Well, after a wonderful long weekend in the 'Boro where I got to see my family, I am back in town to do some work and hang out with lots of friends. Funny story, Murfreesboro was actually voted one of the top 100 places to live in the US...funny because I never felt that way about it. I might even list it as bottom 100...
Anyway, I thought that I'd use this site to do a little educating for those of you who are always asking me questions about apartheid and South Africa. You know I'm always an educator at heart. As my dad says, "use it or lose it at your own discretion." All of this information is from Nelson's biography A Long Walk to Freedom, so if you have questions, maybe I could answer them after I finish reading it (currently on page 140 of 751).
Apartheid Landmarks
1946 marks the Ghandian Indian protests which would inspire the ANC and Nelson Mandela
Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act(1949) makes marriage between white and non-white illegal.
Immorality Act (1949) makes sexual relations between white and non-white illegal (one like this recently on the books in Alabama, folks)
Population and Registration Act (1949) labels South Africans by race (Whites, Indians, Coloureds, Blacks)
Group Areas Act (1949), considered the hallmark of apartheid, requires separate urban areas for each racial group, allowing whites to legally usurp land from blacks.
Finally, I'll leave you with possibly my favorite quote on leadership ever. "A leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go on ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind."--Nelson Mandela's surrogate father, the regent of Thembuland
More soon...
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Ethiopia has enough to worry about...
...and certainly doesn't need this. Check out this link to hear about how Ethiopia has a huge rift (literally) developing in its countryside and may eventually become an ocean. Okay, it's in a few million years, but that's serious, people!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5191384.stm
Will post soon with recent developments in planning, but right now I am working on packing up my apartment at BSC for my move to Homewood.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5191384.stm
Will post soon with recent developments in planning, but right now I am working on packing up my apartment at BSC for my move to Homewood.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Tea with Nelson
STOP THE PRESSES!! BBC Africa has posted an article detailing the opportunity to have TEA with NELSON MANDELA. The event will be auctioned off on eBay to benefit a Johannesburg hospital. If anyone loves me, they will most definitely fork up some serious dough for me to have tea with Nelson. Have I mentioned that he's one of my top 10 heroes? Ok, just checking. I thought that I had. And, of course, I'm all for aiding hospitals. So, if you have a ridiculous wad of cash sitting around, please know that I have the perfect place for it to go.
In other news, Ryan McDonnell, one of the students currently studying at Wits, sent a package to me by way of his parents including the graduate studies catalog as well as information on Wits in general. It has been extremely helpful. I'll post a link to his blog sometime tomorrow. I am currently deciding whether to go through the department of education or history to obtain my admittance to Wits, and I will spend most of tomorrow researching programs, downloading Skype, and looking for a microphone for my computer. I'm getting really excited about all of the prospects, though I'm also getting relatively overwhelmed...imagine that. It looks as if I'll be in Africa from mid-January to more like November now, so I'm having to readjust to that idea. I like it pretty well, though. Again, I'll just return for a year and then go to grad school. Not bad.
I haven't heard back from the embassy about a visa, but I'll try again tomorrow. That's all the news for now.
In other news, Ryan McDonnell, one of the students currently studying at Wits, sent a package to me by way of his parents including the graduate studies catalog as well as information on Wits in general. It has been extremely helpful. I'll post a link to his blog sometime tomorrow. I am currently deciding whether to go through the department of education or history to obtain my admittance to Wits, and I will spend most of tomorrow researching programs, downloading Skype, and looking for a microphone for my computer. I'm getting really excited about all of the prospects, though I'm also getting relatively overwhelmed...imagine that. It looks as if I'll be in Africa from mid-January to more like November now, so I'm having to readjust to that idea. I like it pretty well, though. Again, I'll just return for a year and then go to grad school. Not bad.
I haven't heard back from the embassy about a visa, but I'll try again tomorrow. That's all the news for now.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Star sighting
Tonight was an exciting night at the Banana Republic. I was waiting on a customer and his friend, when I realized that the friend was...Michael Buble!! He's in town for a sold-out concert at the BJCC, and they had come in to buy his bass player a new jacket. Crazy.
We chatted for a while about how long it had taken for him to become famous in the US and how no one recognizes him. Needless to say, he was really excited that I did recognize him. And though he cursed probably 5 times in the 5 minutes that we talked, he was incredibly nice and called me sweetheart as he left. My sister's boyfriend and my aunt were foaming at the mouth with jealousy!!
No other news here. I have emailed the South African embassy about a student visa, but no reply. I will begin my research tomorrow! In somewhat related news, I did buy a guitar and will begin lessons soon. It's a 1980s model used Blueridge, which is quite a nice guitar. I can't wait to be in South Africa playing my guitar and talking to people with beautiful accents...
We chatted for a while about how long it had taken for him to become famous in the US and how no one recognizes him. Needless to say, he was really excited that I did recognize him. And though he cursed probably 5 times in the 5 minutes that we talked, he was incredibly nice and called me sweetheart as he left. My sister's boyfriend and my aunt were foaming at the mouth with jealousy!!
