The mountain (inspired by Bernice Johnson Reagon. and everyone I have met, but especially Becky Illy and Aimee for all of our concerns)

Sometimes, forgetting
that the mountain is me
I jump off
falling I find my freedom
ignore pleas
and hands that reach for me
and when I hit
I hit hard
and roll down a few more steps

Sometimes, forgetting
that the mountain is you
I climb up
repressing feelings
losing my balance
I stumble some more
create my own fiction
fantasies
that I can climb alone

Sometimes, forgetting
that the mountain is us
I pass by lost people
ignore pleas for help
and blind my self
with shades
to create haze
around our inadequacies
in this way I say I am an individual

Sometimes, forgetting
that the mountain is our history
I confess
but do not consider
myself a part of the reoccurring
culture that inhibits
others to feel grounded
in the knowledge
that they are a valued part and surrounded
by our mountain

I woke up with this in my head(the spacing will probably be all mixed up)


ADDICTION


Business shirts sleeves rolled back
gestures normally not so revealing

our gaze falling centered on....
those old hippopotamus arms...
Those old hypo-potomus fillings
those old hypodermic seasons
from old hypodermic needles
treason that triggers
the triggers that treason
treason that triggers
the scraping off of memories
new daggers cutting throat as the void is filled with desire
unconscious reaching for that smoke
longing isn’t the word for contemplation of a reason
security, vision, clarity
“it’s me” he says Pleading for understanding and we try to understand why?
Why?
Why

revision isn’t an option
selling soul for new derision every time
to come adjacent to the higher calling
sampling the atmosphere
fear is not the case
stop signs don’t project the limits
when god is in your face

in your face with smiles that hang about
sincere for every moment
a friend at every moment
a purpose of every moment
just a moment
before your ripped and torn from unity
from chasing feelings kept inside
follow lack impunity
screaming sometimes
prison sometimes

new jobs to fill the time
the void,
the boredom of not having a mission
uninspired
the depression of not having a vision
no hope
the anxiety of not knowing your welcome
its just fear
the instance of knowing your not!
your not.....

too much to take
he didnt sign up for that
a few months to kill till he can function
a few months to tread till he can stand
a few months to feel this compunction
a few months till serenity
reaches out for his hand

so i have three jobs so far this summer with about 28 hours total, adding up to maybe $300
so im open except on tuesdays if anyone has any thoughts

tim phillip's (i forgot all the words to this but maybe tim will comment and tell me)

"flag burning"

one more, for the ones who
dying ones who
lost their lives

one more for the ones who
starving ones who
suffered life

"too bad" we think, but now
we choose if they get by

one more, for the ones who
dying ones who
lost their lives

one more for the ones who
starving ones who
suffered life

"too bad" we think, but now
we choose if they get by

one more for the ones who
(guilty) ones who
do not share

one more for the ones who
wealthy ones who
must not care

update, maybe an hour later, the acid reflux refluxed, it hurts my throat...

apparently according to studies the drug i take for acid reflux can increase blood alchol levels by as much as 38 percent in social (non binge)drinkers. i dint take any tonight but i wonder...

so i definitely talked too soon on that post yesterday, its funny cuz two mixed drinks from the bar and a warm up drink and im fine, a taste or two or the silver wolf (cheap plastic handle vod) and im feeling it. my stomach isnt made for alcohol, considering the acid reflux, they woke me up writing something about "balls" on my hand (i was asleep head on crossed arms at the table) and i decided "man i should go to sleep, but before i go to sleep, i should go to the bathroom, cuz i have a weak bladder" and when i got there i spent a minute looking down and maintaing my balance, and then i decided it might be best to sit down on the floor just in case, and then saliva filled my mouth and i kept thinking about the taste of cheap vod mixed with coke and tahitian treat and then i knew it was too late... but i feel a bit better now, i seem to be typing fine, just worried this water is gonna make it worse. hopefully now that i have officially been drunk, i dont have to be all excited about the possibility anymore. my stomach is just weak as shit.


also jazz fest, and the common cup super sweet.

does rantadine mix badly with alcohol?

an email from james
"Last night was my friend Aaron's birthday (as well as Susie and Bert's birthday). I joined some of my coworkers at the Town Hall Brewery in MInneapolis to celebrate. It was there that I had a breathtaking brush with fame.

