On writing

I had a nice opportunity to step back and appreciate the merits of writing on Wednesday. In my creative writing class, we focused on humorous writing. Although our Dave Sedaris audio clip and story fell short, we focused on humorous events during the holidays. An upbeat way to end the class.

Plus, in closing, A included a great excerpt from "Letters to a Young Poet," by Ranier Maria Rilke. In particular, these words struck me for their beauty in themselves. Lately, it's been easy to immerse myself in technical writing and the elements of clarity, brevity, and content. This excerpt reminded me of the beauties of writing for one's self. Rilke suggests that this may be a tortuous path in itself. That being said, it's a good lesson for any field that one chooses, not just writing.

Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write? Dig into yourself for a deep answer. And if this answer rings out in assent, if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple "I must," then build your life in accordance with this necessity. . . .

. . . For the creator must be a world for himself and must find everything in himself and in Nature, to whom his whole life is devoted.

Science and Politics

Coming over to Ireland, I read about Northern Ireland and the proposed power-sharing agreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein. It seemed plausible yet ridden with potential roadblocks and dependent on "if this, then that" actions. In light of the St. Andrews Agreement, people seem encouraged that the Belfast Agreement will finally reach its goals. The recent news about Ian Paisley and the DUP is a necessary step before March.

It seems to be when I least expect it that I hear people's thoughts on Northern Ireland, the Republic, and the St. Andrews Agreement. It might be over drinks or just a conversation that centers around science and moves to politics and back to science. Yet maybe that's why it is more interesting nonetheless. All comments are paraphrased from memory:

• We are one island, we should just be united. Great Britain is its own entity. But I don't really care about politics.
• Growing up the Troubles were going on. But it never really affected the Republic. You knew it was occurring it and accepted it.
  
• The local IRA was in control (esp rural areas) and had more power than the local police. Now the local police is having more power.
• You can barely tell when you cross the border. Signs may look different. But I doubt that we'll be united, but that may not be so important. What is important is to have more connections built between the North and the South.
  
• Clinton is a hero in Ireland.
  

I have so many questions for the Mitchells up in the North. Yet I find myself questioning their experiences- have you spoken with a diverse population? Experiences at a debate, were these representative of the majority or just those who are passionate about the issue? Acts of violence? Where? Who is involved? Maybe it's my background of having experimental controls and understanding parameters of a "result" but I feel like I need more information.

Yet I also acknowledge that my experiences have been limited, particularly with whom I have talked about "the Troubles." I want to keep listening to others' opinions. Not sure where it will lead, but it should be interesting to watch the news unfold in the next few months.

Can the social model survive?

The Working Time Directive debate may finally come to a head in the European Union. Much of Europe, particularly France, wants Great Britain to opt-in to the directive, rather than its current opt-out position. The UK is the most influential country in Europe to not limit its work week to 48 hours as the WTD states.

I realize that Europe has a different work ethic and lifestyle than the United States. Yet it appears to be so much of the politics between the European nations that pushes this debate. Is it little wonder that it is France, who has the 35 hour work week, is pushing to bring the UK into the WTD? The British work more than the French and less than the Italian, according to the IHT article. Interesting? Yes.

Moreover, a representative at European Reform Centre said that the workaholics in business and the financial sector will continue to work overtime, regardless of salary. Such legislation is designed to protect workers for their health and to protect those who could be used for their labor and paid little. That may be true, but what about the people who want to work more hours in order to earn more money? It limits the poor as to how many hours they are able to work a week and must survive on it. These are the people who are more likely to be on hourly wages rather than yearly salaries as the business people will be. Salaries allow more flexibilty and security as job attendance is not tied to the limited amount of money available. If a family emergency occurs, then the business people often have the resources to take days off, knowing that money will arrive home and work can be done early or immediately after return. Hourly wages allow less flexibility for the workers who need the money from each hour that he or she works. Such policies need revision and more careful analysis.

Reminds me of home

"Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them."
--Bill Vaughan--

One more day up in the canyon

"We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from it." -William Osler-

A friend recently said that one of the qualities he most admired was the ability to live life to the fullest. I was thinking about that this afternoon, when I talked with T. T couldn't be more exuberant than when praising our creative writing class. He is 44 but looks to be 30. I consider him as an author and romantic at heart. He served in the police force for 13 years before succumbing to a crack cocaine addiction. He resigned and worked in a warehouse in order to make ends meet and continue to feed his addiction. Now, he's in an upward swing and in love once again. T regaled me with tales of his 3 year old granddaughter and how his relationship with his son has changed since he has come out of rehab. In a few months, he hopes to rejoin his old job and get married to his fiancee.

Walking back down Eager Street today reminded me of Mabija street. It's a typical Charm City street where people congregate on the front steps and stare at the racially different people who walk by. There are chain-link fences and brick rowhouses with brightly painted window frames. Paint is falling off the cheap liquor store on the corner. You can kick the empty metallic bags that once held individual servings of potato chips (regular and sour cream and onion, normally). More trash and other gristle lies on the sidewalks. The bricks are uneven, and I shudder to think of the effects on an auto's shocks. When I drive by this area at night, I'm always surprised to see the number of people who are just standing or sitting. Such constant inactivity is not necessarily off-putting, just unnerving. It's a different world.

