tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521489209931794462024-03-12T19:46:59.498-07:00Bint Bob Abroadsmtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-57232720048713508502012-03-17T19:41:00.002-07:002013-05-21T03:19:00.676-07:00Last Post!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
From this point on, I will be blogging on Samanthaginsburg.com! It's easier to keep it all it one spot. Love you all, whoever is still reading this :)<br />
<br />
April 2013--http://lessonsandplansinshallah.wordpress.com/ </div>
smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-33603409160352739152012-03-16T08:40:00.004-07:002012-03-16T09:54:08.835-07:00Leaving for Philadelphia todayMy staging event is in Philadelphia. Staging is a 2-day event where all of the soon to be Peace Corps Trainees arrive and get a basic orientation before taking off. It is spread out to allow for everyone all over the country to show up in this one location. Pretty neat stuff.<br /><br />Tuesday we will be taking a bus together and heading to JFK to fly to Casablanca. Crazy stuff!<br /><br />I requested to go to Philadelphia a few days early. I am going to spend the weekend with my grandma, maybe see my aunt and cousin, and do a yoga class with a bunch of soon-to-be PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteer) on Sunday. Apparently a current PCV's mom owns a yoga studio and will let us all take a class there on Sunday. I am looking forward to it.<br /><br />How are you feeling? Are you excited? You're going to be so great! I'm/We're so proud of you. Be careful. Don't get pregnant.<br />--These are the comments I keep getting over and over again as the days slowly tick down to the leave date.<br /><br />I'm glad it's slow, because I have spent the past week squeezing in 2 months of a social life. I had my goodbye party (amazing), random gathering on the front porch (I tanned) and cried in the teacher's lounge (that was a blast). I am quickly falling too much in love with Colorado and my group of friends. They make it too easy. If I waited any longer, I probably wouldn't be leaving at all.<br /><br />I was talking to someone about the idea that I'm not overly excited about heading out, but that I feel some sort of weight or responsibility and necessity to go through with the Peace Corps. He brought up my favorite method of decision making--> cost/benefit analysis!!<br /><br />Cost:<br />2 years<br />2 years of my friends<br />2 years of my friends, weddings, children, puppies, break-ups, heart-breaks<br />my amazing puppy<br />the school where I work<br /><br />Benefit:<br />travel<br />travel<br />travel<br />educating Americans about Moroccans<br />educating Moroccans about Americans<br />doing a little bit of good in the world<br />teaching<br />sleeping in a hammock<br />adopting all of the puppies and kittens and monkeys in Morocco<br />travel<br />being able to say "I DID THAT" ******<br /><br />...So you see, there are costs and benefits to both sides. But in the end, time moves onward and forward and don't stop for nobody. So I'll do it, and the worst thing that happens? I say "I DID THAT"... but don't get to sleep in a hammock.<br /><br />Not a bad deal.smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-24714362203535946702012-03-08T17:44:00.004-08:002012-03-08T17:48:17.271-08:00ONE WEEK!!It'll be one week til I hit the streets<br />Gonna have a great time in Philly<br />It'll be two years til I see you again<br />So long Colorado it's been a slice of heaven...<br /><br />That's all I've got on a whim. Think Barenaked Ladies, "One Week".<br /><br />Leaving in one week!<br /><br />Saw the dude-person in California and went to the San Diego Zoo with my mom. Getting pumped, excited to leave the State Assessment tests behind that I have been proctoring.<br /><br />This is how I feel:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaIvk1cSyG8"><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaIvk1cSyG8</a>smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-75129728730073904122012-02-29T20:07:00.003-08:002012-02-29T20:21:57.669-08:00Kids Class CapoeiraI don't know if you know this, but I play Capoeira. And, lovely enough, I like kids!<br /><br />I have been practicing Capoeira for about 11-12 months by now; I started in Istanbul, moved on to Santa Ana, CA, and now I'm in Denver, CO. I'm hoping to continue my practice in Morocco when I move there in the next few weeks. If there is not already a group, maybe some young people will be intrigued enough to learn a few things.<br /><br />To practice-- and prepare myself-- for the possibility of teaching others Capoeira solely in order to have somebody to play with, I took a Capoeira teacher training course. Also, I wanted to hang out with my friends some more and become an awesome-r Capoeirista (someone who plays Capoeira).<br /><br />What I learned is, first and foremost, that I have a loooong way to go before I will feel comfortable calling myself a Capoeira teacher. I respect those who have been putting the sweat an' tears into practicing too much for that.<br /><br />What I learned next is, I am TERRIFIED of being upside down. So, naturally, I spend the majority of my time with my head on the ground and feet leaning up against the wall.<br /><br />Lately I have been helping out with the kids class (3-4 weeks), to see if I can get a better understanding for how to teach the little people. Monday, I "subbed" for my first kids class, and it went okay. My teacher-ness didn't shine through, and one of the kids kept peeking at my curriculum.<br /><br />Today though... today I turned it around a little! After we did our basic warm-up, we learned a dodge called a "cocorinha", where you bring your feet together, squat down on your feet, and keep one hand above your head for protection. I think of it as the best dodge, or duck.<br /><br />Speaking of ducks! I placed 7 yellow rubber duckies on the floor around the room (7 kids) and explained the game we would play. Just like musical chairs, the kids would run, skip, or walk around the room. When the music stops, the kids crouch down in cocorinha. The last one to find a duck and duck into cocorinha was out--and took the duck out, too.<br /><br />Using a "fist of 5" strategy--5 fingers on a hand, 5 is the most positive, 1 is "I hated it"--the kids all gave it a 5. It definitely needs some subtle tweaking, but the kids had a lot of fun with it, and everyone could participate.