I am sorry folks, but I just can't let this slide.
Bush endorsed a Constitutional Ban on same-sex marriage yesterday. So much for the Republican ideal of "States' Rights." Man o man. Most of you know how ticked off I am about this right now. First of all... talk about messing around with the constitution. And for what reason? A mostly religious one. Geez its a good thing that we dont have a seperation between church and state. Oh... Wait...
Okay, now that I have gotten that off my chest (sorry grandparents, I know you are shaking your heads right now), but I also wanted to let you all know that I have established a site so that you can see my photos, (or photos of me I have stolen from friends). I have, however, yet to post any of them. I should get to that in the next day or so...
So here is the site:
http://members17.clubphoto.com/christian810649/owner-4f86-1.phtml
Like I said, it will be a couple of days till you get to see the mohawk, but it should be there soon!
Love to all!
Christian
>>>If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans<<<
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Monday, February 16, 2004
My first cloudy day... (emails from abroad)
Here I am on my first cloudy day in Spain. I have been here for about a month and a half, and it has yet to rain (in a city where I have been) or even be cloudy, until today. And seeing as I dont have anything else to do today, (classes only Wed, Thurs, Fri), I figured it would be a good time to send a much needed update.
First of all, I am, indeed, going to classes. And loving them. How wierd is that? We finished up with our Orientation class (the easiest three credits of my life...) the last week in January, and I am now taking 4 classes. I start my day with a Spanish Lit course (it is my major after all) then head to Dialect-ology which is WAY interesting, then to the Theology of the Letters of St. Paul (learing a ton) and then to a call of Political History of the 20th century. That class is like storytelling where we learn a lot. Every class I literally leave wanting to know more. How cool is that?
But don't fret, I would never let my studies get in the way of my traveling. Since my last update, I have seen about five cities, and have much to tell.
After orientation finished, many of us celebrated by going to a club named "Camas," which literally had beds on the dance floor. It was a fun time, full of models and those who wish they were. But the next day we took a bus ride to the Costal city of Valencia. This city is way cool, and I had the time of my life just exploring it. We had the neccessary Paella, and I may have stripped to my boxers for a quick dip in the Medittereanian. (sp? Im dumb) This was a splendid city, and so far my favorite (finished) Cathedral that we have seen, mostly because it lacked the extreme decadence I have seen in many others.
From there we went to the cliff-city of Cuenca. Cuenca essentially hangs from a range of cliffs and is magnificent to see the ancient houses supported my ancient lumber embedded into the side of a mountain. It also has a fairly creepy church (it has become a running joke with our group that if a city doesnt have a church we can see, apparently it isnt worth stopping).
That week classes started, and I made some arrangements to spend Holy Week in Rome, Florence, and Venice. Should be a pretty good time all in all. Then at the end of that week, I went with 3 girlfriends on an incredible trip to Barcelona. There was just so many incredible experiences to be had there. I met up with an old friend from Venezuela the first night, went to go see the UNREAL Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia (still not even 50% done, started in 1882 by Gaudi) and the Picasso museum, as well as many other sites, and then went to a disco on the sea. Just incredible. The next day we went to a park where there was live drumming by a very cool ensemble, and the entire place was just this bohemian festival.
Listen up Jesuits: the following day I made it to Manresa!!! We have heard so much said about this little place in the last years of my education, and yet we found that there was not a single word said about this pueblo in any of our travel books. So we said a prayer, and kinda traveled blindly into the most brilliant, incredible city ever! We made the mistake of going there on a Monday, when everything was completely closed up, but it was still a spiritually profound place to be, and simply beautiful. There is no doubt in my mind that the beauty of this place facilitated St. Ignatious in his writing of the exercies. The presence of God was almost palpable.
After a few more sites, we returned to Madrid to get healthy (we found ourselves a bit wearied) went to a couple days of classes, and then took a group trip to Siguenza and another small town. The cathedral there was simply freezing (they dont hold mass in this giant church 8-9months out of the year beacuse it is too COLD... what does that tell you) and we all lost a bit of interest as the life drained from our limbs, but the rest of the city was a pretty cool example a old-Castellan villages. Then, to finish up the St. Valentines' sites, we went to another city (practicaly nameless from all we could tell) and climbed to the top of a hill adorned with an ancient castle. The view was incredible, and seemed to be a very real glimpse of the exact things one could see 500 years ago.
