Economic crisis, Ramadan, and kicks

The Economic Crisis:  Every macroeconomics class, my prof. explains the latest on the economic crisis - the biggest crisis since the Great Depression.  It's quite interesting and great to be able to understand what's going on from a professional.  For macro, we are required to either volunteer in a soup kitchen for two days, interview a small business owner, or go to a legislative hearing.  I, never having done the latter, decided to search out one related to macro to go to.  

So, I tried to go to see the Full House Finance Committee hearing about the economic crisis, but unfortunately didn't get in because everyone else wanted to be there, too.  Bummer.  But it was cool to go to the Rayburn Office House Building and have Representatives and aides and lobbyists rushing around.  I also got to see Bernanke, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Paulson, the Secretary of the US Dept. of Treasury walk by into the hearing.  I did get into the overflow room, but unfortunately found the speeches a bit above my understanding and the chairs were so comfy... so decided I had better get out before I started falling asleep amid all the suited people who were actually intensely paying attention.  

It was a bit of a bummer, not getting in, but I thought I might as well explore the rest of the building while I was there so I decided to visit my Rep.'s office.  Funny though, as soon as I found the place, I open Rep. Earl Blummenhauer's door to find a teacher that worked at my middle school and high school sitting on his couch!  We were equally surprised to see each other!  As it turns out, he is one of the NEA representatives and so four times a year gets flown out to DC to do a bit of lobbying.  We took a picture together and he said he'd try to get it in the Grantonian, so we'll see.  (^_^)

Ramadan: For my Contemporary Arab World class, my group is doing a presentation on Ramadan so for my part I decided to fast for a day and take a video journal to document my experience.  After the first day, I liked it so much that I decided to try a second day.  So here is the link to the video, I only have edited the first "entry" or so.  Apologies that the last entry is so hard to hear.  I basically said that as the day wore on it got easier and easier to not eat (I wasn't hungry) so that by the time I could eat, I felt I could go a little longer without.  I also said that although today (last Friday) was more difficult than my first day, I really enjoyed the experience and would like to do it again next year and hopefully participate more than just two days.  

And kicks...: Today was my last day of self defense class, and the day of the big test: the simulation.  Two police officers covered from head to toe in thick red padding were the "aggressors" and "attacked" the "victim," me, wearing a padding helmet with a metal grill, and elbow, knee and hand pads.  We, the "victims" had to get away from them using the techniques we learned.  It was scary, but really satisfying to know that I could defend myself.  I really liked to use kicks, and at one point, somehow managed to kick and punch the guy at the same time!  It was funny.  Afterwards, we got to see the video of each of us to see how well we had done.  It was really good and rewarding.  I definitely feel more confidant about myself, but will continue to use all caution to avoid a real situation like that.  

That's my life in a nutshell, currently.  This week isn't so busy, but next week I have a paper due Monday, a midterm Wednesday, and a paper due Thursday, so should be hectic.  I just gotta try to prepare so that my life won't be as sleep deprived as it could be that week.  =)  

Oh!  And good news!  I finished my application for studying abroad in Chile next semester, so all I need to do is send it in!  Yay!  Let's just hope I get it!  I want to go SOOOOO badly!

'Till later!  

~ Kaia