So, St. Patrick's Day is coming up which, naturally, brought to mind my heritage. It's all a bit muddy and my parents change their story every time I talk to them and I'm too lazy and generally uninterested to FamilyTree.com myself but I know it looks something like this:
1/4 English
1/4 Irish
1/4 German
1/4 Polish
Little bit of Sioux Native American tossed in there somewhere
Basically, I'm American.
Sad to say, I'm very unfamiliar with my heritage and the majority of these cultures.
Though, I think America has created it's own culture of containing and accepting many cultures. We are so unique in our ability to participate in a variety of cultural activities that may or may not have something to do with our own.
I know this is true thoughout the country but particularly here in Southern Cali there is a plethora of opportunities to get to know the world and our neighbors.
In Palms Springs there are several Native American museums educating all interested on the various tribes that lived, and still live, in the area. There are also art and craft workshops so we can physically understand the culture and even take it home with us.
In San Diego, one of my favorite areas is Little Italy. Generations of Italian immigransts have moved to this beautiful area offering their food, arts, language, religion, and family-oriented culture to all. And, yes, they actually speak Italian which is so beautiful! And the men aren't bad to look at either.
In LA, there's Little China, a very popular tourist destination as the slightly commercialized culture is available in shops and sidewalk carts all along this colorful downtown nook. The cuisine is generally authentic and while not necessarily delicious to all, definetely interesting.
LA is really just full of amazing cultural opportunities from all over the world.
One of the things LA offers that encourages cultural pursuits is The Museum of Tolerance. In this unique place, we learn a little of Jewish culture but, mainly, we learn the importance of promoting tolerance, acceptance, and love.
By showcasing what hate looks like and what it is capable of, this museum paints a vivid and often graphic picture of what we should avoid at all costs - the Museum of Tolerance also shows that a lack of interest or knowledge in other people and culutures can breed ignorance. And ignorance can make almost anyone fall prey to charming and dynamic words, no matter how evil.
I have adopted the American idea of, not the melting pot, but the tossed salad. While fondu's can be fun, they're messy. We don't want to all melt together in sameness and complete assimilation. It's better to keep our identities, cultures, and beliefs while all living together in peace and compassion.
Knowledge and love make a beautiful pair.
For more articulated and well thought out ideas then my own ramblings, visit, and hopefully join, Charter for Compassion.
Tell me about your culture and what cultural opportunities are in your neck of the woods.
-Age
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Being Love Has Never Been Easier (Repost)
I am reposting this from Jason Mraz's blog, Freshness Factor Five Thousand. It's what the holiday of love should be all about. Not gifts and romantic words, but compassion and action.
"Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. In my opinion, people have attached themselves to this holiday in a way that makes single people sad, those in relationships nervous, and those in marriage pressured. No matter what your status, I invite you to give love in a powerful, new way this year.
On Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, the peninsula nation of Haiti was devastated by the worst Earthquake to hit the world in generations. Hundreds of thousands are dead and Millions are displaced. They are only one hour off the shores of our mighty country and they need our support more than ever.
This Valentine’s Season I invite you to take action as a world citizen and contribute to our less fortunate neighbors. Here are a few ways to do so:
Donate Over the Web:
Free The Children – “Children Helping Children Through Education.” Having been working in Haiti for more than a decade they were fast to respond. Their primary objective is making sure children are safe, sourced, and have a future to look forward to. (This organization was founded by a 12 year old by the way. Of all the groups I’ve met and worked with – these guys move me like no other. They are my inspiration for being in action.) Please give generously.
http://www.freethechildren.com/haiti
InterAction is the largest coalition of U.S.-based international, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on the world’s poor and most vulnerable people. Collectively, InterAction’s more than 180 members work in every developing country. Member organizations are large and small, faith-based and secular. They have a special link for Haiti.
http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti
Google is also maintaining a page with information on what you can do to help. This is trusted source for reputable organizations you can contribute to such as the International Red Cross, UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders.
http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/
Donate by Text Message
Yele Haiti – The Non-Profit, created by Haitian born recording artist Wyclef Jean (who I had the pleasure of meeting at “We Are The World”) is accepting $5 donations when you text “Yele” to 501501 or $10 donations when you text “Haiti” to the same number. Charges will appear on your cell phone bill.
