on the peninsula during the storm

today during class there was a storm, short, but complete with thunder and a lot of rain. in the european world at large there is also a storm brewing: Kosovo. the news of their independence was all over the papers as i read through the spanish slant. spain has refused to recognize the small, struggling country, mainly because it fears the darkness of seperatism within. moreover, with it's usual european aplumb, it has laid the blame for the rent within the EU directly at the door of none other than the US, as noted the political cartoon in el mundo of a grinning george bush ripping a EU flag and entitled Kosovo. when i talk with the kids and hear them continually blame-shift their problems and then see a culture at large trying to find absolution by shifting the culpability to other shoulders i am reminded that it merely is the darkening clouds of the storm of sin that continues to rage upon this earth, and will until the end of all things when the final morning dawns and the truth for once and all shines. in my own personal struggles i remember this and hope. the night has not control over me and i will see the dawn. meanwhile, i will hold my candle on high as i discuss religion, politics, etc. with teachers that remember days of being forced to go to mass and enjoy freedom now to sin with ease. yet for countries as well as individuals, the only true path to independence lies through death.

can i ask you a question?

one of the side-effects of teaching your language in another culture is that you over-analyze phrases and innuendos. for example, many people come up to me and say, "can i ask you a question?" and it sounds off to my ears. or rather, i steel myself for some invasive, personal, or downright rude question. in english, we don't announce questions in this manner--either we ask them outright or tell the person we have a question. the only time we ask permission to ask is when the question is perhaps different (again, invasive, personal, rude, non-of-their-business, etc.). so i am trying not to be nervous at the numerous times i am asked, "can i ask you a question?"