Peace by Piece

Gardens in Boquette Here are some reasons that Panama is better than Costa Rica: People are nicer Cars stop for you when you want to cross the street EVERYTHING is cheaper You can buy Snyders pretzels in any bodega or grocery store Good cheese Easy transportation that is also cheaper Better clothing stores with many selections under $10! Panama hats I loved Panama.  I could have spent all of my vacation there.  The trip began with a bus ride down the Caribbean Coast to the border of Panama.  It's the rainy season on the Caribbean Coast and we were soon at a stand still behind a giant mud slide.  Since we were on vacation, it didn't matter much.  We pulled out our i-pods and sang Christmas songs.  It was kinda fun.  That night we stayed close to the border in a questionable hostel.  I almost cried.  It smelled like pee and we didn't get blankets so I had to wear a bunch of clothes and cocoon up in my stained sheets.  Ugh.  So, that was a memorable experience and

Christmas break, or should I say holiday break, is technically here!  I say technically because I am still working on my thesis proposal and will have to work on it some more over break.  Tomorrow, after a Peace Education luncheon, I will be heading to Panama!  12 days of travel fa la la la la la dee dah!  The itinerary is 4 days in the beautiful islands of Bocas del Toro, which are surrounded by a marine national park, 4 days in Panama City including Christmas, and 3 days in the mountain town of Boquete and then home.  I'll only be home for 1 or 2 days before heading to the Boruca indigenous celebration with a woman who works for the peace corps.  She is a friend of a friend and now my friend and she invited me to this special event.  There are going to be some anthropologist and photographer friends of hers there so this sounds pretty amazing.  Then I'll come back by the 3rd to finish my thesis proposal.  I just need some time to do it.  My brain is full and heavy.  Time for

Somehow it's raining again.  It's not supposed to rain in December in this part of Costa Rica.  I feel we've already paid our dues to the rain gods.  Maybe it's trying to snow.  I've been missing snow and I never ever expected to be saying or writing anything like that.  One of the highlights of my year in Costa Rica was supposed to be no shoveling and no down coats.  I was in love with the idea of wearing flip flops every day. Sometimes you just have to shake things up to find out who you are and what you need. Ticos LOVE Christmas.  There are lights and decorations all over town.  Agave plants are decorated with lights and ornaments, if you can picture that.  I'll have to take a picture and post it (when it stops raining)!    Christmas music is funneled through the market.  Fireworks are being set off at random hours all over town.  The bakeries are selling fruit cakes and people actually buy them!  Despite all of the Christmas cheer, it is so difficult to b

I just finished looking at the 45 Most Powerful Images of 2011  and I knew this Sunday morning was doomed to tears.  Here I am with my fresh cup of coffee crying over pictures of pain, sorrow, destruction and maybe one or two of joy.  Yes, the images are powerful but what is going on?  Why so much destruction?  Nature has let loose on us and I'm sure it's in retaliation.  Police are pepper spraying non-violent protesters and democracy is being corrupted around the world.  Death.  Lots of death.  Yes, there is some hope amidst the destruction.  Seeing Christians protect Muslims during prayer and a soldier high-fiving an Afghan child.  Those are encouraging photos that choke me up again. I am feeling a lot here at UPEACE.  Last weekend I was making banana pancakes and listening to New Dimensions on NPR when I started crying.  Why?  Because that was my routine in Telluride.  Not only was it my routine, it was mine and my ex-boyfriends routine. Lessons learned?  It's ok to

One night.  One night to showcase North American culture.  One night to give others an idea of our history, of our lives, values and what makes us American.  Sounds pretty tough, right?  It was very difficult for many reasons at the outset but the results were outstanding. Challenges: 1. North America night included Canada and the United States and NOT Mexico.  How did this happen?  What kind of message were we trying to send?  Just because we are building up our physical borders does not mean we should sever all relations, right?  Well, at the outset, Mexico was included.  The difficulties were numerical and cultural.  There are only two Mexicans at school and it would be difficult for them to showcase their culture with such limited manpower, especially since their culture is completely distinct from the rest of North America.  Also, the rest of us North Americans are loud mouthed and bossy and on-time which left the Mexicans at a slight loss when they didn't come to meetings

Well, it's finally happened.  I came here for a reason.  There is a purpose and it seems like I'll be able to attain my vision!  My current class is Research Methods.  Sounds boring, right?  I thought it would be, too. Research methods is a difficult class filled with a lot of, well, research and methodology.  The interesting twist on this seemingly rote class is that last week I was asked to submit the topic for my thesis.  I had been thinking about this for a long time.  Over two years!  There are many criteria that a thesis topic must meet and I wanted to get mine right.  I was not sure who I am writing it for nor what population group I wanted to study and I had to think and narrow it down.  That should be easy, but it's not.  We peace educators want to help the world!  Students sat together in heated discussion.  We brainstormed and challenged each other's topics.  It was the most dorky academic fun I've had here. I decided to meet with my professor to help m