Or Donate with a Phone Call:
You can make a phone call and donate to any number of organizations presently bringing relief to Haiti. Here are a few:
American Red Cross: 800 RED CROSS
Americares: 800 486 4357
International Rescue Committee: 877 REFUGEE
UNICEF U.S. Fund: 800 4 UNICEF
Habitat for Humanity International: 800 422 4828
Oxfam America: 800 776 9326
International Medical Corps: 800 481 4462
Don't put this off. A gift today would create so much possibility for the many lives waiting for a miracle. This is your opportunity to be such a miracle. Thanks for considering, Jason"
-Age
"Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. In my opinion, people have attached themselves to this holiday in a way that makes single people sad, those in relationships nervous, and those in marriage pressured. No matter what your status, I invite you to give love in a powerful, new way this year.
On Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, the peninsula nation of Haiti was devastated by the worst Earthquake to hit the world in generations. Hundreds of thousands are dead and Millions are displaced. They are only one hour off the shores of our mighty country and they need our support more than ever.
This Valentine’s Season I invite you to take action as a world citizen and contribute to our less fortunate neighbors. Here are a few ways to do so:
Donate Over the Web:
Free The Children – “Children Helping Children Through Education.” Having been working in Haiti for more than a decade they were fast to respond. Their primary objective is making sure children are safe, sourced, and have a future to look forward to. (This organization was founded by a 12 year old by the way. Of all the groups I’ve met and worked with – these guys move me like no other. They are my inspiration for being in action.) Please give generously.
http://www.freethechildren.com/haiti
InterAction is the largest coalition of U.S.-based international, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on the world’s poor and most vulnerable people. Collectively, InterAction’s more than 180 members work in every developing country. Member organizations are large and small, faith-based and secular. They have a special link for Haiti.
http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti
Google is also maintaining a page with information on what you can do to help. This is trusted source for reputable organizations you can contribute to such as the International Red Cross, UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders.
http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/
Donate by Text Message
Yele Haiti – The Non-Profit, created by Haitian born recording artist Wyclef Jean (who I had the pleasure of meeting at “We Are The World”) is accepting $5 donations when you text “Yele” to 501501 or $10 donations when you text “Haiti” to the same number. Charges will appear on your cell phone bill.
Or Donate with a Phone Call:
You can make a phone call and donate to any number of organizations presently bringing relief to Haiti. Here are a few:
American Red Cross: 800 RED CROSS
Americares: 800 486 4357
International Rescue Committee: 877 REFUGEE
UNICEF U.S. Fund: 800 4 UNICEF
Habitat for Humanity International: 800 422 4828
Oxfam America: 800 776 9326
International Medical Corps: 800 481 4462
Don't put this off. A gift today would create so much possibility for the many lives waiting for a miracle. This is your opportunity to be such a miracle. Thanks for considering, Jason"
-Age
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
That Aesthetically Pleases Me
What is it with men who are ruggedly handsome? Imagine hair that’s a little too long, nice and shaggy but in a very sexy “I don’t give a crap” kinda way. Three day old scruff. Slight farmer’s tan. Hairy chest. Broad shoulders. Tall. Gritty voice (preferably with a slight drawl). Worn jeans. T-shirt that fits just right. He rides a motorcycle, curses occasionally, says “ma-am” to old ladies, raises one eyebrow and the corner of his mouth instead of laughing, looks better dirty than clean, and smells like the outdoors (not smog but the good stuff like trees, sawdust, and salt).
I guess I just answered my own question.
This is probably as sexy as it gets for me.
The type of guy who works with his hands and has punched someone full on the face at least once and not even necessarily for a good reason. The type of guy who doesn’t smoke on a regular basis but looks at home with a cigar. He loves his dog – Ty or Old Roy or Chief. Once, he drove cross-country on his Ducati just to feel the wind on his face.
Although this is the type of guy that sums up the epitome of sexy for me, it’s not the type of man I would want to marry or spend forever with or anything.