Aaron brought over two of his friends. At first I was unimpressed, then he dropped the bombshell. These two amazing women were part of the team that designed and produced Oregon Trail and Numbermunchers! They were there, deciding who got dysentery and whether or not the boat crashed. They helped create those cute little guys that hopped from 14 to 21 to 28 and other multiples of 7, they were there!

We asked them many questions, and learned that intense research had gone into the projects. They had studied what kinds of animals went to what kinds of locations, and how much a hunter could carry, that is why even if you shot like 27 bears you could only carry 108 pounds or whatever. They looked at the odds of crashing your boat if you tried to fjord the river and they were in charge of poor timmy always drowning.

We traded stories for a few minutes, and then Kate and I asked for their autographs, they declined and looked embarressed. I am guessing that they get so many requests they have carpal tunnel, or are sick of their names appearing on items on ebay.

But despite the fact that I didn't get an signiture, I will forever treasure meeting two legends of my childhood, who helped me bridge the gap and become a man.

Just wanted to share that with yall.

jim"

sometimes i wish i could get drunk, which is funny cuz i spent so many years avoiding it still my tolerance seems pretty aight. maybe its all the "girly" drinks i drink. now that i drink once a month. maybe twice...

the whole night tonight i felt like a fuckin immature tag along and at first when i noticed i felt really embarassed but later i just sort of tried to enjoy it, made me realize i have been way too comfortable in life and i need more uncomfortablility... i also need to stop making stupid jokes, come backs and perverted comments yes thats the ticket

the tango maureen

Just listening to that song right now...

"pookie"

so i been trying to finish this paper for my indigenous peoples of the world paper since like spring break. i wrote 2 pages of bullet point notes and since then i have probably like doubled the amount. Its supposed to be 9-12 pages and i dont think that will be a problem but one of the reasons its taking so long is because im making two arguments and at times both make sense and at other time one or neither does. My basic claim is that because syria is controlling Lebanon right now and the lebanese people are protesting for their right to self govern that makes them as a whole indigenous. (as in peoples from a land who have the right to self rule and are being denied it, along with every other connotation)
the second argument is that the maronite christians of lebanon are the indigenous peoples of the area and deserve special treatment. how does this work?
i have lots of evidence for both, but if my teacher doesnt buy it then maybe i lose all credit or have to start over and having skimmed three books and reading probably 50 websites on the topic starting over seems rough. whats funny is there is so much info that says exactly what i want but all of it is from non credible sources so i cant use them. like wikipedia states blatantly that the maronites are indigenous yet its a fake encyclopedia... with real info.

Some poems recently refound or written


By the end of this mumbling rant I will have proved my point (spring 2005) ( when I have made this much much better I will call it "driving along the inter-state of the planet")

Driving along 94,
several cars more
than im use to dealing with
trying to relate to it, that bird
flying over the collected masses of rock, metal oil
mass produced and in motion
become that bird like Siddhartha
Realize
We ought to be living our lives introspecting
collecting -data to inherit in the next life
the net life and collective of us all
share and repair, old wounds under new moons

instead we move ahead of ourselves
building what we hope for a better tomorrow
having not accepted the wisdom of our former lives
I yawn and sigh..... im getting older and the day is colder than
yesterday but sunny!
I stroke my half ass beard returning to the moment and BRAKE,

and collect my fear and bundle it up tight like winter mornings before the
bus arrives.
Try to interpret the billboards, fancy store lighting and why im drawn in
smell of the air is thick with old factories burning and spewing sewage
into our already polluted shit.
That river starts with a clear trickle I seen it...

