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.

Just Breath

você quer a boa vida?, originally uploaded by eef..

This past weekend my sister and I took a class about breathing to maintain health. It was a fantastic Saturday....I learned many techniques~

I started to realize how much I hold my breath, or take just sallow breaths. We learned that this inhibits health--creates an unbalance or blockage within the body .

We gained fantastic techniques to just breath in order to help metabolize food, relax the body, ground oneself and create balance.

Of course this is a wonderful part of yoga and or meditation---but also something I hope to incorporate all day long~

So...if you are reading now and you had a long day....take a deep breath and just see how you feel....I bet you feel better than you did before you took that deep breath.

Emre's good-bye dinner

We had a really fun dinner last night at Ellen's house in honor of Emre. He is leaving the ISSS family and moving to sunny California. Oh I will miss him dearly~

I am greatful that I got to spend time with him and his Mom before he leaves. She is such a beautiful soul........her positive energy shines through in any language.

She read my future in the bottom of a coffee mug (a very cool Turkish custom) and told me I will come into lots of money soon, buy a house and..
(some things are better left for the future)...

2008 Graduates!

Today I was so proud of my friends, Sofia, Mohit, Murtuza and Emre....They are a part of the graduating class of 2008.
They are all so smart, and full of potential.

These wonderful people are moving all over the country--like birds they are soaring to wonderful heights. I am getting use to friends leaving Buffalo---- but it makes me happy to think that all of us can look back with fond memories...
And, that we WILL stay in touch and meet up......in Buffalo, DC or SanFran....

The Visitor

Last night I saw a touching film called "The Visitor". It was hard not to fall in love with all of the characters--- I fell in love with their beauty as well as their imperfections. I believe this story provides us with a starting point to think about the ways in which we view immigration rules and regulations as well as how we treat each other as human beings.

I think this is a film you should not miss!
It's playing at the Amherst theater now...check it out~

Thank you Pennsylvania~

I had an absolute fantastic weekend with some of my best friends...Amresh, Sofia and Ali. We all meet at Amresh's new Pennsylvania city, Selinsgrove, AKA, Springgrove. He was such a wonderful host!

This area of the country is so alive with spring...as these pictures demonstrate. I feel so lucky to have such great friends--they make me laugh and I so enjoy their company. I can't wait for our next adventure....Camping this summer!

Saturday night we enjoyed Harrisburg, PA, the state's capital...and also best place for great Indian food. mmmmmmmmmm.
Amresh was such a great host....we so enjoyed this arts festival.
of course I couldn't afford this beautiful yarn, but I couldn't resist hanging out thinking about what I could make with this locally died yarn.

The blossoms on the trees were so pretty!
We enjoyed yummie food at a local arts festival.
Amresh is a professor at Susquehanna University. It is a beautiful campus...similar to where I went for undergraduate studies (St. Bonaventure)... We enjoyed walking around. This is Dr. Kumar's office...so cool eh!

the joy of twins,...

One of my best friends' Jeff and Maria had twins just 5 weeks ago. Abigal and Michael...both born 6 lbs! They are happy and healthy.... Yesterday I went to visit their very lively house (they also have a 18-month-old)!
I am so happy for them....they are weathering this rocky time with lots of love (and great gifts of babysitting!) from family and friends.

I made them two little hats..(of course I forgot to take a picture)....I hope to make them more little goodies in the future....

The best thing about teaching...

Ready for Lecture? (Version 2), originally uploaded by wbelac.

Yesterday I got the most wonderful message from a former student at Daemen...

She told me that she developed a project to help teachers in the Ukraine (teach about ways to raise awareness about human trafficking in high schools) and it is based largely on what she learned at Daemen, specifically through the development of her research proposal!!!! (The class I taught)

I felt so good that the work in the class not only inspired her to do this much needed work, but also inspired her to apply for a PhD program in Toronto (and she was accepted!)

