My P.O. Box

2010-07-04T10:21:00.003-05:00

Hey friends and family! I have finally arrived in Osnabruck, Germany for summer school after trips to Williamsburg, VA; Washington, DC; and Amsterdam. I've been journaling experiences as I go, and as I did in South Korea 2 years ago and Virginia last summer, I plan to blog about my time in Osnabruck and Europe during my time.

I think I'm currently enjoying one of the only free days I will have here, as we have a pretty full schedule of classes and excursions. This is a much needed rest after back-breaking travel. I have poured my (instant) coffee into my (flower pot of a) mug, and I'm about to upload pictures from the trip thus far. If y'all could send some air conditioning my way, I'd be ever grateful!

The Past Week in Retrospect

2009-07-06T18:43:00.002-05:00

Throughout much of this internship, I have been learning as I go. Never before have I studied economic development, obesity reduction, grant writing, or marketing; yet, I have worked on or am working on projects dealing in all of those subject areas. I am beginning to wonder if this is what the workforce will be like— and whether my education will fully prepare me for what a job will require. I am not so naïve as to think that the answer is yes, or there would not be such things as internships and value in experience. I know that I am now gaining the experience to complement my education. I am also seeing some overlap between the two, most recently in the project on which I am currently working. I have found a project that can incorporate the knowledge I have gained in the classroom and put it to a practical and transformative use.

For the current project, we are writing a grant for the Knight Foundation’s Community Information Challenge. In proving the need for this competition, Knight’s CEO very explicitly explained the challenge that communities face: “For the first time in the history of the Republic, it’s easier for a high school student to learn about the crisis in Darfur online than corruption in local government in the local media.” That statement has truly impacted the way that we have approached this project, but it has also complicated efforts. The project seeks innovative uses for technology to aid in the dissemination of local information, which is an understandable goal given the technological age in which we live. However, it is hard to develop and propose a plan involving technology for an area whose citizens cannot all access the internet. This became our own personal challenge to overcome in the project: do we develop what we think is a great proposal but may not actually engage all citizens, or do we do what would best meet the citizens’ needs, even though it might not make such a worthy grant proposal? Our solution came by a simple fusion of a medium that people were accustomed to, the television, and one we hope they will adapt to, a website. By melding the two, citizens will hopefully be exposed to and eventually transition to the website. To aid in that transition, part of our grant proposal will include site navigation education at local libraries, community centers, and senior centers.

Utilizing my knowledge of civic engagement became a way for me to connect the academic field stressed in my internship application to the work completed during my internship. My knowledge of case studies and tools of engagement became a foundation to devise exactly how the Dan River regions citizens could be engaged. After much thought and study of other models, we decided to propose an incorporation of online citizen forums to foster discussion about issues relevant to the city. Initially, though, citizens would be informed through television programming and online blog articles by citizens and elected officials. After an understanding of the issue was developed, they would engage in productive, positive discussion via the online forums with the goal of creating a solution to the issue at hand. Without even realizing it, we had formulated a plan to cultivate civic engagement within our proposal. It is not the explicit goal of the project, but we found a way to incorporate it into our plan to educate citizens on local issues. We believe that merely telling people about the issues and events is not enough; we must involve them in generating solutions to challenges and support for work already progressing.

So, in a roundabout way, I found myself bridging the gap between the classroom and the office last week. With that, the importance of learning outside of as well as inside of the classroom became more apparent than ever to me.

2009-06-21T11:42:00.002-05:00

Where do I even begin to state all that I am thinking right now? I have just finished reading all of the updates on a Facebook group, "My Louisville, MS" that is a gathering place of ideas about my hometown of Louisville. Reading it this morning has left me encouraged about the future of my hometown.

For one, thanks in part to discussion generated through this group, our town's first farmers' market was held yesterday. From the reactions on the group, it was a success in many ways. Farmers sold out, shoppers went home with local produce, and all enjoyed a resounding sense of community. How neat!

Secondly, I feel renewed about the potential of groups like this to link communities. We are living in a day of increased technological use, but I firmly believe that the rise of technology doesn't necessitate a decline in community. If anything, this Facebook group has led to a renewal in the spirit of community that exists in Louisville. It has united people of all ages and backgrounds and given them a voice in what goes on in their town. I'm even thinking about changing my personal policy against adults on Facebook (actually, that probably has already changed, as I've added many as "friends" after "meeting" them on the Facebook group). So, through its ability to connect people and ideas, technology has furthered the life of our little community.

I can't wait to see where this group will take us next. We're hoping to increase its membership over the next few months. I'd love to hear ideas as to how we can do such a thing, given the barriers to technology that are true for rural communities.

Which brings me to what I have been working on at work, or will be next week: a marketing and communications plan for the foundation to better disseminate community information to all citizens. What a challenge! Especially considering I have no marketing and communications experience whatsoever. But the results of effective communication in Louisville are encouraging to me; I get to hopefully be a part of similar things in Danville.

The Week in Review

2009-06-20T07:53:00.000-05:00

This week marked the completion of one project and the transition to another. It also marked the end of week four of the internship. I was relieved to have successfully completed our first small group project, but the end of the week brought another challenge from our boss that could not be taken lightly.
The beginning of the week was filled with preparation for final project presentations on Wednesday. I had anticipated Wednesday with excitement, because I was feeling a bit stifled by my group, as we worked on the re-branding of the region and a new economic development plan for it. My group was made up of me and three other interns: one who happens to be a roommate of mine, another who is a native of Danville, and another from China. The chemistry within the group was led by two dominant players and left to lead by one who does not quite understand American culture, and me. I will admit that I probably could have taken more control, but the lead (who will continue revising the project until the end of the summer) had already been chosen. I felt that she needed to make some of the major decisions, but I was still left frustrated almost every day at the lack of patience and understanding that existed within our group. However, it served as a great lesson in group dynamics, one that I hope to learn from as I am now the lead in my current project.
Despite these minor personality differences, our presentation was extremely well-planned and executed. On our presentation day, our boss Karl chided another group for being ambiguous and lengthy in their presentation; and the third group’s presentation could not be finished by that time because it is a grant proposal in progress. By default, our group represented the most polished report of the day, yet not without flaws. The program officers questioned several aspects of our work, but were overall pleased at the research and ideas we laid out in the end.
The next day, my new group began background research on our new project. We will be working on the Foundation’s grant proposal to the Knight Foundation’s Community Information Challenge and simultaneously developing a marketing and communications strategy for the Foundation. Marketing, admittedly, is not my area of expertise; but, I very much want the grant writing experience. I think this will offer a great opportunity to learn about each of these areas while gaining that experience.
When we went to meet with Karl, who will be overseeing our group, about directions for this project, he had a slight diversion for us. He has been selected as one of a few to brief the White House next Wednesday on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s impact on rural America. For Friday and Monday, he wants us to research these implications and brief him before he goes to Washington. While I realize that I probably will not be telling him anything he has not already heard, this is a wonderful opportunity, in my mind, to make a marked difference in public policy. In my mind, it may be the most concrete thing I do all summer. And, as a public policy major, I am actually interpreting and analyzing public policy. That work began on Friday and will continue into Monday (and over the weekend I am sure). It is a lot to digest, but I am eager to actually pull out these implications (I am also afraid to find that the stimulus probably disadvantages rural areas of the country).
So, for now, unfulfilling partnerships among my former group have been overshadowed by the task of analyzing a massive piece of legislation. But, honestly, it is a task more engaging to me than developing a marketing plan. I cannot wait to see what we discover from it.

I'm Tweeting!

2009-06-16T05:18:00.002-05:00

As if receiving blog updates from me isn't enough, I've started using the Twitter page that I started and soon forgot about. However, when I realized that I could for once be on a level playing field with characters from Newt Gingrich to Martha Stewart, I thought I'd reinvigorate the process. So, if you'd like to keep up with me on a (hopefully) far more updated basis than the blog, follow me on Twitter, @KatieGWatson.

The Most Important Decision Ever?

2009-06-12T16:29:00.005-05:00

When I tell people that I blog, most immediately assume that I take news stories, tear each to bits and pits while entering in my own (not so factually based) opinion. Because that is where a lot of bloggers exert their energy, it is what they have become known for. But up until now, I really haven't done anything too political or news worthy. However, I recently came across an article in The New York Times that I feel is worthy of extending the discussion, or "conversation," shall I say.

The article appeared under "The Conversation," the column that conservative-leaning David Brooks and liberal-leaning Gail Collins co-author in an attempt to bridge beliefs. The headline "Advice for High School Graduates" immediately drew me in; after all, I'm only two years out. Turns out, this article had nothing to do with jobs or college, as I expected. But it contained some of the most relevant information that I have been given, and not so very long ago.

Brooks had been charged with speaking to the graduating class at his former high school. At that point in a teenager's life, they are making huge decisions: where to go to college, what to major in, what organizations to become involved in.. And it seems that those decisions are immense at the time. They trump whatever is going on in life; and, two years later, I can attest that they still do. Upon meeting someone, the first questions I get asked are my school and major. In a few years, I imagine that question to have shifted to, "So, what do you do?"

But, in this article, David Brooks calls our culture out because we emphasize those (important, but not end-all, be-all) decisions, yet downplay the ones that will truly affect us in much deeper and long-lasting ways. He contemplates this paradox here:

"At the moment, I’m thinking of talking about the chief way our society is messed up. That is to say, it is structured to distract people from the decisions that have a huge impact on happiness in order to focus attention on the decisions that have a marginal impact on happiness.

The most important decision any of us make is who we marry. Yet there are no courses on how to choose a spouse. There’s no graduate department in spouse selection studies. Institutions of higher learning devote more resources to semiotics than love."

So why did this article get to me so deeply that I felt I just had to blog about it? Because this was advice that I had recently heard from someone that I deeply respected. At the end of this past semester, after taking a course so interesting it literally changed the way I look at the world, I heard the same advice. The course was essentially team-taught by a husband and wife, who are of the age to now be enjoying grandchildren. On the last day of class, when professors are typically cramming one last morsel of "knowledge" into students, we, instead, were eating cake and drinking milk and discussing marriage. Mrs. Sandy began by asking us what was the most important decision we would ever make.. and several pleased her by correctly answering marriage. Next, I listened as a seasoned woman in her second marriage told a group of green, know-nothing but think-we-know-it-all college students to contemplate that decision with more thought than any other choice of our life. That it would trump all the intelligence we are developing now. That if it wasn't right, it would cause more hurt than any job loss or failure. And as she said this, tears filled her eyes and her husband looked on with love and pride.

She proceeded to show us a book that she recommends for those making this decision, but what she had just told me was still ringing in my head. I could not believe that a college professor (albeit an utterly amazing one) had just said that. Tears honestly began forming in my eyes, before I realized what was happening. I was so touched by this conversation because no one had ever before said something like that to me; no one had stressed the importance of a spouse to me as I was busy stressing about classes, as I am currently stressing about graduate school that is over two year away!

And that is why I nodded my head over and over at David Brooks as I sat at my desk reading his article. It is also why I will forever remember by final class day of Sociology 307 and pass that advice on to those whom I will one day influence. Because this is a lesson worthy of repetition, even over the medium of a lousy blog.

Weekly Etiquette

2009-06-11T04:59:00.002-05:00

Did you know that it is acceptable to use the utensils at a meal in either the American or European way? This is a matter of etiquette that has always confused me, so I consulted my Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette, or just "Amy," as I like to refer to it. You can choose either to stabilize the food with the fork in your left hand while cutting food and then switch the fork to the right hand to eat the food (American), or keep your fork in your left hand to put the food in your mouth after cutting(European). Likewise, when you've finished a meal, you may place your utensils on the right side of your plate (American) or cross them, fork prongs facing downward, in the center of your plate (European). For some reason, both of the European traditions seem better to me, but I can't say that I hold myself to either way. However, now we know that both are acceptable!

