest
20 seconds of high intensity activity
10 seconds rest
Times 2
So in total you will have eight 20 second intervals of high intensity activity and eight 10 intervals of rest.
These are some ideas for your high intensity activity intervals:
-Jumping Jacks
-Push ups
-Squat thrusts
-Running in place with high knees
You can use this free online timer to time everything out for you. Make sure under select saved options you select Tabata.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Things 90s Kids Realize
Time for me to plug another blog. This time I do not know it's author but I love reading it nonetheless.If you are a child of the 1990s-or a parent of one-you will probably love clicking through this blog's entries too.
Things 90s Kids Realize is just that. Realizations about the pop culture that we grew up with from an adults perspective. Although not updated daily you can still find yourself wasting plenty enough time clicking through past entries-probably not being able to stop.
Many are laugh out loud funny because they are so true. And they bring back memories that many of us don't want to forget.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Find your romantic twin
Christina Bloom, a New York writer, left her husband years ago when she realized she had no chemistry with him. She fell in love with another man and her friends quickly started telling the couple that they looked like brother and sister.Bloom began to see a trend in happy couples who look similar so she developed findyourfacemate.com. It is a dating site that helps other people find their romantic twins.
The site uses features like face structure to help match potential mates.
Bloom is not the only one that feels this way. A 2009 study from the University of St. Andrews found that women prefer men with similar facial features to their own. A 2006 University of Liverpool study asked participants to rate pictures based on attractiveness. The ones with highest preference were ones that looked similar to the participants face.
Bloom says that she doesn’t believe that facial matching alone can build a good relationship. She says that it does amount to chemistry but you must have capability too.
They say that some couples begin to look like as the grow closer together. With this site the couples can start out their relationship looking alike. Apparently some people can appreciate this but personally I don’t know what it says about your relationship when people say your lover looks like your sibling.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Youth center content meeting
Working as a Peace Corps volunteer is pretty much as grassroots as development work gets. As a PCV we live the side by side with the members of our communities in order to better understand each other. Which is ultimately the most important goal of Peace Corps.
In Moroccan culture specifically respect comes with age. And 24 just isn’t quite old enough to get the same respect that I might get at home. Most Moroccans refer to unmarried people as “chebab” or youth until the time they are married. For some that may be 30 years old.
Even though I live by myself, take care of myself, and travel all around this country by myself I still get treated like a child a lot. At a tender age of nearly 25, when I am starting to leave my early 20s behind and trying to be respected as a capable adult I would rather be treated like the latter.
This week I was asked to participate in something that really helped me to feel that way. I got to feel like a different kind of development worker and more like a professional.
I got invited to Rabat, along with three other PCVs, to be present at a meeting about a new model of content for Moroccan youth centers. The Ministry of Youth and Sports is in the process of building 500 new youth centers that will feature many resources to develop well rounded and capable young adults. The meeting that we participated in was to talk about the content they will offer. We talked about a whole slew of ideas from exercise classes, to first aid instruction, to around the country field trips.
Present at the meeting were some ministry officials as well as some directors of some nearby youth centers. The meeting felt very professional and they were so willing and eager to hear our feedback and get advice based on our experiences.
I could tell I was a development worker in another country obviously because the meeting was conducted mostly in Arabic with our PC staff helping to translate. There came a moment where I just had to fully take in the notion that I was sitting in a room in a foreign country, struggling to understand a foreign language, talking about the future of a nation’s youth.
At that point I knew I was in the right place doing the right thing with my life. I felt lucky to be part of the beginning of something that is going to help shape these youth and ultimately make our world a better place.
In Moroccan culture specifically respect comes with age. And 24 just isn’t quite old enough to get the same respect that I might get at home. Most Moroccans refer to unmarried people as “chebab” or youth until the time they are married. For some that may be 30 years old.
Even though I live by myself, take care of myself, and travel all around this country by myself I still get treated like a child a lot. At a tender age of nearly 25, when I am starting to leave my early 20s behind and trying to be respected as a capable adult I would rather be treated like the latter.
