The past two weeks have been a whirlwind.
I met with nationally-known and respected leaders -- Colin Powell, Bob Schieffer and Mike McCurry, to name a few. I visited with executives and founders from top news and media organizations. I participated in a panel discussion moderated by Schieffer that was webcast live back to TCU. I survived an earthquake, withstood a hurricane and window-gazed my way through two, five-hour long bus rides going to and coming from NYC.
This is truly a challenging and inspiring place to be.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Autobiography of a Small Town.
"I breed dreamers and lovers; connectedness among separation. I boast of the diverse characters I create; all unique, yet often predictable. Few love me, most leave me, and some return. I'm the control group in the experiment of life - a source for measuring progress, things learned and distance traveled. I am what I'm not, and this is how you'll remember me."
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
DC is Where I'll Be.
In about a month's time, my next big life-adventure begins. In the early a.m. on August 21, I will once again be hauling 150 pounds of luggage - or thereabouts - out of this small town of Joshua, Texas, cruising northward to Dallas and boarding a plane bound for this nation's capital - Washington, DC.
I say "once again" because I am no stranger to traveling. About a year and a half ago, I packed what I could of my life into two large suitcases, one traveler's pack and a shoulder purse, and moved 5,500 miles away from home to a little city known as Florence, Italy. Four months later, I returned home with even heavier luggage, a new perspective and a reinvigorated appetite for adventure. Now here I am again, nearing the eve of another departure and yet another awesome learning experience.
By this point, you're probably wondering why I'm moving halfway across the country. Well first things first - I'm moving to DC as part of an incredible program at my school, Texas Christian University. Myself, along with seven other students, were selected to participate in full-time semester-long internships coordinated by TCU and The Washington Center. In addition to working, we will be expected to take one or two night classes and attend miscellaneous lectures and other functions that are essential to the DC experience. As for specifics: I will be working as an intern for the external relations department of the Center for Strategic and International Studies - CSIS, a major think-tank.
I've purchased my plane ticket, done a bit of research and built up quite the collection for my professional wardrobe. DC, I'll see you soon!
Friday, July 15, 2011
On Social Media
Written by Michelle Altenberg
It was Marshall McLuhan who first coined the term “global village” in 1962. He popularized the
idea that technological advances combined with information sharing would undoubtedly lead to a
collective universal society. Unity, he argued, was created through increased dialogue and open
communication.
Nearly a half-century later, I have to wonder whether we as media practitioners have lived up to
McLuhan’s predictions. Have we harnessed the opportunities of the nearly instantaneous
communication capabilities we now possess? Do we now recognize and understand the global
audience to which the media is now broadcasting? Has the “global village” of media contributed
to a rise in Neoliberalism, and is this globalization such a bad thing?
The rise of social media and subsequent growth of the Internet have advanced McLuhan’s
proposed idea of worldwide message transfer.
On June 6, 2011, the United Nations proclaimed access to Internet a basic human right, placing
information sharing alongside the right to education and the right to freedom of expression. No
longer are governments allowed to shutdown a country’s Internet as a means of punishment or in
an act of censorship. The World Wide Web is open for business. The expansion of this great
information-sharing machine has been fueled by the rise of social media and the accompanying
digital revolution. A Nielson Company study found that 22.7 percent of America’s online
activity was spent on social networking sites. This figure continues to rise.
Facebook, Twitter and Myspace dominate the social networking stratosphere and provide a
platform of expression for millions of people across the globe. This rapid means of
communication has transformed personal relationships among individuals and forever altered the
way public relations are conducted among corporations. Media is no longer a one-sided push-
based system of transmitting information, but a two-way flow of communication in which the
public is actively invited to voice their opinion. This virtual world has promoted a sort of citizen
journalism, where every tweet and status update is permanently published for all to see.
A prime example of McLuhan’s “global village” philosophy in action occurred when Sohaib
Athar of Abbottabad, Pakistan, used social media to unknowingly live-tweet the U.S. attack on
Osama bin Laden May 1, 2011.
“A huge window shaking bang here in Abbottabad Cantt. I hope its not the start of something
nasty,” he tweeted.
