Thankful

Thanksgiving was this past Thursday, and as cliché as this is, I think the best thing I should do for this entry is talk about what I am thankful for.  Obviously, I am thankful for my family, friends, education, my health, but outside of those things, this semester has taught me that I have way more things to be thankful for.  I am thankful for living in a country where the government has just laws and a fair court system that provides me with certain rights.  I am thankful for the fact that I am not living in a warzone, that I have access to health care, and that I can use the Internet to look at whatever I want.  I am thankful for an education that has taught me life lessons about saving money.  I am thankful for having the experience of traveling to Brazil my first semester in college.  Mostly, though, I am thankful that I live in a country that has afforded me all of these opportunities to have such a bright future.  It really is incredible to think about the endless possibilities we all have living in a country as prosperous as this one.  Even though globalization insists that the U.S. is no longer as prestigious as it once was, I still think it’s the best country in the world to live in.

Friends

It's hard to believe that we have two days of class, Thanksgiving break, and finals until the semester is over.  It's crazy to think that at the beginning of the semester, most of us were strangers, but now I feel like I have really gotten to know every person in PEGS.  This week, I had my interview for PEGS with Dr. Becky Casey.  The interview went great!  She was such an awesome lady to talk to, and I appreciated that she seemed to genuinely care about what I had to say.  I feel like sometimes my goals catch people off guard, but I think she really understood where I was coming from.  Also, I am in the midst of applying to be a Resident Assistant in Fall 2011.  It is a job that I would love to have, so hopefully my personality shines through in the essays I am writing for the application.

I think the thing that impacted me the most this week was listening to Dr. Betty Siegel speak.  The message I took away from her was that every moment can be put to good use.  The time she took to form relationships with people and put a smile on the faces of others really made a difference in the long-run and allowed her to leave a legacy.  I think a big reason as to why she has become so successful is because of the genuine connections she made with others along the way.  Oftentimes, particularly in College, I think people are encouraged to talk to others because they could provide them with a job or an internship.  But Dr. Siegel befriended people at the Waffle House out of genuine sincerity and ultimately, the dedication she showed toward those friendships allowed her to be considered a Waffle House "legend."  Although it is not the most prestigious title, it allowed her to find a home away from home where she knew that she would be in good company.

This Thanksgiving I will be traveling to New York City to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade because my brother will be playing in the only marching band from Georgia in the parade this year.  Here is a picture of them featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Maybe I will stop by the New York Stock Exchange while I am visiting...we will have to see!

Government

After writing two sociology papers this weekend, I am wiped out to say the least.  But I cannot allow for a Sunday night to go by without blogging!  I feel like the theme of this week has been the government: whether we like it or not, it is evident in every aspect of our lives.  The article we read in BUSA 1000 proved to me that the consequences of the government's lack of responsibility in terms of saving for future generations could play out during my lifetime.  Yes, individuals can make a difference by making smart investments and buying within their means, but ultimately, the government's financial issues are much more vast, complex, and in need of reform.  In KSU 1111, we addressed the subject of government as well, but rather than discussing how large and powerful it is, we read an article about the government's increasing decentralization.  The article explained how the government's inefficient policies have forced large businesses and corporations to assume the role of government by taking on corporate social responsibility.  Although companies are becoming more socially conscious, at the end of the day, their main goal is to make a profit, not save the world.  Conversely, such a large government seldom has the means to benefit specific communities or people.  Despite your political beliefs, few can argue that the government's laws are too complicated and inefficient and in great need of reform.  At this point, I think it is a matter of deciding which issues will benefit the most from reform.  

Outside of class, I just finished my application for the King-Casey's Women's Leadership Experience as well as my application for PEGS.  Fingers crossed both go well!

Creativity

Things are certainly getting more intense as the end of first semester is now in sight.  The due dates for all of the major projects, papers, and exams are coming up, so my "to-do list" is currently running very long.  Still, knowing that I am so close to finishing with a successful first semester is motivation enough to do quality work and keep my grades up.  By working on all of these assignments this week, I have realized that they are designed to challenge us creatively.  The PSA and the Global Village Project for KSU 1111 are both open-ended in their directions and allow us to think for ourselves and formulate our own ideas.  Even though both of the projects are time-consuming, I appreciate the fact that we really get to design the project.  Also, deciding what exactly we are going to say and do during the 30 minutes we are allotted at the President's cabinet meeting involves working together and deciding on the best ideas to make our meeting as meaningful as possible.  For me, the projects that allow for the most creative freedom are my favorite because they feel less like a chore and more like something meaningful I can learn from.  I know that all of my professors are working together to make sure that we take something away from each of our projects, so as I continue on into next semester, I will have to adjust to less personalized classes.  None the less, I am in the midst of reapplying for the PEGS program, so hopefully everything goes well.