It's not to say that I'm not extremely content right now. On the contrary, I am. I sincerely enjoy my somewhat surreal state. Today, I revisited, albeit briefly, Arisotelian ethics and the principle of virtue. I find inspiration in a statue in an institution that promises some of the best tertiary care in the world. In class, I find myself listening more than I talk. Education comes in the form of lectures, planned conferences, and the internet. It's a sheltered world, one that has more good than bad.

Many have said that they love to make a difference in the life of a child. I concur. Yet, today, out of my bubble, I felt as if I've added something to the world in the life of an adult. And this seemed more real to me than the rest of my day.

Five and a half weeks

Coming to Ireland, I set out to blog my experiences. For being a capitalistic meritocracy like the United States, Ireland does have its quirks that I've been adjusting to since I've arrived.

Irish time. It's not just a newspaper and it's not to the same extent as Italy or South Africa. Classes start at ten past the hour and if you are meeting a group of friends at the pub, expect them to arrive within a ninety minute window. Accordingly, it is smart to know if one person will arrive somewhat on time. Otherwise, I walk around the block a few times. I've had a taxi ride that gave me flashbacks of NYC cabbies and buses that drop me off with a few minutes before my train was to depart. Everything gets done in its own time. That's what the Irish tell me, I tell myself, and hope that Irish time won't fail me.

Food and drink. It doesn't bother me to go shopping more frequently for groceries, though I often wish that my fridge was larger. I continually tell myself that having a dishwasher is ample compensation. However, individual college students had this size fridge in their dorm rooms for one or two people. Not four. My housemates and I make it work, though it's the least ideal part of my townhouse. The Saturday market is fabulous for organic vegetables, hot curries (when I don't feel like cooking a hot lunch), and browsing homemade crafts. If only I could afford to buy more organic products....

Beverages really should have their own paragraph. With hour breaks between many of my lectures, my classmates and I will go have a cup of tea. Or lunch. Multiple times. The wet-cold weather is chilling, though hot tea or a pint does help. The first couple of weeks, my classmates and I were out at College Bar or City Centre for a pint (or more). Unfortunately, work is piling up and I'm discovering that Ireland is an expensive place to live. Pubs are great- cannot not say enough about the atmosphere to sit around and get to know people. (I've also gone out for coffee and dinner, so please don't think I only go drinking. There is no way I could ever outdrink the Irish.)

Having gotten back from my orientation trip in Dublin this past weekend, I've been thinking a lot more about how ingrained the American culture is in me. I need my time to talk with my American friends about arrival and adjustment experiences. We laugh about the cultural differences and slang. Yet I find that it's rather tiring to find out that there's still more slang that I don't know. Sometimes I can understand the general meaning, other times, I am worried that I dont' know and have to ask. Today I learned that calling someone a legend is not comparing him or her to Paul Bunyan or the Beatles. Rather, that person is brilliant (caution, not in the genius sense.) Easy enough. Until I come across the phrase "I'm chuffed." No context there. (It has a positive connotation.)

References to old TV shows go over my head and I only know the American TV shows. The other Mitchells and I were in the live studio audience at the Ryan Tubridy Show (similar to the Conan O'Brian show). I ended up telling only Derek that I was going to attend since I didn't realize it was a show that others watched. It was a good time- complete with the guest appearance of the Hoff. Yes, I was seen on television in the audience. The show is broadcast on one of the Irish TV networks, RTE.

I definitely miss the familiarity of my life at Kenyon. I miss having someone cook my meals and being able to walk across campus and recognizing the majority of people that I meet. That's not to say that I'm not having a brilliant time in Galway. It's just that sometimes I wish I knew more people. My classmates are my social network. Reminds me of Kenyon in that sense. However, I have my own place now and have more time to myself. More relaxing in general.

Don't get me wrong. I've found so many of the Irish students and people that I've met to be generous, friendly, and possess a good sense of humor. That sense of humor might be dark or sarcastic, but it is rarely malicious. The idea of buying rounds at pubs is so natural. That is one thing that I wish to improve throughout the year. Buying rounds without being rude or unaware. They don't say much about themselves but are nonetheless curious about others.

It's exciting to know the other Mitchells around Ireland. They will come visit me and I will visit them. Also, it is just good to know others on this island. I do think of Ireland as an island. Probably because I see the ocean every day.

Yes, I have seen Martin Sheen walking along the Concourse on his way to class at NUI Galway. No, I haven't talked with him.

Following Twins baseball isn't the same as being in the States, much less in Minnesota.

Dial M for Murder (or Minneapolis)

I couldn't resist the mention of the Twin Cities in The Economist. Apparently, Twin Cities' writers produce more than their share of crime noir literature. Advertising and journalism are deemed as two breeding grounds. Notwithstanding:

"...there is the weather, which is splendidly atmospheric. The Twin Cities have hot summers and wildly erratic autumns and springs—a gift to mystery writers in search of colour. Winter is grim. As Brian Freeman, who has published a crime novel set in Duluth, in northern Minnesota, explains: “What is there to do during those long winter months beside sit inside and think dark thoughts of murder and mayhem?”'

Wow. and I thought Ohio winters were grim.