Jefferson's Virginia

2009-06-07T17:53:00.015-05:00

I really was there!

Friday, someone referenced being glad they had the opportunity to live in a small town (read: Danville) for the summer. Quickly, I interjected that this was no small town for me. The population that I am akin to being surrounded by just increased 7 fold. However, this still does not add tons and tons of entertainment options to the list of things to do. In a way, I feel bad saying that, because it adds to the prevalent mentality that "There's nothing to do in Danville." This attitude is much of the reason that young Danville natives scurry to nearby Greensboro or Chapel Hill to spend the weekends and Washington, D.C. and Charlotte to start their careers. However, the facts are the facts. I can't say I blame those wanting to escape the life here. I do believe that the bones for an amazing town exist here (and that can't be said for every locality), but that is for another post entirely.

So, early Saturday morning, I packed a bag of snacks, grabbed a Diet Dr Pepper and hit Highway 29 to Charlottesville, Virginia for a day trip. Yes, yes, this is the home of the University of Virginia (with whom I am not happy currently after their wins over Ole Miss's baseball team). It is also where Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is located. These two attractions are entirely of Jefferson's design and exhibit his genius and ample self-taught skills in architecture.

The most prominent thought in my head as I drove back to Danville was how inspired I was by the intellect of a man who has been dead for nearly two hundred years. Jefferson read through his 8,000 volume library in Italian, Spanish, French, Old English, Greek, and of course English; he wrote letters every morning, over 19,000 of which are currently archived (he made copies--brilliant!); he kept learning throughout his life, never imposing a limit on the capability of his mind. On top of this, he served innumerable government and civilian positions, most importantly by being our 3rd President. And here am I, a 19 year old able bodied person who lets an 8-5 job take the life out of me. I think after a visit to Jefferson's Virginia, I might be able to find another source of inspiration.

One of the many bookstores around the Charlottesville area.

Charlottesville's downtown outdoor mall

Historic Court Square- Notice the beautiful mountain view between the buildings

Jefferson's Rotunda and flanking Academical Village at the University of Virginia

Monticello's vegetable gardens on the side of Jefferson's "little mountain"

Jefferson wrote the inscription on his tombstone. Note there is no mention of his holding the highest office in the United States, that of President; his proudest accomplishments are evident on this. (The family cemetery is on the grounds of Monticello and his descendants continue to be buried there)

The gardens were absolutely beautiful, and this is only a snapshot of the flowers
The most photographed view of Monticello, although it is the back side

Reflecting Upon the Past Week as an Intern

2009-06-07T17:46:00.002-05:00

It is hard to develop recommendations for an area when you have never visited it before in your life. Coming to Danville, I had reservations about how I would be received by the locals with whom I would work. I knew that my colleagues at the Foundation office would be receptive to my ideas, but I was unsure about meeting local government officials, business leaders, and citizens who would be meeting with us about projects. Soon after arriving, I learned that the hospital sale which funded the Foundation was a very unpopular decision within the area; many people confused the Danville Regional Foundation with the foundation that was formerly part of the hospital. Because of these misunderstandings, people often misconstrue the purposes of our work or greet us with skepticism. Learning of these sentiments made me even more nervous about being in Danville. The culture here (as in many small towns) often makes little room for outsiders.

I was very happy, then, when I found out that we would be touring the area and meeting with some of our grantees at their various organizations. We would even be able to sample some of the local cuisine. Two days worth of “field trips” later, the ten of us had heard extensively about history-laden areas which date back to the American Revolution, seen visible results of DRF grants, met many of the local people, and tasted the local fare.

On Wednesday, we rode to Caswell County, North Carolina, a very historic and small place. Its approximately 20,000 inhabitants are scattered over many small “villages”, as they have been called. While Yanceyville is probably the largest of them all, there is no dominant city or town in the county. We were guided by a DRF board member, former state senator, and Caswell native, Mr. George Daniels. His lively storytelling and vast knowledge of the area left no detail out of the narrative. The day was made even more meaningful with lunch at the Yancey House, home to the namesake of Yanceyville, Bartlett Yancey, at the turn of the 19th century. There we were also given an earful of stories. The town’s history is intertwined in many of its current economic endeavors. I feel it should be one of its main economic development components.

Thursday brought us to a tour of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, the Commonwealth’s largest county. We were overwhelmed by its 100 square miles and were not able to visit it all. In its few small towns, I felt very at home and could relate to their struggles and needs. The most interesting fact about Pittsylvania, and a definite break with Mississippi local government style, is that the city of Danville is an entirely separate entity located inside the county. In other words, city of Danville dwellers do not pay county taxes. Not in contrast with Mississippi was our midday meal: buffet-style, home cooking and C at E’s Restaurant. We were a worthless group of interns for the remainder of the day.

As far as projects are concerned, I am currently working on “Danville Competes,” an economic development project to re-brand this region, formerly heavily dependent on now defunct textile and tobacco mills. This is to be completed in a three week time span, so for now we are reading piles of reports compiled in the field. I am learning much about regional economic development policy and gaining an idea of what works and does not. As always, I am reading with my hometown in mind, and at times I overwhelm myself with the ideas going through my mind for Louisville. However, for now I am just appreciative for the opportunity to be exposed to this knowledge, and I hope that I can make a difference in this region before bringing my ideas back home.

Farmer's Markets Build Community

2009-06-07T07:15:00.005-05:00

A farmer's market, while not a brand new idea, is just emerging as an idea in my hometown. I am in full support of it, for all people can find reason to support them. Whether people are farmers seeking economic benefits from their produce, individuals wanting the health benefits of fresh food, or community enthusiasts fostering a common meeting place and dialogue among citizens of the community, farmer's markets can serve a range of needs in a community.

Here in Danville, a community market, housed under the department of Parks and Recreation, is held every Saturday morning at 8. Last Saturday, my roommates and I were certain to check it out, as we are doing a lot of cooking and thought we could pick up some ingredients. However, I think we came away with much more than we bargained for, and we have been more than pleased with those items. Just a sample of our purchases include: asparagus, lettuce, homemade bread, chai tea mix, strawberries, a basil plant, and a thyme plant. I roasted the asparagus in olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little herbs, and it was absolutely delicious. Below are a few pictures from the market, which is held in an old warehouse in the city's historic tobacco warehouse district.

Lauren buying homemade bread....

A magnolia bloom reminded me of Mississippi

Today is Election Day!

2009-06-02T04:58:00.003-05:00

Ok Ok, so I realize its not the "the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November" or whatever, but it is the day of the city, general elections in my hometown. Which makes me extremely excited. When I was at home for a stint, we had two primary elections. It was my younger sister's first time to vote, ever, so we infused a little fun into the process by taking this picture outside of the polls (try to ignore the fact that that is a tacky flashing arrow sign). Today, if you're in Louisville, or any other city holding elections, please vote. Our leadership is so vital to the success of small towns. Will Hill for Mayor!!

May 27, 2009, Danville, Virginia

2009-05-27T04:55:00.002-05:00

"We hope to see the world differently when you're done than we do now."

This was the charge that Karl, our boss, CEO and president of Danville Regional Foundaion, left with us as summer interns. I was fairly intimidated by the first day in general, but the laid-back attitudes of the staff immediately calmed me.

Upon arrival, I saw a beautiful, small city full of potential. The architecture and houses are gorgeous, and, lucky for me, I live in a historic district. I have two roomates, both interns as well. The ten interns are warming up to each other, and I am certain that by the end of our ten weeks together, we will laugh about our awkward first days.

As far as work is concerned, we are currently working as one group to improve the use of the walking trails in the area to increase exercise among members of the region's population. In the future, we will break into smaller groups to complete projects that are geared toward our interests, but this serves as an ice-breaker in a sense. The fascinatingly diverse backgrounds which we all bring to the table blend together to leave no facet of an issue untouched. It really is refreshing to be around such people.

This morning, my mother left to make the trip home. I will miss her ironing my clothes and cooking my meals, and mostly merely knowing that she's near, but I am ready to embrace the independence that comes with such wonderful opportunities in life. It is that thought that must remain with me: the fleeting nature of these two and a half months in front of me.

It is with these thoughts that I will today return to my cubicle as an intern. And in some way, there is nothing else I'd rather be.

2009-05-02T21:24:00.003-05:00

In my short time studying communities, I've become more and more convinced of the need for great meeting places that foster community and generate ideas with others. In Oxford, I've found that there are a host of such places on the Square, from the ever-popular morning meeting place that is Bottletree Bakery to the bookstore that will never be surpassed in my mind, Square Books.

In Louisville, we don't have these places so much, and our civic engagement suffers for it. Civic engagement is merely the participation of citizens in the decision making process, but is more than casting a vote, which is political engagement. Civic engagement was formerly at its peak with civic (hence, the name) clubs, but the increase in technology (according to Robert Putnam) has decreased the levels of social capital and engagement in America. Parents are also now more concerned with shuttling their children to every structured sport activity or ballet lesson, allowing themselves no personal time to join clubs and interact to better their communities and surroundings. There are pros and cons to everything, so I digress.

Recently, however, Lyle Grocery Cafe and White Dog Gallery have opened in the historic Lyle Grocery building in downtown Louisville. Through my stops there to eat or look at the unique art, I've had discussions with everyone from a promising mayoral candidate to kids who go to my former high school. The courage of the owners to open such a venture in a time of economic uncertainty has prompted discussion about the business, entrepreneurship, and the future of our small town. Last Friday night, as I was putting the final touches on my packing for Virginia, my mom and I sat at Lyle for two hours talking about Louisville, my summer, and everything in between with several people. It was a special occasion, for nightly openings are very much an experiment in downtown Louisville, and we knew we must support such a bold but needed effort. As we left, I kept saying, and still am, how glad I was that we went. It was refreshing to hear others' concerns about Louisville, as always happens when I am there. But what is more refreshing is that there are people who are proactively concerned, who can learn from the story of Lyle Grocery and see the positive aspects of our little town when the talk has for too long been negative. This business start up does not erase the saddening job losses that have hit industries located there, nor does it hold the potential to employ or impact a multitude of lives as those did. But it serves as an example of the ingenuity that comes out of such times. If it can make it now, if Louisville will support it, we can use this valley in our history to begin the long climb up the mountain and reverse our plight.

I was noting yesterday that towns with no extraordinary resources (state capital, university or college, interstate) can only be transformed from within. For Louisville, it will take an inward transformation, begun by those who have lived and laid roots in the community. We must learn to not feel sorry for ourselves and the hand we have been dealt, but to pull out the positives of our town and showcase them. In Danville, I'm learning more and more that this town needs a huge self-esteem boost. Louisville is on the same track: hanging our heads, ashamed of where we come from, proud of little in our area. I can't wait for the day that I will say I am from Louisville and faces will light up and the mention of it. Together, let's make that sooner rather than later-- get engaged in what is happening.

And the summer plans are......

2009-04-14T20:44:00.004-05:00

During the last three months or so, with the time that I formerly spent blogging, I developed an interest in the field of community development. This semester, I enrolled in two classes focused on different facets of it, one on civic engagement and the other casually titled "citizenship 101." Both have encouraged my interest in the field, along with a deep passion for the betterment of my own hometown.

