potential vs. poverty

So, yesterday a friend showed me this video...



While I think it's a little sad (does any kid [or adult for that matter] need to watch a movie that's so violent?), I appreciate the sentiment of focusing on potential rather than poverty. It's good to see some media that celebrates the dignity and spirit of people rather than glorifying the "pitiful." Eh??

you know you're getting old...

...when you spend your whole evening trying to stay awake until an "acceptable" bedtime (which is NOT 7:30pm).

what happened to fun and exciting Sara??

I've been ruined.

...so that every time I go to the supermarket I'm freaked out. All I can think about is how little the 'food' that is available to us actually resembles real food. And how absolutely ridiculous it is that we have literally dozens of options of bottles fruit juice, chips, butter-like substances. Who knows where these 'foods' come from, or what's actually in them?

It is probably a little dramatic to say that I've been "ruined." Perhaps I should say that I have been opened up to the possibilities of food, and have become blessedly more aware of my connection to the earth and to my community...

This is not some sudden awareness; I've been ruminating over these thoughts for several years now. But only recently do visits to the supermarket actually make me a little anxious. And a little angry.

at the end of the week, I'm exhausted.

at the beginning of the week, I'm exhausted.

...

that's all.

nicaragua!

So I’m going to Nicaragua tomorrow.

It will be a different sort of trip than I usually go on. This is a “Mission Awareness Trip” that is designed for sponsors so they can travel and meet their sponsored friend. I’m serving as the “CFCA-Kansas representative” since our president (who usually helps to facilitate these trips) is in the process of walking from Guatemala to Chile (no big deal).

So, it will be different. Definitely a different kind of work trip than I am used to...I’m hoping it’s more like a vacation? (Probably not, but I like to think about it that way.)

• One thing that is DEFINITELY different is that it is only one week long...hooray! THAT means that I can most likely fit all of my gear into a small suitcase that I can carry on. This way I can ensure that my bag won’t get lost in the air (or wherever lost bags go to). Plus...one week? That’s peanuts. (I think...I don’t actually know what that phrase means. I mean to say that “it’s really no big deal compared to the longer trips I usually go on.”)
• I won’t have to travel through 5,237 time zones to get there, or to come back.
• I can travel there within one day.
• Everyone there will speak Spanish. I don’t speak Spanish. But I can probably understand it better than Tamil, or Hindi, or Telugu, or Malayalam, or Santali, or Swahili, or Luo.
• I get to shop for souvenirs. Any requests?

This will be my third trip this year. WHEW. It feels like a lot. I’m pretty sure, however, that this will be my last trip of the year, which is good. It will be nice to have a long break.

quick update!

So, we're sitting in the Dubai airport which has free wifi, so I thought I would try to give a quick update:

First -- the Dubai airport is definitely the coolest airport I have ever been in. It's like a mall. It is super nice. It is also the most diverse airport I have ever visited: Janet and I were playing "identify the nationality" and we only saw maybe 2 people that could have been American.

ALSO: Emirates Airlines is the best airline I have ever flown. Seriously...

Okay, the real (non-aviation) stuff: the trip has been great so far. We spent just under 2 weeks in India, with 2-3 days at each of our four projects in Tamil Nadu. It was lovely. We learned a lot and it was really productive, plus the weather was great: we had heard that temperatures were hovering around 108 degrees farenheit a few days before we arrived, but it was surprisingly mild throughout our whole visit. I don't quite know what else to say about the trip that isn't boring and work-related...Janet is a fun person to travel with.

OH! Here's something that is noteworthy: aside from maybe 2 days when I was slightly uncomfortable, ***I did not get sick at all during my time in India!*** This is truly amazing. I also ate a ton more than I usually do, which might have made a difference.

So, India was great. I was sad to leave. Usually, I get homesickish and am ready to come back by the end, but I was really digging it the whole time. I think I could live there.

Now, we're in Dubai waiting to board our flight to Kenya (in fact, boarding just started!). We'll be there for 5 days, then will head to Switzerland for a couple of days for my /friend/Nate's roommate Cephas's wedding. First time to Kenya, first time to Switzerland! I can't wait!

Now, boarding! I may be a little out of touch because I can't tweet in Kenya, but I may be able to get online at times.

xoxo

When we act under the influence of negative
thoughts and emotions, we become oblivious to the impact our actions
have on others. -Dalai Lama