I wonder about those bush stickers, bumpers just asking to be bumped,
high structured signs displaying gas prices meant to be pumped
lumping all the words that rhyme into one jumble and find ourselves stumped
about what to do and whom with
“they” make their choices leave “us” to deal with the consequences

fly solo
little bird
you have lost your permission to fly in groups
shotguns and rifles our legacy
you the menace
we want our fields with no FLOCKS
our hair with no locks and poor with NO SOCKS
to better make the references to Jesus as a poor man, gathering
gather me up o lord and shelter my eyes as you know I have kept them open
too long and Im blinded with SELF PITY as I look upon MY CITY and see all
those I NEED to be kept IN NEED,
so I can remain with the ability to sing my song.

Too long... Lord too long... And we di-sect you then tri 4,5,6,7,8,9 sect
you for I set you upon an alter and the rest set you upon your knees,
or the other way around if you please
just know that I am the wise one who follows....

Hollow images, I digress much from the point
and hopefully soon there is a point
cuz if we remain this stubborn way, we will soon have to press play
to see green grass and blue skies and animals with cute furry tails and
shit.... ha oh snap in your face!!!! Consider it proven


Emergent (spring 2005)
we’re finding faults in our partitions, sometimes they inhibit our flow
but a better process is a solution unknown
and we go
forward in our bliss
piss faced and belligerent
finding that where we left off has moved on
as in motion
and the notion that relationships flow with out our approval is curious
but renewal seems a strange step back when we have gone this far,
Strange devotion it is that sets us at distance
and makes us mildly irritable when in the courts of first instance
we ask to make an appeal
not really understanding our rights
the decision
the mission of the dreary world mildly mystifying us and wrapped around our
thighs and corduroys...
makes its way up and finds just one being
Mixed reactions to the manifestations
the thought process molding the slightest divided intricacy into a world of
fantasy
conurbation in the streets according to the new mandates
merging of the sectarian
emersion of the self into the self

Confrontation (2001-2002)

America I have seen children fall at your feet
beg for a penny or something to eat felt sick as you looked away
as if you couldn’t reach
but who am I to preach?
I done it too, bread true Red White and Blue

America I tell you now I sit in shame
while all those around me call out your name
singing and pledging to your glorious tune
all taking to that national cue
and whiting out the filthy view, They created
what else could I do? For I have seen the true Red White and Blue

America I only ask you to do what I ask of myself
try to improve, throw off the shackles of wealth
the power the greed and the hypocrisy
for after all it brought down great Rome
and we shall be next if ignorance captures our home
the vision was pure now let it be you, let me stand proud to the Red White and Blue


Idolatry (spring 2005)
(inspired by a feeling, Shakespeare’s Juliet, and the words of john
Frusciante, “we met you through your fortune, you’re made of high, you
slipped through the streams of the city, we slip your mind. How high How
high?”)

