To Go or Not To Go?

"... Living in a foreign country is one of those things that everyone should try at least once. My understanding was that it completed a person, sanding down the rough provincial edges and transforming you into a citizen of the world. 

What I find appealing in life abroad was the inevitable sense of helplessness it would inspire. Equally exciting would be the work involved in overcoming that helplessness. There would be a goal involved, and I like having goals."

-David Sedaris

ot too far back, my very international second cousin got me thinking: Do I need to move?

My second cousin is half Persian, half Indian, born in Iran, raised in Sweden, moved to England, and then lived in different US cities including Seattle, New York, and DC. He brought attention to the fact that I need to get out of the area, considering I was born in the DC metro area, raised in the DC metro area, went to school in the DC metro area, and now work in the DC metro area. Maybe he has a point? I do see a pattern... Oh, and although I went away to college for a year in Harrisonburg, Virginia, he wouldn't count that since I was mostly surrounded by others from the DC metro area, on top of the fact that I came home every other weekend.

Part of my decision to stay around home during my college years were unfortunate family circumstances, but now that is all resolved, and I have no excuse. I am in a time where I have the flexibility in my life to go anywhere. I am young, no kids, no overbearing responsibilities to tie me down, and no career that forces me to stay in one position/location forever. I am afraid that time is running out for me and soon I won’t be so free or young anymore. My opportunities will be gone and all that is left will be regret. Probably my biggest fear-- being left with too many regrets at the end of my lifetime. I want to prevent as much of that as possible and now might be a big chance.

I have visited some international places, ie. France, Mexico, Colombia, Switzerland, and Italy. From these short trips I have already tasted the personal growth that comes from expanding your horizons and experiencing new places, people, and cultures. But is there a huge difference when you actually uproot your life and LIVE somewhere different? I wouldn't know; I am just a townie. A townie in a relatively diverse and highly populated area, but does that really make it any better?

I have no idea where I would want to go. And now that I start attending a DC law school in the fall, what are my options? Plus, I don't have a great aptitude when it comes to learning new languages, which doesn’t leave many English-speaking international options, when places like England don’t interest me. Maybe a different US city? LA or NYC definitely have a different culture than DC. I just don’t know right now. Do I really need to have lived somewhere else to have a full life? What's wrong with forever just taking lots of vacations and weekend excursions??

Shaving Does NOT Make Hair Grow Back Thicker

any people, wayyyy too many people in my opinion, believe that shaving makes your hair grow back thicker. I don’t know why, but this ill-founded belief has always been a huge pet peeve. I just can’t understand why people would think that. If you take a moment to think logically about it, people should realize that it just doesn’t make any sense. The hair on the outside of your skin (the only part that a razor blade can reach) is already dead. For something to affect the growth habit of a hair follicle, at the very least, wouldn’t it need to contact the part of the hair that is still developing or contributing to its growth? I guess I will never understand why this is such a widespread belief. I’m also sure that I will continue to get annoyed when people, especially adults, really think about it and still believe that shaving turns people into monkeys.

If you’re one of the people that thinks shaving is the culprit behind hairy adults, and not puberty, please look through the following articles for more detailed explanations.

Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hair-removal/an00638
Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/hairgrow.asp
Today I Found Out:
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/07/shaving-does-not-make-your-hair-grow-back-thicker-or-faster/

My Not-So-Secret Crush on Tupac

didn't think much of rap music as I was growing up. When I watched TRL after school, if a rap music video came on it meant bathroom/water break before a Britney or Christina video started. It wasn’t until college that I finally began developing my infatuation with the rap genre. I just love clever lyrics and when it’s delivered with good rhythm and over great beats, ah I can’t get enough. Some girls say that a guy with an accent makes him 20 times sexier, for me it’s a guy who can rap well.

There are many rappers that have my heart, but I always find myself going back to my first love, Tupac Amaru Shakur. If only he was still with us, I’m sure he would have matured and channeled more of his anger into solving the social problems he was always preaching about. He didn’t advertise this about himself, but he was always trying to find ways to help those still in poverty. He could have just been partying, (I'm not denying that he didn’t still do a lot of that) but he also would invite homeless people to stay at his mansions. Tupac would take people in and use his money to help. It's pretty rare for celebrities to do that these days without hoping to get lots of press in return. So many of the current rap stars use their personal stories of living in poverty to rise out but then never look back or help their old neighborhoods unless their PR manager tells them to.