Tommorrow I am probably going to go to the Escorial, which is an old royal palace adorned with incredible artwork, and then this weekend I head down to Cadiz (way far south) to get a taste of the 2nd biggest Carnaval in Spain.
Along with all the other traveling I will be doing, I am very excited to report that I am planning to do a spiritual pilgrimage called the Camino del Santiago (St. James). I will finish classes up late May, and then spend the next 20-25 days walking the northern coast of Spain to arrive in Santiago de Compostello. I am SOOO extremely stoked about this trip, for what it means for me spiritually and everything. I may even comemorate it with another tatoo. (gasp!) If you want some info about this, a good site I found is, www.xacobeo.es Also, for a good gift idea, I am gonna need some stuff for this, including spiritual and logistical guides.
Other than that, I feel I need to mention, and give thanks, for the top 3 things I could not live without in Spain:
1) my MP3 player. this thing is AWESOME!!!
2) my Nalgene bottle... I hate to be one of THOSE people, but thanks Carey, this is the perfect size and I dont think I could live without it
3) my Swiss army.. the BoyScout in me is reemerging I think. Hehe. Good stuff. Can I live without a compass?
Okay, this is deadly long now, although i am sure I am forgetting some good stuff. Any one who has survived must love me very much. Happy thought! Oh and Yeah for Massachuesetts, and Yeah for the possibility of another Catholic President! Waahoo!!!
All my love,
Christian
"We Love because first God Loved us." 1 John 4:19
"You referred to my mom as an albino gorilla for five days...I will refer to your mom as whatever I damn please." Nikki--- when Mom jokes go too far. :-)
First of all, I am, indeed, going to classes. And loving them. How wierd is that? We finished up with our Orientation class (the easiest three credits of my life...) the last week in January, and I am now taking 4 classes. I start my day with a Spanish Lit course (it is my major after all) then head to Dialect-ology which is WAY interesting, then to the Theology of the Letters of St. Paul (learing a ton) and then to a call of Political History of the 20th century. That class is like storytelling where we learn a lot. Every class I literally leave wanting to know more. How cool is that?
But don't fret, I would never let my studies get in the way of my traveling. Since my last update, I have seen about five cities, and have much to tell.
After orientation finished, many of us celebrated by going to a club named "Camas," which literally had beds on the dance floor. It was a fun time, full of models and those who wish they were. But the next day we took a bus ride to the Costal city of Valencia. This city is way cool, and I had the time of my life just exploring it. We had the neccessary Paella, and I may have stripped to my boxers for a quick dip in the Medittereanian. (sp? Im dumb) This was a splendid city, and so far my favorite (finished) Cathedral that we have seen, mostly because it lacked the extreme decadence I have seen in many others.
From there we went to the cliff-city of Cuenca. Cuenca essentially hangs from a range of cliffs and is magnificent to see the ancient houses supported my ancient lumber embedded into the side of a mountain. It also has a fairly creepy church (it has become a running joke with our group that if a city doesnt have a church we can see, apparently it isnt worth stopping).
That week classes started, and I made some arrangements to spend Holy Week in Rome, Florence, and Venice. Should be a pretty good time all in all. Then at the end of that week, I went with 3 girlfriends on an incredible trip to Barcelona. There was just so many incredible experiences to be had there. I met up with an old friend from Venezuela the first night, went to go see the UNREAL Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia (still not even 50% done, started in 1882 by Gaudi) and the Picasso museum, as well as many other sites, and then went to a disco on the sea. Just incredible. The next day we went to a park where there was live drumming by a very cool ensemble, and the entire place was just this bohemian festival.
