Fatima: At work

Hello all. Sorry it's taken me so long. 

I am currently at work waiting for a meeting to start. Things here have been pretty crazy around here. I do want to share the exciting news that I am working part time with Stav. We are working with 2nd and 3rd graders with an after school program. They are incredibly adorable, but also very rambunctious. (Claire, they are right about at your energy level!)

School has started for UT students and the masses of 18-22 year old's in Austin are on the UT campus. I got to meet about 100 freshmen this past weekend, and I am so excited to be working with them and getting to know them.

Things with David are going really well, but we are both incredibly busy so a quick goodnight kiss as all we've been able to share these past few days.

Austin is the same, lovely with it's greenery, social with all of its festivals, music, and trendy trailer eateries, and above all full of fun and outgoing people.

The house I live in is fun. There is enough happening to make it feel warm and cozy. Stefanie moved out, but in her place is a girl who all of you would have fallen in love with. She is super creative, is making a garden, made homemade yogurt for us last week, is going to teach me how to preserve some goodies, loves to read and collect stuff,  and loves to go to night swim at barton springs. I know what you're thinking, too good to be true. I am super excited, though, to have her as a housemate.


Those are pretty much all of my updates.  Miss all of you greatly.

ps. I took this photo on my new iphone! David says hello.

Swimming Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuz5TKzaJoE

This link is for Stav who said she liked Rufus Wainwright. This song is called the Swimming Song and it's by his dad (I think), Loudon Wainwright III. Hope you like it!

Leslie-- I love Mississippi John Hurt! Some of my favorite songs by him are Richland Woman Blues, Corrina Corrina, and Shortenin' Bread. I'm sorry you are feeling down. Hopefully Travis will get better and he can come back to Nicaragua soon.

I'm meeting a lot of people here but so far none of them are nearly as cool as you guys. I still haven't made a close group of friends but I know I just have to give it time.

-Andrea

Leslie: What truly heals my soul

Currently jamming to: Mississippi John Hurt "You got to Walk the Lonesome Valley"
Feeling: Un Poco triste
Weather: Sweaty but not Texas hot

What heals you when you're down and out?
Really put some thought into this my ladies.

Growing up I thought it was my religion and the practice it encouraged-the mysterious act of prayer that healed me; however in the 8 years since deciding not to devote myself to any particular religion, I've realized that what truly heals me, gives me goose-bumps, makes me want to shout the "gospel", and sleep peacefully at night has been speaking to me all along.
In no particular order:
1. Building, maintaining, and marveling at the ability to have a relationship with animals
Is this not healing instantly? Psychologists have published studies proving that the simple act of petting an animal lowers blood-pressure. Ahhhh. What a sacred and beautiful creature is the animal.Every animal is a piece of heaven to me. In fact, right now here in my little dormitory bunk bed in Nicaragua lies Bigote the kitten, long term resident of the hostel wherein I reside. Just seeing her lying on her back asleep amongst my freshly dried laundry makes me breath easier.
2. Art
This is a broad one for me. Music is probably my most soul-affecting art form. Better than any Prozac or alcoholic beverage, music can wash over me and rid me of all my worries almost instantly. I love the fact that an artist, a person just like you and me, had the bravery to put their art into the world and make it live. Paintings, drawings, origami,poems, graffiti, screen-printed t-shirts, etc. Any art, no matter how "bad" or "good" is a reason to be thankful that I am breathing the air this day. Entonces, may I recommend this...beautiful style and soothing vocals of this uniquely talented man, Mississippi John Hurt! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-GN-BP_Qlk

3. Nature
Perhaps this is the real religion. Human-beings cannot conquer it although we certainly try. Nature never ceases to quiet my soul and amaze me.In the deserts of West Texas and the high-altitude clouds seen from an airplane! Sometimes a sunset can speak to me and tell me everything is alright even in the shitty suburbs of Dallas.

