Tina's wanderings around the world

Life has been a bit down lately and I've spent a good deal of time crying and complaining, so in an effort to create positive change, it's time to adopt a gratitude attitude. At night before (and while) falling asleep, I try to make a mental list of things I'm thankful for as part of my nightly prayers to the universe. But I think a waking list would be a helpful instigator of energy conversion. Here we go, in a completely random and non-prioritized fashion. I'm thankful for: the cd I'm currently listening to that was made especially for me by my sister for my birthday quite a few years ago. It's full of childhood songs and snippets that she put together especially for me. Rescue Rangers, Princess Bride, Sesame Street, Care Bears, Les Mis (with Goo Goo White lyrics floating in my head)...it always makes me feel better. the internet. Especially internet at home. I'm so happy to be reconnected with the world! loving emails from my mom and brother. my new cooki...

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin This is a book about a vagabond of a man, drifting about life working only as much as it takes to cover his travel and climbing expeditions. He grew up with missionary parents in Africa only to return to his country of citizenship and not quite fit in with mainstream America. On a trip to climb K2 in Pakistan, he failed to reach the summit and got lost on his way down, only to be welcomed by a village that would become his second (if not his first) home. Inspired by the generosity of these people who had so little, he vowed to return to build a school. He has built over 55 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, trying to provide learning and an educational alternative to the extremist madrasses (religious Muslim schools) that were a breeding ground for terrorists. Schools instead of bombs, tolerance and understanding instead of war. That's how he rolls. Here's an effective non-profit, for you, and thank the universe for ...

My blogs lately have been rather scarce, but there is a reason! Internet. Or to be more specific, a lack thereof. We've been in our new place for two weeks now and the internet conundrum continues. People from the states, please take a moment to appreciate your internet at home! Let me tell you a thing or two about internet in Australia. For starters, there is a limit to your internet activity. Forget about streaming videos online, and beware to those uploading their photos--only so much can be done per month! During my first week in Australia, I spent full days online, emailing, uploading pictures, and when online socializing ceased, I streamed season two of Grey's for company. When the internet started going slower and slower, I got frustrated and almost desperate as my only mode of immediate communication was being removed. I came to find out that I had used up all of our internet cap and we wouldn't be getting more usage for a few weeks. Oy! So long Youtube, so long Gre...

I attended a lecture last night at the Opera House (yay, my first time attending an event in the Opera House!) given by John Pilger, an Australian journalist and the 2009 recipient of the Sydney Peace Prize. He talked about censorship of the media, crimes committed by the super powers of the world (naturally a lot of America-slamming, which is pretty common) and he talked about Australia and its culture and role in all of this. I found truth in his assertion that Australia remains silent. To compare, I would say that America is ignorant. Americans are ignorant, with the media reporting a skewed version of current world events, a version that is particularly skewed when America is involved in these events. This has a major trickle down effect and reaches its nasty claws all the way down to the education of children. We know that Hitler and the Germans committed atrocities during WWII, but what do we really know about the treatment of Japanese-Americans (and dare I say Asian-Americans i...