Nos vemos

Tomorrow I leave for Salamanca, Spain. I will spend one month at La Universidad de Salamanca studying Spanish Language and Culture. I am really excited about another opportunity to be abroad for a little while and to do some more networking (haha). It seems that this summer has been a non-stop greetathon. From Egypt to Lebanon to Rotary and work, I have met some of the most amazing people the world has to offer.

I plan on learning a lot on this trip. Not just about the Spanish language, but once again I really hope to learn about the Spanish people and their very rich culture. This is one more step in my peace-making campaign and my walk to the halls of power...

I'll try to blog often and keep everyone entertained. I hope to have some really amazing stories.
Maybe some bull running, tomato throwing, Lance Armstrong supporting kind of fun.

Peace

Back From the Past and Looking to the Future

To all of my adoring fans, I sincerely apologize for the lack of posts. I know you were unsure what to do with yourselves when you were not able to read the riveting anecdotes my wonderful life yields.



I am back in wonderful North Carolina readjusting to the real world. I have left the the dangerous, extremist lands of Egypt and Lebanon to return to America, the country every terrorist plots against, anyone who is not American hates, and is to blame for all of the wrongs in the world.... If you believe that, leave your TV on the current channel and navigate away from this page now.



Not every terrorist is plotting against us. We forget to realize "terrorists" are far, far away. They have caused much more "terror" and are FAR more active in their own countries. The citizens of Middle Eastern countries are the ones who must live with the constant worry of violence. The violent groups are much more concerned about having a stake in their own country and winning a little political influence through their acts. To say that these groups are constantly plotting an attack on US soil is not really practical. Let's not forget these guys have a balance sheet as well and one must keep that bottom line very lean! (Oh, and as a sidenote, I was in the Middle East when some "homegrown" terrorists attempted to attack a synagogue in NY and failed, so I am commenting late. I would like to give a shout out to the media who has completely ruined one fixture of my summer...homegrown tomatoes. I can never eat one again without totally ruining a summer staple) We have no idea of what living with the threat of violence everyday is like.

I am so glad our President made the trip to Cairo to show that both the US and Middle East have everything to win by eliminating the influence of extremists groups in the region. It REALLY bothered me when the trip was deemed as "the US bowing to Muslim extremists". Obama didn't bow or let up on those that plan on attacking innocent people (whether in the US or the Middle East). We have become so accustomed to showing up at everyone's door with our guns drawn that we have forgotten what diplomacy is like. The goal of the trip was to let the responsible citizens that truly make up the culture of that region know that our interest is in peace, and that interest must be shared. It is time we bring about that peace by way of diplomacy; not by meddling and explosive devices. When you bring in the military for combat missions you totally alter the lives of the citizens and you will lose their support. That is what has happend in the entire region. Our goals have remained the same, but we have lost the support behind the mission.

Believe me, every citizen in the Middle East, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu or Scientologist HATES the "terrorists". I put it in quotes because that is what "we" have deemed them. Really they are just violent gangs. Do we call the Crips terrorists? The KKK? No, but they do invoke terror and have their own agenda. That is exactly what these groups do. They want power in their own land and every honest citizen who lives among them wants them out. To say that extremism and violence is a popular belief in the Middle East is like saying the views of the KKK are shared by the majority of the poplulation in the US.

So when you think about the terror threat here in the US, think about how from New York to Cairo there are 5618 miles that separate you. Then, think about those people in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan that have threats on their lives everyday.

Great news

So did anyone see that a bomb was detonated in a busy, heavily touristed Cairo market? Did anyone also see my previous post about heading to Cairo in May with a Rotary group? It hasn't discouraged me nor has it impacted the morale of the team. We knew going in to this trip the issues regarding safety. I have to say that I think everyone on this team is very level headed and will do nothing that would put anyone in danger. Not to mention we will be with Cairo natives who will be aware of where to go and what to do and where not to go and what not to do.

It serves to mention that the underlying goal of this trip is to create cultural understanding. We can't alter our plans or dash the trip altogether simply for acts of a few people. Egypt deserves more than that. Even though we will be hobnobbing with educated folks and not the ones who committed the acts, I am sure our group will have the opportunity to falsify some stereotypes. I look forward to that opportunity more than anything on the trip

What's Next...

So my Summer continues to improve.

I was extremely fortunate to be selected for a Group Study Exchange set up by Rotary International this May. If you have read the previous posts, you know that I am headed to Egypt more 1 month to take a look at classroom and campus culture , Muslim culture, and just Egyptian culture in general. Well, my stars are still aligned; I will also spend a month in Salamanca, Spain. I'm heading across the pond to begin a Master's of Spanish.

Salamanca is known for its language institutes and its bustling Summer tourist rush. I can't say I am too thrilled about the tourist thing, but hey, I'll be one of them. The one good thing about plenty of tourist...plenty of bars!! I read that Salamanca has the second highest bar to inhabitant ratio in all of Europe. You can take a look at this picture just to have an idea.

