I want to take the bus to see Santa

This past weekend I traveled to Quito and Riobamba. (More to on that later.) At midnight in the Guayaquil bus station, I chuckled at the signs indicating different destinations. With Christmas this month and the red & green signage, I was tempted to go visit St. Nick in Santa, Ecuador.

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"We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."

John Keating The Dead Poets Society

Between the Pages III-- Of Love and Shadows by Isabel Allende

“All you will have is the present. Waste no energy crying over yesterday or dreaming of tomorrow. Nostalgia is fatiguing and destructive, it is the vice of the expatriate. You must put down roots as if they were forever, you must have a sense of permanence” (278).

Chilean author and Los Angeles resident Allende tells a tale of romance, political upheaval, and desaparecidos. Allende's command of language is mesmerizing. A quick read that pulls you into a land of passion and pain. Just as enjoyable as her compilation Stories of Eva Luna, Allende's House of Spirits is now on my reading list.

“The fragrance of the fresh herbs and spices she used for seasoning stews and fried potato cakes always lingered on the air, the mouth-watering harmony of sprigs of rosemary, bay leaves, garlic cloves, and onions melding with the more subtle fragrance of cinnamon, clove, vanilla, anise, and chocolate used in baking breads and cakes.” (211).

“Supported by the rough trunk, they sat in silence, without touching, but so united in their feelings they might have been cradled in a single womb.” (120)

“Through sleepless nights they told each other the stories of their lives. There was no memory from the past, no dream of the present, no plan for the future that they did not share. They surrendered all their secrets; going beyond the physical, they abandoned their souls to one another.” (257).

“Finally dawn came. Light spread like a flower of fire and slowly the darkness receded. The sky cleared and the blinding beauty of the landscape materialized before their eyes like the birth of a new world. They roused themselves, shook the frost from their blankets, stretched their stiff arms and legs, and drank the remaining liquor to restore their circulation.” (289).

Click here to hear Allende's talk on TED Ideas Worth Spreading: "Isabel Allende tells Tales of Passion"

Eyeglasses & Bingo in Río Caña

View from the Car

Sunday I went to Río Caña with a Rotary International group from Portoviejo. Only an hour and a half away, the landscape was strikingly different. The dry hills and dust clouds surrounding Portoviejo were replaced by verdant foliage. In orderly rows, the tall skinny trunks of yucca plants reached for the sky. Cacao, avocado, plantain, banana, naranjilla, orange, and mango trees encroached on the winding dirt road.

Cacao Tree (See the Yellow Cacao Fruit?)

Boys Spinning the Sugar Cane Grinding Machine

We made a sharp turn into a plot that housed a contemporary country home and a larger farmhouse no longer in use. The homes in el campo have a brick foundation and a steep staircase leading to the home on the second floor. Walls and floors made primarily of canya (bamboo-like material) comprise the home. Hammocks hang lazily in one room and a porch looks out on the temptingly cool creek.

Bingo Game

I climbed up the steep stairs/ladder of the old farmhouse to find a home with six rooms. The kitchen housed a stove fashioned of a wooden counter with a carved out center for wood and charcoal. One large room housed the men’s beds and the other the women’s beds. In a multi-generational home such as this, eight or ten people slept in each room.

Historic Sugar Cane Grinding Machine— Once Upon a Time
Extracted Sugar Cane Juice

In the morning, the Rotary group and a team of optometrists set up camp beneath the old farmhouse and fitted community members for prescription glasses. With other volunteers and high school Rotary exchange students I sifted through boxes of donated glasses to find the necessary prescription for each glasses recipient. Oftentimes, the exact prescription wasn’t available. In these cases, it was fun to help the recipients try out a few different specs to find the optimal pair.

Lunch was across the street…the volunteers seemed concerned that I wouldn’t like the traditional country food, but it was delicious. Three enormous pots simmered over a wooden stove in the kitchen. One was filled with a soup full of giant lentils, carrots, and huge hunks of pork. In another, simmered the breasts, legs, and hearts of multiple gallinas (country chicken). Enough rice to feed a small village steamed in the third pot. I winced a bit before drinking the lemonade that had been mixed up in a giant plastic bucket, but was assured the water was boiled. My stomach is hearty and it was delicious. When I was unable to finish my portion of rice (enough to feed a full family of four), I had to assure everyone that everything was rico.