Its subtle the way you borrow our interest for moments of your
eternal-grace-us-with-your-presence and we pray for more, and talk about
you behind your back and wonder why we swoon so. Wherever you go we follow
and follow your thoughts and hope to be amongst them. The crowd of them so
illogical and genius mesmerizes if it was caught in your sweat we chase
after with sponges and rags and catch every drop the closer to your
intellect the better. Yet as you strut which we call a walk, we begin to
notice the swing, we begin to notice we’re disposable you need but snap and
have several new believers the cult of outside the box thinking, the new
popularity and we all become junior high students again worried about the
notes and maybe for a few of us the joints in our lockers. Its unjust I
pin this on you! Its unjust you jest this way with our hearts all too
unnecessary palpitations. I palpitate for you, forgive me. I palpitate
against you, forgive me. You’re at least one sin to me, give me time to
figure out which for it changes by the minute and by your very real facial
gestures. Gesturing this way and that and ever so often gesturing in our
direction and capturing our soul and squeezing as if to allow us to breathe
again and then cutting us off mid breath to hold it so as not to make a
sound or disturb your ear the hair on your neck your thought process. Your
very beautiful poetic nonsense that we don’t even threaten to imagine
questioning, redirecting, but only passing on “oh my God did you hear what was said?” As if it wasn’t already echoed through the halls of our very
real eternity caught in sitting at your table and walled away abruptly at
the whim of your indifference. Please tell me a story a joke a word off
your tongue but end it sweetly with a smile and I’ll die in contentment for
awhile. Oh its not right I blame this on you, its not right the way you
show you blame us with your inconsistent attention. Package yourself and
not your derision, sell us disks we can replay on our computers our
music players our instrument of choice, we will play games with you and
know joy we will walk with you playing in our ears and know bright days, we
will spoon feed ourselves you and not know hunger we will touch ourselves
with you and place you inside us and know true fulfillment. We will cry
with you and laugh and dream and sigh, cover our wounds with you, mask our
frail and freakish insides with you, sing with you, walk and talk with you,
smoke you as comforting as opium pillows, cuddle with you, throw away our
piggy banks cuz who needs change? Throw away our addictions cuz who needs
anything at all when as one with your glory?

Bullshit!!(2001-2002)

The white blue and Red bull
acting from enraged soul
finds itself bleeding at its core
no one asking “What’d they do this for?”
Just hunting the “terrorist” matador
he strategically steps left
hiding in a cave
or flying in a new jet
bully asking “how do we fight?”
The matador steps right
sneaks off into the night
makes missiles of our commercial flights.

The white blue and RED bull
still got its hands full
stomping on dirt at its feet
cement rubble from a greed street
who planted this seed? WE
watch on our 62 inch TV
the nations at war
more innocent death all that we see
they say that empires fall
but Americans dance in the halls
knowing bush can make the call
6 billion dead!! To keep our flag standing tall.

America's current values (2001-2002)
An entire nation guilty of mass murder and rape
but the crowd and the cameras
turn their back at that line of yellow tape
and we all go on believing that the great dream is fine
while the victims are piled without justice or an outline

A face in a crowd of people with dark skin
somehow less important then the comfort
the future of the ones who commit the mass sin
and on and on it goes till the day our greed
makes the last soul of light succumb to the evil deed

Who is to blame the leader? The few?
The ones who choose to ignore
what they knew to be true?
The ones who went on without a care
never understanding the weight they “allowed” others to bear..

The powerfully ignorant have been given a new name
Stupid Americans!
A cause for all to blame
for only they could watch as a beautiful dream
destroys all around them as it falls apart at the seams

If money is the root what is it that squares?
When is enough enough?
At what point do we share?
If a value transfusion is all we need to make the start
lets proceed with the operation, remove this cancer from our heart!


1.

The beads, Andy on sax, Abe on vocals, i sort of know tht dude in the middle but i cant ever remember his name. they were sweet though.

So mike is no RA
no Egyptian God etc. which doesnt bother me, cept no extra dinero. so i guess i got to be cheap from now on....right yeah.

The Beads played a great fuckin show at the common cup, some pics will be up in a sec, cowboys of funk -show so little blues and country (johnny cash)

oh yeah and now were all trying to decide where the hell we should live cuz we have choices in life.
mike is more awesomer than krystin (shes trying to beat me at life)

we played like 3-4 games of RISK this weekend lots of time on our hands.

been listening to a lot of http://www.doomtree.net/ p.o.s and the like.

Becky makes it sound like i been missing out on the whole seen and such, maybe i have im a new born into hip hop. anyway I saw them last week and it was one of the most rediculously awsome shows i have ever seen and i immediatly purchased the two cds they had there and should have given kristen some cash to buy me the ones from their cd release this weekend.

my mom came up.