No.
That man laughs – full force – at anything funny. He’s dorky and wears glasses and reads a lot. He’s passionate about what he does. He’s sexy cuz he loves me. He forgives easily. He acts like a 5-year-old when appropriate. He likes people but isn’t afraid of being alone. He loves kids (not in a creepy way). He doesn’t make us get a dog cuz he knows I don’t like them (which is why I buy him one for our 10-year anniversary – then “accidentally” leave the backyard gate open cuz I remember that I don’t like them – then have “I’m a horrible wife/person, let me make it up to you” sex every night for a year cuz I feel really guilty). We have the same values – he loves Jesus too! We go to church together and discuss the Bible but occasionally sleep-in Sunday mornings and watch movies in bed cuz we know God will forgive us. He brings an extra bag of canned goods to the church food-drive the next Sunday cuz he feels bad. He doesn’t hold grudges. He’s not afraid to be affectionate. He isn’t perfect – there are things that drive me crazy – but he more than makes up for it by making me giggle. He loves The Office, Parks and Rec, Arrested Development, and Modern Family. He hates Keeping up with the Kardashians but still manages to watch the whole episode and get into long, fiery debates with me about how long Chloe and Lamar are gonna last and how Kim’s voice makes her far less hot than she seems with her mouth closed.
I haven’t met this man yet. I’m just saying.
I see ruggedly handsome and I think, “yes.”
I meet goofy and charming and I think, “Oh, that’s right. YES.”
First comes experiencing life, then comes knowing what you want, than comes dating, then comes love, then comes marriage, then…you know the rest. I’m probably still years away but I’m glad to finally know that I can spot a keeper when I meet one.
Scared to imagine what I would’ve chosen if I’d married young like some of my friends. Gosh, he’d probably say “that’s ill” and “hey, babe, wanna watch me play Grand Theft Auto?”
No, instead I’m joining the Peace Corps and postponing all that romantic nonsense for a later date. Hoping that right guy will still be around and still be nerdy.
Though, every one of my friends and family is convinced I’ll be married to some Eastern European before the two years is complete. That is not at all my intention. I find it highly unlikely. But you never know…
Here’s to hoping my future last name is one I can be proud of…even if I find it difficult to spell.
The current most popular guy names in the Ukraine:
Oleksander, Danylo, Maksym, Vladyslav, Mykyta, Artem, Ivan, Kyrylo, Yegor, Illya, Andriy, Oleksiy, Bohdan, Denys, Dmytro, and Yaroslav.
-Age
I guess I just answered my own question.
This is probably as sexy as it gets for me.
A Man’s Man.
A Bad Boy (Yes, I'm aware he's here twice)
The type of guy who works with his hands and has punched someone full on the face at least once and not even necessarily for a good reason. The type of guy who doesn’t smoke on a regular basis but looks at home with a cigar. He loves his dog – Ty or Old Roy or Chief. Once, he drove cross-country on his Ducati just to feel the wind on his face.
Although this is the type of guy that sums up the epitome of sexy for me, it’s not the type of man I would want to marry or spend forever with or anything.
No.
That man laughs – full force – at anything funny. He’s dorky and wears glasses and reads a lot. He’s passionate about what he does. He’s sexy cuz he loves me. He forgives easily. He acts like a 5-year-old when appropriate. He likes people but isn’t afraid of being alone. He loves kids (not in a creepy way). He doesn’t make us get a dog cuz he knows I don’t like them (which is why I buy him one for our 10-year anniversary – then “accidentally” leave the backyard gate open cuz I remember that I don’t like them – then have “I’m a horrible wife/person, let me make it up to you” sex every night for a year cuz I feel really guilty). We have the same values – he loves Jesus too! We go to church together and discuss the Bible but occasionally sleep-in Sunday mornings and watch movies in bed cuz we know God will forgive us. He brings an extra bag of canned goods to the church food-drive the next Sunday cuz he feels bad. He doesn’t hold grudges. He’s not afraid to be affectionate. He isn’t perfect – there are things that drive me crazy – but he more than makes up for it by making me giggle. He loves The Office, Parks and Rec, Arrested Development, and Modern Family. He hates Keeping up with the Kardashians but still manages to watch the whole episode and get into long, fiery debates with me about how long Chloe and Lamar are gonna last and how Kim’s voice makes her far less hot than she seems with her mouth closed.
