Nice knowing you

3+ weeks of insanity begins today:
CANAM on Friday
Subgroup meeting this weekend including two guests at my house for the weekend
Fair amount of drinking planned for the weekend on top of full day meetings
Leave for Romulus, MI for Team Days on a 6 am flight Tuesday morning
Come back to NYC at 11 PM on Wednesday night
8:00 am bus to Boston on Thursday to get there for a dentist apt.
WOrk from home on Friday, go to a Sox game, then drive my car down to NYC on Saturday
Pack up a fair amount of my apartment
Monday the 31st- drive to Indiana with Jen and Jill which is a 10 hour drive, plus a stop in Amish Country and maybe Hershey Park to spice things up
SSC!!
Drive to Madison the last day and see all my favorite people that night
Pack up my apartment at school and figure out what to do with my shit (1 day time)
Fly back to Boston to get off the plane and take a bus back down to NYC to finish up my last 3 weeks of work.
Whew.

A Little Sigh of Relief

From my dear friend Lili who just finished studying Peace and Conflict Resolution in Cyprus and is now working in Eastern Jerusalem with a health NGO. My fingers stay crossed for her and everyone in this awful time- especially those with ties on all sides. At least I'm breathing a little more easily after hearing from her.

hi darlin
Dont worry im fine. i'm in jerusalem - i left cairo on thursday. things here are... tense. they stopped a suicide bomber 2 blocks from my hostel this afternoon. but other than that and the fact that the city is packed with ppl from the north, things are eerily normal here. Maybe it's the way they cope but it's freaking me out how regular life is when so many people are dying and so much destruction is just miles away. I'm so upset coming out of cyprus to this. I have friends and family stuck in their apartments on both sides right now and it's horrible listening to them. but i'm fine for the moment. myparents aren't coming anymore and want me to leave asap but i jsut started my internship and i feel like the threat isn't that close, although it could easily escalate. i dont know what im going to do, if i should move into this apartment or not... oh man. im jsut overwhelmed but thank you for the email - it means a lot. i will keep you posted and please write me and tell me about your summer!!! i hope you and your family are happy and safe
love love love
lili

I'm in Love..

... With Central Park. I realize that I have never spent significant time there before, but that has changed and so has my life (slight exageration). Katie80 and Draeger and I (our little posse) spent Sunday afternoon lying out in bathing suits on the grass by the Boat Pond. Not only was it the most beautiful day of the summer, but it was spent in fabulous company. I entirely forgot that I was in one of the biggest cities. Great conversation, strawberry icecream, heartfelt stories, a really ugly dog and it was possibly the best afternoon I can ever remember. We walked around a bit as well to see all the park had to offer. Really makes me not want to grow up. To be able to relax like that with good friends is seriously priceless. And not to mention that the evening was topped with an incredible dinner at Citrus Grill for the Last Supper. Meaning, Patrick started work at Goldman Sachs today so his soul is now sold. Hopefully we'll be able to all have some good times anyways.
On a different note. I'm going to honest, I'm pretty afraid right now. Afraid of what is happening in the world right now. Afraid of what the future implications of the recent fighting and hatred will be. And seriously afraid for my best friend who is living in East Jerusalem and Cyprus this summer who I haven't heard from in a week or two.
You begin to think that progress is being made or that the relations we are helping people build through AIESEC is going to change the world and then radicals and irrational governments make rash decisions without seeking diplomatic methods first and without thinking about what this will mean 10, 20, 100 years from now. Makes me seriously wonder what kind of a world our children will grow up in.
I definitely don't have answers, but know that I've had some pretty amazing and also frightening conversations with people from the US, the Arab world, from Israel, and from India. People are doing aamzing and awful things and I just seriously that good will prevail in the end and that people start to see the importance of understanding and cooperation. Lord of the Rings style.
And I'm also afraid of what I will do to my stupid laptop if it doesn't stop sucking.

BEST Idea. EVER

Okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but it's a fucking great plan. SO I have been tortured for the past while trying to figure out how the end of my summer would come together. Meaning, how I'd get my stuff packed up in my apartment, finish work, see my parents for a bit, drive out to Madison (which my mom won't let me do alone), move my stuff, etc.
PLAN: Which seems to be the most fun and the only one that logistically/financially works. Me, Jen and Jill (anyone else?) drive from NYC to Fort Wayne, Indiana the day before the conference starts. It's only a 10 hour drive so we can plan a day of it, stop in Amish Country (per Jen's request), get souvenirs in each state along the way, etc. Have a fabulous time at SSC (y'all should register NOW). After, drive up to Madison to pack up my shit for a day. Fly back to NYC (paid for by not me). WOrk for another week or two. Go to Boston and to the Cape to the house my parents rented which they were pissed when I said I didn't think I could go to. Then fly back to Madison. It sounds like a fucking fabulous plan. Anyone bursts my bubble and I will be very angry.
And Jen and Jill have just confirmed. Houston, we have lift off.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those in India