Hypothetical replay

August 10, 2006

6:57 am: Car is packed. Nothing else can fit.
7:12 am: Start driving east.
7:15 am: Turn around to get sunglasses which are reminiscent of Sophia Loren.
7:17 am: Start driving east again. Prepare to have heart attack due to gas prices.

7:24 am: Realize that self has forgotten to pack bag with jeans and shorts. Panic sets in.
7:25 am: Co-driver refuses to let driver turn around to get said bag.
7:26 am: Driver remembers that entirety of underwear collection is in said bag.
7:27 am: Panic does not subside.

11:34 am: Pass traditional road landmark: a gigantic grinning pumpkin sitting atop a silo.
11:35 am: Call sister to inform her about gigantic grinning pumpkin.
11:37 am: Inform sister about missing bag. Demands immediate shipment to prevent self from wearing only mini-skirts until Labor Day.

1:01 pm: Sister calls back. Bag not found at home.
1:34 pm: Sigh of relief. Underwear must be safe in car.

Quantum Quotation

A few friends and I went to the new Guthrie Theater in St. Paul last week to see one of our favorite books performed onstage, The Great Gatsby. I do love much of Fitzgerald's writing. In the play's program, there is a great quote by E.L. Doctorow, describing Fitzgerald:

[Fitzgerald] jumped right into the foolish heart of everything.... he was intellectually ambitious - but thought fashion was important, gossip, good looks, the company of celebrities. He wrote as a rebel, a sophisticate, an escapee from American provincialism- but was blown away by society, like a country bumpkin, and went everywhere he was invited. Ambivalently willed, he lived as both a particle and wave.

And that's the nerdy quotation for the day.

A true midwesterner

I will echo K's earlier post that roadtrips are the way to experience the countryside. However, please conveniantly forget that the midwest lacks the public transportation that other parts of the United States and other countries rely on for their daily transportation. It is enough to drive through cornfields and come across the unexpected.

"For a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent, compelled into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired, face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate [with] his capacity for wonder." --F. Scott Fitzgerald--

The countryside is gorgeous. Northern Minneota has its own charm that is unique from southern Minnesota and especially North Dakota.

Like a stream that meets a boulder

One of the highlights these past two summers has been the Great American Roadtrips. Vanilla coke, Starbucks Frappuchinos, goldfish crackers, cheez-its, RENT, Wicked!, the Dixie Chicks, and many more old friends.

Our last road trip of the summer (and our last one together for a very long time) was a visit to Bemidji, MN. In many ways, it's like a time warp. Northern MN has the smell of towering white pines and cold, freshwater lakes. And the summer camps there? Look like you've stepped out of The Parent Trap (the old one, with Hayley Mills)

Must admit, the Mississippi headwaters are anticlimatic in the extreme. Before I left town, someone suggested that K and I wear life jackets when we crossed the river. In truth? It barely covered our ankles. The famed headwaters trickle out of Lake Itasca in a sandy pool.

For those who enjoy the Great Outdoors vicariously, I've included photos of the 18 foot high statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Pictured below are the Mississippi headwaters themselves.

Lucky Liver Day

I missed a great photo op at the Twins-Indians baseball game. The mascots from a number of local businesses played a T-ball softball game beforehand. About 15-20 mascots were present, with two walleyes as the umpires.

Goldie the Gopher (U of MN), Crunch (MN Timberwolves), Mudonna (the cheeky pig for the St Paul Saints), Lynx mascot, and of course, T.C. (MN Twins) had an advantage, being accustomed to athletic sports. Having arms and legs and visibility probably didn't hurt either. I give credit to Spam and Turkey Spam for being cans with legs too. In comparison, the letter "K" and the Applebees' apple didn't quite make the cut.

What took the MVP honors was the large pink liver. Today was "Love your liver" day at the Metrodome, courtesy of the American Liver Association. Clearly, this was the largest and the hardest working organ on the field. With not too much visibility and essentially no arm maneuvering ability, this liver was tripping and falling and gamely chasing after "line drives."

So you can imagine my surprise when the liver smacked an inside the park HR. Touch-em-all, liver. You kept the game close.

Looking back

The few that I have talked with lately keep asking what my favorite city in Italy was. Each city has an entirely different feel, whether it is a small or large town and is located in the north or the south. Firenze and Roma versus Lago di Como and Positano.

Perhaps that is why K and I attempted to read the Italian newspapers (in Italian) and to understand the voting points of the latest referendum (June 25-26) and who is on what side. The regional loyalties and the backstabbing politics (as seen in football too) we began to see during our travels. We did not understand every point, but got the gist of the referendum; namely, that new powers would be given to each house in the Parliament, regional governments would be given greater decision-making power, and the prime minister would be given more political power.

Italian politics are confusing and exciting. As The Economist writes,

But Italians are not Spaniards. They traditionally reserve their loyalties not for their region, but for their home town or city. It was not, therefore, surprising that they voted to throw the measure out. What was surprising was the size of the majority (61%-39%), and the relatively high turnout of 52%—the highest in any Italian referendum for over a decade. This was not just a bill that most voters disliked; it was one they seemed determined to kill.

Calabria had a resounding "no" vote, against Berlosconi and against big business (Calabria is in the poor South, the "real Italy" as we were told).

