Beating vs. Cheating

My aunt came up with this question and I think it's a good one to ask in order to stimulate some conversation. Let's hope that none of us ever have to personally deal with any of these issues but based on statistics, we might.

Is it worse for a husband to beat his wife, or a wife to cheat on her husband? Why?

Something New

I want to take a break from talking and spewing out my own personal opinions-yes, I know it's my blog, but I want to make it interactive. Since the only people who read this thing are my friends, I want to hear what you all think about various topics and issues.

If you can't tell, I'm missing some conversations I could be having with any one of you on any given day about any given topic. So, I'm gonna post a topic or discussion question or something of that nature, and I'm hoping that this blog will serve as a place for everyone to contribute when you feel compelled. These days, I've had a lot of time to think and not speak and what I realize is that I've been in a bit of a bubble all my life (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), and now I have a lot of questions that I want to hear your responses/feedback/opinions on.

Rules:

1. BRING IT: The blog is called candid communication for a reason-be candid, be honest, be extreme. Bring your thoughts to the table and know that you and your opinions will not be judged.
2. Don't JUDGE: Judge not, lest you be judged. That's not verbatim from the bible, but you get what I'm saying. This is a forum for all to participate in and in order to really get the variety of opinions that I KNOW exists, I expect the honesty, truth, and respect for others. By all means, disagree with someone's point-Tell me why Barak Obama is not fit to be President, BUT DON'T tell me I am STUPID, or my opinions are stupid for thinking he should be president. we are not all the same and that is why this will hopefully be a wonderful learning exchange where we can all get to know things about this world and the people living in it, that we didn't know before. We're not gonna get there with name-calling, obtuseness, or trying to convert everyone to what we believe.
   
3. Above all LOVE: People receive and understand love differently, but all people NEED love. This honest exchange is a way for each of us (who may only understand love how we were shown love or how we give love) to have a greater understanding of individuals and how each one may function a little differently from the other, and ultimately how they receive love.
   
4. HAVE FUN: Self Explanatory
   

K, I'm gonna think of a post now. hehe :) we'll start with something a little easy in order to stimulate the conversation.

Christian Persecution

We know it exists, but in India? What would you do if it happened to you? Think about it really. Is your faith strong enough to watch your mother, sister, wife, brother, father, husband be tortured in some way? Would you convert, or would you be willing to die?

Below is a link for a website that offers much more about Christians being persecuted around the world right now. I used to go to something called KPA-Know Pray Act. Now you know.
http://www.christianpersecution.info/

Ode To Sarah-Palin that is

Oh Sarah, (and before I get started, everyone brace yourself because Leah Gibson will be making a comment). People can't get enough of this woman. Maybe it's cause Sarah "Barracuda" Palin enjoys referring to Senator John McCain as the "Maverick" as if they played sports together when they were young. Guess what? This is not a game, it's running the freaking country and it scares the poop out of me that this woman who doesn't even know when she's in Iraq or when she's in Kuwait could quite possibly become the head of our nation. Don't deny it, "the Maverick" is old. If he's elected, he will be the oldest president our country will have had. He could die in office, it's a huge possibility. Think about it.

Now, I have been referred to as liberal and if I have to wear a label one being conservative and the other liberal (click on the words to get the definitions), I will claim liberal. That said, all I want for Christmas is a presidential team (V.P. Included) that actually shows some form of intelligent life. They don't have to know all the answers, but they need to know who to go to for the answers and at least understand the general concepts of these solutions people are coming up with for issues like health care, economy, foreign policy and more. It doesn't seem that tough, but poor little Georgey boy couldn't do it. I'd bet a lot of money that he doesn't even read a newspaper in the morning. Okay, wrong soap box-back to Palin.

The woman is praised for being a great mom with 5 kids, one who is a special needs baby and being just a super Christian. Super, Huh? I'm not saying that anyone is perfect, but will someone please explain to me the irony of such a good God fearing woman who is pro-life that has a 17 year old daughter, who is not married, that has exercised that right already? According to Palin's beliefs, should her daughter even be having sex? I don't think so. Why are we so quick to overlook that?

As nice of a woman as she probably is, that does not qualify her to be Vice President of the United States of America. Yea, I've been quoted as having said, "we need less politicians in government and more people who get involved because they want to see change. But that doesn't mean just any PTA mom who refers to Putin as "rearing his head" from Russia, like the freaking lochness monster or something is equipped to be Vice President. Although, she did win the Miss Congeniality award as well as 3rd place in the Miss Alaska Pageant and was able to graduate with a Bachelor's degree after 5 years and 4 colleges and universities later. I mean seriously people, there are some brilliant individuals who follow domestic and world issues and could make great advances to our government who are your standard engineer or doctor who is also a PTA mom, but Sarah Palin is NOT that person. Now, I'd like to end my ode with some of my favorite little clips of our "Barracuda" that I've compiled from the large collection possibilities. Enjoy.