In this spirit, I applied for an internship with Danville Regional Foundation in Danville, Virginia. The Foundation seeks to distribute $200 million gained from the sale of the local hospital to another operation company in the form of grants that will improve the community. I will spare all of the agonizing details of the application and interview process (hurriedly apply, scramble for recommendation letters in four days, wait, wait, wait, interview nervously with the man whom you were just told was the former Undersecretary of the United States Dept of Agriculture, wait more)... only to say that it all paid off! Friday, I ecstatically found out I had been selected for one of the ten internships, and since I have not been able to focus on anything else.

Nothing could excite me more than being given the opportunity to live in a new city for ten weeks and learn more about community development and improving our towns and cities. I hope to bring back some lessons for my own hometown and state, yet I hope that I will be able to impact their region in a positive way in my short time there. I'm really not sure what an intern can offer to a foundation of this magnitude, but I am more than ready to learn.

Currently, I should be studying for the Italian test that I have tomorrow. However, I am glued to websites about the Danville area, soaking up all that I can about the region. I feel like I am going to be on an extended vacation, complete with exploring all of the cultural and local aspects of a new place. I may change my opinion about this when I start the internship on May 26, but for now, the sky is the limit when it comes to my hopes to utilize my time this summer.

Much like I did last summer, I hope to use my blog first, to tell about the place where I am going as I find out more about it, and second, to communicate my experiences as I am living in Danville. Towards the end of this week, I should be finding out about potential project summaries on which I may be working. Until then, be expecting to read more about the place where I will be living.

Architecture: A recommended infatuation

2009-01-30T10:25:00.009-06:00

A few years ago, I travelled to Chicago during the summer. Ask anyone who has been there what their impression of the city was, and I can almost guarantee that they will mention its beauty and cleanliness. "It's like a clean New York," I've heard several times. I've never been to New York, but after venturing to Chicago, I really have no desire to. This past weekend I made my third trip to Chicago, this one different because I took the train. I woke up on the train as we pulled into Union Station, with the sun coming up over the skyline of this my favorite city. Architectural marvels like the Sears Tower and the John Hancock Building pierced the sky along with other famous landmarks. This city was once the home to Frank Lloyd Wright, one of our country's premier architects; his work is still very evident in the city if you look for it.

During that first trip to Chicago, when the weather was bearable and nice, my mother and I took an architectural tour of the city via the Chicago River. I must say that I'm not ever one who is big on tourist traps, but we took our places beside our fanny-pack wearing, camera-toting peers for what turned out to be a highly recommended tour. It was this tour that sparked my interest in architecture and my infatuation with this city's planning and past. I picked up posters and postcards and everything in between; they now decorate the walls in my room.

As a Southern Studies major, I have a wide range of classes from different departments from which to choose to satisfy my requirements. I immediately signed up for a Southern Architecture and Interiors course when it became available for last fall semester. If Chicago had sparked my love of architecture, this class sealed the deal. In it, we studied everything from colleges to cabins, hotels to houses. The textbook was a wonderful coffee table book that has served as the beginning of my coffee table book collection. The class didn't study architectural techniques or actual blueprints, but rather themes and finished products. It was the perfect class for the person who was interested in observing architecture and not drawing out the plans.

In December, I took a road trip along with some of my best friends to Charleston, South Carolina. While they were excited to shop or just to see the east coast, I was ready to seek out so many of the buildings that I had just studied. I logged many miles of walking in the 28 or so hours we were in the city. I snapped photos and took in as much as possible. Charleston has its own unique style of architecture to offer anyone interested in the subject. Keeping with the theme of the coffee table (text)book, I bought one entitled "Charleston Then and Now." My friends looked at my a little oddly, as they purchased their new Lacoste hat or Urban Outfitters shirt. Sensing that I had to defend myself against their questions, I told them that, for the same price, I had a book that I'd still be reading in thirty years while they would be throwing that piece of clothing out in less that three.

Giddy was I when, in the museum store at the Art Institute of Chicago last weekend, I came across the coffee table book "Chicago Then and Now." After freaking out a little too much in the middle of the bookstore, I made my purchase. And the photographs have not disappointed me at showcasing the great architecture of this city. I'm guessing that from now on my trips will have to be centered around the cities who have been written about in the "Then and Now" series. After all, it looks like I have quite a collection to build if I want my coffee table literature to be more interesting than the outfits of the guests who sit across from them.

Thought for the Day

2008-10-21T07:13:00.003-05:00

note: this is an "intro project" that i have written for my ethics and public policy class. it appears unfinished because it is. "intro projects" are just what they say they are: possible intros and outlines of thought that will be used later in the year to compile our final term paper. this one was too interesting to leave off of the blog, so have at it.

In the dwindling weeks of the campaign trail, name calling and accusations have been flying more liberally than normal. Last week, the New York Times reported that the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) was “under fire” from Republicans due to the suspected voter registration fraud that possibly occurred under its umbrella of responsibilities (Falcone, Michael. New York Times. 10/16/08). Some, mostly those of liberal political beliefs, hold that these allegations are only taking the public’s attention away from massive voter suppression (acorn.org. 10/10/08). Others, mostly those of conservative political beliefs, want to continue to shed light on the accusations and force admission or reform. Aside from this being a purely ethical dilemma, I believe that it is also one of harm. Every American citizen 18 years of age or older (yes, barring some criminal circumstances) has the right to vote. When people like the above mentioned ACORN workers take it upon themselves to lessen the right of other citizens to vote by registering deceased or underage voters or by registering others multiple times, my right is harmed. Therefore, according to the basics of the harm principle, it is the government’s duty to intervene in the crisis because every citizen’s right to vote has been infringed upon. In this paper, I will argue for the need of a government investigation into the ACORN scandal because it is exuding a harm onto the American people, people who have been given an equal say when choosing our government because every qualified person has the right to one, and only one, vote.

In the following paragraph, I will identify the context of this issue, the place of philosophers’ writings on the harm principle in this argument, causes for possible disagreement, and reasons for agreement with my thesis. This issue has no better context than the present election year, for which elections should be fair and equal to all parties involved. Philosophers like John Stuart Mill, author of the harm principle, would agree that this is in fact a breach of the common good, for it is obviously not affecting one person alone but the entire population of Americans eligible to vote. As stated above, liberals might disagree with my thesis by stating that this is voter suppression; if anything, the news coverage of the circumstances is shedding light on these minority and low-income voters and their status as such. Lastly, every American should be in support of my thesis because these illegally registered voters are encroaching on their right to vote just as much as they are on mine. This is not a partisan issue, but one of the common good.

One for One

2008-10-09T19:51:00.003-05:00

i first heard of toms shoes on oprah. normally, i'm not a fan; however, she was right on target about this company. and they are the new obsession of our campus. the company's slogan is "one for one" because for every pair of shoes that you purchase, toms will give one to a child in need around the world. their website (tomsshoes.com-check it out and buy a pair) says that they have given over 10,000 pairs to children in argentina and over 50,000 pairs to children in south africa. founder blake mycoskie has even planned so-called "shoe drops" in domestic, poverty stricken areas such as the mississippi delta. i'm so on board with that. mycoskie developed the idea for toms on a trip to argentina, when he noticed that the children there did not have shoes and were suffering from hookworm and infections. the classic toms shoe is modeled after the traditional argentinian shoe.

today, the ole miss student organization hope for africa and toms held an event outside of the union at which students were able to purchase and paint their own toms. while the website and stores sell solid colored or printed shoes, most of these were white. i was even able to get my hands on a red pair. on it i painted romans 10:15, "how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." this was toms second trip to our campus, and i hope they'll return. i'll be lined up waiting for them.

and the debate stops here

2008-09-27T17:06:00.005-05:00

i can finally breathe a sigh of relief and watch the last camera crew roll out of oxford. the debate that we have waited so long for is over. gone in 90 minutes. 90 very intense and exciting minutes. yet leading up to those 90 minutes were about 11 months and some 7.5 million dollars worth of preparation. the campus of ole miss was transformed, and so were all who watched. i was working a jewelry market in november 2007 when i received a text message from a friend telling me that ole miss had beaten 19 other universities for the opportunity to host the fist presidential debate. leading up to that point, i never honestly thought we would win. we're ole miss, a comparably small school located in mississippi, of all places. thankfully, the commission on presidential debates saw what i am so lucky to wake up every morning to see: a stunning campus that is privy to the gertrude c. ford center for the performing arts, a newly built facility perfect for the debate; a small, college town that would rally around such an event, as i saw it did. however, many of these points of pride were points of contention for others. where would approximately 3000 media lodge? could the campus support the technological and logistical needs? comments such as these were rebutted with the fact that upwards of sixty-, seventy-, or eighty-thousand people converge on oxford for football weekends. our pioneering spirit would meet any needs that the debate required, and we did.

i came to oxford in mid july to find "the debate starts here" banners flanking light poles around the city and campus. in august, security fences were beginning to be put up around areas near the ford center. many debate-related programs were intertwined into the curriculum and into extra-curricular activities. the university had said that all tickets it received from the commission would go to students. not far into the semester, the student steering committee announced the three ways that these tickets would be allotted. first, a passport program was implemented. a student could pick up a "passport" and have it stamped at every debate-related event he or she attended, up to five times. each stamp would constitute on entry into the passport lottery. secondly, students could fill out an online application about their campus leadership for possible entries into a separate leadership lottery. and thirdly, students could participate in competitions such as quiz bowl, policy proposals, student debates and others, for tickets. i entered both the leadership and passport lotteries.

on sunday, a debate week kick-off was held in front of the lyceum. it was such a beautiful afternoon for a historic moment at a very historic place. the lyceum is the only remaining original building to the university, built in 1848. forty years ago this week, the riots attempting to prevent james meredith's admission to the university took place there. as i stood there sunday, these things were going through my mind; i was filled with pride at where we are today. and i don't believe there is anyone who came to our school this week who would say that we haven't made progress. many university faculty members and coaches were on hand to draw names from two lotteries, one passport and one leadership. luckily, my name was drawn from both. i began sending text messages and calling my parents. yet i soon found out that this drawing guaranteed nothing, for the school didn't know how many tickets it had been allotted. wait until tuesday, we were told. so i trudged back to my room, doubtful that i'd make it to the event i'd looked forward to for months.

the week brought about programs ranging from environmental policy discussions to a mississippi politics symposium, my favorite. i attended all that i could and tried to remember as much as possible, although it is already fading from my memory. the most shocking event of the week, and one that affected the rest of it, was john mccain's decision to suspend his campaign due to the economic crisis in our nation. at the beginning of a lecture during the mississippi politics symposium, chancellor khayat took the microphone to alert the audience of the recent news. my mouth dropped as i made eye contact across the room to one of my good friends who is just as enthusiastic about politics as i. "they can't call this off. they don't know what we've put into this. they can't cancel the most important event ever for this university," were all thoughts racing through my mind. we all now know the outcome, but until friday morning when i received a text message from my aunt saying "john is coming," the night really was in question. however, i don't believe that i truly thought it wouldn't happen.

