i was really excited for global vision week. it's definitely something that interests me a lot. i'm fascinated by other cultures and it was great to get to have a little peek inside so many of them. the info on missions was pretty helpful. i won't do one this summer, but i definitely want to do a missions trip through apu at some point.
i hope that the week made more students aware that there is a world outside of our comfortable little bubble that we call america. there are a lot of issues in the world which need to be both recognized and challenged before they're going to even have a chance of getting better.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
looking back
hearing the holocaust speaker was certainly something. i've heard a similar story...a woman who escaped communist china as a teenager, but to hear something that americans have put such an effort in education towards was a strange experience. i can't even begin to imagine what that woman went through, nor do i believe i will ever be able to imagine it.
i realized for the first time in 19 years that my own grandmother was in germany when this was happening. she doesn't like to talk about her childhood very much, so i haven't had the opportunity to hear her story. hearing this woman say that once her generation dies, there will be no one else to tell the story first hand, and it made me realize that i should talk to my grandmother and hear my family's history while i have the chance.
as far as racism goes, yes, it's a big problem. but as i sit here in my white skin and middle class status at my small school in southern california, i don't think i can fully understand the size of the problem. i see stuff all over the news about discrimination and i hear it all the time, but to be honest, the amount that i've been affected by it is so small. i think it's really been brought to a lot of attention but i don't know how to move forward in stopping it.
i realized for the first time in 19 years that my own grandmother was in germany when this was happening. she doesn't like to talk about her childhood very much, so i haven't had the opportunity to hear her story. hearing this woman say that once her generation dies, there will be no one else to tell the story first hand, and it made me realize that i should talk to my grandmother and hear my family's history while i have the chance.
as far as racism goes, yes, it's a big problem. but as i sit here in my white skin and middle class status at my small school in southern california, i don't think i can fully understand the size of the problem. i see stuff all over the news about discrimination and i hear it all the time, but to be honest, the amount that i've been affected by it is so small. i think it's really been brought to a lot of attention but i don't know how to move forward in stopping it.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
reflection on beginnings 10.18
hearing the stories on thursday was intense. i admire those who were able to go up and speak about those issues...they made themselves so vulnerable to hundreds of strangers. that's pretty cool.
the issue i most related to was body image. i think that for most girls it's an issue. i was a chunky kid until high school and was so self conscious. after the chunky stage i was really thin...then i found a happy medium. but even since finding a healthy weight range it's never perfect, but i've learned to love myself anyway.
seeing ourselves as god sees us can save us all. if we look at our bodies as gifts given to us by god, whether we have been abused by others or judged by ourselves, i think it's easier to be satisfied and accept.
so...here's one of those awkward endings to a blog, because i'm not really sure how to close.
the issue i most related to was body image. i think that for most girls it's an issue. i was a chunky kid until high school and was so self conscious. after the chunky stage i was really thin...then i found a happy medium. but even since finding a healthy weight range it's never perfect, but i've learned to love myself anyway.
seeing ourselves as god sees us can save us all. if we look at our bodies as gifts given to us by god, whether we have been abused by others or judged by ourselves, i think it's easier to be satisfied and accept.
so...here's one of those awkward endings to a blog, because i'm not really sure how to close.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Alcohol
I've seen the effect of alcohol. I've never experienced it firsthand, but I've definitely been close to it. I'd say 90% of exchange students spend a lot of time on their exchanges drunk. They're given this freedom...or at least they can take that freedom when they're technically not supposed to...and they go crazy with it.
I've held hair back for people when they threw up. I've thrown way bags of puke. I've searched for someone running around drunk in the rain at 3 in the morning. I've been scared for someone's life when they were passed out. It's not fun stuff.
I've seen how foolish people act and I've heard the stupid things people say. I've seen the other side of so many personalities and I've seen will break down.
Alcohol's a serious thing and I really wish it would be treated as such.
I've held hair back for people when they threw up. I've thrown way bags of puke. I've searched for someone running around drunk in the rain at 3 in the morning. I've been scared for someone's life when they were passed out. It's not fun stuff.
I've seen how foolish people act and I've heard the stupid things people say. I've seen the other side of so many personalities and I've seen will break down.
