Impossible is Impossible

This blog is my way of reflecting upon life. Life is about living and learning. As I live and learn I’m going to reflect upon this life I lead. Hopefully I'll offer something insightful with my postings. If you learn nothing else from me, know this that “impossible is impossible”.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Safe and Alive

I am back home safe and sound. I arrived back in the
U.S. from Italy on Monday evening.

Yesterday was spent sleeping, chilling, and milling
about the house.

Today I arrived at the office. I will be interning
with a government agency, where I have spent the
previous two summers.

I was also recognized as a future leader as part of an
exhibit at the new Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers
Maritime Park, which opened today in Baltimore that
was exciting.

The heat has gotten to me. I must find something to
soothe my headache preferably some cold water, minus
any drugs. I dislike pills.

A fuller update ASAP.

-CNEL

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Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Finito

I hope that this isn't at all premature, but a few
minutes ago I submitted my website template, which was
completed with much help from the web goddesses Cindy
H. and Afi S. They have been an amazing support
system, and amazing leaders. Cindy was my sponsor who
spent the big bucks getting me here. She also kept me
laughing with her stories, and renewed my interest in
learning about the founder of the Jesuit order St.
Ignatius of Loyola. Afi kept me humble and kept me
honest by reminding me of who I am, and whose I am.
She also kept me well fed through cooking "soul
gnocchi", her take on the classic Italian dish. The
soul sister from Cleveland was the bidness as we say.
Those two women were amazing and helped your boy CNEL
feel he could accomplish the impossible, and that is
complete all the modules (Intercultural Communication,
Photography, Storytelling, Videography, and Web Design
(and you can fit Italian Language and Culture in there
too).

Also big shot outs to Chris H. & Afi S. (again) for
helping me finish the print story suitable for online
publication.

Shot out to George M. for helping me take decent
looking photos. He helped me to realize that what is
said about photos having the power to accentuate a
story, and to also convey another story which is just
as important is a worthy pursuit.

Shot out to Dan G. for helping me complete the video.
He called me "the reporter who cried wolf" because I
said I was done five to ten times, and this was all
before he would actually accept my finished project as
acceptable. He gave me my hugest compliment when he
said to me, "You have learned a lot." It's good to
know that others say my commitment to this project,
and my intent to not just take something away, but
help add a certain sense of passion, and a sense of
professionalism to this program. Dan's comment however
helped me to realize that I have grown. He also
reminded me to become a little less combative because
journalism as an industry is the biggest doggone team
sport there is out there. I gave him hell, but it
worked out in the end. We helped each other on the up
and up. Someone always has to help you stay fresh.

I have learned so much, and I am still learning.

This experience has been very rewarding, and I know it
has helped me grow.

I have had more laughs than headaches though my heat
and stress induced migraines have been killer.

But I made it ya'll, I think. :-)

Tomorrow I will be heading to Urbino with fellow
students to be honored by the town's mayor and other
dignitaries.

Friday I will be packing up.

Saturday I may be headed for some last minute
work/sightseeing.

Monday I return to Rome and head back to the states.

If at any point I seemed ungrateful for this
opportunity, blame it on my being stressed and tired.
Any thing worth enduring is undoubtedly an experience
worth having. That cliche anything that doesn't kill
you makes you stronger is so true. Having the
opportunity to participate in an "international
reporting practicum", the opportunity to study abroad,
to work with charismatic students, and be mentored by
experienced and passionate mentors is what I needed at
this time in my life.

All the other stuff doesn't matter.

I have made a literal journey, and continued on that
figurative journey through life.

Can we say excited about what the future holds?

We'll talk again soon maybe before I depart for the
states, and maybe after.

But know that I appreciate you.

Thanks to all those who supported me emotionally,
financially, mentally, physically, professionally, and
spiritually.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Ciao for now.

_CNEL

Cagli, Italy 6/22/06 1:55am

Monday, June 19, 2006

Final Week

We're six days out from returning to the states, well
most of us anyway. Some people will be staying over
and meeting up with family and friends. As I write
this it is just after midnight and the beginning of a
new day, Tuesday, June 20, 2006. Good mornting in the
words of Madea.

Yesterday the girls who had gone away from Venice
returned to Cagli. It was fun to sit down and here
some of the things that Ashley one of the students
from Gonzaga experienced while there. Also yesterday
most people submitted their videos for final approval.
Some people are still working on their final cuts as I
type this. Once I was done on Sunday night, I
estatically yelled, "Praise God!" When I called my
mom, I told her that no one could doubt that I had
been raised baptist and she laughed. I told some of
the students I felt like a rapper accepting an award
saying "I'd like to thank God, my mother....". LoL. To
celebrate I had a glass of sangue e Juda, well two
glasses :-) (relax its only wine which is customary
here in Italy), but the second one was horrible.
Sangue e Juda I know is supposed to mean Jesus's
blood, I hope my Italian was right in typing that.

Last night I called my mother again once I read an
e-mail in which she told me that her aunt, and my
great aunt had passed away. My Aunt Glennie was my
granddad's oldest sister. I remember meeting her once
at my family reunion when I was still very young. My
grandfather always speaks fondly of all his sisters,
so I can only imagine how he's feeling, I don't think
I'll be home in time for the service, it will probably
be later this week. My grandfather would undoubtedly
tell me my focus should be here in Italy, on doing
well in school, and ensuring that I and other members
of our family have opportunities that he and his
sisters and brothers did not have. So I shall focus
and ride this horse and buggy out with class.

