I've been home for the longest amount of time since... last Christmas break? Maybe since I've ever been at school? Anyway, I decided to do an internship with my local television station, KNWA. Here's something I got to pack on my own one day (make a package of; unfortunately I wasn't allowed to actually shoot my own stuff, but I put this together).
jour·nal(ism)
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Ma'a Salama Dubai, Nomaashkaar Dhaka
(Enter the Dhaka airport)
I made it! Now to tackle customs. I'm speaking a mix of English and Arabic, because they are Muslim, but really know very little English and very little of the Arabic I'm speaking. I'm about to purchase my American visa when... none of the ATMs work. There are three of them. None of them are online. I beg exchange bureaus to take my card in exchange for currency, but they can't do it. So, after an hour of groveling, I manage to let the workers know I'm going into the city to find an ATM, get cash, and come back and purchase my visa (which, by the way, is recorded in a huge leather book by hand, then tossed to a pile of previously filled books that could be mistaken for kindling). So, basically there was no record of me being in Bangladesh at this point. But I was there.
I'm waiting for my hostel owner to pick me up. I find it fascinating how people transport their things....
Sheets wrapped around stuff tied in rope with their contact information in Sharpie. I was beginning to think it wasn't such a bad idea, considering my bag at this point is almost ripped to shreds.
We escape the airport. Mr. Hu is driving me. I am in complete awe. It is daybreak, and while smog and dust prevents a real sunrise, the city is already alive. The sound of angry horns, the smell of dirt in the streets, children begging at my window, people sprinting to catch already packed buses, rickshaws weaving in and out.... It got my adrenaline pumping. It would be impossible not to catch the energy. I wished I didn't have to care about my visa. I just wanted to dive in.
Tradition of Graffiti in Oxford's Tunnels
There's a hidden canvas in Oxford for local artists.
Just beneath Jackson, University, and many roads in between, rests tunnel walls that high school and college students use for art.
The draw for students started with curiosity - myths of James Meredith roaming through the tunnels had one Ole Miss student and graffiti artist, Rebecca, wondering what lies beneath.
The penalty for vandalism in Mississippi is nothing to fool around with, including a fine and jail time. Yet, year after year, students keep coming back, passing the myth and tradition to their friends.
Just beneath Jackson, University, and many roads in between, rests tunnel walls that high school and college students use for art.
The draw for students started with curiosity - myths of James Meredith roaming through the tunnels had one Ole Miss student and graffiti artist, Rebecca, wondering what lies beneath.
The penalty for vandalism in Mississippi is nothing to fool around with, including a fine and jail time. Yet, year after year, students keep coming back, passing the myth and tradition to their friends.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
So, It's Been Awhile
It has obviously been awhile since my last post, and as I'm approaching my second-to-last final exams (maybe ever), I have naturally become a little more reflective. The purpose of this blog was to keep everyone updated on my travels, or at least thoughts while traveling. I didn't think I'd write much when I returned, because honestly, there's not too many things exciting about Oxford, Miss. Maybe in my eyes or some of my friends, but in the bigger scheme of things, I'm in a bubble.
But it's times like these that I realize a lot of what is to be learned about life is in places like Oxford. This semester I've learned more about people - their generosity, their tenacity, and their courage, but also about their hollowness, their greed, and their sense of entitlement. I've been trying to think about my undergraduate years in a 'big picture' sense, which is very strange to me right now. It will never be irrelevant, but it is so peculiar to me how much I've learned at a very small, but very special place, in just four years.