So much more to read about. But for now, Italy is immersed in World Cup fever. On July 9, its streets will be deserted as everyone rushes for the nearest coffee bar and the country pursues its other passion: football.

KB Squared

Apart from jet lag, I'm still suffering from a bit of World Cup fever. It's a conspiracy that the games are on ESPN, so I couldn't watch the Germany-Italy game. I can just hear the horns honking in Roma right now.

Ciao bella!

The Romans are friendly. Got a bit lost trying to find the Spanish steps, a la Roman Holiday tour. Nice gentleman pointed us in the correct direction and sent us on our merry way with a kiss on the cheek and a "Ciao belle." Next morning, ate breakfast by the fountain in the Piazza della Republica. Another gentleman stops by to inform us that twins are good luck and that we are the most beautiful twins in Rome, the city of love. (Roma spelled backwards is amor). Sent himself off to work with a wave and the words "Ciao belle" to us.

Currently, mixing with the Germans in Bolzano and Merano. The y and the z are switched on the keyboard.


Arrivederci

Kellz and Karlz

World Cup 2006

World Cup fever is impressive in Europe. Every night, you walk by a cafe, you see the TV turned on to a match. No one in the ristorante or caffè is talking; their eyes are glued to the game. It's more of a national pride deal than the Olympics, from what I gather.

It's actually harder to understand what is happening with Italian football (calcio, soccer, whatever you want to call it) over here because I can't really read the newspaper headlines very well. However, from what I understand, maybe it's better that I'm not reading the major papers:

If the Americans wonder what the world thought of its awful debut, the
Italian newspapers were not kind. Corriere della Sera gave the United States a
rating of 4 out of 10, the lowest of the early matches. It accused the Americans
of making "banal, old amateur errors."

Mostly, the Italian news media has written about Saturday's match as if
understatement will bring a red card. La Repubblica said, "If we are playing to
save the face of Italian soccer, they are playing to save the pride of the
little boys and girls in oversized shorts who in the fall invade the suburbs
chasing after a ball."

Not to be outdone, La Stampa wrote that the match for the United States
is "a question of life or death, like when Custer attacked the Indians."

Gladiators and Nuns, Oh My!

I cannot say that Rome is my favorite city in Italy, but it certainly has its characters. Today we went on the Roman ruins tour (aka Coliseum and Palantine Hill), saw where Julius Caesar was burned, and then pretended to be statues in the Coliseum. Outside of the massive arches were the fake gladiators who want you to take pictures of them and then pay them loads of money. We took our picture with care from a distance.....

I wish I knew more Roman history. Too much of my knowledge of the Coliseum comes from movies, such as Gladiator and Ben Hur.

Also cannot describe how many churches there are in this city. Yesterday K and I wandered into a random church. It was under renovation, so it smelled of paint. It was impressive and chilly, nonetheless. St. Peter's in the Vatican was impressive for its size, and I loved the Sistine Chapel within the Vatican museum. Cannot express what it was like to stare up at the ceiling at the stories from Genesis and see the "spark of life" overhead. Yet I guess I never realized how many nuns, priests, and monks that I would see walking around the city. Of course, the papal procession was something to behold and probably the reason why it is so crowded here as well. Neither K or I had the desire to actually enter the church where Audrey Hepburn stuck her hand in the lion's mouth. But we waited in line to stick our hands into that wall! (Unfortunately, that line seemed to be longer than the Coliseum)

Tomorrow is Assisi and the Church of St. Francis. Then up to the Italian Alps!

vacanza romana

For the first and only time, I'm checking internet on consecutive days. Some people do Da Vinci Code/Angels and Demons runs in Roma. We attempt to find the sites in Roman Holiday. sigh. Found Santa Maria of Cosmedine, where G. Peck and A. Hepburn put their hands in the sun's mouth as a ritual to see if they are liars. Had to wait in line behind literally a busload of Japanese tourists.

And of course, we are going to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps. Such hot sticky days, I don't know how any stars in the movie never break a sweat.

Wines and Whines

As mentioned earlier, we did go wine tasting in the Chianti region. Call it snobby, but we managed to arrive in the hill town of Radda during their wine festival. So we tasted all of the Chianti Classico, particularly the Riserva, to our palate's delight. Talking with the vineyard owners, I gained a greater appreciation for the science and culturing behind each bottle of wine. Each year, the vineyard will produce much different wines. 2001 and 2003 were overall good years, but 2002 was not. It definitely is apparent in the tastes and the bouquet. I found that I loved the wines that sat in the bottles. Our poor parents will enjoy our wine that we have bought... but only in three to five years.

It took us awhile to get the hang of tasting the wine, rather than drinking it. After all, many owners will pour a quarter of a glass for optimal aroma. Use your imagination as we definitely were in good spirits after tasting wine over several blocks of tables. Thankfully the buses run late and we caught the bus with seconds to spare. Unfortunately, Tuscany is not known for being flat and the bus ride was tortuous at best.

We met up with Lily in Roma and traveled to the central south of Italy. Pompeii was incredible, though we spent too much time in the bakeries. And we took many pictures of the stairs. The most common question during that portion was whether we were Japanese or Chinese or Korean tourists. The answer was yes to all three questions. That really confused the street vendors as they thought we were siblings or something!