Our final day of classes begins tomorrow. People keep
asking if my Italian has gotten any better. I can say
"Ciao," I can order saying "Per Favorie", I always say
"Grazie". Every now and again I find myself having to
say "Excusa". Really we could spend four weeks
studying Italian, and I definitely need more time to
study the language. Oh and I have homework that needs
to be done ooops.

So excited about the week though.

Cooking class tomorrow. Double cooking class fried
olives at 2pm, regular cooking class at 6pm.

Wednesday is school stuff and shopping at the open air
market because it's "Market Day".

Thursday we're being hosted by the Mayor of Urbino. I
have a feeling we'll be there all day. I definitely
need to buy a colored shirt. More money to spend. I
have spent 260 Euros which is somewhere over $335 on
gifts, and I'm not done yet. I don't want to look at
the balance on my account. I had planned on bringing
some wine back, but there's some concern I won't be
able to because I am a minor.

Mmm we shall see.

Friday finishing up the work.

Saturday is the closing banquet and packing.

Sunday is finishing up everything.

Monday it's back to the states.

TTYS.

An update when I can.

Ciao

CNEL

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Sunday, June 18, 2006

Almost There

As of the 11:10 pm here in Cagli I was three fourths
of the way done.

Story- Check

Pictures-Check

Video-Check

New Nickname Check "You are the reporter who cried
wolf" courtesy of the video professor Dan G. Don't we
all just love Dan? He has however taught me a lot, and
I have done what I deemed impossible a few days
earlier shot and edited video!

And he takes a bow.

Later

-CNEL

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Wise Words (for us to Ponder)

Sunday-
How can you come to know yourself? Never by thinking, always by doing. Try to do your duty, and you'll know right away what you amount to.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Monday-
No passion in the world is equal to the passion to alter someone else's draft.
H. G. Wells

Tuesday-
The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.
Aristotle

Wednesday-
The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.
Emile Zola

Thursday-
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right.
Henry Ford

Friday-
The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it.
George Bernard Shaw

Saturday-
Complaining is good for you as long as you're not complaining to the person you're complaining about.
Lynn Johnston

I Was Sexiled but I Wasn't Sexiled

So early this A.M. I was sexiled, but I wasn't sexiled.

I had to share this because I think it's funny.

The apartment where I'm staying has these small spiral fireman-esque stairs.

The roomie comes in sometime in the A.M. with his little I don't know what to call her, cause she's also a student in our program. There little I don't know what to call it is starting to annoy me, only because she thinks I'm his keeper, and also because of those rare times when my space becomes their space. But the roomie well he comes down said staircase gets his matress and moves said matress up our supersmall stairs to our supersmall not even a living room living room. I wouldn't have stirred cause ya'll know I like very much to just sleep, but he wasn't even slick with it.

After he trudges up the stairs they begin doing god knows what, god knows where. I suddenly don't have the desire to eat or prepare meals in our kitchen, cause just inches separate it from our not a living room, living room. I know one thing they were too doggone loud to have been trying to be slick with it. That girls giggle is so doggone annoying, her giggle/laugh atleast. You'd think he was Richard Pryor, Dave Chapelle, Jay Leno, Jon Stewart (insert your favorite funnyman here). Now I won't know whether to laugh or want to scream when she giggles, and he ain't no better. I want to put them on blast, and quite honestly I'm still contemplating doing it, really I have the urge to pull their cards.

Try getting back to sleep after their shannanigans. I sat downstairs tempted to yell stfu. I mean real tempted, but I didn't want to be rude.

Yeah, it's about that time where I'm ready to just be sharing space with my family.

P.S.
I think I may be finish my video (pending final approval), and I may be ready to devote all my time, energy, and effort to understanding web design.

Gubbio was fun. I could do damage in their shops. Sad thing is I'm better with shopping for others, more than myself. I still have a few people on my gift list. I guess I have 6 days or so to work my way down my list.

Ciao peeps.

-CNEL

Friday, June 16, 2006

Fretting and Sweating

Jameil is so right, CNEL is fretting, and lawd I am
also sweating. We got the heat we had been asking for,
and we also got humidity.

On the real though, I am tired or fed up but I can't
figure out which one.

I am trying to figure out if this program has thus far
met my expectations or defied expectations, take it or
leave it. I am quite certain that you intellectuals
can understand what I am trying to say. :-)

I am so reconsidering my career choice.

Syke.

What the heck does this look like?

What the heck would deciding not to follow my passion
look like?

The devil is a liar. (Just had to throw that in
there.)

So I submitted the rough cut of the video, the final
cut is due on Monday.

The professor is saying get it done, get it done, and
I'm saying I want to run I want to run. I have been in
this building since 8am this morning, didn't break for
lunch and I ain't necessarily a happy camper.

I already knew I didn't want to be a videographer or
an editor, and yes those inclinations were confirmed.

Me and the video prof have gotten awfully close. It's
been fun I have learned a lot from him, but ummm yeah
I'll stick to producing, writing, reporting, and
anchoring. It's important to understand the entire
process, and I understand it, and I know what my
preferences are right now. I'd prefer not ever have to
touch a camera unless the world was coming to an end
or Jesus was making his comeback.

I could possibly be convinced to write in print every
now and again, or even take some photos, but I'd
prefer not to ever take a videocamera.

