stories

I love hearing people tell stories. Listening to them tell me about how life used to be and how it continues to impact them is something I wish I had more time for. In my line of work it's so easy to become jaded by the stories of my refugee clients. Well...maybe jaded isn't the right word; maybe it's just the fact that I get so busy with daily tasks and trying to stay afloat that their histories get pushed to the back of my mind.But as my time with World Relief is coming to a close, I have begun to reflect more on the last two years of interacting with my clients. Particularly in this past week, the burden of certain people's pain and suffering has consumed my thoughts. How some are able to even get up in the morning blows my mind. But then I know that years of learning to deal with it--whether it be through faith, family connections or through self-medicating--can still leave them in such an unsettled state that I have only begun to understand. I will take their stories, and memories of my interactions with them, "along the side of my life" always.
some of my stories (and pictures that follow):
-talking politics in a doctor's office with a young Iraqi girl who worked with our soldiers in the war
-hearing a North Korean sing a line from a song by his favorite British boy band
-dancing in a Turkish wedding
-listening to one man's account of his time in a Vietnamese prison after the war
-escorting the first refugee family I met (from Afghanistan) to the airport as they were moving to California
-witnessing a grown Sudanese man cry as he was reunited with his wife from Dafur after 8 years
-trying to get "personal information" from a Burmese couple without a translator in a doctor's office
-buying a hot meal from Krystal for new Iraqi arrivals--their first fast food experience!
-translating for a Turkish woman during her gall bladder surgery
-proudly sporting my Karen Burmese skirt at the ESL gradution--handmade by one of my students (see the pic above---she wore a matching one!)
My "New Choices for New Americans" class at GA Perimeter College, spring-summer 2008
my first Meskhetian Turkish friends, 2006
the last World Relief ESL for Jobs graduates of 2008 CNN tour/MARTA training with Bhutanese, Burmese, and Iraqi clients, 2008
my 3 Iraqi sisters reunited with their family in Atlanta

I'm going!

well, I talked with the director of Speak Up Language School two weeks ago and accepted the position of English teacher there! So now they've got to secure a work permit for me and then I'll get a visa. Pray that it will be a speedy process! They told me it will be around mid-October before I can set foot on Russian soil again...

Moscow calling?

So I may be moving back to Moscow soon. It's been three years and I just can't seem to get Russia out of my blood. I'm excited about the possibilities but anxious at the same time about leaving my job and the wonderful people in my life here.
Here's one of the places I might be working:

live music fanatic

I caught a Guster song on the radio on my way to work today and began reflecting on the many times I'd seen them in concert. I think I've reached my quota at 5 times. Then I started thinking of musicians I'd seen live at least two times or more over the years and some of the random places I saw them perform (a rodeo arena, an abandoned steel mill, and Red Square to name a few). What happy memories.
Here's the list:
Nickel Creek(5)
Vigilantes of Love/Bill Mallonee (5)
Jars of Clay (5)
Andrew Peterson (4)
Modern Skirts (4)
Gomez (4)
Bob Dylan (3)
Over The Rhine (3)
R.E.M. (2)
Paul McCartney (2)
Mute Math (2)
James Taylor (2)
Joseph Arthur (2)
Magic Numbers (2)
Chris Isaak (2)
The Who (2)

-most $$ every paid for a show: $80 (Rolling Stones Bridges to Babylon tour)
-artist who I would pay $100 to see: Radiohead
-furthest traveled to see an artist perform: from Atlanta to Bahamas to see The Roaches (now known as the Return)

R.E.M. is coming

get ready for the new album featuring this song!

government conspiracy

music I'm listening to

Recently my friend Tim inspired me to publish a list of songs I listen to. They aren't necessarily from albums released in 2007, but rather songs I've appreciated over the last year (some within recent months). Now that I'm writing this out, I can think of a million other songs to add but I'll settle on the following top 10:

1. "Reckoner" by Radiohead (from In Rainbows)
It was hard choosing one song cos I can listen to this album straight through without wanting to skip anything. But this is definiately my favorite.

2. "Tattoo" by Joseph Arthur (from Come to Where I'm From)
I saw this guy open for Gomez in London almost ten years ago and I was in awe of his stage presence and cool guitar looping tricks. I remember him playing this song, too.

3. "On" by Bloc Party (from A Weekend In The City)
I love Kele's vocals on this song in particular.

4. "Mistaken for Strangers" by The National (from Boxer)
I just discovered this album recently and am so into this song!

5. "Monster Ballads" by Josh Ritter (from The Animal Years)
You know when you buy an album and start out by listening to one or two certain songs but forget about the rest of the album? This happened to me with The Animal Years. I was obsessed with "Girl In The War" and "Lillian, Egypt" and overlooked this gem of a song.

6. "Simple X" by Andrew Bird (from Armchair Apocrypha)
I'm no drumming expert, but the drum track on this song ROCKS. And Andrew's got some mad whistling skills.

7. "Louis, Louis" by Teitur (from Stay Under the Stars)
This guy played at HRC Atlanta last year and was very underappreciated by the crowd. He's got that endearing Scandinavian folkie style that we know and love.

8. "Scenic World (version)" by Beirut (from Lou Gisland E.P.)
I would love for this song to be a processional at a wedding.

9. "Guyamas Sonora" by Beirut (from The Flying Club Cup)
I LOVE THIS BAND.

10. "Carousel" by Iron & Wine (from The Shepard's Dog)
haunting lyrics and groovy music.

I don't think I could ever have a job as a music critic. It's hard for me to articulate why I like certain types of music and dispise others (my comments above are case in point). I think I could be the person that gives stars though. That job seems alot less complicated.

What are some songs you'd give 5 stars to?

what to do?

So I realize I haven't posted on here in a long time. Well, grad school was my excuse but now that I'm done, that's no longer the case. Maybe I'll try to update this more regularly like some of my other diligent friends.
Now that I'm done with school and working full-time at World Relief, I'm trying to decide the next step. Here are my top 5 thoughts about the future that are bouncing in my head at the moment:
1. Move to Moscow and teach English somewhere.
2. Take a month-long trip through Russian, Ukraine and random Central Asian countries and see what types of teaching and ministry opportunities are available.
3. Get a job with the foreign service at the Moscow embassy.
4. Stay in Atlanta and continue to teach.
5. Improve my Russian by getting an interpreter's certificate.