Though K and I are not going to be able to finish our entire regional experiment plan to the south of Italy, due to transportation and scheduling difficulties, we did experience the chaos of the South. (Perhaps a road trip will be in order next year.) After barely catching the train to Roma from Napoli, we realized the train was not moving. Surprise! Train strike on June 15. Randomly occurs every so often due to high levels of unemployment. This is according to good ol' Putnam. So true.

With that chaos, we found a couple of students who spoke English and Italian. We pushed our way onto the buses that were meant for the Eurostar (more expensive train than we can afford to travel on between cities) passengers and had a hot bus ride to Roma via the Autostrada. Thank goodness we travel with bookbags and a plastic bag of food.

those crazy little Lutheran girls....

The contact that we've had with the Catholic Church and its history has been extraordinatry. I have almost lost count of the number of small churches and large Duomos (cathedrals) into which we have wandered. Each has its own charm. The Florence and Siena ones were amazing and represented as much of the city as it did the religion. The whole vita civile deal. (Yes, all IPHS'ers, I did see the Lorenzetti painting in Siena). I can now recognize the differences between the austere Franciscan churches (the exception being the Firenze Duomo) and the slightly more ornate Dominican.

Also, each town has its own patron saint to venerate: St. Catherine of Siena, St. Margherite of Cortona, St. Francis of Assisi. What I still don't understand is the veneration of relics. I can stomach the tunics and cloths which wiped away blood, but I do not quite understand the worshiping of actual body parts (the right thumb, the head, the tongue, etc). Also still do not understand or completely follow the Catholic veneration of the Virgin Mary. What is the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary which apparently was heavily debated to accord with the ideas of original sin?

Currently we are in Rome. Luck of the Irish allowed us to see the Pope, Benedicto XVI! We arrived on Corpus Christi Day (does anyone know the significance)? He drove down the street on which our hostel was located. Well, we wanted a better view, so we waited 2.5 hours outside the church for 'front row' spots. Church music and Latin intonations for most of that time blared from the speakers set up. The tenor solo in particular was amazing. Breathtaking. The parade of nuns, monks, priests, cardinals, bishops, archbishops, and the Pope himself in his bulletproof Popemobile were a site to see. Clearly, many of the religious figures had traveled from all over the world, bringing with them similar clothing and different banners. We had a view from the time that he drove past to his walk up the Santa Maria Maggiore steps to the placing of his hat on his head and his walk into the cathedral. Amazing.

Then today, we went to the Vatican. Honestly, this museum was the best €12 I have spent on a museum. The Sistine Chapel and the School of Athens. I couldn't take my eyes off either piece. Almost overwhelming how much great art is stored there. Kar and I did buy a rosary and box for our 98 year old great-aunt. While we aren't buying too many gifts (apart from those for our parents, who are both getting Chianti that needs to be aged a couple more years), we figured this would tickle our aunt's fancy. Also went to St. Peter's Basilica. Incredibly large with some incredible statues (especially Michaelangelo's Pieta). Sadly, am not as familiar with the story of St. Peter and his upside down cross.

And yes, our next stop is Assisi to see the hometown of St. Francis.

il Vino

One of my goals in Italy was to learn about Italian wine. Thus far, I can say that I have sampled quite a few. Over 4000 different kinds in Italy. Met a wine snob who explained how to swirl wine and check for so called 'legs.' Wines with higher concentrations of sulfites, such as those in Napa Valley CA, have higher concentrations of sulfites. Italian wines (especially reds) have much lower or no sulfites. As such, I'm much better off with Italian reds. Joyous thought.

I really want to try Brunello di Montelcino, but I have tried quite a few others: Cortona Sangiovese (mild, fruity with bitter tart aftertaste), the Cinque Terre sweet white wine (allergy!), grappa (42% alcohol content soooo strong), Chianti AND Chianti Classico. Yes, I'm a snob since I can taste the difference between good and cheap wine. But I'll drink either as long as it is in a glass bottle when I buy it. Rosso di Montalcino also tasted good.

Hopefully, I'll spend the day in the Chianti region tomorrow. Today didn't work out, but the sights in Siena (both the Palazzo Publico as well as the Duomo) were amazing. Then, it's off to Naples and Sorrento and Pompeii to meet a friend who is flying in from Ireland.

Our Italian Regional Experiment

Parlo un po italiano. So far, Italy has been pretty (Lake Como and Cinque Terre) and ugly (Genova). Yet the stories and adventures have begun.

First, we discovered that when hiking up a mountain, wear more than summer clothes and bring a snack. The three of us forgot that it gets colder and colder at higher altitudes. Our 7 hour hike was without food, so we ended up being famished, cold, and tired. My hands swelled and become red and frozen. It was so cold at one point that we had snow. But the sun returned and we overall enjoyed the hike. The view of Lago di Como was incredible.

Importantly, we have learned a smattering of broken Italian, thanks to the phrase books. We can now order cheese by the kilogram and generally will be enjoying local wines. The markets are useful, though we must come well-prepared with carefully memorized phrases until we have completely caught onto the grammar rules. All my Spanish is returning, which is not helpful. Definitely think that the brain has a certain region that is activated for language...

