jumping on the bandwagon...

I know about a million people with my first name. My last name had better results anyway. Here goes....

Googlism for: STAFFORD

stafford is the director of the social security

stafford is right for you

stafford is sweet

stafford is a poet of ordinary life

stafford is based on financial need and features deferment of principal and interest charges while enrolled at least half

stafford is an expert in the realm of british intelligence during world war II

stafford is also a major advocate of community outreach

stafford is one of the friendliest places on earth

stafford is basing her team in the chicago area

stafford is the kid from sydney's western suburbs who abandoned rugby league

stafford is not light years away

stafford is awarded to students who demonstrate financial need

stafford is an accomplished electric guitarist

stafford is available from monday through friday

stafford is caused by the transfer of balance during movement and in no way should this roll or sway be overdone to resemble the rolling

....damn FAFSA loan. stole half my answers.

Marketing

Strategy is: baking dozens of crepes (starting to feel like hundreds.....) when my roommate's boyfriend is over, giving him one, and telling him that he can have a ton more free food if he comes to my event tomorrow. DONE. so easy.

global village tomorrow. WOOHOO!!

major props go out to my whole team. they've put in a ton of work, which i'm so grateful for, and i would not have been able to do it without every single one of them.

forecast looks clear for tomorrow. can't wait!

regresamos a la chimba?

...not quite, but a couple glasses of sangria turned into salsa lessons and we finished off the night dancing our little gringa hearts out to reggaeton. while it wasn't quite the same without the brasilieros, colombianos, mexicanos, or any of our other favorite latinos, these two chicas almost felt like they were back in colombia tonight :)

the future of @, the future of the world....

As I was counting ballots tonight after GMM for the end of the semester awards (sorry, my lips are sealed until the banquet), one vote totally made my night and needs to go down for the record.

MOST LIKELY TO CHANGE THE WORLD: All of us

how's that for some motivation? let's go make some waves.

Reflecting back....

Immediately upon my return from AXLDS, several people, both Colombian and American, had asked me to share with them my thoughts of the experience, my impressions of the country and the culture. I've spent the past couple weeks reflecting on this, taking advantage of a perspective enhanced by time, coming down from the "high" of the conference.

While in a new country, you become immersed in the new culture, and every sense becomes heightened as you try to absorb everything around you and understand the unknown. Feeling simultaneously vulnerable and intrigued, I was able to let go of my "reality" for nearly 2 weeks. I tied up the most important loose ends and set my email vacation settings before I left. Fully aware that I would have plenty to make up when I returned, I left behind all thoughts of work and school responsibilities. Although I was able to access wireless on my laptop on a fairly regular basis, there is a strangely refreshing sense to turning off your cell phone and forcing yourself to cut off daily dependence on technology, if only temporarily. And just like that, I allowed COLOMBIA to become my "reality" for 12 days. The willingness to lose myself in this new culture proved to be more fulfilling, life-changing, and perception-altering that I ever could have hoped.

In the past two weeks since I have been home, I have been faced with reverse culture shock, the realization of my rapidly approaching college graduation and the many bittersweet emotions that come with that territory, and the frustration of being unable to really express to others what my time in Colombia meant to me. Any words that I find fall grossly short of capturing something for which there no words vivid enough to explain.

And now, I constantly find myself reflecting on Colombia, AXLDS, AIESEC, and how these three things fit into my future. Before the conference, a traineeship in South America was definitely in the back of my mind, an opportunity to fulfill my desire to learn Spanish and immerse myself in a region whose history, economy, politics, and culture have become a recent fascination of mine. Yet, it was not by any means my immediate post-grad plans. Until recently. Not long after I arrived in Colombia, something hooked me.

Colombia es pasión, the best kept secret in the world

It was everywhere. It was more than simply seeing it in the powerpoints or reading these phrases in the tourist brochures. It was more than the discussions, debates, and brainstorming sessions about what this meant in the context of the Creo en Latinoamerica LDS session.

I felt it.

We all did. I had discovered a culture that revolves around passion, a country who lives and breathes this passion, a sentiment so pure and genuine running through the veins of every person living there. I glimpsed the rich heritage and the profound natural beauty.

Above all, I was greeted by people so willing to share this culture with me, in every way they could, from teaching me to salsa and introducing me to reggaeton to sharing my love of good coffee. Every Colombian I met was so excited that I was open to accepting what they had to show me. The relationships that I built were reciprocal. I was an American, but I was an American skeptical of the generalizations held by many others in my country. I had refused to accept the stereotypes that held little merit beyond assumptions BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE FOR MYSELF, TO FORM MY OWN OPINIONS, TO UNDERSTAND.