I am calling upon and noting these forces of great positive energy for a few reasons from here in Nicaragua...The boyfriend I came down here to spend time and create an adventure with is being Medically Separated from the Peace Corps. So to people not familiar with Peace Corps vernacular, he's been deemed too sick to stay here. For over a year he's had chronic stomach issues due to the food/water. As if that wasn't tiring enough, the past few months revealed some strange benign cyst in his wrist that needs surgery...hench, off to the comfy U.S he goes in 72 hours much to my disappointment. This comes as no surprise, nor do I take it personally. It's been a long hard road for my poor Travis. Always trying to outwit my negative side, I feel this may actually be a positive eventuality for me here in Nica, but right now I am sitting with mixed emotions calling upon all sources of healing. It's certainly not what I wanted to happen. Now, may I commend the beauty of writing....

Stav: Quicky Before Work

First of all, wahhhh!!!! So glad people are posting! Collaborative blogging rules! It's good to hear from all of you :)

As I predicted, the second I had to go back to work, blogging/reading/practicing guitar/breathing (not to mention applying to schools...eek!) fell by the wayside. I really love my job, but it does tend to take over my life. For those of you to whom I haven't babbled on and on about my job already, I work for a non-profit in Austin that does many good things (subsidized housing, case management, etc...) among them running 4 free after school programs for elementary students and teens located all around Austin. Anyway, I have been tasked with heading up the newest learning center, something I've never done and am kind of figuring out as I go along. Needless to say, my enthusiasm for youth empowerment and neuroticism have been working in tandem against me and I'm constantly worrying. On a side note, I will get an AISD ID badge! Official!

Before I have to run to work, I just wanted to share the following song. I don't know that much about Rufus Wainwright, and don't really have any time to do research right now, I just know that it's good and for some reason it really fits my mood lately. Also, it just sounds so nice.



Alrighty folks, have a super day!

Take care,
Stav.

Summer: Room 234

8/18/10
Hi Everyone,

Before the main point of my post, I thought I'd put in something about my sister.  Many of you have asked what kind of work my sister does, and often, you think she's super awesome.  Normally, I try and explain the stuff she does and I usually don't do her justice.  But she actually has written a pretty good post about why she enjoys her work and the kinds of things she encounters.  I thought I would share her blog post with you.

What my sister does in her own words!

Now for Room 234:

In Room 234 of Northeast Baptist Hospital lies my grandfather, my last grandparent.  He was hospitalized on Tuesday for, essentially, kidney problems.  My grandfather who is quick and sharp, dextrous and creative, was reduced to poor mentation and for once, caged in his body.

I know my grandfather as a man who lost a scholarship and was kicked out of school for playing jazz.  He is the first doctor and only surgeon in our family.  He invents delicious recipes often doing things like: making pasta from scratch, making panetone--a traditional Italian sweet bread that takes all day to make, and baking bread bread bread!  He even built an outdoor oven so that he could bake bread and pizza (and who knows what else) in his backyard.

He is a builder and creator--making his own exercise machines, building beds and sliding shelves in his pantry along with the best hydrolic pan holder thing-a-ma-jig.

Seeing him weak and frail was not as difficult as I thought.  After all, he is 90-something (95 I think).  He has had a long, good life filled with friends and family, Italian groups and church.  He has 4 children (but raised 5), 11 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.  I'm pretty sure the Scavone name won't be dying out anytime soon.

But what is the most difficult, is seeing someone, usually so sharp, mentally debilitated.  When he doesn't remember your name, or when he can't remember his relation to you, is...difficult.  He looks at you with confused eyes, somewhat glazed over.  Empty.  He is empty, not there inside his cornflower blue eyes.  He has a vacant smile, sometimes a slight grimace as he struggles to surface, struggles to understand what is going on around him.

UPDATE (8/23/10):  So, my grandfather is still pretty sick, but he's doing much better on dialysis.  I'm not too sure of his prognosis, but I think I'll be okay when he goes.  He's had a long, full life.  I'm just glad that the dialysis improves his brain function.  It's too painful to see intellectual people (or anyone really) loose that part of themselves.  I've seen it in my aunt (although she's fine now) and I think it's one of the worst weaknesses/illnesses to witness in a person.

Sorry for the long post!  I start writing on one day, and then don't finish until another...so, sorry!