I've always said I've learned both good and bad from Ole Miss. Let me tell you, both the good and the bad multiplied ferociously this semester. As one was revealed in someone or something, so was the other. I'm the type of person that likes to see more good than bad, but I also know that sometimes it takes bad to see good. But, as I'm constantly reminded, things, in general, could always be a lot worse.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I've had a heck of a semester. I don't think I really have all that much to show for how I've grown (not physically, unfortunately). I've seen how love is not forever, and much one's capability to truly love is directly correlated to their relationship with God. I've seen people give from the bottom of their hearts. I've had parents basically adopt me this semester. I've seen what family and friends really mean to Southerners. I've seen death take its ugly toll on people who had barely yet lived. I've seen girls at their sweetest and girls at their cattiest. I've seen myself learn true forgiveness, but I've also seen myself develop some callousness. I now know what it's like to break bridges, but make up for it by building multiple newer, stronger ones. I know how important it is to be genuinely thoughtful, only because of the way people think of me. I've learned that my parents have actually stopped calling me out on my mistakes, which is one step closer to what I deem the 'real world.' I've developed a conflict between being jealous of those whose lives are utterly simple, yet I simultaneously want the world at my feet. I've seen people that live for the feeling of a small town, and realized that their efforts for a small stage are just as valid and admirable as any world heroes'. I've realized it's okay to be gooby and gay if it means I'm not taking something for granted. I've realized that 21 years of age is very young, but there is definitely certain things expected of me at this point. I now know that I will get no where by myself, and it's just as important to thank the people that helped me along the way as getting there in the first place. I've realized just how great it is to have a place to call home, and for it to welcome me just the same every time I return.
One last thing, I've realized (many a time now), the more I think I know, the more I have to learn.
But it's times like these that I realize a lot of what is to be learned about life is in places like Oxford. This semester I've learned more about people - their generosity, their tenacity, and their courage, but also about their hollowness, their greed, and their sense of entitlement. I've been trying to think about my undergraduate years in a 'big picture' sense, which is very strange to me right now. It will never be irrelevant, but it is so peculiar to me how much I've learned at a very small, but very special place, in just four years.
I've always said I've learned both good and bad from Ole Miss. Let me tell you, both the good and the bad multiplied ferociously this semester. As one was revealed in someone or something, so was the other. I'm the type of person that likes to see more good than bad, but I also know that sometimes it takes bad to see good. But, as I'm constantly reminded, things, in general, could always be a lot worse.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I've had a heck of a semester. I don't think I really have all that much to show for how I've grown (not physically, unfortunately). I've seen how love is not forever, and much one's capability to truly love is directly correlated to their relationship with God. I've seen people give from the bottom of their hearts. I've had parents basically adopt me this semester. I've seen what family and friends really mean to Southerners. I've seen death take its ugly toll on people who had barely yet lived. I've seen girls at their sweetest and girls at their cattiest. I've seen myself learn true forgiveness, but I've also seen myself develop some callousness. I now know what it's like to break bridges, but make up for it by building multiple newer, stronger ones. I know how important it is to be genuinely thoughtful, only because of the way people think of me. I've learned that my parents have actually stopped calling me out on my mistakes, which is one step closer to what I deem the 'real world.' I've developed a conflict between being jealous of those whose lives are utterly simple, yet I simultaneously want the world at my feet. I've seen people that live for the feeling of a small town, and realized that their efforts for a small stage are just as valid and admirable as any world heroes'. I've realized it's okay to be gooby and gay if it means I'm not taking something for granted. I've realized that 21 years of age is very young, but there is definitely certain things expected of me at this point. I now know that I will get no where by myself, and it's just as important to thank the people that helped me along the way as getting there in the first place. I've realized just how great it is to have a place to call home, and for it to welcome me just the same every time I return.