Leading up to my trip to Colombia, as I told people where I was going, I was answered with one of two extreme opposite reactions, as were each of the other Americans who I came with. While many people responded along the lines of - "wow, that's going to be awesome", I received far too many skeptical questions and comments such as - "really? why would you want to go there?" or "you know, that's really not a very safe place", heavy with negative connotation, often including the buzzwords of DRUGS or GUERRILLA WARFARE. The nurse at UHS even gave Anna paperwork with warnings of kidnapping when she got her yellowfever shot in attempt to persuade her not to go (note - 3 days before we were leaving).

Fueled by my disappointment and frustration of these comments and my own desire to learn, I eagerly listened as the Colombians each told me about their hometown, the beauty of their country, and why they were proud to be Colombian. It didn't take me long to understand, Colombia es pasión, the best kept secret in the world.

Each Colombian saw how quickly the other Americans and I had fallen in love with their country and pleaded eagerly with us to tell everyone we could at home how Colombia really is.

"Sometimes it's very unfair, we just can't compete with the media and with the bad news that are constantly shown about our country. But if we can change one person's perception by showing our culture and our people, than it's worth it"
- email from Sebastian, Medellí­n

So while I may not have a concrete answer to everyone who has asked me what was the best part of my trip, why I loved the culture, or most importantly, what made me so determined to find a traineeship in Colombia, I know that it is the next step in my life and that it just makes sense. One glimpse into this culture was not nearly enough to satisfy my curiosity.

Two weeks later and the impact of my travels to South America has not lessened. The conference was one of the most inspiring experiences that I have had in quite awhile. Every single person I met touched my heart and changed my life immensely.

a sweet solution?

In light of all the discussions going on lately revolving around sustainability, both at AXLDS and Stones, Brasil has an interesting alternative... any thoughts?

Back at the library for a few more hours after my usual Sunday night shift at work. My decision to bring the leftover bakery to the ethnic studies room instead of home to my roommates was greated with an overly enthusiastic, nearly orgasmic, whispers of excitement. Guys and free food...I don't think I will ever understand. I got a cold spring roll in return from this one. It came out of his pocket. I was slightly afraid to eat it.

I've spent way too much time talking online with conference peeps this week. I always make fun of Katy for typing "ahahaha" when she talks online. Online laughing in Spanish is "jajaja". How's that for a cultural difference? Motivation is lacking when graduation is just 5 weeks away. Traineeships in Colombia are getting closer and closer to being a reality, the more people that I talk to. Medellin, Bogota, Baranquilla, Manizales...we'll see where I am a few months from now...

as promised....

COLOMBIA ES PASION

fighting culture shock....

...by studying at Espresso Royale. I simply cannot face the library yet. Taking off for almost 2 weeks about a month before graduation does not help much with the senioritis. But I'm hanging on to the motivation and energy of the conference, determined to finish strong. I'm ignoring the urge to unpack, tackle the laundry, upload pictures, SLEEP, empty my overflowing inbox, or even simply spend hours reflecting on the experience that I'm coming off of...which would be so easy to do.

Leaving Colombia yesterday was SO hard. Much more than I had expected. I'm horrible at saying goodbyes to begin with, but this one proved to be particularily hard, as we watched the group thin out more and more until we were some of the last few left.

For as much as I wasn't ready to leave South America, the NYC skyline out the window was a welcoming sight as we landed at Newark. After starting the day at 4:30 a.m. in Bogota, Anna and I thought we were on the home stretch as we waited for our connecting flight, enjoying some Subway in the airport, studying, contemplating everything that had happened to us, and how we would bring it all back with us to Madison in just a few hours.

The mood changed a little however, as our flight was delayed twice and we realized that by the time we finally landed in Chicago, several hours later than expected we would have missed the last bus back to Madison. Considering that the past 2 weeks have consisted of about 3 hours of sleep a night, we were NOT about to pull an all nighter at OHare until the next bus this morning.

SHOUT OUT to the Chicago land trainees and the power of AIESEC coming through. They were more than willing to let Anna and I crash with them at 1am with only a couple hours notice. Thanks guys :)

And so with a little salsa and Brazilian funk playing on my iTunes, a large chai next to me, I attempt to transition back into "normal life", whatever that may be...