thursday had to be the highlight of the week so far; tom brokaw was slated to speak on campus, and i was one of the few students who had secured tickets. my family was coming into town, and we'd be going together. classes were still in session however, despite the recent change in the pace of the week. more media were present on campus, and the last place i wanted to be was the classroom. my professor in my final class of the day sensed the restlessness and absent-mindedness of the students, and she allowed us to leave quite early. naturally, several students and i strolled to the union to check out anything that might be going on there and to see if we could wander into the backgrounds of any news shot. suddenly, a friend of mine came bursting out of the union telling us that the lists of students receiving tickets had been sent out in an email. the two other girls with me had had their names drawn from the lottery, and we eagerly ran to the dean of students office as the first place we might find out. the four of us lined up beside the desk of a girl holding the list in her hand. i stood last, as i was very unsure about my chances. all three girls in front of me received tickets. my heart was already racing as i told the girl my name, and she confirmed that i had indeed won a ticket. i was going to the debate!!! a smile was plastered on my face that didn't leave all day. i immediately called my family (then on their way to oxford), told them to put me on speakerphone, and announced to the whole car that i had a ticket to the debate. after an afternoon of essentially bragging to everyone i could that i'd be going to the debate, i attended the tom brokaw debate preview in an elated state. curtis wilkie (google him; he's great) shared the stage with mr. brokaw in a conversation style talk. however, these two men occupying this stage were nothing compared to who i would be facing a mere 24 hours later.

the cbs early show was broadcasting from the student union friday morning, bright and early. upon my arrival home thursday night, i stayed up until about 1:30 making posters and signs with my kappa delta sisters so we could also be enthusiastic audience members. mine read "this lucky kd is going to the debate!" after a rough one hour of sleep, i dragged my body to the union, along with my supportive mother, to cheer on the early show. i believe we underestimated the crowd; i was forced to stand on a table that i'd regularly eat lunch on. my tiredness, distance from the cameras, and (at the time unknown to me) onset of pink eye made my time as an audience member of the early show relatively short. after other brief encounters with mississippi's governor haley barbour and an all too brief appearance at the rock the debate festival in the grove, i headed to the student health center at the insistence of my mother and aunt. now, let me assure you, the last place a political junkie present at the biggest political event of her life (which just happens to be occurring in her own backyard) wants to be is in a health center having her temperature taken. however, i was diagnosed with pink eye and sent back to my room to nap before the big events of the night, which no onslaught of disease would keep me from.

i can admit now that i'd had the dress i'd wear picked out for days. it doesn't hurt to be hopeful, right? i awoke from a nap, and my mother helped roll my hair and have me dressed for the night. i had to arrive very early, like 4:30 PM early, to a "security" tent to be screened and shuttled to the ford center. if only every security post i've been through were like this. inside, i received my actual, physical ticket. after meeting with friends, we took advantage of the food and drink provided for us. the food was catered and served on china plates. some security tent this was. there were couches and chairs, tables and rugs, all areas to socialize with others present. after munching on what would be my supper, i was screened and hopped on a shuttle bus to the ford center. my ticket was for a very good seat, front and center. after a long wait (doors didn't open until 6; events didn't begin until 7:30) i took my seat, almost directly above little cubby hole stations for the news media. i know i cannot accurately describe the set up, and so i won't even try. all i will say is that shepard smith, candy crowley, katie couric, brian williams, and tom brokaw were right over the ledge from where i was sitting. several members of the commission spoke before the actual debate, including our great chancellor, robert khayat. one of the coolest moments of the night was when chancellor khayat asked all students of the university to stand and be recognized. we did, and everyone in the ford center applauded us. haley barbour. trent lott. john kerry. that action on the part of our chancellor speaks volumes of him, that he would defer what could have been his own glorious moment onto the students that he serves. just minutes before the debate began, as the hall was silent, the anchors began their broadcasts; the memory of that is seared into my mind. "this is shepard smith, live from mississippi... good evening, i'm katie couric... hi, i'm brian williams... and i'm tom brokaw..." the immensity of the moment hit me, and not long after, the two candidates for president of the united states were standing before me.

you probably saw the debate, so i will cease to elaborate here. the jaw dropping moments were frequent; the memories were constant. i have taken so long to post this because i want to recount everything. i want to tell my children and grandchildren about this election. the opportunity to host this debate has lit a political fire under this town, and, i believe, in the rest of the nation. i can't convey the appropriate gravity of this event, much less the impact of attending it. i would say, that if you are on a university campus, hosting a debate should be an aspiration. watch out though, because the university of mississippi is ready, very ready to accept the challenge once again.

2008-09-05T06:02:00.004-05:00

its really too bad that i'm only now posting about this subject. had i done this two nights ago when i was so excited, i'm sure it would have been much different. however, i've gotten one cup of coffee in me so i'm going to give this my most enthusiastic shot. while watching sarah palin speak wednesday night, i kept thinking how proud i felt, how i caught myself smiling at the tv or tearing up because there was this smart, articulate, witty woman standing on the stage. i never understood why there was such a huge focus on women during hillary's campaign. yeah she's a woman, i thought. but shouldn't we be voting for someone we agree with on the issues or will do the best job? now i know what that feeling is like. since sarah palin has been added to the republican ticket, i've become almost obsessed with it. i now know what it is like to have a woman on the ticket in my party, and it adds enthusiasm to a campaign that greatly needs it. whereas mccain has received mixed reactions and mostly pledges of votes for the party and not necessarily for him, palin is reviving the campaign. she's actually a person that makes you want to vote for her. she was terrific wednesday night. and hello, she's been a mayor. this is seriously my new role model. i was in my dorm room watching with a couple of friends, and based on facebook statuses, i wasn't the only one watching or enthusiastic. i even put on my "votes for women" button. meant to immitate those worn by women suffragists, it served a bit of a different purpose for me. i'm so proud that sarah palin is the vp nominee, and even more proud that i can relate to her in some small way.

2008-08-23T12:43:00.002-05:00

"in America, perhaps more than any other place, and in the South, perhaps more than any other region, we go back to our homes in dreams and memories, hoping it remains what it was on a lazy, still summer's day twenty years ago."

-Willie Morris, North Towards Home

last night, i listed my home and family on a list of my top 5 most favorite things. maybe because they were fresh in my mind from spending several weeks in louisville this summer, but i know i'd include them any time of the year. as noted mississippi author willie morris recalled in the above quote, we really do like to think that all of those former memories still exist and that a town is as unchanged as ever. as i rode down the streets of my childhood, i remembered many things that were once common. and yet, things were changing all around me. we don't think of change in our small towns as an ever-present force. we like to think that things move at a slow pace and under a watchful, guarding eye. however, our small towns are changing rapidly; they have given way to modernization and globalization just like our large cities and our nation. the main street and downtown area of my hometown has had to gain its footing as wal-mart and many other chain businesses move to another, more busy, area of town. this leaves behind ugly, ill-maintained (if maintained at all) buildings that are an eyesore. are schools are failing our children as well, leaving them with the urge to get away as soon as they are handed a diploma.

are we willing to accept this as a by-product of the changing times? are we going to look up one day and see a ghost town for a main street and dwindling numbers as our population? our small towns have just as large of a part in the workings of our nation. a strong and committed local government is crucial to the thriving of our towns. don't abandon the places we love, the places that hold our memories and hearts, because it may require a little work. and don't shut your eyes to the transformations around you. because one day you may return, be it twenty years or twenty days later, and you will see a changed town just as i did. i didn't include my hometown on that list because my family lives there, or because its where i return every few months. i wrote it down because i love all that it was and is and that it can be. and because i have a passion for it. one day i will be back, for as willie morris stated in his book, "i would never wander very far away."

this blog is going political

2008-08-06T16:21:00.002-05:00

i have thus far refrained from using my blog as a political soapbox. when i tell people i blog, most assume that it is about all things politics, due to my interest in politics and to the fact that blogs are most often associated with political issues. i originally wanted mine to be different. however, as the olympics near, i cannot help but express my outrage and feelings over the chinese and their callous and systematic, and also rather ignorant, way of hosting the olympic games. i have just read the latest story in a string of them: that the chinese government has denied a visa to a winter games athlete wanting to enter the country to cheer on fellow members of "team darfur," a group of athletes who also happen to be activists against the sudanese government's genocide in darfur. the sudanese government is heavily supported economically by the chinese government, thus their reasoning in denying this athlete a visa. i also read today of how the chinese pull children out of their villages to rigorously train for the olympic games under the close eye of a propaganda minister (really??) and a coach. their every word is scrutinized by these officials, and when interviewed by reporters, all answers relay back to their sport; their is no diversion. china, i promise we won't think less of your athletes' abilities if they just happen to have other hobbies than ping pong. china has also torn down homes and businesses in order to beautify the path to the games and of the torch. they have also told their citizens how to behave around foreigners, with some of the most ludicrous rules including to not wear more than three colors at a time and to wear dark, not white, socks. they are so taking it overboard. what they should be doing instead is improving the things about which the world does care, like the elimination of the genocide in darfur and the suppression of the tibetans. many have railed against the committee who chose china to host the games, saying that it should not be held in a communist country. well, sorry, but the soviet union and even hitler's germany hosted the games. in my opinion, this is the best thing that could have happened for for those wanting to shed light on the situation in their country. while china may think that we are checking out their crumbling structures and socks, our eyes are set on their failure to put humans at the top of their priority list.

A Review of my Experiences in Korea, as part of an assignment for my professor (after all, this was a class... and for a grade)

2008-08-05T13:35:00.002-05:00

The scene in Incheon Airport on July 28, the final day of our exchange, was a perfect depiction of the experiences of the past month. As I waited in line to check in to my flight, I knew that the next few moments were going to be extremely hard. A lump started growing in my throat as I handed my passport to the Korean Airlines employee, in reluctant anticipation of saying goodbye to the eight remaining Korean students, now my close friends, who were standing behind me. After checking my luggage and not being able to postpone the moment anymore, we began saying our goodbyes. Of course, the tears were flowing; but we also had genuine smiles on our faces. A few of us were even able to laugh through our tears. These emotions we had come to see daily for the past month.
Before meeting the Korean students, I was a bit reluctant about many aspects of the trip and about the culture into which we would be living. I am sure I had a lump in my throat and a similair feeling of unwanted change as I said goodbye to my mother and sister in Memphis. However, that first night, with my roommate Yi Soo, I discovered one of the wittiest and kindest persons I will ever know. She immediately made me feel at home, in my own country of all places. The rooming assignments of a Korean student and an American student unquestionably helped the understanding between the two groups.
It is extremely hard to name the best and worst parts of the program. Since being home, I have said that the American students received the “best of both worlds” while on the exchange. In America, we had the privilege of meeting with many business and political leaders whose advice will be beneficial and influential to our futures. We also seemed to bypass a lot of the “tourist-y” things that many had already visited, yet we still seemed to gain a great understanding of the places we visited. I also appreciated the free time we had every few days, which afforded time for the occasional recuperative nap and personal sightseeing. While in Korea, we were able to visit many landmarks, which could be deemed “tourist-y”; yet, they were enthralling to all students. We were taxingly busy, but most of us wanted to optimize our time anyway. I can say now that I was able to visit and see all that I had hoped to witness.
More than anything that I learned on a tour or a museum, I learned so much about the Korean culture and the students’ perspectives from the Korean students individually and as a group. Thankfully, they were not afraid to share or illustrate, to enquire or second guess. I feel that I gained a new picture of their culture, one that I would not have had the privilege of seeing had I been an average tourist in their country. I feel that I have been able to break stereotypes and see past race or skin color.
As they introduced themselves in Memphis, the Koreans’ names baffled me. I said I did not think that I would be able to master them. Yet, in the airport exactly four weeks later, I was able to call each one by name, knowing more than their faces, but their characters and personalities as well. This exchange allowed me the unique opportunity to learn about Korea through its people, and that has made all of the difference in the lessons that I have brought home.

there's no place like home

2008-07-30T21:52:00.002-05:00

so, at the urging of my family, i'm posting to affirm that i have made it home. its been two days since my arrival in the states, and my sleeping is still much off track. i stay up late into the night and have trouble making it through the day. besides that, and my persistent lack of appetite (i won't complain), i'm adjusted to home. i've unpacked my suitcases and have begun to hand out souveniers. my days are now filled with the aimlessness that filled may and much of june. however, i did go to the library yesterday and leave with a stack of books that i plan on reading. there's also decorating the dorm room and packing, with moving being only three weeks away. so now that i write it in front of me, i see that there are things to do. and as always, i will be posting about it for everyone to read.