Hours after writing this blurb to his estimated 750 followers, Athar realized the significance of
what he had heard.
“Uh oh, now I’m the guy who liveblogged the Osama raid without knowing it,” he tweeted.
Athar’s tweets have now been published in articles written by such media outlets as The Wall
Street Journal and TIME.com, and his Twitter following has increased by over 90,000 people
from all across the globe. Social networking allowed the world to share in Athar’s firsthand
account of the military raid.
In his book Understanding Media, McLuhan argues the accessibility of this instantaneous
communication has “heightened human awareness of responsibility to an intense degree.” With
access to international news now literally at our fingertips, we should harness the power of this
information sharing to become globally informed and educated citizens.
The globalization process that accompanies such widespread online chatter should encourage
tolerance and collaboration among cultures, and avoid diluting the customs of a civilization
through cultural imperialism. Media communications and international relations should be void
of any ethnocentric bias and promote unity among unique societies.
No matter geographical location, cultural traditions or religious beliefs, the online community
created by social networks has become common ground for all people. It is imperative that media
professionals take a proactive role in contributing to this global conversation.
It was Marshall McLuhan who first coined the term “global village” in 1962. He popularized the
idea that technological advances combined with information sharing would undoubtedly lead to a
collective universal society. Unity, he argued, was created through increased dialogue and open
communication.
Nearly a half-century later, I have to wonder whether we as media practitioners have lived up to
McLuhan’s predictions. Have we harnessed the opportunities of the nearly instantaneous
communication capabilities we now possess? Do we now recognize and understand the global
audience to which the media is now broadcasting? Has the “global village” of media contributed
to a rise in Neoliberalism, and is this globalization such a bad thing?
The rise of social media and subsequent growth of the Internet have advanced McLuhan’s
proposed idea of worldwide message transfer.
On June 6, 2011, the United Nations proclaimed access to Internet a basic human right, placing
information sharing alongside the right to education and the right to freedom of expression. No
longer are governments allowed to shutdown a country’s Internet as a means of punishment or in
an act of censorship. The World Wide Web is open for business. The expansion of this great
information-sharing machine has been fueled by the rise of social media and the accompanying
digital revolution. A Nielson Company study found that 22.7 percent of America’s online
activity was spent on social networking sites. This figure continues to rise.
Facebook, Twitter and Myspace dominate the social networking stratosphere and provide a
platform of expression for millions of people across the globe. This rapid means of
communication has transformed personal relationships among individuals and forever altered the
way public relations are conducted among corporations. Media is no longer a one-sided push-
based system of transmitting information, but a two-way flow of communication in which the
public is actively invited to voice their opinion. This virtual world has promoted a sort of citizen
journalism, where every tweet and status update is permanently published for all to see.
A prime example of McLuhan’s “global village” philosophy in action occurred when Sohaib
Athar of Abbottabad, Pakistan, used social media to unknowingly live-tweet the U.S. attack on
Osama bin Laden May 1, 2011.
“A huge window shaking bang here in Abbottabad Cantt. I hope its not the start of something
nasty,” he tweeted.
Hours after writing this blurb to his estimated 750 followers, Athar realized the significance of
what he had heard.
“Uh oh, now I’m the guy who liveblogged the Osama raid without knowing it,” he tweeted.
Athar’s tweets have now been published in articles written by such media outlets as The Wall
Street Journal and TIME.com, and his Twitter following has increased by over 90,000 people
from all across the globe. Social networking allowed the world to share in Athar’s firsthand
account of the military raid.
In his book Understanding Media, McLuhan argues the accessibility of this instantaneous
communication has “heightened human awareness of responsibility to an intense degree.” With
access to international news now literally at our fingertips, we should harness the power of this
information sharing to become globally informed and educated citizens.
The globalization process that accompanies such widespread online chatter should encourage
tolerance and collaboration among cultures, and avoid diluting the customs of a civilization
through cultural imperialism. Media communications and international relations should be void
of any ethnocentric bias and promote unity among unique societies.
