Rejuvenation!

Today I officially reopen this blog for the summer. Only this time I won't be as obnoxious and ranty. More of a tumblr.... So yeah. Just an announcement.

Political Ranting

As you may or may not know, a new mosque intended to be built a few blocks away from Ground Zero is creating controversy on a national scale. A majority of Americans believe that the mosque should be moved farther away from the site. They consider having a mosque so close to Ground Zero spiteful because radical, extremist Muslims attacked us on 9/11. It's too soon, too sensitive.

To me, this issue boils down to two essential rights of every American. The first is the right to private property. Anyone is allowed to own land and do with with it as they please (of course in accordance with every other law). No one can force these Muslims to move their mosque (which is actually a community center. My guess is the press is using mosque to make it sound more controversial). Also, if a government official becomes a key player encouraging the move, one begins to question the status of separation of church and state. The second right is the freedom of religion. This is clearly discrimination based on terrible stereotypes. They should be free to worship where and when they want. Some people have been quoted as questioning whether the right to practice Islam should be included in the right to practice religion. I won't even get in to how hateful I consider that. It's disappointing that modern Americans think on the same level as those who led the Crusades.

Conservative commentators have commonly related this situation to having Nazi meetings next to the Holocaust Museum. It's a thought, but it's the wrong analogy. This is more like being angry that the German embassy is close to the Holocaust Museum (which no one is angry about - for good reason). It's a generalization that demonizes an entire group of people for something that a small fraction of them committed, though it's reasonable to consider the Islam practiced by Al Qaeda is hardly the same thing as actual Islam. As John Oliver pointed out, under this generalizing logic, no Catholic churches should be built near schools or playgrounds for fear of the priests taking advantage of the children.

At first, I was happy with Obama's endorsement of the center. Only the next day, he sort of retracted his statement with noncommittal language. Obviously, he attempted political cover on a hot issue in which a vast majority of Americans disagree with him. Lame.

For me, this issue is simple. The Muslims who would go to the community center would not be members of Al Qaeda. They are not interested in harming or spiting the United States. They are interested in practicing their religion peacefully. They have every right to do so. Americans should take this as a healing opportunity and a chance to show the world that our country holds freedom to its highest standard and accepts persons of all creeds and colors. We should lead by example in the world.

I leave Brazil tomorrow!!

Only two plane rides separate me from the United States! I am actually excited, not because I will be going back to Salt Lake, but because arriving in the US means I am that much closer to going back to school.

Uh Oh. My nerd is showing.

Hear me out. Last year at Wellesley, I learned so much about myself and to be honest, I liked a lot of what I discovered. I feel more at home there than I really have anywhere else. Sure, the school isn't perfect for everyone, but it never did me wrong. I love it. I also can't help but feel a little ambitious and ready to work after reading 1776 and watching 3 seasons of the West Wing. That show makes being smart look so easy.

I'm currently reading the Cider House Rules by John Irving. I've read most of it before so I thought I'd bring it along on the Brazil trip to try and finish it. Unfortunately, I won't get to the portion I never read because I fully plan on abandoning ship (so to speak) when I get back to the states. No offense John Irving. It's good, I swear. I guess I am in a revolutionary mood. I'll probably read the book about Napoleon I never got to in June.

Anyway, when I am settled in Salt Lake, I will probably write a review of my trip. There's a lot to think about but I'm sure I'll have more than enough time on the flight to think about it all. I'm hoping they have good in flight movies. Actually, I am sort of depending on it. Don't let me down Delta.

God has a name and its name is Google & 1776

I am back in my aunt and uncle's apartment in Sao Paulo. It's great to be here again because they are really active, interesting people and also give me access to wireless internet. I cannot sing the praises of the internet enough. With it, I have all the information in the world at my fingertips. For example, today I was curious and learned that Chopin died in the mid 1800s of tuberculosis and was in fact, Polish. I always thought he was French, but as it turns out, his father was French. Thank you internet for setting me straight.
In other news, I am going on a Led Zeppelin/Rolling Stones binge. I can't help it. They are just so good. I am also in love with the Maroon 5 song "Misery" and Robbie Williams' song "Tripping."

In only 4 days I will be back in the US. As you may or may not know, I am currently reading 1776 by David McCullough. It's about the first year of the American Revolution and the leadership of George Washington. I don't know why, but reading about all of this makes me feel a little sentimental. There is something about the beginning of our country that I find so beautiful. The compromises that our Founder's settled were incredible. I highly doubt that if you stuck 55 men in a room today, they would come up with the constitution, or that any 33 year old today could write the Declaration of Independence. And beyond eloquence, these men had something more. They had inspiration. They were fighting for a noble cause. I think what I find beautiful about the American Revolution is that it wasn't simply a war for conquest, or for some substance that would make everyone rich. It was about principles like freedom and the rights each person has in government. If you read the writings of say George Washington or John Adams they aren't encouraged by greed but by the prospect of independence and liberty for their fellow colonials. Living in America today, it's difficult to envision leaders with such noble motivations but knowing that it's possible gives you hope.