Katie Couric Interview with Palin: CBS News
Katie Couric Interview with Palin: SNL style

VP Debate: MSNBC
VP Debate: SNL style
VP Debate: Letterman's Take

Candid Communication: Houston has it all, and that’s a good thing…Or is it?

Click on the link to read about Houston's wonderful smog. Thanks to Rachel who sent me the article so that I may bask in the nastiness of this place and inhale all that Houston has to offer. her comment to me in the email she sent was, "Yummy." Yummy indeed, Kiki.

Houston has it all, and that’s a good thing…Or is it?

No I’m serious, from Arabic speakers everywhere you turn, local coffee shops, international cuisine and any type of working professional you can think of-Houston has it. They’ve got a Lebanese community, a Greek community (several of which own cafes that I frequent Byzantios, Agora) and apparently, like Austin several of the night club owners here are Middle Easterners. Don’t ask me what’s up with that, I don’t know.

Yes we’ve got surgeons, lawyers, construction workers, way too may cops, and in the café I’m sitting in, there’s an Asian woman wearing the garb of a Buddhist priestess. Is there such a thing? If I had wireless Internet access, I would check. Thrift stores, Joel Osteen’s church, and more make Houston what it is. You know what else makes Houston what it is? The pollution, sticky and itchy (seriously I’m not kidding here, I’m constantly scratching my body and face) weather, overpopulation of irritating bugs (gnats, roaches, and mosquitoes to name a few) overwhelming amount of people (contributing to heavy traffic and constant inappropriate car behavior from all drivers, including me) rain (which sucks for my hair but really helps out the local flora and fauna-you win plants-you always do), hurricane and tropical storm susceptibility-Thank you Ike, I did eat my words with that one- are just a few of the characteristics that are taking a little time for me to adjust to. But I’m not complaining, really. It’s just new, and I was absolutely spoiled living in Austin my whole life. One thing Austin doesn’t measure up here with is the international diversity of the city-I like. Well, gotta flick off the aunt that is crawling on my shirt and get back to studying. AAAhhh. Not scream kind of aaahhh, relaxing deep breath aaahhhh. No, really.

HURRICANE IKE

Okay one thing I never knew about Houston, a city less than 3 hours from Austin, is that they have a hurricane season! Are we joking people? Twice now, we've been threatened with these hurricanes and been told to evacuate-the last one, Gustav (which conveniently came right smack in the middle of the Republican Convention :) brought this glorious breeze to the stagnant, sticky Houston air. Gustav was a bust and a blast!! We sat in a hot tub as the wind blew strongly, and that was the extent of the intimidating GUSTAV. Happy labor day to me, sucks for everyone who evacuated. Quit freaking out people, it's a natural disaster, embrace it!!!

Now comes Ike. Personally, Ike is proving to be very inconvenient for me cause Davo and I were planning to go to Austin, pack all my crap and move it to Houston. Unfortunately, everybody and their dog is evacuating to Austin and I'm pissed about having to drive next to psychos on the road who are trying to outrun a hurricane that will most likely never hit. I understand, "Better to be safe than sorry after Katrina." That's what everyone keeps saying. It was the levies people!!! If a hurricane is coming, stay home, put on your swimsuit and get ready for a good time! I'm not gonna laugh this time when IKE never hits, cause I'll be the kid driving the UHAUL to Houston going a mile an hour with all the other idiots who are coming back into Houston/Galveston on Sunday-and ten bucks says, Houston wont even get rain. Who knows, maybe I'll eat my words-we'll see.

Boston vs. Houston

So since about May, I've been battling between going to get my Masters in Public Health at Boston University (BU) or at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

I pretty much decided that if a job opportunity came my way from Boston University (if the school offered me a full time job and with the job tuition remission) I would take the job and go to school as a part time student.

But over the course of these few months, after visiting Egypt and realizing that I love international health, but I might not be cut out to live internationally for the rest of my life...my viewpoint on the whole school situation has been changing.

I started spending more time in Houston where I have family and friends, and after several phone interviews with job prospects at BU, but no dice, my mind started to dream of Houston and the blessings that awaited me there. Monday, 2 weeks before school starts I get a phone call from Boston. "We'd like to offer you the position of admissions assistant with the school of public health," the HR lady says. My first thought is, are you people serious? 2 weeks before I'm supposed to report for school? I have to pay for a plane ticket, find a place to live, move all my shit to Boston, start a new job and on top of that go to school (Which is the whole reason for the move in the first place).