No matter geographical location, cultural traditions or religious beliefs, the online community
created by social networks has become common ground for all people. It is imperative that media
professionals take a proactive role in contributing to this global conversation.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
The manicured courtyard in the TCU Commons was left empty and alone. Its isolation a stark contrast to the Italian piazza, whose satisfaction deepened as its lover and lounger population grew steadily into high-noon.
Foreboding jealousy was imminent.
(Inspired by unhappyhipsters.com)
_
the109.org Feature Story
CAFÉ BELLA BRINGS INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR TO THE 109
by Michelle Altenberg
In the mood for some Italian food but don’t feel like making the trek overseas? Let Eli Golemi and the staff of Café Bella ease those hunger pangs with their authentic Mediterranean cuisine.
Golemi, co-owner and manager of the traditional Italian restaurant, located in the 109, certainly knows her way around the kitchen. Originally of Greek descent, Golemi was born and raised in Albania. She learned the art of cooking at a very early age through lessons from both her mother and aunt.
“My family is famous over there for our cooking,” she said. “I just love it [cooking]. It’s never boring for me.”
Golemi’s recipe book is filled with secret spices and sauces that have been passed down from generation to generation. Her personal cooking style has been influenced by her travels through Europe, including visits to Greece, England, Germany and Italy.
Golemi takes great pride in preparing fresh ingredients to serve to her customers.
“I like the healthy and fresh food,” she said. “We make pasta in the restaurant every day and cook bread every day.”
Golemi, her husband and their daughter moved from Albania to the United States in June 1999.
“My daughter was the reason we came here,” she said. “We wanted her to get a good education and have more opportunities. I did this all for my children. I want them to be successful.”
Prior to this move, they had never visited the U.S. and neither she nor her husband spoke English. Soon after arriving in the 109, Golemi was hired as a waitress at Café Bella and learned English through her interaction with customers.
Eleven years later, Golemi is now co-owner of the Italian restaurant and has turned her lifelong passion for cooking into a career.
“It was my dream to open a business,” she said. “I love taking care of people. I want everyone to be happy and feel welcome.”
Ambitious Golemi has big plans for Café Bella. She wants to redesign the restaurant to have a more cohesive and “homey” decor. Some of these changes include painting the interior walls, landscaping the outside and adding special lighting on the patio to create a romantic ambience.
Managing a restaurant is no easy feat, but Golemi is up for the challenge. She is usually at work about 12 hours a day, and still manages to find ample time to spend with daughter Nikoleta and son Arti.
“I keep my family very near,” she said. “I like us to be together all the time.”
To promote this closeness and keep with Albanian tradition, Golemi frequently cooks large meals for her family. She enjoys preparing chicken and potatoes with secret spices - her son’s favorite meal - and shendetli, a cake-like Albanian dessert made with butter, oil, honey, brown sugar, syrup and walnuts.
Popular Café Bella dishes are grilled tilapia Florentine, grilled salmon picatta and vegetable lasagna, all of which are served with a salad and fresh bread, Golemi said.
Head Chef Juan Delatorre has been at Café Bella for five years and has enjoyed working with Golemi.
“She is a good boss and an excellent person,” Delatorre said. “In the coming years, I think she will bring us even more success.”
Café Bella is located at 3548 South Hills Ave., and is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Saturday, 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. and is closed on Sunday.
by Michelle Altenberg
In the mood for some Italian food but don’t feel like making the trek overseas? Let Eli Golemi and the staff of Café Bella ease those hunger pangs with their authentic Mediterranean cuisine.
Golemi, co-owner and manager of the traditional Italian restaurant, located in the 109, certainly knows her way around the kitchen. Originally of Greek descent, Golemi was born and raised in Albania. She learned the art of cooking at a very early age through lessons from both her mother and aunt.
“My family is famous over there for our cooking,” she said. “I just love it [cooking]. It’s never boring for me.”
Golemi’s recipe book is filled with secret spices and sauces that have been passed down from generation to generation. Her personal cooking style has been influenced by her travels through Europe, including visits to Greece, England, Germany and Italy.
Golemi takes great pride in preparing fresh ingredients to serve to her customers.