Notes from Jeju

2008-07-27T01:42:00.002-05:00

don't we look excited??
mount halla surrounded by the mist
taking a rest- these stairs lined much of the 10 kilometer (round trip) trail
filling water bottles at the spring
cooling my feet off in a spring- hopefully not the same one i drank from :)

Friday, July 25, 2008- 10:22 PM- Jeju Island, South Korea

Friday, July 25, 2008- 8:22 AM- Mississippi, USA

I believe that I have truly accomplished something today. I climbed the tallest mountain in South Korea, Mount Halla. That was really all our day amounted to, that and a definite lack of appetite and an eagerness to be home. Since leaving Seoul, most of the Americans have become homesick and quite ready for all things American. I remarked today about how much we have come to learn of one another’s families because we often reminisce about the food and, in turn, the people back home. Through this, we have gotten to know one another well. It will be sad in a certain way to lose this closeness and dependence that we have come to have on each other. Being away from family and even the mere place of home has not been easy; I couldn’t have made it alone. It has only been through the encouragement of my friends that my days have been as enjoyable and memorable as they were. We’ve become our own little family as well. We call it John and Kate plus 8, like the tv show. Many of us watch it, but it just so happens that the American students can exactly comprise it. Trey’s real name is John, my nickname Kate, which leaves us with exactly 5 girls and 3 more boys to be the children. Pretty silly I know, but it is fitting. I really always act as the mother, handing out medicine for the nausea and aches that Korean food inevitably causes. Speaking of that, I barely ate today. I just lose my appetite when I sit down for a meal, and afterwards am not even hungry. Tonight at the beginning of dinner, after hearing some shrieks from the front table, I turned around to see a live octopus boiling in a pot on the table (mostly all Korean food is cooked right in front of you on your table). That did it for me; I seriously did not touch food after that. We even had to order Sprite because so many thought they were going to throw up. Sadly, I think we offended the Koreans. This troubles me because I have seen them in our country; and, while they didn’t rejoice over our food, I don’t think we received any reactions like ours were tonight. I normally wouldn’t consider myself a picky eater, I just speculate that we are at the point in our trip where we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. If we don’t eat, we won’t die. We’ll just find a convenience store as always, and buy chocolate bars and candy. We’ve discovered all the kinds we like. While I think I’ve only gained weight on this trip, I’m hoping that today brought about the opposite. I literally climbed a mountain. It wasn’t easy by any means and took every bit of motivation I could muster. The first half was as if we were in a rainforest- very misty and green. In the second half, we were actually walking in a cloud. The wind was whipping and we were soaking wet from the amount of humidity. It was even quite cold. The trip down was just as tough, and the whole journey has brought about a sore body.

2008-07-26T08:32:00.002-05:00

i'm back in seoul! finally! i actually missed the city. while flying here this evening, i calculated that after monday, i will have hit 11 airports this summer: jackson, baltimore, washington d.c., new york, incheon, busan, jeju, gimpo, chicago, memphis, and houston. 10 are from this trip alone. beginning two days ago, i'll be flying every other day for six days. all of the bus riding and flying of late has made me quite tired, so i'm not posting a true update. however, in jeju i kept daily notes since i had no internet access; after finishing them, i'll post. less than 48 hours to go!

2008-07-25T19:16:00.000-05:00

Thursday, July 24, 2008- 2:03 PM- Gyeounju, South Korea- in transit to Busan for airport

Thursday, July 24, 2008- 12:03 AM- Mississippi, USA

Korea is a naturally lush and beautiful country. Today, as we have now moved to the countryside city of Gyeounju, I have seen it more and more. In Seoul, towering peaks were seen shadowing the city’s skyscrapers, but out here, one has a fully unobstructed view of the mountains. At our hotel, really a resort, we had amazing views of Anapji Pond. At our very American breakfast this morning, we were able to see a large portion of it along with mountains in the background thanks to a wall of windows. We promptly checked out and headed to a Buddhist temple, which was just as engaging and set right in the midst of small ponds and greenery. We were even able to see the monks and Buddhist followers say their many prayers to several golden Buddha statues. It reminded me of a book I read not long ago: Eat, Pray, Love, in which the author goes on a year-long spiritual journey and follows many practices of Buddhism. While the book was very unlike anything I believe, it did help explain many of the rituals that I saw and heard today. Next, we went to a nook in this town to make pottery. I say a nook because it was literally a curvy street filled with homes and artisan shops tucked into a mountainside. It had a lot of character and charm. There we were able to see one man at his pottery wheel, making beautiful art that is a strong tradition in Korea. We saw his kiln, unlike the ones in the United States. Then we were able to go into his classroom and make the pottery ourselves. Viewing his shop was like stepping back in time. His tools were very traditional and included no newfangled materials. Some wire, leather, and hewn wood were all he used. His wheel was manual as well. While we didn’t get to keep our pottery because of timing, it was nevertheless a very cool experience. We moved on to lunch at a Korean traditional restaurant, observing the tradition of the eldest sitting in the center and eating their dishes first. I sat at a table with the younglings, as I am the second to youngest on this trip. We ate shashimi (raw fish), kimchi, beef, porridge, noodles made from squid, vegetables, miso soup, wheat pancakes, and much more. Sounds like a lot of food, but I haven’t gotten “stuffed” like I would in America since coming to Korea. Because those at our table didn’t eat all of our dishes, we passed them along to the table next to us. I have included a picture of their table, because the number of dishes on it is way more than normal. Koreans eat using many small plates filled with each side dish or main dish. Its community eating, as you always share those dishes with the others at your table. After lunch we were able to pass by the Anapji Pond area, but due to our running behind schedule, it was only a view of flower fields. Lotus flowers and some orange, unnamed flowers grew on both sides of our road. The lotuses were especially striking to see. Actually, last night at dinner, lotus roots were served as a side dish. Anyway, we have now made it to the airport in Busan, where I am now finishing this post. I cannot find a wireless signal (not surprising) so I will postpone this post until I have one, hopefully at my hotel tonight. I am really excited to finally make it to Jeju Island. Since receiving the itinerary and looking it up, I knew it would be a relaxing way to end this trip. Can’t wait to tell about it.

as the trip winds down..

2008-07-22T14:58:00.003-05:00

we've done some pretty cool things the past few days. unfortunately, so much of it has required long bus rides often, and i think we're pretty tired of that dead time. without sleep at night, we've gotten good naps in; however, we end up more tired afterwards. and today will only be filled with more, and probably longer, rides. we've travelled out into the countryside of korea, if it can be called that. it seems that even after driving out of the city for an hour, high rise buildings, mostly apartments, are still present. the rest consists of rice fields. the mud festival sunday was interesting more than anything. it seemed catered to "foreigners" and that word appeared everywhere: restaurant for foreigners, toilet for foreigners, lockers for foreigners. they were even giving away mud soap-but only to foreigners. so it was definitely an event catered to tourists. we've also visited the hyundai plant in asan, toured the presidential house (more like the presidential grounds), and seen a musical that was very much like the american movie step up. scattered in between has been some shopping. i've also, at the recommendation of my professor, found a very neat tea shop in the insadong neighborhood. the area is known for its shopping and many art galleries, and we've visited there a few times. the tea shop is hard to find, hidden away, without english words to mark its spot. we literally had to get out the korean characters and compare them to the ones on the building. sarah and i went saturday and then alex, scarlet and i went monday. both times we sat and read or journalled and drank the best tea i've ever had. i have gotten hooked on plum tea, and the older lady who runs this shop makes it very well. i took one picture of the place, but it really doesn't do the atmosphere justice. today, i must leave seoul to head for other sightseeing ventures elsewhere. the next few days look busy, and before i know it, i'll be on a flight headed back home.

p.s. happy birthday mama!

technically, i have now been to north korea

2008-07-18T16:20:00.002-05:00

larger view of north korean looking at us through binoculars
zoomed
i really was there!
propoganda village and its massive flag

our initial look at the area (behind is the south korean building)
the north korean civilian workers
the north korean building
blue building-UN. silver-NK
south korean guard standing half out and half behind a building

this was taken out of the bus window, but shows the barricades in the road
this was as close as was allowed from the DMZ viewpoint

south korean soldier in stance (inside UN building)
the actual line that the buildings are on. on the left is north korea, the right is south korea

that is, if you consider stepping into their half of a room in a building that straddles the line. regardless, it was by far the most interesting thing that i have done in korea. we first went to the DMZ; but not before going through several checkpoints and down roads with barriers that prevented our bus from heading in a straight line- it instead had to zig zag around them. along the drive up the mountain, the road was lined with a fence that was clearly marked "mine", in multiple languages, at short intervals. actually, alot of the land still has potentially live mines throughout. at the DMZ, we had a large and unobstructed view from high atop a hill to down below, and what i saw was astonishing. you could clearly see into north korea, including a north korean factory that, as the south korean soldiers said, made only basic goods like clothing. we could also see a north korean tower that prevents all south korean cell phone, tv, and radio signals from infiltrating north korea and keeps north koreans cut off from the outside world. soldiers said towers like this were rampant along the border between the north and south. we could also see two villages, one on each side of the line. they were set up as provisions of the armistice agreement, so the two factions could receive a glimpse as to life in the other. however, the north korean village has now been abandoned by people, although maintained, and is a ghost town. formerly, for about 6-8 hours a day, propoganda would blast through the village through a loudspeaker, speaking of the greatness of north korean leader kim jung il. for this reason, it has been dubbed the "propoganda village" by the south korean soldiers. from it also flies a 600 pound north korean flag atop the largest flag pole in the world, which can be seen from many different vantage points. the south korean village, called "freedom village," houses farmers who farm the land and live in modern and spacious homes. their living is probably a misrepresentation of other south korean peoples, because they average a salary of $82,000 per year. however, living in this village is not easy, as they impose strict curfews on inhabitants who should be accompanied by a guard when in the field. a few years back an unaccompanied woman was kidnapped by the north koreans and held for only three days before released. ironically, she was released because she relentlessly questioned north korean officials on why their people didn't have cars, internet, and such. pretty clever. after the DMZ, we drove to another location to experience the third tunnel, one of four discovered and many more suspected that had been built by the north koreans in preparation of infiltration of the south in a few decades ago. it was very eerie to be inside of a place like that. it was cold and very damp. the ceilings were short and water was dripping from them. north koreans had done several things to make it look as if they used the tunnels to mine for coal; however, this area of the country is not suitable for coal mining. their excuses for other tunnels, include saying that they were really dug by south koreans and they (the north) had no part in their building. after the tunnel, we drove to camp bonafis, the united nations command center to prepare to go to the JSA, joint security area. that would be joint as in north and south koreans, un and american forces. normally, south koreans are not allowed to take this tour, only foreigners. but because we were accompanying them, it was allowed. upon arrival, we had our passports checked and were briefed on the details of north/south relations. also, we signed a waiver that, among other things, acknowledged that we might be injured or killed. it also included provisions that our clothes must be representative of our nation and the UN and that we not make jestures or point at the north koreans (lest they use footage of it for propoganda). no piece of paper could have really prepared me for what we saw. after a short bus ride to the actual line, we were made to stand in two single file lines, one of which i was the head. we walked out of a south korean building, and the first thing i saw was a north korean guard staring straight at us through binoculars. we were only maybe 50 to 75 yards from him anyway. i know i mumbled my astonishment, with maybe an "oh my gosh" under my breath. but that happened quite often yesterday. we were able to take pictures, as they were pretty lenient with that. all of the areas that we could take pictures were the "good spots", and places we couldn't were mostly fields. there were about 10 or 12 north korean civilians, as we were informed, working on a guard tower to our right. we came out of a south korean building built for reunions between northern and southern relatives, yet the north koreans won't use it for that, instead allowing southerners to come to a tourist locale in the north to see family members. the north koreans had a similar building (where the guard was) and in between were three UN buildings (the blue ones) and two north korean buildings (the silver ones). i hope the pictures that i post will better explain this layout. there were south korean guards standing half way out from their buildings, because this stance "made them a smaller target", granted we were larger ones. they were in a taekwondo position and wore dark aviator sunglasses to give off an even more intimidating appearance. we were able to walk into one of the conference, UN buildings, really a room, which is where, by nature of the building's straddling the line, i entered communist north korean territory. inside the room alone were three south korean guards. we were able to take pictures here, and soon moved outside, again in two single file lines. this is when i was able to photograph the lone north korean guard looking at us through binoculars and saw two other guards escorting a man across their building. i also counted four cameras on the north korean building, all aimed at us. the u.s. army soldier who was escorting our group emphatically told us earlier, again reiterating the "no pointing or gesturing", that they "were watching us." in fact, we were specifically told not to wear jeans or a white t shirt because that is north korea's view of americans. it was frightening and neat at the same time to know that they were so close and watching us as well. the rest of our tour included stops at places of skirmishes between forces, a better view of the two villages, and a view of the bridge of no return. the tour was by far a fascinating one, something i will never forget. its not every day that americans can be so close to a trapped, unfree society. it puts things into perspective and will make you thankful for what you have.