No other news here. I have emailed the South African embassy about a student visa, but no reply. I will begin my research tomorrow! In somewhat related news, I did buy a guitar and will begin lessons soon. It's a 1980s model used Blueridge, which is quite a nice guitar. I can't wait to be in South Africa playing my guitar and talking to people with beautiful accents...
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Happy Independence Day
Walt Whitman
I Hear America Singing
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of mechanics--each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat--the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench--the hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter's song--the ploughboy's, on his way in the morning,
or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother--or of the young wife at work--or of the girl sewing or washing--Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day--At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.
That poem, along with several American-composed musical selections which I very much enjoyed and have listed at the bottom of this post, was part of the WBHM (Birmingham NPR station) July 4th celebration. I got the chance to listen to it as I drove to Tupelo to visit a friend there. I was greeted by her wonderful family and was treated to a family-style 4th, complete with fireworks and wine. What a treat!! I can't remember another more wonderful 4th. Every year, though I am cynical and jaded, I find that I am in awe of the courage and vision of the founding of our country. I am thankful to live in a place where I can disagree with my president while still enjoying the freedoms that I hold dear. So, we even joked a little about said president on the 4th. ;) All this lively 4th spirit ended quickly today, however, when I was forced to listent to a terrible patriotic/religious choir presentation right outside the doors of Banana Republic. Some people never learn.
Yesterday, I journeyed to Six Flags to complete the "Retro Tour," riding every coaster there from most recently built to least recently built. In hindsight, we suggest the "Heritage Tour" which would require riding each coaster in the opposite order. The thing is, when you ride from youngest to oldest, your sense of security diminishes along with the safety features of senior coasters. Regardless, a good time was had by all. Every now and then it's just nice to be a kid.
I am quickly tiring of living out of my car and in a suitcase, and will be glad to be back in one place on Sunday. Whew. Work still suffices to hold my interest and grant a paycheck, and odd jobs seem to come out of the woodwork. And, I even managed to email the South African embassy about a student visa. All in all, a crazy week well spent.
Music from WBHM's 4th celebration:
Gershwin's I Got Rhythm listen
Moross' Symphony No. 1 listen
Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man listen
MacDowell's Woodland Sketches listen
I Hear America Singing
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of mechanics--each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat--the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench--the hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter's song--the ploughboy's, on his way in the morning,
or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother--or of the young wife at work--or of the girl sewing or washing--Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day--At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.
That poem, along with several American-composed musical selections which I very much enjoyed and have listed at the bottom of this post, was part of the WBHM (Birmingham NPR station) July 4th celebration. I got the chance to listen to it as I drove to Tupelo to visit a friend there. I was greeted by her wonderful family and was treated to a family-style 4th, complete with fireworks and wine. What a treat!! I can't remember another more wonderful 4th. Every year, though I am cynical and jaded, I find that I am in awe of the courage and vision of the founding of our country. I am thankful to live in a place where I can disagree with my president while still enjoying the freedoms that I hold dear. So, we even joked a little about said president on the 4th. ;) All this lively 4th spirit ended quickly today, however, when I was forced to listent to a terrible patriotic/religious choir presentation right outside the doors of Banana Republic. Some people never learn.
Yesterday, I journeyed to Six Flags to complete the "Retro Tour," riding every coaster there from most recently built to least recently built. In hindsight, we suggest the "Heritage Tour" which would require riding each coaster in the opposite order. The thing is, when you ride from youngest to oldest, your sense of security diminishes along with the safety features of senior coasters. Regardless, a good time was had by all. Every now and then it's just nice to be a kid.
I am quickly tiring of living out of my car and in a suitcase, and will be glad to be back in one place on Sunday. Whew. Work still suffices to hold my interest and grant a paycheck, and odd jobs seem to come out of the woodwork. And, I even managed to email the South African embassy about a student visa. All in all, a crazy week well spent.
Music from WBHM's 4th celebration:
Gershwin's I Got Rhythm listen
Moross' Symphony No. 1 listen
Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man listen
MacDowell's Woodland Sketches listen
Monday, July 03, 2006
Too Much Time on my Hands
So, I've been planning for a while now to begin a blog for my trip to Africa, and I decided to do it a little early. No, I am not leaving early, I am just beginning to post. I have lots of time this summer to just hang out and be me, so one thing I decided to do is to give some insight into my life...in case anyone actually wants some...But I will also be updating about the status of my trip and any plans that I am making. Goal for this week: after going to Tupelo and Atlanta, actually get some work done and apply for a South African student visa.
Right now, I'm house-sitting and working. I got a new job at Banana Republic (yes, I do get a great discount, no, you can't have one unless it's friends and family month). I have also been doing some research for a friend of Dr. Davis who is running an AL house campaign, which has been interesting. Basically, I look up PAC to PAC transfers and determine whether anything shady is going on. Guess what...it is. I know you're shocked.
My mom came to visit this weekend, which was wonderful. She wanted to see the garden at the house I'm staying in as well as to see me (secondary), so we hung out and went out to eat and did the Mommy-Lisa thing, which is always great. In case you aren't aware, my mother is my hero and best friend, so the long and short of it is that it was a great weekend.
Ok, enough of my relatively boring, though incredibly restful and enjoyable life. Let me know what you think of the new blog and drop me a line every now and then...there's always an extra bed should you come for a visit!
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