Saturday, October 13, 2012

Machiavellian Musings and then Some



            Before I start, I apologize for the eclectic organization of this post. I waited too long in between posts, and now it’s difficult to discern what issue merits attention.


Is it better to be feared than to be loved as an authority figure?

I am blessed with the gift of time here. I am emancipated from my usual vices and distractions here. I have to time: to sit and think for hours, to be silly for a ridiculous amount of time by myself, to make creative lesson plans, to write letters home via snail mail, to pretend I’m Thoreau at Walden for an extended amount of time gaining perspective, and to appreciate the moment.
                Going back to Machiavelli’s inquiry, I am incessantly in search of that delicate balance of respect and adoration from my students and teachers. I have tendencies to be a big fat pushover…but now is the time to learn to stand up for myself. Alas, that’s why I’m here, for the challenge to grow.
                I’m getting more into the groove of things. My schedule is getting more and more inundated. I have a club everyday of the school week. I’m looking forward to putting on our first movie screening in a few weeks. Ubber ecstatic about this. I’m going to start cooking again because I was able to negotiate with my host family about money allotted for food. I can now buy my own ingredients. I can’t wait to share American culinary delights with my host family. I’m booking my flight to Dubai soon to get away for a few days this winter. I appreciate my family, friends, and amenities back home so much more now. I’m motivated to continue to work arduously for a successful service as a volunteer despite the setbacks.
                I’ve been giving my undergraduate research project on happiness a lot of thought lately for some odd reason. My happiness here has changed drastically. I get excited to know that there’s enough water to have a bucket bath (every 5-7 days). I get excited knowing there’s enough juice in my mp3 player on long rides on the marshutni (most common mode of transportation). My heart melts when I see my host sisters play with my host dad. I’m elated when it is clean bed sheets day. I’m gleeful when I open my inbox and I see love from friends and more so when I have mail from the post office. I’m pretty sure when I go home…I’m going to be the easiest going girl you know. But for now I’m happy to be here and to have this experience.
Mr. Samuel Johnson dropped some knowledge on me today, which I felt was conducive/relevant to my previous ramblings about happiness: “To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition, the end to which all ambition, the end to which every enterprise and labour tends…” How’s that for some PHI-losophy? 

                                                                                                              
Phi OUT!

P.S. my new favorite word is WANDERLUST!

Harry's (his real name) attempt to show us proper stances for fencing

Catching some vitamin D at the wine festival

lake sevan for site-unlock!!

Areni for the wine festival

Talin for the 5K

We're buddies :D

Frolicking in its glory in the meadow at the wine festival


Arpi my little host sister!

Asyco my other baby host sister

As crazy as they drive me nuts, I love them.

My host mom and I try to squeeze a few new words everyday.




our glorious warden meeting spread at Brian's!



this is why she's always sick...everything goes into her mouth.


Out of control with fun.




I also get excited for clean clothes day :)

the metal tube on top was how I showered in the summer...if you look closely, there's a nozzle at the end...where the water exits

Talin's older church with most of the other volunteers who came for the 5K

Armenian teens learning the Armenian traditional dance

Sunflower seeds galore!


On your mark, get set, go!

Gold, silver, bronze winners

the homemade brews at the wine festival

Joy and Me

Carolyn and David

Limbs upon limbs



Sunday morning brunch is one of my most favorite things int he world

                

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