are those really..... americans???

2008-07-16T17:13:00.003-05:00

america, as we all know, is very much a melting pot for different races and cultures. we have no certain skin color or trait that denotes our being american other than our homeplace. in korea, the people are much more homogeneous. they all have dark hair and eyes, are typically petite, etc. needless to say, we stand out. we have a few blond haired, blue eyed people, and even a couple red-ish haired ones too. we have two boys who are over 6' 5", and we are definitely not as small as our korean counterparts (what can i say- we're from mississippi!). however, i didn't expect to be as uncommon as it seems that we are. wherever we go, people literally stare at us. at first, we didn't pay much attention. but then, it kept happening. people will break their necks in order to look at us. you can see them occassionally pointing and whispering too. we take no offense to this and realize it is only because they do not see many americans, despite this area being a large metropolis. this infatuation was never more evident than yesterday, as we were visiting an ancient palace in seoul. a group of chinese children were no more than 10 feet away from us, staring of course. suddenly, we looked at them and they were snapping photos and panning video cameras in our direction. taken aback by this attention, we began waving and acknowledging them. they didn't let up until they got the shots they wanted. i believe they were a bit embarrassed that we saw them do this, but nonetheless, they didn't immediately stop. our tour guide said that the chinese were more timid, but that korean children can be so bold as to come up and hug us or even ask for our autograph. at another visit yesterday, we had the opportunity to try on traditional korean dress. i assume that it is odd that there are ten white people in a room wearing korean clothing, but nothing too out of the ordinary. i must have the minority opinion. the ten of us and our teacher gathered in a group to take a photo, yet were soon surrounded by people (certainly made up of more than our korean friends) flashing cameras at us. upon realizing what a spectacle we were, we began laughing incessantly. we finally broke up, but there continued to be fascination with our group. no less than three different women, one after another, raced up to our blond haired, blue eyed teacher to have her picture made with him. we, as did he, again thought this was hilarious. while we think it nothing to see a person unlike us on the street, a different story is told in korea. i guess i can now only imagine where photos of me are going to end up in the world.

2008-07-15T07:20:00.003-05:00

this sign greeted us upon leaving the plane
this bus picked us up at the airport
advertisement in mcdonald's
normal street with food and shopping
this morning's breakfast

today was such a day. i had a wonderful start to my morning by waking early to drink my refrigerated, Starbucks latte and read The Scarlet Letter, which I began on the plane. my
roomate was still asleep so it was great peace and quiet. a campus tour was scheduled for today, but in actuality it was a free day. however, the schedule here does seem much more rigid, so i think those will be few and far between. two korean students, jong uk and boram, had gone to get breakfast for all of us. how truly nice this was. they came back to the dorm with dunkin donuts, sushi type breakfast rolls, and plenty of orange juice and milk. we all crowded around a table and enjoyed the food, which was delicious. it felt great to be taken care of like that, and was a much better experience than searching for breakfast as we did yesterday. at that piont it truly hit me that it was so important that we had the koreans there to help us. contrary to popular belief, not every person in the world is fluent in english. we have the most qualified tour guides at our fingertips. after a brief meeting in a (hot) classroom on campus, we headed to lunch at a traditional korean restaurant. i'm having trouble putting this into words, for it was so unlike anything i have ever experienced. four of us sat around one table, which has a large boiler in the center. two people share a salad and kimchi as the beginning of the meal. we were told we could choose between beef (australian) or seafood as our main dish. liking both, i said i was flexible, and my table ended up with seafood. yet, this was not typical american shrimp and scallops. on the plate was octupus, squid, shrimp, seashell (i believe these were mussels and oysters), and more. on another plate were lettuces, mushrooms, dumplings- mostly vegetable type foods. these were put into the now boiling pot first and were soon ready to eat. they really weren't that flavorful, and after one day of eating korean food, i have found this to be my main argument against it. they eat some dishes with hot pepper paste, but really use no other spices. its as if it is all or nothing. after the vegetables, the seafood was put in gradually. i will say that i ate some octopus, which had a funny texture but was otherwise ok. i was going to eat shrimp, but i think i lost my appetite. when the waitress came around asking for more salad, i decided to fill up on that instead. soon after, noodles were brought out. i loved them. and then, rice that was cooked in the broth left from the other things. it seems like an immense amount of food, but it really was not filling. i say that in the sense that we in america tend to fill ourselves to the brim. that is not the case here. after eating, the girls went shopping. i have found that korea is much cheaper than the u.s. i bought a few things for myself and some happies for some back home. i'm still waiting for them to take me to a neat market. tonight was mostly a night of rest. i took a nap and awoke just in time to make it to dinner downstairs. the koreans were cooking for us. we had pork and galbi (their version of barbeque-but not really similar to ours). it was good, not extraordinary, but i could definitely eat it often. i came up to my room hoping to get a good night's sleep, but am not sure about that. we have an early day tomorrow, and we'll spend all of getting a city tour of seoul. i cant wait to see what else this city has to offer, away from our small corner of it.

the most wired city in the world?

2008-07-15T07:13:00.002-05:00

so much for that! my roomate has just gotten my internet up and running so the blogging can begin. luckily, i kept journaling regardless of the availability of my blog. i am going to post yesterday's below and next write on today and post pictures!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008. 7:13 AM- Seoul, South Korea. Monday, July 14, 2008. 5:13 PM- Mississippi, USA.

Fate has forced me to retreat to Microsoft Word to “blog”. In the “most wired city in the world”, a boast that we have been touting for months, I cannot get a wireless signal or connection otherwise to the Internet. So many times have I wanted to sit and tell of the adventures of the past 24 hours, but my dependence on technology tells a different story. I’ve even thought about going to paper and ink- I brought with me two journals, but that is now my last resort. So I am writing this account and will publish it as soon as I can.
I think that I must admit that I have been homesick since getting to Korea. The Korean students didn’t fly in with us, and navigating the city alone became very hard for us. We landed at about 3 yesterday morning. I had slept plenty and well on the flight, so, when we got to our rooms, I started milling around and getting dressed for the day. The troubles started there. Remember, I am alone at this point, which was probably not good for me anyway. The air conditioning, as I now know, is remote controlled. While it didn’t take me an eternity to figure this out, the time it did take was hot. They use air conditioning very sparingly around here, so I was sweating through my clothes by this point. Also, my adapters and converters to power outlets were giving me fits. This I also soon mastered; but, after a 14 hour flight to a new country 6000+ miles away from home, all I could do was sit on my bed and cry. Family, do not worry; I made myself snap out of it through a little talking to myself and keeping myself busy. As soon as I was dressed, I went to a friend’s room. We were soon conversing about our shared struggles to adapt to a new environment. I am realizing now that this is all part of such a wonderful experience, and it can only be good for me to not be surrounded by every comfort of home. I have everything that I need right here. If I do not get the internet for two weeks, it won’t be the end of me. But, food, that is another story. We were all hungry for breakfast, so we ventured onto the main road near our dorm to find something. After several frustrating attempts for directions from one too many people who didn’t speak English, we spotted the blessed golden arches of McDonald’s, and all but sprinted to her doors. With my belly full of hotcakes and coffee, I felt ready to embrace the city- that is, until I walked outside to the stench. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this city stinks. They do not have trash cans anywhere, and littering is rampant. It is not uncommon to see Seoulites walking around with masks on- fighting either the smell or pollution, I’m not sure which. Even the halls of our dorms smell because of the cooking and the fact that the windows are constantly open- even in the heat and humidity. The humidity is worse than that of the South, so walking around it in yesterday took some adjusting. We found a very neat restaurant where the food is prepared and put on a revolving type platform that circles around by every table and diners grab whatever looks appetizing to them. The food was mostly sushi, with a few servings of fruit mixed in. Needless to say, we loved it. Afterwards, we headed to an outdoor market to shop, where I got two Starbucks drinks that can be refrigerated in my room. Those will be good for the mornings. The Koreans arrived last night, and I believe that we were all so tired that we exchanged brief but nonetheless happy greetings before settling in for the night.

hello washington!

2008-07-08T23:35:00.000-05:00

it seems that everywhere i go, from fed ex to the state legislature to washington, i picture myself working there in the future. maybe i'm a dreamer or, better yet, maybe i'm confused. but i do think i'm going to like this city. i know i like the hotel. it is so so opposite from the econolodge, and the closest thing to my stay at the conrad in chicago. i know that there is much activity occurring right now in this city so it makes staying here all the more exciting. but really, i cannot get over this hotel. my coffee is ready to be made in the morning, and my bed feels like a cloud right now. speaking of that, i think i am about to curl up with my book and get some rest.

a dead day

2008-07-08T16:49:00.000-05:00

so today has, yes, been a dead day. we awoke this morning to hear some koreans present on varying aspects of their lives and cultures, and we left before all were completed in order to make it to the aiport. if only we could have forseen the future. its 4:51 (despite the time the web says i posted), and i'm still sitting in the aiport waiting on a 2:50 flight. our time has been moved from 4:25 now to 6:10 due first, to the weather in baltimore and secondly, due to mechanical problems. luckily, we have no set activities for tonight. after arriving in baltimore, we still have a one hour or so drive by shuttle or bus to d.c. i don't mind being here though, because i get to watch the planes and catch up on reading. we've done everything from playing spoons and cards to hide and go seek in the airport. i'm now savoring my last few moments in the south. i cant wain to return to y'all and share of the great things the world has to offer.

