October 2007

Because if you don’t post it on a billboard, someone gets pissed you didn’t tell them…

moocowinthecity 2007-10-31 No Comments

I’ve often heard the “you never told me that!” because I made the foolish mistake of mentioning it in one place, and not the other (whether it’s that I’m moving to Israel, or that I met a new guy, or any of the myriad of things that happen in daily life) thus:

If you want to subscribe to my Travelogue Newsletter (where I write about my travels) go to the below URL and enter your email (you can unsubscribe at anytime, I don’t spam mail you, I don’t sell your addresses, etc, etc, etc):

http://www.nomadmatan.net/travelogue/?p=subscribe&id=1

Now you know :o)

Because if you don’t post it on a billboard, someone gets pissed you didn’t tell them&#823

moocowinthecity 2007-10-31 No Comments

I’ve often heard the “you never told me that!” because I made the foolish mistake of mentioning it in one place, and not the other (whether it’s that I’m moving to Israel, or that I met a new guy, or any of the myriad of things that happen in daily life) thus:

If you want to subscribe to my Travelogue Newsletter (where I write about my travels) go to the below URL and enter your email (you can unsubscribe at anytime, I don’t spam mail you, I don’t sell your addresses, etc, etc, etc):

http://www.nomadmatan.net/travelogue/?p=subscribe&id=1

Now you know :o)

Matan, coming to a town near you!

moocowinthecity 2007-10-30 No Comments

November

2007-Nov-12 through 2007-Nov-15
New York City (the 14th is spoken for) but I’ll have some time to meet up with a few people with enough advanced planning.

2007-Nov-19
New York (for one day)

2007-Nov-20
West Palm Beach, Florida

2007-Nov-21
New York City/Long Island

2007-Nov-24
West Palm Beach, Florida

2007-Nov-25
New York City (a few hours)

2007-Nov-25
Buffalo, New York

December

2007-Dec-13 through 2007-Dec-18

Newark, New Jersey (Garin Tzabar Information Session)

2007-Dec-26

Landing in Israel!

Not Yet Scheduled

I’ll be in Boston to Visit Carrie & Stephen and I will also be in Toronto for one last hurrah…and possibly based on whether or not I get a free flight, Seattle or something…I’m still open for suggestions.

TESOL/Jocks/Israel

moocowinthecity 2007-10-30 No Comments

TESOL/TEFL/TESL Certification

So I walked in last Saturday and the teacher who runs the certification program goes to me “are you ready for your practicum?” and I froze…I remember it being Sunday on the schedule.

Shit…She changed it…somehow I missed that very crucial piece of information.

Fortunately I had my lesson plan with me, albeit marked up…but I had it with me none the less.

So the first person went, the second person went…and then I got up, and using every ounce of teacher that I had in me. Relying on every skill I’ve ever picked up from addressing a crowd of a couple of hundred and talking about anal sex, bondage, domination or any of the myriad of topics I’ve been asked to speak about at conventions, using every experience I’ve had as a keynote speaker, remembering everything I had learned teaching Kindergarten in the inner city…I put on a smile and with cool confidence began my class…and ran through the entire fifty minute lesson in fifteen minutes, figuring out what should be cut short, what should be extended…adding things I thought of on the fly, taking out things that I deemed no longer appropriate to a room of students who were supposed to be native Hebrew speakers in 8th and 9th grade (14-15 year olds) High-Intermediate ESL Course.

Her hand flying across my evaluation sheet I was certain I failed…that she’d take this time to fuck over the Linguist who corrected her on her bastardization (actually, there isn’t a strong enough word to describe just how badly she fucked up her presentation) of Phonetics.

Now certain that I failed or scored incredibly low, I finished and wrapped up my lesson. My head still held high because I gave it my all with the one still voice in the back of my head going ‘sometimes all you have to give isn’t good enough.’ My colleagues clapped for me as I thanked them for their input after my lesson. I went and took my seat. Then I watched everyone else do their practicum. Afterwards we were asked to go outside so she could do individual evaluations with us, bringing us in like lambs to the slaughter, one at a time.

