Saturday, July 17, 2010
Istanbul to Odess
Who would have thought that so much could happen from one place to another! I landed in Istanbul and took the metro into town and met this really nice older Australian gentleman who i went shopping with in the Grand Bazaar. it was awesome, he works in an oil rig every other month in Kazakstan and we had turkish ice cream, sesame seed bagels, cold lemonade and bought bracelets, pashminas and bath towels that are beautiful. I wish i could type more byt he way but I am on a foreign keyod board that keeps jumping from plaec to place/. Biut I arrived in odessa to see john and masha johns gf with flowers and we had such a feast at the hostel where mashas mom made some od the best dishes i have ever had. we had rice stuffed peppers, eggplants cheesy tomatoes, delicisou fish, cole slaw stuff, a white estonian drink and really good creamy cake....more to come when i find a normal computer!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Heat, deserts, Camels- O MY!
What do those three things compose? DUBAI!!
I am in Dubai having come from DC and headed towards Istanbul, Turkey! My journey over here was, well, nerve wracking. I never know if I am going to make a United flight since I fly stand by, as most of you know, but I have not been this worried about making flights in a long time. I really didn't want to miss my Turkish Airline flights to Istanbul then Odessa because then my plans to see my brother would either be much more expensive or nonexistent.
But I made it in 14C from SF to DC in the row right behind first class...I know bummer, but at least there was an empty seat next to me and white older government fellow trying to learn Mandarin. Then on my flight to Dubai (where I have never even been remotely close to in my life) I got o go business class-- only because there was space. So I started off with some celebratory champagne that I made the flight and then opened my little travel bag with my favorite lotion in it, took a deep breath and thought about my next few days. I always love listening to music on planes because they have all different great stations. I usually listen to country but it does get a little repetitive. After a little tortellini I thought I would try some port since they offered- um gross!!! too strong, I am not a fan. 4.5 hours to DC and 12 hours later we descend into the United Arab Emerites. As I look across the row of sleepy white men (mostly at least since they seem to be the only ones whos business account paid for their expensive seats) I see a very hazy skyline, but not smoggy or foggy but just unclear. You can almost feel the humidity and thickness in the air just from the sign of the brown haze.
This is the tallest building in the world!
I always heard that the Dubai airport was beautifully elegant because of all the oil money the country has. It is nice. A lot of moving walkways, some fake really tall palm trees, high high ceilings, interesting almost alienlike light fixtures, and most noticeably the women are in black coverings from hear to toe (only with their eyes peeping out) and the men are in white clothes with drapings over their heads usually with a little red crown holding it up top. Now, not everyone is dressed like this but it is hugely eye catching watching people speak Arabic and walk in the traditional dress. Of course there are many Europeans and others wearing their skinny jeans and tank tops but I do have to say I have also not really seen anyone foreign or domestic showing too much skin. Which takes me to the metro, which is super easy to get around and only about 6 dirham for a round trip ticket to the Deira center. So in the metro there are designated train cars for women and children and for men. These lovely asian women are usually the monitors and peep in each car to make sure the rules are abided by. In addition to that, the monitors speak English and make sure the cars stay pristine by telling poor little girls that they cannot eat chocolate on the metro (that only happened once).
Taking the metro at night, there is really not much to see. There are a lot of comercialized centers and tall tall buildings all next to each other but there was nothing super attractive to me. Though I read about souks, old traditional markets that sell goods which are supposed to be interesting to see. I spoke with one of the American flight attendants and she gave me pretty grim picture of Dubai based on her experience, but to me, it was interesting. Who knows if I will come back. Well, I would love to do a camel ride! Something unappealing to me is how much Western Culture is influencing this area. All the advertisements and retails stores from Cold Stone to Claire's to H and M are here which just seem out of place given the history and conservative culture....also it is interesting how all the ads, signs, store names and whatnot are in English and right beside it in Arabic.
This is the tallest and supposedly most luxurious hotel in the shape of a sail on a fake island!
Well, there is a little taste of Dubai for you. Next, I am off to Istanbul to spend the day and then see my brother in Odessa!!!!
I am in Dubai having come from DC and headed towards Istanbul, Turkey! My journey over here was, well, nerve wracking. I never know if I am going to make a United flight since I fly stand by, as most of you know, but I have not been this worried about making flights in a long time. I really didn't want to miss my Turkish Airline flights to Istanbul then Odessa because then my plans to see my brother would either be much more expensive or nonexistent.