I haven’t met this man yet. I’m just saying.
I see ruggedly handsome and I think, “yes.”
I meet goofy and charming and I think, “Oh, that’s right. YES.”
First comes experiencing life, then comes knowing what you want, than comes dating, then comes love, then comes marriage, then…you know the rest. I’m probably still years away but I’m glad to finally know that I can spot a keeper when I meet one.
Scared to imagine what I would’ve chosen if I’d married young like some of my friends. Gosh, he’d probably say “that’s ill” and “hey, babe, wanna watch me play Grand Theft Auto?”
No, instead I’m joining the Peace Corps and postponing all that romantic nonsense for a later date. Hoping that right guy will still be around and still be nerdy.
Though, every one of my friends and family is convinced I’ll be married to some Eastern European before the two years is complete. That is not at all my intention. I find it highly unlikely. But you never know…
Here’s to hoping my future last name is one I can be proud of…even if I find it difficult to spell.
The current most popular guy names in the Ukraine:
Oleksander, Danylo, Maksym, Vladyslav, Mykyta, Artem, Ivan, Kyrylo, Yegor, Illya, Andriy, Oleksiy, Bohdan, Denys, Dmytro, and Yaroslav.
Think they have any of these in Eastern Europe?
-Age
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Blessings Abound
With the latest crisis in Haiti, I’ve been thinking about my life and how blessed I really am. The Bible says that the Lord will not give us more than we can handle. I live a pretty unproblematic, simple life in Sunny Southern California with amazing friends and family that will always take care of me so I think…God must not think I can handle very much. This line of thinking helps to keep me humble and to be a Counter of Blessings. Literally:
Blessing #1:
I work at a daycare and one of the parents works for the Department of Public Health. She set me up with an appointment to get my booster shots for my Peace Corps physical without having to pay! It would have cost over $100 otherwise!
Blessing #2:
My dentist (James Jesse DDS) offered to give me a check-up, make copies of my x-rays, and fill out the Peace Corps paperwork for free! Free!
Blessing #3:
My best friends are letting me rent a room for $300 less a month than I was paying before so I can save $$$. Plus, they’re awesome and living with them is going to be a lot of fun!
Blessing #4:
I just had some espresso frozen yogurt.
Thank you, Lord, for loving me so much. He loves you too.
Here's a list of ways you can help with the crisis in Haiti (via It's Unbeweavable): HERE!
Tell me about the different ways you've been blessed lately. Leave it in the comment section.
-Age
Blessing #1:
I work at a daycare and one of the parents works for the Department of Public Health. She set me up with an appointment to get my booster shots for my Peace Corps physical without having to pay! It would have cost over $100 otherwise!
Blessing #2:
My dentist (James Jesse DDS) offered to give me a check-up, make copies of my x-rays, and fill out the Peace Corps paperwork for free! Free!
Blessing #3:
My best friends are letting me rent a room for $300 less a month than I was paying before so I can save $$$. Plus, they’re awesome and living with them is going to be a lot of fun!
Blessing #4:
I just had some espresso frozen yogurt.
Thank you, Lord, for loving me so much. He loves you too.
Here's a list of ways you can help with the crisis in Haiti (via It's Unbeweavable): HERE!
Tell me about the different ways you've been blessed lately. Leave it in the comment section.
-Age
Monday, January 11, 2010
A Combination of Things
So, silly me, I decided to start a second blog because the first, this one, had such a specific focus and I didn't want to deviate from that. Well, now, just forget all that! I plan to combine them and have a wonderfully strange and confusing hybrid. Like those Liger things that may or may not be real. Seriously, are they real?
I'm not entirely sure how to do that. Something about importing and exporting past blog posts. I barely passed economics so I'm pretty sure that I'm gonna do this wrong. Does inflation effect blog posting? I really don't know.