Menaggio e Fermaggio

Wow, I loved il Lago di Como area. Exactly what I pictured Northern Italy to be. All cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways. the people, the cheese! No, we have not gotten hit by a car that is rolling down stairs. Yes, I ate banana gelato the first night. The sky is beautiful, the language is gorgeous, and the smells emanating from the shops are heavenly. My calves ache after climbing mountains, and we have taken 128 MB of fotos. My crash course in Italian 101 is failing but I can order train tickets with the best of them.

It snowed in the mountains. and I'm still afraid of heights. My backpack is too small and the shoes are amazing (but I can't buy them).

motives

In one of many great scenes in 'The Constant Gardener', Fiennes tells his pregnant wife Tessa (Rachel Weisz) that they cannot give a young woman, her baby, and her son a ride. He argues that there are too many people that need to be helped. She would start with this family. The argument uncomfortably ends with Justin's decision. He has to look after Tessa's health and drives away.

It's a scene that is repeated over and over in this movie, not just with Justin but with those that Justin encounters. Justin, in this scene, reminds me of myself and pretty much everyone I know. All seem to be solid, nice people who wants to protect those they love at the cost of those they don't know. Somehow, I found this affability more disturbing than the premise of large pharmaceutical companies warping drug tests to produce more favorable results.

Notwithstanding, the chemist and doctor in me is still disturbed by this imagery, especially when it contrasts sharply with Tessa's exclamations at the beginning of the movie about nevarapine and its preventive powers for mother-to-child HIV transmission. If, as a character observes that "no drug company does something for nothing," then is it a monolith of people or individuals who are responsible?

Is it enough to know that if you cannot help everyone that you should not help anyone? What inspires people to act?

Note: Fernando Meirelles directed "City of God," another equally thought-provoking movie.

A marriage of conveniance

I must be slipping in my Scottish Politics as I did not notice the news report of "...the descent of a beam in March that nearly wiped out the Tory delegation and closed the debating chamber for two months..." (Economist, 05.18.06).

The Economist is right in its analysis of Scotland and devolution. The Scottish do spend much time concentrating on why they are not English.

Another story of interest....

Without ever knowing the way

Perhaps I'm biased, but I do consider road-tripping across the country to be distinctly American. Think The Grapes of Wrath or On the Road. I've played too many games of Oregon Trail and heartiliy sung too many renditions of the Dixie Chicks' "Wide Open Spaces" to believe that the flat American heartland isn't something to be experienced at least once in the car. I've driven from MN to OH and from OH to PA and NJ this year, all in the company of friends. I'm still not quite sure which is the "armpit" of America: Gary, IN or New Jersey.

What passes by on the billboards speaks worlds about the area: Pauxatawny Phil, Adlai Stevenson's birthplace (Bloomington, IL), Wisconsin Cheese, resorts that promise to teach you how to surf in landlocked areas, and gun control warnings (southern IL):

Tested in peace
Proven in war
Guns at home
Even the score
GunsSaveLife.com

Currently, K and I have almost finished our 1000 mile jaunt through the rural reaches of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. No topic is too sacred to be dissected: cherry coke, European politics, friendships, gun control, professors, relationships, and sustenance. We've rarely stopped in the little family restaurants that dot the countryside, but then again, we stop only for gas, restrooms, and to buy more goldfish crackers. We were fortunate to have only blue skies and fuel efficiency that ranged from 36.8-41.3 mpg. All in all, a good trip.

And yes, K, according to the sign in Indiana with large letters: JeSuS is ReAl.

Apples and Oranges

It's a well-worn discussion that Europe and the United States have problems with their health care systems. However I'm not sure if I agree with Ezra Klein in the value of choice in our health care system. He argues in favor of the French system because it has lower debt. Yet let's look to the future. What about the millions of second and third generation immigrants? How will that affect French industry? Is it enough to argue that Medicaid/Medicare have crippled the American health care systems and not predict problems for the French system in the comparison? Dale Franks argues that the American system may still be preferrable over the French and German health care systems, but all are not satisfactory. He is right in the differences between the two systems. However, to group the two countries is not the best idea either. France is a top-down bureacratic state and German is a federal state. Neither will translate directly to the American liberal economy.

presidential likenesses

I've always said that people of certain races tended to aggregate at my high school, and now,

"nobody has ever voted for a presidential candidate they wouldn't have had lunch with in high school."

Thank you, David Brooks. Even if I can't agree with the typecasts, reading this quote after watching a primarily white audience dance to rap music made the column worthwhile..

Feeling small

Last night I watched Syriana. In a way, watching such a movie was a strange phenomenon. Watching a conspiracy unfold alongside strangers in the dark. The audience gained bits of information related to the characters but had no power by which to intervene. Men in business suits made pacts and ordered killings with the efficiency and undistinguishable air of ordering a cup of coffee. T argues that the movie doesn't aptly depict life in bureaucracy and oil dealings. I am little qualified to argue anything besides bureacracy and the actions left unsaid.

