Spirit of Volunteerism at GWU

Reflecting:

Volunteering is an important part of citizenship in the United States and its part of the lifeblood of my school, George Washington University.


Understanding

Last year, First Lady, Michelle Obama challenged GWU to 100,000 hours of community service.

"Something" NYC

Refreshing Central Park

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There's nothing like running in Central Park.  A place where you run unfettered and free from life's worries.  A place where running no longer seems a chore but a story -- full of dreams and relished childhood memories given a new lease of life and ready to roam free like the wild ones do.

EU Embassy Run

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

All You Need is Love

With Anita and team from Finland

Embassy of Nepal

 

Reflecting

May is my favorite time of the year to be in DC.  There is so much to do here that you will never get bored.  That is unless you're studying for finals, like me.

Understanding

Nepal and Bhutan have very similiarities. Both countries are located in the subcontinent of Asia sandwiched in between two major countries: India and China -- they are neighbors, but they are neither.

Negotiation

I did not want to be deprived of the cultural events in DC, exams or not.  Surely, my finals would allow me to spend several hours away from the computer to get a taste of the sights and sounds of Passport DC.  So I took off and decided to ride my bike from the US Capitol.  The steep hills on Connecticut and then the jig jag turn down Wisconsin.

Innovating

But the trip would also serve as a scouting trip for the ride EU Embassy Run the following Saturday.

Navigating

Next, I want to visit Thailand.  I heard that they were really throwing a party, and since I have a bike, I should be able to make it to Georgetown in no time.

Thai Embassy, Passport DC

Reflecting

I have been to Thailand once in the Navy in 1986.  It is a beautiful country, a land of gorgeous beaches, friendly people, breathtaking views and oh yeah, delicious food.

In 1997, the Thai baht collapsed, and the country had effectively went bankrupt after acquiring a burden of foreign debt.  The crisis spread, effecting virtually all of Southeast Asia and Japan resulting in slumping currencies and stock market.

Understanding

That is why, I'm troubled to hear about the dissent and revolts by the Red Shirts in Bangkok.  It's ongoing for a couple of months now and the threat of civil war exists.

Negotiating

Let's hope that the Red Shirts and the Thai government continue to dialogue to end this bitter feud that has taken over 20 lives and has seriously impacted the local economy and tourism.

Innovating

I actually want to return to Thailand to see its natural beauty and to enjoy its rich culture.  It's been nearly 25 years now.  Since flying there is not an option, the next best thing is to spend an entire afternoon at the Royal Thai Embassy in Georgetown as part of Passport DC.  And there's nothing better for the palate than Thai food, I'm absolutely convinced.

Navigating

I spent more than an afternoon. Once I arrived there, I didn't leave until the evening.  I immersed myself in delicious chicken and rice, noodles, ice candy, and sweet Thai tea.  Listened to the acoustic guitarists and enjoyed the Thai dancers.  Wanted to go back and can't wait until the festivities of the King's Birthday in December.

In A Mellow Tone

I love big band jazz. Saturday, my roommate Rochelle, performed a very nice piece at the Big Band Jam at the Sylvan Stage adjacent to the Washington Monument.

The name of the piece is in "A Mellow Tone". The band Afro Blue performed with the Smithsonian Jazz Band.

Along with Rochelle, Tonya Khakazi, from Miss. DC Pageant performed also and was simply dazzling.

Earth Day 2010: Sending out an SOS

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and my friends and I enjoyed celebrating the Day and understanding the important message at the National Mall. The highlight of the day was when Sting performed his classic "Message in a Bottle" with Roots.

Cherry Blossom Festival

I came because the wood thrush called me: They were out in mass and perhaps for another day or two.  The bloom that blushes every spring and rings the Tidal Basin pink. Blindingly beautiful and then before you know, are blown away, like everything we own, not meant to last forever, not even for a lifetime or a season of change. Like the most pure virgin smile will certainly wrinkle or the undying lovethat may one day fade away, the majestic sakura as the baby blossoms fall.

So I hit the road with weary feet, still trembling from last week's 26-miler, the one that wasn't meant to be, and now I tried to wipe away.  But my mind was fresh and my heart anew,  hungry to steal a glimpse of those pastel petals floating loftily with every puff or sprinkle. The ground, my Nikes covered in white like the foot of snow from the errant blizzard flight, imposed on us like a long-forgotten great uncle that blanketed this city just last month, if I remember right.  Other than that night, DC no longer knew pure white from the haze of snow except this fortnight, the cloud of bloom rising high and purple sepals raining nigh on the grass and foot paths something magical, idolic and ripe.

I ran with all the might I could muster but soon found myself frozen still in the light of the Pearly luster searching for the inner meaning and peace that had escaped me and hoping that this model of love and transience of life will stay indelibly etched in my enigma even if I have to chase them down before they all floated away.

Haiti: The Crisis Response Triad

This video depicts the compassionate, collaborative work that was the hallmark of the Haiti Response.

Unlike the government's response to Katrina, the Haiti response launched three faces that are collectively known as the

"Crisis Response Triad".

1) WiFi Network (to relief workers)

2) Social Media (Facebook was the primary and most reliable means for Haitians to communicate with their loved ones overseas)

3) Cloud Computing

Perhaps one of the most innovative facets of Cloud Computing is the incorporation of new applications that are built specifically for the immediate needs of the relief workers of Haiti. 
Hundreds of web developers have created new web-based applications (such as, the We Have, We Need project that has been hailed the “Craig’s List” for the crisis in Haiti) that allow for more specific searching or execution of specific relief for Haitians.

Essentially, it’s been able to link relief workers with the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), local Haitians, Haitians abroad, the Haitian Government and other countries to address specific needs and to get them the requisite resources quickly and efficiently.

The paradox of this situation is that the most underdeveloped nation in the Western Hemisphere is the first test bed for the implementation of cloud computing of a grand scale of international reach and premiere caliber.

This is appropriate since Haiti is one country that needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. Since the earthquake is arguably the greatest natural disaster in modern times, the silver lining is that this will be the first time in recent history that a country can be completely rebuilt with the collaboration and supervision of the world’s nations.

Crisis Management: Haiti

Haiti: Hotspots and Laptops

Umstead 100 Ultra

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.