A taste of freedom

I was at a playground last night and had a moment of freedom - the swings! There is something truly liberating about swinging. Swings seem so simple with just two chains and a piece of rubber. Of course they are wonderful for kids, but I really think they're even better for adults. When else do adults get to feel weightless fluidity? There I was, pumping my legs, feeling the winter air run through my fleece coat, and falling into an unconscious rhythm. It was so relaxing and energizing, a moment of mesmerizing trance in the smooth movement. I felt like a pendulum tracing the lunar shape of a moon cookie. I also felt like I was back at BWB. I know that part of the allure of swings is probably connected to nostalgic days of elementary school because those were good days. (Note: I don't say, 'Those were the good days,' because I really believe every day has potential to be a good day. Many days since childhood and my days today are equally, yet differently, good days. I can't stand to believe that the best days are behind me.) But, really, the swings were good for the soul. Go find some swings. Go at night, if you want to be stealth - or, if you want the experience to be all yours.

In the wise words of my brother: They can steal my GPA but they can't steal my freedom.

Musak

After a few days where things were pretty touch-and-go, I found my iPod! I was whining to my (poor, kind) friend over a little elliptical gym date how I couldn't find my iPod and probably was going to get a new one. I'm not really sure how this happened, but my friend said, "Oh! I think I have your iPod in my car!" Hurrah! She said she listened to it on her drive up to the mountains last weekend. I'm sure she was appalled at my mix, but it's worth the mild embarrassment to have it back in my little pocket. She's probably now aware of all my secret guilty pleasures like Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, and (gulp) Hanson. Whatever, people! You try motivating to run at 5 a.m. in 8 degree weather!

In any event, if you like Techno-y-eletronica music, check these out.

OceanLab
"On a Good Day"
(this video also won some awards)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7pOY-ZdXQI

Offer Nissim featuring Maya
"Only You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSvCJ9WBIl4

Taxi-Girl (with DJ Tiesto, I think)
"High Glow"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oZkUnJOj48

Reflekt
"Need to Feel Loved"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxsv2iJwijI&feature=related

Ian Van Dahl
"Castles in the Sky"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iicAw-gsDUE&feature=related

Winter

Au milieu de l'hiver, j'ai découvert en moi un invincible été.
(In the depths of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.)

-Albert Camus

I find that there is something special about people who hold winter are their favorite season. Winter is hard. Winter is bitterly cold. It freezes your boogers and turns your (my) fingers and toes white. It's dark at 5 a.m., still dark at 6 a.m., and somehow still dark at 7 a.m. Your bed seems much harder to get out of and the sun-shiny day ends before you leave work, should you be lucky enough to have a sunny day in winter. There are fewer colors in nature, fewer varieties of fruits or vegetables to eat, and life in general is undeniably a bit harder to love. All this to say, I have much respect for people who like winter. They seem to have strong will power, self-generated energy and admirable adaptability.

For me, today was a test: Monday morning. Dark, icy and 8 degrees, I dragged myself out of bed for my run at 5 a.m. I packed my hot pink tights in my gym bag because they brighten up winter days and give me a little perk. I am already considering a second cup of coffee this afternoon, the bribe I made to myself this morning. If you get yourself out of bed to go running, Carrie, then you can have a second cup of coffee as a reward this afternoon.

And, so, fall is still my favorite season. But, winter has always been my second favorite. It's a challenge that makes me stronger. I'm still learning its ways and my ways of being happy during it. Winter makes me a little more creative by forcing me to search for the beautiful hidden gems and traditions that lie within it.

Week in review

Wow, I can't believe the last time I wrote was Monday! And here we are, Friday already. *Shakes head.* I've been thinking of meaningful posts I want to do, but now I'll just write a post about the week...

I turned in a bunch of assignments this week: an editing and citing assignment, a midterm, a draft outline and bibliography. The midterm was actually fun to write! It was about how states are the principle implementers and enforcers of human rights.

Other going-ons this week? I had fun at my internship and worked on a project in Colombia. A Colorado company who makes prosthetic limbs wants to export there, so I was trying to figure out how to do that. What are the local laws, customs, duties, registrations and tariffs? Is there a potential market and who are the competitors? With whom might they work as a local middle-man? Pretty interesting and I was happy with the report I put together. I went to lunch at a new Thai restaurant with two other girls who work at the WTC with me - fun!