In the afternoon, the Rotary club put on a BINGO game for the community. It was a hit and as far as I can tell a huge chunk of people turned out for prizes consisting of household goods, candy, and five-dollar bills.

I left Rio Canya a little sunburned and with approximately a bajillion bug bites. Still, I was overwhelmingly content. My stomach was full of fresh mangoes and star fruit. I had the pleasure of meeting kind, energetic Rotary members and the humble, generous community of Río Caña.

CliffsNotes on Ecuadorian Weddings & Karaoke Bars

I had the pleasure of attending a wedding this past weekend with two good friends. Interesting cultural notes:
1. The drink of choice is whiskey. While champagne was plentiful during toasts, each table passed around a bucket of ice and a bottle of whiskey. Traditionally, the groom’s parents pay for the whiskey and the bride’s parent’s pay for the wedding. I’m thinking that it is expected you cough up a nice amount of money for the best whiskey. Beer is frowned upon as informal at weddings. I would attribute this to the fact that most drinking establishments serve two beers—“Pony” and “Pilsner” (side note: Pilsner is the company name as well as type of beer).
2. The first dance between the bride and the groom is traditionally a waltz.

I met up with some friends at a bar this past weekend. Upon arriving I realized it was a karaoke bar. I am all for karaoke—it’s a good time, right? Belt out some lyrics, generally it doesn’t matter if you can really sing, a chance to let loose. These rules hold true here. Yet, unlike in the USA where rock and pop take center stage, ballads were the stars of the night here. I will admit, this was not for me. Most ballads centered around: Longing for your old lover, Feeling like you can’t go on without your old lover, Remembering your old lover. Not exactly jamming songs for a Saturday night! Eek. Hey, at least I got to follow the lyrics on the screen and watch images of tranquil oceans, doves, and furry animals. In summary, I checked off Ecuadorian Karaoke Bars.

Sueños en Español

Yay! I finally had a dream in Spanish. This is mostly exciting because this usually signifies my brain is working really hard to master something! (Before orgo exams the molecules and reactions haunted my dreams.) In the dream, I was in a literature class being taught underground by a gypsy teacher in bangle bracelets. In this dreamworld, some of my family participated in the class, speaking Spanish fluently. (Prophetic foresight?) I attributed the secretive nature of the course to the fact that she was revealing the key to humanity--yes that is a vague term that should be in a Nicholas Cage film.

Strangely enough, unlike most of my dreams, danger was distant and it was quite pleasant--with an aroma of fresh cut flowers. Imagine that.

A Gastronomical Tour of Ecuador: Part 1

In Ecuador, all food is "rico, rico, rico"—delicious, rich. I find it impressive that I have not yet commented on food, as it is one of my great loves. If you have known me for a time, you know I love to:

• Talk about food--If you could choose only one condiment for burgers the rest of your life, what would it be? Best dish for a freezing night?
  
• Read about food (My favorite memoir staring menus of Parisian cafés —A Moveable Feast by F.Scott Fitzgerald)
• Devour movies featuring chow (Como Agua Para Chocolate, Chocolat, Julie and Julia, Babette’s Feast). Sidenote: I just discovered NYC Food Film Festival, "a multi-sensory experience where filmgoers are able to watch food films then sample the food portrayed in those films." I guess I can do the same thing with my laptop, a dvd, and a kitchen....
• Make a mess of the kitchen experimenting with new recipes from thefoodnetwork.com
• Photograph food (Whoops, I only have two photos from Thanksgiving 2008—the golden roasted turkey and vanilla ice cream melting on warm pumpkin pie)
• And of course, share a snack, meal, or drink with family and friends.
  