But I made it in 14C from SF to DC in the row right behind first class...I know bummer, but at least there was an empty seat next to me and white older government fellow trying to learn Mandarin. Then on my flight to Dubai (where I have never even been remotely close to in my life) I got o go business class-- only because there was space. So I started off with some celebratory champagne that I made the flight and then opened my little travel bag with my favorite lotion in it, took a deep breath and thought about my next few days. I always love listening to music on planes because they have all different great stations. I usually listen to country but it does get a little repetitive. After a little tortellini I thought I would try some port since they offered- um gross!!! too strong, I am not a fan. 4.5 hours to DC and 12 hours later we descend into the United Arab Emerites. As I look across the row of sleepy white men (mostly at least since they seem to be the only ones whos business account paid for their expensive seats) I see a very hazy skyline, but not smoggy or foggy but just unclear. You can almost feel the humidity and thickness in the air just from the sign of the brown haze.
This is the tallest building in the world!
I always heard that the Dubai airport was beautifully elegant because of all the oil money the country has. It is nice. A lot of moving walkways, some fake really tall palm trees, high high ceilings, interesting almost alienlike light fixtures, and most noticeably the women are in black coverings from hear to toe (only with their eyes peeping out) and the men are in white clothes with drapings over their heads usually with a little red crown holding it up top. Now, not everyone is dressed like this but it is hugely eye catching watching people speak Arabic and walk in the traditional dress. Of course there are many Europeans and others wearing their skinny jeans and tank tops but I do have to say I have also not really seen anyone foreign or domestic showing too much skin. Which takes me to the metro, which is super easy to get around and only about 6 dirham for a round trip ticket to the Deira center. So in the metro there are designated train cars for women and children and for men. These lovely asian women are usually the monitors and peep in each car to make sure the rules are abided by. In addition to that, the monitors speak English and make sure the cars stay pristine by telling poor little girls that they cannot eat chocolate on the metro (that only happened once).
Taking the metro at night, there is really not much to see. There are a lot of comercialized centers and tall tall buildings all next to each other but there was nothing super attractive to me. Though I read about souks, old traditional markets that sell goods which are supposed to be interesting to see. I spoke with one of the American flight attendants and she gave me pretty grim picture of Dubai based on her experience, but to me, it was interesting. Who knows if I will come back. Well, I would love to do a camel ride! Something unappealing to me is how much Western Culture is influencing this area. All the advertisements and retails stores from Cold Stone to Claire's to H and M are here which just seem out of place given the history and conservative culture....also it is interesting how all the ads, signs, store names and whatnot are in English and right beside it in Arabic.
This is the tallest and supposedly most luxurious hotel in the shape of a sail on a fake island!
Well, there is a little taste of Dubai for you. Next, I am off to Istanbul to spend the day and then see my brother in Odessa!!!!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Devon to Kenya!
I have had such a good send off!!
From Sunday morning watching the world cup final and celebrating Spain's win at my supervisor's baby shower in Alameda it was a great start to the day. I got to hang out with a friend and coworker Beth and then meet other friends for a glorious day at Dolores Park- Cecily who just moved back from Kuwait and Tini who I have not seen in ages...good times catching up. Then I met Kate for and Indian dinner at Dosa's on Valencia and 21st.
Monday was great as well I went to Frijtz and had a yummy tuna salad with two coworkers and then dinner with my former supervisor Veronica from when I was a Resident Advisor- we had pupusas at La Oxaquena, mmmmm. So good to catch up with these people. Then Today I had lunch with Beth at Cha-Ya a Japanese Vegetarian place with yummy sushi and seaweed salad (but no onions right beth!) and worked late with Corey in our office and came home to pack for such an exciting trip.
People- I AM GOING TO KENYA AND THE UKRAINE!!!
I am so excited so see my brother for a couple days after one and a half years! Then I will be participating in the strategic planning conference with Akili Dada, an organization I have been interning for since september that funds secondary education for impoverished brilliant girls in Kenya!
I have my converter, my flip camera, my passport, immunization (I won't be getting Polio in this lifetime), undies, malaria pills and I AM SET!!
more to come...
From Sunday morning watching the world cup final and celebrating Spain's win at my supervisor's baby shower in Alameda it was a great start to the day. I got to hang out with a friend and coworker Beth and then meet other friends for a glorious day at Dolores Park- Cecily who just moved back from Kuwait and Tini who I have not seen in ages...good times catching up. Then I met Kate for and Indian dinner at Dosa's on Valencia and 21st.
Monday was great as well I went to Frijtz and had a yummy tuna salad with two coworkers and then dinner with my former supervisor Veronica from when I was a Resident Advisor- we had pupusas at La Oxaquena, mmmmm. So good to catch up with these people. Then Today I had lunch with Beth at Cha-Ya a Japanese Vegetarian place with yummy sushi and seaweed salad (but no onions right beth!) and worked late with Corey in our office and came home to pack for such an exciting trip.
People- I AM GOING TO KENYA AND THE UKRAINE!!!
I am so excited so see my brother for a couple days after one and a half years! Then I will be participating in the strategic planning conference with Akili Dada, an organization I have been interning for since september that funds secondary education for impoverished brilliant girls in Kenya!