Maybe I’ve watch too many documentaries about him, but he was something different. Not just as a rapper, but as a person. So intelligent, so passionate, so good hearted. Yes, he had his demons, yes this led him to medicate with Hennessey/marijuana mixed with bouts of youthful anger and bitterness, but he had so much to say of real substance.

At the height of his fame he could have just sat back and enjoyed his money and power. Instead he continued to burden himself with the problems of the world. Tupac wanted to change things, not just personally gain. I really admire anyone who is at the top and still remembers the everyday problems of those below.

I think if he hadn’t died so young he would have grown up to be like Malcolm X was later in life (without the Islam aspect). An intelligent and passionate man who wasn’t satisfied with the status quo, who strove to make his society a better place. Side note- Malcolm X is another love of mine. Anyone who teaches themselves how to read in prison by going through the entire dictionary, at the very least should have respect for that impressive feat.

No matter what I say I think Tupac does a better job of explaining himself, so here are some videos...

17 year old Tupac is adorable! After ~6 minutes he starts talking about his respect for the ladies. I encourage you, if you have time, to watch all parts of the interview. He’s super cute and such an idealist. A lot of the interview is devoted to how much he loves his mom and all that she’s taught him (if this song didn’t already explain it enough for you http://youtu.be/JNcloTmvTeA). I love boys who come from strong mothers, so he’s got that going for him in my book too. I love the whole interview, but at least enjoy this section.




Here is one of my favorite Tupac songs. Later in life he was still a feminist at heart.




More about what he thinks about issues, not just money, drugs, and hos like so much rap today.




I could easily post 20 more songs and interviews, but everyone already knows Tupac. I will end with a classic, which also happens to be what first led me to fall in love with him.

Pass It On

n my commute home there is a intersection with a traffic light where homeless people usually walk up and down asking people in their cars for handouts. Each day there is a different homeless person, some with missing limbs, a limp, or a poster explaining how they got there.

My usual protocol when passing this intersection is to avoid eye contact, otherwise I will feel even worse about their predicament and the rest of my ride home will be too sad to handle. (yes, selfish) I don't give money to people who ask like that because, unfortunately, a lot of the people on the streets are just going to use it to fuel some kind of addiction. A lot of homeless shelters turn out people because they are addicts, so I don't want to be an enabler and fuel their addiction with cash so they just continue to stay out of homeless shelters. Ah, ok this can get into a big huge political discussion about homelessness, mental illnesses, and addiction, but that's not what I want to talk about. Anywaysssss...

A few weeks ago, as I was sitting at this red light, I read the sign that that day's homeless man was carrying. I don't remember the exact words now, but instead of the usual pity story, he wrote that he wouldn't be homeless long and that as soon as possible he would pay any help received forward (or "pay it forward," if you want to use the Kevin Spacey movie title). He promised that whatever money you gave him, once he was able, he would put it back out into the world for someone else in need. I know that very easily could have been a lie, but it got me. If someone can think of people other than themselves when they have such enormous personal difficulties, I admire that. I wish more people thought like that and lived that way. So I rolled down my window and gave him $20. I'm not bragging, I never give homeless people anything, and actually for the rest of my ride felt so guilty about not giving him more. He made me smile and I don't think I will forget him easily. When he accepted the money, he felt genuine.  But who knows, I'm a terrible judge of character. Even if he doesn't pass it on someday, he still gave me a little more hope in this world.

Law School Admissions Decision: Admitted

have now officially mailed in my seat deposit to guarantee my spot as a part of an incoming full-time law class. As you can imagine, the excitement/fear of what will begin this August are at an all-time high. 

My next few months are devoted to having fun, traveling a little around the country, enjoying the fact that I’m allowed to sit and do absolutely nothing, and reading any books/articles that might help me successfully get through the next year. 

Three months… wow, didn’t realize it was so soon until right this moment. I have a lot to do before then!

My future!