Hey @,
Just wanted to let everyone know that I am in one piece and safe.
Over the past week there have been rios all over Maharashtra includingPune, the city I am living in. The left wing Hindu party in Maharashtra(which is close to the national BJP party) is behind the riots.Apparently in Bombay on Saturday or Sunday, someone defaced the statueof the mother of the founders of this left wing party and riots ensued.Some believe Muslims were responsible for defacing the statue, butothers beieve it was this left wing party themselves and they did it totry and "promote" themselves all across the state (currently a moremoderate party is in power). So for the past coupe of days there havebeen riots on and off in Pune. They have destroyed some shops and theyhave targeted the area I live in because this party is very anti-Western and many Westerns live in my area. Unfortunately a few timesshop owners in my neighborhood have had to close down their storesbecause these people were attacking and they did manage to destroy someshops in other parts of Pune.
After the statue was defaced the leaders of this left wing party toldthe govt of Bombay that they have 48 hours to find who did this. I thinkthere have been some arrests, but nothing really conclusive. So, manysuspect that the bombs that were set off yesterday were done by thisleft wing party because they have not found who defaced this statue, butno one is really sure.So that is the situation here. I was supposed to go to Bombay today andnow I feel very thankful that I did not plan to go yesterday. Justwanted to let you all what has been going on here.
Stay safe,
Lisa

Reminds me of a book I just read about India- A Fine Balance- which focused on the social and political changes and upheavals in India around 1975. Depressing book, but for those that have been to India, it is very vivid and provides quite a narrative. All I can say is that the saying is true, if we don't learn from the past, we're doomed to repeat it.

Another One

Since I had to be on a conference call last night, I went home early and once that was done at 9:30, I realized that I was bored. No one really lives as far uptown as I do (except Sarah, but she was away and Suzanne was with her new boy) and Katie80 gets up super early so instead I was just bored. No tv to watch Law and Order which has been painful. Shannon just got back from Australia/New Zealand and is in the city so hopefully she can entertain me! So, result is that I've finished my fourth book of the summer and started another one last night. Mind you, I still haven't started my thesis which I was supposed to have started weeks ago.
But, I'm reading a really interesting book called Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder and it's about Dr. Paul Farmer who is "a man who would cure the world." Basically a guy who doesn't know how to be apathetic if he wanted to be and has taken the term 'medical anthropology' to a new level as he has travelled to Haiti, Peru, Cuba and Russia to help solve global health problems. Think that sounds unrealistic? Read the book. Let me know if you want my copy after me. He's already changed my perspective and I'm only halfway through it.
"The only real nation is humanity."
"Medicine is a social science, and politics is nothing but medicine on a large scale."
"It is the curse of humanity that it learns to tolerate even the most horrible situations by habituation."

Out of Control

Events of this past weekend:
-Saw Pirates of the Carribean 2: don't see it, the plot is lame and the ending is annoying
- Went to my local uptown bar with my bartender Gus (Madison alum) with Katie80 were we proceeded to play Boggle, drink, eat cheese fries and solve world problems (or just our own)
- Saturday- went to an interesting conference hosted by Americans for Informed Democracy that focused on Muslim-Western world relations. Although the first panel kinda wasn't great- a representative from the State Dept. was there singing the praises of the US and the director of Human Rights Watch was there blasting the US and they totally were about to spit at each other, the afternoon's media panel was excellent. Great speakers that all seemed to have a common thread, interesting comments and decent audience questions. This one woman who is actually a Reverend spoke kind of based on this book she wrote about U2 lyrics and how there are inspiring messages in pop culture, but it's all shit if people don't actually get up and do something about it. Very AIESEC to me.
- After, met a bunch of people at some bar for Mahbod's bday where everyone else was quite intoxicated, but I got to play Big Buck Hunter so I was thrilled
- Went to Jim and Scott's show at Kenny's Castaways which was good- some old faces that I hadn't seen for awhile were there, but the trouble started when I ordered a double gin and tonic, aka a glass of gin.
Well, the night's a bit of a blur starting with my purse (which was on a table) falling over and my shitty phone falling onto the floor and breaking. Yes I had had a few drinks, but it SHOULD not have broken! My friend from Boston was in town and was supposed to be staying with me, but my phone was utterly broken. So I think (yes, think) the next hour or so was spent with me drunkenly walking around the streets of NYC looking into cabs to see if I could find my friend. I also threw my broken phone once or twice more and might have shed a tear or two. I wish I could have seen myself.
- Sunday- woke up kinda confused and still phoneless. Found a few numbers then went to the Verizon store and bought a fucking awesome phone that was way out of my price range, but am told that it's nearly 'indestructable'.
- Went to Little Italy to watch the soccer game. Holy shit. Just holy shit. People EVERYWHERE. Everyone wearing full gear and flags and anywhere that had a tv had a line of people or mobs crowding around it. Getting there too late to get into the bar where Josine was, I watched the game on my tippy toes outside of a CHinese massage place that had kindly put a tiny crappy tv outside for people to watch. Of the 25 or so people around said tiny tv, not one was American. I couldn't have been happier watching the game any other way.