I am really exited about attending this particular school. It was founded in 1218. Looking at the pictures of this place does not do it justice, I am sure . The oldest buildings that I have seen are churches in Mexico, constructed by the Spaniards, hundreds of years after buildings like the those at the University. The area of Salamanca and the University has played a huge role in the development of the Spanish language and the history of the country. Not that I am a big fan of his, being that he raped Latin America and destroyed what was a flourishing indigenous culture, but it is worth noting that Hernán Cortés studied there as a youth. It is going to be an awesome experience.

I really have to take a moment to thank Stanly Community College. Without the institution and the wonderful opportunities they allow me to pursue, all that is going so well for me this summer would not be possible. I will visit two continents (maybe three) this Summer alone, and I am sure that there will be plenty more opportunities. For those of you that check this blog out and are excited about the content, or culture and travel in general, take a look at the college's Multicultural Awareness Club blog. I am the coordinator of the club and we really do have some interesting things planned for the month of March.

Walk like an Egyptian

Don't mind if I do!!!

I am bound for Egypt. Even though I leave on the 26th of April, I am still as excited as if it were tomorrow. I was selected from 14 other applicants from the Charlotte Metro area and beyond to be 1 of 4 that will participate in Rotary Distrct 7680's Group Study Exchange Tour. The district wanted to visit a Muslim country due to the pressing need for understanding and knowledge of the Muslim culture. We will visit all types of professional settings and meet fellow Rotarians in Cairo.

I really want to see the campus life of a university during my trip. When I studied in Mexico I noticed a big difference in classroom behavior. It was far more formal and students showed a lot more respect to their teachers than they do here. I'm not saying that my students are deliquents, but there is a noticable effort to say "usted" (the polite, formal way to address someone in Spanish) on behalf of the Mexican students. I am very curious to see what it is like in everday Egyptian campus life. I also want to see exactly what is said about America. I know what is said here in our media and among the population about the Arab world- I want to see if the same is being said about us.

My goals are to see my job being done abroad and to learn something from their methods. As always, a goal of mine is to break stereotypes. I'm not quite sure what types of people I will meet, but I hope to meet folks from many different lifestyles. Hopefully, this is the beginning of something new for me. I have always been mesmerized by Latin American culture; maybe now I will start a new cultural endeavor in North Africa and the Middle East.

Don't be surprised when you see my pictures. Be prepared for anything.

Change at last, Change at last, Thank God Almighty Change at last

I have to say, even though I was a proponent of change and voted for Obama, I had my doubts as to what those changes would be. Then, not 30 minutes after the announcement that he would win the election, I saw something we sure as hell haven't seen under our current administration.
The footage came in from around the world. People were excited and curious about the results of our election. For the first time since 2000, I saw people jumping up and down holding our flag, instead of people holding our flag down and jumping on it. I think people realize we will have a president who will do more to unite a world than divide it. I will honestly admit that I cried when I saw those scenes. I have not been proud of our policies as of late and have lost some faith in our ability to set an example in the world. The influential folks surrounding our current president are from the cold-war era who think occupation and intimidation are the ways to security. I think we will see a change to diplomacy and I also think we now have the opportunity to regain our spot as stewards of peace. I think that was Bush's goal all along, but you can't bring peace through war. I don't care what the rationale behind it is, I don't believe peace comes through military action.
I am not saying military action is never necessary. It should be used in defense to a nation's immediate and imminent threats. I think a nation should look very carefully at their target and seriously consider whether or not the target is a true threat. A military should be used to free people from tyrants and opressors only if the people ask for that action. Why are we not fighting in Darfur if we are out to only liberate and protect innocent people.
Be proud to be an American once again. It's not a bad thing. But realize your role in the world. We are not better than any other country or nationality, yet we do carry great influence and we should be very observant of how we use that influence.

New Job---Nuevo Puesto

I have been hired as the first Global Education Liaison at Stanly Community College. I will be responsible for recruiting schools and students from abroad to study at SCC, as well as preparing our students to study at schools all over the world. The exchange could be as long as one academic year or as short a simply participating in a conference or short program of study. Whatever the case, we are interested. We want to expand the opportunities of our students and our community to its limits. If anyone is looking for an affordable way to study in the US and live in a beautiful part of the country, send me a link to your school's website, I'll check it out and get back to you.

Fui contratado como el primer Liaison de Educación Global de Stanly Community College. Me encargo de recultar escuelas y estudiantes del mundo para estudiar en SCC, tambíen es mi trabajo a preparar los alumnos de mi escuela para una estancia como estudiante internacional. El intercambio puede ser por un año académico completo, o nada más la participación en una conferencia y un programa de estudio de corto plazo. Para lo que sea, estamos interesado. Queremos crecer las oportunidades de los alumnos y de nuestra comunidad a los limites. Si alguien busca una forma para estudiar en los EEUU, que no cuesta tanto, mándame un vinculo a la página de su escuela, la chequeo yo, y te digo si hay posibilidades.