I have my converter, my flip camera, my passport, immunization (I won't be getting Polio in this lifetime), undies, malaria pills and I AM SET!!
more to come...
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Happy Freedom!
Surprisingly this holiday weekend has turned out pretty well, despite a few key factors. Let us begin with a horrible day for me on public transportation starting Friday morning with a 2 hour, 4 transfer ride, and door jam on Caltrain and Bart to get to 16th and Mission for work. Then once at work I left early to catch a flight that I did not make. Since I fly standby, there is a chance that I cannot get a seat. So trying to fly out to Kansas for the long weekend to see my Aunt, Uncle, and cousin sadly enough did not happen- who knew all these people were flying to Kansas!? After waiting 3 hours and 2 flights that i missed later, I took Caltrain home once again. I thought to call my aunt and uncle in redwood city to see what they were up to this weekend since my parents are out of town in Montana with my Aunt and Dad's brother. So lickity split invited me over for veggie pizza and a movie (based in Sweden called As It Is In Heaven- it's really good!) and that was the start to a good weekend. Saturday I got up and went for an hour long hilly hike around the dish in the hills north of Stanford (man am I sore today!) and then did stuff everyone catches up on during the weekend...emails, calls, tv you know, then had a date Saturday night which was fun! OMGosh I watched the Spain Paraguay game too which was FABULOUS!! Go Spain!! Sunday morning, today, I went to the Glide Celebration (the multi-service organization in the tenderloin I worked for last year) where they preach unconditional love and acceptance. Love it! I am going to do a little work watch some fireworks and probably venture our into nature again tomorrow! Definitely a good weekend so far, but I cannot help missing my family! Especially you john!
As a side note you all know the song America the Beautiful right (it has been proposed many a time to replace the Star Spangled Banner)!? They will be playing it across American in churches today, some churches that ironically don't believe in gay rights, but Katharine Lee Bates, an English Professor at Wellesley College, in 1895 wrote the song and she was actually gay!!
So yay to the song American the beautiful!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiHS1M-FVbs&feature=related
As a side note you all know the song America the Beautiful right (it has been proposed many a time to replace the Star Spangled Banner)!? They will be playing it across American in churches today, some churches that ironically don't believe in gay rights, but Katharine Lee Bates, an English Professor at Wellesley College, in 1895 wrote the song and she was actually gay!!
So yay to the song American the beautiful!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiHS1M-FVbs&feature=related
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
BP's MASSIVE oil spill
Not only am I deeply disgusted by the oil spill that continues to leak 60+ days after the start of it, my organization, Global Exchange, has a full campaign against our dependence on oil fighting Chevron headquarted here in the bay area. While so many human rights and nature based rights are being violated continually and all these issues are very heavy, there are times when you have to take a step back and laugh. Point being- we are criticizing and holding BP and our government accountable but also laughing at how horribly wrong this is going. Because if you cannot laugh at the way life is and ourselves....why do we laugh at all?
check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AAa0gd7ClM
check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AAa0gd7ClM
Kings of Odessa
As I read the novel Kings of Odessa written about Issac Babel, the great Odessan writer, and his life, I prepare to go to Odessa to see my brother. With names like Nadya and Natasha I am excited to see a whole new culture in eastern europe- one of the many places I have not been. I cannot wait to see my brother. I leave July 15th and will be with him for only a couple days but I am sure I will cry when I see him. I am so excited to meet his girlfriend Masha and all his friends that he opened his hostel with.
From Odessa I will head straight to Nairobi to meet up with my mentor Wanjiru and other interns and members of Akili Dada's Board of Directors for our 10 day strategic planning conference on where to take the organization in the next 5 years.
I can't wait! See you August 1st when I come back!
www.akilidada.org
From Odessa I will head straight to Nairobi to meet up with my mentor Wanjiru and other interns and members of Akili Dada's Board of Directors for our 10 day strategic planning conference on where to take the organization in the next 5 years.
I can't wait! See you August 1st when I come back!
www.akilidada.org
Waimanalo with Jane, again!
The second time I got to go to Honolulu in 6 months...I know what you are thinking. Yes, yes but thanks to my mom and her 25 years she dedicated to United Airlines (which is now merging with continental and will have their ugly logo by the by) I can fly standby. So Jane let me sleep in, relax, and have such a great time after the last week of May where I worked about 75 hours up until the Human Rights Awards. We went horseback riding with her friends, we got mochi, went to Lucy's for the Ahi Tower (that Obama got when he was in Hawaii), had a 2 hour yoga session, went swimming, baked in the sun on her waimanalo beach, saw hot surfers at beach park, went to a hula party, shopped for Jack Johnson's new CD, did girly make up shopping, cook amazing food, saw peal harbor on memorial day, and went out for drinks, in addition to one of the greatest things- Jane counseled me on my decision to go to graduate school since I was so torn whether or not I should defer for a year or just go. I had such a fabulous time Jane- thank for taking me under your wing, loving me, and not letting me worry about a thing!