Eventually I was called in…and as I sat down across from her, waiting to hear the bad news…she told me “I’m pleased to tell you, that you’re the Top Student in the class…” – a designation that they check off on the evaluation form…it goes to one student in the class…I was that student.

I passed. I’m now a certified TESOL/TEFL/TESL Teacher…with the highest score on the practicum. If you want to see my evaluation (I’m pretty proud of it) you can view it here

Maagan Michael/Israel Update

In class today my cell phone went off: it was my representative (different than the Shaliach) from the Aliyah Agency. I was approved to be on Maagan Micahel Kibbutz (apparently they have a long waiting list). I also found out that I have my follow up meeting where I get some of my papers, etc. on November 14th at 12 Noon at their offices in New York City…what’s that…an excuse to fly home…wait…twist my arm a second…

I’ll be home Late on Monday, November 12th and I’ll fly back to Buffalo early on November 15th (I’ll post my full, upcoming, travel schedule Tomorrow).

If you want to see the Kibbutz that I’ll be on (Maagan Micahel), you can go here. From the pictures it looks gorgeous. I sent an introduction to the director of the Ulpan and he responded and says that if I want to, I can certainly request to work with the cows when I get there (THEY HAVE COWS!!!). He says it’s dirty, and bizarre hours…done and done. I love cows…I used to feed them dog biscuits on my Uncle Bruce’s farm.

Anyways, I have a lot more to write about…so an actual entry later today.

Peace all!

TESOL/Jocks/Israel

moocowinthecity 2007-10-30 No Comments

TESOL/TEFL/TESL Certification

So I walked in last Saturday and the teacher who runs the certification program goes to me “are you ready for your practicum?” and I froze…I remember it being Sunday on the schedule.

Shit…She changed it…somehow I missed that very crucial piece of information.

Fortunately I had my lesson plan with me, albeit marked up…but I had it with me none the less.

So the first person went, the second person went…and then I got up, and using every ounce of teacher that I had in me. Relying on every skill I’ve ever picked up from addressing a crowd of a couple of hundred and talking about anal sex, bondage, domination or any of the myriad of topics I’ve been asked to speak about at conventions, using every experience I’ve had as a keynote speaker, remembering everything I had learned teaching Kindergarten in the inner city…I put on a smile and with cool confidence began my class…and ran through the entire fifty minute lesson in fifteen minutes, figuring out what should be cut short, what should be extended…adding things I thought of on the fly, taking out things that I deemed no longer appropriate to a room of students who were supposed to be native Hebrew speakers in 8th and 9th grade (14-15 year olds) High-Intermediate ESL Course.

Her hand flying across my evaluation sheet I was certain I failed…that she’d take this time to fuck over the Linguist who corrected her on her bastardization (actually, there isn’t a strong enough word to describe just how badly she fucked up her presentation) of Phonetics.

Now certain that I failed or scored incredibly low, I finished and wrapped up my lesson. My head still held high because I gave it my all with the one still voice in the back of my head going ‘sometimes all you have to give isn’t good enough.’ My colleagues clapped for me as I thanked them for their input after my lesson. I went and took my seat. Then I watched everyone else do their practicum. Afterwards we were asked to go outside so she could do individual evaluations with us, bringing us in like lambs to the slaughter, one at a time.

Eventually I was called in…and as I sat down across from her, waiting to hear the bad news…she told me “I’m pleased to tell you, that you’re the Top Student in the class…” – a designation that they check off on the evaluation form…it goes to one student in the class…I was that student.

I passed. I’m now a certified TESOL/TEFL/TESL Teacher…with the highest score on the practicum. If you want to see my evaluation (I’m pretty proud of it) you can view it here

Maagan Michael/Israel Update

In class today my cell phone went off: it was my representative (different than the Shaliach) from the Aliyah Agency. I was approved to be on Maagan Micahel Kibbutz (apparently they have a long waiting list). I also found out that I have my follow up meeting where I get some of my papers, etc. on November 14th at 12 Noon at their offices in New York City…what’s that…an excuse to fly home…wait…twist my arm a second…

I’ll be home Late on Monday, November 12th and I’ll fly back to Buffalo early on November 15th (I’ll post my full, upcoming, travel schedule Tomorrow).

