Away She Goes
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Return Traveling
I never meant to be a return traveler. The allure of more and more exotic passport stamps is pretty strong. Almost as strong as the allure of new and different countries. But at this point, I sit firmly in the category of a return traveler. I went to France in 2006 and returned in 2010. I went … Continue reading
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I never truly thought before about how disconnected Cubans are. Perhaps because I was too preoccupied with my own lack of communications. Or because that narrative is so ingrained that all I learned here last time was about the opposite of stereotypes. I found out they watch House and Gilmore Girls. They know America’s music and … Continue reading
There are some beautiful photos coming out of this group. Some, though, don’t look like the Cuba that I know. Not that they’re going to new neighborhoods or meeting new people. Rather, some students are so good with their tools that they can manipulate a country (and a people and even buildings) I know so … Continue reading
At its heart, In the Time of the Butterflies is a book of historical fiction about the four Mirabal sisters of the Dominican Republic. They went up against the dictator Trujillo and each woman became a revolutionary in her own way. This all happening in the 1930s-1960, at a time when Haitians had been massacred by the … Continue reading
Cuba chases me around. I never really expected to be back here again before all hell breaks loose, but here I am. I’m glad today went well, because I needed a win this afternoon. This morning I tried to take some photos of Coppelia (the famou ice cream shop of Fresa y Chocolate fame) then wandered accidentally … Continue reading
Paris is like that first love that will always hold your heart. You two can fall easily back into each other’s arms, where everything comes quickly, lasts long, and feels right. Canada is like that guy from your hometown that you paw around every once in a while just to feel alive, or to remember … Continue reading
“Slacktivists don’t raise money” “Slacktivists aren’t informed” “Slacktivists aren’t connected to the cause” “Slacktivists aren’t real activists” “Slacktivists don’t accomplish anything” I’ve heard and read these complaints a million times over. How many times do we need to see a campaign like the one launched to restore Planned Parenthood funding when Susan G. Komen Foundation pulled … Continue reading
In the last week, I’ve had a few thought-provoking incidents. When picking out go-to attire for a woman’s closet, I was thinking of a scarf, black and white cardigans, and skirts that go to the knee. In my mind, everything was lightweight and flowing, and colors and patterns are encouraged. They all said LBD and plain black … Continue reading
The last thing to be touched by a foreign hand is the hair.” Arian, our ACT liaison mentioned this during one of our pre-departure orientation sessions. While I don’t think this just applies to foreign countries, as many college students prefer to cut their hair back home over break, she certainly has a point. I … Continue reading
If I think of it as just another in a chain of entertaining Family Dinners with NUin, it was a great night. If I think of it as Thanksgiving, it makes me a bit sad. For the first time, our students realized that the people back home may be happier than they are. It’s also … Continue reading
Those who know me and read this blog have noticed that there are usually two reasons for me to go quiet: I’m incredibly stressed and busy, or I can’t possibly keep my mouth shut about a new potential opportunity. This time it may be a bit of both. I’m graduating in May, which brings with it a … Continue reading
When our Athens trip was cancelled (at the last minute, without warning or consultation), we were all disappointed. Some students immediately booked flights to Rome for the weekend, while others had to stop drinking and start doing homework. On Saturday we went to a boutique downtown, but it wasn’t really our speed. So after a … Continue reading
As soon as we neared the area of Checkpoint Charlie it was clear: every cafe, restaurant and shops claimed to be official or to have some connection to the checkpoint or the wall. T-shirts, old Soviet hats and the ever-ubiquitous Che paraphernalia lines the sidewalks. On one side of Checkpoint Charlie there are two soldiers … Continue reading
It was a Saturday night and was wandering around Berlin alone, soaked through in rain. Canvas shoes were a poor choice. The wind was inverting umbrellas, in spite of the German engineering that undoubtedly went into them. So I turned up my music, pulled my scarf over my head and wandered back toward Alexanderplats Station. … Continue reading
Over our fall break, my friend Kathy selflessly took on my duty shifts so I could go away for a few days. I spent a glorious time sneaking off to Cairo and getting reacquainted with one of my favorite cities in the world. Of course, when I say I “snuck off” I mean all my coworkers and … Continue reading
When I was in Tahrir Square and a gun went off, I remember being afraid of the cops. I instantly knew that the gun was not from a civilian, and it crossed my mind that the scariest thing in the world may just be the feeling of living in a place where you can trust … Continue reading
I knew that if there were any demonstrations while I was in Egypt, I was going. Absolutely, 100%. So when Sarah got the call to cover a march to the Maspero Building, where 27 people were killed and about 300 were injured just a week and a half ago, I was excited. We started at … Continue reading
Before we ever put on hiking boots, we had heard the worst. “If your students have asthma, or weight problems, or smoke, or aren’t fit, or complain, or have ever had injuries, they should just stay home.” Uh, what? If you even have a cold, stay home. In the pre-trip meeting, students were asked to … Continue reading
Whiny 18 year olds keep asking us, “What do you even do all day?!” (Just kidding on the whiney, they’re actually very thoughtful and a bunch of fun, and so far not getting into too much trouble.) Well, every Thursday I TA a section of the Global Experience course, taught by Staci, an Asst Site … Continue reading
I thought I would spend this past 9/11 like I spend it every year: listening to Bruce Springsteen’s album The Rising and watching The West Wing’s Isaac and Ishmael episode. I’ve written about Isaac and Ishmael before, as a jumping off point for the discussion of who exactly this other is, and whether they really … Continue reading
After a long day at the beach, watching backflips and swimming to sandbars and eating little cajitas of fried chicken and potato chips for a CUC, we would climb the fourteen floors up to the penthouse. A shower and a Cuba Light*, dancing along to Otis Redding, the Hold Steady, Lady Gaga or perhaps all … Continue reading
Picture this: you’ve spent three weeks living in a beautiful foreign country but have barely seen the beaches. You only have two showers and they’re both always cold, and you’ve been eating arrozcompollo morning noon and night since you’ve been here. Your mattress is thin, the pillows are stuffed with rags and old cotton batting. … Continue reading
I awoke last week to a facebook update from Angie: Mata is underwater. Mata is incomunicado. My reply: come mierda. Eat shit. Sort of the Spanish equivalent of the f-bomb. For Mata los Indios and other bateyes, a flood, even for a short time, can be devastating. It means the truck with potable water cannot … Continue reading
Say it’s for respect, say it’s because of religion, say it’s just a rule and don’t ask questions, say it’s arbitrary and sexist. Just don’t say we need to wear high necklines and low hems so that we are not sexually harassed. Don’t do it. Don’t victim blame, don’t lie. In harassment-heavy countries like Cuba … Continue reading
“If you feel like it’s a duty or hard work to help the poor, don’t do it.” It was the first time I had ever heard someone say that many people who help the world’s poor do so because they find it fun, interesting and challenging. I smiled in spite of myself, and felt like … Continue reading
How can you not love a Revolution wherein a human chain forms to protect its museums and priceless antiquities? A mob that thinks to maintain its history and culture, even in their anger and confusion? How do you not love revolutionaries who form a citizen police force, because they don’t want looters or violence and … Continue reading