2008-07-07T09:21:00.000-05:00

i am finally rested. i'm not sure how long i slept last night, but i know it was over 9 hours. and i'm also waking up to no coffee, because i wouldn't dare drink it in the hotel that we are in. let's just say it's not the cleanest place. when we pulled up and unloaded in jackson, i thought our group had reached the breaking point. we were in a nasty "motel", were not in a walk-able area, and couldn't agree on lunch. but somehow we pulled it all together and no arguing erupted. i would say that we've bonded pretty well. the past two nights when we've eaten our tables have been almost perfectly mixed with koreans and americans- and not on purpose. last night we had some comfort food at cock of the walk in jackson. i sat by, if i may say it, probably my favorite korean, yi soo. she's hilarious and very dramatic in her mannerisms and facial expressions. she's very smart and opinionated too, but caring and kind all at the same time. throughout this trip, we've really pushed the whole "southern" thing onto the koreans. in memphis, another american student, rob, and i were so excited over turnip greens and cornbread that we supposedly yelled at the koreans to try them. anyway, last night rob and i had a "competition" between our two tables over who could get their koreans to first, eat and like the food (turnips, cole slaw, catfish, fried dill pickles....) and second, say the most southern thing. luckily for me, one of my koreans loved turnips. they loved the meal in general, despite it being unhealthily fried. it dawned on me that everything there really was fried. but, i believe that i won when i taught yi soo to say "hey y'all its fixin' to rain i reckon." all rob's group could conjure up was "the south will rise again." then a korean at the end of my table yells out "go to hell LSU!", and the victory was definitely cemented. below is a video of yi soo and yung won saying the phrase, which had to be written on a napkin (pictured above), along with hotty toddy, this time for yi soo.

2008-07-06T17:01:00.000-05:00

visiting a korean baptist church was a great glimpse into what our time in korea will be like. we heard alot of korean being spoken and we ate korean food that they prepared for lunch. it tasted very good, and it eased my fears about eating in korea. going to their church was a very welcoming experience; it is probably one of the most hospitable visits we've had this trip. it was also amazing to hear the hymns being sung in two different languages, yet know that we were also singing to the same God. a member of the church also prepared a presentation about korean culture, and the discussion that ensued was helpful.

after church we visited eudora welty's home. i learned some new things about this native mississippi writer as we were guided through her house by her niece. her niece told me that she called welty "do do" because, as a young child, the niece's older sister couldn't say eudora.

happy fourth of july!

2008-07-04T16:14:00.001-05:00

i am probably celebrating my most unique fourth of july today. i was in oxford last year for the fourth, but celebrating with 11 koreans was not part of that day. today was a perfect opportunity to show our patriotism to the other students and to allow them to join in the festivities. we went to the oxford fourth of july parade this morning, which was a very family friendly event. many children were in the parade, include one dressed as the statue of liberty. it was too cute. we also got the chance to swim and relax by the pool until a rain blew in. that allowed time for a nap, and i've only just woken up from it. later today, we will watch some very american fireworks at the baseball field. our time here has been quite easy; i don't feel that the trip will actually hit me until we get to washington, d.c. in a truly unfamiliar environment.

2008-07-04T00:52:00.000-05:00

me and my first roomate, yi soo
redbirds game in memphis
fed ex corporate headquarters
william faulkner's outline for "A Fable" on his walls
i love this one. one korean asked me to write out hotty toddy in his notebook.

its been so long since i've gone without sleep, that i'd almost forgotten what it felt like. until this trip. i've had a three hour night and a five hour night and i'm looking at one thats doesn't promise more. sleeping is just not the priority. we have made our journey down I-55 from memphis to oxford, home to our university. its very fun to show the koreans around our town and attempt to explain southern culture to them. especially the food. oh the food. every time we turn around, we are having a meal, much to their dismay and much to my happiness. some think that we eat too much and that it is all greasy and unhealthy. tonight, as we were discussing southern barbeque with john t. edge, one korean scoldingly pointed out these flaws in our eating. he apologized later, and he meant no harm- our ways of life are just contrasting. edge, who works at the southern foodways alliance at the center for the study of southern culture here at the university, spends his time explaining southern culture through our food in his many writings. he has also appeared as a judge on iron chef. yes mama and maggie, a judge on iron chef. after eating a meal of deke's amazing, mouthwatering good barbeque, we watched a documentary on barbeque that the southern foodways alliance made. one man on it stated, "we were put on this earth to die. there is no use prolonging the process with healthy eating." he received a couple of "amens" to that statement from the mississippians, and it could have been taken as a rebuttal to the korean's "healthy" statement. however, this cultural difference was only one facet of the engaging discussion. it was definitely the best discussion of the trip so far, as i got to hear and tell of the southern culture that i live to study and love.

in keeping with the southern theme, we also visited rowan oak and toured oxford on double decker buses. i'm finally posting pictures, hoping for you to receive a glimpse of what we are doing.

OH, and how could i forget. we taught the koreans HOTTY TODDY! its great. just great to hear.

and i am in utter amazement

2008-07-02T01:50:00.000-05:00

today could have been considered the first official day of the trip. our riverboat cruise didn't happen last night, as the korean students had a late flight. we did however visit the rock and soul museum, heard some great music and learned a bit about the role memphis has played in shaping modern music. we also ate famous memphis barbeque at the rendevous. and we capped the day off with a tour of the fed ex hub. all i can say about that is wow. i was in amazement the entire time. we've not been back long, and it is two in the morning. but, to really see the place in action, you have to go at night. i wish i could remember all of the numbers, but i cant. i think i was too enthralled with the magnitude of the place to really comprehend what was going on. i do remember one figure- they employ 5000 pilots nationwide. lets just hope that one day i can add to those numbers. there are 11 fed ex hubs worldwide, with memphis being the largest. within five hours, about 120 planes fly in cargo, cargo is sorted, and it is shipped back out to the 11 hubs which then get it to 22 secondary hubs all by the next day. and we're talking like 1.2 million packages at this one place. uh-mazing. these people are some seriously efficient innovators. a friend and i noted how this is just one example of the private sector outweighing any government-run institution, i.e., it beats the post office, hands down. government issued health care, anyone? anyway, i'm going to try to get about four hours of sleep now, for what thats worth. i just couldn't help but talk about the amazing machine that is federal express.

let the journey begin

2008-07-01T00:32:00.000-05:00

well, the koreans are here! after a much anticipated and fairly awkward initial meeting, we have finally settled into our places. today has been a day of "settling", as it is the beginning of the program- seeing old friends, exploring a new city, meeting new people. i arrived in memphis a little early today, and was able to take a ride on the trolley with my mother and sister. it was bittersweet to be with them and know that i was about to leave them, yet for a truly wonderful opportunity (don't cry, mother). meeting my classmates at the hotel was like being reunited with my old friends, and we quickly were catching up on our summers. soon, the korean students had pulled up to our hotel and, before we knew it, we were exchaging names and finding roomates.

(continued tuesday) i must say that this has already been quite an experience with those of another culture. my roomate is yi soo, a very sweet girl who is 23 in korean years (22 in american). as soon as i woke up i put on shorts to head downstairs for breakfast; in my half asleep mode, it took me a while to recognize that this food was very foreign to them. yi soo ate cereal and, upon wanting more food, returned to the table with a plate of gravy. she winced as she tried it. i told her to get a biscuit to eat with it. she then laughed and confessed she thought it might have been soup. wow. to take for granted that we know what gravy is and how to eat it. this is just one instance of the differing cultures that are meshing here. however, they are very good speakers of english. conversation takes patience and concentration, but they probe and ponder the very things that we experience as daily habits. nothing can be assumed. i think this trip is going to show me alot about america, and i'm not just talking about new landmarks and places.

in 24 hours..

2008-06-29T11:39:00.000-05:00

i will be on my way to memphis to meet up with my group. thankfully, i've completed most of the packing. it took all day yesterday, with much help from kat and my mother. today will include a wal mart trip and a bit more packing, but mostly just spending time with my family. i'm experiencing very mixed emotions, knowing that this will be an amazing trip but also being very spoiled from this time at home. it'll hopefully take just a few hours to get in the right mode to really make the most of this experience. i think more than anything, i'm worried about my wardrobe, as we will be travelling to some very very prestigious places (state dept., meetings with senators and governors, the blue house in south korea which is the equivalent of our white house). there are also different cultural norms and customs to consider. maybe i should have researched more on those, but its too late now. i have reading of my own to do (like a book that i haven't even started on that was supposed to be read in preparation for this trip). however, i'm still working on reading the articles included in the course packet, and i'm almost finished. the tiredness can be put behind me if its what needs to be done.

as for now, i'm off to prepare and pack, and i will be writing again tomorrow with day one details!

an nyoung!

2008-06-26T21:28:00.000-05:00

or hello, as we like to say here in America. yet, as you may know, my time in America is getting shorter and shorter as i prepare (oh the process of preparation) to depart on my month long escapade. packing is getting extremely stressful, as it is requiring many trips to search for certain clothing items amoung a limited number of stores. my bedroom is no longer suitable for sleeping, so the couch has been serving a new purpose for the past few nights. today i received some Korean won (their currency), and it is much different from our money. i think i'm going to have a hard time adjusting to spending three thousand of anything on an item such as a hamburger. i've also finally received detailed packing instructions, albeit five days pre-trip. it just helps to know. tomorrow should be a full day of ironing, packing, and more of the same. oh, and also, to relieve stress i'm sewing a new nightgown. should be interesting to see if the project is completed in time to make the trip- its completing is directly proportional to my stress level. by that, it might be ready for wear by tomorrow night.

lets wrap up the tour of mississippi

2008-06-17T19:13:00.000-05:00

i must confess, that in all of my blogging about the locales that my trip will take me to, i have left out a few. if there happens to be a day that contains two or three visits, i will occassionally single out only one to blog about. but, my conscience has gotten the better of me, so here i am attempting to right my wrongs. below will be all of the stops that are left-or have been left out- before we fly to washington, d.c.

winter institute for racial reconciliation at UM: from mississippi's tainted racial past came this institute named after former mississippi governor william winter. located on the ole miss campus, its goals and aims are evident in many of the things that take place not only on campus but also in our state. the student group one mississippi has done much over the past school year to unite students from all backgrounds in this group. this will be a very unique way for the koreans to witness the progress that our state has made.

north mississippi hill country picnic: i've never heard of this before this trip, but then again, this is the reason that i am researching. and i have just found something that truly makes me excited. as i have professed earlier, i love the blues. and this visit to potts camp, ms, is only going to allow me to hear more. some of my favorite bands (north mississippi hill country revue) will be playing as well as many well known artists of the area. sounds like a great day of great music.

korean presbyterian church: as this church doesn't have a website, i cant find much about it. but, i think this is going to be an amazing tool and testament to the unification that people of all races and nationalities experience under Christ's love. if anyone knows about this church, i'd love to hear about it.

lunch with william winter: the former governor mentioned above will be an interesting person to meet. i'm looking forward to hearing his viewpoints and insights into today's politics.

mississippi developemnt authority: rural development is so crucial to the economy of our small towns and our state. as i hope to possibly be a future mayor of my home town, i know that this visit will offer much to learn. mississippi is home to a nissan plant and future toyota plant, and the mda was critical in having these businesses placed here. this will be insightful to koreans and mississippians who benefit from its efforts.

mississippi state legislature: last but not least in our visit to the state will be a stop at the legislature. our legislature can get very heated and is, sadly at some times, much like a carnival. whether this day turns out for the latter or former, the state capital is a great place to spend the day.

where's katie?