If you want to see the Kibbutz that I’ll be on (Maagan Micahel), you can go here. From the pictures it looks gorgeous. I sent an introduction to the director of the Ulpan and he responded and says that if I want to, I can certainly request to work with the cows when I get there (THEY HAVE COWS!!!). He says it’s dirty, and bizarre hours…done and done. I love cows…I used to feed them dog biscuits on my Uncle Bruce’s farm.

Anyways, I have a lot more to write about…so an actual entry later today.

Peace all!

Sing For The Moment

moocowinthecity 2007-10-30 No Comments

“Sing For The Moment”

[Verse 1]
These ideas are nightmares to white parents
Whose worst fear is a child with dyed hair and who likes earrings
Like whatever they say has no bearing, it’s so scary in a house that allows
no swearing
To see him walking around with his headphones blaring
Alone in his own zone, cold and he don’t care
He’s a problem child
And what bothers him all comes out, when he talks about
His fuckin’ dad walkin’ out
Cause he just hates him so bad that he blocks him out
If he ever saw him again he’d probably knock him out
His thoughts are whacked, he’s mad so he’s talkin’ back
Talkin’ black, brainwashed from rock and rap
He sags his pants, do-rags and a stocking cap
His step-father hit him, so he socked him back, and broke his nose
His house is a broken home, there’s no control, he just let’s his emotions
go…

[Chorus]
{C’mon}, sing with me, {sing}, sing for the years
{Sing it}, sing for the laughter, sing for the tears, {c’mon)
Sing it with me, just for today, maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you
away…

[Verse 2]
Entertainment is changin’, intertwinin’ with gangsta’s
In the land of the killers, a sinner’s mind is a sanctum
Holy or unholy, only have one homie
Only this gun, lonely cause don’t anyone know me
Yet everybody just feels like they can relate, I guess words are a
mothafucka they can be great
Or they can degrade, or even worse they can teach hate
It’s like these kids hang on every single statement we make
Like they worship us, plus all the stores ship us platinum
Now how the fuck did this metamorphosis happen
From standin’ on corners and porches just rappin’
To havin’ a fortune, no more kissin’ ass
But then these critics crucify you, journalists try to burn you
Fans turn on you, attorneys all want a turn at you
To get they hands on every dime you have, they want you to lose your mind
every time you mad
So they can try to make you out to look like a loose cannon
Any dispute won’t hesitate to produce handguns
That’s why these prosecutors wanna convict me, strictly just to get me off
of these streets quickly
But all they kids be listenin’ to me religiously, so i’m signin’ cd’s while
police fingerprint me
They’re for the judge’s daughter but his grudge is against me
If i’m such a fuckin’ menace, this shit doesn’t make sense Pete
It’s all political, if my music is literal, and i’m a criminal how the fuck
can I raise a little girl
I couldn’t, I wouldn’t be fit to, you’re full of shit too, Guerrera, that
was a fist that hit you…

[CHORUS]

[Verse 3]
They say music can alter moods and talk to you
Well can it load a gun up for you , and cock it too
Well if it can, then the next time you assault a dude
Just tell the judge it was my fault and i’ll get sued
See what these kids do is hear about us totin’ pistols
And they want to get one cause they think the shit’s cool
Not knowin’ we really just protectin’ ourselves, we entertainers
Of course the shit’s affectin’ our sales, you ignoramus
But music is reflection of self, we just explain it, and then we get our
checks in the mail
It’s fucked up ain’t it
How we can come from practically nothing to being able to have any fuckin’
thing that we wanted
That’s why we sing for these kids, who don’t have a thing
Except for a dream, and a fuckin’ rap magazine
Who post pin-up pictures on their walls all day long
Idolize they favorite rappers and know all they songs
Or for anyone who’s ever been through shit in their lives
Till they sit and they cry at night wishin’ they’d die
Till they throw on a rap record and they sit, and they vibe
We’re nothin’ to you but we’re the fuckin’ shit in they eyes
That’s why we seize the moment try to freeze it and own it, squeeze it and
hold it
Cause we consider these minutes golden
And maybe they’ll admit it when we’re gone
Just let our spirits live on, through our lyrics that you hear in our
songs and we can…