“I like the healthy and fresh food,” she said. “We make pasta in the restaurant every day and cook bread every day.”
Golemi, her husband and their daughter moved from Albania to the United States in June 1999.
“My daughter was the reason we came here,” she said. “We wanted her to get a good education and have more opportunities. I did this all for my children. I want them to be successful.”
Prior to this move, they had never visited the U.S. and neither she nor her husband spoke English. Soon after arriving in the 109, Golemi was hired as a waitress at Café Bella and learned English through her interaction with customers.
Eleven years later, Golemi is now co-owner of the Italian restaurant and has turned her lifelong passion for cooking into a career.
“It was my dream to open a business,” she said. “I love taking care of people. I want everyone to be happy and feel welcome.”
Ambitious Golemi has big plans for Café Bella. She wants to redesign the restaurant to have a more cohesive and “homey” decor. Some of these changes include painting the interior walls, landscaping the outside and adding special lighting on the patio to create a romantic ambience.
Managing a restaurant is no easy feat, but Golemi is up for the challenge. She is usually at work about 12 hours a day, and still manages to find ample time to spend with daughter Nikoleta and son Arti.
“I keep my family very near,” she said. “I like us to be together all the time.”
To promote this closeness and keep with Albanian tradition, Golemi frequently cooks large meals for her family. She enjoys preparing chicken and potatoes with secret spices - her son’s favorite meal - and shendetli, a cake-like Albanian dessert made with butter, oil, honey, brown sugar, syrup and walnuts.
Popular Café Bella dishes are grilled tilapia Florentine, grilled salmon picatta and vegetable lasagna, all of which are served with a salad and fresh bread, Golemi said.
Head Chef Juan Delatorre has been at Café Bella for five years and has enjoyed working with Golemi.
“She is a good boss and an excellent person,” Delatorre said. “In the coming years, I think she will bring us even more success.”
Café Bella is located at 3548 South Hills Ave., and is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Saturday, 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. and is closed on Sunday.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Memories from Italy
Firenze - home.
Siena - Rain and wind, my first gelato, green stripes, discovering the grandeur of European churches.
Milan - beautiful people, confusing train station with three floors, taste of modernity.
Venice - festive masks, confetti, pedestrian alleyways, afro wigs and Baci treats, sunshine, great new friends.
Napoli - Dominique, heavy traffic, danger, magnificent castles, ocean.
Amalfi Coast - Israeli friends, pink pants, children playing, waves crashing against the pier, "Attenzione!", delicious pizza, limoncello, smooth stones, Texan couple.
Pompeii - Ruins, massive lemons and limes, metro-ride, gazing at Mount Vesuvius.
Rome - perfectly groomed poodles, pasta alla carbonara, endless dinner, wandering into the best piazza before the group & before the rain.
Vatican City - art, gold, cameras, vodka.
Torino - long lines, odd older couple, being alone, no english, seeing the Shroud, picnic in the park, green landscape.
Bergamo - airport, mountains, wet backpack, tired.
Pisa - yummy dinner, excitement, sweaty palms, independence.
Fiesole - countryside, hills, understated charm.
Chianti - speeding along on a motorino, pretending to know how to drive, cold wind, brooding sky.
Panzano - cute, and cold.
Bologna - snow, playboy taxi, exhaustion, pizza, too many euros.
Siena - Rain and wind, my first gelato, green stripes, discovering the grandeur of European churches.
Milan - beautiful people, confusing train station with three floors, taste of modernity.
Venice - festive masks, confetti, pedestrian alleyways, afro wigs and Baci treats, sunshine, great new friends.
Napoli - Dominique, heavy traffic, danger, magnificent castles, ocean.
Amalfi Coast - Israeli friends, pink pants, children playing, waves crashing against the pier, "Attenzione!", delicious pizza, limoncello, smooth stones, Texan couple.
Pompeii - Ruins, massive lemons and limes, metro-ride, gazing at Mount Vesuvius.
Rome - perfectly groomed poodles, pasta alla carbonara, endless dinner, wandering into the best piazza before the group & before the rain.
