So I did not post the entire month of December. I kept waiting, waiting for a certain piece of news especially worth reporting. It was not as if nothing happened in December, but it was a slow month, filled with a lot of waiting to find out:
I am going to Haiti. It was a bit slow in coming together, but I now have firm plans to be gone for at least 2 months, beginning the middle of Jan. I hope to stay for 2 months and then get back to Nebraska in time for calving season, but then that may depend on how deeply involved I get over there. I had intended to take a longish trip at some point now-abouts, but figuring out exactly where, and to what end as been a slow process. But my theory is borne out once again: things usually tend to work out.
I can't say a great deal about the people I am working with; the situation is what you might call precarious over there these days, since the coup in 2004 that saw the removal of Aristide and the controversial upcoming election. I am limited by the very public medium of the internet as to what I can say about the situation over there, as what might be considered a beignin statement by our standards could be divisive in the eyes of others, and among the assignments I have been tasked with is "coalition building". In theory my experience with the NGO's, government, and everyone else in Sri Lanka is supposed to qualify me for this work. We shall see. Other things I will be doing (I can talk about those at least a bit more) include visiting political prisoners in jail and advocating for expedient justice and medical care, documenting and interviewing survivors, teaching english, grant writing (no experience there, but I checked out every book in the library on it), and a whole litany of other stuff. Exciting stuff. But I do not yet know what details I can divulge, as the lives of those I work with will be affected or endangered by careless chatter. These restrictions on my reporting have not been imposed on me by anyone or any group, they are simply the consensus thing to do. It is not like I am a government agent, spook, spy, operative, or Dirk Dangeresque, I am simply trying to protect people who have to live there, and keep a low profile for my own sake as well.
I may set up a separate blog to record the events of the trip, I haven't yet figured out how best to manage that issue. But there is internet, at least when there is electricity, so I should be able to stay in touch somehow. I am not soliciting donations for this trip; the Sri Lanka/tsunami thing was different, and people had different motivations for giving. I was able to give people a more tangible option for their donation, but I should say that the red cross still needs money to, as do a host of other worthy charities. (But I do have lots of opinions, if you'd like a recommendation for where to send money, let me know.)
Since I foresee this habit of going places to work for better things as likely an ongoing tendency, I can't really justify going back to the same old well for every cause I take up. The fact is, some folks don't share my exact personal opinions and may one day choose to give to one project and not another. And that is ok. But I do reckon anyone reading this believes at some level in the right of everyone (yes, every human being) to eat and live without fear of violence. I could go on here about the politics of social upheaval and global resource politics, but that is for another time. Until I can come up with some sustainable means of using donated funds transparently, effectively, and (hopefully) tax-deductible, I'll not plan on asking for much. That said, if you take a sudden fancy to learning more about what goes on in the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, I ain't so proud as to turn down a gift.
Now, to tradition. It is the 2nd of January. Jared's day of reflection. Many people celebrate their birthday with some degree of party, reflection, or gloom. But we have no control over our particular birthday's timing. It is inflicted upon us without consultation. So it is with New Year's, when many of the same folks make such vague and immeasurable goals as "loose weight" or "eat better". But they seem to be made out of a sense of obligation, not earnest desire to better oneself.
So I endorse this: choose a day, personal and important to you for some unique reason of your own. Perhaps the day you graduated college. Perhaps the day you broke up with your first (or second) love. Perhaps the day you walked out of the hospital, summited a mountain, ran a marathon, buried a loved one. Choose a day that means something for you, and celebrate it. And reflect. What has happened that day, that year, and what lies ahead? Do you like it? How will you change it, how will you change yourself. And set goals.
Today, the 2nd of January, is the day I celebrate waking up in a Mexican hospital bed 5 years ago. The man who is responsible for my being there is now married to a charming and beautiful woman, and he is a fine young officer and a graduate of West Point. (Sorry, had to brag on my boy there)
My goals in the last year were:
To talk more with strangers and be more approachable. I suspect I did this, at least to the extent that I did more so that the previous year, but I still have a good ways to go. So that one I renew.
To visit at least 2 new countries. Done and done. I actually got 4, if you can count a visa run to the Maldives and 8 hours in Taipei. Granted, not the countries I expected when I made the goal, but accomplished none the less. I like it though, so I'll keep this one as well for '06.
To write more. Again, successful in relation to '04, but not where I want to be. I did not submit 3 intended minimum of 3 articles for publication. Re-up.
And new for 2006:
Learn to tango. Salsa has been great, but tango is the sexiest dance on earth, and I must learn how.
Figure out how to brew my own insulin. This may prove difficult, but if pharmaceutical companies can produce it on a volume basis cheaper than coca-cola (and then sell it for $75 per bottle), it must be possible. This is less to subvert the drug companies (that is just a side benefit), but more to increase my level of self reliance. When it all blows up and goes to hell, I can brew my own beer, wine, and whiskey out of the plants I can grow and eat the animals I raise in the shelters I build, but I can't very well live without the insulin.
So there it is folks. I wish for each and every one of ya'll a good 2006, and hope you'll stay tuned for the next round of adventures.