[CHORUS X2]

– Eminem

Sing For The Moment

moocowinthecity 2007-10-30 No Comments

“Sing For The Moment”

[Verse 1]
These ideas are nightmares to white parents
Whose worst fear is a child with dyed hair and who likes earrings
Like whatever they say has no bearing, it’s so scary in a house that allows
no swearing
To see him walking around with his headphones blaring
Alone in his own zone, cold and he don’t care
He’s a problem child
And what bothers him all comes out, when he talks about
His fuckin’ dad walkin’ out
Cause he just hates him so bad that he blocks him out
If he ever saw him again he’d probably knock him out
His thoughts are whacked, he’s mad so he’s talkin’ back
Talkin’ black, brainwashed from rock and rap
He sags his pants, do-rags and a stocking cap
His step-father hit him, so he socked him back, and broke his nose
His house is a broken home, there’s no control, he just let’s his emotions
go…

[Chorus]
{C’mon}, sing with me, {sing}, sing for the years
{Sing it}, sing for the laughter, sing for the tears, {c’mon)
Sing it with me, just for today, maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you
away…

[Verse 2]
Entertainment is changin’, intertwinin’ with gangsta’s
In the land of the killers, a sinner’s mind is a sanctum
Holy or unholy, only have one homie
Only this gun, lonely cause don’t anyone know me
Yet everybody just feels like they can relate, I guess words are a
mothafucka they can be great
Or they can degrade, or even worse they can teach hate
It’s like these kids hang on every single statement we make
Like they worship us, plus all the stores ship us platinum
Now how the fuck did this metamorphosis happen
From standin’ on corners and porches just rappin’
To havin’ a fortune, no more kissin’ ass
But then these critics crucify you, journalists try to burn you
Fans turn on you, attorneys all want a turn at you
To get they hands on every dime you have, they want you to lose your mind
every time you mad
So they can try to make you out to look like a loose cannon
Any dispute won’t hesitate to produce handguns
That’s why these prosecutors wanna convict me, strictly just to get me off
of these streets quickly
But all they kids be listenin’ to me religiously, so i’m signin’ cd’s while
police fingerprint me
They’re for the judge’s daughter but his grudge is against me
If i’m such a fuckin’ menace, this shit doesn’t make sense Pete
It’s all political, if my music is literal, and i’m a criminal how the fuck
can I raise a little girl
I couldn’t, I wouldn’t be fit to, you’re full of shit too, Guerrera, that
was a fist that hit you…

[CHORUS]

[Verse 3]
They say music can alter moods and talk to you
Well can it load a gun up for you , and cock it too
Well if it can, then the next time you assault a dude
Just tell the judge it was my fault and i’ll get sued
See what these kids do is hear about us totin’ pistols
And they want to get one cause they think the shit’s cool
Not knowin’ we really just protectin’ ourselves, we entertainers
Of course the shit’s affectin’ our sales, you ignoramus
But music is reflection of self, we just explain it, and then we get our
checks in the mail
It’s fucked up ain’t it
How we can come from practically nothing to being able to have any fuckin’
thing that we wanted
That’s why we sing for these kids, who don’t have a thing
Except for a dream, and a fuckin’ rap magazine
Who post pin-up pictures on their walls all day long
Idolize they favorite rappers and know all they songs
Or for anyone who’s ever been through shit in their lives
Till they sit and they cry at night wishin’ they’d die
Till they throw on a rap record and they sit, and they vibe
We’re nothin’ to you but we’re the fuckin’ shit in they eyes
That’s why we seize the moment try to freeze it and own it, squeeze it and
hold it
Cause we consider these minutes golden
And maybe they’ll admit it when we’re gone
Just let our spirits live on, through our lyrics that you hear in our
songs and we can…

[CHORUS X2]

