Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
The End.
Hey everyone,
This is my 100th and final post on my "Life in Lebanon" blog. I just submitted my Economics paper and have just final editing/footnote formatting left to do! :) These three months have gone by SO FAST and I have learned a great deal not only academically but about....well life....in Lebanon. Haha guess my blog was appropriately titled. I am so thankful that I got to spend so much time here with my family and make friends and memories I will never forget. I am sad to leave, but happy to return to the states and start a new adventure. The real blessing to me is that I know when I leave here in 6 days I will be coming back to visit often. My only disappointment is that I am still not speaking Arabic, a goal I have had for years. But, this is my own fault for not really studying it. BUT I do understand loads more than I used to and I see that as a big positive. I can follow conversations now and usually understand the gist of it. I plan to continue studying Arabic until I get it, but I will have to do it out of textbooks now!
My post would be a novel if I wrote out all the things I've learned so I won't but i assure you it was quite beneficial to me. I hope that this experience will force me to open my eyes from now on to different perspectives on life and read and observe with a new take on life. Speaking of reading, I will be working a lot (hopefully) when I return to the states and for the first time in a very long time not have homework and exams. I want to take this time to really read and enhance areas of knowledge that I am weak on. If any has any suggestions on good current event, history, political, economical, social whatever type books let me know! I have gotten into a really good habit of reading the news online here so I hope to keep that up and add notable magazines like the Economist and Time to my list of things to do weekly so I can really expand my horizons.
I cannot express how thankful I am for the love and support of my family and friends who made it possible for me to come here and experience this...but also who gave me their support and blessings, however reluctant, to come home and try something new. In 5 months I'll be off on another adventure in New York City, the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, and I couldn't be more thrilled, scared, excited, nervous and optimistic! Living in NYC has been a dream of mine since I first started looking at colleges and would have given anything to go to Columbia (altho funny story, I didn't want to fill out the extremely long application! haha so I guess not ANYTHING). I will keep the same URL for my blog but change the heading name and will keep up my blog in the city!
For now, I will be in Wenatchee spending quality time with my parents and grandparents, the gym and when the weather gets nice the loop :) ...and whomever of my high school friends are around! haha Come back after the first week of June to partake in my city life adventures!! Thanks for keeping up with me!
Much love,
Sasha
This is my 100th and final post on my "Life in Lebanon" blog. I just submitted my Economics paper and have just final editing/footnote formatting left to do! :) These three months have gone by SO FAST and I have learned a great deal not only academically but about....well life....in Lebanon. Haha guess my blog was appropriately titled. I am so thankful that I got to spend so much time here with my family and make friends and memories I will never forget. I am sad to leave, but happy to return to the states and start a new adventure. The real blessing to me is that I know when I leave here in 6 days I will be coming back to visit often. My only disappointment is that I am still not speaking Arabic, a goal I have had for years. But, this is my own fault for not really studying it. BUT I do understand loads more than I used to and I see that as a big positive. I can follow conversations now and usually understand the gist of it. I plan to continue studying Arabic until I get it, but I will have to do it out of textbooks now!
My post would be a novel if I wrote out all the things I've learned so I won't but i assure you it was quite beneficial to me. I hope that this experience will force me to open my eyes from now on to different perspectives on life and read and observe with a new take on life. Speaking of reading, I will be working a lot (hopefully) when I return to the states and for the first time in a very long time not have homework and exams. I want to take this time to really read and enhance areas of knowledge that I am weak on. If any has any suggestions on good current event, history, political, economical, social whatever type books let me know! I have gotten into a really good habit of reading the news online here so I hope to keep that up and add notable magazines like the Economist and Time to my list of things to do weekly so I can really expand my horizons.