In my world...study study study!

I miss everyone and hope everyone is doing well, wherever you are.

Andrea: my first post!

Hi guys! Sorry that I've waited so long to write-- I wanted to wait until I could  post photos.  I still haven't gotten around to uploading my pictures but I had a particularly lonely morning today so I wanted to write anyway.

First, let me catch you up: I'm in Boise! I drove up with Michael (my boyfriend) and we got here Friday.  Boise is so beautiful!  It is a small city that sits in a valley and is surrounded by hills and mountains.  It is really green and everyone is super active and outdoorsy here.  My house is really cute and in a perfect little neighborhood.  The bike route I take to school is along the river! I also live walking distance from some awesome hiking trails in the hills.  (I hope I'm making you all want to come visit me!)

Michael and I had a really fun weekend exploring the city.  He left Sunday morning and I miss him already. We haven't decided if we are going to stay together or not...  After taking him to the airport, I spent the rest of the day cleaning my house, trying to find furniture on craigslist, and biking around town. It didn't hit me how much I missed him and all of my friends until this morning after my first class.  I still haven't met anyone in Boise and I figured I would meet people in classes but I had no luck today.  First of all, there were only 4 other students in my class and they were all a lot older than me and already deep into their research. One girl in my class is already a research scientist!  It was very intimidating.  The professor already assigned a project and I don't even understand what it's about. We are actually supposed to know stuff and figure everything out on our own in grad school...  What if I become a grad school drop-out???

In a couple of minutes I have to go to "tea time" with everyone from the geology department.  It's to get to know each other and talk about our research.  Why am I so nervous??!!

My roommate moves in today-- I can't wait to meet her.  Also, I think I might do a yoga class today to de-stress. 

How are all of you??  I miss you so much.  

ps: thanks for the music, stav!

Leslie: Where does this highway go to?

Greetings from Nicaragua! I am finally getting to work today after one week of me and my boyfriend being on a our "Reunion of Love Tour" in various cities here in ol' Nicaragua. Highlights include spending way more money than I expected, smoking cigs and drinking whiskey on a rooftop in old town Granada, dancing/sweating it up at a discotec only to get pepper-sprayed off the floor, eating beans and rice galore, laughing at myself while trying to get a cell phone. It's good to get out of my comfort zone, but man is it hard to motivate myself to not speak english.
 My boyfriend, Travis finally went back to his Peace Corps work today so here I am in Leon about to start doing environmental work with the hostel I'll be living in for the next 3 months, Sonati. Being able to only speak in present tense is errm....awwwwkward. Good thing this time I know better than to say "soy embarazada" for embarrassed.
First observation about spending time in a supposed "3rd World Country" (a term I am not comfortable with)....people are happy here and seem to have everything they truly need. Of course there's plenty of visible poverty but happiness abounds. Maybe us Americans can learn something from this....Love, Les

Stav: Diligence - How Long Will This Last?

Hi-yah folks,

Let me preface this post with the question, is it too much to post almost every day? I don't want to feel like I'm monopolizing this cyberspace-space... So just let me know if too many music posts are overwhelming our collaborative project here... Feedback is encouraged :) Also, like I mentioned in the title, I really don't know how long this daily posting will last as I am on vacation now and have a lot of free time apparently.

And now onto the music.

If asked, I would have to say that Austin is only at its full and total glory in the summertime. Despite the oppressive heat, mosquitoes and incoming freshmen, Austin in summer is perfect. Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to lunch at Polvos with some other ex-pearlies we know. While we were making the trek down to South 1st listening to KGSR, the song Gone Gone Gone by Alison Kraus and Robert plant came on. It was very fitting for the carefree mood of the afternoon – there is really nothing like public radio on a nice Saturday afternoon in Austin with only mild heat when you are about to go gorge on Tex-Mex. Cheers for Austin summers.




