http://www.kiva.org/

It is hard to know, sometimes, which organizations are the best to donate money to. But I really liked the idea of this site. Plus, it's not donating, it's loaning the money.

so... I have a boatload of money and if you have a favorite organization/cause/whatever, comment and maybe I will donate money to it.


p.s. Merry Christmas! My family got me socks, shoes, sweaters, a giraffe necklace, and learn Chinese CDs.
For my birthday I also got shoes and a sweater, and a turtle necklace.

I am a horrible person.

What was your favorite cartoon as a child?

This was mine:



It'd be cool if you watched it for me.

( Read more... )

http://www.duirwaighgallery.com/inspiration_heavensrejoice.htm

awww...

It's been a slow Saturday.


( lyrics to a favorite song of mine )

Nostalgia.

From the greek word nostos, meaning homeward journey, and the suffix -algia which means pain or painful condition.

This morning I was in this quiet spot on campus I haven't been since last autumn. Rarely do I feel the -algia part as much as I did then.


I have learned a lot from classics class.

Today was a happy day for no particular reason.

I fell in love with the library yesterday.

I wandered in and couldn't leave. The folded paper crane among the books, the girl I talked to for hours, the maps, the books, piles of homework...

maybe we will have a happy life together, the library and I.

Africa was unbelievable.

I can't write about it; it's too overwhelming.
but here it goes...


There were a lot of things I didn't expect. I didn't expect everyone to be so poor, I didn't expect actual straw huts, I didn't expect all of the trash and dirt and poverty. I didn't expect goats roaming the streets, or mothers trying to give away their children to us.

The Senegalese stared at us, winked at me, waved, attempted to mug us, harassed us, talked to us, made friends, gave me gifts, hugged us, proposed to some girls.
We went hungry, we got dirty, there were no bathrooms, the bus broke down.

My favorite moments were going to the poorest and most remote villages. One was on the beach. The children from the village ran up to us and wanted to play. They loved having their picture taken and being video taped. I will post it sometime soon.
Young children there don't speak English. So if you see the video, it will be French with Arabic greetings. I loved speaking Wolof with them. I know basic phrases, and with kids, that is enough to have a connection.

I loved watching their lives. They are living too.
But. You can't help but wish for a better life for them.

The vendors in the markets are desperate for your money. They will do anything to sell you a craft or souvenir. Anything.


Lots of crazy stuff happened. I want to write about it later because I am tired now.