Listen up Jesuits: the following day I made it to Manresa!!! We have heard so much said about this little place in the last years of my education, and yet we found that there was not a single word said about this pueblo in any of our travel books. So we said a prayer, and kinda traveled blindly into the most brilliant, incredible city ever! We made the mistake of going there on a Monday, when everything was completely closed up, but it was still a spiritually profound place to be, and simply beautiful. There is no doubt in my mind that the beauty of this place facilitated St. Ignatious in his writing of the exercies. The presence of God was almost palpable.
After a few more sites, we returned to Madrid to get healthy (we found ourselves a bit wearied) went to a couple days of classes, and then took a group trip to Siguenza and another small town. The cathedral there was simply freezing (they dont hold mass in this giant church 8-9months out of the year beacuse it is too COLD... what does that tell you) and we all lost a bit of interest as the life drained from our limbs, but the rest of the city was a pretty cool example a old-Castellan villages. Then, to finish up the St. Valentines' sites, we went to another city (practicaly nameless from all we could tell) and climbed to the top of a hill adorned with an ancient castle. The view was incredible, and seemed to be a very real glimpse of the exact things one could see 500 years ago.
Tommorrow I am probably going to go to the Escorial, which is an old royal palace adorned with incredible artwork, and then this weekend I head down to Cadiz (way far south) to get a taste of the 2nd biggest Carnaval in Spain.
Along with all the other traveling I will be doing, I am very excited to report that I am planning to do a spiritual pilgrimage called the Camino del Santiago (St. James). I will finish classes up late May, and then spend the next 20-25 days walking the northern coast of Spain to arrive in Santiago de Compostello. I am SOOO extremely stoked about this trip, for what it means for me spiritually and everything. I may even comemorate it with another tatoo. (gasp!) If you want some info about this, a good site I found is, www.xacobeo.es Also, for a good gift idea, I am gonna need some stuff for this, including spiritual and logistical guides.
Other than that, I feel I need to mention, and give thanks, for the top 3 things I could not live without in Spain:
1) my MP3 player. this thing is AWESOME!!!
2) my Nalgene bottle... I hate to be one of THOSE people, but thanks Carey, this is the perfect size and I dont think I could live without it
3) my Swiss army.. the BoyScout in me is reemerging I think. Hehe. Good stuff. Can I live without a compass?
Okay, this is deadly long now, although i am sure I am forgetting some good stuff. Any one who has survived must love me very much. Happy thought! Oh and Yeah for Massachuesetts, and Yeah for the possibility of another Catholic President! Waahoo!!!
All my love,
Christian
"We Love because first God Loved us." 1 John 4:19
"You referred to my mom as an albino gorilla for five days...I will refer to your mom as whatever I damn please." Nikki--- when Mom jokes go too far. :-)
Monday, January 26, 2004
mini-mohawk? (emails from abroad)
Well my friends, I can tell it is time for me to send an update, as I am starting to get an influx of messages wondering how life is. So here it is: Life is fantastic. I have much news, and have already had many adventures.
Two weekends ago, our program took a day trip to Toledo, one of the most widely recognized historic cities in Europe. It was a gorgeous day, and as with many Euopean cities, we saw many many churches. Our tour guide, a many with an incredible forest of nose hair protruding from both nostrels, was able to go for hours about many of the sites. This many has such a profundity and breadth of knowledge, that we were all tired by the end of the day, simply from what we had learned. I took many photos, and have to come up with a way to get them online so that everyone can see. But Dorey appeared in many of the photos (we wouldnt want her to forget that she was there after all.
We have been having about 3 hours of orientation classes the last two weeks. They are pretty laid back, and cover culture, language, art, history, and we even had a cooking class. (They taught us how to make a darn good sangria if nothing else). But this last weekend I found that I wanted to get away again, so I joined a student tour to Seville. I took the 7 hour bus trip (on a short bus of all things) with 22 strangers, and came back with some pretty decent friends. Again, this city was simply amazing. The cathedral is the 3rd largest in the world (thanks to some Muslims, who we stole it from).
Anyway, it was in Sevilla that I had an amazing conversion experience. It is one that I will remember for all time, and one that has effected me proofundly. I got a haircut.
