2019-03-06
I did not anticipate falling in love when I signed up for a gap year. In fact, I have never anticipated love in any way. Yet here I am, caring for a person and a cat more than I have ever cared for anyone or anything in my life. My mouss (pronounced: moose) – Barki,...
Read More2019-01-27
Because I’m furious with the government that calls itself freedom. Because families seeking asylum are finding a worse hell at the border. Because poverty is an induced cycle that the government oppresses minorities in to. Because education is a right that is treated as a privilege. Because gun drills are normal. Because guns are normal....
Read More2018-11-27
I’m having a hard time defining normal. Considering I have never once in my life been called this, nor can I say I associate with it in nearly any way. But, after shaving my brothers head, stepping over half dead crickets and chicken bones to get to my room I turned around and looked at...
Read More2018-11-13
In 5 Months At our last catch my team leader asked our regional cohort to write vision statements for our next five months here. What we hope to accomplish, what we’ve learned, who we’ll be. I wanted to share mine: In 5 Months * In Five months I will have grown in ways I can’t...
Read More2018-09-29
In Whom I Find Home I have never truly called a place home. As I’ve gotten older I have found that “home” for me is less of a location and more people. There is always this ridiculous sign in overly patriotic Army households: along with the Polish Pottery, Bier Steins, and American flag decorated bathrooms...
Read More2018-09-23
Have you ever read the article called “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema”? It unveils our innate bias and tendency to assume that there are always “others”. When in reality we all stem from the same tree of life. I am in a new land. I have been given a new name, a new family, a...
Read More2018-09-20
I’m becoming very familiar with a pen and paper, With the stack of undeveloped film on my desk, With melted gum, With the pages of my books, With Senegal’s heavy sun, With quick showers, and tea without milk. I’m becoming very familiar with my own thoughts, Now that I have nothing to distract myself from...
Read More