Sunday, August 28, 2005

Then my heart skipped a beat

Walking down Newbury Street, I met the love of my life, and my heart skipped a beat.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Through our weakness


Ihad set up a stand along Yonge Street. He hands out Islamic literature and talks to anyone who would listen about his conversion to the religion. Ihad grew up in a middle-class American family, and had a regular childhood and teenage years. He converted to Islam two years ago, and now is one of the most out-spoken advocates for the faith at his mosque.

A few Somali and Arab men were with him, but they seemed much more reserved to talk about their experience. One men, who grew up in Egypt, said, "the new converts are always the most vocal. They didn't grow up in the religion, and they have not seen a lot of the problems within the community. They have all the enthusiasm."

I asked him what problems were there within the Islamic community, and what he thought about them.

He answered, "Of course, there are problems. If those who believe are perfect, then we would have no use for Allah. Through our weakness, we see the power of Allah. Through our imperfection, we see the perfection of the Holy One."

*I know very little about Islam, but I am fascinated by faith and religion in general - what drives a person for believe something he can never prove or see or touch? What is this thing we call faith - something so powerful yet so unreal at the same time?

Monday, August 22, 2005

"Never sacrifice what you believe for political correctness."




I met Rob and his 120 lb pit-bull on Yonge Street. Rob is a pot-smoking, grunge-rocking Canadian. He is proud to be from the Great North, where "true freedom and liberty live".

He wore his protest T-shirt for the first time today, and had only received positive feedbacks on the street.

"Maybe it's your pit-bull,"I asked.

"Maybe it's because I'm telling the truth," Rob said.

Notice his belt-buckle, it also served as a lighter for Rob's "herbal supplements."

"I'd never keep quiet about what I believe to please people. Life is too short for that," Rob said, "Never sacrifice what you believe to be P.C."

*For those of you wondering, my own political stand is very far right field of Rob's. I'm a Bible-owning, Christian girl. But I love his style, standing proud for what he believes. That's what America is all about.

Thursday, August 18, 2005

"Always sleep outside churches."


A life in Boston

Everyday after work, I walk down Newbury Street. Outside a church, I always see a women selling tainty pieces of water-colors for $3 each. We smile and nod to each other, but today, after my last day of work, I decided to take a moment and say hello.

Her name is Lisa. She's an artist and she is homeless. She always sleep on the steps of churches, "Even really aweful people get feel a heavy conscious when they see a cross. It's the safest thing to do when you're on the streets."

She wears a whistle everyday in case she feels threatened at night. She camps out with a group of several women, and they take turns sleeping at night. They watch out for each other.

Lisa's world is an unkind place. She worries about getting TB from other homeless persons, she worries about her safety, and she worries mostly about the dreaded, upcoming winter.

I think I'm going to say hello to people more often. When you take the time to speak to another person, you recognise his/her humanity, and learn about a world you never knew existed before.

Monday, August 15, 2005

Reflections

The rest of the world produces, and America consumes. Well, what exactly does America make anymore? We're not that great at making cars, or computers, or anything high-tech. And we're too high and mighty to go into manufacturing - textile, etc. We're going to end up as a nation good at making only block-buster movies and rap music. While the rest of the world - especially China and India - have made economies favoring production and exports, we have an economic structure that is based on solely consumption. Our economic stays afloat with the real estate market, and only 40% of all housing purchases are made by people who actually bought houses to live in. The rest is all speculation. There is something wrong with this picture.

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Guest photo-post

( Click to see larger image)
My friend Nick is as good as they make them. He's a great doctor, an awesome photographer (see photo above), a devious poker player, and in general, just a damn great person.

Once he got up at 4am to drive me to the train station. He lets me borrow his photography books indefinitely. He took my calls at 3am when my mother was sick, and he let me fall asleep on the phone so I wouldn't feel alone.

He knows all my flaws (and there are many) and still think I'm great. He calls me out on my shit, but always gives me compliments at the right time. One doens't meet someone like Nick that often in life - someone who loves you for all the right reasons and makes you feel 10 feet tall. I'll always love him and miss him in ridiculous ways.

If there is a God, please take care of my Nick while he's out there in New Haven. Because he is simply solid, good people.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Dancing in the Streets

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Hot Rod