<br /><br />I like teaching kids! Today was a happy day.smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-19325345818694519542012-02-26T19:40:00.002-08:002012-02-26T19:48:05.025-08:0018 daysSince I am leaving the country in less than 3 weeks, I have had a lot of questions about how I feel. About the process, the impending cultural mind-warp, the food, the dress--everything. I have not been able to put pen to paper or fingers to white square contraptions and epitomize what is going on in my head. Am I scared? Nervous? Anxious? Excited? If I am, why? If I'm not... I probably should be.<br /><br />I decided today that I am ready to not hurry up and wait anymore. I have invested 3 years of my life more or less waiting for something bigger to happen, for something to swoop in and change my life. Push me into the pool, up the mountain, etc. These past 3 years I have known exactly what that big event or whatever would be, and I've been crossing the i's and dotting the t's (no, wait, that's not right...)<br /><br />I'm done with the talking and the chatting and the "are you ready, steady Freddy?" I'd like to stop---no, wait, cut down on the planning and plotting nonsense. I had a list of things I want to do before leaving Colorado, but I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">happily</span> stuck in a pattern of going from yoga to teaching to Capoeira, and I'm going to miss it. The longer I stay and grow these roots, the harder it is to be replanted someplace else.<br /><br />Let's goooo!!!!!smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-59711389544620097552012-02-19T16:12:00.000-08:002012-02-20T06:58:25.389-08:00Ready Steady FreddyI always knew I led a fortunate life. This past week shown me exactly how fortunate I am with the people I know. It's pretty amazing; I've had great meals with coworkers and friends, and I'm lucky enough that the two terms overlap. I flew across the country to spend the weekend with my cousin, my closest family member. ....Unless you're another family member reading this, in which case that previous statement was a lie. I am leaving soon for brunch with family members that I won't get to see for 2 1/2 years, but I get to see today--because it's not that hard to get a plane ticket across the country.<br /><br />I got to spend this weekend in NYC seeing this guy Jeremy Lin play, which apparently is a big deal. I will be trying a few more Capoeira classes around the city, which may even leave some time for salsa dancing! I get to see Katina & Brox & maybe even Gabby and Robyn. After Wednesday, I return to Colorado for a week and a half before I leave yet again! 5 days in SoCal, visiting Austin and going to some relaxing, beautiful place north of San Diego. Maybe even going to the San Diego Zoo! (life goal right here) Back to Colorado for 2 more weeks, have some kind of party, then off to staging on March 18th. Day and half later, we get on a bus and head to JFK, where we fly to Casablanca, Morocco. <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">It might be getting close to the leave date, but I'm going out in style. </span><br /><br />Between reading the blogs, newspaper articles, and watching youtube videos, I keep wondering if I'm up for all this. I know I must be, since I will continue to do it anyway, regardless.<br /><br />On a side note, on my main website I will be keeping track of training for the Marrakesh Marathon! samanthaginsburg.com/marathon<br /><br />Reading previous blogs I've made and used for my travels makes me homesick for Istanbul... I plan to take up any opportunities to travel with volunteers as I can! Seems like other Peace Corps Volunteers have the same bug for traveling as me, which is awesome. I will offer to be the chaperone/guide on everyone's trips to Istanbul!smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-50761081033653475472012-02-06T09:43:00.000-08:002012-02-06T10:16:14.271-08:00Mola (one month to go!)Right now, I am sitting at a Starbucks during my teaching break, sipping on a hot cider and listening to elevator music. Gonna miss this.<br /><br />As the title foretold, we've got about one month until I officially ship out. On either March 18th or morning of the 19th, 120 people are flying from all around the country to DC for STAGING!!! We will be receiving/organizing our plane tickets 2 weeks prior to that date.<br /><br />IE>><br /><br />March 1-10th, receive plane ticket!<br />March 18-19th, fly to DC!<br />March 19th, Staging and heading to Casablanca!<br /><br />Once in Casablanca, we are finagling over to Rabat for our two month language and cultural intensive program until we are sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers!<br /><br />So exciting.<br /><br />Despite all the ridiculousness I have witnessed while subbing over the past five months, I'm going to miss these kids. At times they can be insufferable, stubborn, and just plain rude. Yet, they've taught me more about what kind of teacher--and person-- I want to be than sitting in a classroom could ever do.<br /><br />Plus, I've pretty much mastered the various glares.<br /><br />"You did NOT just do that"<br />"Pick that up"<br />"Detention!"<br />"Say please, please" (also=manners??)<br />"You get a Bling Buck!" (Bling Bucks are what the scholars use to purchase additional school supplies. They are dealt out as rewards for exceptional behavior)<br /><br />....<br /><br />Last week, I went to a Batizado (t=pronounced "ch") with my Capoeira group. A Batizado is a ceremony that can be translated as "baptism". Around the world, Batizado's occur at different times. Depending on the cord level, you may not be an active participant until your teacher says you are ready.<br /><br />The more inexperienced capoerista fights against a mestre (master) or someone with a much higher cord level. It is like baptism by fire. At a lower level, one fights until they are tripped--last time, the guy I played against tripped me, picked me up over his shoulder, and carried me over to get my next cord level. The tripping signifies the humility-- and humiliation-- necessary to join a higher rank. Not only do you get a cord, but also have a greater responsibility to pass on the knowledge and teachings that were given to you.<br /><br />"With great power (of knowledge) comes great responsibility (to pass it on)"<br /><br />This time around, I didn't get as much time on the floor. However, I did get a nickname!<br /><br />Part of (most) Batizado ceremonies is receiving a nickname by your peers. Historically, it was illegal to practice Capoeira, and the punishment for being found practicing the sport was vicious. To maintain secrecy, the capoeiristas gave each other nicknames-- usually from a particular trait or characteristic of the person--to protect one another from persecution. This tradition is continued today, usually during the Batizado ceremony.