Mele Kalikimaka!

Sorry for the last post, I told myself I wasn't going to write about serious/political things. Admittedly, I knew that wasn't going to happen. I'll try to keep it a little lighter for the most part.

For Christmas, my lovely brother gave me an ukulele! Now keeping in mind that I've literally no musical ability whatsoever, I'm already quite happy with my progress, if I may say so myself. It's an adorable little yellow Makala. Actually it's really cheap; it doesn't stay tuned for very long. Andy's given me a few pointers, he basically taught himself this fall after we got one for him for his birthday in July. Now I just discovered this website, ukeschool.com, which has free lessons and tuning guides and chord charts and everything I need. My fingers are getting pretty sore. Unfortunately, I really can't bring it to school with me, as I already go to extreme lengths to distract myself and really don't need the added bonus of a musical instrument to torture my roommates with. So that leaves me a little more than two weeks to try and learn as much as possible....which may amount to very little, indeed.

Anyway, ukeschool is great. One hour lessons once a day, and interactive shtuff you can play along to.  My goal, longterm that is, is to one day play this song relatively well.

Due to my inherent lack of singing ability, that day may be a long way off.

It's over, YOU LOST.

Today(or I guess yesterday now), Obama signed the act which repeals "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the military. A month or two ago, a federal judge ruled that Prop 19 is unconstitutional. Discrimination against gays is slowly coming to an end. So why, I ask you, why do people continue to fight it?

As long as it may take us, our society has a way of slowly correcting its wrongs. Gay marriage WILL eventually be legal. Gay couples WILL eventually be able to adopt. And discrimination, let alone blatant hatred, towards LGBT individuals will one day no longer be tolerated in any institution or public setting. That's not to say it will be completely eradicated, since racism and sexism still exist despite great strides, but gays and lesbians and transexuals will be able to be open about who they are without needing to fear an immediate backlash from their family, friends, peers, or coworkers.

It's so tedious. Why do people have to try stand in the way of what's already a reality? The time and energy they waste spreading homophobia and hatred could be so much better spent doing good. I guess it's easy for me to say that when I've been raised to accept homosexuality, but I just can't understand what anyone can have against two people, who love each other just like anyone else does, making a commitment to one another and spending the rest of their lives together. There's just no argument that can hold up against it. It's love, damn it. It may be cliche and lame but that's what it is and saying it's unnatural or evil isn't going to stop it from happening. I'm sick of it, there are literally THOUSANDS of other issues that should be taking up our attention! Can't we just get past who has sex with who and just move on to the bigger picture?

Anyway, this is a video a friend of mine showed me. She's gay, and I think this really helped her not to feel alone back when she hadn't told anyone. Whatever your opinions, Harvey Milk was a pretty inspiring guy, and what he says applies to any minority or group of people who face obstacles.

Time to go back.

I've been away almost 4 months. That's unbelievable to me. When I look back I feel like it flashed by, even though I know those first few weeks were hard and dragged at times. Tomorrow, after 7 hours of plane travel, I'll be back again. Just like that.

I donno, it just seems so strange to me. I'm excited out of my mind, but I'm going to miss it here so much. Sometimes it seems like a month back home won't be enough, other times I worry that I'll be going crazy by the end. I guess that's fairly good happy medium.

Anyway, tomorrow's going to be a long day. It'll be good to be home, and see my family and friends. In fact, the more I think about, the more I worry I won't be able to sleep tonight.

This video's hilarious, so I'll leave you with that.

Back for more

Alright, let's have another go at this. And not just because I should be studying for the final I have in less than 12 hours. Of course not.

Break is quickly approaching, meaning there will be a lot more time to keep up with a blog. Also, I'm hoping to apply for Nicholas D. Kristof's annual "Win-A-Trip" essay contest. Kristof is a humanitarian and New York Times columnist who sponsors this contest each year for aspiring-journalists currently in college. The winner travels with him to Africa, where they are essentially given a crash course on reporting on social issues in the developing world. It's an amazing experience, and I've wanted to apply ever since my brother first told me about it. Kristof has an incredible career; traveling the world and reporting on the inspiring and heartbreaking situations he finds. I doubt that I'll be picked, in fact I know I won't, but now that I'm in college and eligible I'll do it anyway. I don't have much experience to recommend me, but I'll still apply every year. On ne sait jamais!


Speaking of different countries and languages I don't speak, someone recently showed me a list of words that are virtually untranslatable. Some of them are really beautiful, some just funny. These are my favorites:
2. Mamihlapinatapei

Yagan (indigenous language of Tierra del Fuego) – “the wordless, yet meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something but are both reluctant to start” 
7. Tartle

Scottish – The act of hestitating while introducing someone because you’ve forgotten their name. 
17. L’appel du vide
French – “The call of the void” is this French expression’s literal translation, but more significantly it’s used to describe the instinctive urge to jump from high places.
18. Ya’aburnee
Arabic – Both morbid and beautiful at once, this incantatory word means “You bury me,” a declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person because of how difficult it would be to live without them.

I love language. I really wish I was gifted with learning others, but I'll have to content myself with just enjoying English and little bits and pieces of others for the time being.