– Eminem

Israel Update

moocowinthecity 2007-10-25 No Comments

You’ll probably want to read over this post

Though maybe not…it’s really up to you. For those of you new to my blog, and for those of you who have been, perhaps…skimming, the following information (I think) is slightly relevant if you want to be up to date and caught up and on the same page as everyone else, then I recommend you take the time to read it…unless you like existing in a state of confusion, then by all means, don’t let me stop you (and I mean that seriously, far be it from me to cause anyone discomfort):

“You gotta make your own breaks…” – Bon Jovi

As of a couple of months ago, I’ve been approved to make Aliyah to Israel by the Jewish Agency. Due to navigating the numerous bureaucratic organizations that I have to go through to make this work as smoothly as possible (hahaha…yeah…smoothly…that’s one word for it…), the date that I’m making Aliyah is moving from February 1, 2008 to December 26, 2007.

Yes, I will be a dual citizen with Israel and the United States. No, this isn’t just for a year of study. Yes I’m planning on living ‘there’ (in Tel Aviv more specifically). No I have no idea for how long. Yes, it’s a minimum of three years due to contractual obligations I have with grant giving organizations who are assisting in funding me. No I don’t know if this is a ‘forever thing’…I don’t write endings and I have no idea what tomorrow will bring.

Yes I have to serve in the IDF. Yes I choose two years of service over six months of service because I felt it was the right thing to do. Yes, I could be shot…but theoretically, that can happen anywhere…actually, it happened to the guy who got shot and killed in front of my car in Buffalo, so there you go.

No I’m not worried about my safety. No I can’t come home if it gets dangerous. No I won’t come home if it gets dangerous: you don’t go out with your hands up. As any proud Islander will tell you: you never abandon ship just because you find yourself caught in a storm and you’re taking on water…you navigate it and deal.

School & Life

My degree is a B.A. in Linguistics in the Applied Linguistics track. For the rest of my CV which has all of my other certifications, you can find it here. I’m receiving it from the University at Buffalo. I have studied under Dr. Jeri J. Jaeger, Dr. Wolfgang Wölk, (soon to be) Dr. Scott Paauw, Dr. Karin Michelson and many other leaders in our field both past and present. I’m incredibly proud of the education that I’ve received at UB despite my headaches with the administration.

Everyone always asks questions of me in some sort of finality “what are you going to do with your life…”

The answer is very simple: I don’t know.

I don’t know…I don’t want to know either. That book – my biography – I get to write that with my actions. I don’t get to predict it and I don’t want to try. I’m not perfect, and I’d hate to live in a world where I didn’t have room to make mistakes; what torture, what intolerable cruelty to have no room to figure life out by trying, and to figure out what doesn’t work in the same manner.

There are no endings, endings are impossible…even the ‘greatest’ ending is nothing more than an entrance into something we don’t yet understand…endings only happen in their ability to create a new stage of existence; even if the Sun were to explode tomorrow, it would be the creation of a new universal orchestration and the planets would turn in a new pattern. My friend died this week…it is not the end, but the beginning of her next journey and the beginning of mine in navigating a world without her. I’m finishing my degree and ‘ending’ my undergraduate education that births the next stage in my life where I get to fulfill my dream of being a total nomad and the beauty of exisentitalism is that if it doesn’t work for me I have the ability to redefine myself in a second and it’s not hypocritical…it’s coming to a new, higher, understanding of who I am.

I have no idea what I will be doing for the rest of my life. I have no idea what will ‘become’ my career. I have no idea who I’ll marry (though if Tyron Leitso is looking I’ll be more than happy to end his search and check that mark off my life’s ‘to do’ list and his here and now).

I have vague ideas, hopes, aspirations, wishes, desires. I want to study and learn both Hebrew and Arabic to such an unparalleled fluency that one day (even if it’s after I’m dead) I will be seen as an expert in both those languages…this is not an un-accomplishable task…it just requires years of study. I want to write in both of those languages. I want to use the knowledge of both of those languages to do good work. Not something breathtaking and large but something small, something measurable, something that makes a difference…teaching children, volunteering with Doctors Without Borders. Using the skills my father taught me as a carpenter to build houses for those who need them. I want to work as a writer and as a translator and I want to be happy and I want to live my life.

