I have recently fallen back in love with South African music. Since first introduced by my best friend HEB after her study abroad in Cape Town, I always loved it. I don't buy much music, however, and so my reliance on the radio didn't help feed my interest.
Recently, I have come back to South African music. Life has been more stressful and draining than usual for the past few months, for a variety of reasons. South African music is so calming and peaceful to me. I can't quite pinpoint why, it just has that effect on me.
If you are in need of some rest and calm, I recommend these.
First there is Vusi Mahlasela, a sort of folksie, Indie South African singer. You can listen to several of his songs at his myspace page.
http://www.myspace.com/vusimahlasela
I really love "Everytime."
Next, there is one of my favorites of all time, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Sadly, I missed their live performance at Princeton a few years ago. I post this not for the video, but just for the music. (I don't know any other way to listen to music online).
I could listen to this music for hours (and sometimes I do!)
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Monday, October 08, 2007
Goals as a 25 year old
My birthday was on Friday, and at dinner I jokingly started coming up with some goals for my year as a 25-year-old.
Here's what I came up with:
1. Visit a new continent.
This will be surprisingly easy for me because I am going to India on a Princeton fellowship in December! So it's not much of a goal, since it's for sure going to be done. But hey, it's attainable!
2. Start a book.
Originally the goal was to write a book, but when I talked to one of Samir's friends who is in the process of writing a book, the look he gave me made me decide that a better goal is to start a book. I'm not talking about an academic book. Subject matter, genre, etc. to be decided. But hey, I'd like to say I wrote a book.
3. Get married.
Again, totally attainable since it's planned for happening June 1, 2008. Perhaps the goal will be to pull off the wedding as stress free as possible. I'm well on my way to that goal as well, considering that we have rented out a summer camp for the weekend and plan to have a totally untraditional, super fun weekend wedding.
That's all! I guess writing a book is my only "real" goal, in that I will have to work for it. But hey, all of them are pretty big things. Here's to year 25.
Here's what I came up with:
1. Visit a new continent.
This will be surprisingly easy for me because I am going to India on a Princeton fellowship in December! So it's not much of a goal, since it's for sure going to be done. But hey, it's attainable!
2. Start a book.
Originally the goal was to write a book, but when I talked to one of Samir's friends who is in the process of writing a book, the look he gave me made me decide that a better goal is to start a book. I'm not talking about an academic book. Subject matter, genre, etc. to be decided. But hey, I'd like to say I wrote a book.
3. Get married.
Again, totally attainable since it's planned for happening June 1, 2008. Perhaps the goal will be to pull off the wedding as stress free as possible. I'm well on my way to that goal as well, considering that we have rented out a summer camp for the weekend and plan to have a totally untraditional, super fun weekend wedding.
That's all! I guess writing a book is my only "real" goal, in that I will have to work for it. But hey, all of them are pretty big things. Here's to year 25.
Monday, October 01, 2007
VALF endorsed candidate: Barack Obama
I love Barack Obama. I find him inspiring, new, and different. I like his rhetoric of unity, unlike other candidates who ignore this topic. I think he would make a great president. I also think it is high time we had a minority president.
I am also a big supporter of various feminist causes, and so I'm not against Hilary. I'm just pro-Obama. I also think it's time for a change. I read a crazy statistics: 116 million Americans have never lived under a president other than a Bush or Clinton. Many have commented on how the dominance of the two families in national politics is unprecedented. While I like the Clintons, I think it's time for a complete change, something new and refreshing. Another reason I support Barack. I do think he would be a new face, and take national politics in new directions. It would be refreshing!
One more: I think Barack can win. He's not a divisive candidate, at least not in the recent sense of the word. I think he could win a general election and give us a president that doesn't polarize the country for 4 or 8 more years. I think many other candidates would have that effect.
So, now it's out there: my publicly endorsed candidate. I probably have not done justice to my passion on this, but I am very passionate. BARACK IN 2008!!! Does that do it? Just read some of his speeches, and you may be swayed as well. Here is one I love, his speech anouncing his candidacy.
I am also a big supporter of various feminist causes, and so I'm not against Hilary. I'm just pro-Obama. I also think it's time for a change. I read a crazy statistics: 116 million Americans have never lived under a president other than a Bush or Clinton. Many have commented on how the dominance of the two families in national politics is unprecedented. While I like the Clintons, I think it's time for a complete change, something new and refreshing. Another reason I support Barack. I do think he would be a new face, and take national politics in new directions. It would be refreshing!
One more: I think Barack can win. He's not a divisive candidate, at least not in the recent sense of the word. I think he could win a general election and give us a president that doesn't polarize the country for 4 or 8 more years. I think many other candidates would have that effect.
So, now it's out there: my publicly endorsed candidate. I probably have not done justice to my passion on this, but I am very passionate. BARACK IN 2008!!! Does that do it? Just read some of his speeches, and you may be swayed as well. Here is one I love, his speech anouncing his candidacy.
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