My beloved

Plaza de Cervantes--during the summer, there are little shops that open up, and people sit in the plaza sipping wine and doing nothing (or alternatively, reading or chatting). With each drink order comes a tapa.



Me and Kristin, a study-abroad buddy-turned Alcala local eating tapas.



Even the Atocha train station in Madrid brings memories.



Going out in Madrid with Stef and Allie.



Plaza de Cervantes--the meeting/chilling/skating historic center of the city



Olives growing in southern Spain on the way to or from my city.






I lived in Alcalá de Hernares which is about 40 minutes by metro from Madrid. I traveled all over Spain and Europe and parts of Morocco. I fell in love. In love with Spain, in love with someone else, and the entire experience was incredible. Every moment was better than the last, and I never stopped discovering and changing. It has had a profound affect on my life since. My journey into Judaism, the joy I take in learning language and culture, my work as a study abroad advisor, and my skeptical but decidedly liberal outlook on the world all stem from my experience in Spain. It would not be a stretch to say that I have been traveling the world seeking to recreate (with varying degrees of success) at recreating the experience I had in Spain.

So last week, for the first time, I returned. When I went to Alcalá de Hernares, where I spent my time living and studying (and as a home-base for other travels), I was at the point of tears. Tears of happiness and memories, then tears that I would have to leave again. It was a perfect time, the only thing I can complain about is predictable: it was too short.

Karaoke

This weekend was the second time in the city I've been to a karaoke bar. We went to 2nd on 2nd for Lisa's B-day. I got to see a bunch of people I knew a little from college and meet new ones. It was great. Me singing--not so great. At least it was contained within the group. :)

Anderson Cooper/Doctors without Borders

I saw Anderson Cooper. I feel the need to mention it because
a) it was an informative event
b) i poke fun at him on my blog. i will probably take it down soon, so check under my blog title while you still can. between his coverage of the US primaries from Israel/Lebanon and seeing him deflect compliments at this event, i don't dislike him so much anymore...

At the event, Anderson Cooper interviewed Doctors without Boarders Executive Director Nicolas de Torrente, PhD, and long-time aid worker Milton Tectonidis, MD, to discuss the organization's recent humanitarian work around the world, and the challenges it faces delivering medical care in complex crises such as Darfur, Sudan, Lebanon and Niger.

Doctors without Borders is a great organization. If I had medical skills, I would do it in a heartbeat. These guys were on the ball. http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Darfur Rally

Hopefully this isn't news to you, but as one of the worst humanitarian crises in our time, the genocide in Darfur needs attention. I went to a rally in Central Park a few days ago. It was part of a world-wide campaign to send UN Peacekeeping troops into Darfur and to draw attention to the conflict. There were over 20,000 people at the rally in NYC alone. We listened to speakers--diplomats, aid workers, Sudanese people,-- and we also texted president Bush and Kofi Annon (how we got their #'s, I don't know...).

There were little sheets passed out by Amnesty International (I'm a member, and it's a really good thing. Ask me if you wanna know anything or go to their webstite.) detailing what we can do. Here is what applies:

________________________________________________________

Protect Darfur
Take the Next Step

September 18-23
Telephone, tell a friend, tell the President
-Call the White House each day this week- it takes less than 5 minutes!
Phone scripts will be available online at: http://darfur.amnestyusa.org.

Sept. 25-29
Lobby Congress
- Join a local delegation to educate your Members of Congress about the situation in the Darfur region.
-Find a delegation in your area at: http://darfur.amnestyusa.org/search.

Today: Join Amnesty Int'l www.amnestyusa.org/join.
________________________________________________________
Sudan's western boarder has now been plagued by political and ethnic violence for three years after rebels took up arms against the government. Over 200,000 people have been killed. And the more than two million people are displaced by conflict. This is not a war--it has been declared genocide.

I don't claim to be an expert on the Darfur crisis, but I do know that it is just that. A crisis. It feels daunting to me that there are such atrocities being committed in the world, and I feel virtually helpless to stop them. Even so, with this as with other world issues, I think it is so important to DO something, however small. Apathy and inaction are responsible for more than we care to address and admit (get it?). If you care at all, do something. Educate yourself. Educate others. Take some concrete steps.

Here are some photos I took at the rally:





Info on Darfur and the rallies all over the world on Sept 17:

http://view.nowpublic.com/?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Fdailytelegraph%2
Fstory%2F0%2C22049%2C20430642-5006003%2C00.html

Photos and Essay:

http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/alert/darfur/steidle/?gclid=CJCg9bPszIcCFQ8BOAody1
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