Between student government, interning, and being a bit of a politics nerd, the inherant consequences of "insider" information is difficult to ignore. Trying to know and make the student opinion heard while being an overloaded student is difficult. Working with administration that is in transition is difficult, with rewards at infrequent intervals. Yet reading about the everyday politics of a country, even as I realize that so many people do not follow them, is hard to comprehend. The politicians and bureacratic forces that shape the laws, make the laws, and sign disarmament agreements is important to the particular society. The discussions between Sinn Fein and the DUP will shape Northern Irish politics for the next decade. However, the ability to find meaningful commentary is low. Is globalization supposed to open up interest in other parts of the world for reasons other than self-interest?

In some ways, this began as a response to K's blog about the liberally educated person. We are supposed to be able to converse on multiple levels and display dexterity in knowledge. Perhaps the liberally educated person will be more willing to develop understanding of multiple regions of the world that are affected by our global economy for reasons that are not self-interested initially. Perhaps it will be the ability to reach outside of personal "bubbles" and to be more than a spectator or ignorant reader who skips particular section in the daily newspaper. There are some life skills that will not be taught at Kenyon - such as a lack of direct correlation to an "academic" nature or upon the affluent nature of the college. I agree that a wake-up call is necessary. As much as I abhor bureacratic machinations, I probably will continue to work towards some sort of meaningful progress. I know my contributions are as large as one ant. It' is hopelessly depressing at times, but in one microcosm of the world, it may be all that can be done. Sometimes I just wish that people outside of the microcosm would take genuine interest in my "bubble" as I hope to do with their "bubble."

a liberal education

A friend of mine is interviewing in DC this week. She has a new spring suit, new shoes, tasteful jewelry, a modest briefcase, and multiple copies of her resume. She’s conducted two practice interviews, one with our career counseling center and one with friends with varying degrees of interview experience. We spent last night brainstorming the little details: how to take public transportation (viz. buses), merits of carry-on luggage, and checking whether the hotel had an ironing board.

What amazed me last night and has amazed me since I came to college, are the number of small “life skills” that my friends and I do not know. My friend’s new suit? The pants needed to be hemmed, and out of the four 22-year-old girls, only I knew how to hem. Making a flippant remark about the fact that it’s one of those life skills like sewing buttons, I was slightly taken aback that my roommate doesn’t really sew buttons. Yet she knits!

I confess, I was clueless about car care two years ago. I still am clueless. It took me two months, three conversations, and two phone calls to determine that my front wheels needed to be balanced and that my sister can throw away the old windshield wipers. Do I know what to look for when I look under the hood? I’ll take the 5th on that one.

We are talented thoughtful writers who can discuss political philosophy, quantum mechanics, narrative theory, and ecological population shifts. We can cook, do laundry, and clean a house to varying extents. Do we know how to network and how to do an informational interview? Do we feel that it is possible to live on less than $20,000 per year in a large East Coast City? Increasingly, our parents will support us in a monetary fashion after we graduate. I will still call my mom for tips when I spill red wine on white pants. I will call my stepdad and my dad when I don’t know how to check what kind of light I need for the door light. And I will ask my friends when I don’t know what I’m forgetting to do.

New Slang

Even if she can't tell the pineapple story to save her life, I enjoy laughing at my sister's jokes almost as much as I enjoy laughing at her.

Be a free radical. Join the anti-Markovnikov movement.

where Fargo is a big city

http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifThe NY Times has an intriguing article on North Dakota. Whereas the Sunbelt and Cactus Belt are struggling to absorb their population increases, North Dakota is seeing a mass exodus.

North Dakota has continued to lose people. And it didn't have that many to begin with. In 1930, its population peaked at 680,845. In 2000, it was down to 642,200, and by 2004, the last year for which statistics are available, it had dropped to 634,366. (By comparison, the national population more than doubled, to 294 million from 123 million, during the same period.) Of the 25 counties nationwide that lost the largest portions of their populations in the 1990's, 12 were in North Dakota.

I spent a few days in rural ND last August, and it confirms the anecdotal evidence of the residents of Crosby, ND. Towns are few and far between. The landscape is flat, to be broken as the fields change from corn to soybeans to sunflowers. In town, there is one main drag, often with a railroad line dividing the town into sections. One town celebrates "Uff-da Days" and unfortunately, I left my T-shirt with the recipe for lefse at home. Neighbors can peer through their lacy windows because, well, strangers add a little excitment, mystery, and fodder for gossip. North Dakota was built on the pen of Lincoln with the Homesteading Act and thus on the need for community. The article points out initiatives by inhabitants to maintain what it values:

North Dakotans, [one resident] says, are "superfriendly, to where you say they're borderline nosy. A real tight sense of community."

The NY Times makes no secret of the problems that cannot be helped by civic pride alone. The desire to live in a place where everyone knows your name doesn't bring employment opportunities and young families to town. [I'm not talking about the teenage pregnancy problems where the youth have nothing to do but smoke, drink, have sex and now do meth. Even seeing David Brooks' column about the lack of values in our society today didn't make me too optimistic] It brings retirees.

The emigration to other places (like Minnesota) and the lack of a tourism industry has meant that ND is in danger of falling off the map. It's sad to hear about a town that simply folds up because it has two residents. "A History of Violence" set itself in Nowhereville, Indiana, to emphasize the disappearance and imagery of small-town America; the NY Times recommends that one goes to ND to see the last vestiges of true small-town America. But this real-life version is grimmer and more ghostly.

