January 2007

It has been nearly a year since I've posted on this blog. Among other things, I've relocated to Washington D.C. and now work on Capitol Hill. It may be time to utilize the blog again--as a forum for discussion and insight. It is also a remarkably effective method of forcing myself to reflect on life as it zooms by faster than the speed of light.

Food for Thought

The day is coming when a single carrot, freshly observed, will set off a revolution. ~Paul Cezanne.

42 at 22

If I look at the calendar, ask my parents, or even look in the mirror, I am quite sure I am 22 years old. But something strange has happened. My key ring currently weighs more than my ten-pound laptop. I drive a mini-van, have two houses, three dogs, and to top it all off--a cleaning lady! These are four things I never want and will strive never to have--with the exception of this week, when I am most certainly 42, not 22.

Happy New Year, 2006!

"The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware--joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware." -H. Miller

Safe, Sound, and Stuffed. Denver, Colorado

Since I last wrote, I've returned to Paris for a short and absolutely wonderful visit with my good friend who was just married, hopped a train back to Brussels to help another friend move from one apartment to another and to catch a few hours (meaning two) hours of sleep before heading to London by plane and then on to Washington D.C., USA! That all happened between the 7th and 10th. Between the 10th and 20th I hit-up as many familiar faces I could find in D.C. , New York, and Boston and spent many an hour exchanging stories with friends up and down the coast. Then on the 20th I set off on one more plane ride--this one to Denver.

In short, I'm home.

Now what? That is a very good question and one that I hope to answer by placing myself in solitary confinement for an extended period of time....right after I finish the remainder of the turkey and the pumpkin pie that is luring me to the refrigerator, yet again.

Brussels, Belgium

I'm in Brussels generally enjoying the dreary rain and grey weather in the great company of a friend who I've known for more than 30 days. Actually, I've known her for over 300 days and this is a wonderful feeling. I just did something I did not expect to do. I just changed my plane ticket and now I'm coming back to the USA just a little earlier than expected. Exactly why I did this, I'm not exactly sure. That is not true. I changed my ticket because this trip is over for me. I've accomplished everything I set out to do: a journalism project in Kosovo, a solitary wander through Bulgaria and Istanbul, a hearty venture through Central Asia, and I went to the wedding of one of my best friends in France. Now I am just biding my time. Although this sounds pleasant and something most anyone would love to do, it is considerably less pleasant when you are homeless, unemployed, and still trying to figure out what in the world comes next. This is a question I may ask myself for my entire life and that is fine--I actually hope to continually ask myself this question along with questions like, what in the world is this all about? What matters? Am I doing what matters to me? BUT at the same time, right now I'm ready to stop living out of a bag and at least sleep in the same bed for more than four nights in a row. For better or for worse, I'm coming back to the USA, at least temporarily.
If you're in the states, I'll see you soon.

Paris, Fance

Ahh the joys of Paris in late October. Word to the wise, bring a rain coat, an umbrella and an unquentiable thirst to see the city despite the grey skies and dreary weather. Other than the inevitable cold-weather blues Paris is respite from the challenges of Central Asia and the Caucuses. Acutally, it feels completely indulgant. Now most everything feels indulgent--wearing clean socks everyday, not considering buying, but just looking anything not of absolute and immediate necessity, enjoying a wonderful meal, even traveling in a smooth bus or on the metro is quite blissful.

Now I'll paint a funny picture for you: Paris: cosmopolitan, diverse, fashionable (pointy shoes, colourful scarves, well-fitting jackets). Katharine: brown hiking boots, blue pants with many pockets (same pants every day) , black fleece, terrible Soviet hair-cut (more words to the wise, never cut your hair when you are in former Soviet anything). Hilarious.

Final thoughts of the day: a wonderful way to see Paris = from a motor bike. Of course it is best if you are at the front of the motorbike and driving so you have a clear view, but a good runner-up is to ride on the back of a friend's motor bike on a PERFECT Sunday afternoon in October (yes, there has been one perfect day!). Other back-door Parisian activities include walking around the 20th district from midnight to 3:00am (with a friend of course) and thus seeing all of the little back alleys and little cafes and bars where the tourists (who are numerous even in October) simply are not. Finally, long, long dinners (from 9:00pm to 1:30am) are a must because only then can you really discover that you are living with a couple of night owls and get a full education in French politics, economics, music, cheese, bread, and slang simultaneously.