Global Exchange and the Human Rights Awards
It has been a while I know, but I think I will pick up where I left off at work. I have been at Global Exchange in the mission now for about three months and I am feeling right at home. Not only is my supervisor, Corey, really great to work with (he is about 1 of 6 guys I swear, that works in the office of about 25+ women!) but I am really liking the work I do to support the organization. I am getting the experience I wanted and getting to know some really great people. My department, Devo as we call it, short for the Development Department, is truly the best in my department (sorry Reality Tours you are cool too!). Last month Corey, Anne, Ashley, and myself put on our 8th Annual Human Rights Awards Gala and it was a huge SUCCESS! With over 330 people in attendance, we had a silent auction, Fair Trade wine and beer, a great program with three great human rights honorees: Van Jones, Raul del Aguila, and Mu Sochua from Camnbodia. Great organizations such as the Global Fund for Women, the Rainforest Action Network, CODEPINK, and Food First were among many of our progressive and dedicated attendees. I ran the silent auction which was quite the experience and coordinated all the donations to GX. With the positive attitude and strong team work and support- it felt like a breeze-- though we did work about 75 hours+ the weeks of the event. For a recent college graduate, that was quite the experience! I really enjoyed and am happy I did it and it is over- now we are preparing for next years!
Since the HRA, my work has transitioned to other supportive needs of the department. We have a great Grants Coordinator who I have really connected with, and a funny Membership Coordinator, and a kick in the pants for our Major Gifts Officer. These three individuals, including my superviros, Corey, and the Director of the department who hired me, and I have been working most closely together and have really made my time and work great in many aspects. From the stories to the travel experiences shared to talking about everyday things in life and just laughing at ourselves- it's great. I don't mind the commute of an hour in the morning because one I get to read and adjust mentally that I will be in a great city coming from the burbs and two because I work for a really strong and amazing NGO. My current project I am working is researching foundations along with the support of the grants coordinator and a fabulous intern, Molly. This will last until my last day August 13th!! Everyone at work, especially Corey, Ashley, and Beth have been sooo supportive with such great life advice so....
That's right I said it- I am leaving after almost 5 months at GX because....
I AM GOING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN THE FALL!!!
I got accepted to Brandeis University in Boston ad I will be going for my Masters of Arts in Sustainable International Development with hopes of working for an international nonprofit dealing with providing education and working again social injustices for kids. I am really happy to have taken this year off from school. I learned more about myself in Europe, my family and my relationship with them at home, and developed my skills and built relationships and networks at work. I will miss the city soooo much and all my friends who stayed after we graduated but I know I will be back to the Bay Area because its where I want to end up. Having tutored and babysat this whole year, I have loved spending time with kids and being a positive role model and as much as I want my own kids, I want to be an aunty first (John get on it!) and have my career established! But babysitting for Audrey and Courtney and Georgia and Charlotte has been so much fun but now its time to get serious (and cold!) Boston HERE I COME!!
Since the HRA, my work has transitioned to other supportive needs of the department. We have a great Grants Coordinator who I have really connected with, and a funny Membership Coordinator, and a kick in the pants for our Major Gifts Officer. These three individuals, including my superviros, Corey, and the Director of the department who hired me, and I have been working most closely together and have really made my time and work great in many aspects. From the stories to the travel experiences shared to talking about everyday things in life and just laughing at ourselves- it's great. I don't mind the commute of an hour in the morning because one I get to read and adjust mentally that I will be in a great city coming from the burbs and two because I work for a really strong and amazing NGO. My current project I am working is researching foundations along with the support of the grants coordinator and a fabulous intern, Molly. This will last until my last day August 13th!! Everyone at work, especially Corey, Ashley, and Beth have been sooo supportive with such great life advice so....
That's right I said it- I am leaving after almost 5 months at GX because....
I AM GOING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN THE FALL!!!
I got accepted to Brandeis University in Boston ad I will be going for my Masters of Arts in Sustainable International Development with hopes of working for an international nonprofit dealing with providing education and working again social injustices for kids. I am really happy to have taken this year off from school. I learned more about myself in Europe, my family and my relationship with them at home, and developed my skills and built relationships and networks at work. I will miss the city soooo much and all my friends who stayed after we graduated but I know I will be back to the Bay Area because its where I want to end up. Having tutored and babysat this whole year, I have loved spending time with kids and being a positive role model and as much as I want my own kids, I want to be an aunty first (John get on it!) and have my career established! But babysitting for Audrey and Courtney and Georgia and Charlotte has been so much fun but now its time to get serious (and cold!) Boston HERE I COME!!
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