This week I was asked to participate in something that really helped me to feel that way. I got to feel like a different kind of development worker and more like a professional.
I got invited to Rabat, along with three other PCVs, to be present at a meeting about a new model of content for Moroccan youth centers. The Ministry of Youth and Sports is in the process of building 500 new youth centers that will feature many resources to develop well rounded and capable young adults. The meeting that we participated in was to talk about the content they will offer. We talked about a whole slew of ideas from exercise classes, to first aid instruction, to around the country field trips.
Present at the meeting were some ministry officials as well as some directors of some nearby youth centers. The meeting felt very professional and they were so willing and eager to hear our feedback and get advice based on our experiences.
I could tell I was a development worker in another country obviously because the meeting was conducted mostly in Arabic with our PC staff helping to translate. There came a moment where I just had to fully take in the notion that I was sitting in a room in a foreign country, struggling to understand a foreign language, talking about the future of a nation’s youth.
At that point I knew I was in the right place doing the right thing with my life. I felt lucky to be part of the beginning of something that is going to help shape these youth and ultimately make our world a better place.
Seeing eye dog gets seeing eye dog
Edward, the eight-year-old Labrador, developed glaucoma and had to have his eyes removed. He had been Graham’s eyes for six years.
Graham, who is only partially blind, was saddened to realize the severity of his dog’s condition.
He felt so attached to his loyal companion and he couldn’t simply replace him. Edward had helped Graham carry out daily tasks and helped him to get around.
Last November, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association helped the two of them out and two-year-old Opal was added to the family. Opal now helps both Graham and Edward the dog get around.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
1 year, 6 months
It’s like I’ve lived a whole life again in 18 months. I started here in September 2009 as a baby again. And over a swift period of time I grew up on a fast track.
It’s similar to a baby animal who walks within minutes of birth. Who learns to take care of themselves within days of that. I had to quickly learn how to talk, eat, live, and work in a new place far from my home.
When I first began, and I was feeling like a baby again it was not the easiest pill to swallow. I had been an adult for five years at that point and I was used to living on my own and taking care of myself. I had to get used to depending heavily on other people.
I think after my first full year here I had become a grown woman again. I no longer faced many new surprises and I knew what to expect in my life. It brings a greater sense of control and therefore a stronger and more confident me.
Now with so much of this journey behind me and such little left I look forward to the rest of it with enthusiasm and excitement. The road behind me has given me the experience to fear nothing on the road ahead.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Groom attends wedding via Skype
The couple, Samuel Kim and Helen Oh, both 27 had 500 guests coming to their Saturday ceremony. Some from their native Korea and New York.
The groom was initially nervous to tell his fiancé about his symptoms but when he finally did they improvised a solution which would allow the ceremony to still go on.
Kim sat in his hospital bed watching the ceremony take place on his laptop via Skype, which was being filmed by five camera men. The presentation included split screen images and the an audio crew that alerted Kim before his face was to appear on screen.
Guests expressed their admiration of the bride for being able to stand at the alter alone and hold herself together, despite her unusual wedding ceremony.
Kim surprised his new wife with tickets to Europe where they will honeymoon in Paris and Prague once his lung infection clears up.
Oh said she doesn’t credit Skype solely for her successful ceremony. She also credits God for her wedding success.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
One unlikely place to rob
They robbed a prison.
The New Plymouth prison, on the west coast of the North Island became a victim of robbery when the thieves broke in just before midnight and made off with a plasma t.v.
The thieves got away.
Sergeant Thomas McIntire asked for any members of the public who saw men carrying around a large t.v., at that time of night, to immediately alert the police.
It takes a bold thief to rob a prison. If you get caught, you might just be filtered right into your future home, a prison cell.
The New Plymouth Prison is the oldest in operation on the South Pacific island.
A little added research brought me here. This article gives great advice to protect valuables from burglars. While your house may not be as secure as a prison these tips can help deter a break-in.