The version of the song on the radio was a new(ish) Alison Kraus and Robert Plant collaboration, so right off the bat, how could it be bad? Alison Kraus is an amazing country singer and folk traditionalist responsible for much of the Oh Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. And Robert Plant…Led Zeppelin man! So, naturally their version is good (I mean, besides the cheese factor of the video, which you should ignore, or conversely, bask in all its treadmill glory. It kind of gets cut off, but that’s actually really close to the end of the song anyway).

Even though the newer version is good, I still think the original Everly Brothers version is awesome. Also, this video is innnnnnsane.



Oh, and Summer, sorry for going all John Ailey on your ass and posting two versions of the exact same song…

Take care,

Stav.

Leslie: Well Hello There My Lovelies (old and new)

Current mood: Bubbling thick anxiety just below calm, peaceful anticipation
Listening to: Mississippi John Hurt "Stackolee"
Weather: HOT AS HELL

Last Friday was a magical and humorous day as I finally had a much too overdue mini Pearl Street Lover reunion in godforsaken Dallas. Claire and I made it with no hiccups to Dallas's attempt of an artsy coffee shop but Christa got lost and Rob took the DART rail then a cab then got lost....but they both surfaced alive and well much to the joy of my heart. After much updating, hugs, and photos on the stoop of this little house, Claire informed me of this blog and I knew I had to partake since I've been shit at keeping up with all the people I fell in love with from our golden days at Pearl. Yes I fell in-love with you! How could I not have. So without further ado, here I am in another blog circle with some ex-Pearl kids. Yet another blog circle, you wonder? Why yes. In my earlier days at Pearl circa 2004-2006 I had a blog ring on Xanga with some guy friends who lived at Pearl from 2003-2005. Thuan, Darmawan Darmawan, and Smits(notable Pearl guys) we just some members of what we called The Order of Bitter Intellectuals. It kept us all close despite the fact that we lived all over the world from Canada to Indonesia to Suriname. Anyhow I can't wait to stay close via this blog. I love you and will write more exciting stuff once I arrive in Nicaragua on Tuesday!

Stav: This Band is From the Sixties

To counteract yesterday's sad music selection, I present to you The Turtles. Just like the title of the post suggests, the music of the Turtles is very stereotypically sixties. The album Battle of the Bands sounds like a combination of the Beatles, the Yardbirds, the Byrds, Simon and Garfunkel, and the Beach Boys put together - but not in a "oh my god, so many great artists in one band!!!!" way, more in like a HEB-brand Generic Crispy Rice way. I don't mean to say that the music is bad, I actually really enjoy it. It sounds like a soundtrack to a movie possibly featuring surfing, drugs, British people, dancing, bowl cuts, a love story that wasn't meant to be, but ends with marriage. I dunno. It's certainly fun.

I think Eleanor is the best song on the album, it's also the most recognizable.



For a laugh (or a good 2 minutes of crazy dancing in your room) try Buzzsaw - a kind of knock-off, slower mix of "Wipeout" and "Tequila".



That's the songs for today. Let me just end with this advice: biking is such a good way to shrug off a bad mood. Woot! However, even though riding downtown from my place is quite easy, the ride back north and east is quite a trip. I was huffing it all the way up Chicon.

Also, I have figured out a way to take the bus to Fiesta. Alright for groceries!

Take care folks,
Stav.

Stav: Townes and Woods All the Way to Austin

Hello all,

I too have spent the past couple of days in Dallas in an attempt to relax and not worry about normal everyday stuff that happens in Austin. This backfired on me a little as I experienced some new (to me) stressful social interactions. In any case, I'm glad to be back home.

The way back to Austin from Dallas is usually tinged with a little sadness. Generally the sadness of returning to real life, this time particularly the sadness of missed opportunities? So, fittingly, I listened to sad country-folk the entire way. Also, riding the greyhound bus through Texas is always a cause to listen to country music.

I give to you a little sample of the drive:



Woods is a superb contemporary folk/rock band originally from the Pacific Northwest, now based out of New York. This song is not on the album but if your interested I highly recommend the album Songs of Shame. Woods' music is pleasently melancholic, but not too brooding... always with a little nice glimmer of light. They combine folky instrumentation (acoustic guitars and drums for the most part) and execution (basic strumming) with a kind of surf-y feel (ethereal/incomprehensible backing vocals and it kinds of sounds like they're underwater part of the time). Although the sound is very agreeable, I think Woods has a dark edge, I guess the incongruity makes it interesting. This is especially the case with Songs of Shame which was supposedly written as a critique of American culture/politics. I enjoy the relatively high pitched male vocals and the lo-fi sound quality.