<br /><br />... and I finally got a nickname!<br /><br />Mola. It means "spring".<br /><br />:)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrr5iE2_ZHu17ZB_oCwGSPIJdHFPZeoEdUalxPKy-Da-gkUfNnkzQyVhWuzsg5G1r50-pAE2HzhAxb_AJU1kiGe4dFhV7f6rwVis3IQlteEr9FZKW4QPxsYhnuABqUkpzryAyrhAt078/s1600/IMG_2141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrr5iE2_ZHu17ZB_oCwGSPIJdHFPZeoEdUalxPKy-Da-gkUfNnkzQyVhWuzsg5G1r50-pAE2HzhAxb_AJU1kiGe4dFhV7f6rwVis3IQlteEr9FZKW4QPxsYhnuABqUkpzryAyrhAt078/s200/IMG_2141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706087521534594722" border="0" /></a>smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-87072739799678420802012-01-07T09:06:00.001-08:002012-01-09T08:45:57.345-08:00Report from the "Wisdom Teeth" trenchesI am writing up this blog entry 24 hours post wisdom teeth-extraction surgery. Since I had a lot of fear and anxiety and most of all questions, I'm going to take a few minutes to report on my experience.<br /><br />If you continue to read down to the bottom, there are PHOTOGRAPHIC REWARDS!<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">In regards to the Peace Corps: </span><br /><br />It has been approximately a year since I turned in my dental part of my Peace Corps application, and last month they sent me a follow-up. With the leave date getting closer, I have decided to finish fixing my teeth before I get my next dental X-ray.<br /><br />Most people get their 3rd molars (wisdom teeth) taken out because they are impacted--the bone has started to grow over those teeth that are last to grow. It can be dangerous, and lead to infection. My teeth were not entirely impacted, but the gum had grown over a lot of my top molars, and some of the bone had started to grow up around my lower teeth.<br /><br />Although there was not any immediate danger, at some point in the next few years they could easily become infected. Since I will be living in Morocco and I would rather not have the surgery there, my mom and oral surgeon agreed that it was a necessary evil.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On to the actual surgical consult:</span><br /><br />At the consultation meeting, my oral surgeon gave me 3 prescriptions: 1 for a medical mouthwash, to begin 2 days leading up the surgery. 1 for the pain (generic Vicodin); and 1 bottle of a kind of steroids to prevent swelling, to be taken every morning and evening for 3 days.<br /><br />The oral surgeon gave me two options-- to have local anesthesia and be awake for the surgery (hellllls no!) or to have an IV put in my arm with a mix of 5 different medicines. My mother did not want me to go under; I wanted to be out of it completely. We came to a compromise, and she was able to come in with me as long as I could get the IV. I won.<br /><br />You are not allowed to eat for 6 hours previously, and drink water for 2 hours up to the surgery. I made my appointment for 8 AM on Friday (yesterday), and my mom drove me as my Designated Driver.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">At the office:</span><br /><br />Once at the office, we waited and waited for the nurses to call me in. I am usually good at making people laugh at stupid jokes (very stupid jokes), but these ladies had no sense of humor. Should have brought them coffee, instead of jokes.<br /><br />They let us in, led us to the back room which had a gorgeous view of the mountains. The office was located on the 5th floor, and with the layout of the Rockies right out that window, I almost didn't want to go to sleep. Almost. I have attempted to donate blood at least 12 times, and probably donated 8, but I still have not gotten used to having a needle poke my arm. The staff was nice about my whining, and soon I was off to la-la land.<br /><br />I woke up, and I was a little bit confused. My mom told me that I had woken up very quickly from the surgery, and it hadn't taken more than 25 minutes. I saw the mountains over my shoulder, and I pointed frantically at the most astounding view you'll ever find post-surgical procedure. They told me I could talk if I wanted, but it felt like my mouth was frozen, and I tried to sign with them instead. The nurse became very frustrated with me, and indignantly said something along the lines of "I don't know Sign" at least 3 times.<br /><br />It also may have been hard to remember an instruction in my head for the first ten minutes...<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Post-surgery breakdown: </span><br /><br />About 15/20 minutes after the surgery (not exactly sure how long, I was out of it), the nurse helped me swing my legs over the side and into a wheelchair. Went down the elevator, and got in the car with my mom. Completely groggy and out of it, but my feet were working well enough on their own when I got home to walk--carefully--on the ice that's outside of my house.<br /><br />I had prepared/called a corner of our sofa as mine for the day as I had been forewarned the first 24 hours I would be completely incapacitated. About 30 minutes after I got home, my mom took the gauze out of my mouth (45 minutes absorption minimum) and there was no bleeding for the rest of the day.<br /><br />I slept until around noon, and I woke up to find my face still numbed up and feeling swollen, and in a level of pain around a 6 on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the high end. I think I was more shocked than in pain, but my mom gave me an ibuprofen. I hate to say it, but I have to be honest here... I am a PAIN IN THE BUTT when I am in any kind of pain. Especially when I can't control it by stretching that area of my body.<br /><br />My mother made me an omelet and put it on the table when I told her I wasn't hungry at all. After about 30 minutes, my dog discovered the omelet and ate half. I guess she (Layla) had an appetite, at least. She also made me fresh squeezed orange juice with a straw. DON'T USE A STRAW for the first few days or anything with a sucking faculty, such as a water-bottle. It has the potential to tear out the stitches. I tried sipping the orange juice from the glass, but the pulp kept getting caught in the back of my mouth.<br /><br />I took my first Vicodin at 1:30 PM, and started alternating ice packs on both my cheeks for approximately 10 minutes on, 20 minutes off.<br /><br />The back of my throat started bothering me around 2 or 3 PM.