Vatican City - art, gold, cameras, vodka.
Torino - long lines, odd older couple, being alone, no english, seeing the Shroud, picnic in the park, green landscape.
Bergamo - airport, mountains, wet backpack, tired.
Pisa - yummy dinner, excitement, sweaty palms, independence.
Fiesole - countryside, hills, understated charm.
Chianti - speeding along on a motorino, pretending to know how to drive, cold wind, brooding sky.
Panzano - cute, and cold.
Bologna - snow, playboy taxi, exhaustion, pizza, too many euros.
A bit obsessed with this blog I found... An expat living in Edinburgh:
http://scottybecca.wordpress.com
"It’s one of the things I love best about reading – the worlds I can never experience first hand come to life on the printed page. Amazing how such a one-dimensional medium can add so much to my every day experience."
http://scottybecca.wordpress.com
"It’s one of the things I love best about reading – the worlds I can never experience first hand come to life on the printed page. Amazing how such a one-dimensional medium can add so much to my every day experience."
Saturday, February 12, 2011
My Column from the TCU Daily Skiff
Sex, drugs and homeroom — all just a day in the life of the characters of MTV's scandalous new show, "Skins."
When these high school teens aren't scribbling notes in class or munching on some tater tots in the cafeteria, they're busy "getting busy," popping pills and partying into the morning. This depiction of reckless teen behavior by MTV is morally irresponsible and cause for controversy.
The raunchy storyline of "Skins" depicts the antics of nine teenagers as they lead supremely hedonistic lifestyles and indulge in countless vices. The content is borderline pornographic, and the 16- and 17-year-olds live life seemingly without consequences.
The show debuted last week to an audience of 3.3 million viewers, 1.2 million of whom are under 18, according to the Nielsen Co.. Since then, MTV has faced its share of controversy. Parents Television Council President Tim Winter openly criticized the show's content and warned advertisers to stay away.
"Every single advertiser who sponsored the premiere episode of ‘Skins' is not only endorsing but glorifying teen drug and alcohol use," he said in a statement to Fox News.
As a result, Schick, Subway, H&R Block, Taco Bell, Wrigley and General Motors all have pulled their ads from the show, according to an article by CBS News.
MTV executives have raised concerns about the amount of explicit content in the show and fear scenes in upcoming episodes may violate the federal child pornography statutes, according to The New York Times. These same executives have since ordered producers to modify some of the show's most provocative scenes. The decision came after the network executives realized criminal prosecution was a possibility if changes were not made, according to the article.
Apart from this move, MTV has remained largely defensive of its new series. MTV spokesperson Jeannie Kedas said in an article in The Baltimore Sun the show "addresses real-world issues confronting teens in a frank way."
"We are confident that the episodes of ‘Skins' will not only comply with all applicable legal requirements, but also with our responsibilities to our viewers," the network presented in a statement.
Their "responsibilities to viewers" must be very loosely defined.
The first two episodes of this series are morally reprehensible, especially with regard to the promotion of sex. Not only are the underage actors scantily clad and participating in destructive sexual behavior, they also collect pornography and refer to virginity as an embarrassment.
Teenagers look to popular media sources like MTV for both entertainment and guidance. These impressionable adolescents observe the behaviors and mentalities of their favorite television characters, like those on "Skins," and often begin to emulate these behaviors in real life. MTV should consider how the promotion of immoral acts and unrealistic ideals will affect its eager young audience to which it has such a "responsibility."
Michelle Altenberg is a junior strategic communication major from Joshua.
When these high school teens aren't scribbling notes in class or munching on some tater tots in the cafeteria, they're busy "getting busy," popping pills and partying into the morning. This depiction of reckless teen behavior by MTV is morally irresponsible and cause for controversy.
The raunchy storyline of "Skins" depicts the antics of nine teenagers as they lead supremely hedonistic lifestyles and indulge in countless vices. The content is borderline pornographic, and the 16- and 17-year-olds live life seemingly without consequences.
