Random Post with Quotes

So I think my thinker is broken because I haven't come up with any good ideas recently. haha This post is going to sort of be random because nothing new to report from France other than the fact I just finished a group paper and sent it in. Ohh also someone stole a rather large sum of money from me, but other than that nothing new.

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about politics and our public political discourse, religion, race relations and racism, homophobia, my future, life in general, and how they all tie together. I have come up with some interesting thoughts, so maybe my thinker isn't broken after all. Stay posted on some musings from those thoughts in later posts.

So as you can imagine if I'm not exploring some castle, travelling, playing ultimate frisbee (a game I really like, come to find out) or doing anything possible to avoid doing school work then I am on the internet. I ran across a website that I think is relatively new www.makers.com and its very interesting. It's devoted to woman pioneers and trailblazers. I have watched some of the videos of different woman and they are truly inspiring. There are a few quotes that I pulled from a two of the videos yesterday I really liked:

"Even in math when you  multiply 2 negatives you get a positive"
Said by Linda Alvarado who started her own contracting company many years ago. The 2 negatives she speaks about is that she is Hispanic and a woman in a white male dominated world. Additionally, she co-owner of the Colorado Rockies first Hispanic owner in MLB.

"Just because it hasn't been done doesn't mean its not possible"
Also by Alvarado. I like this quote because I've always thought this way in my decision making.

"Don't find excuses; find reasons to succeed"
This was Alvarado's mother who said this to her growing up. I think many people of color get caught up on the excuses of why they can't succeed as opposed to finding reasons to succeed.

"If you can't take criticism, then you aren't ready to make hard decisions"
By Condoleezza Rice talking about criticisms she received while in office as Secretary of State. She is extremely smart woman.

"No one needs to teach me how to be black. I have been black all my life"
Also by Rice. The videos never reveal the question but I can assume it was about the criticism she has received throughout her life of "not being black enough". I know I have heard that many of times growing up. But, in her video she makes a good point about how she hopes that as a community we have come far enough that we can realize and celebrate the diversity within our own community, rather than criticizing our own for differing interest. Rice is the perfect example: black girl who grew up in Birmingham Alabama in the 60's with an interest in the Soviet Union and Russia. For those who don't know she is fluent in Russian.

..........

That awkward moment when you hear music coming down your hall and you want to find out where it is coming from, but as you stop at one door to hear if the music is coming from that room the occupant opens the door. *creeper* hahahaha

That didn't actually happen but I did hear music and thought about looking for it, however, I thought about that situation and decided not to do it. Besides, with the language barrier it would make it 10X worse.

But that's enough of my randomness. I have to go to bed because I start a new module tomorrow morning on Corporate Finance yay! Pretty pumped about that. Also, here in France they do observe DST they just change their clocks a couple weeks after we do in the states. I, however, did not know this. So really I have no clue what time it is right now because my laptop is still on KS time and my watches I have to change manually and I thought my phone would change by itself as most phones do, but I'm pretty sure it has the same time as my watches and lord knows I haven't changed my time on my watches.<--- long sentence! So I hope I get to class on time. I had something else to post but I can't remember what it was so when I remember I will post it...maybe.

Just A Thought!

My Weekend Day in Paris

So this weekend I went to Paris for one day to a forum called "Forum National Des Initiatives Jeunes" which translate to "National Forum of Young Peoples Initiatives"  is was quite interesting. I have been to many conferences, forums, summits, and meetings of all sorts. However, this was set up in an interesting manner. For starters it was in this massive hall aptly named "La Grande Halles" and then it was separted into colored sections that corresponded with the sector the initiative was in:

Environment - Green
Lutte Contre Les Discriminations - Red
Médias - Blue
Solidarité Internationales - Orange
Solidarités Locales - Yellow

Then within these sections there were many organizations from all over France showcasing what they were doing for the betterment of the French community. It was great. There was a solar powered car, snakes, bands, radio stations, and much more. There were also these rooms where they would show documentary movies and another area they showed indie-films. They had mimes in another area and artist everywhere. The whole experience was great. It was like a celebration of the French culture while bringing attention to what needs to be changed in the country and around the world.
I must say, though, that is was certainly attractive to a certain crowd of people. I don't think I have seen so many dreads or locks or whatever they are called on so many people in one place. There was def a hipster feel to the thing but it was still awesome. I listened to a debate on issue of homosexuality and although I didn't understand a lot because of the speed of the conversation the ambient noise and I'm sure the language was too advanced for me, it was still interesting.

It was interesting at one point the socialist candidate, who is leading in the polls in front of current president Nicholas Sarkozy, Francois Hollande, showed up which created a ruckus. I tried to take a picture of him but someone got in the way. As you can imagine he was only there for photo ops so he was moving rather quickly and tons of people swarmed around him. Right before he showed up I had went outside and there were two armed soldiers, so naturally, I took a picture. (He even smiled lol... not)

I've learned alot about different organization here in France as well as generated some ideas for Wichita State and actually some ideas I will be presenting to the program coordinator here at ESC-PAU.