I cannot express how thankful I am for the love and support of my family and friends who made it possible for me to come here and experience this...but also who gave me their support and blessings, however reluctant, to come home and try something new. In 5 months I'll be off on another adventure in New York City, the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, and I couldn't be more thrilled, scared, excited, nervous and optimistic! Living in NYC has been a dream of mine since I first started looking at colleges and would have given anything to go to Columbia (altho funny story, I didn't want to fill out the extremely long application! haha so I guess not ANYTHING). I will keep the same URL for my blog but change the heading name and will keep up my blog in the city!
For now, I will be in Wenatchee spending quality time with my parents and grandparents, the gym and when the weather gets nice the loop :) ...and whomever of my high school friends are around! haha Come back after the first week of June to partake in my city life adventures!! Thanks for keeping up with me!
Much love,
Sasha
Saturday, January 23, 2010
The Final Countdown
With just under 2 weeks until I return to the U.S of A I am finishing up schoolwork and tying up loose ends. Today I packed one of my 2 suitcases and am crossing my fingers most of the rest fits in the other...but I am sure I'll be leaving a few things behind. I also took down my pictures from my wall, which my aunt wasn't thrilled about. But we were without electricity for about 3 hours today and my computer was about to die so I couldn't work on my response paper, what else is a girl to do??! I also made my final to do list which outlines exactly what needs to get done each day in order to finish my Econ paper by Tuesday Jan. 26, my Development paper by Monday Feb. 1 and my Civil Society paper by Tuesday Feb. 2nd! YIKES I also have to fit in final goodbyes with family members and my last big night out next Saturday! Should be an interesting couple of weeks. I have most my clean clothes set out...but am not going to pack my second suitcase until after my papers are all submitted next week! Time seems to have slowed down a bit, but oddly days are going by really fast still...weird. I can't believe all my papers will be done by next week! I am relieved thought that 2 of the three profs changed the length requirement!! My Econ paper is only 10-15 pages and my development paper is 3,500 words which is right around 15 pages I think. So turns out I am not writing a total of 90 pages like I once thought! YAY!
Anyway, lots to do before I leave this little country. It has been quite the journey though! I will be using the flight home to really reflect on all that I've learned here. But its evident already when I have conversations with people back home where my ideas and beliefs have been altered and strengthened in my time here! I am finding it quite interesting to think about! :)
Much love,
Sasha
Anyway, lots to do before I leave this little country. It has been quite the journey though! I will be using the flight home to really reflect on all that I've learned here. But its evident already when I have conversations with people back home where my ideas and beliefs have been altered and strengthened in my time here! I am finding it quite interesting to think about! :)
Much love,
Sasha
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Haiti
I have been trying to keep up with news and information on what is going on in Haiti and it is just awful! I haven't been doing the best job at reading a lot of articles but a REALLY good friend of mine that has been in my life since 7th grade is in Haiti now helping with relief work and I have been keeping up to date with information through his Facebook! He says the situation is awful! He was in Latin America studying Spanish and working with different organizations and was in the Dominican Republic I believe when the earthquake hit. He is going to Medical School when he returns to the states and has had some medical training prior to his Latin American adventure so he is now in Haiti helping out with bringing medical supplies and physical assistance to those in need. The link to his blog is: http://lukedaniel.wordpress.com/ if anyone is interested in reading about the situation from someone living it first hand. He has links to relief sites that are reliable for donations an that are actually using money to go straight to victims.
I had more written non this post yesterday but my internet cut out before saving it and messed up the post...it is now a day later and I can't remember what else I wrote...darn. Anywho...Keep the victims of this horrible disaster in your prayers as well as the people who have huge hearts and are there trying to help victims!
Much Love,
Sasha
I had more written non this post yesterday but my internet cut out before saving it and messed up the post...it is now a day later and I can't remember what else I wrote...darn. Anywho...Keep the victims of this horrible disaster in your prayers as well as the people who have huge hearts and are there trying to help victims!
Much Love,
Sasha
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Difficult Decisions
Hello again everyone!