Not just any haircut, but a mohawk. Before you freak out (Justine) or get too thrilled (Ben), you must take into context the "moda" (fashion) here. Right now, it is the very in thing to style either a mohawk, or a mullett. Or often both. Now, there is just so far that I am willing to compromise myself for the sake of culture, so the mullett was definitely out of the question. But after going out on Friday night to a club, I saw the perfect Mohawk. I actually took notes so that it could be reproduced later.
That next morning I woke up (WAY too early) and marched into the barbers. Now here is a quick thought: never go to a barber for a stylized haircut... Anyway, I did my best to explain what I wanted, and thought I had succeeded until he grabbed the shving brush. No No No.... Nothing was to be shaved. So I explained again, and ended up using perhaps too many dimunitive words so that he wouldnt overdoo the mohawk itself or shave the hair around it too short (I didnt want to end up looking like G.I. FAG). So in the end I ended up with a semi-mohawk of sorts, which actually looks really good, although it is not quite what I was going for.
So, now I am sure that you are all ready to see what I look like, and unfortunately I can't show you right away. But I am told that if you go to this site XXXXXXXXXXXX and click on Seville in a couple days there will be photos. Now... I havent seen these photos yet, and I didnt misbehave too much (other than getting a mohawk) but just wanted to let you know that you are seeing the uncensored version (the PR guy in me is shuddering right now). Oh, and you are probably going to see photos of us at with a few Pirates. NO, I did not go to Disneyland. Saturday night we stayed out until 4:30 (early night) at a Disco that had a Pirate theme. There was even a sword fight. That was definitely a first for me. (no Pirates were harmed in the making of this email)
Next weekend our program is taking us to Valencia, and the weekend after that I plan to meet up with an old friend from Venezuela in Barcelona. Fun times ahead. Classes will be starting soon, so I guess I may need to buckle down eventually. Yeahh... That'll happen.
Okay... well it is time for me to run off now! Miss you all! I just finished "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and at one point it says, "The only time we waste on this earth is the time we spend thinking we are alone." Thank you all for proving that to me!
Oh, and PS--An article was recently written about the BagBoyz (the program I do in Milwaukee) check it out at http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jan04/201960.asp
Yours,Christian
"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen"--- Ralph Waldo Emerson"Keep your mind on ice & your heart on fire" -J. Campbell
Two weekends ago, our program took a day trip to Toledo, one of the most widely recognized historic cities in Europe. It was a gorgeous day, and as with many Euopean cities, we saw many many churches. Our tour guide, a many with an incredible forest of nose hair protruding from both nostrels, was able to go for hours about many of the sites. This many has such a profundity and breadth of knowledge, that we were all tired by the end of the day, simply from what we had learned. I took many photos, and have to come up with a way to get them online so that everyone can see. But Dorey appeared in many of the photos (we wouldnt want her to forget that she was there after all.
We have been having about 3 hours of orientation classes the last two weeks. They are pretty laid back, and cover culture, language, art, history, and we even had a cooking class. (They taught us how to make a darn good sangria if nothing else). But this last weekend I found that I wanted to get away again, so I joined a student tour to Seville. I took the 7 hour bus trip (on a short bus of all things) with 22 strangers, and came back with some pretty decent friends. Again, this city was simply amazing. The cathedral is the 3rd largest in the world (thanks to some Muslims, who we stole it from).
Anyway, it was in Sevilla that I had an amazing conversion experience. It is one that I will remember for all time, and one that has effected me proofundly. I got a haircut.
Not just any haircut, but a mohawk. Before you freak out (Justine) or get too thrilled (Ben), you must take into context the "moda" (fashion) here. Right now, it is the very in thing to style either a mohawk, or a mullett. Or often both. Now, there is just so far that I am willing to compromise myself for the sake of culture, so the mullett was definitely out of the question. But after going out on Friday night to a club, I saw the perfect Mohawk. I actually took notes so that it could be reproduced later.
