Human Rights week, Falaki

Spent the day at the Human rights booth at Falaki, Old Campus. It was unbearably hot today, made my head hurt so and gave me a weary look. But It was great fun, raising money for the Burundi Refugee foundation which was started by a former IHRL student at AUC. We sold T-shirts, took loads of pictures and had Eritrean food for lunch. There was much to look at, at the Refugee bazaar had several students coming by to buy stuff,met interesting and odd people. I often get a bit put off when someone comes to talk to me about color and separates me from the rest because am black. This one Nubian guy came to my booth and started chatting to me about color and what Africa is about and should be, it bothers me that people spend so much time focusing on the color of our skin than on the more important things in life; and when I get put off they think am rude, truth be told am just fed up. Aiman, a Nubian Egyptian was ever so kind, he had the kindest eyes I saw today and told me much about Pharaoh and Egypt and Sudan cause his dad is from Sudan, his mom from Egypt. He came back after saying goodbye and brought his phone number to me- my friends were balling. I could not help but smile, he was so shy but then again am wondering what he expects me to do with his number. My chat today was interesting as I in the middle of selling T-shirts and telling people what human rights week was all about. I kind of dropped it for a while and am sure Kat and Wawa must have thought I was the most un-serious person ever. Anyway it got tricky when I was tearing while telling Dickens my saga...but that I managed to cover up, I should not be talking about hurtful things as they only make me sadder. Its kind of scary that when I talk about it now, the pain is as real as when it was happening, will it ever go? or maybe I should somehow just practice pretending ti didnot happen. I wish I could do that, the mind is a dangerous thing I must admit. I find Dickens very kind hearted, he understands me and I don't have to guard my words with him as much as I do with others, somehow its so freeing to feel like we are buddies and nothing has changed( even if it has). I am glad that I can have him for a friend, and even though am not sure why we ended up talking now, am glad that we did. I miss being in Uganda, I miss being able to see my friends, and laugh so hard that I cry. I miss home, its actually sad that I don't miss it as much these days - that's maybe cause am writing much and reading much. But I remember how homesick I was in the States and in January. Got to chat with Marwa and she desperately wants to travel round Africa. one more person on the Africa tour... Michael Oskin, Steve Gallo and Myself were planning this East African trip and now I think its about to happen, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and Mozambique will be the first batch of places for a road trip, we'll do all these in a month and see how that goes. left the booth at about 9:40pm and was knackered, was supposed to have dinner with Fawziah but it didn't happen so I came home straight and here I am writing instead of hitting the sack.

Quiet Morning

Quiet morning, my roommates are out early these days, so I get to have the house all to myself and have the volume way up high. Dreamed last night that I was back in my Minnesota house and it was all good. Don't know what to make of that. woo! My body aches... I have done some crazy workouts this week. Am starting to realize that there is so much to do in life, and the body, this body oh it might just never get used to all the new exercises. Meanwhile I am back on face book and its not even funny! Annie has my password so I can log in only once a day and practice some kind of self control, but the desire to peep in is great...maybe that's why we have rules in life, cause some of us just lack self control. Had a long chat with Mohamed last night at the gym, he has developed ulcers, says he knows why cause he was sad a few years ago- so much going on. It makes me realize how much we hurt and suffer and our bodies suffer the consequences after a while. Its funny how in my meditation and yoga fitness lessons its all about letting go of grievances and choosing miracles, and letting go of people from our minds that we would have let into our homes. The mind and body are essential for health and well being and until we allow God's absolute peace that goes beyond human understanding to dwell in us, only then will we find complete health. Starting Analysis and Conclusion today, I hope I can make 20 pages of that! Asked Dr. Outi Korhonen to be my Thesis supervisor, she accepted! yay! I am so pleased.... its crazy how much Graduate studies is about writing and writing and writing, you just cant get away with this writing thing...