Have we not learned from R. Kelly, Paris Hilton, Eve,
and Pamela Anderson not to trust ourselves
videocameras.

I had to do it.

I need some food.

I'll talk to you all sometime next week.

CNEL

Single Digit Countdown and no I'm not even joking,
Bmore here I come. Well after I finish handling my
business, I mean you know it's all about the bidness!

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Too close for comfort.

We are so out of the honeymoon stage, because people
are really starting to irk one another.

I'm easily irkable (no irkable is not a word), but it
is in my world.

I have been spending so much time with my interpreter
and my video professor. I think the two of them will
want to banish me from site very, very shortly.

It's crunch time here in Cagli as we submit much of
our work in hopes that it will be the final product.

I know everyone's saying it stop stressing, stop
stressing. That is somewhat hard to do when it seems
so much is riding on what the final outcome of the
project ends up being.

There is the desire to learn as much as possible.

There is the desire to enjoy the experience.

There is the desire to be true to the story, and
reveal the truth.

There is the desire to get a good grade.

There is also the desire to represent well my family
and friends.

This morning I had my meeting with the copy editor
from The Baltimore Sun John McIntire. He handed me my
corrections, I corrected them, and then I was able to
submit my approved story.

I had my photos approved two days go.

Now I have to do my voiceover, edit my video, and get
that submitted before tomorrow at 5pm.

The final video is due Monday at 12pm.

Hopefully I get it knocked out between tonight and
tomorrow, so that I can have a break before we get
heavy into web design.

Right now all I want is a shower and a nap. I think
the shower might be doable, but I don't know about the
nap.

Ciao from Cagli.

-CNEL

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Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Update

It is Wednesday, June 14, 2006, 11:38 am here in Cagli
as I begin to write this posting.

The week thus far has been somewhat busy. We're under
the gun because most of our field work has to be
completed by week's end. Our final stories and final
pictures are due on Friday, as is a rough edit of our
video. Our final video is due on Monday.

All of next week will be spent tying together loose
ends

Monday's are a day off from classes. It's a day for
those who travelled over the weekend to return to
Cagli. Last weekend most of my fellow students
travelled to Florence, only five of us stayed behind.
Monday is also a day which most people set aside to
catch up or get ahead. I used the day to take it easy.
I chilled out and slept in. During the afternoon I got
my cell phone working again, after erecting a block
when trying to recharge it over the weekend. Hey I had
to call the states, and talk to T-Win and Bianca,
because of my "stalker" I needed to resurrect my
sanity. I also took time to work on completing the
second draft of my story. Monday night we all had
dinner at a local restaurant where each week we have a
multicourse meal. This week we had pasta, curried
chicken, and pound cake with lemon sauce. After dinner
I came back finished my story, and submitted the
second draft .

Tuesday is our first day back to class after a long
weekend, weekends are nonexistent here because you can
often spend them working. Yesterday morning we had
Italian Language and Culture, and yesterday afternoon
we had Web Design. After Web Design I met with my
group leader and my fellow students to do a status
check.

After class and trying to set up an appointment to
meet with the subject of my photo session, I went to a
wine tasting. I was the only guy there, with 28 girls
and 5 guys, what's the odds of that. Smile. Apparently
given those numbers I shouldn't be complaining says so
many of the girls. We had three local wines (two
white, one red). With one of the wines we had pasta,
and with two of the wines we had salumi and salume.

Later in the afternoon I had the opportunity to go
back out into the field. Part of my responsibility is
to take photographs which will accompany the story of
another student. One of my fellow groupmates is
writing a story on a local soccer star and his family.
She wants to show how his devotion to the game, and
love for the game has become something which unites
his family. I took pictures, now it's up to me to
review them, edit them, and submit them for approval.
I loved going out to Giocomo's home. His parents and
older sister were so nice to us. Their home was
beautiful, it's about 10 minutes away from old Cagli.
In fact from their house you have a great view of the
city. They say it makes Cagli look small, but it's
absolutely beautiful.

When we returned to old Cagli I spent time helping the
same student outline and begin writing her student.
Maybe I'm better at this print thing than I like to
think.

After spending about forty-five minutes helping her I
escaped, and tried to find dinner. I stopped at one
restaurant sat down, was waiting for a waiter, and saw
that my "stalker" was there taking in a soccer game. I
"got low", I mean I hightailed out of there. I didn't
want any drama. I ate at a restaurant which is about 2
minutes from my apartment called "La Laterna". When I
originally arrived the place was practically empty
except for a few people on the terrace enjoying
drinks. I went in and asked if they spoke English,
since I was alone and my Italian isn't so good.
Luckily they said a little.

Extremely tired I said, "I just want a pizza."

I went into the dining room and sat down. I sat at
one table without a tablecloth. When the waitress came
out, and was about to set another place, I immediately
moved. It was late, and I didn't want to make her life
any more difficult. I immediately moved to a place
where there was a tablecloth. She noticed I then had
an obstructed view of the TV where soccer was on the
screen. I assume she was asking if I wanted to watch
the game.

"It doesn't matter to me, I'm just really tired," I
said to her.

"Preggo," she said, which means ok.

A few seconds later a waiter appeared to take my
order. I had a pizza, fries, and a coke. My food came
in about fifteen or so minutes. I ate the fries with
ketchup and mayo (Italians are big on fries with
mayo).

All together I'd say my solo dining experience was
forty-five minutes. I paid for my meal and went home.