Alcohol's a serious thing and I really wish it would be treated as such.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Goals
wow. what a broad topic.
there's a lot that i want to get done, but it's not any specific thing that i'd set aside just for here at apu. some of what i want is a continuation of what i'm already doing, other parts are new. either way, here they are:
stay fluent in hungarian and keep in touch with my hungarian families and friends. as a learner, i'd say this won't be too hard. i know how much work i put into learning the language, and now that i've come this far i still only want to know more. also, my woo strength may play a part here. i have connections with my hungarian friends that i definitely want to keep and build on.
run regularly. it makes me feel better and definitely keeps my stress and exhaustion down. the best shot at using this strength will probably be woo, also. the connections that i've made here with people who run will keep me accountable.
STOP PROCRASTINATING!!! my learner strenth may encourage me on this one. now that i recognize this as a strenth i'll (hopefully) learn how to use it to discipline myself and encourage myself to go further.
there's a lot that i want to get done, but it's not any specific thing that i'd set aside just for here at apu. some of what i want is a continuation of what i'm already doing, other parts are new. either way, here they are:
stay fluent in hungarian and keep in touch with my hungarian families and friends. as a learner, i'd say this won't be too hard. i know how much work i put into learning the language, and now that i've come this far i still only want to know more. also, my woo strength may play a part here. i have connections with my hungarian friends that i definitely want to keep and build on.
run regularly. it makes me feel better and definitely keeps my stress and exhaustion down. the best shot at using this strength will probably be woo, also. the connections that i've made here with people who run will keep me accountable.
STOP PROCRASTINATING!!! my learner strenth may encourage me on this one. now that i recognize this as a strenth i'll (hopefully) learn how to use it to discipline myself and encourage myself to go further.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Strengths
Here we go, I finally got 'em. These are my top 5 strengths according to Strengthsquest:
Context-
This one means that I don't overlook the past. I look into it to see meaning and causes for the present. I can pick out the things that have caused the present to be what it is. I can see what was intended. I understand how other people have become who they are.
I see this one totally. I've somewhat recently been so much more interested in history than ever before. I'm just curious about everything and I love learning about people. I want to understand how things work and I often ask "why?"
Empathy-
This says that I know what people are feeling around me. I can feel their feelings as well and even though I may not always agree with them, I can see things from their perspective. I am tactful in my words and can "give voice to [a person's] emotional life."
I like to think this one is reflective of me. I have a lot of friends with some very different opinions and views on life. Though I don't agree, I feel like I can talk to them and be beneficial to them anyway. I feel like I can give my own opinion to friends in words that won't alienate them. I feel like I know what people need and I try to do that for them.
Woo-
This one means I like to "win others over". It also means that I love to meet new people. I see new people as a challenge. I want to know about them and find similarities between us. I'm never shy to start a new conversation. The theme also says that once I've made my connection I like to move on to new people. "In your world there are no strangers, only friends you haven't met yet."
I agree with parts of this one. I'll admit it: I like others to like me. Isn't it only human? I love to find common areas of interest between me and others and talk about it. It's true, I'm not shy to begin conversations and I'm usually up to meeting new people. The part I don't think is true is about moving on to new people. Once I make a connection I usually want to build on that and make a stronger relationship. I love people, and to be honest, the only reason I'd want to move on from someone is if they annoy me, are boring or offend me.
Input-
I collect things. Maybe these things are physical objects or they may be thoughts and facts. The things I collect interest me (no kidding?). Apparently, I find a lot of things interesting because this world is so diverse and complex. "If you like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts." I'll store these and hopefully use them again someday-because I won't throw them away.
I'd agree with most of this one, too. I love to collect pictures for memories (which ties in with my first strength, context). My mind is one that is easily intrigued. I love languages and travel because they are different and new. I could take the last part literally and say that I've (mostly) gotten over the packrat thing, but at the same time they are all just put on the back burner in my brain.
Learner-
"You love to learn." The process of learning is the most intersting part for me. Those first few steps of learning get me really excited and I long for the process of building on that beginning knowledge. I am able to take on short projects and can learn a lot about a particular matter in a short time, and move on to the next.