The show debuted last week to an audience of 3.3 million viewers, 1.2 million of whom are under 18, according to the Nielsen Co.. Since then, MTV has faced its share of controversy. Parents Television Council President Tim Winter openly criticized the show's content and warned advertisers to stay away.
"Every single advertiser who sponsored the premiere episode of ‘Skins' is not only endorsing but glorifying teen drug and alcohol use," he said in a statement to Fox News.
As a result, Schick, Subway, H&R Block, Taco Bell, Wrigley and General Motors all have pulled their ads from the show, according to an article by CBS News.
MTV executives have raised concerns about the amount of explicit content in the show and fear scenes in upcoming episodes may violate the federal child pornography statutes, according to The New York Times. These same executives have since ordered producers to modify some of the show's most provocative scenes. The decision came after the network executives realized criminal prosecution was a possibility if changes were not made, according to the article.
Apart from this move, MTV has remained largely defensive of its new series. MTV spokesperson Jeannie Kedas said in an article in The Baltimore Sun the show "addresses real-world issues confronting teens in a frank way."
"We are confident that the episodes of ‘Skins' will not only comply with all applicable legal requirements, but also with our responsibilities to our viewers," the network presented in a statement.
Their "responsibilities to viewers" must be very loosely defined.
The first two episodes of this series are morally reprehensible, especially with regard to the promotion of sex. Not only are the underage actors scantily clad and participating in destructive sexual behavior, they also collect pornography and refer to virginity as an embarrassment.
Teenagers look to popular media sources like MTV for both entertainment and guidance. These impressionable adolescents observe the behaviors and mentalities of their favorite television characters, like those on "Skins," and often begin to emulate these behaviors in real life. MTV should consider how the promotion of immoral acts and unrealistic ideals will affect its eager young audience to which it has such a "responsibility."
Michelle Altenberg is a junior strategic communication major from Joshua.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Homage to a Beautiful City
La vera Firenze. The melodic conversation of shop keepers as they open their stores in the early a.m. The revving of engines and whirling of a distant ambulance. Putting back the shutters, opening the windows, letting the yellow sunshine streak across the room. Preparing pasta while listening to the soft and sudden rain pattering down onto the cobblestones outside. Craning your neck as you admire the intricate beauty present in every inch of perfectly crafted architecture. Taking refuge in a pasticceria or bar to avoid the feisty Italian following you home. Where the five euro wine from the corner tabacchi is better than the finest drink at home. Men walking arm-in-arm. Baci in abundance. La vera Firenze, unknown to tourists and day-trippers. La vera Firenze, veramente vivente.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Today
I woke up missing Rome. Oh, how I'm craving a gelato! Or a long walk down a beautiful cobblestone street, lined with Italian chatter. And the promise of my friend Roberto to show me his city...
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Power of Social Media
An assignment for school:
Social media use combined with civilian unrest has sparked a revolution in Tunisia.
Frustrated with the bleak job outlook, media censorship and government corruption, young Tunisians took to the Internet to let their voices be heard. Individuals organized protests via Facebook, promoted their cause on Twitter, and even started blogs to describe the oppression they faced by the Tunisian government. These citizen journalists caused uproar across all social media platforms, and the crumbling government tried and failed to disrupt the online chatter of protesters. The continued uprising has now overthrown Zine El Abedine Ben Ali, their former ruler, and continues to gain supporters and momentum each day. The following video is a jarring account of the demonstrations that are now taking place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHs4gJKc4GU
The citizens of this nation viewed their access to social media as an opportunity - an outlet for expression - and a call to action. They utilized this freedom to address problems previously ignored or overlooked. How can this sort of individual empowerment shape politics and communication in the future? Does the use of social media create a more democratic society? If yes, do you think this Westernization and move toward being a “global village” has any ramifications?
Social media use combined with civilian unrest has sparked a revolution in Tunisia.