The almighty David could tumble and fall
Plans for a high-speed railway to be built this summer threaten the statue’s integrity. A tunnel for the rail is to be dug 2,000 ft. away from the Accidemia Gallery in Florence and the vibrations from the passing trains are predicted to be strong enough to make David fall.
David appears manly and strong, but apparently he lacks one thing. Strong ankles. Due to tiny cracks mostly in the statues' ankles, where the weight is supported, David is not as strong as he looks.
Fernando De Simone, an expert in underground engineering called on the Florentine authorities to move the 17-foot-tall statue to a specially-built museum that is designed to withstand tremors from earthquakes.
Vittorio Sgarbi, a prominent Italian art critic, has called for the entire project to be stopped completely. “Our heritage should come before everything else. The excavation work should not go ahead,” he said.
The new rail’s purpose is to improve travel connections between Florence, Milan, and Rome.
When history meets modernity great caution must be taken to preserve our past while making way for our future.
Read the entire Telegraph article here.
Learn more about David here.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Late Night Snack
What would Jimmy Fallon taste like if he were mixed up and crammed in a pint size ice cream carton?Apparently Ben and Jerry have got it figured out.
In honor of the second year anniversary of the Late Show with Jimmy Fallon show the ice cream icons have created Jimmy Fallon’s “Late Night Snack.”
As many of us have been guilty of eating ice cream as a midnight snack it is about time that a flavor is released with all midnight cravings in mind. The creation starts with a base of Fair Trade vanilla bean ice cream. A salty caramel swirl weaves throughout. And fudge covered potato chip clusters are peppered through the mixture.
Ben and Jerry explain that the flavor works well for the midnight munchies and is perfect for those times when you can’t decide between salty or sweet.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Trash pollution? Noise pollution? Take your pick.
Now this one just made me laugh.
SunChips, in an effort to reduce trash pollution, created a biodegradable bag for their product that was released April 2009. Apparently the bag may have reduced trash pollution, but created another problem of noise pollution.
Consumers of the Frito-Lay product complained about the noise of the bag that when measured in decibels is about the same level of busy city traffic.
Apparently the sound of the new bag was too much for the SunChips lovers, so the company switched back to the original product bags made from plastic.
PepsiCo Inc., which owns Frito-Lay spent a long part of last year trying to figure out a solution.
After engineers explored dozens of material options they came up with one that is still biodegradable but gives off the same level of sound as the original plastic bag as well as other chip bags.
The new bag is arriving in stores now, but is only used for the plain flavored chips. The company will wait to hear consumers' responses to know if they should switch all flavors to the newly designed, quieter bag.
This made me laugh because my first thought was that people were being a little too picky. I mean the bag sounds like a great thing for the environment and I applaud the company from coming up with it.
But I found a clip on YouTube illustrating the sound of the bag and lets just say you could never open it in a quite classroom for a midday snack without being noticed.
Please watch this quick clip to see for yourself. The guys face says it all.
SunChips, in an effort to reduce trash pollution, created a biodegradable bag for their product that was released April 2009. Apparently the bag may have reduced trash pollution, but created another problem of noise pollution.
Consumers of the Frito-Lay product complained about the noise of the bag that when measured in decibels is about the same level of busy city traffic.
Apparently the sound of the new bag was too much for the SunChips lovers, so the company switched back to the original product bags made from plastic.
PepsiCo Inc., which owns Frito-Lay spent a long part of last year trying to figure out a solution.
After engineers explored dozens of material options they came up with one that is still biodegradable but gives off the same level of sound as the original plastic bag as well as other chip bags.
The new bag is arriving in stores now, but is only used for the plain flavored chips. The company will wait to hear consumers' responses to know if they should switch all flavors to the newly designed, quieter bag.
This made me laugh because my first thought was that people were being a little too picky. I mean the bag sounds like a great thing for the environment and I applaud the company from coming up with it.
But I found a clip on YouTube illustrating the sound of the bag and lets just say you could never open it in a quite classroom for a midday snack without being noticed.
Please watch this quick clip to see for yourself. The guys face says it all.