Once home I called my mother talked to her as I did my
Italian homework, and then set up my gear for my video
shoot.

I had a 6:00am wakeup call. At 7:00am I had to be on
the town square to begin shooting my video.

Let me say that ya'll would be very impressed. I wake
up at 6am, raced up the firemen stairs to my cell
phone and turned off the alarm. I went back downstairs
to get my bookbag and my clothes (which I laid out the
night before).

Next I showered, ate a croissant and some wafters,
drank some Fanta(soda in the A.M., I know), and hit
the rode.

I made the five minute walk to the piazza and started
shooting.

Luckily, halfway through the shoot the video professor
showed up on the piazza. With his assistance I was
able to get some video, which I hope will allow me to
make a solid 3 minute package.

So much is happening, so fast.

Oh and it's important to note that I have been away
for the longest I have ever been away from home. The
previous record was 17 days, I believe the count as of
today is 19 days. I arrived on May 26, but mind you I
detest math.

That's an update.

Ciao amicis. (I think that's right. I like Spanish
better amigos is so much easier).

Ciao.

-CNEL

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Monday, June 12, 2006

The Black Tax (Sidebar non Cagli related)

I may have written on this before, but since this is
my blog, for the sake of clarity, "It's my world,
ya'll just living in it."

Smiles.

In case you've been under a rock know that The
Washington Post is doing a fantastic series on the
life of black men in America. If you haven't checked
it out then do so. As I read the article which
appeared in yesterday's paper, all I could think of is
"the black tax".

FYI the black tax as stated by Jody Armour is "the
price blacks (and other minorities) pay in our daily
lives because of racial stereotypes. Like a tax,
racial discrimination is persistent, pervasive and
seemingly inevitable--- as in 'Nothing in life is
certain save death and taxes.' And just as the state
collects general taxes, blacks often regard state
representatives such as police and judges as IRS
agents for the black tax."

In the film "Something New" a film about interracial
dating, Sanaa Lathan an African-American woman
explains to her Caucasian boyfriend that the black tax
is having to work "twice as hard to prove yourself
worthy."

The article which I included a link to and copied
portions of below is very interesting. It talks about
a 33 year old African-American male who grew up poor
in the south in Alabama no less, now he has a Ph.D
from Saint Andrews in Scotland and he works in the
Bush administration. Now before some of you say all
man, read the story in its entirety. It is long but it
is worth it. It's one of those stories which we can
all black, white, brown, red or yellow be grateful for
coming across. As you encounter the story I urge you
to read, reflect, reminisice, and celebrate. It's a
story of overcoming and becoming.

But it also made me wonder if the young man is giving
all his goods up because of the black tax.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/10/AR2006061001040.html

A Path All His Own
For Eric Motley, the Measure of a Man Isn't His
Politics
Wil Haygood
The Washington Post_Sunday, June 11, 2006; Page A01
MONTGOMERY, Ala.
There is a little enclave on the rural edge of this
history-drenched city. It is called Madison Park. You
can hear the roosters. And gawk at Dr. Hagalyn
Wilson's roses, tulips and calla lilies, in bloom all
over her yard.
The outside world might not know much about it, but
Madison Park has produced a scintillating array of
black achievers: lawyers, doctors, educators,
ministers -- and at least one Republican on the rise,
Eric L. Motley.
At 33, Motley occupies a huge State Department office
in Washington. He is an obscure but influential Bush
administration official who heads an international
visitors program. He supervises a staff of more than
100 and oversees a budget that exceeds $80 million.
How Motley arrived at this station from Madison Park
is the tale of one man's journey through the labyrinth
of racial expectations.
For years, a battle brewed for Motley's political
soul. Here, in the cradle of the civil rights
movement, the black community in which he grew up was
populated overwhelmingly by Democrats, men and women
who reached out to nurture and inspire him. They put
Motley on the ladder of success. But in time, as his
experiences broadened, whites -- mostly Republicans --
embraced his promise and pulled Motley up that ladder.
There is little doubt now about which political
faction won Motley's allegiance.
At White House black-tie affairs, Laura Bush is quick
to single him out: "Hey, Eric!" He is comfortable in
the Republican Party. He is not so comfortable with
how he is sometimes seen, as if a black man doesn't
exist underneath his skin. Eric Motley: the unblack
black man. To some, that is a wonderful, modern image.
But among others, especially blacks, Motley senses an
estrangement that is wearying.
"I'm tired of that word 'sellout,' " he says.
Motley believes he represents a new paradigm for the
way people should look at a black man in America: the
black man whose authenticity is not judged by his
ideology, his dating habits, his leisure activities or
the company he keeps, and certainly not by his
political affiliation.
……………