Anyway, as I plan to inform all interested on my doings with the Peace Corps, as well as including quirky anecdotes about my daily life as an exceptional receptionist/friend/daughter/baby-holder/roommate/church-going/single/non-smoker person, I just thought why not put it all in one place. A nice mesh of all things inconsiquential and most likely misspelled...I may have just misspelled misspelled. Don't you see? You get irony here as well! What could be better? Oh. A lot of things. I see. Well, in that case, only read this when you're at work and your boss is out of the office and nothing cool is on youtube. I'll try my best to entertain. And if that doesn't work, GO BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY BUM! Jeez!
No, but really. I love you. Don't forget that. I would kiss you square on the lips if you were here. Well, no. I wouldn't do that cuz I'm a lady...and the swine flu. But I'll blow a kiss in the general direction of all of your lips right now. You don't really care do you? I'm just rambling now. Alright.
Well, I'm still the Age of Reason and I still love you.
-Age
I'm not entirely sure how to do that. Something about importing and exporting past blog posts. I barely passed economics so I'm pretty sure that I'm gonna do this wrong. Does inflation effect blog posting? I really don't know.
Anyway, as I plan to inform all interested on my doings with the Peace Corps, as well as including quirky anecdotes about my daily life as an exceptional receptionist/friend/daughter/baby-holder/roommate/church-going/single/non-smoker person, I just thought why not put it all in one place. A nice mesh of all things inconsiquential and most likely misspelled...I may have just misspelled misspelled. Don't you see? You get irony here as well! What could be better? Oh. A lot of things. I see. Well, in that case, only read this when you're at work and your boss is out of the office and nothing cool is on youtube. I'll try my best to entertain. And if that doesn't work, GO BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY BUM! Jeez!
No, but really. I love you. Don't forget that. I would kiss you square on the lips if you were here. Well, no. I wouldn't do that cuz I'm a lady...and the swine flu. But I'll blow a kiss in the general direction of all of your lips right now. You don't really care do you? I'm just rambling now. Alright.
Well, I'm still the Age of Reason and I still love you.
-Age
Friday, January 8, 2010
Holy Moly, I'm Going to the Peace Corps!!!
Lately I’ve been feeling a bit lost. I even started a blog based on my “not so sure what the heck I’m doing”-ness but recently I’ve been given a push in the right direction. A shove I think would actually be more accurate. My prayers have been answered and the Lord told me, not so subtly, what He has planned.
Growing up, I always wanted to move somewhere that was far away and extremely different from what I knew and loved. I was excited by the adventure, by the opportunity to grow, and I wanted to fall in love with something, whether it be the new places I would visit, the people I would meet, or my old home that I was given the opportunity to fully appreciate through my travels. New York was at the top of my list in my late teens. Italy is the country I tried desperately to gain access to in my early twenties. And when I recently finished college and received my teaching credential, I considered something far more extreme.
In early December of this crazy year, I started my Peace Corps application. I thought, “what a great opportunity to experience all of the things I’ve been craving while at the same time helping others and making a much needed difference in this world.” The more I learned about the program the more I wanted to join. After completing the surprisingly lengthy application process, I was almost immediately contacted by my recruiter to come to LA for an interview and informative seminar. I started to get excited…and a little nervous. OK. A lot nervous.
Before my interview, I told my dad about my plans. I expected him to point out all of the cons but what I was not expecting was for him to ignore all of the pros I tossed into the conversation. Basically, he was adamant about me not going. This was a bit of a let down and I started to quickly doubt myself and my choice. Don’t get me wrong, my dad has my best interests at heart and I know that the thought of my leaving for 27 months wasn’t too thrilling. Luckily, I have amazing friends.
I use words like amazing and spectacular and awesome far too often so when the time comes for those words to actually mean something, they fall flat. I cannot express in words the depth of my friend’s love for me and my love for them. I am literally awed by them, surprisingly touched by their compassion, forever bonded to them and there’s pretty much nothing they can do about it.
They quickly rallied behind me: picking me up, dusting me off, and filling me with so much encouragement I could have burst. They would miss me but that was a small price to pay for the ultimate benefit of such an amazing experience. The Lord has truly blessed me with a balance of friends and family that I sometimes feel I don’t deserve, though I’ll try to.
