Quotes from Utne Reader's Independent Press Award Winners

"The export of democracy by force is a fool's errand." -Democracy

"A focus on race and identitiy distracts us from a greater social injustice: economic stratification."
- The Chronicle

Visitor time!

My mom made it in safe and sound yesterday, arriving at 4:55AM, 20 minutes ahead of schedule. I got to the airport early, but not quick enough to beat her through security (only took 30 minutes), as she was already freezing on the curb when I drove up. New Zealand offered it's typical welcome: a day of intermittent pouring rain and chilly air. Good thing today it's improved considerably, so I don't think she'll be quite as tempted to hop the first flight home.

Have you registered?

Click here to register to vote.

I've already mailed my absentee ballot in. In case anyone has forgotten to register to vote, it's really simple. Just click on the above link and it will walk you through the process.

From Narcissus and Goldmund

"Oh, how incomprehensible everything was, and actually sad, although it was also beautiful. One knew nothing. One lived and ran about the earth and rode through forests, and certain things looked so challenging and promising and nostalgic: a star in the evening, a blue harebell, a reed-green pond, the eye of a person or of a cow. And sometimes it seemed that something never seen yet long desired was about to happen, that a veil would drop from it all; but then it passed, nothing happened, the riddle remained unsolved, the secret spell unbroken, and in the end one grew old and looked cunning like Father Anselm or wise like Abbot Daniel, and still one knew t
nothing perhaps, was still waiting and listening." -Hermann Hesse

Flying

It used to be I couldn't understand why someone would give up everything they worked for to move to a new country and start over, unless they were in a war-ravaged place or somewhere there's no upward mobility. In countries with a poor economy or overpopulation, it's so hard to get out. But why would someone leave a place like the United States?

A while back, I asked myself what I'd do if the economy crashed and I lost everything? I decided I'd be fine. I'd get another job. I'd make money. I'd live. It wouldn't be the end of things. It would actually be sort of the beginning again. I think that's what's in the immigrant's mind.

So here I am in New Zealand, nearing the end of my year's contract. I feel like I'm about to jump on a twisty slide and I can't see the landing spot. I have to let go and see where I end up. It's a little frightening, but better than sitting at the top forever, waiting. 

I've thought of staying at the university, but I don't make a very good teacher. I'm not detailed enough and I'd rather laugh than be stern. This department operates so differently from me that I fit in better with the students than the staff, which is probably not the point. None of my professional strengths are being used here, which also makes it challenging to stay.

I've wanted to do something that makes more of an impact on the world. I've looked into research, in areas like macular degeneration or otherwise, but nothing is certain. 

What I do know is that I can't come back to the States, not now, perhaps never. It feels a bit like when I went away to university for the first time. I'm flying freely, uncaged from my old life. Anything is possible.