Won't be as Funny for you

Last night, as I was happily catching up and plotting with Jenna on the phone, I get a beep. It's Katie80 and so ask Jenna to hold on as I see what Katie wants:
KV: ALI!!!!!!!!!!
Me: Hi Katie, what's going on?
KV: I'M WASTED!!
Me: How? It's only 9:00!
KV: Happy hour had all you could drink for $10
Me: SO come uptown, I'll go out for a few drinks
KV: I don't wanna go uptown! Maybe I'll go the gym
Me: That is not a good idea
KV: Hahaha I know
Me: Jenna's on the other line so I'll call you back
Katie hangs up. When I did call Katie back, she was even more incoherent than the first time. All I know is that she started calling someone a bastardson (one word, mind you). And then goes onto ask whether I called Jenna or Jenna called me because she would have been jealous if Jenna called me. And then proceeded to ask me if Jenna was turning into a bastardson since she hadn't talked to her recently. It wasn't even in a mean way, just more inquisitive if anything.
Bottom line, although I was uptown and lonely reading my book and being lame, at least I know that Katie was out on the streets of NYC somewhere looking/sounding more foolish than me. Oh, and apparently she did try and go to the gym, but 'didn't feel so well.' Lordy do I love us Madison girls!

It's JULY?!

Alright so shoot me, it's been quite sometime since the last blog, but I swear these past 2 weeks or so have been an absolute whirlwind. I guess brief synopsis- LTM Subgroup meeting (awesome meeting, but on the weekend so I had no weekend), Board of Directors meeting, Team Days, catching up on emails and work and sneaking in some World Cup games at Rogue, then 4th of July weekend hit. And I was sick last week which didn't help which didn't seem to hold me back from evenings out, rock shows and crazy but attractive flute players.
Fourth of July weekend was good as far as I can tell- Friday was ridiculous with bday parties, Brooklyn breweries, Arnaub in town and Down the Hatch. Saturday involved watching the soccer game in the morning at Flannery's and then straight to a bus to head to Boston for a night. Came back Sunday and camped out at Jimanda's for the next few days to take care of their awesome dog. Monday, I decided that I was going to host a bbq at Jimanda's which involved a very expensive grocery bill, but I did quite a good job with the food if I might say so myself and we had a great night complete wtih my surrogate little sister Caroline.
Ironically, the actual Fourth of July was the most relaxed day and it really didn't really feel like a holiday. Usually the 4th is a crazy day, but I felt like crap all day and slept most of the day. I made it out of the house at 3 to bring the dog to the dog park and to meet my Dutch friend Josine. She felt just as shitty as I did so we attempted to watch a movie and passed out instead. I was ALMOST about to wuss out on fireworks, but then realized how lame that was. SO we trudged out to FDR and had a PERFECT view of the Macy's fireworks. They did a great job this year, tons of new ones- stars, cubes, jellyfish things.. very impressive. Also ironic, I spent the holiday with a Dutch girl and surrounded by 6 guys from France- how very AIESEC.
Josine asked me if the 4th means anything to me and partially yes, the traditions and sense of togetherness I look forward to, but I think I'm much more emotionally and patriotically attached to Thanksgiving. Not sure why, but to me that's a time to be thankful for everything- our country, family, our blessings, etc. There's something about that reflection and being with family that makes me more nostalgic. Maybe it's just cause I spent this holiday with non-Americans!
By the way- I miss everyone. And I'm so proud of my friends who are off doing amazing things. It's truly inspirational to read about what people are doing and to be able to say that I'm friends with all of you. Thanks for enriching my life and for changing the world. Come visit me in NYC and change this world. : )