But the bottom line is that I’m 23, I have no debt, I have no boyfriend (unless Tyron Leitso is in the market for one in which case, consider me taken), and I have essentially little to no belongings. I want to go to Papua New Guinea and learn Tok Pisin for two years just to say “I did that” and I want to hang out with Lamas in Tibet and I want to dance with men in Columbia and use the two words I know very well in Spanish in Panama (Beseme & Mas Cerveza) and at some point I know that I want to ‘settle down’ (and oh how I hate that word, because the only time I plan on ‘settling’ is when I’m six feet under) in Tel Aviv with a wonderfully handsome, smart, witty, husband whose smile I can get lost in so quickly that I loose all sense of time.

But of all the things going on in my life right now (and there are many) the thing I’m not worried about is making it. I know where I am, I know where I want to be (or at least, I think I know where I want to be) and once you’ve plotted those two points on your map…then you just have to walk the natural path that’s made to get to one point from the other

And if all else fails…I’ll open up a Coffee Shop/Bookstore/Yoga Studio and be incredibly, incredibly happy (not to mention caffeinated, well read, and toned).

…going over this section…it’s long…but that’s probably because I’ve been asked the same question, about 400 different ways, starting since Monday.

“Come out of the circle of time and into the circle of love.” –
Rumi

I have Two Months, One Day left in this Country…I have a lot of work that has to get done, and I have a lot of people that I need to visit and say goodbye to…and more information on that will be posted later.

However, Scott is out this week…which means I’m Teaching 315 all by myself, which means I need some sleep before Class Tomorrow.

A real post later today.

Peace all!

Israel Update

moocowinthecity 2007-10-25 No Comments

You’ll probably want to read over this post

Though maybe not…it’s really up to you. For those of you new to my blog, and for those of you who have been, perhaps…skimming, the following information (I think) is slightly relevant if you want to be up to date and caught up and on the same page as everyone else, then I recommend you take the time to read it…unless you like existing in a state of confusion, then by all means, don’t let me stop you (and I mean that seriously, far be it from me to cause anyone discomfort):

“You gotta make your own breaks…” – Bon Jovi

As of a couple of months ago, I’ve been approved to make Aliyah to Israel by the Jewish Agency. Due to navigating the numerous bureaucratic organizations that I have to go through to make this work as smoothly as possible (hahaha…yeah…smoothly…that’s one word for it…), the date that I’m making Aliyah is moving from February 1, 2008 to December 26, 2007.

Yes, I will be a dual citizen with Israel and the United States. No, this isn’t just for a year of study. Yes I’m planning on living ‘there’ (in Tel Aviv more specifically). No I have no idea for how long. Yes, it’s a minimum of three years due to contractual obligations I have with grant giving organizations who are assisting in funding me. No I don’t know if this is a ‘forever thing’…I don’t write endings and I have no idea what tomorrow will bring.

Yes I have to serve in the IDF. Yes I choose two years of service over six months of service because I felt it was the right thing to do. Yes, I could be shot…but theoretically, that can happen anywhere…actually, it happened to the guy who got shot and killed in front of my car in Buffalo, so there you go.

No I’m not worried about my safety. No I can’t come home if it gets dangerous. No I won’t come home if it gets dangerous: you don’t go out with your hands up. As any proud Islander will tell you: you never abandon ship just because you find yourself caught in a storm and you’re taking on water…you navigate it and deal.

School & Life

My degree is a B.A. in Linguistics in the Applied Linguistics track. For the rest of my CV which has all of my other certifications, you can find it here. I’m receiving it from the University at Buffalo. I have studied under Dr. Jeri J. Jaeger, Dr. Wolfgang Wölk, (soon to be) Dr. Scott Paauw, Dr. Karin Michelson and many other leaders in our field both past and present. I’m incredibly proud of the education that I’ve received at UB despite my headaches with the administration.

Everyone always asks questions of me in some sort of finality “what are you going to do with your life…”

The answer is very simple: I don’t know.