<br /><br />I watched Indiana Jones, some country movie, and had a bite of homemade applesauce my mom made me. Around 5:30, my mouth started to bother me again, so I took pill number 2. (The instruction says every 4-6 hours as needed)<br /><br />Around 9 PM, my mom made an amazing dinner with homemade pasta and homemade sauce, tofu, salmon, salad, and cinnamon braided bread. I was able to stomach 2 pieces of pasta, and sauntered back to the sofa, complaining about my head. At this point, the numbness of my face was down to right around my mouth, no longer stretching all the way up to my ears and down to my chin.<br /><br />My oral surgeon called around this time to check in on me. I asked him my questions, and he was emphatic about the necessity to drink tons of water. I finally emptied the single water-bottle that had been sitting in front of me all day, at his urging.<br /><br />In order to take my steroid pill, I need to have some food in my tummy, so I finished off the applesauce, took my pill and went to bed.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><br />24 Hours Later:</span><br /><br />Now, 24 hours later when I should be starting to get the swollen chipmunk cheeks, there is no sign of swelling or pain. Maybe a level of 2, but only because I can feel the sides of my mouth.<br /><br />I am using a syringe filled with warm water to spray the areas in the back of my mouth 3-4 times a day. It's the best way to clean out the food that gets caught back there as you are able to eat more solid food. (Like the omelet I made myself this morning that my dog did NOT get at!)<br /><br />I am incredibly thankful for my oral surgeon and all the medications he gave me, as I have been called in to watch small children for the next few days, when the internet has told me I should still be out of it.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">My advice:</span><br /><br />DRINK LOTS OF WATER<br /><br />Don't expect to move except from the sofa/bed you are on to the bathroom.<br /><br />There are probably a lot of other reflections I could give, but for now, after the first 24 hours, I feel 90% improvement. If you were directed to this page because of worries about your surgery, GOOD LUCK.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is the advice from the site I followed in conjunction with what my oral surgeon told me:<br /><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">In most cases, the recovery period lasts only a few days. Take painkillers as prescribed by your dentist or oral surgeon. The following tips will help speed your recovery.<br /><br />-Bite gently on the gauze pad periodically, and change pads as they become soaked with blood. Call your dentist or oral surgeon if you still have bleeding 24 hours after your surgery.<br />-While your mouth is numb, be careful not to bite the inside of your cheek or lip, or your tongue.<br />-Do not lie flat. This may prolong bleeding. Prop up your head with pillows.<br />-Try using an ice pack on the outside of your cheek for the first 24 hours. You can use moist heat-such as a washcloth soaked in warm water and wrung out-for the following 2 or 3 days.<br />-Relax after surgery. Physical activity may increase bleeding.<br />-Eat soft foods, such as gelatin, pudding, or a thin soup. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as healing progresses.<br />-Do not use a straw for the first few days. Sucking on a straw can loosen the blood clot and delay healing.<br />-After the first day, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times a day to reduce swelling and relieve pain.<br />-Do not smoke for at least 24 hours after your surgery. The sucking motion can loosen the clot and delay healing. In addition, smoking decreases the blood supply and can bring germs and contaminants to the surgery area.<br />-Avoid rubbing the area with your tongue or touching it with your fingers.<br />-Continue to brush your teeth and tongue carefully.<br /><br />Your dentist will remove the stitches after a few days, if needed.</span><br /><br />http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/wisdom-tooth-extraction<br /><br />*******************************************<br />Conclusion and reflection, 48 hours later:<br /><br />I am very pleased that I made the decision to go ahead and get my wisdom teeth removed in the U.S. When the oral surgeon had originally looked at my teeth, he warned me there was a chance that the positioning of the 3rd molars could become an infection over the next two years. Despite the fact that I believe I will LOVE my station in Morocco, I was not altogether prepared to have surgery abroad. 48 hours later, because of the steroids, I do not have the typical puffy cheeks and I was able to be up and moving around within 24 hours.<br /><br />Thanks for reading! If you have any questions or I'm obviously missing something important (I was on drugs, after all) please feel free to let me know. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyu5UP46JTiWNOAq0aDn6JmXe25rKC6PyP5OcdXkyCy6OXNozvcRNhxLu6y-OPrxHigCTp9gmfLAEIutmLCbDAQAVmwoMzBbZ6QwUtpnql8dRWvxSRzZXqCIKhmsRWgIYPz4U9IjTKpY/s1600/photo-2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 193px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695414178624556434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyu5UP46JTiWNOAq0aDn6JmXe25rKC6PyP5OcdXkyCy6OXNozvcRNhxLu6y-OPrxHigCTp9gmfLAEIutmLCbDAQAVmwoMzBbZ6QwUtpnql8dRWvxSRzZXqCIKhmsRWgIYPz4U9IjTKpY/s200/photo-2.JPG" /></a>My lovely, non-puffy face before the surgery. My mom took this picture of me outside of the office.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8Ok2Scp6rMv7Qh7WgW2kklx4bG3-mza6P1deewxhiG1CWC_lx2EhaLUygRB9pdovXnnRKvN0jYEm9IikIAy2_50FKUtrcHqBtSYcSj87wvUVzYlwQnPTTk_l3AAr5g8S-X80EqWkcII/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695414190137751330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8Ok2Scp6rMv7Qh7WgW2kklx4bG3-mza6P1deewxhiG1CWC_lx2EhaLUygRB9pdovXnnRKvN0jYEm9IikIAy2_50FKUtrcHqBtSYcSj87wvUVzYlwQnPTTk_l3AAr5g8S-X80EqWkcII/s200/photo.JPG" /></a>The amazing view from the office where the surgery took place. Last thing I saw before they knocked me out, and it was well worth it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5eJ-HMWTt7apqmFAXJ_uCQD2QT_vy2GmLq-aa0x6XIMGKoBoSyd3928jUqxZ9pZVrCI3mqMhHlAc_GoL-5xTgRZnJzskkhUEKs7jINv5SyTveo467g0VMCmFfOR6Hg-Vhwprg-tur2E/s1600/photo-1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695414186554341154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5eJ-HMWTt7apqmFAXJ_uCQD2QT_vy2GmLq-aa0x6XIMGKoBoSyd3928jUqxZ9pZVrCI3mqMhHlAc_GoL-5xTgRZnJzskkhUEKs7jINv5SyTveo467g0VMCmFfOR6Hg-Vhwprg-tur2E/s200/photo-1.JPG" /></a>My puffy cheeks afterwards! How cute.smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-39889806781741312472011-12-10T13:33:00.000-08:002011-12-10T13:52:41.358-08:00EMT PracticalJust got back from finishing my EMT practical. It involves proving that you are competent in six skill divisions:<br />1. Medical Emergency<br />2. Trauma Emergency<br />3. CPR w/a bystander<br />4. Managing an apneic patient's airway<br />5. C-Spine immobilization and<br />6. RANDOM SKILLZ, my all-time favorite.