That next morning I woke up (WAY too early) and marched into the barbers. Now here is a quick thought: never go to a barber for a stylized haircut... Anyway, I did my best to explain what I wanted, and thought I had succeeded until he grabbed the shving brush. No No No.... Nothing was to be shaved. So I explained again, and ended up using perhaps too many dimunitive words so that he wouldnt overdoo the mohawk itself or shave the hair around it too short (I didnt want to end up looking like G.I. FAG). So in the end I ended up with a semi-mohawk of sorts, which actually looks really good, although it is not quite what I was going for.
So, now I am sure that you are all ready to see what I look like, and unfortunately I can't show you right away. But I am told that if you go to this site XXXXXXXXXXXX and click on Seville in a couple days there will be photos. Now... I havent seen these photos yet, and I didnt misbehave too much (other than getting a mohawk) but just wanted to let you know that you are seeing the uncensored version (the PR guy in me is shuddering right now). Oh, and you are probably going to see photos of us at with a few Pirates. NO, I did not go to Disneyland. Saturday night we stayed out until 4:30 (early night) at a Disco that had a Pirate theme. There was even a sword fight. That was definitely a first for me. (no Pirates were harmed in the making of this email)
Next weekend our program is taking us to Valencia, and the weekend after that I plan to meet up with an old friend from Venezuela in Barcelona. Fun times ahead. Classes will be starting soon, so I guess I may need to buckle down eventually. Yeahh... That'll happen.
Okay... well it is time for me to run off now! Miss you all! I just finished "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and at one point it says, "The only time we waste on this earth is the time we spend thinking we are alone." Thank you all for proving that to me!
Oh, and PS--An article was recently written about the BagBoyz (the program I do in Milwaukee) check it out at http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jan04/201960.asp
Yours,Christian
"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen"--- Ralph Waldo Emerson"Keep your mind on ice & your heart on fire" -J. Campbell
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming, Just keep Swimming Swimming, Swimming (emails from abroad)
I have already fallen dreadfully behind in my emailing, so yet again it is time to fill you all in. I was in the Metro today waiting for a train, and just thinking how incredibly blest I have been so far in this journey, and I saw a news spot about Britney Spears marriage (and then annulment) Wow! How did I miss an event like that? I am now living without a television, and without a computer, so you all have to keep me updated on stuff like that. I mean, whats more important than that?!
I am now in Madrid, after an 18 hour train journey from Amsterdam. I was extremely blessed during this journey with wonderful people to talk to and two different guides during a quick spell in Paris and later on my virgen voyage on the metro of Spain. I am staying with a friend from the program until tommorrow, when I am required to join the other incoming students at a hostel. But I have been able to accomplish SO much in just the last two days here.
Yesterday my big accomplishment was to buy a telephone. Incoming calls are free, so if you have some extra money you want to drop (or can figure out how to make international calls from campus phones..hehe) feel free to call me. The number is 34-660-XXX-XXX. I am so proud that I have already memorized the number. (Hard to believe for my friends who have referred to my memory as that of a fish).
My second goal was to find an appointment to stay in more the rest of the semester. Honestly, if there was one thing that I was stressing out about in my voyage here, it was this task. I spent all of yesterday looking at different places, exploring and making appointments. I had to consider how much, what part of town, was it with a family or a shared flat or a seperate apartment... a lot of things to consider on my second day in Madrid. And after looking at more than 10 places and situations, I found one that I consider pretty ideal. It is in an INCREDIBLE part of the city, is very bright, and my friend Julia is very jealous of the balcony overlooking the street. This was SUCH an incredible God send, and I feel so incredible having a pair of keys in my pocket, and a place to call my own.
My third goal was equally important, as my sister well knows, and that was to find a pair of fashionable, euopean-style pin-striped pants. This was no small task in the U.S., but with the help of the Holy Spirit (its okay to invoke Grace in your shopping adventures, isnt it?) I found a Zara that was 5 stories tall. My friends from Venezuela know just how cool that is for me. I love love love this store! And it happens to be about a block away from my apartment. Job opportunity maybe??? Anyway, I found a very cool pair of pants on sale! What more can a boy ask for?
I am also so pleased to be using my Spanish, which seemed to spring right back to where it was in Venezuela after only a couple hours. That feels great.