Second to none - survey 2

Try this Johari survey for me (karly). The link is different than kelly's link in the previous post.

Better than the Mean Girls survey

Johari. It's not the Bryers-Miggs (or is it Myers-Briggs?), but thankfully, klutzy is not an option.

Science daily

Irregular webcomics combines my two favorite topics: science and politics in my favorite setting: Legos.

Educational Debates

It is interesting to note that AP exams are becoming more common. However, contrary to the Washington Post article, AP classes are not necessarily more difficult than their honors counterparts.

For many years, honors courses have been an attractive compromise for American high-schoolers. They have sampled the choices like Goldilocks: Regular courses? Too easy. Advanced Placement courses? Too hard. But honors courses were just right.

As one educator noted, it is up to the school to follow the guidelines of the AP curriculum, but it is not rigid. Do the financial resources of the schools have any effect on the outcome of the students' AP and college careers? Variation between schools is a critical factor. Nor does this emphasis on AP exams take into consideration students' interests. Rather it focuses on an end goal, college entrance, rather than students liking what they learn. Yes, valuable skills are gained from classes that may not be of interest. However, I would support the person who said that it is best to take at least one AP exam... not the push for all AP classes.


On a slightly different note, South Dakota did not pass their version of the "Academic Bill of Rights."

Lawmakers who backed the measure had argued that it would make clear that the Legislature values intellectual diversity, which the bill defined as "the foundation of a learning environment that exposes students to a variety of political, ideological, and other perspectives." The measure's supporters, who were mostly Republicans, had said the legislation would allow for better oversight of how well the state's campuses were protecting diverse views.

South Dakota certainly seems to have their share of headline-grabbing legislation lately...


Finally, the New York Times prominently featured an article on multiples (siblings) in the classroom. On one side of the argument, you have parental choice.

Advocates of parental choice point to studies in the past few years that have suggested that twins, for example, may actually benefit from being left together in their early years.

Yet, the same people go on to argue that the bond between twins is "is intense and thus privileged" and therefore it may be better for the twins to be together. I can understand the parental choice argument, though it does invite micro-managing parents into the equation. However, to say that twins (or triplets) will fluorish more in the classroom with his or her sibling(s) may not be accurate. Some children become more socially engaged and are more confident with friends present, while others merely become shadows in their friends' wake.

On the opposing side, parents argue that multiples should not have the constant comparisons with one another, which often occurs when the children are placed in the same classroom. Stories abound on both sides of the issue. As you are reading this, you probably already have a bias, based on experience....

life's lessons

On living life the right way:

"Before I left for college, my mom gave me two pieces of advice. One, never mix your whites and colors in the laundry together. Two, when someone asks you what you want to be in life, always answer with an adjective, never a noun."

~a friend who has followed the latter piece of advice, but not always the former.

Repelling genetics.

So apparently, we learn Mendelian genetics in order to learn about ear wax. The allele for wet ear wax is a dominant whereas the allele for dry wax is recessive. Cribbed from NY Times:

The single mutation in the earwax gene is one in which a G (for guanine) is replaced with an A (for adenine). People who inherit the version of the gene that has A from both parents have dry earwax. Those who carry two of the G versions, or one G and one A, are destined to live with wet earwax.

I can't access this article, so I can't read why the authors linked dry ear wax to low body sweat/odor in Han Chinese, Koreans, and Native Americans.

better days

I've nearly completed Jonathan Kozol's Amazing Grace. The book, by depicting the lives of residents in the South Bronx (and particularly Mott Haven), covers the gamut from employment to drug turf warfare to environmentally-induced asthma to whether hope can exist there. In many ways, the problems encountered are so entrenched as to be nearly overwhelming.

A quick look at articles addressing many of these issues are not exactly hopeful. Drug use? NYC hopes that methamphetamine usage won't catch on because, as two people surmise, cocaine is widely available and meth is the poor white trash's drug of choice. Health care? Besides the oft quoted statistic that 46 million Americans lack health insurance and that 38 million are on Medicaid,

Medicaid, Medicare and other publicly financed health care, such as that for ex-servicemen, and the public sector already pays for 45% of American health care. (The total is nearer 60% if you include the tax subsidies.) (Economist, 26 Jan 06)

Perhaps it's an oversimplification, but I'm reminded of an old argument between K and myself. From where does change occur? Yes, like deepening democracy by entrenching political values within a society, enacting change among the residents of the neighborhood would ideally be the most sustainable solution, but where do the rest of us fit? By changing policy in a top-down approach, working to better implement policy, or to "work on the ground?"

Quite a few of my friends have been mulling over the merits and drawbacks of the Peace Corps and Teach for America lately. In many ways, I think this first hand experience is the way not only to influence lives and also to influence our future actions in the area of social justice. And maybe I'm just leaning too heavily on my current emphasis and desire to enter the field of public health and how societal issues intersect.

bedknobs and broomsticks

Yesterday I was in a state of awe over one of the small things in life... doorknobs.

My younger sister (for reasons best left unsaid) broke my doorknob, broke it to the point where the knob came off on my side of the door. The door still closes completely, but now the door locks behind me. Once inside my room, I'm stuck. I can't open my door.

Maybe I'm glad that I'm leaving tomorrow.