Peace by Piece

I've never been on stage so many times in one year as I have here at UPEACE.  And here's the crazy thing - my community keeps letting me do it!  Not only do the students and faculty let me get on stage to rant, dance and even sing; they also encourage and support me!  It's really amazing.  I wonder how this will play out in the real world.  I now enjoy coming up with acts to perform and am currently writing a skit for our graduation festival.  How will I be received at local coffee shops and poetry slams when I get the urge; out there? Yes, I said it: GRADUATION.  This Friday is our graduation ceremony.  Granted, I don't actually get a degree yet. I still have to finish my thesis; but this Friday we'll have all of the pomp and circumstance.  Myself and my friend/classmate Blessing will be representing Peace Education for our speech and after all of the formalities and brunch, students will have a chance to perform one last time in our informal graduation festival.

It came and went.  Months of preparation, sweat, tears, rolled ankles, bruises, bonding and fun that can only come from an all out team sport like soccer, and it's over so suddenly.  New friendships blossomed and old friendships grew deeper.  Smiles cast while passing by on campus communicate shared respect and pride.  It was for something. A group of UPEACE women got together in January and decided to enter the United Nations Soccer Tournament in Nicaragua this April.  We practiced every Saturday morning, played games on Monday, and held team runs on Tuesday and Thursday.  Bracelets were sold, bake sales held, and an amazing fashion show event produced all to raise funds to send us on our way.  The whole university and a good part of Ciudad Colon was behind us.  It was a busy, stressful and tiring couple of months but I loved it.  I loved it when I pried myself out of bed for practice, I loved it when I was limping, I loved it when the ladies rallied for and put on an amazing fa