One last thing, I've realized (many a time now), the more I think I know, the more I have to learn.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Never Alone
I barely had time to think about the end of CLS. The emotions were definitely there, getting off the plane as most of the others headed back to the comforts of home. It was unfortunately quick, as I said to myself - get your stuff, don't whack anyone with the tripod, go back and get your wallet that you left in the plane seat (this is not a good start), run out as the Lufthansa ladies begin to raise their voices, pray silently, and eventually aloud, that your bags with thousands of dollars of equipment is at the baggage claim, don't see it and try not to panic, speak some form of ameeya that you don't recognize to find your bags, praise God for their arrival and say Ramadan Kareem to everyone that helped you, find a cab to take you to the bus station, "yes I'm married," argue over tipping (I'm a poor student never works), consider yourself lucky to have gotten to the bus station an made it on a tiny bus that has no set time of leaving for Dubai, exchange Omani dates instead of paying the extra charge for all of your luggage, "no I'm not moving to Dubai I just have a lot of stuff," make friends with sweet Filipino lady Joy, get dropped off on the median of the 10 lane interstate, get sick upon getting bags to the hotel room,and wow, you're locked out of the bathroom, it's ok to pout because you didn't have sahoor, and finally give it all up because you are in a place you've always dreamed of going and thank God for always providing... now, reach a sense of calm because in however impersonal a city or strange a place - You are never alone.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Some Omanis say protests a result of 'Arab Spring': Why a historically peaceful state is witnessing outbreaks
Compared to other Arab nations, the Sultanate of Oman flies relatively under the radar.
It could be because a seemingly isolated tradition of peace exists in the Omani culture, between religious sects and multitudes of etnicities. But really, development has been the only news in Oman for the past 40 years, all under the reign of Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
There's no arguing with government-incentivized development, especially when there are essentially no taxes, healthcare is free, and land is given to every citizen.
Yet, within the past six months, a spark of small protests continue to break out across the country, the most recent concentrated in the port city of Sohar, about 125 miles north of the Omani capital of Muscat.
Friday a demonstration erupted after prayers at Shaikh Khalifa mosque in the Tareef area of Sohar. The estimated size of the protest varies among sources, ranging from a reported three dozen to 150 demonstrators total.
Protestors demanded the release of activists arrested in February for protesting or staging sit-ins in Muscat, Salalah, Sur and Sohar, according to Gulf News. They chanted slogans saying that their jailed colleagues did not deserve to go to prison for making genuine demands, and later handed over a letter of demands to officials.
In February, those 25 colleagues were charged with vandalism, rioting and throwing handmade bombs at security forces, according to Reuters.
Police refrained from intervening last Friday.
Protestors were also quoted demanding higher wages, more employment opportunities, and political reform, according to The Times of Oman.
These demonstrations continue despite Sultan Qaboos promising a $2.6 billion spending package and government creation of 50,000 public sector jobs, according to Reuters. The Sultan also recently introduced an unemployment service of 150 rials, or $390 per month for the jobless. Unemployment in Oman was last estimated at 15 percent in 2004, according to the CIA World Factbook.
Yet, the fact that a protest even occured shocked some Omanis. Some just shook their heads in amusemest, stating the protests 'weren't important,' and the only people that care to protest are 'those without jobs.'
But, what has been revealed as a result of the protests could be part of a much more serious concern in Omani government and society.
My Omani Colloqial Dialect teacher, who wishes to remain unnamed, shared her thoughts on the start of the protests and the reasons for them.
Personal Notes:
-I apologize for not having the ability to edit video on my computer.
-Not from my own experience, but from what I've heard in Oman, the south part of Oman, closest to Yemen, seems to be traditionally more conservative than the north.
-Take from her thoughts your own conclusions on what is really going on :)
It could be because a seemingly isolated tradition of peace exists in the Omani culture, between religious sects and multitudes of etnicities. But really, development has been the only news in Oman for the past 40 years, all under the reign of Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
There's no arguing with government-incentivized development, especially when there are essentially no taxes, healthcare is free, and land is given to every citizen.
Yet, within the past six months, a spark of small protests continue to break out across the country, the most recent concentrated in the port city of Sohar, about 125 miles north of the Omani capital of Muscat.
Friday a demonstration erupted after prayers at Shaikh Khalifa mosque in the Tareef area of Sohar. The estimated size of the protest varies among sources, ranging from a reported three dozen to 150 demonstrators total.