<br /><br />I passed with flying colors in all of the categories except for Random Skillz--I did all the steps correctly, but I applied the tourniquet awkwardly and somewhat ineffectively. In my defense, I was trying not to cut off the circulation of my mock-patient's arm; ultimately, completely my fault. Should have known better!<br /><br />I redid the station of "managing bleeding" and had to do "traction splint" as well to prove I knew my random skills. <br /><br />Next week, I will be throwing an awesome party in upper downtown for the survivors of this class. It will be to commemorate surviving this torrid period of studying and memorizing and throwing ourselves at the book. There were difficult choices and sacrifices many people made to take this class and turn life towards new opportunities. It tore into our personal and social lives (for those of us who attended class) and also created rewarding new relationships that hopefully will last for a long time. <br /><br />Cheers to us!smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-5761284460753812162011-11-21T14:03:00.000-08:002011-12-07T08:13:50.719-08:00Teaching (4 months to go)It has been three months of teaching in two/three different capacities. I may be due a reflection or two at this point.<br /><br />1. Substitute teacher at a single school. You may be asking yourself, but wait. Don't substitute teachers usually circulate within a school district? How does it work? <br /><br />I am what you call an internal-sub. Because I only work at one school, I have the benefits of better understanding the discipline system and the methods behind the madness consistent throughout the school. If a teacher has planned a personal day ahead of time, they may e-mail the principal or me directly to ask if I have the time to substitute. If it's the principal, he either texts me or writes an e-mail--depending on the length of time preceding the request. Often I have gotten called at 6:30 in the morning because a teacher wakes up and feels terrible. Once I had to drive over around noon since a teacher went home sick. <br /><br />Because of this tremendous opportunity, I have been able to teach 6th-12th grade across all subjects--Special Education, Intervention, Math, Science, English, and Foreign Language classes, specifically. <br /><br />I haven't subbed for a history class yet, but I'm looking forward to it. <br /><br />2. Volunteer English teacher at a refugee employment-education store. For 12 weeks, a class of between 18-30 refugees study Retail and Janitorial skills; through this experience, they learn English related to the job, and spend some time developing Employment skills as well. <br /><br />I love these guys. They're amazing. I basically go here to get inspired (and my employee's discount--25% off)<br /><br />3. Baby-sitting. Cu-u-u-u-ute. I have a few families, and I get to play with kids--professionally!<br /><br />My favorite part: reading bedtime stories. One of the favorites is a book called "The Sun" which is about-- you guessed it--the sun. When the kid tries to touch the sun, he pulls back his finger and says "ouch! That burns!". Adorable.smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-1256274255549488782011-11-10T21:28:00.000-08:002011-12-06T21:19:20.796-08:00Getting Braces (4 months to go)I got braces this morning. Bottom braces, to be specific. My mom thought that I should get my teeth fixed before I leave for Morocco. There's nothing wrong with them specifically, but they're kind of off-kilter--not in line entirely.<br /><br />Will I be able to get them off in 6 months--in time to leave for Morocco with nice, straight teeth?<br /><br />That's the plan. My orthodontist has presented the plan as a 3-6 month timeline; hopefully, it will all work out in the end. <br /><br />Why did this happen???? (Why would I subject myself to braces yet again?)<br /><br />Two years ago, I made my mom a deal that if she, a dentist of 20+ years (not going to say how many +'s) would finally go get her teeth fixed, I would spend more than 2 months in one location and get my teeth altered as well. (I originally had braces that modified my mouth significantly, but I lost the shape-retainers back in college...)<br /><br />Today, I received bottom braces. And a retainer. If you think it's weird to see me now with the braces, you should have seen me before when I was younger, and had the large gap teeth going on. That was before my first set of braces. They needed a lot of work to get done. Overbite with headgear was the fix-it. <br /><br />Onto the present: It's actually very comfortable for day 1; however, a minor situation came up when I bought a bagel earlier. When I took my first bite, I thought I took a brace off. Either that, or I had moved a brace. I am hoping they are in line. They are still poking me in the Perio's, so that's a good sign. I don't have an appointment for 8 weeks now, so cross your fingers and hope that I do not screw anything up!<br /><br />No wire poking out the back. Nice. <br /><br />Colors! I got bright pink, bright green, and bright blue in a continuous pattern. <br /><br />Pictured below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lLiEX3DIh9MkLL5LFmZMdsAFKwcPPwaPmB5mLyAv46RytzzDlhIOcX8fG8GUOswq3nqSYkAV7jZUGWNihSE8kWmBXlpl08fGEKtvP3UvyqCpJ6A1wdtDNORd2EaeNWxCf6-4c8W95bo/s1600/Braceface.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lLiEX3DIh9MkLL5LFmZMdsAFKwcPPwaPmB5mLyAv46RytzzDlhIOcX8fG8GUOswq3nqSYkAV7jZUGWNihSE8kWmBXlpl08fGEKtvP3UvyqCpJ6A1wdtDNORd2EaeNWxCf6-4c8W95bo/s200/Braceface.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673617582649497650" /></a><br /><br />Why is this relevant to the Peace Corps? I've begun to realize that this is quite an important question to ask... The Peace Corps sent me a letter this week stating that, since my last dental review was over a year ago, I've got to get another one done. You know, yearly check-ups. Haven't done THAT in 5, 6 years.. Anyway, it reminded my mom, she reminded me, and I'm going to get a cavity filled and my wisdom teeth pulled. There go my smarts..