So I asked her if there was any kind of relocation compensation, "No." What is the last day I can start? "August 25th." Exactly two weeks to uproot myself from a life I am perfectly content with to start a brand new one all for the sake of my graduate education?

Yes. So let's focus on the graduate education that is so important to me. One school will focus completely on International Health and prepare me for a career within the international health field. Another will focus on Management, Policy and Community Health with a concentration in Global Health. So if I don't want to spend the rest of my life in the bush as a single missionary woman and I might actually be looking to raise a family in America, how useful is my MPH in international health gonna be? Better to focus on the broader scope of an MPH in Management, Policy and Community Health which I can implement here or abroad.

Below you'll find the rest of my rant and a final conclusion to my decision. You might be surprised at my choice-I know I was. But then again, God always keeps me on my toes and I'm thankful that He's steering this ship cause I'm easily tossed by the waves of this world and can sometimes get lost in it. Hallelujah for He is my compass and points me in the right direction.

Good Ole Psalm 25 has really showered me with peace through ultimate truth spoken. My prayer through this time has remained, "Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."



"It doesn't matter what people think, it matters what you think. You have to make the decision, no one else. how do you feel?" mama's wise words.

Here's how i feel (man what a hard concept for me-adding feeling to the realm of reasoning): One option gives me the ability to work in the US, a broader career focus and the ability to actually focus completely on school (which is the reason for this season of my life) as well as begin a thesis and possibly pursue a PhD-all in a city where I have a bunch of family and friends, I'm close to my parents and will be able to enjoy my life. Cook, clean, entertain people, go dancing and do other enjoyable things in the city as well as take care of my own personal health by exercising daily and stepping into a church body that is not completely foreign to me, where I have accountability already established. People know me in Houston.

Houston Pros:
Full-Time Student
Management, Policy, and Community Health (MPH) w/ a concentration in Global health
International Practicum (between first and second year)
Thesis/dissertation topic relevant to global health (with advisers along the way to help shape dissertation)
Possible pursuit of PhD (immediate transition from MPH to PhD-no time in between)
Time for Personal Life-Spiritual, Physical, Mental-time for myself and time with my family in Houston, exercise, dance, enjoy friends, work (write), paint, knit-take on new fun things

Houston Cons:
Houston weather
Tuition More than Boston


In Boston, I wont just be going to school I will be working alongside the school which I hope will open doors to new connections and worldwide possibilities. The only thing is that I will be working 40 hours as an admissions assistant, and school will be part-time. I will not retain information about my masters the way I would if I was a full-time student. Boston is a fun city and very much professional-minded. I will be a working woman in all respects and probably will not have time for myself because I will work 9-5 and then go to class at night and study somewhere in between That doesn't really leave time for me to enjoy the city or the people around me. If I am not about working in international health for the rest of my life, how important is a degree focused specifically on international health? I will not have time to volunteer or work with refugees and do the things I was excited to do in the first place because i will have a full time job. Also, I'm not sure how well admissions assistant in the school of public health will reflect on my resume.

Boston Pros:
Full-time Job in School of Public Health
MPH with dual concentration in International Health/Epidemiology
Cheaper tuition
Live in city of Boston
Serve the undeserved and learn how to do it well
Brand New network of People (Connections formed with Professors and students)


Boston Cons:
Part-Time student
Practicum experience will be after I finish school (during the same time that I should be looking for a full time job)
Will not retain/receive the experience I hope for as a graduate student due to full time job
Full time job in admissions (not going to further my resume)
Far from family
Personal Life on Back burner
Winters


And as much as I'd like to say it doesn't matter, my friends and family are what make my life one that is blessed. With two opportunities, why would I take the one that removes me from my friends and family I've spent a lifetime investing in (and I'm sure will further get to invest into if i go to Houston) in order to pursue my career in Boston. But am I really even pursuing my career in Boston? I'm gonna have a full time job in admissions (something I'm not passionate about and will not further my career) and put Public Health (something I am passionate about learning) on the back burner by taking it on part time-all so I can be in Boston where I have no set body of Christ waiting to support me and welcome me with open arms.