Protestors demanded the release of activists arrested in February for protesting or staging sit-ins in Muscat, Salalah, Sur and Sohar, according to Gulf News. They chanted slogans saying that their jailed colleagues did not deserve to go to prison for making genuine demands, and later handed over a letter of demands to officials.
In February, those 25 colleagues were charged with vandalism, rioting and throwing handmade bombs at security forces, according to Reuters.
Police refrained from intervening last Friday.
Protestors were also quoted demanding higher wages, more employment opportunities, and political reform, according to The Times of Oman.
These demonstrations continue despite Sultan Qaboos promising a $2.6 billion spending package and government creation of 50,000 public sector jobs, according to Reuters. The Sultan also recently introduced an unemployment service of 150 rials, or $390 per month for the jobless. Unemployment in Oman was last estimated at 15 percent in 2004, according to the CIA World Factbook.
Yet, the fact that a protest even occured shocked some Omanis. Some just shook their heads in amusemest, stating the protests 'weren't important,' and the only people that care to protest are 'those without jobs.'
But, what has been revealed as a result of the protests could be part of a much more serious concern in Omani government and society.
My Omani Colloqial Dialect teacher, who wishes to remain unnamed, shared her thoughts on the start of the protests and the reasons for them.
Personal Notes:
-I apologize for not having the ability to edit video on my computer.
-Not from my own experience, but from what I've heard in Oman, the south part of Oman, closest to Yemen, seems to be traditionally more conservative than the north.
-Take from her thoughts your own conclusions on what is really going on :)
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Surely people don't think America is really like that...
Before traveling, I am typically reminded by authorities, sponsors, teachers, whomever, to be mindful that the rest of the world thinks America is just like what makes the news and the movies, mostly so that I am careful not to reaffirm those assumptions.
We typically don't think twice about Hollywood. Movies and television shows often depict ridiculously exaggerated scenes, whether it be sex, relationships, wealth, etc. We just chalk it up to it 'being in the movies,' therefore, it probably wouldn't happen in real life.
For example, The Hangover - this is obviously an account of a bachelor party on the extreme end of the spectrum (or at least I hope). It's so far fetched that it's funny. From what I understand, bachelor parties can get pretty crazy, but I assume most of the attendants don't end up with a random infant, a missing tooth, or an Asian enemy.
Another example, The Bachelor/Bachelorette - in reality, one person doesn't always get to date multiple astonishingly good-looking, over-dramatic, self-absorbed people at one time, all while living in some incredible corner of the world where the dates are more extravagant than a lot of couples' honeymoons.
Also, we all know that all news is bad news. Good news just doesn't usually make the cut. I can definitely justify this as a journalist, because it's typically the most important. It's great if thousands of dollars get donated to a local charity, but a local shooting is more likely to directly affect your daily life; therefore, when it comes to newsgathering and editorial selection, I'm going to report on the shooting. This shooting, though, is also a rare occurrence, and Americans know to understand this type of circumstance as something that differs from the norm. Let's be honest, everyday life in Oxford can be, well, quite boring.
Given these examples, I think, 'there's no way people think America is really like that.' It's just...not possible.
Well, I might never know the extent to which the rest of the world believes America is like these examples, but I can guarantee movies and news contribute to the overall perception of American culture, and especially distort the reality of American everyday life.
Just like the Bollywood movie I watched last night made me question whether or not random groups of people in spandex break out in dance in India, whether love triangles between extremely attractive people are standard, and whether unmarried women and men get as close in public, or private as they were in the film.
That's when I caught myself. I knew the movie was somewhat of an exaggeration, but I began to think, there has to be some basis for this male teen character going back and forth between beautiful, skinny girls, getting to second base with them - this must actually happen in India, or else it wouldn't be portrayed in the film.
There's the connection. Planted in the viewers' minds then is some murky shape of an idea of what young adult relationships are like in India. But, sometimes that glimpse into the culture becomes enough for some people to make a value judgement.