I work at the tallest building on the left.

I also had a killer run that night at Niketown. I was psyched - kept up with the guys. Their fancy Garmin watches said we were cruising along at a 6:20 pace. Woo! I was definitely hurting the next day. I also went to a Penn alumni fundraiser event last night. It was at the Ritz Carleton downtown with nice nibbles, cheese, and wine. It was all pretty posh, I got dressed up and had a good time. I'm reading (slowly) Dubliners by Joyce. Good writing and good stories about people accepting - choosing? - the inevitability of their place in society. Another thing that strikes me as I reflect on the week is all the beautiful sunrises and sunsets I have seen. There is something about the snow, the mountains and the dry air in winter here that reflects the sun in such beautiful ways. It's one of my favorite things about living here.

One last thing - I love puns. I heard a cool news piece about bilingual puns. Brilliant! The puns were in the context of restaurant names. Pho-Shizzle, Juan in a Million, Mmmmpanadas. Ha! I think it's great. I know, I'm a dork.

Made it through

Monday.

What a doozy.

My brain is pretty mushy right now, but I wanted to reflect on something (anything). Stagnant blogs are boring.

I went to a cool cafe here in Denver last weekend. Illegal Grounds. They had H&H bagels (!), good egg and cheese, Italian Illy coffee, empanadas and quiches. De-licious. Good atmosphere with open space, comfy chairs and couches. Free wireless. A friend and I sat, shared food, chatted and watched the snow fall before getting some homework done. The owner is a Peruvian-Jew! How crazy is that? It made me so happy that - for once - he didn't think my Spanish accent was from Spain. He knew exactly where I learned Spanish, "Ah! Tu hablas como los serranos!" You speak like the mountain people! My friend and I are going back sometime for some homemade ceviche. Mmmm! Buena onda...

Anyway, a quick update, but better than nothing. Off to bed for me, snow falling softly through the street lights.

Freeday!

Hurrah! It's Friday and I am off to have some fun. This week was a doozy. Don't get me wrong - I love it! The busy, crazy running around trying to get a million things done, catching up with lots of people and (admittedly) little sleep. Going to First Friday tonight, then dancing. Other adventures in store for the rest of the weekend. Lots of studying, going to climb at the REI wall, sushi girl dinner, running. Can't wait!

And, because this actually is my personal space to rant, consider the following:

What the f. is up with the streets of Denver!? I have fallen 5 times this winter (don't tell mom!). Every time I fall, I scrape up my knees, go through a bunch of bandaids and get some pretty nice bruises. Grrrr. The latest, yesterday morning, some dude just happened to be there and says, "Woa, that sucks!" Pretty solid way to start a Thursday morning.

Dear Denver:

Please fix your sidewalks and have street lights that actually illuminate the sidewalks. Also, if you could arrange for the sun to rise a bit earlier that would be fine by me.

Cheers,

capecodchica.

I'm out, going to look for some mischief, you coming? ;)

Bear with me

Hi, there!

I am tossing around an idea for a short (12-15 pg) paper. The class is International Development with Cross-Cultural Perspectives. The professor is an Anthropologist and focuses on the Andes (como yo!). In hopes of clarifying what I want to do, I'm testing it out in writing. Right here. For the first time. For you. Lucky you.

What's the deal? I want to write about incorporating culture into legal frameworks, national policy/procedure, and official government documents. For example, last year, Bolivia had a referendum to amend its constitution. A referendum is a direct electoral vote (one person, one vote) to determine whatever issues are brought up. In that election, the people voted to amend the definition of "property." Rejecting the old notion of property as a right held by an individual, Bolivia's constitution now defines property as a right to land held communal or by a collective group. Felicitaciones!

What does that mean for indigenous peoples of Bolivia? It means that indigenous people feel like their constitution represents them. Their government - finally - recognizes their way of living, their connection to the land, and the way they use the land as legitimate. Not only is there acknowledgment and understanding of the way indigenous peoples have lived for hundreds of years, there is an enforceable, legal mechanisms for indigenous people to continue living as they want in relation to their land. That is pretty darn cool.