Am I crazy? Am I really leaning towards making Houston, what I once affectionately referred to as the "armpit of Texas," my home? If someone were to say to me, "If all of your friends jumped off the bridge, would you?" My answer would be, "Hell ya!" Maybe I'm finally letting myself be heard and know who I am instead of try to be who I am not. Who I am is a girl that loves people and is inspired and encouraged by the people that surround her, not by jobs or the competition. Maybe that's who I wanted to be-yes I am made better through stimulating conversations, diversity, change and being pushed intellectually but more than that I love the body of Christ. I am home in the body of Christ and comfortable in the love that is there not because of my brains, brawns, intellectual capacity or humanitarian efforts-but because of Christ. Because we share His resurrection and understand true love-how to give it and receive it-because He first loved us. I'm not that kid that thinks Christ was a great historical figure who was really smart and a leader, but wasn't really God incarnate. I'm not too smart to wrap my head around such "ideas" of Christ dying for our sins as the ultimate act of love and freedom for us, so that we may truly live. I'm foolish enough (or smart enough-it all depends) to know how imperfect I am and the thing that drives me to live for tomorrow is not my desire to be perfect in this world, it's my desire to be perfect in Christ's Kingdom. Better to jump into the armpit with a body of believers next to me instead of journey into the unknown land that smells of roses but who really knows what lies behind the roses. In the wise words of OUTKAST, Those roses could smell like poo poo, which is way worse than armpit. Those roses could be covering thorns, which I can't foresee- All I see is the beauty of the rose, nothing more.

Armpit = Straight up Truth.
Roses = Paint a pretty picture but so does Satan-and in the end, you're all alone.

Armpit here I come to take a big whiff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mariam's Family at the Farm

For Two Days, Mariam and I went to her farm in Egypt. Mariam has the largest family I've ever encountered, and it took me the 3 weeks we spent in Port Said for me to get her Mom's side straight and keep from confusing them with her dad's side. Seriously, we didn't have TV in Port Said, which was fine because Mariam would just tell me stories about both sides of her family from how her parents met (her dad was walking on the farmland, saw her mom and was like, "yes please" which turned into a quick engagement and an even quicker marriage) to Mariam's realization that her mom only had 3 brothers and not 5 (two of which are actually cousins, who her mom treats as brothers). So, let's focus on Mariam's mom's side, cause that's the side we visited on the farm in Egypt.

Her Mom has 3 brothers and two sisters. Her brothers and sisters have lots of kids, and as the family has grown, they have expanded their living quarters on the farm. So basically they have two apartments and every family has a floor of the apartment right next to the acreage you see in the photos. These photos are just a few I got to take when we were at the farm. While there, while we were fasting (and told them so) we ate roz bram, (translated as rice in a bram-a bram is a clay pot which things like rice are cooked/baked in), yummy bread made with fresh cow's milk, and fish straight from the "sea." On one of our walks around the land, I saw the "sea" they go fishing in. It's actually a canal of the Nile River and Mariam explained the way they go fishing. Basically they empty out the canal and pick up all the fish that no longer have water to swim in. It was some of the best fish I've had in Egypt, not kidding. I've also realized that unless you're staying in a convent with nuns, fasting is all relative in Egypt and virtually impossible when you are a guest. We basically were fasting but also ate milk byproducts as well as ate fish on Friday when the rest of the people on the farm actually fasted.

Farm culture is very different from what I'm used to when I'm in Egypt, since most of my family is in the middle of hot, polluted, loud, Cairo. The farm was beautiful and relaxing and a great way to appreciate the fertile land of Egypt. I felt like a member of the family immediately. From Noor throwing corn on the cob at me, while I was playing soccer in my galebaya,with all the boys to learning how to make Maashi Kosa and Betingaan (stuffed zucchini and eggplant) with the ladies whilst discussing the night of conception of one of their kids. There are so many people in such a tight enclosed place that some kind of drama is usually going on, but life is lived alongside one another, they are all family and all up in each other's business cause they truly care and love each other. They serve each other constantly and are the body of Christ working together.

A week left in Port Said

Our time in Port Said serving at the Holy Family Shelter and living at the Good Shepard school and convent are coming to an end. We've had so much fun here and have been stretched inexpressibly and have tangible ways to think and pray about this place and the country of Egypt as a whole.

There's an "ABE" mentality that is so rampant here (ABE in Arabic can be translated as something that is wrong or that people highly frown upon here) and for me, the girl who was raised in the Protestant church, it's sometimes hard to listen to people who seemingly have no grace for others and judge people not according to their hearts but according to their deeds. Especially because Mariam and I are in a different culture. Let me explain, an example if you will. We went to church yesterday and Mariam was wearing a cap sleeve shirt and was about to take communion and the priest serving the wine was like, "don't wear that again. I shouldn't even give you the blood of Christ in that shirt." No cleavage people, nothing wrong with the shirt at all. In fact, it's a baggy shirt compared to the skin tight long sleeved crap everyone else is wearing. It seems as though skin tight is fine here, as long as it is long sleeve. SKIN is what people do not want to see here. There are Muslim girls all over the street wearing skin tight stuff so that anyone can define the exact contour of her body, but as soon as one of us puts on a baggy shirt that is short sleeve or skirt that does not come down to our ankles, someone's rebuking us for it.