Okay folks, keep me in your prayers, because it is certainly working so far. I miss you all,
Yours,Christian
I am now in Madrid, after an 18 hour train journey from Amsterdam. I was extremely blessed during this journey with wonderful people to talk to and two different guides during a quick spell in Paris and later on my virgen voyage on the metro of Spain. I am staying with a friend from the program until tommorrow, when I am required to join the other incoming students at a hostel. But I have been able to accomplish SO much in just the last two days here.
Yesterday my big accomplishment was to buy a telephone. Incoming calls are free, so if you have some extra money you want to drop (or can figure out how to make international calls from campus phones..hehe) feel free to call me. The number is 34-660-XXX-XXX. I am so proud that I have already memorized the number. (Hard to believe for my friends who have referred to my memory as that of a fish).
My second goal was to find an appointment to stay in more the rest of the semester. Honestly, if there was one thing that I was stressing out about in my voyage here, it was this task. I spent all of yesterday looking at different places, exploring and making appointments. I had to consider how much, what part of town, was it with a family or a shared flat or a seperate apartment... a lot of things to consider on my second day in Madrid. And after looking at more than 10 places and situations, I found one that I consider pretty ideal. It is in an INCREDIBLE part of the city, is very bright, and my friend Julia is very jealous of the balcony overlooking the street. This was SUCH an incredible God send, and I feel so incredible having a pair of keys in my pocket, and a place to call my own.
My third goal was equally important, as my sister well knows, and that was to find a pair of fashionable, euopean-style pin-striped pants. This was no small task in the U.S., but with the help of the Holy Spirit (its okay to invoke Grace in your shopping adventures, isnt it?) I found a Zara that was 5 stories tall. My friends from Venezuela know just how cool that is for me. I love love love this store! And it happens to be about a block away from my apartment. Job opportunity maybe??? Anyway, I found a very cool pair of pants on sale! What more can a boy ask for?
I am also so pleased to be using my Spanish, which seemed to spring right back to where it was in Venezuela after only a couple hours. That feels great.
Okay folks, keep me in your prayers, because it is certainly working so far. I miss you all,
Yours,Christian
Saturday, January 03, 2004
Beginings (emails from abroad)
The journey has begun! I sit now in the heart of Amsterdam's Red Light District at an internet cafe. I am dealing with a little bit of jet lag, but not bad all in all. The flight was FANTASTIC and I am just having a blast so far. I got to the Anne Frank House yesterday, and today I hit the Master's Exhibit seeing some of Rembrandt's more famous works and the Van Gogh museum to be wowed by his incredible collection.
I am slowly adjusting to the fact that I am alone. I went through the adjustment in Venezuela, and have learned that it simply takes the right attitude, and I am getting there, but it feels a little ackward at first not to have anyone to relay thoughts onto.
On Tueday I take the train through Paris into Madrid, where it looks as if I am going to be staying with another one of the Marquette students before our program starts. Very cool!
I am slowly adjusting to the fact that I am alone. I went through the adjustment in Venezuela, and have learned that it simply takes the right attitude, and I am getting there, but it feels a little ackward at first not to have anyone to relay thoughts onto.
On Tueday I take the train through Paris into Madrid, where it looks as if I am going to be staying with another one of the Marquette students before our program starts. Very cool!
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Merry Christmas to All! (emails from abroad)
Well, this is probably going to be the first of many group emails in the near future. As most of you know, I am going to be in Spain this next semester, and I am leaving for this grand adventure in 5 days. Wow. This last semester flew by faster than I ever could have imagined, and now I am just decompressing a little before I start my trip.
So this was my Junior Semester. I kicked butt academically, and made some good money, working three jobs most of the semester, trying to save for Spain. I was waiting, bartending, and of course Tour Guiding. I learned a lot, and a lot about myself. I was part of a planning team for a weekend long service retreat for Sophmores, and it really couldnt have gone better. We had a tremendous team, and a lot of fun (learned a little too). I also received a generous scholarship from the Cream City Foundation for my journalism work in the field of gay/lesbian issues. That is always nice. I had to then say goodbye to many wonderful friends and a University that I now consider a true home, so I packed my van to the brim (Thank God for Justine!!!) and with tears in my eyes, left my little Milwaukee apartment for a while.