In Ecuador, the majority of lunches and dinners, consist of a meat or seafood dish, rice, perhaps a salad (finely cut iceberg lettuce with tomatoes and onions), and a glass of juice. For me, the shining star of main dishes on the coast is ceviche—either fish ceviche or shrimp ceviche. More on this citrus seafood grub later.

This past weekend, I went with my Ecuadorian family to their regular Sunday haunt—a large tented area in the sand next to La Boca, an ocean inlet resembling a mouth. After enthusiastically greeting familiar faces, we sat down and our chairs sank a bit into the sand. The kitchen is beside the tables. Huge pots of ceviche and frying fish and shrimp sizzled. A meal for three was eight bucks. Good fresh grub.

La Morcilla with Maduras

I am pretty eager to try just about anything. We ordered a few appetizers (read: I nodded that I would try anything). Within a few moments a plate of sausage and chifle (plátano chips) arrived at our table. After asking “Es carne? Es carne?” several times, I bit into the sausage. Still chewing, examining the savory flavor, I learned I was swallowing morcilla—cleaned cow intestine stuffed with rice, pig’s blood, and spices. Eek, I did not attempt to hold back my dislike for the idea of intestine. It was delicious, but one taste was enough! I stuck to chifle before my meal arrived ;-0

Bangla→English…English→Spanish

A lawyer in Portoviejo connected to the Clinic helped in the preparation of my Visa documents. So, on Friday when she called asking for an English→Spanish translator at an event with young people, I quickly agreed to help.

While I thought I was going to an event with young visiting students from the USA, it turns out I met her at the local police station. Twenty-four Bangladeshi men were apprehended by the police after failure to produce identification documents. Only one man spoke English. None spoke Spanish.

In a small room, with four desks, the Bangladeshi men were questioned one by one about their reason for travel to Ecuador, about airline tickets, and where their passports were. One Bangladeshi man (also lacking documentation) zig-zagged between the desks, translating from Bangla→English while each translator then relayed the information to the administrators in Spanish. I did laugh to myself as sometimes this translation consisted of saying English words with a Bangla/Indian accent. Four “translators” sat at the desks each beside a woman in a sharp suit and vest over a baby-pink button-up shirt. I use the word “translator” loosely—as I was one and the only qualification was basic conversational knowledge of English and Spanish. The English of the other translators was impressive—seemingly better than my Spanish—and one was a high school student. There stories had slight variations…but all agreed on one thing—their passports had been given to a hotel manager for a security check and he disappeared with their passports and money, leaving them stranded and without identification.

Now, I am usually one to take people’s word as truth and give them the benefit of the doubt. Let’s just say in this particular case I am thankful I was not in the shoes of the Bangladeshi tourists nor in the shoes of a lawyer faced with finding lost passports and considering deportation.

While it was a bit crazy and busy, this was not the scene of a violent apprehension nor was a fistfight about to breakout. Nevertheless, a handful of Ecuadorian immigration police officers stood throughout the room in charcoal colored camel uniforms, laced up black boots, a handgun at their hip, caps, and facial expressions teetering between stern authority figures and amusement. After a time, the capítan of the police force showed up sporting this huge semi-automatic across his chest. None of the government workers seemed to give it a second thought—it did seem a little over-zealous to me though.

Several times I caught myself attempting to speak in Spanish to a Bangladeshi man with a blank look on his face or English to an Ecuadorian lawyer.

This made for an interesting Friday night. I can only hope the best for these young, bewildered Bangladeshi men.

Between the Pages II. --Beloved by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison introduces the eerie territory of Beloved: “124 was spiteful. Full of a baby’s venom. The women in the house knew it and so did the children. For years each put up with the spite in his own way, but by 1873 Sethe and her daughter Denver were its only victims.”

seasons

“In Ohio seasons are theatrical. Each one enters like a prima donna, convinced its performance is the reason the world has people in it” (137).