Frustrated with the bleak job outlook, media censorship and government corruption, young Tunisians took to the Internet to let their voices be heard. Individuals organized protests via Facebook, promoted their cause on Twitter, and even started blogs to describe the oppression they faced by the Tunisian government. These citizen journalists caused uproar across all social media platforms, and the crumbling government tried and failed to disrupt the online chatter of protesters. The continued uprising has now overthrown Zine El Abedine Ben Ali, their former ruler, and continues to gain supporters and momentum each day. The following video is a jarring account of the demonstrations that are now taking place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHs4gJKc4GU
The citizens of this nation viewed their access to social media as an opportunity - an outlet for expression - and a call to action. They utilized this freedom to address problems previously ignored or overlooked. How can this sort of individual empowerment shape politics and communication in the future? Does the use of social media create a more democratic society? If yes, do you think this Westernization and move toward being a “global village” has any ramifications?
Saturday, January 15, 2011
An Answer to a Question
Taken from my personal journal, written in mid-June, 2010:
I always feel like writing at night, for some reason. Maybe because I like to use writing as a reflection of the day.
So the other night, I asked myself a question. After struggling with the aggravation of trying to assimilate back into the American culture, I began to wonder if assimilating was what I really wanted to do. I began to feel encircled by a juxtaposition of unfamiliar familiarities. I don’t want to go back to normal life, I thought. I don’t want to get used to America because I don’t want to lose the insight, emotions, and experience I gained while abroad. With these worries floating around in my head, I asked myself this question: How much of adjusting means forgetting how you once felt?
This dilemma was on my mind for days. I don’t want to forget anything, I thought. I want to remain perfect in my fixations and European perspective. America (Texas, in particular) is so disappointing, so plain. To me, it seems that our nation is masked with a façade of rightness. By this I mean that in every aspect of our lives, the idea of purposeful living is impressed upon us as the best way and the only way to live life and be successful. While I fully support the idea of goals, motivations, hard work, etc, I absolutely do not believe this is the only way to have a successful and fulfilled life.
So many times you hear the story about the man who followed the path: prep school, college, career in a cubicle or corner office. And so many times, you hear these people talk about how disappointed and unfulfilled they feel with their lives (mid-life crisis, anyone?). Sometimes, the brave ones are able to find the courage to break out of this mold and take control of their life, to spend their time and their passion on doing something they really want to do. Sometimes.
But what if this wasn’t just a sometimes thing? What if people didn’t have to make the initial mistake of committing to an unfulfilling but socially acceptable career, in order to realize that they should follow their passions? What if this idea was what was pushed on us all along? Freedom! Follow your dreams! Be creative in life and make happen what you want to happen.
To follow a certain path because its what society tells you is right now seems completely absurd to me. Through the knowledge I gained abroad: through meeting people, through reflection, through a different pace of life, through being surrounded by arts and beauty, through living in a society where passion is revered above all. This is how I learned this perspective. Before travelling, I had no clue how the world worked. I thought of life as good and bad, black and white, right and wrong. I faced so many of these preconceptions in my travels, and experienced enough to completely abolish any belief that life is just so simple.
I learned a hell of a lot while I was living in Europe. About myself, responsibility, language, culture, etc. The list could go on and on. Most importantly though, I learned that what I love most is the travel itself, for it is through travelling that all these experiences are possible. This passion has been steady throughout my entire life, even since I was in grade school (fifth or sixth), when I’d dream and plan research endlessly. I often used to play with this old world globe my mother bought me at a garage sale. I’d spin it as fast as I could, close my eyes, and then stop the globe with my finger when the time felt right. Wherever my finger landed, I’d just imagine travelling there. I’d wonder what the land was like, the people? It seemed so far-fetched that I’ve ever get to do any world travelling. Yet for some reason, I was persistent in my dreams of faraway lands. I think deep down, I knew that the time would come for me to explore. Bottom line: for me, travelling has always felt right, and has always been a part of who I am, and played a huge role in developing who I want to be.
Anything is possible. Really, it is. Living out my biggest dream has made me believe this. I have so many opportunities in life, so many different roads to choose from. All I have to do is dream it up, then set the plan to make it happen! I’m such a believer now.