<br /><br />About the title:<br /><br />In Arabic (traditionally), each person has two names. The first name--ie, Sameera. And the second name, which shows the possession by a family. For instance, Al-Bassar. It technically could mean 'son of Bassar'. The "Al-" in this example indicates "son of".<br /><br />On that same line of thought, one of my (favorite) professors used to call me "Bint Bob". In this case, "Bint" means "daughter", and my father's name is Bob. I am, proudly, the daughter of Bob..smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-33108666156030434002011-10-21T17:11:00.001-07:002011-12-06T21:19:33.865-08:00Congrats from MoroccoDear Invitee,<br /><br />Congratulations on your invitation to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco! This email is to confirm receipt of your resume and Aspiration Statement.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Morocco Desksmtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-65214214135619397702011-10-11T17:40:00.000-07:002011-12-06T21:19:56.039-08:00Five months to goIronically, my Peace Corps assignment has me leaving the country two weeks before I can take my brother out for a drink. That's right, he'll finally be 21. I am starting to feel a bit of anxiety about leaving this place. I've gotten a steady job, that I love, good friends, and an amazing international community surrounding me. Sometimes I find myself panicking about leaving all of what I've grown here, especially because staying in one place is something new to me. I'm constantly traveling, and I made myself attempt to integrate into my local community yet again... and it worked. The idea of leaving all of what I've become emotionally involved in, and joining into and adapting with a new cultural foundation is a bit terrifying. The concept that I will be entering an arena where I will constantly be questioned about my organization, my motives, my needs, my "vegetarianism", and constantly harassed as a woman shakes my nerves. The language will be quite a challenge; I'll have a leg up on the alphabet, but I find myself "what if"-ing myself around every corner. Should I land in Morocco, dropped from a plane into a community, how would I survive?<br /><br />I need to keep preparing.... <br /><br />Currently working on my shopping list.<br /><br />After reading some Peace Corps Morocco blogs (what I do when I'm excited/nervous/bored), I've found out that the group I'm joining in March is the first Youth Development ONLY group for Morocco. <br /><br />I'm slightly disappointed, because I was hoping I could learn from the previous volunteers on how to best educate my new village-family (here's hoping!) on how to take care of themselves. I don't have enough medical education at this point to feel that should be in my job description...smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-57669693845244824842011-10-04T14:52:00.000-07:002011-12-06T21:20:14.494-08:00Capoeira (Turning Life Upside-Down)I'm afraid of being upside-down. Who knew?<br /><br />Should have been obvious from the abject attitude towards all things roller coasters.. Yet, I'll climb to the tallest tree in the country-side on a whim. <br /><br />Yesterday was my first day of Capoeira teacher training, and I'm being to believe it will teach me a lot more about myself and my capabilities--and limits--than about teaching students. And it will teach me a lot about how to guide students in the future, that's for sure. <br /><br />Part of the structure of Teacher Training is making sure that all of us Potential Teachers have a 4-5/5 on all of the most frequently made moves. Backflips are not exactly on the top ten topics for beginner classes, after all...<br /><br />There are a good many moves that I need to work on, and I have no illusion about that fact. One especially that I have Always had difficulty maintaining and perfecting is a Bananeira, or handstand. When I modeled it for the class (we had to have a baseline from which to improve), I was given a 3--and made it a 2, because I am not quite as confident in my ability to do a standard handstand.<br /><br />For practice, my mestre suggested I practice against the wall. Now, every single person I have ever told about my ability to do a handstand--my yoga teachers, capoeira teachers, roommates-- have always suggested I use the wall. "You can't fall any farther than the wall", they say.<br /><br />I may have a fear more founded on Roald Dahl and <span style="font-style:bold;"></span> The Twits<span style="font-style:bold;"></span> than anything else. <br /><br />Once I got my heels over my heart (this phrasing is significant) I started to yell. Not on purpose, but out of fear. Of all the martial arts and activities I could have chosen, why would I become involved in the one that centered around being upside all the time? Why would I do such a thing to myself?<br /><br />I came down, wiped away some laughter-tears, and tried again; this time as a head stand. I promised myself I could be afraid, but I had to do it without making a sound. I made it up there for a few moments, and found a beginning to grounding and clarity. <br /><br />This experience of Capoeira is similar to my soon-to-be experience in the Peace Corps. It is something unique and unlike I have ever done in my life, but not something just anyone would do. Very few people would argue that going to the Peace Corps is anything but turning my life upside-down. <br /><br />When I go to the Peace Corps, I will be putting my heels over my heart. Despite that there are people in my life that I love, family that I appreciate every moment even when I don't tell them, and a life that I am settled into, I am preparing to turn my life upside-down. It will not be easy; it will not come without a lot of work and dedication.<br /><br />Sometime in the nearby future, I'll be able to do that perfect handstand, with control, and I'll be able to keep my heels over my heart without feeling out of sorts. It's a process.<br /><br />For more information about Capoeira, here is a link to my group:<br /><br />http://www.cap-denver.com/index_2.phpsmtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-34354730868323239382011-10-02T10:44:00.000-07:002011-12-06T21:20:41.664-08:006 months to go (Safari Thrift)What's goin' on, everybody?<br /><br />6 months to go, one week down...<br /><br />I start the internship at the African Community Center on Monday, and I'll be working on developing the English Language curriculum for the thrift store. Now, this thrift store is a special thrift store, because the main employees are the students who are accessing job training skills. Over a 12 week period, between 20-25 students have 3 main curricula: <br />1) Janitorial 2) Retail and 3) English language<br /><br />The students are broken up into 3 groups by language skill and retail experience, and not only does the language training cater towards job growth, but the students gain the practical experience of running the store. The money from the purchases at the store go back into the program, and means that the training can continue for the next session.