The Concerto

If my life were a musical composition, I would be currently living one of the crescendos and sostenutos. The intensity is palpable in the pumping of my sensitive heartbeat. However, given that the recent upheaval in this program has been living out for many weeks now, I have learned to find peace in the mayhem, and each night return to my utter sense of gratefulness for the true magic that fills my life.

To paint a picture of my Mozart crescendo, the following is an idea of what will be my movings for July: July 2-7, my final week in Buenos Aires, I will be graced by the presence of my dear mother as I say goodbye to precious friendships formed and sneak in a trip to Iguazu, one of the wonders of the world; July 7-21 I will dive into Brazilian culture as I participate in a course on Human Rights and Media in Rio de Janeiro; July 22nd I will fly back into Buenos Aires with enough time to pick up luggage and fly to Brisbane for the beginning of classes on the 24th. I am so enthusiastic about diving back into classes and coming back to center about my life’s mission.

It is difficult to gain context as I move through this dynamic part of the concerto, but I will attempt to convey what it is I discover and experience along the way. I appreciate all of your support and words of encouragement, and pray you are all well. Of course, for all who have been searching for an excuse to visit kangaroo-land and its surrounding parts, you’ll have a flat with me…

Unification

The World Cup kicked off yesterday in Germany, and it is fun to be swept up in the fever of it all here in Argentina. Flags are waving, almost more than on Independence Day, and televisions are set up in almost every store. Argentina plays for the first time today, and I’m sure the entire eight million here are aware of it. The unifying force of soccer is intoxicating…
Just as our group of peace scholars is hoping that an overnight retreat outside the city this weekend will help in our unification. It has been a few of the more intense weeks of my life, as we each struggle under time pressure with deciding how to handle the “earthquake” that I mentioned in my previous entry. In fact, this weekend will be a goodbye for most of us in my class. My application is being quickly processed at the University of Queensland, with hopes of picking up classes there on July 24th. While it will be difficult to so abruptly leave behind a continent that I’ve only just begin to explore, I know I’ll be back. In Brisbane, I’ll find a very solid peace and conflict resolution program, insight into a whole new region of the world, peace scholars from around the globe, a campus setting, not to mention warm weather of the type I’ve been missing since my years in the DR.
The bus leaves for the retreat in a few hours. There, peacemakers will make peace as we celebrate from the life lessons learned during this time of intense soul-searching, and ultimately give thanks for all with which we have been blessed.