What does that mean for Bolivia, the nation as a whole? It means good things and also opens up an unknown that could be potentially good or bad. The good is that there is democratic representation. It's good that by a democratic, majority vote, the people are getting what they want. It's good that there is greater unity in Bolivia - at least nominally - in that indigenous people feel included, acknowledged and represented by their government's guiding official document, legal mechanisms and official decree of the nation. It is also good that indigenous people can live the way that they want to and have lived previously for hundreds of years. Equally, just as people may exercise their right to hold property right individually, now people are also free to hold property rights collectively. Perhaps there is true unity in that each is allowed to live her life as she would like.

The unknown/bad: Perhaps unity is only a farce because the new definition inevitably affects more than just indigenous people. National policy and law affects a nation, even if some are affected on indirectly. Perhaps, in practice, collective property becomes an impossible mess. Look at what happened to American Indians who share parts/plots/the whole of reservations. Present possession and future interests get ridiculously difficult to determine and parse out. Even worse, the economic and material interests connected to land are quite complex when they are communally owned. Consider the added complication that much indigenous land is on natural resources like oil. Consider the added complication that oil and gas industries were seized by the Bolivian government -- nationalized -- in 2006. Opa. Problems abound or am I being too pessimistic?

What does it mean for other indigenous groups or people who want their culture to be reflected in the national definition of property? This decision may not much or set a precedent for other indigenous groups looking to get legal right and recognition to collective property. Here are some reasons I think this: Bolivia has indigenous president. The indigenous group (unlike most places) actually makes up the majority of the country, not the minority. In conjunction with the way the referendum was set up, this meant majority actually had the chance to put forth its agenda. But, not all democracies have constitutional amendment by referendum. In the U.S., for example, we don't hold a popular vote. The Constitution can only be amended in one of three ways:

• The new amendment may be approved by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, then sent to the states for approval.
• Two-thirds of the state legislatures may apply to Congress for a constitutional convention to consider amendments, which are then sent to the states for approval.
• Congress may require ratification by special convention

The point is, lots of things had to fall into place at the same time in order to integrate the indigenous culture into the mainstream government policy, written documents, and law. It's not likely that these factors will all come together for other indigenous groups.

The larger point, though, is that in theory it sounds good to integrate the indigenous culture into the national constitution. But, I think we need to be wary. I only hope that in practice, the economic and social consequences are positive for both the indigenous groups and the non-indigenous Bolivians. I suppose only time will tell -- I'll be watching.

Como uno quiere a su bandera...

After the Iranian revolution, roughly 1980, the country put together a new flag to symbolize a new, reunited country. The new Iranian flag was Green, White and Red. Green symbolizes fertility and (ironically?) Islam. White symbolizes purity and peace. Red symbolizes the martyrs' blood. In the center, a red emblem symbolized various parts of Islamic life: Allah, the Book, the Sword, the five principles of Islam, balance, unity, neutrality, and the universal government of the downtrodden. So, we have a flag for 30 years that signifies an Iran moving toward strong democracy, unified social people, and modern integration of religion into civil society.

June 2009: Iran holds elections that are, arguably, a farce. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared himself the winner and Candidate Mirhossein Mousavi appealed the election. The young, educated Iranian community and the international community (not the U.S.) stands behind Mousavi. Demonstrations and rallies emerge around the world. Green - from the stripe of the flag - was the chosen symbol of the opposition to Ahmadinejad. Mousavi drops the charge, accepts Ahmadinejad's reelection. The U.S. is happy that there is a continued pillar of "democracy" in the Middle East. The world moves on.

January 2010: President Ahmadinejad holds a run-of-the-mill official ceremony. The flag behind him is Blue, White and Red. Or, shall we say, Red, White and Blue (oh wait, isn't the U.S. of A. flag Red, White and Blue?).

Does erasing the green mean that Iran erased the opposition, or wants to, anyway? Ironically, didn't the green in the flag also symbolize Islam? Did Iran erase Islam, too? Flags symbolize so much to so many people: love for one's nation, fellow compatriots, and own happiness in life. Can a president just 'decide' to change the nation's flag on his own whim? How old are we anyway? It reminds me of how I used to change my shirt if my sister happened to be wearing a shirt with the same color -- or a color even remotely close on the spectrum -- for school that day.

At the very least, I think it's clear that Iran is less than stable these days. I believe: if we don't get to the root of the problem before moving on to fix it and rebuild on top of it, the problem will surface again. Is it possible that the time it takes The Problem to get to The Surface is about ... 30 years?