I don't have much to say about Townes Van Zandt. He's from Texas. His voice alone makes me weep.

Hope you guys aren't too depressed after all that. Ha! Take care wherever you are. More songs later.

Summer--Week's goal: don't rupture the rectum

So, instead of studying, I will procrastinate! After one week, I've already slipped into the life of a student: I plan my day around studying, and dread it the entire time; I eat fast food french fries with friends; I'm exhausted and overwhelmed; I smell on dissection days (okay, this isn't too normal); and I drink more coffee than my stomach can hold or my heart can take--I think it's going to mess up my liver.

It's Monday, which means we had our 2nd dissection. Therefore, even after thoroughly scrubbing myself down in the shower and washing my hands religiously, I still smell like weird formaldehyde chemicals and...other things your probably don't want to know about.

Alice- Learning how to post...

This is my very first post ever on a blog- yay! The past few weeks have been very busy and very crazy for me, as I am sure for all of us! I am SO excited to hear about everyone's adventures this year, I think it will be a very exciting and happy year for everyone!

Let me see, I have moved back to Houston officially, although since then I have been nack to Austin twice and I feel way more up in the air then grounded somewhere! Andy and I saw Bob Dylan last week- sorry but we didn't get any good pictures! (no one missed anything though, he sounded like an old frog)Went hiking, and grilled a lot! In Houston I have been hanging out with friends, being awesomem have baked a lot and I am slowly starting to get into the habit of studying Turkish- yikes! I think it will be very rough for me the first few months adjusting to Turkish and struggling to stay afloat in the languge. Hopefully though I will come back near-fluent! We'll see!

Now I am packing and getting ready to go to DC this week for my Fulbright orientation. I expect to come back with lots and lots of information to get ready and most of my questions answered- fingers crossed?

well, here are some pictures from the last few weeks-

bus love- this was the night i was spit on! : )

We took Sacha hiking with us of course- he's so sute when he goes swimming!! : ) Our weekend trip to San Antonio started out great, and was a lot of fun UNTIL it turned in to the trip from hell when our car broke down... : ( i have the worst luck with cars!

This is my "ode to biking in Austin" picture.... : (

ok, hope everyone is having a good week! : )

-alice

Summer: $850 to Replace a Skull

So--I wrote this during orientation but didn't want to post it until I had a photo. So here it is, even though I wrote it 7/28/10.

This is pretty much what I learned in my week of orientation. Whoever thought a skull could cost so much? I mean, we're only charged $500 for "human materials"--a nicer way--or the mob's way--of saying: dead person.

Other than that, there were a lot of people I met…and promptly forgot.

On Sunday, I had my white coat ceremony. We get white coats and say the Hippocratic Oath. It's sort of like saying the Pledge of Allegiance. You don't really realize what you're saying. Well, that's a lie. You pay a lot more attention to what you're saying, but it's all very…out-of-body. I didn't feel the weight of the statement the way I thought I would. I had the conscious thought: I really want this to mean something, this should mean something! Then I thought: Shut up and relax.


It's me and my dad! He said he wore black to counteract all the white coats. Typical.

My apartment is still a bit of a mess. Well, I lied…it's mainly my room. The best thing about it is that I have a "nook" with a window seat. And, the natural lighting is good. I can study in my room in the evenings without turning on my lights. And yes, I've been doing homework, but not for medical school. Luckily, I know no one who is "pre-reading." Thank god. I'd rather get "pre-crunk"!

Bad thing about my apartment: I wish I had some of Fatima's photos and collages because our living room is barren. =[ We don't have anything cool to hang on the walls. I hardly have anything to hang in my room!

So, this has become entirely rambley, as I am known to do and will probably state at the end of every post. Oh well.