Then he sought to share a little about his own life:
"When I first went to work at the White House, my
grandmama said, 'What you gonna be doing over there?'
"
He paused, like a comic.
" 'Serving coffee? Or cleaning?' "
The humor, couched in a kind of backstairs at the
White House nostalgia and delivered to a mostly white
and foreign crowd, fell flat. The chuckling was
painfully awkward.
………The furniture in Motley's well-appointed Georgetown
condominium is mostly French and English antiques.
Motley's friends sometimes joke that his home is a
museum. His walls are lined with leather-bound books:
obscure British poets, essayists. Friends worry that
he is a lonely man. Motley spends most of his free
time reading.
He also raises orchids, a tribute to Hagalyn Wilson.
He collects obituaries, clipping them from newspapers.
It is as though the dazzling arc of his own life has
so surprised him that he wishes to untangle the arcs
of other successful lives. "I have a television, but
it stays in the closet," Motley says.
His style of dress swerves from preppy to English
dandy.
When Motley is not at work, he visits antique stores,
art galleries. He is single. "I don't think he'll ever
get married," says grandmother Mamie Motley, who
believes he is too finicky for most women.
Motley confesses he has had a difficult dating life. A
long-term relationship with a woman ended not long
ago, and it seemed to derail him. He even discussed it
with Clay Johnson.
"It was his first heartbreak," says Johnson.
Motley won't discuss it.
"He asked me what to do," Johnson continues. "I said
'Eric, I don't know what to tell you. I've been
married to the same woman for many years.' "
…….
Jim Wilson, the lawyer and member of Motley's church,
has watched Motley's career from afar. And Wilson also
has concerns about Motley. "My worry," he says, "is
that when all of this is over -- the Bush
administration, Eric's job, because it will all come
to an end -- my worry is: Will Eric be able to find
his way back home?"

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Wise Words (Per Request)

Sunday-
You're alive. Do something. The directive in life, the
moral imperative was so uncomplicated. It could be
expressed in single words, not complete sentences. It
sounded like this: Look. Listen. Choose. Act.
Barbara Hall, A Summons to New Orleans, 2000

Monday-
The smaller the mind the greater the conceit.
Aesop, Greek slave & fable author (620 BC - 560 BC)

Tuesday-
Everybody likes to go their own way--to choose their
own time and manner of devotion.
Jane Austen, Mansfield Park
English novelist (1775 - 1817)

Wednesday-
Any man who afflicts the human race with ideas must be
prepared to see them misunderstood.
H.L. Mencken, US editor (1880 - 1956)

Thursday-
Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.
Thoreau, US Transcendentalist author (1817 - 1862)

Friday-
The deepest definition of youth is life as yet
untouched by tragedy.
Alfred North Whithead, English mathematician &
philosopher (1861 - 1947)

Saturday-
There are admirable potentialities in every human
being. Believe in your strength and your youth. Learn
to repeat endlessly to yourself, 'It all depends on
me.'
Andre Gide, French critic, essayist, & novelist (1869
- 1951)

Note: Loyal readers will note "Wise Words" for us all
to ponder are generally posted once a week. That
feature was supposed to be on break while I'm in
Italy, but I'll attempt to bring it back early.

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Sunday, June 11, 2006

The Weekend

Friday was spent typing up my print story so that I could turn it in before Monday's deadline. My story on the economic impact of the Cagli Project allowed me to play the part of both business and political reporter. I definitely got out of my comfort zone because my favorite beat is definitely the education beat, and more specifically urban schools. On Thursday I interviewed one of the Vice Mayors here in Cagli. The Vice Mayor was a very interesting person to interview with the help of my translater Natalia (Nat-ta-lee-yuh). He basically said that the presence of us students did not make as big an impact as we would like to believe it does, even though groups come year after year. It was important to have his voice in the story, and I have no problem with his perspective. It was interesting to note his demeanor and how he was rather brash. My interpreter Natalia who is from Rome and not Cagli, wholeheartedly agreed when I said, "A politician is a politician no matter where you go."

She is so funny.

We were pounding the pavement again on Friday when I interviewed individual merchants including a cafe owner, a gelateria owner, and the owner of a sunglass shop. It was interesting to get their opinions and also to pick Natalia's brain. As we exited the sunglass shop, I didn't realize that the door was heavy, but swung rather freely. When I opened the door I almost hit her.
As we walked down the street towards the piazza, I asked her about her relationship with the other interpreters. I then asked if they "Talked about us crazy Americans."

"No, no," she said.

"We only talk about crazy Americans who try to kill you," she said referring to me and the incident with the door.

I filed my story Friday night.

After that I went for a celebratory glass of something, but I don't remember what I had.

On Saturday I slept in, I was glad I had that option. A majority of the students made the trip to Florence, I was among five students who didn't make the trip. We chilled out, and two of the students finished their stories. I then later during the day met up with one of the professors. She had offered to cook me dinner, because we had been amongst two of the people taking cooking classes here in Cagli.

I was happy to have a home cooked meal in my temporary home. She made gnocchi with red meat sauce(ragu). It was delish.
Since she didn't exactly follow directions, she gave her dish a new name, "soul gnocchi" (pronounced know-key, not nookey).

After that we drunk tea and chit chatted. Red Label tea is the bomb diggity. I will be buying some of that when I get back stateside.

After our tea and chit chatting about all things journalism, all things higher ed, all things HBCU's, all things related to our trip, we went out.

We joined another professor and two of his friends for a visit to Cagli's theatre. The theatre was home to a annual spring choral exhibition. I was encouraged to go because it would allow me to see the inside of the beautiful theatre. It was a wise decision on my part. The view from one of the private boxes was exquisite, the music was good (a few George Gershwin songs done in nearly understandable English LoL), and some tasty treats afterwards.

After that we headed to a cafe and then to a wine bar, where I encountered a stalker situation, which I don't feel like recounting, but maybe later.

Today aka Sunday was fun. I woke up at 8:15am in order to meet the group at 9:45 to take a bus to Fano. It was an improvement over last weekend when I slept, slept, slept.