UMM jazz concerts are the best
props to the cats in the vagina monologues

peace the cats in the east
"jeffrey are you listening?" download that song its pretty sweet

My e folio project is hardly started but heres a link if anyone is ever interested. its kind of like an online resume/website

"Going Inside"
You don't throw your life away-Going inside-You get to know who's watching you-And who besides -you resides-In your body-Where you're slow-Where you go doesn't matter-Cuz there will come a time-When time goes out the window-And you'll learn to drive out of focus-I'm you- and if anything unfolds-it's supposed to-You don't throw your time away sitting still-I'm in a chain of memories-It's my will-And I had to consult some figures of my past-And I know someone after me-Will go right back-I'm not telling a view-I've got this night to unglue-I moved this fight away-By doing things there's no reason to do

"Everything I eat is from the Earth, right.
I am what I eat straight up Earth, right.
Nothing but a walking sack of Earth
nice to meet you how do ya do.
Guess what. Ya you're one too.
My skin holds me in
my brain moves me then
boom.
I jump straight off the speaker in a form a celebration
that we're moving.
Freely disconnected
I'm truly grateful
I'm going back to the Earth.
I'm not gonna waste life being hateful." ~311 "hyrdoponic"

Residential Advisor Application
1) Reasons for applying for the position.
There are three major reasons I can think of for why I would want the RA position.
The first reason is simply for the experience. I love meeting people, learning from people and hearing about different backgrounds and views on the world. My favorite memories from living in the dorms have been and will hopefully continue to be late night conversations and creative adventures, finding ways to be entertained in Morris and forming a community amongst my floor and dorm mates. Although this goal can easily be accomplished by just living in the dorms, I have taken it on as a personal challenge and learning experience to form friendships with people who I might normally not associate myself with. Finding common interests with people of different political and moral backgrounds has been a particularly fun experience. For example my floor mate John, a Lt. in the reserves, and I have found a common respect and interest in history and other cultures though I am and have been a firm believer in peace and peace movements for many years.
The second reason is very similar to my interest in meeting people and seems to me to be a major component of being able to make strong friendships, which is bringing about and supporting a comfortable community in which people feel respected enough to voice their thoughts, opinions and feelings about a situation. This I see as the most significant job of a RA and also seems the most rewarding. In my first year here my floor-mates and I felt a strong bond and sense of friendship that has remained and though some have moved on, 13 of us decided to stay on for a second year on 3B and one student from another floor felt so comfortable he requested to join us. This accomplishment, though it seemed natural to us, was apparently a first in the dorms (or so we were told). One major reason for this, I believe, can be attributed to our relationship with our former RA (Sarah Campbell) who still visits regularly. Her commitment to make the floor a place of mutual respect and to bring about a supportive environment brought out the best in many of us and it is this sort of environment that I think allows students to excel.
In a similar way I have felt a strong desire to create that sort of environment in my own life for many years, which has allowed me to support my friends and family through many troubling experiences, including parental divorce experiences, eating disorders, death of family members, gambling addictions, substance abuse problems and peer pressure, as well as many common situations for teens such as break ups and school/work decisions. I cannot of course take credit for anyone "getting through" these problems but I have felt honored to know that many of my friends attribute their successes to having friends and supporters in their life to fall back on. These experiences have led me to feel a sense of purpose in my life to help support those who may need it, a responsibility I take very seriously while trying to acknowledge my limitations.
These two reasons, a love of people and a desire to help them along while they make the decisions that direct their lives, has led me to want to be a teacher.
The third reason is simply that if I am planning on trying my best to meet and support new people, I might as well get the training so that I can do it the best way possible and in more ways than I could simply living in the residence halls. I hope that the position will allow me to take on these responsibilities and provide me with more experience and knowledge so that I can continue to try to do this in the future, while teaching and in life.
2) Previous related experiences/positions.