I guess the priest was right, cause after church in Port Said, we were on the street buying parting gifts for all the girls and we were crossing the street (an adventure on it's own) and I had made it across to a kiosk we were going to buy purses from and heard an "ohh!" from Mariam. Once she gets across she screams in English, "Did you just see what happened?" and I'm like, "No, but you just blew our chance to buy anything from this dude." He heard her yelling in English and therefore was going to hike the price up for us 'foreigners'. She's like, "That man just touched my crotch!!!" Um, yes people-you heard me right. Here we are in the middle of a street in Egypt looking like the freaking Amish, and Mariam still gets groped. It's ridiculous.

Anyway, we've both begun to understand this is not our country, America is and we are foreigners here. As much as I'd love to change things, and hope that women might be allowed to wear suitable clothing for the 100 degree weather outside, it seems that it's impossible for a man to hold in his animal instinct and grab her. It's as if the whole culture (which stems from the overpowering religious laws of Islam) leans to the understanding that people are uncivilized and unless you cover yourself from head to toe, who knows what might happen. The men can't control themselves. Bullshit.

What is unfortunate is that the culture of men being superior to women and women covering up did not always exist in Egypt. In the past 40 or so years Islam has become more widespread and fundamentalist and in order for the Christians here to survive they have had to cope and evolve. We were talking to some of the older girls we work with when they told us this and I realized that survival of the fittest still exists in humanity-for Christians here to survive and live with minimal persecution, they practice several of the cultural things Muslims practice due to their religion. Basically, the only way I know a woman or man is Christian here is if the woman is not wearing a covering over her head and if she or he has a cross tattoo on their wrist. It is their way of proclaiming their faith without speaking while also suffering (from persecution) the same way Christ did as he was nailed to the cross.

The freedom in America I have experienced all my life is something I will remember to thank God for much more. I realize that my cousins have grown up every single day of their lives (because they have never left Egypt) and listened to the Muslim call for prayer 5 times a day for 25 years. Thank you Lord for the freedom to worship you-may I not take it for granted when I return home.

Bazroom Broblems and More Langauge

Here’s why going to the bathroom in Egypt is a royal pain in the ass-literally. Mariam thinks it should be an Olympic event. Agreed. To be able to squat over a toilet while making sure your pants don’t touch the soaking wet floor (don’t ask me why the bathroom floors are always, always wet) then realize there is no toilet paper and you will have to let go of one of your pant legs to reach behind you and turn on the water bidet while still keeping the squat position. It’s pretty much bathroom twister. If you’re lucky, you’ll come out with one wet pant-leg, like me at Pizza Pino in Port Said. Tisoney Illaria (who is hilarious) took us there. When we got back to The Good Shepard school/covenant where we’re staying and they asked where we went, we told them Pizza Pino. For a moment they looked confused and then one said, “oooh, Bizza Bino!” The Arabic language doesn’t have a P. So all P words become B words.

Examples. “That’s not appropriate” turns into “Zat’s not abbrobriate”
“Give me the paper” turns into “Give me za baber.”

Language Bloopers

On day two, Mariam and I are walking on the streets of Port Said with Tisoney Hailpeace and I nicely try to tell Hailpeace, “If my clothing is not conservative enough, please let me know.” The Arabic word for clothing is libs. I accidentally added one more vowel to the word changed it from clothing into underwear. At that, Mariam busts out laughing and I’m confused. Then Mariam explains to me that I told a nun, if my underwear isn’t conservative enough please tell me. It’s fine, we all have slip ups. Some are Freudian and some are not. I still think the Egyptian Sunday School teacher (who is now a priest) with a heavy Arabic accent that tried to teach a lesson to 13 year olds about gentiles-which he unforgettably called genitals the whole lesson-wins on language trip ups.

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world and I love the younger girls we are playing with here. There are only six of them and they are like a little family helping one another. We’ve had water balloon fights, went bobbing for coke bottles (yes, coke bottles) had a watermelon contest-who can eat their piece the fastest, while spitting the seeds into a cup and then who can spit the seeds the fastest. Everyday with the older and younger girls we do exercise, mainly yoga but I implemented some kickboxing with the younger ones and they had such a good time with it that I might try it with the older girls tonight. Jesus loves those older girls too.