Brazil

It has been five days since I have returned to Brazil and I can without question say that I miss it a lot more than I thought it would, partly because it is an incredible country and partly because I now have to return back to the real world.  None the less, I learned way more from the trip than I anticipated.  Here are some of my observations:

1. Advertising- As strange as this may seems, the political ads were really fascinating for me because they are so different from the political posters and signs we see in the U.S.  In the U.S., you never see the actual candidate's face, always just the their last name in bold print, what office they are running for, and sometimes a creative slogan or graphic.  In Brazil, you always see the person's face along side their name and number.  I think this speaks to how important being personal and having a face to face connection with someone is in Brazil.  Also, there is a larger percentage of people in Brazil who do not watch/own a television, so they rely more on street ads rather than TV ads to decide who to vote for.

2. Culture- Music and art seem to be a lot more prevalent in Brazilian culture.  Music was everywhere: Going to capoeira lessons, the Pracatum School, the concert, the school in the rural community.  They choose instruments that reflect the ones their ancestors used and play music that originated in various places.  I admire how open they are towards incorporating various ethnicities and religions into their culture.

3. Food- Food says more about a country than most people give it credit for.  Many of the foods that are native to the country like coconut were a part of every meal.  I still find it strange that a country that finds so much pride in  their traditional dishes has taken such a strong liking for an American fast-food chain like McDonalds.  Every time we went, there was a line, and the food was not cheap either.

4. Art- I think every facet of Salvador has art incorporated into it in some way; even the side walks have patterns on them.  Businesses use art to advertise their products, buildings are painted bright colors, the architecture is a mix of Portugese and African designs.  The art serves as an excellent example as to how the cultures all blend together in Brazil.

Homelessness

This week has gone pretty well, and no surprise, has been very busy.  I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Atlanta Children's Shelter, which is a shelter that provides free daycare for single mothers who are currently homeless.  After a few hours of working or looking for a job, the women pick up their kids and go to whatever homeless shelter they are staying at for the night.  The statistics that shocked me were that 20% of the women and children there were fleeing spousal abuse, and 60% had a history with domestic violence.  Unfortunately, this organization is the only one of its kind in Atlanta, so hundreds of other families are waiting for this kind of care.  As someone who is interested in non-profits, I was really impressed with how things were run.  The staff worked tirelessly to make sure that these families would not stay homeless for long.   I also slept out on the quad both nights for Homelessness Awareness Week.  It proved to be a really good experience.  After just two nights, I was ready to go back and return to my normal life.  I could not imagine doing that week after week, never having a place to call your own.  The most important thing I took away from this experience is that being homeless, even if it is just for a temporary amount of time, can leave you with emotional scars that impact you for the rest of your life.  I could not stop thinking about the children I saw at the shelter days before, and wonder if they had slept out on the street.

On a lighter note, I definitely enjoyed myself at the Etiquette Luncheon.  It taught me that good etiquette is something that is learned and takes practice.  I am glad I had this experience early in my college career, rather than later.  I will remember that meetings or interviews while eating are about building relationships, not the food.  I thought the war documentary we watched in class did an excellent job of demonstrating how the government has always had the same attitude toward war: when our freedoms are being threatened, action is necessary.

Carlinhos Brown

I think I will spend most of this blog talking about Carlinhos Brown because I finished my Executive Summary about him a couple of hours ago, and I am overwhelmingly impressed with him.  First, his music is really enjoyable and I completely understand why he is so popular.  Second, Brown's percussive skills are incredible.  The fact that he is mainly self-taught seems crazy to me.  His talent is purely natural, and he is so good that he landed a job a a radio station and began producing when he was still a teenager.  Third, what is more awesome than any of this is the fact that he has created numerous activities for people in Salvador, the same city he grew up in.  He understands on a personal level what the people of the favelas are experiencing and works to solve their problems.  He recognizes the need for jobs, so one of his schools teaches children percussion, sewing, and fashion.  Most people with his status just donate money to a cause without actually getting involved.  I find this very irresponsible considering their voice can influence thousands of people.  Brown, on the other hand, has been a huge advocate for getting people out of the slums and creating a bigger middle class.  He genuinely loves his city and wants it to be known for the productive people, not the poverty.  I love this quote of his because I think he describes himself perfectly:

"People ask me if I smile when I rise in the morning.  My mouth hurts with smiling so much because I have got music.  It is a good way of living, making music.  It's a gift from God.  I've got it on loan."

For me, this quote sums up the impact he has had on the community of Salvador.  He takes his musical talents and makes the world a better place; what more could he do?

Last week, I did not do much outside of school except homework and go to another hockey game (which we lost...badly). I have big plans for this week, however I will save that for the next blog.