Never having read Morrison’s work, I found the language of the novel artful and yet colloquial. The plot—twisted. Tone—creepy. Characters—believable—some pitiful and others spectacularly strong. Morrison crafts a novel that slowly stitches together the past world of southern slavery at Sweet Home and the haunting present at 124 in Ohio.

fire

“First a bit of paper, then a little kindling—not too much—just a taste until it was strong enough for more. She fed its dance until it was wild and fast” (214).

This book required attention…at times I would find myself paying too much attention to the language and losing bits of the convoluted plot.

snow

“Down came the dry flakes, fat enough and heavy enough to crash like nickels on stone. It always surprised him, how quiet it was. Not like rain, but like a secret” (152).

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"When in doubt, opt for the bolder approach"

Cristina García, A Handbook to Luck

Poco por Poco

Visiting Orthopedic Team and Local Physicians

Bit by bit my Spanish, medical vocabulary, and ability to assist at the clinic are improving.

Still, the learning curve was steep this past week. A surgical team from the U.S was at the clinic the whole week. The team—an anesthesiologist, bilingual RN, orthopedic resident, and two orthopedic surgeons—very kindly allowed me to work by their side and learn from them. The first day, the team saw somewhere around sixty patients in clinical consultation. I was surprised to find myself translating much of the time when the RN was unable to assist in translating two cases simultaneously. While many peds patients were from nearby, others were from a pueblo four hours away and still others had traveled on horseback to reach this pueblo before coming to Portoviejo. Clinical concerns ranged from club feet, to complications arising from poor casting of feet or ankles after former operations at other medical facilities, to removing an excess digits patient’s feet.

Translating, helping with the patient records, and photographing limb deformities for later physician referral—I felt useful. Many patients were told to simply wear una férula (a brace) on their wrist or ankle and observe changes in limbs throughout the next year. Yet about fifteen children were asked to return that week for an operation.

In the OR the rest of the week, I learned from the local nurse how to best be of assistance from pre-op to post-op—translating, cleaning, opening sterile equipment for the surgeons… After many operations, I helped the physicians explain to expectant parents how the surgery went and instructions for cast-removal and physical therapy. While the majority of parents nodded, some seemed more in shock than their children and gave a blank stare.

Me & New Med School Friend

The kids here are tough. Most went home the day following a major surgery involving reconstruction of bones and joints. While given what meds were available, they definitely weren’t sent home with the same deluxe gift-bag of pain relievers available in the U.S.

While most time was spent with children or adults (I am not a real adult yet…right?) I also translated two lectures for medical school students. Eek! While I am not one to have stage fright or be overly anxious about public speaking…I did have a few butterflies before walking into a classroom of fourth year med students with the visiting physicians. (As students here don’t go to University with an undeclared major, the university is a combination of college and professional school. Med School here is six years, maybe seven. Translating two lectures about hip dislocations & upper extremity anatomy and pathology proved tricky. It also involved a great deal of gestures and pointing to various parts of my arm. All in all, I think it went well though—I judge this by the fact that many students came up to ask the physician questions after the lecture—always a good sign. Moreover, two students returned to the clinic the following day with x-rays of wrist injuries, looking for medical advice.

Best part about the week: The days flew by and I again feel a confirmation that I want to study medicine.

first day on the coast

Today was my first full day in Portoviejo, Ecuador. Thirty kilometers from the Pacific Ocean, I stepped off the plane and was greated by a wave of warm, humid air. Throughout my past week in Quito, plenty of quiteños had told me what they thought of the coast: Watch out for the way the costeños speak, so fast! They lovingly call the people of the Manabí province monos (monkeys), due to the prevalence of bananas in their diet. One taxi driver in Quito went on for ten minutes describing all the bugs of the coast—complete with detailed descriptions of size, color, and any known poison. I got the idea that the spider-crickets inhabiting Hoyas basements pale in comparison to los bichos here.

Mayra (my intercambio mami and pediatric surgeon) greeted me at the airport with a huge hug and kiss. A seasoned mother of her own three children and exchange students, she explained what I can expect both in the home and as a clinic volunteer. Today she drove me to CAS, a clinic for adults that I will be volunteering at for two-ish days a week. Like most all buildings, it was a single level made of concrete bricks. Inside a central large waiting area, I could see doors clearly marked for different specialties—Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Pediatrics…. In the center, two receptionists filed away patient information in bookshelves. CAS is currently expanding and the architect/engineer of the new building handed us hard-hats and showed us through the new building still in construction phase.