God give me the strength and patience to love the older girls unconditionally like you do. They are so harsh and mean with each other. There’s one girl that’s overweight and they call her a cow and tell her she’s going to die and other harsh words that hurt my heart to hear. Every time Mariam and I talk to them about it and tell them that they are hurting her feelings and not encouraging her, they say-we’re joking around, she knows we’re kidding. Bull-crap people. There’s no way the girl is gonna lose weight if you keep calling her a fat ass. She’ll just gain more because food is probably her comfort, and when she’s hurting that’s what she turns to. They don’t get it here. There’s a woman who helps run the house called Aziz who we’re having trouble with cause she puts all this crap in the girls minds. She’s the one who tells the obese girl that she is going to die because she doesn’t listen. Idiot. Mariam fights with her a lot. God bless Mariam’s Arabic. I’m really being humbled here, not getting to talk but always listening. I realize how much I like to give my opinion in America and dominate conversations because of it. Not here. I find myself understanding what everyone is saying, but if I try to put in my two cents, I disrupt the flow of the conversation because my Arabic sentences don’t make sense. Especially in deep conversations, or spiritual ones. I don’t know any spiritual words in Arabic. Wait, I take that back. Farah is joy.

What Am I doing in Egypt?

I’ve been here a week and I freaking love this place. We got here and were greeted by Sister (Tisoney in Arabic-I’ll use these words interchangeably but the one thing to know is that these nuns are not the kind that hang out in the convent all day, they serve the community) Hailpeace. Hailpeace showed us around and put us in a wing of the convent where we have our own kitchen, room with coveted air conditioning and refrigerator stocked with foods, and our own bathroom. Score.

We’re staying in a small city close to the Suez Canal called Port Fouad. It’s just a ferry ride across to larger Port Said and the two cities seem somehow connected or interchangeable. So the weather here is beautiful. Because we are on the beach there’s a light breeze and it makes the weather beautiful and sunny.

We’ve ventured to Port Said a few times and been to the beach. Once just to hang out with one of the Tisonys (Batoole is her name) and speak in English with her (which is absolutely fine with me because my Arabic is apparently horrible and only now when I’m forced to use it if I want to talk to people do I realize how much I blow. Tisoney Batoole prefers I speak in English, in her broken English she explains, I understand your English better than Arabic. Fine Tisoney. Side note, I think we’re here for the Tisonys. Sure, we’re here to play with encourage and build up all of the girls (old and young, mentally handicapped and elderly) but we’re only here for 3 weeks. More than that, I know these women are working so hard, and I think and hope we are bringing them some new joy and fresh ideas and encouragement. They are all freaking awesome. Sweetest little ladies ever, but all hilarious and full of fire. Example.. We’re giving English class to the nuns and one of the Nuns is answering one of our questions correctly-another Nun, Tisoney Illaria says, “what’s this? Studying behind our backs? I’ll kill you.” Baller that woman. I remember her name cause Illaria is hilarious. It kinda rhymes if you change the s at the end of hilarious into an a.

“What the crap have you been doing over there Sarah?” you ask. A lot, dude, a lot. Here’s what an average day here looks like. Wake up at 6:15 am and get ready church at 6:45. After church we eat and then we’re off to play with the little girls (8-15) from 10-12. Then at noon we go hang out with the mentally disabled-there are 3 girls and they are all hilarious each one with an awesome personality. I could hang out with these ladies all day long, seriously. Then twice a week we have tea with the elderly (men and women) who also live in the shelter we serve at. Then we go back to our place (the Good Shepherd School and convent) and eat something and hang out a bit then head back to the Shelter and hang out with the older girls for 2 hours each night. We've gotten to spend time with a lot of people and I'm not gonna lie-by the end of the night around 10, I'm freaking beat. But I love it here, a lot and I'll be really sad when I leave.

The War in Iraq

I distinctly remember walking on campus having an argument with a friend about the possibility of going to war in Iraq. You remember that time, after 9/11 where the Anti-terrorism campaign began and the only time Iraq was used in a sentence, you would hear it linked with WMD, or Al Queda.

Man, we've come a long way from there-or have we? I'll let you make your own judgements. I just wanted to throw down some numbers for us to sum up what has happened over the 5 years this war has ensued.

4,000: number of U.S. military personnel who have died as a result of the war
80,000-100,000: number of Iraqis who have died as a result of the war
160,000: number of U.S. troops in Iraq to date
2 million: number of Iraqis who have been forced to leave their homes
$600 billion: cost for taxpayers to fund the war to date

The Health Snare of Health Care produces a Health Scare

Tamiwho? Tamiflu to be exact. I had a brief brush with our health care system this weekend, and now I remember why I'm reluctant to pop a pill when I'm not feeling well. Let me explain, and I should also preface this blog by saying I'm currently reading The Maker's Diet, and Mountains beyond Mountains. Both books dance around the issue of health care, one in the United States and one in third world countries. What begins to frighten me the most is that, the health care we pay so much for in the United States seems to be slowly regressing to that found in countries where structured health care systems do not exist.