Work/Jobs
* Nick’s Ice Cream and Popcorn (Ridgedale Mall, 5 years of working with peers, helping customers, and taking on leadership roles amongst my co-workers)
* Fanny Farmer (Ridgedale Mall, similar to Nick’s except to a lesser extent and for a much shorter time period)
* Assistant Teacher for School Age kids program /summer 2004 (St. Mathews in St. Paul, a daycare for elementary school kids, my job included opening, greeting parents, watching kids alone for several hours, providing games and coordinating learning activities)
* Art teacher/Teacher’s Aid (summer school district 287 Southwood Bloomington)
High School Related
* Save Our Surroundings (environmental and social justice group, leader/advisor role, 3 years)
* Mandala (literary arts and art publication, 2 years, 1 year Art editor and editing advisor)
Morris Related Volunteer
* Willmar mural project (project that was in conjunction with the United Latinos group on campus and the sociology department, didn’t work out, but had some experience working with students from Willmar high school and participated in their world culture fair)
** currently observing/student aid for Mr. Howden at Morris High School (As part of Ed 2101, working in 7th grade US history class)
Religious Volunteer work/training
* Peer Ministry Camp (leadership camp, attended one session, dealt with communication skills, peer counseling)
* Sunday School teaching (presented units on culture and fair trade coffee)
* Polar Bear expedition summer camp leader (group leader of elementary school kids)
* Mission trips - Pine Ridge Reservation (day care in SD)
- Chicago (nursing/retirement home volunteer)
3) Experiences that have created a significant impact.
All of the above have had a significant impact on my life and I can easily say I learned a tremendous amount from each of those experiences. However I feel my travel experiences have probably shaped my life and taught me the most about myself. My Mother’s job and love of travel has allowed me to go to many amazing places including Hong Kong/China, Tanzania, and Europe. These experiences have opened me up and instilled in me a love of diversity and culture.
My first major culture shock experience happened at 12 when my Mom brought me along on a study abroad trip through the Lutheran Seminary in St Paul. I spent three and a half weeks tagging along and learning about cultural, political, economic, historical and religious issues in Hong Kong and China. This included visiting government housing (4x4 foot open homes for families of four), as well as hospitals, temples, banks and churches. Upon my return I felt a strong sense of confidence and a deep feeling of humility and guilt, which lead me to feel the need to stand up to my peers when they made euro-centric and racist comments or talked about people who struggle in the world as if it was all their fault. My experiences had taught me that people are beautiful and worthy of respect no matter what their situation (a value, I try my best to maintain) and that it is necessary to stand up for those who could not stand up for themselves.
This initial culture shock was followed up several years later when my Mom took me to Tanzania, where we learned about fish farming, land cultivation, medical and educational problems, and political, social and religious issues. While visiting an elementary school which could barely be described as safe, let alone functional, I wrote a song about how I felt it was impossible to ever forget or hide myself from the struggles that humanity faces, including war, hatred, poverty, ignorance etc.
These experiences strengthened my character and my desire to help. Without them I don’t know that I could have ever provided the support my friends and family have needed and I know that they continually remind me to remain humble and try to support those around me to the best of my abilities.
4) Three areas of significance concerning RA position.
The areas I believe are most important I have already touched on.
1) Community building and support of those around us, is something I think is extremely important for the position whether that is planning activities and trying to get people involved, or making sure they know where they can get the support they need on campus.
2) Developing relationships, sharing, learning and teaching each other.
3) Being a role model. Sometimes without a leader it is hard for a group to function.
I think my former RA Sarah tried her best at these activities and was able to bring about a sense of community and respect for each other that has lasted through the trials of college life, I hope to be able to do the same.
5) Out of comfort zone (learning) experiences.