Also currently in construction, is the new home of the Peds Clinic—which is expected to open sometime in March as the only pediatric clinic in the province of Manabí. Walking through the construction site, it was obvious that the doctors had planned the building according to the flow of patients and to ease movement from clinical consultations, to surgery, to post-op areas.

Tomorrow will be my first day at the clinic with Mayra. I am excited to begin learning at the clinic so that I can be a valuable volunteer after a few weeks!

Between the Pages I. --A Cafecito Story by Julia Alvarez

Having Read Alvarez’ novel In the Time of the Butterflies, I quickly grabbed this bilingual novella from the backseat of the family jeep. Easy enough to finish reading in less than an hour, the Spanish was right at my level—enough words that I already knew and many to still learn.

Alvarez tells a parable of a Nebraskan man in a bit of a middle-age crisis. Having grown-up on a family farm in the Midwest, he leaves behind his job for a vacation in The Dominican Republic. Bikini babes and resorts don’t satisfy his appetite for something deeper. Instead he travels to the mountains, befriends coffee farmers still using sustainable methods, and becomes their ally.

Simply and beautifully written, Alvarez transports readers to her homeland in the Dominican Republic and asks that they become supporters of Free Trade goods.

Here in Ecuador, the most common form of coffee is instant coffee, usually Nescafe. I had a cup for breakfast. It was satisfying, but certainly not what Americans who drink Colombian and South American brewed coffee from Starbucks might expect. I am under the impression that the best beans are exported…I’ll look into this.

Hiking around the Lagoon

Johana and Me

la laguna (lagoon)-- an area of shallow water separated from the sea by low sandy dunes. (dictionary.com)

Lagoons make me think of the “Kiss the Girl Scene” from the Little Mermaid. Vegetation from all sides…like a bayou-swamp, something out of a fairy tale. I am not sure why the Lagoon at Cotochaxi is called a lagoon rather than a lake, if only for the reason that it looks like it is straight out of The Lord of the Rings.

Aragon and Robbie

Johana, Robbie, Aragon el perro, and I took a four-hour hike around Cuicocha, a volcanically formed lake (similar to Crater Lake in Oregon) that sits at the base of Cotacachi Volcano. Steep-climbs up Andean slopes were rewarded by brief moments jogging down the other side of the mountain. I will admit, at 10,649 feet (to give you an idea—Denver, CO sits at 5,280 ft), I was breathing a little harder than usual—not that I am using this as an excuse. The view was gorgeous. To one side, the lagoon with a mountain-island, and to the other side, a valley surrounded by higher mountains climbing into the clouds. Aragon provided constant laughs, trying to drag a 2 meter log to play catch and incessantly retrieving our mandarin peels we tossed into the brush.

A half-hour into the hike, I recognized that I had visited this lagoon two years ago, only I didn’t have the pleasure of a hike, only a brief stop to see the crystal clear water. When two of my fellow students dove into the lagoon, splashing a boat of French tourists, we were quickly ushered back to the buses, and followed by a trail of French profanities.

First Few Days in Quito

Monday I flew out of Minneapolis airport. I was surprised that there were delays due to snow in October! After a brief stop in Atlanta, I boarded the plane to Ecuador for the 4 hour and 50 minute flight.

I am spending this week in Quito, catching up with my host mother from the Summer of '07, registering my visa, attempting to get back into speaking Spanish, and spending time with friends in Cumbayá, a small suburb of Quito. Click for map.

View of Quito from Basilica of the National Vow

Let me explain why I returned to Ecuador. My introduction to Ecuador was during my senior year of high school through a friend, Johana, an Ecuadorian exchange student. While studying in Quito two summers ago, I spent time with Johana and briefly met her family. Through a series of serendipitous events, I will be volunteering the majority of the year in Portoviejo, Ecuador at a pediatric surgical clinic where Johana's mother works.