Now I am at home in Michigan for precious little time, trying to squeeze in moments with Carey (who is now swim team captain) and my father (who will be completing his masters in July). We have had a wonderful Christmas so far, and at mass tonight the priest reminded us to see Christmas "through the wonder of a child's eyes," and really take in the awesomeness of Christ's birth. It was a powerful message.
I fly out of Chicago on Jan. 1 to Amsterdam, arriving the next day. I have a hostel there for a couple of days, and dont need to be in Madrid until the 10th, so who knows? I am just gonna let the spirit guide me. I will be studying there until May 31, and then hopefully I will intern with the State Dept. in either Madrid, London or France until August. That's all kinda up in the air though.
I will be updating every once in awhile about my adventures through these mass emails. I apologize if they seem impersonal, but I suck at emailing, so please dont feel you ever need to respond to these emails, because I likely wont get back to you for months. Do keep me in your thoughts and prayers, and for those of you at Marquette, make sure to watch over MY university for me while I am gone. ;-) I miss you and love you all,
Merry Christmas
So this was my Junior Semester. I kicked butt academically, and made some good money, working three jobs most of the semester, trying to save for Spain. I was waiting, bartending, and of course Tour Guiding. I learned a lot, and a lot about myself. I was part of a planning team for a weekend long service retreat for Sophmores, and it really couldnt have gone better. We had a tremendous team, and a lot of fun (learned a little too). I also received a generous scholarship from the Cream City Foundation for my journalism work in the field of gay/lesbian issues. That is always nice. I had to then say goodbye to many wonderful friends and a University that I now consider a true home, so I packed my van to the brim (Thank God for Justine!!!) and with tears in my eyes, left my little Milwaukee apartment for a while.
Now I am at home in Michigan for precious little time, trying to squeeze in moments with Carey (who is now swim team captain) and my father (who will be completing his masters in July). We have had a wonderful Christmas so far, and at mass tonight the priest reminded us to see Christmas "through the wonder of a child's eyes," and really take in the awesomeness of Christ's birth. It was a powerful message.
I fly out of Chicago on Jan. 1 to Amsterdam, arriving the next day. I have a hostel there for a couple of days, and dont need to be in Madrid until the 10th, so who knows? I am just gonna let the spirit guide me. I will be studying there until May 31, and then hopefully I will intern with the State Dept. in either Madrid, London or France until August. That's all kinda up in the air though.
I will be updating every once in awhile about my adventures through these mass emails. I apologize if they seem impersonal, but I suck at emailing, so please dont feel you ever need to respond to these emails, because I likely wont get back to you for months. Do keep me in your thoughts and prayers, and for those of you at Marquette, make sure to watch over MY university for me while I am gone. ;-) I miss you and love you all,
Merry Christmas
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Welcome to Sophomore Service Project!!!
Welcome all you wonderful, talented, service-oriented Sophomores!Our team is extremely excited to announce all the members of the project, and welcome you to the incredible weekend that is to come. We know that most of you are going full-on with projects, papers and tests, so remember that this weekend is an excellent way to focus on that which is really important in this life: service to others.A few things we need to run through:Please let us know if any of the following applies to you:---are you under 18?---if so, please call OSD (8-1412) and ask for Dave, so that we can get your parent's permission for this weekend---do you have any dietary restrictions?---if so, please respond to this email, so that meals can be planned accordingly---decided that you can't make it?---if so, we understand and will miss you, but please let us know ASAP so that arrangments can be made to include others in this project (call 8-1412 and leave a message for Dave)Additionally, we wanted to make you aware of a few things:---Friday night dinner--- may be served rather late, depending on your service site. Our program will begin at 4pm in the AMU (more info will be sent later), but dinner may not be until 7-8pm. Please be aware. We are asking you to bring a snack to share, so hopefully, you can make it through to dinner.---Return on Saturday--- return is tenatively scheduled for around 8pm on the 22nd. If this is a problem for you, let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate.---Clothing--- please be prepared to wear ratty clothes for much of the weekend, but know that there is one site where you will be required to wear dressy black pants and a dressy white shirt. See if you can scrounge something up between now and next weekend.---Donation--- one of the sites is asking that we also bring some canned goods for a Thanksgiving meal it is putting on. If you can get your hands on anything for donating, be it a bag or a single can, it would be great.---Lastly--- For anyone who would like to sleep (who are we kidding?) you should bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and please, for the love of Pete, bring a toothbrush. (and any other neccessary toiletries)We will be sending out another email between now and next weekend, but if you have any questions give us a call or shoot us an email. We are SO stoked about this experience, and look forward to getting to know all of you.Sincerely,Your 2003 Planning Team,--Tom Sivak--Annmarie Hansen--Lori Brichler--Christian
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
start of an important relationship
Dear Christian,
My name is XXXXXXX and I’m a freshman here at Marquette. I read the article a few weeks ago in the Tribune that kind of told your life story and what it’s like to be gay. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since I read it, and decided I had to try and contact you. The reason being I’m gay. I’ve known it for as long as I can remember. But I can’t come out. My family, my friends, and especially my church keep my sexuality a secret.