I don’t know…I don’t want to know either. That book – my biography – I get to write that with my actions. I don’t get to predict it and I don’t want to try. I’m not perfect, and I’d hate to live in a world where I didn’t have room to make mistakes; what torture, what intolerable cruelty to have no room to figure life out by trying, and to figure out what doesn’t work in the same manner.

There are no endings, endings are impossible…even the ‘greatest’ ending is nothing more than an entrance into something we don’t yet understand…endings only happen in their ability to create a new stage of existence; even if the Sun were to explode tomorrow, it would be the creation of a new universal orchestration and the planets would turn in a new pattern. My friend died this week…it is not the end, but the beginning of her next journey and the beginning of mine in navigating a world without her. I’m finishing my degree and ‘ending’ my undergraduate education that births the next stage in my life where I get to fulfill my dream of being a total nomad and the beauty of exisentitalism is that if it doesn’t work for me I have the ability to redefine myself in a second and it’s not hypocritical…it’s coming to a new, higher, understanding of who I am.

I have no idea what I will be doing for the rest of my life. I have no idea what will ‘become’ my career. I have no idea who I’ll marry (though if Tyron Leitso is looking I’ll be more than happy to end his search and check that mark off my life’s ‘to do’ list and his here and now).

I have vague ideas, hopes, aspirations, wishes, desires. I want to study and learn both Hebrew and Arabic to such an unparalleled fluency that one day (even if it’s after I’m dead) I will be seen as an expert in both those languages…this is not an un-accomplishable task…it just requires years of study. I want to write in both of those languages. I want to use the knowledge of both of those languages to do good work. Not something breathtaking and large but something small, something measurable, something that makes a difference…teaching children, volunteering with Doctors Without Borders. Using the skills my father taught me as a carpenter to build houses for those who need them. I want to work as a writer and as a translator and I want to be happy and I want to live my life.

But the bottom line is that I’m 23, I have no debt, I have no boyfriend (unless Tyron Leitso is in the market for one in which case, consider me taken), and I have essentially little to no belongings. I want to go to Papua New Guinea and learn Tok Pisin for two years just to say “I did that” and I want to hang out with Lamas in Tibet and I want to dance with men in Columbia and use the two words I know very well in Spanish in Panama (Beseme & Mas Cerveza) and at some point I know that I want to ‘settle down’ (and oh how I hate that word, because the only time I plan on ‘settling’ is when I’m six feet under) in Tel Aviv with a wonderfully handsome, smart, witty, husband whose smile I can get lost in so quickly that I loose all sense of time.

But of all the things going on in my life right now (and there are many) the thing I’m not worried about is making it. I know where I am, I know where I want to be (or at least, I think I know where I want to be) and once you’ve plotted those two points on your map…then you just have to walk the natural path that’s made to get to one point from the other

And if all else fails…I’ll open up a Coffee Shop/Bookstore/Yoga Studio and be incredibly, incredibly happy (not to mention caffeinated, well read, and toned).

…going over this section…it’s long…but that’s probably because I’ve been asked the same question, about 400 different ways, starting since Monday.

“Come out of the circle of time and into the circle of love.” –
Rumi

I have Two Months, One Day left in this Country…I have a lot of work that has to get done, and I have a lot of people that I need to visit and say goodbye to…and more information on that will be posted later.

However, Scott is out this week…which means I’m Teaching 315 all by myself, which means I need some sleep before Class Tomorrow.

A real post later today.

Peace all!

When it Rains, it Pours…

moocowinthecity 2007-10-23 No Comments

R.I.P. Lee Bassen

A dear family friend, Lee, passed away last night. She was a miniature artist (as well as a very talented painter) and a friend of my Mom, Margie and a family friend as well. She was older and in poor health, but she was one of the most talented artists I’ve ever known…whether on canvas or in miniatures, she had the ability to make an entire room come to life. She will be missed.

CSE-111

…I think ‘combat situation’ is putting it mildly.

Margie

Has broken her leg

Steve

My next door neighbor (since I was three) is currently loosing the battle to colon cancer, and my dad had to build him a wheel chair ramp a couple of days ago…

Israel

…I’ll post about this in another post…a more, um…uplifting and positive one?