<br /><br />This program is specifically for new immigrants that may have trouble assimilating or are simply recommended by case workers. <br /><br />I'm excited by the opportunity to work and learn with some amazing people over the next six months. Hopefully the experiences I gain with writing curricula, cultural exchange, and developing professional relationships can be applied to my future Youth Development position in Morocco. <br /><br />My personal goal while working at the ACC is to cement my elevator speech--you know, the 30 second snippet about yourself that is extremely useful in all sorts of situations. <br /><br />Onto EMS quiz 2 and ASL paper. Wooo.smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-78625486659897388632011-09-25T15:57:00.000-07:002011-12-06T21:21:05.014-08:00Last year, this time (6 months to go)I've been invited for MOROCCO! Woo. Leaving March of 2012, matter of fact.<br /><br />As I'm sitting in my brother's apartment during Parents' Weekend, I think fondly of this same event a year ago. One year ago, I was on campus listening to a lecture from a Foreign Service/diplomat kind of guy. He'd spent years living and traveling around the world as a representative of the U.S., learning a few parts of many different languages-- his wife was the one with the knack, so to speak. He answered questions about how one route that will definitely get you started in the right directions is joining the Peace Corps. As I listened to the way his life had manifested and developed over the years, I found myself daydreaming of the possibilities. <br /><br />What could the Peace Corps mean for me? <br /><br />And then I took that question and threw it out, because no matter where I go or how or when I travel, I will always learn something. I can always benefit from the experience of meeting new people, because that is just who I am. I travel, and I meet people. And my name is Sam. It all fits together... <br /><br />What it really means for me is that, in all likelihood, I will be the only American the people within my village have ever met-- with the possible exception of previous Peace Corps Volunteers. It's terrifying and exciting and frightening and wonderful all at once. How strong of an influence will this experience have on me? Will I have on them? <br /><br />Am I going to be just another American traveling through, or will I be able to establish healthy habits and practices and maybe learn how to cook using a Tagine? (http://www.katherinemartinelli.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tagine.jpg)<br /><br />I'm not really worried about my safety-- more for my sanity, at staying in one place for so long.. <br /><br />I don't know how I feel about the whole thing at the moment. I know that I would have felt much more comfortable in Jordan because I know the dialect a little and have friends in the area, but--to quote the masterful hokey pokey-- that's what it's all about!!<br /><br />Onward to Morocco, 6 months countdown.<br /><br />On a side note: I've stopped reading books and started reading Peace Corps blogs. Yay.smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-19617032003772663942011-09-19T16:17:00.000-07:002011-12-06T21:21:33.847-08:00Waiting (6/7 months to go)Ah, yes. The infamous in-between time. The time when you've been nominated, are frantically scrambling to get any possible information about your medical help together, and almost forget a minor linchpin of the Peace Corps application: <br /><br />What have you been doing since you've been nominated that should make us vote for you? I mean, invite you..<br /><br />It is a critical period in the whole process, because prior to the nomination a large segment of the applicant population is finishing up university. What makes you, who has now graduated, a relevant applicant? What have you done that makes you a competitive character? Or, another way--what consideration should we give to you, a highly experienced/well-educated post-college person? What have you done to make you Worthwhile?<br /><br />For some, it could be a few months. For me, it was almost a year from nomination to invitation. At my primary interview, they asked me what I predicted would go on over the following year. I told them, I probably will be attempting to get a job, move into a new community, volunteer some, and if education (it was either education or business) was the option, I'd go get an English Teaching license. <br /><br />They said, good. Go do that. So I did, more or less...<br /><br />At the moment, I'm back home after a year away teaching in an after-school program for children of low-income families. <br /><br />Now, I'm about to start volunteering at the African Community Center that welcomes in new immigrants and settles them in/explains this INSANE culture; Nannying, that will turn into substitute teaching for middle/high school students in a week; practicing at an Arabic Language meetup group weekly; taking Capoeira twice a week; doing Yoga as often as possible--and maybe, when I have the time, salsa dancing. <br /><br />Because I have these 6/7 months of free time, I decided to take up a few areas of study that have always interested me but I've never had the opportunity. Those are: American Sign Language (ASL) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Between the two of them, I'm being driven into the ground--but every day is exciting, and I definitely enjoy the study. <br /><br />The schedule doesn't leave much room for error, but I'm the kind of person that has to keep busy. Every so often there's a bit of down time, and that's enough for me.<br /><br />P.S. 5 DAYS!<br /><br />And, for a feel good moment: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlULxcgjkymR4kQ5ec9_oLVUn1hkUjCHmAPdtlGHBNWjrXanjZrp77_HY4LJqeyjK9mEkJdv6e5aMTRiN2rXGCzUwrDXWZAaIKg273L41grDvFm3_feSHQxfcd7M2DZsvxNblX8tRU5s/s1600/Kitten_hugs_teddy.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 188px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlULxcgjkymR4kQ5ec9_oLVUn1hkUjCHmAPdtlGHBNWjrXanjZrp77_HY4LJqeyjK9mEkJdv6e5aMTRiN2rXGCzUwrDXWZAaIKg273L41grDvFm3_feSHQxfcd7M2DZsvxNblX8tRU5s/s200/Kitten_hugs_teddy.