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(03/07/12 3:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The typical tourist tends to measure value by the dollar exchange rate. Whether one is buying a souvenir, planning a trip or calling a cab, the first step is usually converting the price, experience or expenditure into monetary value. Much of my time abroad has been allotted to understanding “value.” In South Africa, I found that watching the sunset and sunrise was what made my time in Cape Town worthwhile. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my safari experience, wine tasting across Stellenbosch, dining at the gorgeous Waterfront and shark diving off Camps Bay, the richest sounds, smells and tastes were found in my least expensive visit into Zami Mdingi’s home in a South African township.Zami welcomed me into her home with a group of other Semester at Sea students to share some of South Africa’s music and traditional cuisine. At first glance, I would never have expected the tremendous vocals that resonated from Zami’s small figure and boy, was I in for multiple musical treats. Zami and her uncle performed several songs for us that illustrated the best of South Africa’s traditional and modern music. With her voice, her uncle’s guitar, a tambourine and a drum, we heard Isicathamiya music — a genre performed by blacks during apartheid — from the Isicathamiya, Kuma, Mbaqanga and pop genres, including pieces that were used during apartheid to reflect the voice of the people through the lyrics. Zami explained music was a way to peacefully demonstrate against apartheid using the voice as a weapon of power.As they sang everything from a song in the local click language, Xhosa, about finding love, to a rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon” and an Afrikaans piece about the apartheid struggle, the talent that rose from that small township home deeply touched every audience member and was mind-boggling. A few minutes of hearing Zami, a passionate, bubbly musician who is wise beyond her years, gave me a cultural concert that a monetary value can’t be placed on.Over a delectable dinner of creamy vegetables, bean stew, Cajun chicken and dozens of side dishes, I asked Zami what made music so valuable to her.“Music is the message of the people, and I know there is music in me,” Zami said. “I prove its value when I sing to a crowd because it uplifts me and keeps me forever young — how could a career be more valuable?”I learned that value isn’t in the pricey dinners, the career that gets you “big bucks” or the tourist attractions that offer you a nice Kodak photo for an extra five-dollar bill. Zami taught me that value is found in passion, in reaching into the lives of others and leaving an experience that is so much greater than a price tag.— espitzer@indiana.edu
(03/02/12 2:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sailing into Cape Town at sunrise had me singing the “Circle of Life”’s Zulu phrases at the top of my lungs as the majestic view of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and the rest of the luxurious landscape welcomed me to South Africa. Coming from the poor, cluttered and rundown streets in Ghana, it didn’t seem like we could be in the same continent. After a 3,000-foot and two-hour StairMaster-like hike to the top of Table Mountain, I could see the entire region, which filled me with a sense of total liberation. Like Simba, I felt as though the entire kingdom had just been passed down to me. And, like Simba, I was proud that Pride Rock was mine.Infinite sources of fantastic flora, fauna and fortune are visible from Cape Town’s famous landmark. Determined to see this new place, I visited Robben Island the next morning. Traveling about seven miles by ferry, I was again astounded by the splendor of the city as seen from the island. There I was, viewing the breathtaking sights that made me feel most liberated while I visited Nelson Mandela’s prison cell, where he was held for 18 of his 27 years in isolation. The juxtaposition of my freedom and Mandela’s emancipation after exercising free speech and fighting for equality made me think that not everything could be as it seemed.Known as the “father of South Africa,” Mandela started the African National Congress, became the first black president in South Africa and advocated for an end to apartheid without violence, combating inequality and apartheid by winning the hearts of his people. How could 18 years of staring at the most splendid sights through the bars of a small cell not shroud Nelson’s hope for equality? I felt inspired by Mandela’s devotion to ending South Africa’s poverty and segregation after he was imprisoned for so long. It was no coincidence that the Dutch put the rich white folk downtown and hid the prisoners miles away from the shore to help maintain a false appearance of peace.The contradictory feelings — from being ruler of the kingdom at the top of Table Mountain to being a jailed prisoner at Robben Island — don’t seem easy to resolve. Not only did I recognize the importance of never losing hope in moral messages, such as Mandela’s of equality and respect through peace, I also realized I must not come to my own conclusions so easily. When I arrived at Cape Town, the sights, the waterfront shopping mall and the exquisite scenery took me aback. However, there are many more details woven into the colorful African fabric. Apartheid influences still exist, and unemployment affects about 40 percent of South Africans in Cape Town. The kind of nation Mandela fought for through 27 years behind bars requires effort from every citizen. It is easy for a visitor to see the rich, gorgeous waterfront and conclude that all is well. However, when looking past the magnificent views of Table Mountain, one can see leftovers of impoverishment and apartheid that linger defiantly to keep part of South Africa’s splendor imprisoned. There is plenty of work to be done to honor Mandela’s message, end racial segregation and promote peace.— espitzer@indiana.edu
