Busy Bumblebee

Yes. Well. Here's what you've all been waiting for. An update on my blog!

Sorry that it's been over a week since I ranted and raved (or is it rove? thats a television show i DO NOT miss.. hi mum, anyway.) It's just that I have been overloaded with work, work and more work. I have never rushed around trying to complete whats required of class and some extra-curricular activities that happen to deman my presence EVERY NIGHT OF THIS WEEK!

So let's go back a week, shall we? Last Thursday night my Aussie friend Maija and I went to hear the recipient of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Dr Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer/judge/fighter for humanitarian and democratic rights in Iran speak to the University and Persian community. We arrived in the hall quite early, and I heard Farsi spoken all around me. I felt right at home for some reason. Arabs, sorry, Persians and Jews look remarkably similar - our semitic bloodline must link up somewhere. The last time I hear Farsi being spoken was during Marva in Israel, when my friend Lili would call home and I would sit in our tent and just listen. When Lili would speak, Farsi sounded like the most melodic and beautiful language I had ever heard. Soft and sweet with musical elements, it became one of my favourite languages to listen to. However, the Farsi Lili spoke three years ago, and the Farsi of Dr Ebadi seemed worlds apart that Thursday night. Her actual speech was quite a disappointment - Dr Ebadi spoke in general and overly-idealistic terms, and didn't really say anything specifically about the situation in Iran or her participation in its 'democratic' process, or her history and past experiences of her fight against totalitarian and undemocratic governments. Perhaps she couldn't, for she feared the consequences back in Iran - there are many reasons. It was also quite difficult to pay attention as Dr Ebadi spoke to the audience in Farsi, and would stop after sentence, waiting for the translator to inform us in English what she said.

Nevertheless, at the end of her speech, the entire hall gave her a standing ovation for five full minutes. Standing up roused me from my near-sleep and it became time for questions. This is where it became interesting. Dr Ebadi showed her sense of humour and wealth of knowledge and experience when answering the sometimes raucous crowd. Some people asked her questions in Farsi, and those in the audience who understood it would laugh or shout insults back in Farsi. One man ignored the rules of the 'conch', or only those who were granted microphone access could ask questions, and shouted his question in Farsi/English (nobody could understand what he said, no matter how hard he tried to explain himself) over the crowd. The audience booed and hissed at him to sit down and stop yelling. Soon security was called. Another man (who WAS granted nicrophone access) began telling Dr Ebadi how much we as an audience respected her and wanted to help those in Iran achieve real democracy - the speech lasted forever! At the end of it, he said to us, the audience, to say 'yes' all together in support of the Dr Ebadi. Many of us were shouting YES just to get him to stop talking! It was a fun evening. After the speech, Maija and I went out for dinner and I had good ol Mac and Cheese - some habits never die. Besides, this is Mac and Cheese's home country!!!

Basically the weekend was full of work, work and more work, just to catch up. This swarmed over into the beginning of this week as well. The only relief is the Rice Krispy Treats that Jess makes for us to stay awake through the night - full of sugar and more sugar! Go marshmellows and Rice Bubbles!

On Monday I played basketball for the first time in a LONG time. And boy did my body know it. It was fun meeting more people, some of the team live in my apartment building Harnwell, while the others are from around. It's a mixed team, something in which I'm not used to playing in the slightest. It's a much faster game and much more aggressive. But it was fun, and of course I was the tallest girl.

Things have quietened down for now... but, at Penn, there's always something going on! This month is Feb Club: during February senior students (aka me, last year of college) hang out EVERY NIGHT OF THE MONTH at different places all around philadelphia. Sounds like fun, and since today is only the second day of Feb, we'll see what happens!

Speak soon.
-S.

Oh, and check out this link. For all you Singing in the Rain fans out there, enjoy!

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-video/Media/video/2005/01/27/golfgti.mov