That's exactly how people form their perceptions of America.
But, they haven't seen just one movie, like I've seen half of a Bollywood film (finishing it tonight - they are notoriously long). They've seen hundreds of examples of American culture, and so reinforced is the perception. Every major movie that you can think of has probably showed in a place you haven't heard of, that crazy story you found this morning from whichever news source you use is also being read halfway around the world, and the scandalous perfume ad you saw the other day is also on a billboard or flyer somewhere where perfume can't even be purchased.
Here are the results of the formed perceptions:
If I wear skinny jeans, I could also be into an alternative lifestyle. If I'm blonde, I am most likely from California. Or, if I'm Christian, I might want to burn the Quran.
So, not only am I careful now, I'm also active. I'm active in breaking whatever solidification of a perception comes my way.
I get the feeling it will be this way for awhile.
We typically don't think twice about Hollywood. Movies and television shows often depict ridiculously exaggerated scenes, whether it be sex, relationships, wealth, etc. We just chalk it up to it 'being in the movies,' therefore, it probably wouldn't happen in real life.
For example, The Hangover - this is obviously an account of a bachelor party on the extreme end of the spectrum (or at least I hope). It's so far fetched that it's funny. From what I understand, bachelor parties can get pretty crazy, but I assume most of the attendants don't end up with a random infant, a missing tooth, or an Asian enemy.
Another example, The Bachelor/Bachelorette - in reality, one person doesn't always get to date multiple astonishingly good-looking, over-dramatic, self-absorbed people at one time, all while living in some incredible corner of the world where the dates are more extravagant than a lot of couples' honeymoons.
Also, we all know that all news is bad news. Good news just doesn't usually make the cut. I can definitely justify this as a journalist, because it's typically the most important. It's great if thousands of dollars get donated to a local charity, but a local shooting is more likely to directly affect your daily life; therefore, when it comes to newsgathering and editorial selection, I'm going to report on the shooting. This shooting, though, is also a rare occurrence, and Americans know to understand this type of circumstance as something that differs from the norm. Let's be honest, everyday life in Oxford can be, well, quite boring.
Given these examples, I think, 'there's no way people think America is really like that.' It's just...not possible.
Well, I might never know the extent to which the rest of the world believes America is like these examples, but I can guarantee movies and news contribute to the overall perception of American culture, and especially distort the reality of American everyday life.
Just like the Bollywood movie I watched last night made me question whether or not random groups of people in spandex break out in dance in India, whether love triangles between extremely attractive people are standard, and whether unmarried women and men get as close in public, or private as they were in the film.
That's when I caught myself. I knew the movie was somewhat of an exaggeration, but I began to think, there has to be some basis for this male teen character going back and forth between beautiful, skinny girls, getting to second base with them - this must actually happen in India, or else it wouldn't be portrayed in the film.
There's the connection. Planted in the viewers' minds then is some murky shape of an idea of what young adult relationships are like in India. But, sometimes that glimpse into the culture becomes enough for some people to make a value judgement.
That's exactly how people form their perceptions of America.
But, they haven't seen just one movie, like I've seen half of a Bollywood film (finishing it tonight - they are notoriously long). They've seen hundreds of examples of American culture, and so reinforced is the perception. Every major movie that you can think of has probably showed in a place you haven't heard of, that crazy story you found this morning from whichever news source you use is also being read halfway around the world, and the scandalous perfume ad you saw the other day is also on a billboard or flyer somewhere where perfume can't even be purchased.
Here are the results of the formed perceptions:
If I wear skinny jeans, I could also be into an alternative lifestyle. If I'm blonde, I am most likely from California. Or, if I'm Christian, I might want to burn the Quran.
So, not only am I careful now, I'm also active. I'm active in breaking whatever solidification of a perception comes my way.
I get the feeling it will be this way for awhile.
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