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654218527448437202" /></a>smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-452148920993179446.post-25478200661048213432011-09-18T20:34:00.000-07:002012-01-09T08:05:12.117-08:00First entry<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The Sam-tastic Voyage</span><br /><br />Star Date 4635 (September 15, 2011)<br /><br />Captain’s Log:<br /><br />Hooray! I finally got accepted into the Peace Corps! It’s been a very long process; I started my application last summer! However, I even got my dream assignment: English Education/ Youth Development in the Middle East! I will be leaving in <strong>March 2012</strong>, which is about 6 months away. Although, it’s never too soon to start a blog! Especially when you’ve got a super-clever intro thought up by your super cool, ingenius, and devilishly-handsome friend who in no way has anything to do with writing this blog ;-).<br /><br /><--That was the First Officer. Who is also a fellow Peace Corps applicant... and borrowed my computer. Hi! I’m Sam. If you know me, you know how FREAKED OUT I am at having received my assignment, finally. If not, you should after you are done with this. Since I’ve had a hard time finding information about how long people have taken in different parts of the application process, here’s my contribution to the data set: So it starts with an application, which is done online.<br /><br /><strong>I started mine on 8/24/2009</strong>. Along with the application you also have to send in three personal references. I asked my references to write them in <strong>May 2010</strong>.<br /><br />The last recommendation came in <strong>July 2010</strong>.<br /><br />On <strong>August 10th</strong> I got confirmation that my application was received. Then after they review that, they request some more stuff through the mail, like fingerprints, so try not to lose any of your fingers at this point in the process. Then, interview time!<br /><br />I had mine on <strong>October 16th</strong>. It went really well and I got what’s called a nomination on <strong>October 26th</strong>. This means one gets a tentative assignment including program, general geographic location, and departure date. Mine was for <em>English Teaching, Central Asia, March 2011.</em><br /><br />Then came my favorite part, the medical review! This is where they send you a giant packet of forms to fill out including medical and dental forms. I would recommend double and triple checking every form and procedure because this part of the process is where most delays occur. Also, DEFINITELY ask somebody with an MD after their name to fill out your forms--or at least, make sure one is in the building and can sign the paperwork for you.<br /><br />While they received the majority of my medical paperwork by <strong>January 13, 2011</strong>, this is where I started to become a Problem Child. Most of my paperwork was signed by Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who are, while very capable people, apparently not enough legality for this whole process. I was living on my own at the time and trying to save money as much as possible. The Peace Corps gives a small medical refund, but not enough so I went to the nurses’ office at the local Community College (they don’t like me much. It was a learning experience for both them and me.). 26 pages of medical information later, they had it stamped, faxed and done. Unfortunately, the Peace Corps sent me information back saying I needed an MD to do this, that, and the other thing. Six months later-- July-- done.<br /><br />After I was medically cleared on <strong>August 26th</strong>, I moved on to what’s called the placement and competitive review and they asked for an updated resume.<br /><br />Since it was now past my original departure date, I got a <em>new nomination on <strong>September 12th</strong>, this time for the Middle East</em>, where I had wanted to go in the first place!<br /><br />I had a final interview by phone yesterday morning (<strong>September 14th</strong>) and that afternoon I got an email telling me that I was accepted! I should be getting my invitation by mail in the next 6 days. Countdown starts now! (The invitation states whether I’ll be going to Jordan or Morocco. Yay!) In the final interview, we talked about lots of stuff. -What have you been doing since you were nominated over a year ago? <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">[Next blog entry]</span><br /><br />Conversations that occured during the final interview:<br />-Making sure that I, as the volunteer, understand what exactly I’m getting myself into<br />2 days off a month that accumulate; 3 days Use Them Or Lose Them days off a month as well!<br />-How does my family feel about what I’m doing<br />-Has anything changed in my medical/legal situations?<br />-Am I free March 2012 to leave?<br /><br />A friend of mine asked me a few days before the interview, "how does your mom feel about the Peace Corps?" I was shocked to realized, as I was preparing a reply, that I didn't know. I proceeded to ask my mom, of course, and she told me that, not only was she jealous of my potential experience, but she supported me and thought it was something that would be an asset to my life. I mention this all, because if it hadn't been for my lovely, lovely dearest friend, I would not have been able to tell the interviewers <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Honestly</span> that my family supported me. So, thanks Mindy. And, thanks Mom.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqmQUMNijwyFxa7UghRS2_fkIooYxUzk8qeOxoUNI38XZduqjgmwf6HFkam9YrcAx-mrDZpUqD5aqgSiqUtihXXG_weTEMJTnWAe0SO1mv-S7rl8NSnd-Z7Wanh1z_eyD-_eNVn5-v_I/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-09-15+at+10.12.07+AM.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653910212780796722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqmQUMNijwyFxa7UghRS2_fkIooYxUzk8qeOxoUNI38XZduqjgmwf6HFkam9YrcAx-mrDZpUqD5aqgSiqUtihXXG_weTEMJTnWAe0SO1mv-S7rl8NSnd-Z7Wanh1z_eyD-_eNVn5-v_I/s200/Screen+shot+2011-09-15+at+10.12.07+AM.png" /></a><br /><br />A note:<br /><br />In Arabic (traditionally), each person has two names. The first name--ie, Sameera (My Arabic teacher gave me that name). And the second name, which shows the possession by a family. For instance, Al-Bassar. It technically could mean 'son of Bassar'. The "Al-" in this example indicates "son of".<br /><br />On that same line of thought, one of my (favorite) professors used to call me "Bint Bob". In this case, "Bint" means "daughter", and my father's name is Bob. I am, proudly, the daughter of Bob..smtigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17900120207885251240noreply@blogger.com0