2008-06-17T18:40:00.000-05:00

so, all of you concerned readers who have been compulsively checking for new posts (don't deny it), here am i. after a busy weekend of sewing (a new skirt and top to add to the growing pile), weddings, and travel, i have returned to blog. i missed it and tried to write a few times, but never had the time and clear mind that is needed to produce this oh so interesting website that has your undivided attention at the moment.

presently, i am in a hotel room in houston in the midst of a storm brewing coffee. i have been up since 3 this morning and am very tired. i just want food and sleep. yet for some reason, i also have the urge to blog. it is as if i miss it. well, i did. so by way of that long digression, i have professed my love of and need for blogging to, if i am lucky, one reader.

dress of the week

2008-06-14T12:18:00.001-05:00

i absolutely love wearing sundresses. i would rather wear a dress or skirt than shorts or pants. therefore, it was only fitting that for my second sewing project, i made a sundress. it was made from a mcalls 1977 vintage pattern that i purchased for 50 cents at a fabric store. thanks to my sewing teacher's gatherer on her sewing machine, i avoided a daunting task with a shortcut. i have several pictures that go from the cut fabric to the pattern to the finished dress. next up: a long linen skirt.

more on the trail of mississippi's literary greats

2008-06-14T11:44:00.000-05:00

i guess to keep the pace with the previous day, our next day's visit is to the home of acclaimed mississippi author eudora welty, located in the capital city of jackson. this home was built by her family during her later high school years, and she was still inhabiting it when she died in 2001. i had probably never heard of her before then, but i knew that someone very great had been lost. welty reportedly loved to garden, and it is a key part of the tour of her home. i wish i could write more, but that will have to come after the tour when i have some interesting facts.

"To understand the world, one must first understand a place like Mississippi." -William Faulkner

2008-06-12T20:30:00.001-05:00

I find this quote fitting for our trip, not only because cultural understanding is a main goal, but also because we will visit Rowan Oak, the famed home of Mississippi author and Nobel prize winner William Faulkner. I am ashamed to say that while I have spent much time on the grounds of Faulkner's home, I have never toured the inside. Notably, on the walls of his office are scribbled an outline for his novel "A Fable". The entire town of Oxford seems a tribute to Faulkner, complete with a statue of him sitting on a bench in front of City Hall and a historical marker near his grave. I believe that if he appeared walking the sidewalks of the square, Oxonians would tip their hats, bid him hello, and continue on with their business. His legacy is alive around this fair town, and visiting his home is a perfect way to showcase a classic American author and his immense talent.

something to be proud of

2008-06-11T08:53:00.000-05:00

i've heard my fair share of mississippi/redneck/southerner jokes. being from the south, i inevitably am asked to "say something" whenever i travel past the mason-dixon line. i vividly remember being on vacation in Hawaii one spring break, and my mother telling me to say "the south" when asked where i was from because i martyred the word "mississippi" when speaking. let's all hope that my accent has improved, although i never would want to mask it or intentionally alter it in favor of sounding more neutral and homogeneous with the rest of the nation. many people don't see what the south, or mississippi has to offer. a good friend of mine (who happens to be from texas) loves to pick and prod on my mississippi roots, and we often go back and forth making jokes on one another's home state. he once jokingly said that "mississippi was the armpit of america"; and while i knew that he was only poking fun (he attends school in mississippi, you see), this is the view that many hold. one of my favorite stories in regard to these comments is one about the beginning of the mississippi believe it! campaign. i've taken this excerpt from their website as to how these public service announcements got their start.

"A conversation between a 12 year-old boy from Connecticut who asked the Mississippi businessman sitting next to him on an airplane if the businessman, “still saw the KKK on the streets every day” … and whether or not he “hates all black people” was all the motivation the businessman needed. This stunning revelation was the catalyst to the businessman fighting back against the erroneous stereotypes that plague Mississippi. After months of research and numerous meetings with prominent citizens across the state, the businessman, who happened to be the COO of The Cirlot Agency, determined that the first step in changing Mississippi’s perception was to change that of its own citizens."

from this conversation grew the mississippi believe it! campaign, which highlights several of the accomplishments that have come out of our great state. i have seen these posters hanging in libraries, and i personally own one of their t-shirts with the slogan "yes we can read. a few of us can even write." the poster that bears this slogan goes on to illustrate mississippi writers like eudora welty, tennessee williams, william faulkner, shelby foote, willie morris, nevada barr, john grisham, and more. if you go onto the website, you can see the host of posters that show such things as:

*Viking ranges began and are still produced right here in Greenwood.

*blues music's birthplace is mississippi.

*mississippians give more to charities per capita than any other state in the union.

*many sports greats like brett farve, archie, eli, and peyton manning, steve mcnair, and jerry rice all hail from this great state.

*we have more black elected officials than any other state (897 in the year 2000).

*the first heart transplant, lung transplant, and kidney autotransplant were all performed in mississippi.

the list could continue on and on, so for more positive facts about mississippians, check out mississippibelieveit.com. we just may surprise y'all.

And Day Three Brings Us To The Beloved Delta

2008-06-10T19:26:00.000-05:00

i would be the first person to jump in with a trip going to the mississippi delta. as a southern studies major, southern culture enthusiast, and proud mississippian, i love the history and culture that the delta exudes. the city of clarksdale is especially rich and full of history. it is the home of the famous intersection of highways 49 and 61, where blues musician Robert Johnson reportedly sold his soul to the devil. morgan freeman has even started several successful businesses there. i ventured to the delta during my spring break this year, and was utterly amazed at what i found. i stayed at the legendary shack up inn, visited morgan freeman's ground zero blues club, toured the blues museum in town, tracked down dockery farms (a supposed birthplace of the blues), and made an innumerable number of random stops to interesting places. it was by far one of the best "vacations" i had been on; and i asked countless times why i had never been before, being that the delta is a 2 or 3 hour drive from my home. luckily for me, my trip will bring me back, specifically to the blues museum and ground zero blues club. i'm attaching pictures of my trip, and i cannot wait to see what the next will bring.

Now on Ebay

2008-06-10T19:19:00.000-05:00

i have just listed my first item on ebay. it is a very cool, cream colored Frankoma vase. if interested, please check it out!

three memphis landmarks in one

2008-06-09T08:57:00.000-05:00

our second day in memphis is filled with three stops. first to the national civil rights museum, then to graceland, and lastly we will visit the fed ex corporation hub.

the lorraine motel is now home to the national civil rights museum, but its place in history goes far beyond being a building to house a museum. in april 1968, this motel was the sight of the assassination of martin luther king, jr. as business declined, a group raised the funds to purchase the building and create the historic place it is today.

i've never been to the "real" graceland, but i have however made a few stops to graceland too. luckily for me, our itinerary includes a stop at elvis's actual home in memphis, graceland. this historic home receives visitors from all over the world, so i'm proud to say that i will finally be joining the ranks as one who has seen it.

one of my dream jobs (oddly enough) is to fly a fedex plane, and i'm thrilled that the last stop in our jam packed day is to the fedex hub. the number of packages that filter through this airport are truly staggering. i wish i could find the exact numbers now; i'm sure that after touring this facility i will.

rolling down the river..

2008-06-08T08:47:00.001-05:00

"When I find a well-drawn character in fiction or biography I generally take a warm personal interest in him, for the reason that I have known him before--met him on the river."

-Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

the first excursion during our month-long trip will be a dinner cruise down the mississippi river leaving from memphis. i have tried to do some reading on these, and it seems that what you do on your cruise varies depending on your boat, company, time of day, etc. however, they all seem to provide a glimpse into the history of the river, from it being the lifeblood of the cotton industry long ago to one of its present day purposes of being a venue for casinos (which must be located along the river or gulf coast as stated by mississippi law). while on the boat, we may also hear some blues and eat food that showcases the favorites of our area (maybe some good memphis barbeque?). this will be the first taste of america for the koreans who will arrive earlier on this day, and i feel that this will give them a complete picture of several aspects of southern life. i also know that i have much to learn as well.

the journey begins...

2008-06-06T10:40:00.000-05:00

in 24 days or so, i will be beginning my "exchange" through Ole Miss with students from South Korea. i've recently received the itineraries for the trip and feel that i could use some brushing up on the sites that we will be visiting. we will first be travelling throughout the southeastern united states before flying to korea for the second leg of the trip. we'll be hitting some of my favorite places such as the mississippi delta and literary sites around the state. but most of the trip will be to new locations for me. so i have decided to take one day's stops and each day research and tell about them. not only will it be good for me to know about the places i will be visiting, but i can also impart some useful information to anyone reading (most likely my family and friends- i know y'all want to keep tabs on my travels!).

my first sewing project now complete!

2008-06-05T17:44:00.001-05:00

well folks, i've finally done it. i have just completed my first sewing project, a fun, vintage style, red and white striped apron. it was made using a vintage Butterick pattern (style number to come later). don't miss the quirky strawberry button either. i can't wait to do some cooking in this!

Ole Miss

2008-06-05T07:55:00.000-05:00

it seems to be mentioned alot on my page, so i thought i'd post some of my pictures of the Ole Miss campus. these were taken after a rain, and a rainbow is visible in some. i must say though that these hardly do justice to such a stunning campus. also of note, the first presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama will be held on the Ole Miss campus in late September.

Way down south in Mississippi

There's a spot that ever calls

Where amongst the hills enfolded

Stand old Alma Mater's Halls

Where the trees lift high their branches

To the whispering Southern breeze

There Ole Miss is calling, calling

To our hearts fond memories.

-Ole Miss Alma Mater

domestic life

2008-06-04T23:30:00.001-05:00

i'm home for one month this summer, before a trip to South Korea. while home, i like to keep myself occupied with reading or projects. i view this "down time" as an opportunity to catch up on all of those hobbies that get placed on the back burner during busy semesters. over Christmas, i read five books. but, i'm a little burnt out on that; so, this summer, i am taking a sewing class. it's actually a "camp", with lessons being one hour every day this week. i cant quite put into words how much i love being at the sewing table, but i can tell that this will be a permanent hobbie. i'm currently making an apron with red and white striped fabric. i'm making it out of a vintage pattern that my teacher happened to have in her collection. i'm making this apron hoping that it will be put to use in the kitchen. cooking is always something that i've loved to do, but i've never been truly dedicated to learning. but now that i am home, and in this domestic state of mind, i've been cooking every day. not necessarily anything major, but lunch or a dessert. tonight i made apple dumplings with a recipe that is seemingly well known, as i found it online. but i thought i'd post it below. now i wish i'd taken a picture, but i dug in as soon as this was out of the oven.

Apple Dumplings

Ingredients:
2 (8 count) can crescent rolls
3-4 tart apples
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 (12 ounce) can Mountain Dew

Directions:
1.Spray a 13x9 baking dish or pan.
2.Peel and slice apples into 16 pieces.
3.Roll each apple slice in 1 section of crescent roll.
4.Place rolled slices in pan in two rows, put extras along side.
5.Melt butter, add sugar and cinnamon and pour over apples.
6.Pour can of Mountain Dew over all.
7.Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
8.Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

hopefully this dessert will be a regular around the house and pictures will follow. also, the apron should be finished in class tomorrow, and i will be sure to model with pictures.

my p.o. box

2008-06-04T22:21:00.000-05:00

about one year ago, i attended my orientation session at Ole Miss. while there, i rented my own p.o. box in the student union, and for some reason, it made me very happy. i immediately went home and ordered a return address stamp for letter writing and switched my subscriptions to my new address. i believe my excitement stemmed from it being my first real possession away from home- something that was in my own name and that could hold my own things. now, i am creating a blog that in essence fulfills the same function. this blog is my own little space for whatever i choose to put into it. i can fill it with pictures and ideas or my thougths and opinions. needless to say, i am terrible giddy over it. so, enjoy what it is and feel free to comment. i look forward to reading what you think about my p.o. box.