As already stated I have had significant traveling experience, and so I thought that I was ready to go off on my own at 18 to Europe and backpack (for a month, 6 months, a year, forever? Who knows.) Within hours of landing I realized I was in over my head when I couldn’t find my first hostel and it was raining and I was jet lagged (an experience that seemed to repeat itself all trip). When I finally got there I practically burst into tears (again, no one noticed in the rain). Anyway, the trip continued that way at times, and at times I met wonderful people who changed my life forever. It taught me not to judge and be happy for any scrap of attention anyone would give me. I used to carry around a sign that said "smile" in big letters, passerby’s thought I was trying to bring them good cheer and would offer me money (possibly due to my dirty appearance). The truth was that I was so desperately lonely and depressed from being by myself that I would give anything to see a friendly face, and a smile was like heaven to me (so was chocolate for some reason). Anyway after several months I thought I had it down in Europe and decided I should hop a ferry to Morocco.
Upon entering the city of Tangier, Morocco I felt prepared, I thought I had a place to stay, I thought I knew how to handle merchants and salesmen, swindlers, rip off artists and beggars. I was wrong. A man who posed as a tourist information guide told me the hostel was closed for the winter. He told me he could get a deal at a local hotel for about the same prices and that I shouldn’t worry. He offered me a guided tour which I declined, then told me he was about to be off duty and felt that since his job and life’s work was to make sure tourists enjoyed morocco he wouldn’t mind showing me a few spots in town before I left for one of the larger cities. He offered me lunch at a local spot and insisted that he should pay. He showed me the market, a mosque, a hand woven carpet making factory and several other beautiful cultural spots. Then we returned to the hotel where he had a deal with the owner and walked me into my room. He then proceeded to lock the door, and insisted I pay him for the tour. I was shocked and felt incredibly vulnerable (as he was blocking the door), and I was forced to pay the equivalent of a three days stay at reasonable accommodations in Morocco. What would probably provide a comfortable week or two for a local person. After the event I was traumatized and at some point made up my mind to leave the country the next day.
Several hours later my shock wore off and I started to realize the error of that kind of thinking. To write off a culture, a country, a people by one man’s actions was, I realized, a horrible loss for all. I decided to extend my stay a few extra days, and I decided for every event that made me want to leave I should press on and find two reasons to love Morocco. As part of this I had to remind myself that other cultures have different beliefs, and that sometimes even those strong beliefs can falter due to circumstances. Morocco had been having a drought for over a decade. The tourist industry had dried up due to Sept 11th. The people were noticeably poor and yet by staying I also realized that they were willing to share what they had. Were able to get past their own biases to guide travelers to their destinations and offer them deals on cultural items that they could share when they got home. In this case I realized it was important to have patience and avoid judging without more experience and reflection.
This attitude about the error of judging people before getting to know them was reaffirmed by a situation that happened shortly after. When I returned to the U.S. from Europe and Morocco I was detained at customs for over an hour, given lectures, questioned and treated as a "terrorist" or at least as some sort of defector. My stuff was picked through piece by piece including my clothes, souvenirs and gifts for friends and family, not only that but the mundane, train ticket stubs and receipts in my wallet. I felt incredibly discriminated against and didn’t really understand what had changed in me that I as a U.S. citizen should now be treated so differently. The simple facts were I now had arabic in my passport, owned a copy of the Koran and have a new respect for world cultures. The U.S. customs agents in their haste and concern, decided that I was too risky to treat respectfully, and this incident only enforced my desire to treat others the way I wished I had been treated.
6) Skills and qualities for RA position.
The following are skills and qualities that I have, believe in or try my best to uphold:
Compassion, the ability to be comforting, respectful, desire to meet and include people, ability to connect with others, patience, promotion of diversity and tolerance, ability to voice opinion and be assertive when needed, relaxed personality, giving, creative-artistic, egalitarian, responsible, open minded, desire to have a good time with people... I am strongly against gossiping and try my best to promote respect and understanding in all situations. Also I think it is important to try to keep in mind the serious things in life, avoid risky situations but remember to put things in context and not take everything too seriously.

Group shot, from left to right. Kristen, nova big T (tony) chris D, his lady, Illy (in front) Steve (in back), Becky, b day boy

the family (james was in LA)