From One To The Other

So, today has been an extremely nerve-wracking day. You would think after having both skydived and bungy jumped, and traveled to a random country without knowing anyone that I would not have been nervous on my first day back at Colorado College. Unfortunately, you would be wrong. However, loss of sleep managed to calm my nerves as I was too dazed to be affected by the stampede of acquaintances that I have not seen in 8 months. Having a schedule again has also helped calm my nerves, yet has frazzled my brain, which is wondering why I ever missed the intensity of the block plan. To break another nerve, I finally entered my essay into Nicholas Kristof's Win-A-Trip on the day of the deadline. This essay has been a long time coming (the contest was announced a month ago) and I do not believe I have much chance of winning. However, I can say that I learned a lot about myself and confirmed the general direction that want to head in life. It also gave me a lot of new ideas for this blog and youtube page, so get pumped!

Today's photos are of Spirit's Bay in Northland, New Zealand. For the Maori, it is where the spirits of the dead head off for their journey to the afterlife. Considering the pain, rubble, and shock in Haiti right now, I feel that showing images of this amazingly peaceful place brings a little hope that though we are in pain on earth, those who have left us are no longer suffering (and are perhaps, better off).

Long Road

I did not upload a photograph from New Zealand today; instead, I uploaded one I took in Vietnam. I decided to do so upon hearing the news that an officer who conducted the My Lai massacre has finally apologized. I guess now is better than never, but it has been a long time coming. As most of you know, I spent 5 weeks doing community service in Vietnam between Junior and Senior years of high school. The area I worked in was My Lai (it is really just a village in a whole area that got massacred, but that is what they chose to call the incident because it was the biggest one in the area at that time). We were told we were the first group of Americans to come to the area since the war; whether or not that was true, I hope we left better memories with the village of Tinh Hoa than the ones they had of Americans before. To see the actual dirt roads, ditches, and trees that the infamous photographs of the My Lai victims show was a spiritual expierence that only those who were with me understand. However, what inspired me to try to live a thoughtful life was not the location, but the people. As hard (or even as simple) as it may seem, the Vietnamese people do not teach hate to their children. Though the government may promote a vengeful view towards the US, the Vietnamese people welcomed us with open arms. They knew we had no control over what other people from our country did and they did not judge us based on their actions. They also seemed to have that attitude towards each other, it was amazing and refreshing. I did not realize how ingrained hate was into our society until I came back from Tinh Hoa. I cannot even explain it; it is not a big fight or war that turns us against each other, but it ends up being all of the little actions, words, and quick assumptions/judgments that do so. I didn't pick this photo for any particular reason, it's not even one of my best ones from the trip; I was just scrolling through the images and opened it. For some reason, it seemed like I was seeing if for the very first time and I smiled.

If you were born in September (or any other month of the year...that should be everyone), click here and get inspired (if this doesn't do it, I don't know what will).

Beauty Rethought

On Sunday I went to the Auckland Zoo with some friends and got this beautiful photo of a peacock. Most of the time people focus on the peacock's gorgeous tail feathers, but I believe their head is just as beautiful... so, that's what I got a shot of. For me, going to the zoo is much more a spiritual experience than most. I have been so lucky that I have been able to travel and see many animals in their natural habitat. So, every time I go to a zoo it is bitter sweet, especially when walking through the "pride lands". I love seeing the animals, there is something so magically peaceful yet curious about them, but I despise seeing the wire and metal surrounding them. I am glad zoos are working together to help endangered species, but I am devastated that humans as a whole are working against almost all animals. By the end of my trips to the zoo, I begin to think of what humans are doing to each other - we treat each other like we treat animals. What right does anyone have to kill, lock up, control, and interfere with others (human and animal alike)? I apologize for the rant, but I guess, in the end, I just don't understand why love and equality are so controversial.

Green For Iran

Just like the photo yesterday, this one was also taken in Vietnam. I decided to post this picture today because I finally got up the nerve to watch some of the footage coming in from Iran on youtube and read some first hand accounts on twitter. I have never spent much time on either site (actually, I had never even been to twitter) until the past few days. However, lately these sites have been a gateway into the turmoil of a place that we cannot get to and could not understand without these sites. The footage and accounts bring about a mix of emotions; it is disturbing, moving, inspiring, and so much more. Many people on twitter have changed their profile pictures to a shade of green to show their support for the Iranians who are fighting for their right to vote. Therefore, I decided to post a green photograph for today - I took this while visiting the My Lai Peacepark in Tinh Hoa, Vietnam.

Take a look for yourself: Youtube's CitizenTube
Also, don't keep up the Stereotypes.