We had friends come in for a wedding this weekend and Anthea slept by me on Friday night. She said she hadn't been feeling well over the past month and due to her symptoms, nurse Megan thought she might have a sinus infection. I could tell Anthea didn't sleep much through the night, so in the morning she decided to go to the doctor.

I drive her to Westlake Medical Center and we walk into the emergency room-yes I realize it wasn't an emergency, but this was her only option on a Saturday. I sit down and start to read my book, The Maker's Diet and seriously, I'm reading this section.....

"While I am thankful for all of the wonderful medical breakthroughs and excellent emergency medical care available in this country, you might want to know that according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, doctors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S., causing 250,000 deaths every year. I know it seems as if I have an ax to grind, but I don't. Most doctors are sincere, hard-working professionals who try to do their jobs well. However the American Health care system is not healthy. It is downright unhealthy at times because it has skewed its entire care system toward dispensing health out of a drug container."1

I'm also halfway paying attention to Anthea talk to the male nurse about her symptoms and I'm thinking, "she needs to give him her current symptoms, but she also needs to let him know she's been feeling crappy for a month and that she was puking last week. " Then she starts to tell him this info and he cuts her off and says, "are you experiencing those symptoms right now?" and she says, "No, but I'm trying to give you all the background of my illness," or something like that. The guy just says, "I don't need that, please just stick to the symptoms you are experiencing right now." So now Anthea feels belittled and makes her answers short and quick so she can stop talking to this jerk of a nurse. Does he have all the facts? No. Does that matter? Apparently not. Concern #1.

After she sits around for a while, they call her into a room that is just across the waiting room and leave the door open. 10 minutes later I hear, "Sarah," look up at Anthea and she mouths "I have the flu." Hmmm, great. So I'm thinking, we're probably all gonna get the flu and then Anthea says, "do you want him to write a prescription for you?" Heck Yes, I do!!!

So the very nice doctor writes 4 prescriptions for all of the girls that have encountered Anthea's flu virus. Anthea ends up dropping $100 co-pay for the visit and we drive to the pharmacy to pick up her prescription(s) plural. Yes, ladies and gentleman-along with Anthea's Tamiflu and steroid something or other, sweet Doctor "Westlake"(I call him that because I hope the only reason he hands out prescriptions like candy is because he deals with high-maintenance Westlake patients all day long) has written a prescription of Vicodin for flu-ridden Anthea.
VICODIN, people! She didn't fill that one of course, cause she didn't just have major surgery of any kind!!!! The whole encounter with the brusque nurse and drug happy doctor was unsettling on so many levels.

Needless to say, yesterday I felt like total crap. So I go to get my prescription filled, cause like everyone else "I can't afford to get sick." This term seriously rang true when I went to pay for my Tamiflu and the technician casually said, "That will be $50.00 Ms. Michel."

"Um, did you not get my insurance card? That can't be the co-pay"-me
"That actually is the co-pay Ms. Michel, Tamiflu is expensive."-pharm tech
"Is there a cheaper version I can get?" me
"No, this is it." pharm tech

As I'm paying I overhear her speaking Spanish to a nice old man that doesn't speak English whose prescription wont be ready until tomorrow. I can tell he's had a hard day's work, his fingers are full of dirt and his face is weathered from the amount of outdoor weather he's had to endure. And i cant help thinking, "Would this man be able to afford Tamiflu?"

Faith Poverty Round Table

Caritas of Austin hosted the Faith and Poverty Round Table. This forum takes place once a year and allows members of the Austin area faith community to connect with one another as well as learn tangible skills to fight poverty in Austin.

I learned a lot, and the steps I feel called to take are to

1. Call the Austin area Food Stamp Outreach Coordinator and have him train me how to help others apply for food stamps (52% of Austinites living in poverty don't use this government allocated money because they don't know how to apply).
   
2. Then, I'm gonna find the nearest food pantry (you can find the nearest food pantry to you by going to austinfoodbank) and volunteer there while also encouraging those who visit the pantry to let me help them apply for food stamps.

Here's what I learned today:

Poverty in Austin

• 2007 Federal Poverty Income Guideline is $20,650 a year for a family of four.

• Center for Public Policy Priorities (a great resource for poverty stats/facts) cppp.org estimates the living cost in the Austin area to be $53,080 to cover basic needs for a family of four. People, that cost is MORE THAN DOUBLE the Federal Poverty Income Guideline.

• In Travis County 38.6% of households headed by unmarried women with children under five live in poverty. Any change in their family income or expenses threatens their ability to make ends meet.
  

