9/11

Yesterday, I spent my first 9/11 anniversary away from home.

For me, beyond the politics, beyond the causes and the effects, it is a day that saw a lot of loss of life. In an era when communication has made the world a much smaller place, people all over the world knew nearly instantaneously what had happened. Tragedies, loss, pain, death happens everyday. It was the first time I felt so connected to a tragedy in that large of scale. I didn't know anyone that died that day or that was directly effected, but I felt a connection to my country. I felt the attack on my country and our way of life.

It wasn't that the world changed, it was that, as Americans we became more aware of the rest of the world. In many ways we had this Epcot Center idea of the rest of the world. Every country was cute with it's funny little clothes, their weird food, and their funny little language. They are on display when we visit other countries. We forget that they have their own political systems and forces. We aren't at the center of the universe. Not everyone loves us.

Tractorpulling

I watched an episode of Fifth Gear, an automobile news magazine show. I was thrilled to see truckpulling here in the Netherlands. On the show they followed a competition in Eindhoven. There are teams and competitions all over Europe as well as the US. As long as there have been tractors, there were tractor competitions. Before that I'm sure guys were competing with horses.

I was thrilled to see that there is a Dutch team that has been touring and competing in the US for a few months. Team Lambada even has some video on their website in Chicago. They are near the end of their 4 month tour. As you might have imagined, they even picked up a Longest Distance traveled award.

Mr. Clean vs Mr. Muscle

Mr. Clean's long lost cousin...Mr. Muscle!

Poems of Leiden

The Poems of Leiden website was one of the first things I discovered when googling Leiden. When I was still in the process of looking at schools I found the site. It was one of the factors that made me feel a pull to Leiden. I haven't seen many while I've been here but they have been a lovely surpise when I do find them. It's like discovering a new treasure.

I love poetry and I often discover that even the most familiar poems have new meaning after new life experiences. When I'm learning a language I like to read poetry written in the language. I get a sense of the cadence of the language and see the language in a new context. I was glad to find a bilingual book of Dutch poetry I had since I was studying Dutch. It's been a pleasure to re-read it as a student again. The added experience of reading the poems in the country of origin of the poets gives it more meaning.

On an orientation tour of Leiden we came across the poem in the picture. This poem was familiar and I couldn't help reading it with new meaning after the last few months.

Here is my rough translation from the Spanish.

Misterio

Why am I alive
and the glass is full of water
and the door closed
and the sky the same as yesterday
and the birds golden
and my mouth wet
and my books arranged?
Why am I dead
and the glass the same as yesterday
and the door golden
and the the sky full of water
and the birds aranged
and my mouth closed
and my books wet?