Like It Was The End of the World

Saturday night, May 21st, I went to the  U2 concert here in Denver, instead of my eternal place of rest as was predicted.  I did find it funny (and wondered if the song was part of the regular tour set) when U2 sang their song, The End of The World.  The concert was phenomenal! I am not a crowd person, so I don't go to big concerts much, and you couldn't pay me to be on the floor right in front of the stage in the midst of all those people.  I was much happier way up in the nose bleeds in my little seat, my sectioned off little space.  The benefit from way up there is that we got to see it all.  These guys have been around awhile, and they have perfected the art of performing.  It is really something to get a chance to watch people who are experts at their craft. 
Another aspect of the show that I happened to like, (though the idiots behind me didn't, and left - thank goodness), was that U2 is very involved in charitable organizations - Amnesty International and One in particular.  During the show they had a few comments, video clips and songs with video dialogue interspersed all with messages around the work of these organizations and the band's beliefs.  I say, power to them! Here is a group of men who have packed a stadium with 75,000+ people and they have a microphone and everyone's attention.  I am pleased that they are using their fame and influence to try to affect good change in the world, at the very least in making some people aware. They have made no secret of their affiliations or beliefs before, and in going to see U2, you should probably expect these kind of messages.  Go see Eminem or Guns N' Roses and you'll get a different kind of show.  At one point toward the end, U2 had a video clip of the president-elect of Burma who until recently had been living under house arrest because the govt. refused to recognized her as the people's choice.  I'm sure the two morons behind me who where shouting 'shut up already!' had no idea who she is or what her plight represents.  And there will be some people like that.  I understand wanting to hear good music sans agendas,  but for U2, I also understand that that means listening to their album in my car, rather than hearing them live.  And in this age of technologically modified music where singers can't carry their own tune in public, U2's songs sounded even better live, big and bold.  They were definitely worth being on my bucket list.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

While visiting an elementary school (for my new job! hooray!) I got to hear a presentation  from Mercy Corps which is an organization started after 9/11 to help kids cope with disasters, both natural and other.  Currently they are working in Japan, and the slides showed some of the wreckage there, and the cleared roads between piles of destruction so that emergency vehicles could get through.  What amazed me and gave me goosebumps was that the presenter said she saw workers looking through the wreckage for remains of people, and if they came across something in tact, like a vase, they'd leave by the roadside in front of where that house would have been in case family members or survivors came back to the house.  This absolutely stunned me, though in reflection, I can't say I'm too surprised that it is the Japanese doing this.  Having lived there a year, I can absolutely believe that that was not a fluke incident, but a more common act of respect in that country. 

Take those thoughts in contrast to our own natural disasters going on with the flooding of the Mississippi, and people in Tennessee being reluctant to leave their homes because others are coming in specifically to loot.  Things are very, very wrong there, and I'm not talking about the wet.  What has happened to respect?

Here are some shots of a few of the characters I had the pleasure  of teaching in Japan.

Glorious Upheavals!

A LOT happened this last week. 
First, as we know, Bin Laden was killed.  I want to comment on the number of flags present in the celebration pictures.  I have a little flag for my front porch, and an old flag from WWI framed, but I don't have a big one.  I was amazed, touched and very pleased to see how many people around the country from college campuses to the big city streets had big flags, and were displaying them proudly.  This is quite the change in images from the usual bashing America gets, in large part from her own citizens.  And though those bashings aren't always undeserved, I am heartened to see some pride displayed boldly around the country.  It's about time.

Second, I had my last day at my school this last Thursday.   A little bittersweet as I was counting down the minutes until certain students became someone else's issue, but also sad to leave others.  I will miss a lot of the students, the teachers and admin. 

Third, I spent all day on Saturday at my mom's church for a bazaar.  It was my first, and I was selling my purses, jewelry and notecards.  I just have to chalk it up to a learning experience, because it wasn't a real financial boon.  The weather was so nice, no one wanted to be inside - or at least no one that knew about the bazaar, which weren't many.  But, I got some good lessons for the next time, if there'll be one.

And last, my boyfriend and I had a paella party to celebrate both of our new jobs! And in doing so, we supported Adrian and Jose in their new business venture - paella catering.  I wrote about them in an earlier post, but I have to say it again, because it was bigger and better! They came to my house and made the paella on their own portable propane stove, while telling us about the paella.  They brought two appetizers, a dessert and two gallons of very delicious Sangria.  The paella was fantastic, and plenty to feed 12 hungry people, with seconds, and enough for left overs.  Guess what I'm having for dinner! And, I didn't have to clean any of it! They came this morning (on time to the minute) to pick up the dessert dishes, sangria jugs and paella pan.  I will definitely be having another paella party, they were worth it!  spanishfoodincolorado@gmail.com. 

Walk with a Maasai

Last week I saw a Maasai warrior named Samwel Melami Langidare Mollel speak at the Castle Rock Library.  He was fascinating!  Dressed in his traditional Maasai clothes, Samwel spoke of his culture and customs in the Ngorangora crater in Tanzania.  He spoke about the differences between women's roles and men's, and that they only see each other once or twice a week to keep the peace and respect.  Men don't eat with the women because women have a bad spirit in their eyes that could give the men bad luck.  He told us what to do if we wake up in a hut and a snake has cuddled up next to us in the night, explaining how to swing the snake around by the tail and whack the snake on the wall. 
His father is a healer and Samwel talked about the different kinds of plants that the Maasai use for various ailments, as well as for a certain smell so the wildlife  won't bother them.  He helpfully suggested that if we were out walking with him in the bush, a lion might attack one of us, but not him. 
With that in mind, he gave quite a few great stories about walking safaris he has led from his village.  Samwell has started a safari company, www.maasaiexpeditions.com that is advertised as being 100% Maasai owned and operated, and benefits the local economy and traditions. 

Clearly, the highlight of things I've learned this last week was all the information from Samwell.  I am definitely adding one of his walking tours to my bucket list.