Category Musings
Well, I’m Back.
It’s been a while. At this point, I’ve been back in the U.S.A. for slightly over two weeks, and in my hometown for exactly two weeks. It’s normal, and disorienting to be home. Wausau is almost the same town as when I left it, with subtle developments in a few business districts and residential suburbs. […]
Tito’s Bunker in Konjic
Our history teacher decided to take our class to the small but beautiful town of Konjic, about an hour from Sarajevo, to see Tito’s nuclear bunker. Yes, the Cold War existed in Yugoslavia. Based on the size of this bunker, it was a pretty relevant issue. The bunker was actually never visited by Tito, who […]
(Less than) Two Months Left
As of two days ago, I have two months remaining in Bosnia. I leave Sarajevo early on June 10th, and then fly into good ole Minneapolis-St. Paul International on the evening of the 11th. Somewhere in there we have a return orientation in DC and a presentation to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs […]
March 8th- Women’s Day
This post has been a long time coming. Among other things, I got sick for about a week and wasn’t able to blog, and I also wanted to take care with my tone when writing this post. On March eighth, Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates the holiday of International Women’s Day. The holiday’s origins are from […]
Yer Off the Edge of the Map, Mate!
For as long as I can remember, my family has always had old maps, globes, and atlases tucked away in the corners of our house. I grew up watching my brothers challenging themselves to memorize the locations of the fifty states, and watching my dad use his historical knowledge to attempt to date old globes […]
Re-blog from “Borders are Imaginary Boundaries”
http://bordersareimaginaryboundaries.blogspot.com/2013/02/giving-superman-ing-and-novelty-babies.html I just read this very good post which exactly reflects a lot of my feelings about well-intended foreign aid. Often it is poorly executed and can do more harm than good, and this post has specific, pertinent examples. The blog is written by a NSLI-Y alumni and I’d encourage everyone to check it out!
Reflections on the Old Year
Last week marked the start of a New Year. The only time I’ve made New Year’s Resolutions was when it was a homework assignment in seventh grade, but it’s still fun to reflect on the past year’s happenings and achievements. Bear with me here and try to enjoy my reminiscing. 2012 began with a […]
Happy Holidays
fIt’s been a while since I’ve made a new post. I’ve been busy finishing up school, celebrating Christmas, getting ready for New Year’s, and touching base with family back home throughout the holiday season. I’ve also caught a little cold that’s been making my nose run, my throat tickle, and is plain wearing me down. […]
Let It Snow!
I love the snow. It has always been a part of who I am, and I look forward to the first snowfall each winter. There’s something about the way it muffles the harshness of noise, and the way it lightens and highlights the most beautiful features of even the ugliest buildings. I love how it […]
Happy Statehood Day
Happy holidays! No, not Thanksgiving, because that’s passed. And it’s certainly not Christmas yet. At least in Bosnia, it is determinedly November. This weekend marked the commemoration of “Statehood Day” in Bosnia and Herzegovina, not to be confused with Independence Day. As with many things in Bosnia, the politics get a little bit sticky and so […]
Biases, Prejudices, and Life Ambitions
One of the reasons I wanted to participate in YES Abroad in the first place was that I wanted to break down stereotypes in my community. I didn’t really think that I would also change the way people think about America, but now I’m beginning to realize that it works both ways. Stereotypes will exist […]
On Last Night’s Elections
Congratulations, Mr. President.
Uncle Sam Says…
Today’s election day, followed by the awful anticipation of election night. I cannot stress enough how important it is to vote. The privilege of having a say in how your country is governed is something more often seen as a right: the right to vote. However, in the context of today’s world, it is a luxury […]
College Apps are In!
All of my college applications are submitted. WOOHOO! I’ve applied to Beloit College, Luther College, and Hamline University. It’s a little nerve-wracking that my future education lies with just a few clicks on a computer. A lot of stress disapparated with those few clicks, though. Now I just have to get into the colleges… It’s […]
“Hey, America!”
I turn my head when I hear the nicknames ‘banana,’ ‘cello,’ ‘earth muffin,’ and ‘bug.’ I still react to ‘freshman,’ even though no one’s called me that for over two years. I respond to even the most unfortunate nicknames my brothers gave me. One thing I never thought I’d be pegged for, though, was where […]
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