I guess this one's true, too. I've found that I do get excited in the very beginning and then I just yearn to become proficient in the matter. The part about short projects is true, also. I can pack a lot of info into my head about a particular subject.
I've thought about it, and I actually think a lot of these qualities about me have emerged to their full....strength, for lack of a better word, in the last year. I think last year was where I grew the most in emotionally and is where I kind of found myself.
Context-
This one means that I don't overlook the past. I look into it to see meaning and causes for the present. I can pick out the things that have caused the present to be what it is. I can see what was intended. I understand how other people have become who they are.
I see this one totally. I've somewhat recently been so much more interested in history than ever before. I'm just curious about everything and I love learning about people. I want to understand how things work and I often ask "why?"
Empathy-
This says that I know what people are feeling around me. I can feel their feelings as well and even though I may not always agree with them, I can see things from their perspective. I am tactful in my words and can "give voice to [a person's] emotional life."
I like to think this one is reflective of me. I have a lot of friends with some very different opinions and views on life. Though I don't agree, I feel like I can talk to them and be beneficial to them anyway. I feel like I can give my own opinion to friends in words that won't alienate them. I feel like I know what people need and I try to do that for them.
Woo-
This one means I like to "win others over". It also means that I love to meet new people. I see new people as a challenge. I want to know about them and find similarities between us. I'm never shy to start a new conversation. The theme also says that once I've made my connection I like to move on to new people. "In your world there are no strangers, only friends you haven't met yet."
I agree with parts of this one. I'll admit it: I like others to like me. Isn't it only human? I love to find common areas of interest between me and others and talk about it. It's true, I'm not shy to begin conversations and I'm usually up to meeting new people. The part I don't think is true is about moving on to new people. Once I make a connection I usually want to build on that and make a stronger relationship. I love people, and to be honest, the only reason I'd want to move on from someone is if they annoy me, are boring or offend me.
Input-
I collect things. Maybe these things are physical objects or they may be thoughts and facts. The things I collect interest me (no kidding?). Apparently, I find a lot of things interesting because this world is so diverse and complex. "If you like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts." I'll store these and hopefully use them again someday-because I won't throw them away.
I'd agree with most of this one, too. I love to collect pictures for memories (which ties in with my first strength, context). My mind is one that is easily intrigued. I love languages and travel because they are different and new. I could take the last part literally and say that I've (mostly) gotten over the packrat thing, but at the same time they are all just put on the back burner in my brain.
Learner-
"You love to learn." The process of learning is the most intersting part for me. Those first few steps of learning get me really excited and I long for the process of building on that beginning knowledge. I am able to take on short projects and can learn a lot about a particular matter in a short time, and move on to the next.
I guess this one's true, too. I've found that I do get excited in the very beginning and then I just yearn to become proficient in the matter. The part about short projects is true, also. I can pack a lot of info into my head about a particular subject.
I've thought about it, and I actually think a lot of these qualities about me have emerged to their full....strength, for lack of a better word, in the last year. I think last year was where I grew the most in emotionally and is where I kind of found myself.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Who Am I?
Who am I?
I am me.
I am a student.
I am a lover of cultures.
I am multilingual.
I am a sister and daughter.
I am a friend.
What do I do?
I talk and listen.
I learn about new places.
I play soccer.
I serve.
I read.
I sing and dance (but I'm no Michael Jackson).
What do I want?
I want to see the world.
I want to speak new lanugages.
I want to meet people.
I want to adopt a child.
I want to jump rope and hopscotch and do cartwheels.
I want to love and be loved.
What do I love?
I love Jesus.
I love people.
I love new places.
I love mangos.
I love snail mail.
I love life.
I am me.
I am a student.
I am a lover of cultures.
I am multilingual.
I am a sister and daughter.
I am a friend.
What do I do?
I talk and listen.
I learn about new places.
I play soccer.
I serve.
I read.
I sing and dance (but I'm no Michael Jackson).
What do I want?
I want to see the world.
I want to speak new lanugages.
I want to meet people.
I want to adopt a child.
I want to jump rope and hopscotch and do cartwheels.
I want to love and be loved.
What do I love?
I love Jesus.
I love people.
I love new places.
I love mangos.
I love snail mail.
I love life.
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