UB is a changin'

Check out these photos! The trailers at UB are finally coming down...

I love June 26th, It's my BIRTHDAY!

I have always loved my birthday. Of course as a kid it was all about presents and a party. But now I love my birthday because it is a reminder to myself how lucky I am. I am healthy, happy--smart (heee, does almost having a Ph.D make you smart? not so sure~) and I have a rich-full life. I am so very lucky in so many ways. I have a wonderful family, friends I adore---and this little nephew, Aidan that lights up all our lives.

(One thing I don't have...the ability to say that Turkey is going to the Euro Cup final. Hopefully in 2 years we can say they are going to the World Cup final!)

Oh and most importantly, I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for my Mom!!! Thanks Mom and Dad :)

EURO CUP2008 - GO TURKEY

EURO 08 - Vienna FanZone, Day 1, originally uploaded by webguruAT.

Today is the day......My hope is Turkey beats Croatia to move on to the next round in the Euro Cup 2008.

They have the heart and the talent....INSHULLAH..they CAN do it!
GO TURKEY!!!!!

China....

Last night I watched "Frontline" on PBS. The program was called, "Young & Restless in China" (part 1)....it was a glimpse into the Chinese economic boom and how it is effecting the everyday lives of young Chinese. I thought the show did a fabulous job of talking to those young people who are wrestling with the tensions of old Chinese ways of life, (parents pushing young women to have babies)--while trying to forge and create something new for their booming country.

check it out, you can watch a reply on the PBS website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/

UEFA Euro 2008-- I have EURO CUP FEVER!

UEFA Euro 2008, originally uploaded by AdreWine.

Oh wow..it's that time again to get excited about world soccer! I am enjoying the games...and totally torn over what team to root for!
I am so excited for ROMANIA!
Obviously I want them to go all the way....

THEN, I would say TURKEY! Kris and I enjoyed EURO 2000 in Turkey when they made it to the 2nd round~ I hope for them they can make it that far again.

But who do I think will win? I have my money on PORTUGAL!

Stay tuned...
(PS, those reading stateside, you can catch all the games live on ESPN.360).

Happy Birthday Dawn~

Yesterday it was Dawn's birthday! Happy Birthday Dawn!
She is such a wonderful person...she is always the first one to help others--with a big smile, hug and lots of love~
I am so very grateful she is my friend. She makes a cloudy day---sunny!
Thanks Dawn for being YOU!

Big Hugs!

Dissertation Proposal Defense

2008-06-05_1148, originally uploaded by Ramona'sFlickr.

It's official....I am going to defend my dissertation proposal on Tuesday, June 10th.

If you are reading this, I ask that you please send me positive energy on that day!

I am so very excited to start this research! More to come...
~Di

PS--Thanks to Mona who sent this cool scanned copy of the e-mail announcing my defense!

Washington DC work and fun

This past week I was in Washington, D.C. for the NAFSA conference. While I was there for work...of course I played...
And there is no better play-friend than Sofia! We enjoyed the sites and sounds of D.C. as well as wonderful food and old friends. Above is a exhibit promoting renewal energy sources and a greener world.

It was so nice to hang out with Sofia, Kia and his friend. It has been a while since we all hung out and it was a pleasure for sure.
It was one of those dinners where the conversation was so delightful and energizing. It makes me really want to move to D.C. to hang out with these cool friends!

Which one should I choose? They are both so cute!
They were cool pieces of recycled artwork outside the National Geographic building.

The National Gallery of Art hosted this fantastic exhibit, "Afghanistan:Hidden treasurers from the National Museum of Kabul." The exhibit provided treasures from the once Taliban raided Kabul Museum. The treasures date back to hundreds of years before Christ. The treasures provide keys to the stories of travel, trade and migration. The stories of how these treasures are still traveling the world is as exciting as the exhibit.