A MAT Back in B-Boro

Well it is a sunny Sunday morning here in Brattleboro and just as when we dispersed in the middle of December, January has not made up it's mind if it is winter or spring (to everyone's surprise, no snow!) Though different from December there is a new spirit in the air, one of anticipation and adjustment as we start our praticums/internships and one of realizing how nomadic our SIT community is. I think often on the importance of community and truly appreciate the community that we created in the Fall. Now as I drive I-91 down to Amherst High School three days a week I will think about everyone stepping in to new communities, whether that be in Massachusetts or South Africa, and feel thankful that the richness and learning experiences we will gain in the next few months we will be able to share in person come the real Spring. Hope all are settling in to this next phase well!

One

As we head out for the holidays and then onto practicums and internships, I leave you with a quote from Stephen Hawking:


"Space does not divide us; it unites us."



Peace on Earth

In the Rearview Mirror

Whenever I needed a push, you were there

Whenever I needed a laugh, you were there

Whenever I needed a ride off campus, no one was there and I had to walk down the hill just to buy a carton of milk from Hannaford's, freeze my ass off, and risk near death because most of you sped down the hill with reckless abandon and one time I was nearly run over by a crazy bitch driving a red Subaru and I'll never forget the license number

I'll get you someday, Vermont plates CMT-8212

But, I love you all just the same

Thanks for a great semester, my MATs

Midnight thought

Time: the stroke of 12 midnight, but I still could not sleep at all, just like every other day I had gone to visit a historical building around Brattleboro. No sound could be heard but the beat of my heart, and the sound of Indonesian song in my computer. Once, I got out from my bedroom just to take a breath of a cold and quiet night in the cute small town of Brattleboro.

My country, my mom, my friends, and all my colleagues flashed through my awakened mind making me recall the past. 3 months have passed : day after day, week after week, and month after month. Will I be able to keep my study on track, while I have nobody to assist me? Of course, everybody is ready and willing to help me but the problem is that I am not someone who make close friends very easily and ask anyone for help.

I scratched my pen on a white paper drawing my feeling, releasing my pain, and hoping that it could heal my lonely heart. Again the shadow of my sweet memory remains waving me to come along. I washed my hands and face to wipe away the dirt from, hoping that It could drive away my lonely state of mind.

I wandered around the bedroom, kitchen, and porch seeking something to be a scapegoat, but I found nothing to blame. The more I concentrated on every angle of the room, the more my memory awakened missing the good times back home. I got back to my bedroom and lay down on my back on the mattress to sleep, yet I could not sleep at all.

The song of sweet memory sung by Dewi Yull was on, and my computer was on all days. Many emails had been received from people on my mailing list. The more emails came, the lazier I got about reading them , as the messages were not interesting at all in my opinion.

I did not realize what I needed anyway!. Probably, I need someone to be my close friend. I got it, but was it really what I wanted?!.

Reeditted on November 16, 2006