5 more days!

Time snuck up on me once again, as it never fails to do. In 5 days I will be on the plane headed back to Salt Lake City. Going home will actually be a little bit of a relief. I have been spoiled with technology and now I cant live without it. It wouldnt be as bad if I could communicate with people without it, but I really cant here. Its been my link back to my friends who I have been missing all summer.
Going home will also be a bit of a nuisance too. I have to adjust to the 3 hour time zone again, only to have to adjust to Eastern Standard Time two weeks later. Ill also arrive in Atlanta at 530 am.......Groooooooooooosssssssss.
But enough complaining. I have a list of over 30 things to do when I get home, although most of them are just things I want to google and dont have the patience to wait for the internet to tell me about them here. Its just toooooo slow. Okay well I dont have much else to say. OH - other than I literally have not been shopping once since I have been there, so dont be mad if I dont get you anything as a souvenir.

That is all.

As Promised...

... here is the story of my experience in Poços de Caldas.

I arrived midday on Friday. We spent most of the day just walking around the downtown area and the park. My cousin Rogerio took me to see my uncle (or former uncle? Theyre divorced, how does that work?). He was nothing like how I remember him. He lost a lot of weight and looked like one of those guys that never got over the fact they werent in a successful rock band. Anyway, the conversation was very candid between him and Rogerio, and all of a sudden, the topic became my other cousin's virginity. When she finally showed up (with her boyfriend) he did give her a little talk about it. Seriously, wrong place wrong time. You didnt have to understand what was being said to sense the tension in the room. Later that night, my aunt took me to dinner with her friends. One of her friends has a daughter my age who knows English. We had a great conversation so I was really glad that I went.

My cousin Rogerio didnt have as many hilarious English quotes this time. He actually baffled me. I cant understand him as a person. He is so proud of his Disney DVD collection. He showed it to me, and then tried to show me again 3 or 4 times. He asks me the same questions over and over and over but I cannot figure out why. Is it simply because he cannot remember? Or is there a deeper problem? For example he asks me hourly if I like the Lion King. He burned me Harry Potter DVDs (I got excited here) in Portuguese (and lost it here). So he asked me what Disney DVDs I wanted burned. I told him the Lion King and the Little Mermaid. He told me to pick 3 more so I could have 5. I did. He ended up burning the Return of Jafar for me. And thats it. At dinner, he asked me if I like Coke because he was going shopping and wanted to know what drinks to buy. I said I did, so he bought me a 2 Liter Coke. But today, he asked me again if I like Coke as if he didnt recall ever buying the Coke the day before. We have conversations, so I know he understands most of what Im saying, which makes the whole situation more confusing. He also decides to tell me secrets about himself. Im virtually a stranger so that sort of blows my mind too. Although I suppose I am a safe bet since I dont even have the capacity to tell anyone close to him anything.

Last night we went to my aunt's friend's house, where the girl who spoke English lives. She invited her friend who also spoke English over. They are such nice girls and I learned a lot from them. They are also really interesting and had a lot to say which is obviously great for conversation. They ended up inviting me to go out with them after dinner. It was so much fun. I felt like a normal 19 year old again. We wanted to play pool but the place was really crowded so we didnt. We went to a restaraunt/pub type place, ate some food, and talked. I got back to my aunt's house around 2. I let myself in with my key, and went straight to bed. Of course now its like some joke with my aunt that I was out past like I dont know, 9. Like I am some wild girl who comes in late and plays pool at bars even though literally nothing happened other than myself having actual conversation with cool people. The only reason this makes me mad is because theyre going to tell my dad but forget that its a joke (they know reality) and then Im going to have to explain the real version.

Anyway, I am back in São João and things are going to settle down again. I watched some of Space Jam in Portuguese. I miss that movie. GOOOOOD times, the 90s. Good times.

More Info to come

Hello everyone! I am in Poços de Caldas with my aunt and two cousins. It has been really nice so far and honestly a bit of a relief since my cousins know English. I know that it sounds so lame, but just having a conversation with someone really brightens my day because I haven't done it in so long. You wouldnt think that you could take speech for granted, but you definitely can. Oh and I definitely have stories to tell regarding my cousins, but I feel awkward typing them up in their living room so those will have to wait.
I am currently reading 1776 by David McCullough. As usual, his writing is amazing and detailed. Everytime I pick up a good history book I feel like there is so much more I want to read. Its such a pity that the library system in Salt Lake is so terrible or else I probably would be reading a lot more interesting things.
I am completely blanking out right now. I cant think of a single thing I was going to write about. SIIIIIIIIIIIIGH. Okay well I will have more information soon regarding this little trip to Poços and probably some more interesting anecdotes. Tchao!