I am so happy for her and I am sure she will continue to make a difference in the world. I am also greatful that I have had the opportunity to help her fulfill her dreams...

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri, originally uploaded by asfrederick.

I just heard about Jhumpa Lahiri's new book, "Unaccustomed Earth". She is one of my favorite writers...her writing provides poetic stories of those making their home outside their birth nation. Her writing draws me in and I seem to fall in love with the characters as they negotiate their identity...

If you want to hear her read from her book, and talk about her writing...check out this NPR story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89461076

I can't wait to read this one!!!

Hurray for a brand new tennis season!

Hurray for a brand new tennis season!, originally uploaded by dasha.

Yesterday Silas, Umesh and and I played our first tennis of the season....and it felt REALLY good!

Now..I need to recruit more players to play this summer...so...if you are tennis fan...get that racket re-strung and join us on the courts~~

I need help being a movie critic

One of my jobs is to help our International Education Week committee decide on a film for our "culture in motion" film series. It is one of the BEST parts of my job!

However, what I find difficult---is being as harsh as let's say Kenneth Turan, the L.A. Times movie reviewer. He is a seasoned reviewer and seems to find a movie's flaws effortlessly! Being the optimist I am...I usually see a metaphor or bright light as well as possible flaws like sterotyping etc.

So here is a film I watched last night. Maybe you out there in Blogville will watch it and send me your thoughts.

The Situation (2006)



I liked the film, even with its flaws (specifically with the character Anna [the reporter]). I think its attempt at providing insight into the next-to-impossible situation in Iraq is heroic, but leaves the viewer feeling unsatisfied. Maybe that's the point?

I think an insightful reviewer, Andy Slabaugh, put it very well, "Perhaps we ought to ask ourselves whether it is the obligation of art and artists to depict the awful ugliness spread at home and abroad by our fumbling leaders, or if it might be preferable to revel in works of beauty such that we might rise above our pitiful moment?"

What do you think?

Trimania

Last night a bunch of us enjoyed the sights and sounds of Trimania...
Trimania was a wonderful Buffalo event to hightlight artists in the Tri-Main building. In addition, bands and local dancing acts showed off their stuff---we witnessed everything from Tango to Bhangra dancing. In fact, my new favorite Bhangra DJ was there, DJ Rekha
Thanks to Ashish who got me her CD for Christmas last year....I knew she was a fantastic DJ....

Most of the crowd probably never enjoyed this music before....so it was pretty cool to see people embrace this music.

Who would have thought, you can make art out of those old red plastic cups!

Isn't he cute? He flirted with me...we might go out for coffee this week :)

A fusion band.....cool sound....

If you didn't make it to Triamania this year....you will have to wait a few more years for the next event~

And....I'm Back

Wow, it has been a while since I last blogged. No real reason outside of being busy with school.
Last week I went to a conference for school (CIES) in New York City. It was a very profitable conference academically, but the best part was hanging out with all my friends in one of my favorite cities. New York City makes you feel alive. And thanks to my friends for making the experience also a way for us to connect again.
Enjoy the pictures...

Nothing like entertainment when you are waiting for the subway~

Yes, it was cold!!!

The CIES crew (plus Sofia)....

Sofia, Rachel and I fell in love with this gem of NYC- Zabar's! While Wegman's has tons of imported foods, Zabar's had even more, plus that NYC feel. A trip for me must include my beloved Olives~

We went to a yummie Spanish restaurant for dinner. Thanks to Rima's suggestion. She was suppose to join us but her jet lag took over. We missed her...here's some of the yummie tapas we had!

Sofia, Amresh and I enjoyed tons of laughs at Gotham, NYC's cool Comedy club.

My last day was spent with a wonderful Sunday walk down Broadway to Central Park....Sofia Amresh and I said good-byes as we went out separate ways back to Buffalo, DC and Harrisburg...
I miss all these guys, but I can't wait for our next "mini gang" reunion....