Yesterday, I successfully navigated my way via buses to Zeheivy, my host mother's apartment. A wonderful cook, she made a delicious lunch of cream of brocolli soup, chicken and brocolli, rice, plantains, and fresh pitahaya (dragon fruit) and mango juice. Yum. When I left her home two summers ago, she said that all exchange students said they would return, but most never did. I am happy to be in the minority of students that has surprised her with a return visit and expect to spend time with her throughout the year.

Why "the youthful hue"?

"Now therefore while the youthful hue,
Sits on thy skin like morning dew...."
Andrew Marvell 1621–1678 "To His Coy Mistress"

Consider it a tribute to one of my favorite English courses, TS Eliot's 1922 poem, "The Waste Land." Through this class we analyzed much of TS Eliot's work and read excerpts of the numerous allusions within his classic poem. One allusion to Andrew Marvell's poem "To His Coy Mistress" repeatedly led me to read the poem time and time again.

Opening, "Had we but world enough and time," the poem describes a man's plea to a woman to seize the day and youthful love. While a bit melodramatic, it is romantic in the sense of a whistful way of life--rosey-hued and fanciful.

I think the title is fitting not only for my experiences this year volunteering, but also a bit of a motto for life--to live with a youthful hue and perhaps a bit more maturity and wisdom each year.

Conductor Erich Kunzel

Only a little over a month ago, I was was lucky enough to spend an evening at Wolf Trap. Gazing over the audience seated in the pavilion seats shielded from the rain, I hunkered down on the grassy slope, while around us rain fell from the sides of the pedestrian bridge. Erich Kunzel directed the music of John Williams (soundtracks of ET, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter…) The music was beautiful and the Conductor Kunzel was spunky. During the Star Wars pieces, Hans Solo, Darth Vader and droids descended on the stage. Kunzel dueled against Darth Vader using his conductor stick—it didn’t look very effective in relation to the light saber. Kunzel was genuine and gracious to both the audience and the musicians. Not being a classical music aficionado, I was thankful for the opportunity to see Kunzel conducting. He passed away Sept 1st, 2009.

On the 3rd of July, without knowing it, I also heard Kunzel conduct during a dress rehearsal for the 4th of July Concert. Here is "Rhapsody in Blue" from "A Capitol Fourth--on the 4th of July."

NYT Obituary

International Calling--Ways to Stay In Touch

To alleviate worrying about staying in touch once I head to Ecuador... I have been researching the options of late. So, in Ecuador, I can immerse myself at the clinic & local culture while easily connecting with friends and family.

Family & friends are spread across the globe & the US --Dubai, London, Nigeria, Hong Kong my sister traveling throughout Asia and the Middle East, DC, Minnesota, LA, Pennsylvania, a Reservation in South Dakota, CA, Vermont, Chicago, & North Carolina.

Some top ways to stay in touch
1. Skype--free calls computer-to-computer. Generally speaking, cheap rates to use the internet to call a cell phone or home phone. One problem, legend has it this service is banned in the United Arab Emirates.

2. Google Voice--This service is by invite only at the time. (You can get your own invite by clicking here, signing in to your Google account). I am not completely sure how this service will work when calling abroad numbers, I will keep you updated. I think there will be a small fee. Only today, I requested to join. The service also allows users to do some pretty cool stuff domestically--you can get a google voice number and give this to friends. Depending on how you set up your account, you can allow family and friends to have access to your home and cell when they call your google voice number. Chronic over-callers can be sent straight to voice-mail (kind of cruel). Work colleagues can be sent only to your work number or work cell. Pretty cool video explaining on youtube.