Fano is a beautiful city on the coast of the Adriatic. I mean beautiful view of beautiful blue water, beautiful blue skies. I mean in the words of JJ from "Good Times" dynomite. I am not a beach person, but I laid and got me some sun. It has been so cold here in Cagli, I needed the heat. We arrived at near 11, and after walking through the open market, we headed for the beach. It was most certainly relaxing.

Tonight I saw a bit of the "Miss Mondo" paegant and had dinner with one of my fellow students Greg.

I'll definitely be turning in early tonight. Mind you early is before 2am. I am so proud of myself.

Ciao.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Every Day another Day, Every Hour another Hour, Every Minute another Minute

[T]HE ALARM CLOCK I bought here in Cagli never seems
to work, so the voices of the Cagliese men are a sort
of unofficial alarm clock. Each morning I hear their
words. I think I finally figured out what they’re
doing outside my window. Since my bedroom is on the
basement level, I think the voices are those of a
public works crew who is repairing the street. Since I
don’t understand the language, I can only understand
what is universal- that being laughter. Their laughter
in the morning lets me know that all is okay with the
world.
--Christopher Nelson
(Loyola)

From the site www.cagli.blogspot.com

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Wednesday, June 07, 2006

"Time is a luxury"

"Time is a luxury"
by Laura Broggi

from Aria: Magazine for Travellers

"In the future, luxury will not necessarily be what is
expensive but, on the contrary, an experience that
money cannot buy, like time spent with a lover or
cultivating a passion. It has been predicted that,
over the next few decades, time will be considered
ever more precious, to satisfy the growing desire for
authenticity expressed in the search of "original and
memorable" emotional and maturing experiences. Time to
slow down, to explore and feel. To notice your
reflections in the glass. To consider yourself. We
live in a strange time, apparently in fast
acceleration, but also rich in opportunities for
whoever can seize them, to set one's own pace. A
characteristic many bloggers have in common is the
ability to form a more intimate temporal dimension
revealed and satisfied by a craving for autobiography
that the speed of Internet communications
paradoxically motivates. The detailed and geniune
telling of an emotional experience, typical in blogs,
is by no means in contradiction to the immediacy,
speed and casualness with which some posts will be
discovered and read...The emotional geographies
develop mainly in rooms and secluded places: hotel
rooms, bedrooms, compartments where time doesn't seem
to run away, on the contrary it becomes tactile and
mouldable. The time of "love" is never time wasted,
which even many elderly people continue to say with
their eyes. The most extreme form of considering the
time as a luxury is indolence. Not necessarily the
expression of sterile boredom but a coherent attitude
involving passionate attention to shades of meaning, a
tendency to be curious that requires decelerated
paces, stops, and pauses. Something like a slow,
strong rhtyhm that reminds the traveller to "the
jungle" of his mind through which he instinctively
ventures..."

From one of two of the only things they had in English
at The Tabachi.

I loved it!

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Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Lazy Day

Today is a lazy day. The weather here right now sucks. It's cold, wet, and downright dreary. We're halfway done the day when many of you are just waking up.

I can't go out and take pictures because of the
weather.

I think I'll buy a phone card so I can chit chat later, and head back to the room, read, look over Italian and prep for my interviews.

Let's see for lunch I'll have either a panini or a nutella sandwich.

All I want in Cagli
1) Some good music
2) Some PB & J

Check out the sites below for more about exactly where I am:
http://www.comune.cagli.ps.it/guide/shorteng.htm
http://www.cagli.blogspot.com
http://www.caglinews.blogspot.com

Ciao amicos.

Monday, June 05, 2006

I Could Sleep

You know how even after having eaten a lot, many
people say they could eat.

Even after sleeping, my feeling is that I could sleep.

Weekends are always my time to sleep in whether it be
winter, spring, summer, or fall.

People didn't think that would change during these
four weeks did they?

The program director said to me, "You're going to see
Cagli, sleep, and then go home."

Ha maybe, but whose the man in charge of the schedule.
If he wants to give me some time off, and hit me off
with a check, then I could do a lot of travelling.

This was a somewhat relaxing weekend, it being our
second weekend here in Cagli.

Friday evening was great we had a chance to visit the
home of an Italian couple. Daniella and John Pietro
are the landlords for four of the girls from LoCo.
They were extremely nice and hospitable. When we
arrived at their "flat" they were in the midst of
being interviewed. One of the students is interviewing
them for one of her print stories. John Pietro lives
in Rome during the week, and commutes to Cagli on the
weekends. During the interview the couple revealed
that part of the reason they remain in Cagli is
because its safer and more environmentally friendly.
This they believe makes it a better place to raise
their child. They are expecting the birth of a little
baby boy in July. Hey maybe me and the little dude
will share a b-day, my birthday is in July as well.
They will name their son Adriano.

After spending time there we spent some time at The
Atrium which is where we have our classes.

A group of us then met up for dinner at one of the new
restaurants La Gioconda. There we had antipasta's
which are appetizers and ravioli. It was the most
expensive meal I've had here in Cagli. The antipasta
consisted of bread, wine, cheese, and different meats
such as puscuitto, I believe is what they call it. We
also had a beginner wine, and the rest of the group
had more wine. The tab for 10 came out to 206.40
Euros.

