Another week in Den Haag!

Hi Everybody!

Hope you all are well in your respective corners of the world! I am continuing to love life. Everyday I feel more and more certain that this is where I am supposed to be. I am relishing the fact that I am in a group of likeminded peers, from all pockets of the world, representing 60+ countries and 200 distinct viewpoints, all concerned for making this world a better place through International Development. Amazing! There is such a respect for each other and one's distinct worldview. I feel this community is reflective of how societies were supposed to be, how we as humans are to focus our energies towards each other and the common purpose of improving our world. My head is still spinning at the fact a place like this exists, and I'm in it! :)

A good illustration could be Friday night. We had a welcome dance for all the new students in our school's atrium. They were mixing world music from Reggaeton to African to Punjabi Indian beats to the infamous macarena or "Cotton Eyed Joe" square dance song. Sooo cool, it reminded me of my itunes playlist (minus the macarena and square dancing of course) haha! Roughly 200 people from all over- Pakistani, Ethiopian, Nicaraguan, Sri Lankan, Italian were all completely living it up shaking it, showing off their unique dancing talents and skills... I had SO much fun. Now THAT is how we should work out world conflicts, not shows of arms but dance offs! My personal highlight was when they played the "Cotton eyed Joe" song, I took it as my American liberty to show a little doe-si-doe or whatever it is called as you "swing your parter round and round"... I'd say by the end of the song I had about 80% of the dance floor doing it... go USA haha!

Outside of the dancing and introductory orientation duties I've been really enjoying meeting new friends, exploring the Hague, absorbing my new home. I feel like Europe is SO refreshing. From the non-chemically altered food, delicious beer options, to the walking lifestyle, cafe culture, elegant but enduring classical architecture, to the educated but openminded people... I really feel like they've captured so much of what it means to truly LIVE not just survive or gain more for yourself.

For the first time I've realized that in the United States we are commercially oppressed. On billboards, radio ads, street signs, public decorations, architecture, all media, schools, restaurants, churches... it is nay to impossible to evade the logos, the advertisements, the sense of "buy buy buy, you neeeeed this, your life is so much better with that". You don't even notice it while being there, but after being in a place where buildings are buildings, restaurants are primarily locally owned, the few public posters you see are advertising concerts or community events you realize... Hmmm perhaps we've seriously lost control of our lives. I do consider it an oppression! When it comes to the point that it's normal to be screamed at, to be constantly demanded of, maybe, just maybe, there is a different, better way. (*Of course there is some commercial influence here, and I am relatively sheltered from it w/o a TV or radio, but the difference in the rest of my daily life is so significant- it's like night and day!)

Anyways, that is about it from Den Haag! This week our school is going to "Zaanse Schans" a traditional old Dutch village with working windmills, cheese factories, wooden shoes and the rest! Afterwards we'll do a boat tour in Amsterdam. Then school starts... but I am quite excited for that as well. I'll give you all the details soon!

Have a great new week! Also, 1 month from today, October 7th (also Becky's 26th bday, happy bday sissy!) is the World Day for Decent Work (http://www.wddw.org/-About-the-day-). I came across it when doing some research for possible Thesis topics. Apparently there is a relatively new worldwide campaign for "Decent Work", basically a push for a globalization that respects the basic human dignities of fairness in employment, rights at work, solidarity, and job creation as a tool to combat poverty, etc. October 7th is a day to get the word out! Check it out!

Love, Peace & Unity!
Ruth :)

Livin la Viiida!!!

So I just got back from the grocery store... spent another 23 euros... I've been spending those like they're going out of style... oh well at least now i have some spices to work with... i was definitely lacking there for a while!! Tonight I sauteed carrots, spinach, onions, garlic and drenched it in pepper and then put in milk and breadcrumbs to try to thicken it up to make it like a cream sauce.... it was more like a peppery milk soup with soaked bread crumbs... Thus the need for some proper cooking ingredients. I may be pov line but I have my decency haha!

Today we had an introduction to the school and particularly my specialization. In the school itself there are 200 students in 17 different International Development specializations. We represent 60+ different countries, and so far I've only met 1 other American. It is amazing to run into a person from Thailand and ask them first hand about the breaking unrest that's just been front page news, or from Georgia about the reality behind it's conflict with Russia. I am seriously in heaven. Cannot believe it!!!

As far as my specialization goes, we had a meeting with all the students and overseeing profs. The professors are amazing, a couple of them have taught at the London School of Economics, each have an expansive command of experience and credentials. The two head profs are from India and the others are European (but have lived all over the world). I am so excited to start learning! My program is Poverty Studies and Policy Analysis, basically we approach poverty from a multidisciplinary perspective, researching the whys and hows of its existence and subsequently analyzing the ways and hows to fix it! It's going to be a challenge, but I couldn't think of a better suited subject to dedicate myself to!!!

Equally impressive are my classmates in my specialization ... I'm the only person from the Americas except for an Ecuadorian guy. There are others from Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Ghana), Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, and Thailand! We are 11 total (3 of us Women). It's more than amazing to have such diverse viewpoints represented from the students alone! Each have some pretty impressive backgrounds. Many work for their own country's government, but there are others from the World Bank, to other NGOs. I guess most students will return to their job after their degree, this is just to boost their knowledge and bring some fresh resources to their governments or organizations. I am seriously among such incredible company. Each person I talk to have these dream jobs and actually liiiive doing the work I'm passionate about. We can just chat informally firsthand about topics I get excited reading about...much less interact day to day... I just am slightly dumbfounded this is really possible... I cannot believe it! :D I am so happy I chose this school!

I am nervous for school a little bit it should be very very difficult. Apparently the average grade is a C and they like to keep it that way... I''m going to do my best though and see what happens! I'm up for the challenge. If that is the main thing I'm focusing on I think I will have a lot of energy for the task. I am still getting used to actually having free time. The past year and a half working two jobs on top of my busy social/family/volunteering/working out/traveling life left little time for anything else... I think this will be a nice opportunity to still work hard but just focus on my improving my mind and enjoying life on the side (and only get a job if absolutely necessary!). I'm stoked to see what wonderful things lie ahead!!!

Hope every one is doing great, thanks for all the great comments! And don't forget to vote about your favorite dutch invention on the right side of my blog... I'm curious to see which will win ;). Take care!!!

With lots of love and EXCITEMENT!!!
Ruth :D