3. Google Talk--Download video chat and voice chat to your google account.

Free International Calls from your Mobile Phone (Make International Calls like Local Calls)
Almost all of the below services work the same. You login to the site, enter your friend's number abroad, receive a local web number for your friend, call the local number, your friend receives a text of your web number, calls the number (which is local for him or her) and you connect. Voila! I have yet to see which service is best.... so for your perusal:

4. Jaxtr--Free international calls from mobile & you don't have to download software. This service allows you to enter your cell/home number and country, enter your friend's home/cell number and country, and you receive a Jaxtr number. You call the Jaxtr number and then dial your friend's number. Meanwhile, they receive a text with a number and they must call that number. Wahoo they will be connected to you! I also have yet to try this service... I will let you know soon. This happy-video shows you what it is all about. It seems a bit confusing, but free! and using your cell phone! And for your entertainment only, a video that semi-explains Jaxtr to the backbeat of an international band...

5. Rebtel--Free international calls from mobile. Watch this heartwarming video.

6. Talkster--Similar, free international calls from mobile. This allows you to also call Google Talk numbers. UAE is not listed as a possibility, like many other services. Great feature: You can use Talkster by sending a text message to Talkster and receiving a Talkster number for your friend via a return text to your phone.

Finally, a helpful NYTimes blogger runs through some basics: "Calling Home for Less"


Happy Talking!

Flying around

(Written Fri Aug 21st… I will get better at this, I promise!)
In an attempt to keep up writing skills and actually be true to having a blog, here it goes….

An hour ago, I boarded a flight to Atlanta (a pit stop on the way to Seattle). Everyone boarded, all was well, until I was briefly transported to the airport scene from Meet the Parents. Remember that one? Airport drama. Maybe airports are the prime place for the divas of the world to let it all lose, since even ordinary even-tempered people can lose it. Yet the flight attendant definitely did not provoke a woman in an exit row enough to warrant a cat fight. When asked to turn off her phone, a woman responded, “I do not like the tone you are taking with me. If you would address me in a professional tone, I would be happy to answer your question.” This went on for some time and I thought I was on a sixth grade girls bathroom break—oh the drama. Well, in my row, I snickered with the woman next to me.

Sidenote: yes, it is one of my favorite past-times to begin a conversation with the person beside me. For all you nay-sayers out there, don’t worry. I listen to body language and don’t carry on unnecessarily. I would compare finding a seat in an airplane to meeting your freshman year roommate at school. Generally speaking, it is a random assignment, and that is part of the joy. My usual intro line is, “Are you headed home?” You are warned. Yet I will say, this line has led me to have discussions with very interesting, caring, enlightening people and learn quite a bit.

a. Minneapolis, MN→Dallas, TX. I met a retiree, approximately 70. The tall, lean man had a wide smile and eagerly pointed out his wife of forty-five years five rows ahead of us. The love this man had for his wife was clear in only a brief conversation. Moreover, his resolve for his faith was incredible. He was neither fanatical nor afraid to openly discuss his foundation in life—faith and God.

b. Minneapolis, MN→ Miami, FL. Two years ago, I was on my way to Ecuador, only two years of beginner Spanish under my belt and a tad nervous to be thrown into my “language agreement—that I wouldn’t speak any English.” A free-spirited thirtyish year-old sat down next to me. His look was polished and he looked ready for clubbing, definitely not a Midwesterner in jeans and a hoodie (or me, cozy in sweatpants for a day of flying!) It turned out he was from Colombia, wanted me to visit his bellisimo country and insisted on writing his phone number in Bogota in my book-flap. (It was easier just to let this happen and then wave… “nos vemos!” *wink, no*). In any case, we talked in Spanish for half the flight and I got off the plane feeling a little more ready for Quito.

c. Rochester, MN→Chicago, IL. A mother traveling with her daughter told me of their gratefulness for the kind people in Minnesota throughout her daughter’s chemo treatment. For ten minutes or so she described her daughter’s doctor and I discovered it was a family friend. Hearing the story of a girl’s illness through the eyes of her mother was humbling.

d. Rochester, MN→Chicago, IL. A bright-eyed Chilean physician who was returning home from six weeks working in Rochester was kind enough to speak with me in Spanish for most of the 40 minute flight. He left me his business card, in case I ever am really able to visit Chile, his children, twenty-somethings themselves, would be pleased to show a Rochester-girl Santiago.

e. Seattle, WA→ Atlanta, GA. A woman with two cats and two dogs beside her gave me Benadryl when I revealed my cat allergy. Sweet.