So back to the question: How much of adjusting means forgetting how you once felt? My answer: I will never forget how I once felt. I will keep my feelings and thoughts alive through reflection, writing, and my personal connection to the experience I have gained. I have awoken my passion in life- travelling, and use my writing to express (sometimes purposefully- my American coming out), what I learn and how I feel. To adjust means to adapt, to live life with a will to be happy. I’m so confident now that I can achieve my wants and passions and heart lusts, that I feel much more confident in the person that I am.
Travelling for me has breathed life into my perspective! And I’m so thankful for that each and every day!
I always feel like writing at night, for some reason. Maybe because I like to use writing as a reflection of the day.
So the other night, I asked myself a question. After struggling with the aggravation of trying to assimilate back into the American culture, I began to wonder if assimilating was what I really wanted to do. I began to feel encircled by a juxtaposition of unfamiliar familiarities. I don’t want to go back to normal life, I thought. I don’t want to get used to America because I don’t want to lose the insight, emotions, and experience I gained while abroad. With these worries floating around in my head, I asked myself this question: How much of adjusting means forgetting how you once felt?
This dilemma was on my mind for days. I don’t want to forget anything, I thought. I want to remain perfect in my fixations and European perspective. America (Texas, in particular) is so disappointing, so plain. To me, it seems that our nation is masked with a façade of rightness. By this I mean that in every aspect of our lives, the idea of purposeful living is impressed upon us as the best way and the only way to live life and be successful. While I fully support the idea of goals, motivations, hard work, etc, I absolutely do not believe this is the only way to have a successful and fulfilled life.
So many times you hear the story about the man who followed the path: prep school, college, career in a cubicle or corner office. And so many times, you hear these people talk about how disappointed and unfulfilled they feel with their lives (mid-life crisis, anyone?). Sometimes, the brave ones are able to find the courage to break out of this mold and take control of their life, to spend their time and their passion on doing something they really want to do. Sometimes.
But what if this wasn’t just a sometimes thing? What if people didn’t have to make the initial mistake of committing to an unfulfilling but socially acceptable career, in order to realize that they should follow their passions? What if this idea was what was pushed on us all along? Freedom! Follow your dreams! Be creative in life and make happen what you want to happen.
To follow a certain path because its what society tells you is right now seems completely absurd to me. Through the knowledge I gained abroad: through meeting people, through reflection, through a different pace of life, through being surrounded by arts and beauty, through living in a society where passion is revered above all. This is how I learned this perspective. Before travelling, I had no clue how the world worked. I thought of life as good and bad, black and white, right and wrong. I faced so many of these preconceptions in my travels, and experienced enough to completely abolish any belief that life is just so simple.
I learned a hell of a lot while I was living in Europe. About myself, responsibility, language, culture, etc. The list could go on and on. Most importantly though, I learned that what I love most is the travel itself, for it is through travelling that all these experiences are possible. This passion has been steady throughout my entire life, even since I was in grade school (fifth or sixth), when I’d dream and plan research endlessly. I often used to play with this old world globe my mother bought me at a garage sale. I’d spin it as fast as I could, close my eyes, and then stop the globe with my finger when the time felt right. Wherever my finger landed, I’d just imagine travelling there. I’d wonder what the land was like, the people? It seemed so far-fetched that I’ve ever get to do any world travelling. Yet for some reason, I was persistent in my dreams of faraway lands. I think deep down, I knew that the time would come for me to explore. Bottom line: for me, travelling has always felt right, and has always been a part of who I am, and played a huge role in developing who I want to be.
Anything is possible. Really, it is. Living out my biggest dream has made me believe this. I have so many opportunities in life, so many different roads to choose from. All I have to do is dream it up, then set the plan to make it happen! I’m such a believer now.
So back to the question: How much of adjusting means forgetting how you once felt? My answer: I will never forget how I once felt. I will keep my feelings and thoughts alive through reflection, writing, and my personal connection to the experience I have gained. I have awoken my passion in life- travelling, and use my writing to express (sometimes purposefully- my American coming out), what I learn and how I feel. To adjust means to adapt, to live life with a will to be happy. I’m so confident now that I can achieve my wants and passions and heart lusts, that I feel much more confident in the person that I am.
Travelling for me has breathed life into my perspective! And I’m so thankful for that each and every day!
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