After that we all had gelato. During our sit down at
the Gelateria many of us spoke of a desire to find a
career which allowed us to balance a desire to be of
service to others, allowed us to explore, and allowed
us to make a good living. One of the other students
Cassie said she wants to become a foreign
correspondent for a TV network. Another student
Allyson spoke of the possibility of joining the Peace
Corps. It seems most people at one point in their
lives want to find a career which is service oriented,
and allows them to help others. There still seems to
be a point where there is a disconnect. We spoke of
sometimes the pressure to feel ashamed of becoming
accustomed to a certain standard of living. I said
that if you aren't aware of the need to provide for
yourself, and a family if you so choose, then you
aren't being realistic.

We finished our night at the Wine Bar. It is a place
that the Americans have essentially taken over. The
owner Seve is the seventh of seven children, hence the
name. He loves us Americans and makes sure the place
feels like home. On Saturday night, I met some Italian
youngsters. These young people just happened to be in
high school. They spoke of their band, and compared
themselves to Guns and Roses. Then they peppered me
with questions about whether or not I lived in New
York? Apparently all Americans are wealthy New
Yorkers. Then of course they asked if I was a rapper?
HaHa. Then they asked if I knew 50 Cent or Eminem. I
said I knew of them, but that they weren't close
friends.

Saturday and Sunday I slept and hung out. I should
have woken up and made the trip to the city of Urbino.
According to another student Urbino is a city built
within the confines of a castle. But then again it has
been cold here since last Wednesday and CNEL does not
do well in the cold.

On Sunday I slept in again and missed the 10am bus to
Fano. For some reason, I don't see myself needing to
tan. The trip was also scheduled for 12 hours. I would
have liked some warmth, but that much sun could be a
bit excessive.

Now it's time to get back on the grind.

Tonight we have a group dinner at "Ristorante del
Commercio". That's where we had the multicourse meal
last week.

After that I am headed to the apartment to do my
Italian and Intercultural Communications homework.

I have an interview on Thursday of a tourism official.
My groups interpreter was able to set that up for me.
I still have to set up a time to interview some local
merchants. Maybe I will focus on merchants who can
speak English, so that I have more access to them.

That's all for now.

Ciao amicos.

CNEL

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Sunday, June 04, 2006

Break from Italy Blogging, Cuz I Think I Was Tagged by SoWise

Keepin it Real Since 1986...

1. If you could be doing what you really want to be doing for a living, what would it be?
I'd be a professor, diversity consultant, college/prep school admissions officer, an attorney, a news anchor

2. If you could slap the shit out of any famous person, alive or dead, who would it be?
Mmm can't think of anyone right now

3. What's the dumbest decision you've made in the past 5 years?
Could possibly be not biting the bullet and going to Howard or Temple, depends on who you talk to. I was looking at the financials and didn't realize that according to some the only thing loans are good for are your education or real estate.

4. Give up one for a year: (good) sex or (good) music.
Sex cause I'm in Italy right now minus some good old Hip Hop, Rap, R & B, Jazz, Classical, and or Gospel, and I'm dying.

5. Dudes, would you rather have a big dick or a great sense of humor?
LoL this question is ridiculous. I think the physical fades and the mental stays. Charm and charisma are powerful tools.

6. So you've been invited to an all expense paid Blogger Prom in The Bahamas. You're sitting at the bar on the beach. Which blogger do you want to join you for hours of good convo?
I can't pick one look at the side of my page.

7. Which blogger would you most like to cuddle with on the beach? (and don't defer to your current signif other either. Infidelity won't count against you. Duh.)
LoL not falling for that one lol.

8. You're going on a 5 hour road trip...which 5 CDs do you bring?
1. Jill Scott (1st one "Who is Jill Scott?"
2. India Are "Voyage to India"
3. 112 "Pleasure and Pain"
4. Vivian Green "Vivian"
5. Smokie Norful (1st One)

9. Would you rather bury your children young or have your children bury you young?
Wow. I don't think there is a right answer for this, so I will speak from what my perspective is right now. I never had a father growing up, I only had a mother. Having said that I would rather live to see my children be born, and give them an opportunity to get to know me. I would rather I leave this earth and know that my children have been given the slightest bit of knowledge of me, than see my children go before having the opportunity to live and learn through work and play. But at the end of the day I know, "I am just an instrument, the creator blows his note through me." (Not mine but conveys my mentality)

10. What's your biggest insecurity?
I'm afraid of failure. Success I believe will show me I have lived a life worth living.


11.What's the first blog you read every day...or however often you read them? (And I swear to God, don't be saying mine just cuz I'm the one asking...unless of course you really mean it. lol)
Hmmm Jameil or SoWise, cause Eps generally gives me a heads up


12. When's the last time you peed your pants?
Probably one of those early mornings when I felt the needed to go to the bathroom, but I would rather just stay in bed


13. Which was better, your first kiss or your first pay check?
Kiss. Some things have almost a priceless value in a sense.


14. Do you have kids? Want kids?
Love them, love my little cuzzos, work with kids, but don't think they are for me.


15. You get dropped off at home after the office holiday party by your bitch azz boss that you can't effing stand...you exit the car and he peels out, runs a red light at your corner and rolls up an unsuspecting midget. The next day the midget watch groups are on TV outraged at the heartless hit and run, and are calling for any witnesses to please come fwd...that half dead midget has a family at home waiting on C-mas presents. Would you take $1000 hush money? $500? $100? A six pack?
Lawd people where are our ethics? I'm from Baltimore where "snitches get stitches" according to Carmelo, so I'm thinking on it.

