It looks like I may actually leave Bangkok one of these days. According to the original plan, I would have already been in India by now… rather than waiting outside the Indian Embassy in Bangkok. Oh well. These things take time. In two hours, I’ll have my Indian visa. In 20 hours, I’ll fly out.
I feel like the last two weeks have been a lot like the end of The Return of the King– it keeps ending, and ending, and ending. One goodbye is followed by another goodbye, followed by… But it’s probably better this way: unlike leaving Cheyenne, the goodbyes I miss now I can’t take care of 9 months from now. I’ve been mostly packed for a week now. I plan on finishing packing tonight… probably late tonight, knowing how I roll. It’s all good, though.
In other news, I’ve been placed with the Involvement Volunteers Association (http://volunteering.org.au/) in Bangalore, India. From the 4th of January to the 17th of February, I will be assisting with an organization that teaching students from orphanages, slums and the streets subjects about math, art and sports. I’m a little nervous, of course– I don’t know what exactly is in store for me, but at the same time I’m excited– excited by the idea of doing something tangible to help make the world a little better, and I’m excited just to be living in India for a few weeks.
This might be the shortest, and most thoroughly boring blog post in the history of short, boring blog posts. My advice: deal with it. =P Time for me to go hang out at my favorite embassy.
South America is in favor of gay marriage and past a law allowing it just recently. In that way, South America is more progressive than the U. S.
More evidence of Ken’s 5 credits per semester: “past a law” … shouldn’t it be “passed” there big guy? 🙂
You have to bear in mind, Ken, that the United States is overwhelmingly conservative. Our “left” ends where most European countries’ “right” ends. The last 20 years have seen significant shift to the right in North America and England. It’s regrettable, but an understandable response to the cold war and the unrest of the 60’s and 70’s (and the terrible fashion of the 80’s!). So it goes with politics. Now it’s time to change that. It’s time to take politics back into the hands of the progressive minority, who are willing to work assiduously– even precariously– for the causes of progress and equality. It’s time to say “NO” to Bush’s unconstitutional use of the CSA to spy on citizens. It’s time to say “NO” to Bush’s war in Iraq. Time to say “NO” to the use of authoritarian measures in America and France in the “war against terrorism:” a clever cover for the war against the left, the war against those disenfranchised by the system, the war against those who would stand up for their rights as equal citizens of modern and powerful nations.
in other news, badass about the volunteer placement… although i’ll congradulate you properly in person in a few days.