A Sunday with Friends

Today was a wonderful day!

While I sit here and reflect on the days events I realize that it is an amazing thing to have friends and enjoy those moments you share with people that have entered your path called life. To find people who are passionate about the world around them and enjoy aspects that so many people take for granted is a valuable thing especially if you attempt to achieve elements of happiness that can satisfy the mind and soul of any individual who craves friendship or social interaction.

As I walk along the beaches of Fort Desoto’s North point and gaze across the ocean to segments of land that shape the island in a way that captures true beauty, I wonder how I ever ended up here in the sunshine state. Pavilions with broad white roofs, picnic tables and the beach in view is the ideal location to spend a Sunday afternoon grilling Cevape with Somun laying across the links of beef there ready to soak up all the juices that may try to escape into the hot coals that lie underneath. Pivo at the lips of everyone waiting to indulge in the popular Bosnian dish while those who are enjoying their time outdoors and with space to run, pass a futbol across areas of open fields infested with sand spurs that are there ready to cling to unlucky victims.

What I find so fascinating by it all, as I step back and view my surroundings, is that many of the people in my company are from the country of Bosnia I Herzegovina but have started a new life here in the states. To leave everything behind and have to start anew, traveling down new cultural avenues that seem to be the norm now while desires of returning home indulge topics of discussion among those who long for the fresh mountain water, pita baked to perfection with delicious fillings, Bosnian coffee and small cafes, as call to prayer fills the silence and beautiful minarets pierce the sky. The sound of children as they jump off of the banks of rivers into frigid blue waters, friendly smiles and warm welcomes; where life seems so complex yet so simplistic all at the same time. A country that I have only imagined in dreams yet all this time has existed thousands of miles away for hundreds of years, seeing elements of war over the centuries that if only embraced might be a different sight today.

As soon as I was able to fill my plate with the delights that I had experienced months ago, I began to spread sour cream and drape raw onions on top of my Cevape and somun, giving it the perfect touch before I devoured the delicious food. Card games and chain smoking, European futbol among friends, feeding rabid raccoons and photographing the days events, developing a love for pyrotechnics while capturing the perfect shot of Narcis almost catching on fire, and ending the night with shots of Bacardi and watching the sunset across the ocean. But as we said our good-byes and ended the night on a good note, we raced to leave before the gates were closed and locked for the night. A few of us did not want the night to end so we continued to drink and chat on the beach in St. Pete until the bitter winds and cool temperatures convinced us to conclude the days events. I drove home falling asleep along the way while Stacey attempted to keep me awake and crawled in bed for rest that was well deserved after spending a long day with friends.

And…as I sit here and write my thoughts, I only wonder how I have come to meet such amazing people. That I cherish the moments I get to share with those that come into my life and are a positive attribute to who I have become and will be one day. Some I may have met for the first time, while others I may see on rare occasions but many have been there to watch me develop over the past couple years and I only hope they will continue to be a part of my life in the future.

Experiences in Disaster Management II

I have not had hands on experience in a disaster situation but I was fortunate to be part of a delegation that went to Southeast Asia to inform people within this region of the Millennium Development goals and about UN initiatives. While I was in Cambodia I got to learn about the communities that have been there for hundreds of years who have adapted to the monsoon seasons and mass flooding that occurs within the region.  Since I have already discussed my experiences in Bosnia I Herzegovina I thought this would be interesting since they have learned to respond and adapt to the natural events that occur annually.

“For most of the year the lake near Siem Reap, Cambodia is fairly small, around one meter deep and with an area of 2,700 square km. During the monsoon season, however, the Tonle Sap River which connects the lake with the Mekong River reverses its flow. Water is pushed up from the Mekong into the lake, increasing its area to 16,000 square km and its depth to up to nine meters, flooding nearby fields and forests.” (Wikipedia)

It was very interesting to see the region as I flew into the Siem Reap International Airport. You can see the tops of trees in the water below and as you came over areas that had shallow water you can begin to make out road systems and fence lines and finally into an area that did not have flooding. What is interesting about the population of this region is that many people have designed there homes to float as the water rises each year and have developed floating markets, farms and schools in the area. As the waters rise they are able to pull their homes closer to land or in rows that look like neighborhoods. There are a few people that have the luxury of living on areas that do not flood, while others live in houses that are on stilts and then there are a number of people that even relocate their homes a few times a year. These people have temporary thatched huts that can be dismantled and moved on the back of a truck to a more suitable location. Children are also required to learn how to swim before attending classes and the school building itself may not even be in the same place it was the day before. I believe that the Cambodian people within these communities have responded accordingly to the monsoons that happen in the region.

 

Wikipedia: Tonle Sap. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonle_Sap. February 2009.

Dreaming in Color

Today I had a discussion with a friend of mine, from Romania, about how he normally dreams in Black and White but had a dream in color for the first time last night.  I have never really thought about the fact that some people dream in color and others in B&W so I did a little reseach to find out if this is a normal occurance.  Many research studies have determined that people that have grown up with B&W television and movies have a tendency to dream in black & white. This is also a factor that can be added to cross-cultural differences since the United States has been more suseptable to the processes and advancements in media coverage.  My Romanian friend grew up with an old television set that still captured life in Black and White; what a coincidence.  It makes me wonder if this is really a demention that is realistically possible…that media, television and movies can alter our dreams based on how advanced our technology is. What about people that lived before the time of these electronic transmitions in the form of entertainment?  Did they dream in color as well since it is what they saw on a day to day basis? Did they even have an idea of what life would even look like in B&W?

Also an interesting factor that we discussed was the fact that dreams in B&W tend to be less threatening and do not develop into nightmares.  But when he dreamed in Color it was a little more scary to him even though it was not exactly a nightmare with boogy-men and other creatures of the night.  This could be because color dreams have a tendency to be more realistic in nature since we see our lives in color.  If you are use to dreaming in B&W which is more like watching an old movie flick then it is hard to grasp the concept of a dream being just a dream when it is in color.  A majority of people that were born before the 1950s here in the United States dream in B&W while those who grew up when technicolor was developed and other advancements in media visuals normally dream in color. It is reported that only 12 % of people actually dream in B&W now.

And as I read other’s ideas on the subject the question was asked “Would our children then dream in High Definition?”