a beautiful way to start a November weekend...

Following my rule of no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, this morning as I left the apartment for class, I searched my ipod for some music to accompany me on the (rather short) journey. I landed upon some Christmas jazz, and out the door I went. Just as I was leaving, big fat snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and I had a perfect walk to class.

A couple of friends and I decided to head to the Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market (just a short walk down the street from the institute we are studying at) after class for a look around the shops, and to enjoy a glass of Gluhwein, a traditional German Christmas drink and roasted chestnuts. I didn't know people actually ate those - I thought it was just a Christmas song! They sure were delicious though! The weather has turned quite "Christmasy" within these past few days, so a trip to the Christmas market was the perfect idea. However, I did realize how badly I need to get a pair of boots. My toes were just about frozen solid in my Converse sneakers...

When I got home I re-heated some of my leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner, then came to check emails. In a newsletter I subscribe to, I came across a link to this article.
The Secret Life: A Portrait of a Sex Worker in Haiti

Just a couple of days ago I received news from my colleague from the NPHI Medical Services team who works in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He told me a couple of weeks ago about the unbelievable amount of sex-workers in Petionville, where our orphanage is located in Haiti (about an hour or so from Port-au-Prince). He said he can't walk down the street without being called by the women (or young women...). In the most recent email, he told me of the much needed break he took a couple of weekends ago, when he went to a hotel near the beach (he's currently located in our home near Santo Domingo). While out to dinner one night, he said the women would just come and sit down at his table...

He tells stories of UN "aid" workers and others, he sees taking up the offer from the women. It certainly makes you wonder...

It's a terrible situation the women are in...that their only lifeline is to sell the little bit of dignity they may have left within them. And then there are the "relief workers" who put fuel to the fire.

So, just something to reflect on today, the day after Thanksgiving. Sometimes it's so easy to forget, or take for granted, all of the blessings in our lives. I started the day today feeling on top of the world. I have so many things to be thankful for - for being born into a life in which I have so many opportunities. I have a loving family, and many close friends. I've received a good education. My work experiences over the years have opened my eyes to many things I never imagined I would ever see. And I saw them because I held my future in my own hands. My destiny was not determined by the chance of having a place to sleep, food to eat, clean water to drink, safety, a place to study, and good teachers to guide my learning.

I have never had to worry about what I will have tomorrow. I have been given the opportunity to determine my own destiny through the decisions I make. So many people in this world don't have the chance to determine their life-path, but it has been chosen for them, by the circumstances into which they were born and forced to live in.

Well, I didn't mean to get all sappy here, but was just thinking about this a bit, and wanted to share with the rest of you. It is so shameful to hear about these stories...that reflect the power that just continues to drive these people into the ground...

Happy Thanksgiving!

This morning I realized that this is my first year without a true turkey dinner! Even in Honduras I was able to celebrate with the other foreigners. I was never disappointed in the amount of delicious food we were always able to whip together, often with limited access to the “necessary” supplies and ingredients. However, things are a bit different here with no fellow Americans to spend the day with! I did however meet up with an Italian friend (another student in the master’s class) for a coffee at Starbucks (mocha praline soy latte – highly recommended. It’s like liquid Nutella heaven.). What a perfect way to give thanks – thank you America for spreading Starbucks to Germany, and locating one just a few minutes’ walk from my apartment. And thanks Starbucks for created such a scrumptious (and low fat I’m sure) drink.

I have just begun to boil my potatoes to make our family’s traditional dumplings. They informed me they will not be eating them this Thanksgiving, because I’m not there to make them. That is sad news. I will have to eat enough for all of us. That is good news. The dumplings will be accompanied by a sausage (please see the photo to the left of the terrible package they came in. I'd really prefer to not see the animal on the package.) instead of turkey, sauerkraut (as usual) and corn (instead of the delicious green bean casserole my family will be eating). I’ll miss the pumpkin pie! But I guess I already had my desert for today.

I will soon have the pleasure of meeting with my family as they prepare to sit down for their Thanksgiving lunch (many thanks to technology for allowing me to skype with my family and “sit” at the table with them today, even across the ocean!) After they eat, we will try to meet online to play the German card game that has been passed on through the generations of the Kautza family – sheepshead (the photo to the left is of us playing cards on our computers. hilarious, i know). Thanks Yahoo games for allowing us to meet online to play cards across the globe!

(Potatoes now off the stove, mashed, and cooling in preparation for the formation of the tasty balls of dough they will soon be transformed into.)

Oh, and most importantly, thanks to Professor Vogel for not being able to make it to the institute to continue expanding our knowledge of health economics. I really don’t think I would have been thankful to discuss more about accounting and bookkeeping. So, thanks for the day off of class, and please be nice when grading my essay. THAT I would be thankful for.

Now, a quick rundown of what’s been happening ‘round these parts.

Nina, a good friend and colleague from the NPHI Medical Services team came to visit a couple of weekends ago. She finished the masters program I am currently in this past December. Yes, she's the one that got me into this mess. =)

Friday night we went to a classmate's house for an amazing Ghanaian dinner that his mother prepared for us all. Thanks to Edmund's momma! Saturday morning we slept in nice and late, and walked around the city a bit to pass the time. We came home to make a delicious pasta dinner, then headed to the Jamie Lidell concert, followed by some dancing at La Havanna Club.

We had a lazy Sunday, and got out of the apartment just in time to make it to the East Side Gallery just before the sun set, to enjoy some wall artwork, where the Berlin wall used to stand.

The day was topped off by making baleadas and micheladas with a couple of friends from class.

This past Tuesday I went with a few friends from class to the Nina Hagen concert, which proved to be quite an interesting experience. She is a crazy older German singer, turned Christian. We weren't quite sure what to expect, but it was a nice evening. From what I've heard online and from friends here, her voice used to be quite amazing. I was a bit disappointed at the concert...she sounded like the female version of Tom Waits. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Tom, but just wasn't expecting her voice to be so scratchy. Oh well.

Let's see...what else has happened since the last post.

We've had another exam, with results (that we still haven't received) that will likely turn out just like the first exam. Our third exam is quickly sneaking up on us, and the final oral exam only a week after that one. Thesis outlines to write, advanced modules to settle on, which will carry me to Bergen, Norway and London, England for a few months beginning in January and lasting through early April. Exact dates yet to be determined.

I can't believe how quickly time has gone here. It seems like just yesterday that we were all sitting around the circle playing our silly "get to know you" games, or dating games according to the course coordinators. Strange. It's crazy to think that we have less than a month left together!

Oh, I also purchased the album "Zaz". I heard about her from a couple of classmates that went to see her last weekend. I'd recommend checking it out. Umm - her music is in French, so I really don't know what she's singing about, but it's nice music!

Now, time for bed.

Be careful all of you that will be taking part in the Black Friday shopping. Try not to be stampeded. I will be sitting in class, learning about essential drugs, intellectual property, and techniques on how to do literature reviews. Can't wait! And snow is in the forecast! So at least maybe there will be large, pretty snowflakes to watch again out the window?

Peace.

the awesomeness that is my sister...

well i have nothing really noteworthy to post about. so instead, i will pass along to all of you readers out there (i often wonder how many there really are?!?) a website of an amazing project my sister started with youth in her community. check the blog for details! Youth Art Team

my sister's personal blog is on my list of favorites on the right side of my page ("liberate blog"). i encourage you to check it out as well!