Hunger in Austin

• Food Pantries
• The lack of evening hours and very limited hours on Saturdays when pantries are open pose a serious challenge for the working poor in accessing food.
• Food pantries have an adequate supply of food, but there are shortages of dairy products, fresh produce, and fresh or frozen meat. Shortages of these items could impact the nutritional health and overall development of adults and children.

• Food Stamps
• 52% of Texans who qualify for food stamps do not use the program because they don't know how to apply.
  
• Now food stamps come on a card much like any bank card. So no more stigma/embarrassment attached to using food stamps at the grocery store.
  

• 13 of the 24 Travis County zip codes with high poverty levels do not have a food pantry or hot meal services. Basically that means 75% of people in poverty don't have a food provider in their zip code. That's 6,946 people, PEOPLE!

Mental Health in Austin

Wasn't even talked about at the poverty round table because there is a huge lack of mental health initiative in Austin and all of Texas. If you have any stats on mental health, please comment. Mental health is a serious issue (and several individuals experiencing it cannot get the adequate help they need and end up homeless or in jail, which is absolutely not where they belong.

How You Can Help

• Call
  
• 2-1-1 is the dialing code statewide for FREE access to information on health and human services, community organizations, disaster relief resources, faith-based services, and volunteer opportunities. CALL ANYTIME! they're always open.
  

• Volunteer
• at a food pantry or with a Basic Needs Coalition agency to provide much needed services to people living in poverty such as clothing, food, rent, utility assistance. Visit basicneeds-ctx.org.
  

• Support
  
• public policy intitiatives that crate real solutions for adequate healthcare, childcare, living wages, education and disability assistance. Visit cppp.org for more info.
• the cause you care about by donating your time, talent, or treasure (money, people)

• Get Trained
• to help those in need, apply for food stamps. Stephen Beasley, Food Stamp Outreach Coordinator can be reached at 512-684-2119 and will train up to 10 people at a time on how to fill out food stamp applications for FREE

• Advocate
• tell your friends, coworkers and state representatives about the issues and how to combat them
  
• pray-it's powerful people
• ACT and others will act with you!

Happy New Year?

Countdown to the new year looks different for 2008. As elections draw near for Americans, another election and its aftermath has captured the news this past week. Most of us rang in the new year with friends and family in anticipation of things to come in 2008 while reminiscing about 2007. In Kenya, the end of 2007 and countdown to the 2008 amassed stark differences.

The Kenya national elections for parliamentary and presidential candidates were held on December 27. Raila (Rye ee la) Odinga was the front runner in the polls over the incumbent President Kibaki going into the election. "One of the big issues is that Odinga is Luo and Kibaki is Kikuyu." Said Ed Pollasch, missionary and resident of Kenya. "The Kikiyu’s have been in power for decades and the Luo feel slighted by them. They see Raila as their ‘great hope’ so for them to give up this chance or to have it stolen away is unacceptable."

The initial unrest on the 29^th was from the factions of Odinga’s party, ODM, who felt the election results were not being passed on to the public quickly enough, thus they suspected wrong doings. The following day, the 30^th, people crowded the election office in Nairobi in the morning waiting for an announcement. Hours passed, people became upset and restless. By mid-afternoon, Raila held a press conference citing ‘proof’ of wrong doing at the highest level. He stated very clearly that ‘his sources’ showed he had won the election by nearly 500,000 votes.

Later that afternoon, the electoral commission moved the army in and ushered everyone out of the building except a few reporters. They went on air to announce that President Kibaki had won by 230,000 votes after nearly 10,000,000 votes had been cast. With this announcement, the government swore in President Kibaki to a second term of office in order to quell any attempts of anarchy. It was after this announcement that the riots began.

Much of the killing has been tribal in nature, but not all. The aftermath of Kenya's national elections has filled the minds of many Kenyans with doubt, angst, uncertainty, and fear. Imagine what was happening in Nairobi as I rang in the New Year at a friends house with a champagne toast, in full 80's party garb of course.

While we were all eating our black-eyed peas for good luck on new year's day, Kikuyus were being burned alive in a church, a place known to so many as a sanctuary, a place of refuge. Rioting, looting, and killing in Nairobi and other key cities in Kenya have occurred over the past days. A compromise is needed to stop the flow of blood.

Please familiarize yourselves with the ongoings, and remember that 2008 is election year for us. It's humbling to see such a stable country fall into the same nature which characterizes so many African nations. Ir's easy to say, "That would never happen to us." I'm sure it's what the people of Kenya used to say when observing the political and civil unrest of their neighboring countries.

The opposition ODM party is called for a 1,000,000 person march today in Nairobi to protest the election results. The government stated they will not let it take place. check out http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/04/world/africa/04kenya.html.

BBC News is another great source http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7170493.stm