I know they have clergy, counseling, and support groups available at Marquette, but I’m just not ready for that right now. What I’m asking for I guess, is someone to talk with about things I can’t seem to talk to anybody else about. And I think you might be able to help me do just that. If I’m asking too much, or you’re just not interested, that’s okay too. I know I’m not in this alone: “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you,’ so we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.”
I think it goes without saying, but I also wanted to ask you not to tell anyone else about this just yet.
I am living this life that’s happy and normal, and let me be the first to say I’m as happy and normal as they come, but there’s a big part of my life that I’m not able to show anyone and it would mean the world to me if you want to help me out. I understand you’re a junior and probably an incredibly busy person, as I am, so I realize time is something you may not have a lot of, but I just thought if anyone here would know exactly what I’m going through, you would.
Please let me know what you think, and thanks in advance.
God Bless, XXXX
__________________________________________________________________
Hey there XXXX--
I would absolutely have no problem finding some time to talk to you whenever you want. I am actually pretty free the mornings of this week, but I also have a fairly open weekend. So just let me know when would work for you.
Please know that everything that you say or write will be kept in strictest confidence. I am not new to this sort of situation, so I understand just how precious privacy is. No worries there, okay?
Anyway, let me know when you would like to meet up, and I hope you have a wonderful week,
Christian
My name is XXXXXXX and I’m a freshman here at Marquette. I read the article a few weeks ago in the Tribune that kind of told your life story and what it’s like to be gay. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since I read it, and decided I had to try and contact you. The reason being I’m gay. I’ve known it for as long as I can remember. But I can’t come out. My family, my friends, and especially my church keep my sexuality a secret.
I know they have clergy, counseling, and support groups available at Marquette, but I’m just not ready for that right now. What I’m asking for I guess, is someone to talk with about things I can’t seem to talk to anybody else about. And I think you might be able to help me do just that. If I’m asking too much, or you’re just not interested, that’s okay too. I know I’m not in this alone: “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you,’ so we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.”
I think it goes without saying, but I also wanted to ask you not to tell anyone else about this just yet.
I am living this life that’s happy and normal, and let me be the first to say I’m as happy and normal as they come, but there’s a big part of my life that I’m not able to show anyone and it would mean the world to me if you want to help me out. I understand you’re a junior and probably an incredibly busy person, as I am, so I realize time is something you may not have a lot of, but I just thought if anyone here would know exactly what I’m going through, you would.
Please let me know what you think, and thanks in advance.
God Bless, XXXX
__________________________________________________________________
Hey there XXXX--
I would absolutely have no problem finding some time to talk to you whenever you want. I am actually pretty free the mornings of this week, but I also have a fairly open weekend. So just let me know when would work for you.
Please know that everything that you say or write will be kept in strictest confidence. I am not new to this sort of situation, so I understand just how precious privacy is. No worries there, okay?
Anyway, let me know when you would like to meet up, and I hope you have a wonderful week,
Christian
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