Anyway, it usually takes 9-12 months from the time you turn in your application to the time you get on a plane and depart for your destination. That’s if you get accepted. I was so sure I would be waiting months to hear anything after my interview if I did get accepted. What I was not expecting was for my recruiter, Lindsay, to whip a piece of paper off her desk and inform me that a spot was available and she wanted me to take it. I would be leaving in 5 months. Uhhhhhhh…….
I may have started hyperventilating after the meeting. She basically told me all that I needed to do, as quickly as possible, in order to receive my golden ticket and fly to…wait for it…EASTERN EUROPE in a few months.
I quickly found my Peace Corps map and looked up the countries we serve in that area of the world. I’d never even heard of some. Did you know there was a country called Moldova? Azerbaijan? Me either. But I could be potentially spending more than two years living there!
The next few months will be a whirlwind but I plan to keep updating this constantly changing blog of mine to keep those interested well informed. Your encouragement and support, opinions and advice through this blog will make my day! Will make my 27 months actually! Love you all, big and small. (I wasn’t calling any of you fat, I just got carried away)
Growing up, I always wanted to move somewhere that was far away and extremely different from what I knew and loved. I was excited by the adventure, by the opportunity to grow, and I wanted to fall in love with something, whether it be the new places I would visit, the people I would meet, or my old home that I was given the opportunity to fully appreciate through my travels. New York was at the top of my list in my late teens. Italy is the country I tried desperately to gain access to in my early twenties. And when I recently finished college and received my teaching credential, I considered something far more extreme.
In early December of this crazy year, I started my Peace Corps application. I thought, “what a great opportunity to experience all of the things I’ve been craving while at the same time helping others and making a much needed difference in this world.” The more I learned about the program the more I wanted to join. After completing the surprisingly lengthy application process, I was almost immediately contacted by my recruiter to come to LA for an interview and informative seminar. I started to get excited…and a little nervous. OK. A lot nervous.
Before my interview, I told my dad about my plans. I expected him to point out all of the cons but what I was not expecting was for him to ignore all of the pros I tossed into the conversation. Basically, he was adamant about me not going. This was a bit of a let down and I started to quickly doubt myself and my choice. Don’t get me wrong, my dad has my best interests at heart and I know that the thought of my leaving for 27 months wasn’t too thrilling. Luckily, I have amazing friends.
I use words like amazing and spectacular and awesome far too often so when the time comes for those words to actually mean something, they fall flat. I cannot express in words the depth of my friend’s love for me and my love for them. I am literally awed by them, surprisingly touched by their compassion, forever bonded to them and there’s pretty much nothing they can do about it.
They quickly rallied behind me: picking me up, dusting me off, and filling me with so much encouragement I could have burst. They would miss me but that was a small price to pay for the ultimate benefit of such an amazing experience. The Lord has truly blessed me with a balance of friends and family that I sometimes feel I don’t deserve, though I’ll try to.
Anyway, it usually takes 9-12 months from the time you turn in your application to the time you get on a plane and depart for your destination. That’s if you get accepted. I was so sure I would be waiting months to hear anything after my interview if I did get accepted. What I was not expecting was for my recruiter, Lindsay, to whip a piece of paper off her desk and inform me that a spot was available and she wanted me to take it. I would be leaving in 5 months. Uhhhhhhh…….
I may have started hyperventilating after the meeting. She basically told me all that I needed to do, as quickly as possible, in order to receive my golden ticket and fly to…wait for it…EASTERN EUROPE in a few months.
I quickly found my Peace Corps map and looked up the countries we serve in that area of the world. I’d never even heard of some. Did you know there was a country called Moldova? Azerbaijan? Me either. But I could be potentially spending more than two years living there!
The next few months will be a whirlwind but I plan to keep updating this constantly changing blog of mine to keep those interested well informed. Your encouragement and support, opinions and advice through this blog will make my day! Will make my 27 months actually! Love you all, big and small. (I wasn’t calling any of you fat, I just got carried away)
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