At the end of the night before we loaded the buses to go back to our respective cities there was a concert that was organzed by the organizers of the conference. The opening band was pretty good. However, the actual main act was terrible and almost literally put everyone to sleep. haha and then a DJ came out that I guess is well known and livened things back up. Who ever invented earplugs, my ears are thanking you because the music was so loud but they were handing the plugs out at the doors. Great Idea!
The first band had a odd make up of intruments and one of those was the violin and that is one of my favorite intrument and the guy was really good.

This was the opening band
Bass, violin, acordian, and I think guitar, and drums

This is the DJ. I didn't take any pics of the main guy. Yes, he was that terrible

Can't wait to go back in acouple of weeks to actually see things in Paris other than a conference center. To see the sites and hang out with friends.

On a serious note, I have read about the shooting death of that 17 year old in Florida. That is quite ridiculous that the man hasn't been arrested even though he had no legal grounds for shooting Trayvon Martin. This is nothing short of a cold-blooded killing. It would be a sad travesty to let this injustice stand. Zimmerman should have been arrested long ago. I hope that I am never anywhere and "look suspicious" to the wrong person.

RIP

There needs to be justice for this young man.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"

 Those words were spoken by Martin Luther King, Jr. and I think they speak volumes in this case.

Just A Thought

The Catch Up

Hey Everyone I'm Back!!!

It has been a month since I've last posted anything. I don't know why I haven't been posting because alot has happen since I've last posted. I will try to still keep it short though.

1) I've been voted as a class representative for the semester. Doesn't have many responsibilities, just if the class has a problem, like wanting a test moved or something like that, then I and/or the other class rep will go a speak to the program coordinator to try to resolve the issue. Regardless of the responsibilities I must say I am still honored and humbled as always since it was a vote by my peers.

2) There was this festival that Pau has every year. I'm not 100% sure of the name. But, it was so much fun! It is similiar to the renaissance fair we have in the states, although Ive never been to one in the states. There was a parade where I got creamed (shaving cream) in the face by some woman who was in the parade. Of course everyone in the parade was in period clothing. There were people on stilts, chimney Sweeps, mules, donkeys, bread makers, Kings and Queens (or one of each haha), knights and such as well.

I still had fun though.That night they had this huge tent with a band that played period music mixed with rock it was rather good. But, the best part were the dances that everyone was doing. The type you see in the movies and everyone is doing the same thing and moving in a circle. Its was funny because once you move around the circle you were always with a new (random) person. Fun!

3) We had a weeklong break Feb 19th - Feb 26th. I wanted to go to Italy with the other international student and made plans to do so, but backed out last minute (which Im sorry for) because Im sure it would have drained my back account. So I had told myself I was going to go to cities around France stay acouple of days in Bordeaux then go to Paris but that didn't end up happening like I planned so I essentially slept most of the break.

4) I also went skiing again. This time though I sort of stayed where I was suppose to; I learned that from last time. It seems I fell alot more this time though. I have troubles with the whole important task of ya know... stopping. But, I got better as the day progressed. I plan on going again unless all the snow melts of course. Thats the lasty thing I need is to try skiing in rocks and falling on my face. I love the mountains though they are so beautiful.

Look how high that goes, needless to say I didn't use it.

5) Up until now after the break it seemed as though we were swamped with classes and class work. Several presentations and group assignments to do. There was also the occasional party (or several) depending on whose counting.

6) Ive also visited the Chateau the former residence of King Henry IV. Beautiful outside and in. It gives me ideas for when I build my castle in Wichita somewhere, but that's years away I have to become successful first ;)

King Henry's cradle when he was baby - Its a turtle shell
Can we say awesome?!?

7) This past weekend I went to a chocolate factory and museum. It was a fun morning with some of the other international students. The chocolate was good and the names of many of them were quite funny. "Les Coucougnettes" named after King Henry because he liked the woman a lot. "Les Tetons de la Reine Margot" named after Queen Margot's best assets and the look like them too. And many others like the one below that says you have to be 18 to eat it because it is an "Aphrodisiac":


naughty naughty Chocolate

I am having a blast here. Meeting new people trying new things. For example, there is this spread called "marmite" apparently it's all the rage in the UK, but if you are ever offered marmite kindly say no! It was not good at all...like at all plus some maybe even multiplied by 2. Although, I always encourage people to try new things so maybe you should try it anyway just so you know what I mean.Or you might even like it, someone has to.

Anywho, I've also recently officially filed and announced my candidacy for SGA President which is exciting. So that's all I can think of for now.

Just A Thought!