Over the last month or so I suppose I have been battling myself with the help of close friends and family over what I want to do with my life. Although I LOVE LOVE living here in Lebanon I have decided to come home to the US and pursue different dreams and goals than the track that I am on now. I am understanding now why so many people say to work before you go on to a MA, in order to focus and really understand what you want to study.
I won't go into the full details about why I made the choice that I did, because there are many reasons. My close friends and family know and support them and that is all that matters to me now. I think the road I chose to go down will be more difficult than the one I am on now, but I know in my heart of hearts that I can do it and will put all my determination into succeeding. Cross your fingers it works out!!
I have the opportunity to intern in NYC at an NGO called Peacewomen who monitors Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. One of my very best friends did it last year and is finding great success out in the Big Apple and I hope I find the same. Keep your fingers crossed for me though!!
For the next 6 months or so, I probably won't have much to blog about but I will probably start blogging again when I move to NYC in June, so keep checking for updates in a few months!
I want to thank everyone who "tunes in" to my blog so very much for all your support. I have found the blogging is an excellent way to keep in touch with those you love. I should give credit to my inspiration and cousin Stacy because her blog about her son Finnegan and their changing lives got all of our huge family paying attention and I thought "what a perfect way to keep in touch with everyone I love". It has worked out well! :)
Again, thank you so so so much for all your support! I guess I'll see some of you in February when I get home! As for you MN folks I'll try to make a trip out.....ummmmm?? don't ask me when! haha I'll keep you posted through more traditional modes of communication like the PHONE! haha weird!
Much love,
Sash
Over the last month or so I suppose I have been battling myself with the help of close friends and family over what I want to do with my life. Although I LOVE LOVE living here in Lebanon I have decided to come home to the US and pursue different dreams and goals than the track that I am on now. I am understanding now why so many people say to work before you go on to a MA, in order to focus and really understand what you want to study.
I won't go into the full details about why I made the choice that I did, because there are many reasons. My close friends and family know and support them and that is all that matters to me now. I think the road I chose to go down will be more difficult than the one I am on now, but I know in my heart of hearts that I can do it and will put all my determination into succeeding. Cross your fingers it works out!!
I have the opportunity to intern in NYC at an NGO called Peacewomen who monitors Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. One of my very best friends did it last year and is finding great success out in the Big Apple and I hope I find the same. Keep your fingers crossed for me though!!
For the next 6 months or so, I probably won't have much to blog about but I will probably start blogging again when I move to NYC in June, so keep checking for updates in a few months!
I want to thank everyone who "tunes in" to my blog so very much for all your support. I have found the blogging is an excellent way to keep in touch with those you love. I should give credit to my inspiration and cousin Stacy because her blog about her son Finnegan and their changing lives got all of our huge family paying attention and I thought "what a perfect way to keep in touch with everyone I love". It has worked out well! :)
Again, thank you so so so much for all your support! I guess I'll see some of you in February when I get home! As for you MN folks I'll try to make a trip out.....ummmmm?? don't ask me when! haha I'll keep you posted through more traditional modes of communication like the PHONE! haha weird!
Much love,
Sash
Friday, January 8, 2010
Predictably unpredictable...
Anyone close to me knows that when I get stressed out or move around too much I get myself sick. Well sure enough I've done it again. New Years Eve day I woke up a with a scratchy throat which appeared to be no big deal, but my first indication of trouble ahead. Between New Years Eve that night, not wanting to sleep much my last two days in AZ in order to spend more time with friends, traveling across the world that Sunday morning and then being unable to sleep at night when I am supposed to, much preferring to sleep during the day when I can't, I woke up this morning exhausted, to achy with a stuffed up nose to move or breathe...so I succumbed to my body's request and stayed in bed sleeping all day. Since I am feeling slightly better now, although my head is pounding like crazy because this is the first time all day I've had my light on and am now sitting in front of LCD computer screen which is too bright, so I am convinced this is not so much a cold but rather exhaustion. What is so curious to me, and completely unpredictable is the fact that jet lag is affecting me this much at all! I have been here since Monday and it is now Friday. I have never had jet lag keep me up at night for this long in the past...its quite strange really.