Last note on the actual flight: while gazing out the window at the clouds and blanket of darkness, a huge ball of light exploded on top of the wing. A “boom” sounding all-too much like that of an explosion reached my window from the lightening-ball five feet from my window. I had never seen lightening hit a plane, but after slightly jumping into the lap of the woman next to me and being reassured by the flight attendant that this was normal (fire-ball-of-light five foot in diameter?) I closed my eyes to nap…and shut the window blind.

A Winery in Rochester?

Twenty-second birthdays. The pressure from only a year before to partake in a crazy night of inebriation has waned.

This past Thursday, I visited Salem Glen Vineyard and Winery with friends to celebrate Sarah's 22nd birthday. For only $4 we enjoyed a full round of wine tasting--from driest to sweetest. The owner, Dustin, asked what wines we preferred. Only knowing the difference between red, white, and rosé wines, I told him it depended on whether I was with my parents or making the purchase by myself. We learned how to properly taste wine and a received a broad overview of the fermentation process. Grapes ferment in large stainless steel vats opposite the simple bar where we tasted. The owner and founder, Dustin, left St. Paul, MN and turned a dairy farm in the Zumbro River Valley into a vineyard and winery. Dustin began growing vines in 2000 and opened the winery in 2006. Now, 2400 vines that can resist temperatures down to -40 F cover the sloping plains.

In August, Salem Glen plans to complete construction of a new wine-tasting venue on the property. The new home will be rented out for private gatherings (weddings, parties...) and hopefully be home to live music events. Also in August, they will open the vineyard to guests to pick grapes in exchange for wine. Good deal.








It would be financially irresponsible for me to develop a fine taste for wine at 22. While I look forward to using my new wine-tasting skills, I will always be ready to share a boxed wine with friends.

Constant Runny Nose?

Great image of invention to help constant sufferers of hay fever. Click to view second image in gallery. Hilarious.

The Great Chop

I never have given blood. I am not a big fan of needles being used on my body. I have given hair for cancer patients. Today was the second time I went in for "a big chop." I will admit, my hair had reached the ugly stage and at that length I was only growing it so that I could donate more. The dual thrill of coming home with hair that will need less shampoo and sending in an envelope filled with a ponytail makes it worth my while. Two great organizations exist for donating hair. Two years ago, I donated hair to "Pantene Beautiful Lengths" a program that works with The American Cancer Society to provide real-hair wigs to women fighting cancer (minimum donation 8"). Today, the hairdresser gleefully chopped my ponytail. Tomorrow, I am going to send in my ponytail to "Locks of Love," which provides hair pieces to children and adolescents suffering from long-term medical hair loss for any reason (minimum donation 10"). I was getting a bit attached to the hair and that is flat out unhealthy. So now I greet summer and soon DC humidity with short locks (and a tiny ponytail).

If interested in donating your hair, check out:
1. Locks of Love
2. Pantene Beautiful Lengths

'Seven Pounds': Worth Watching

Over Christmas vacation I only saw one movie in theaters, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Only yesterday did I sit down to watch another December drama, Seven Pounds, starring Will Smith. Not much can be said of the film without giving away what the cover calls "one secret." While the ending is fairly predictable from the midway point of the movie, intrigue runs high throughout the first half. Not a film to be forgotten after the credits, but one to be discussed with fellow viewers.
The title of the film, "Seven Pounds," references "pounds of flesh," a phrase from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. "Pounds of flesh" denotes "a debt harshly insisted upon" (originally referencing Antonio's debt to Shylock).

Divine Touch

What apparition! Ah, what light!
A white star fell into the garden,

Unexpected, unsought. Luck,
arrow, flower, fire.

In the high grass, in the wide silk,
it fell from the house of time.

A star came back to our world.
My hands bear its scar.

—Translated from the Romanian by Andrei Codrescu

(from La cumpana apelor, 1933)