Some actual words!

So, I feel like I've included a lot of pictures in my blog, but I have not wrote that much since I've been in Africa. So I'll include a few quotes and entries from my journal in this entry.

First of all, my journal is not so much a diary of events as it is a spiritual journal that I began in 2005 and lost for a while then decided I should restart it while I was in Africa.

The opening quote for my spiritual jounral:

“Do you think I know what I'm doing?
That for one breath or half-breath I belong to myself?
As much as a pen knows what it's writing,
or the ball can guess where it's going next."

-Rumi


"There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man."

Mark 7:14

"Surrender yourself humbly;
then you can be trusted to care for all things.
Love the world as your own self;
then you can truly care for all things."

-Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching, 13

"And do not mix up the Truth with falsehood, nor hide the truth while you know (it).
And keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and bow down with those who bow down.
What! Do you enjoy men to be good and neglect your own souls while you read the Book, have you no sense then?
And seek assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely it is a hard thing except for the humble ones."

Koran: Surrah II (The Cow), 42-45

*"I'll probably never be rich, but I will be a fat man”

-Louis Armstrong


June 27, 2008

On my first night out of 'Camp Stage' and into Africa, I find myself more prepared than I ever imagined I could be. I have (wait... break for tea here) very limited language and am in a house with no English speaker and one person who speaks French. (he left the next day) So clearly as the Peace Corps sees fit, I'm learning French...

The food is amazing, my family doesn't find soap necessary for meals.. when in Rome... I'm treating most of my water with bleach, but I want to build immunity and I lack patience... so In'Shallah.
June 28, 2008

“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you
Don't go back to sleep
You must ask for what you really want
Don't go back to sleep
People are going back and forth across the door sill
Where the two worlds touch
The round door is open again
Don't go back asleep"
-Rumi (36)

Goodmorning, I must strive to live an awakening life.

I found the roof today.

The morning begins two hours after the 5:30AM call to prayer....

I feel useless as any empty vessel, waiting to be filled with knowledge. But it's this emptiness and potential which makes me valuable now.

July 4, 2008 (Independence Day!)

"A secret turning in us
makes the universe turn
Head unaware of the feet
and feet head. Neither cares
They keep turning"

-Rumi 278

July 5, 2008

There are patterns in life. Not everything happens for a purpose, but purpose arises from the things that happen. The key is to blend yourself with the patterns that include the things you want. That's called happiness.

Bloom, Wil McCarthy, 273

I'm sitting outside my house in Rosso after taking my sup and I'm looking up a the crescent moon. How appropriate. I know this is a duh, but the stars are amazing. What did people think they were before they knew? If they knew the truth, wouldn't they think it was even more amazing?

This body is a prison for the soul. Holding it back, keeping it locked away from a society of its own kind. But, just as a prisoner may use the duration of his incarceration to grow, learn and nourish himself... so can the imprisoned soul turn away from the corrupting influences of it's imprisonment to grow and gain.


July 20, 2008

'I am Determined'

"One regret, dear world,
That I am determined not to have
when I am lying on my deathbed is that
I did not kiss you enough."

Hafiz (I Heard God Laughing)

Started the morning with some jazz. It was basically amazing. Did Manteca by Mr. Gillespe. Dizz in the morning is a wonderful choice. I'm a terrible journal writer... oh well!


August 1, 2008

I've just returned from site visit. Not much of a journey for me since I am going to be teaching in the training city, Rosso. My visit consisted primarily of drinking gin, whiskey and “tea”, playing Jeopardy, flirting, beirut, homo-erotic joking, American Legends (made in the EU), playing with Mutard, watching the entirety of the American version of the Office series, singing karaoke and eating incredible incredible food. Basically all the stuff we've been missing.

I joined the Peace Corps for the very selfish reason of personal growth and it seems that me becoming a better Brandon thus far has entailed increasing my debaucheries, indulgences and general desire to be naked by 3 fold.

To put it simply, life is good. :)