While staying in bed I am sure was a smart decision health wise it has lost me a day of writing. On Monday two of my papers' drafts are due!! Lucky for me I am queen of procrastination so I am praying that this extra sleep will allow me to wake up at a decent hr tomorrow around 9 or 10 and allow me a clear mind to work all day in order to finish one, then all day on Sunday to finish the other! When I opened my computer I attempted to work now but I am not retaining anything in my head that I am reading nor producing clearly understood academic statements about feminism and domestic violence in Lebanon. I think the pain in my head is persuading me to shut the computer down and lie down some more. Boy do I hope I sleep tonight...I didn't exactly fight my jet lag today...hopefully NyQuil can do the trick tonight!
Much love,
Wish me luck and think positive thoughts for me this weekend! The end of the semester is near...I just have to pull the grades out of my magical hat! haha I wish!
Sasha
While staying in bed I am sure was a smart decision health wise it has lost me a day of writing. On Monday two of my papers' drafts are due!! Lucky for me I am queen of procrastination so I am praying that this extra sleep will allow me to wake up at a decent hr tomorrow around 9 or 10 and allow me a clear mind to work all day in order to finish one, then all day on Sunday to finish the other! When I opened my computer I attempted to work now but I am not retaining anything in my head that I am reading nor producing clearly understood academic statements about feminism and domestic violence in Lebanon. I think the pain in my head is persuading me to shut the computer down and lie down some more. Boy do I hope I sleep tonight...I didn't exactly fight my jet lag today...hopefully NyQuil can do the trick tonight!
Much love,
Wish me luck and think positive thoughts for me this weekend! The end of the semester is near...I just have to pull the grades out of my magical hat! haha I wish!
Sasha
Monday, January 4, 2010
Back to Lebanon
Hello everyone,
My travels were safe and I am back in Lebanon missing water pressure in the shower quite a lot! :) I was thinking a lot about traveling and security and all the fuss on the news when I was traveling and appropriate or not, I gave a little chuckle. This was by far the EASIEST trip security wise I've EVER had! I just don't understand the airport security system. There is something seriously wrong with it. Not that I had anything I shouldn't have, so of course it was smooth, it just seems that every time something happens everyone freaks out, does nothing but make people move slower through the lines, then is shocked when the cycle repeats itself. I think Obama is right for launching an investigation and suggesting there are changes that need to be made. Clearly metal detectors are not working out all that well, seeing as tho other materials other than metal can make bombs. Food for thought for the day! :)
I will probably not be blogging much this month, not that I blog a lot any month anymore! BUT I have ALOT to write between now and Feb 2nd (90 pages between 3 papers to be exact) and should probably not be dabling on the internet too much!
On that note, I am going to go finish a letter for Model UN I am writing then start work on catching up on classes and reading...FUN.
Much love,
Sasha
My travels were safe and I am back in Lebanon missing water pressure in the shower quite a lot! :) I was thinking a lot about traveling and security and all the fuss on the news when I was traveling and appropriate or not, I gave a little chuckle. This was by far the EASIEST trip security wise I've EVER had! I just don't understand the airport security system. There is something seriously wrong with it. Not that I had anything I shouldn't have, so of course it was smooth, it just seems that every time something happens everyone freaks out, does nothing but make people move slower through the lines, then is shocked when the cycle repeats itself. I think Obama is right for launching an investigation and suggesting there are changes that need to be made. Clearly metal detectors are not working out all that well, seeing as tho other materials other than metal can make bombs. Food for thought for the day! :)
I will probably not be blogging much this month, not that I blog a lot any month anymore! BUT I have ALOT to write between now and Feb 2nd (90 pages between 3 papers to be exact) and should probably not be dabling on the internet too much!
On that note, I am going to go finish a letter for Model UN I am writing then start work on catching up on classes and reading...FUN.
Much love,
Sasha
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