16. Live the rest of your life without your eyebrows or your fingernails?
Eyebrows

17. What makes you angry?
Arrogance
Conceitedness (Jameil is that a word)?
Disrespect (feeling disrespected)
Disorganization (Please come correct)
People wasting my time
Bad weather


18. What makes you horny?
This question is so wrong. Marriage and then lovemaking. (Got to be diplomatic)

19. What makes you nervous?
Moving: I hate packing and moving
School: Going to class makes me nervous, cause you never no what you're going to get
Heights
Thoughts of a certain young woman
Hospitals
People staring at me: esp. young women I deem beautiful cause I just don't know what do with myself

20. What makes you smile?
My mother. (If truth be told, though I swear if she got paid to irk me she'd be a billionaire, and I'd be the billionaire's son living it up.)
My family (They are nutty as all get out, but real with it. You couldn't write what they make me live.)
My friends (They keep me honest.)
A well-timed phone call from a friend (I love catching up with people I haven't talked to in forever)
A good book
A good movie
Good music
A good blog entry
Solitude (People think its weird, but you grow to appreciate it, trust what I tell you)

Friday, June 02, 2006

Black Man in Italy

Yesterday for the first time I had my first conscious
experience of being a black man in Italy. As I walked
back to my apartment from the town square, I took some
of the normal sidestreets. About two and a half blocks
from my home, I came across some Cagilese children.
Once a little girl saw me out of the corner of her
eye, she immediately grabbed the arm of her friend.
She grabbed on and was holding on for dear life. Her
friend didn't seem to see a problem, but the girl
obviously did. In that thirty to sixty seconds of us
passing each other, she glanced up at me. In those
seconds she didn't focus on my clothes, but on my
face, and on my eyes. It wasn't just that I was
American, thought that could have been a factor, but I
sincerely believe it is because I am a black man. I
have no problem with what happened, I can't hold
anything against the child. As with all of us, there
is a certain fear and a certan curiousity about the
unknown.

Note: There are three African-Americans in the project
(two are students and one is a faculty member).

Funny Story on the Same Topic:
The other African-American student Jasmin was sitting
at a cafe with one of our fellow students, a Caucasian
student. They were conversing with the cafe's owner.
She pointed to the Caucasian student and said latte,
and pointed to Jasmin and said caffe. Then she said
cappuccino. Do you get it? If not let it marinate.

It's the weekend TGIFF. You all know what the double F
means. This has been an exhausting week. We've had
Italian class every day at 8am, crash courses in
Storytelling, Photography, Videography, and
Intercultural Communication. Not to mention running
around researching story ideas, taking pictures,
eating lots of food, and enjoying the town of Cagli.

Posting will probably resume next week.

I hope all is well with those of you back in the
states.

Ciao amicos.

-CNEL

P.S.
If you have Facebook and you're a friend of mine, I
have posted photos.

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Thursday, June 01, 2006

Strangers in a Foreign Land

It is most certainly a very interesting experience
being a stranger in a foreign land. Immediately the
other students and I have been introduced to a new way
of life. We have been introduced to a new land: the
city of Cagli is in the Le Marche region in the
mountains (four hours from Rome), we have been
introduced to a new language Italian (though a romance
language to me it is more challenging than Latin,
French, and Spanish), new living conditions (the
apartments are very interesting i.e. the toilet bowls
are above the commode and you flush by pushing a
button on the bowl or pulling a string), the food (so
much pasta, so much pizza(extremely thin crust),
croissants with chocolate, gelato, coffee).

Yesterday was our first video production class. It is
one of the areas in which I am weakest. I have no
technical experience of which to speak. You'd think
about eight years of writing for school newspapers, a
year of working at a professional major market
television station, and a year of campus radio I would
have become more technologically inclined. I am a
little afraid of what my pictures and video will look
like. Yes indeed this is all a learning experience,
yes there is a learning curve, and yes I can most
likely acquire the skills, but it will take time.

Here in Cagli the day often begins between 9 and 9:30,
they take a long lunch from 1-4:30, and then things
reopen at 4:30 until 8:00ish. Dinner here is usually
after 8:00. Then people will be up and out and about
until pretty late. Our group has Americanized the
nightlife, because the Cagilese do most partying on
the weekends. Last night one of the bartenders threw a
party for some of the girls. I didn't get a chance to
go out, well until the walk from the school to the
apartment. I went out three nights in and a row, and I
just can't hang. Plus our days start early and end
late. Most of are up before 8 for 8am Italian and
generally out of the apartments the rest of our day.
Since coming here I have not gotten to bed earlier
than 1am. Do you know what I'd do for a nap? I will
definitely be napping part of Saturday and Sunday.

Funny Story: Yesterday I was doing the Baltimore
bankhead bounce. I was nodding off something heavy. I
felt myself going in and out, and then I was out. I
was out a max of 10 seconds. When I heard silence I
came to, and the entire class was staring at me. It
was hella bad on so many levels, but I am working hard
to redeem myself.

Back in the States: Everyone is graduating. So many
people are graduating from high school, and from
college. I am missing it, so if you're one of them
reading this, I want pictures.

Time to skim for reading and to take a breather.

So many of us are still slaves to technology. Not
being able to e-mail would really make us strangers in
a foreign land.

P.S.
I may not be the only guy in next week's cooking
class, oh yeah. Some would say I was lucky, but given
there are 27 female students and 5 males, that class
was awfully lonely.

I might be getting a cell phone. My mother and aunts
demand that I check in, and investing in a phone may
be smarter than repeatedly buying phone cards.

Ciao for now.

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