(02/21/12 4:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I traveled to Ghana for five days and returned with enough flooding memories, realizations and reflections to process forever. My glimpse of the life of a Ghanaian has completely reconstructed the way I define “value” based on the observations I made in a collective culture.In our Western, individualistic culture, the materialistic goods you flaunt, the car you cruise in and the cash in your pocket define value. We have been taught to express our gratitude and appreciation for others by giving them gifts with monetary value to bring us closer. My experiences with the people of Ghana proved otherwise.For two nights, I stayed in the Tafi Atome village in the Volta region of Ghana. When I arrived around nightfall, the village was as lit up as Bloomington is during a power outage. Very little electricity circulated through the village, water was conserved in buckets and obtained from the nearest water source and each home resembled a small, simple shack. Noticing how little money was invested in the structures, I first felt as though I had reached a poverty stricken, underprivileged, tragic town. However, right as I stepped off the bus, I was welcomed by warm sounds of children’s laughter as they ran up to greet us, a delicious meal of Ghanaian delicacies and celebratory songs resonating from beating drums and voices. The scene did not display tragedy, but festivity.I spent the next morning interacting with school children in the village, visiting the third grade class to teach them some of our songs and games from home while they showed me some of theirs. Entering the room and seeing the children’s faces light up at the presence of guests immediately produced feelings of affection and connection. We sat in the middle of the recess field singing the Ghanaian children’s upbeat tune that accompanies their version of “duck, duck, goose,” and I introduced myself to the 8-year-old boy to my left, Michael.Within seconds of being introduced, Michael reached out to grab my hand. Never have I felt such a genuine, gravitated connection to a child after such a brief introduction. For the hour that we spent playing, Michael didn’t let go of my hand, and I knew that the feeling of comradeship was sincere and reciprocated. When the time came for me to leave the school, I took out a bag of toys that included stickers, stencils, pencils and bracelets to share with the kids, hoping to leave them with something “valuable” as a token of appreciation. I would never have expected what came next.Releasing the bag of gifts was like releasing a caged tiger. Kids who weren’t accustomed to receiving gifts and instead found pleasure in playing with one another were exposed to toys made of petty pieces of plastic. Michael dropped my hand and joined the other children in, stampeding each other to get to the gold. The scene turned sour as a mosh pit of students formed in front of me, leaving me with very few options in calming the storm. I left as the children begged me to “please give me, give me” over and over again. Watching the students, I felt sick for not giving them more but even sicker for disrupting the actual valuable gift, which was the interaction we engaged in. Before, holding hands as we played, we reciprocated gratitude. Now, I simply became the giver of material goods rather than emotional bonds. With the help of teachers, we came back in five minutes when the kids had settled down, and I was trampled with hugs as the kids awarded me with goodbyes. Waving goodbye to Michael left me missing him immediately — not because I brought toys, but because I brought him a friend to play with.I came to the village initially feeling sorry for the Ghanaian’s misfortunes. I left feeling envious of the sincere and priceless prosperity they found in one another. After meeting Michael and finding friendship in Ghana, I am certain value is generated through connections untainted with monetary, materialistic possessions.— espitzer@indiana.edu
(02/15/12 4:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ghanaian musician Sheriff Ghale smiled at the sounds produced by the Semester at Sea students’ rhythmic circle and kept the clapping of the collaboration cohesive. Sheriff, an in-port guest accompanying us during our voyage to Ghana, is a celebrated artist who sees music as more than simply sound. For Sheriff, music is a vital organ to society and sustains the culture, beliefs, history and hopes of the Ghanian people. He has spent his life revealing social messages and reliving cultural concerns through his compositions. More than 40 different ethnic groups are represented in the country of Ghana alone. Although many similarities between ethnicities exist, each are distinct cultural groups. Music is a part of each group’s workplaces and celebratory practices, as well as an oral historical account of society’s framework. Sheriff’s music has done more than entertain listeners — it has spread educational information to the community. Sheriff’s songs about the waterborne illness, guinea worm, were broadcast on Accra city radio stations and raised awareness. Eventually, the disease was eliminated. “I don’t spend my music talking about ladies and cars and bling,” Sheriff said. “I can sing about things that benefit my community — education, health, construction and the essential problems in my village.”As in many African countries, musicians in Ghana are community leaders who influence social movements and contribute to national development while they document the every day. The rich, rustic rhythm certainly distinguishes African music’s origins, but it is the lyrics and message that latch onto prospective listeners. Because the message is the heart of his work, Sheriff has always composed his pieces by writing the words first and then placing them to music.African music is designed to be a participatory, engaging art that makes audience members crucial percussion players. The meaning of the lyrics is communicated and collective, and it is a direct departure from Western music, which is used mainly for entertainment and enjoyed quietly and separately by individual audience members. “Our instruments and our words, they speak,” Sheriff said. “They say more than any kind of club dance music can. The music is the voice of society. Without it, our community is no longer being represented. No music in an African community means that the community is no longer speaking.”In ethnic groups across Ghana, including the Ga and Ewe groups, oral histories have been documented through music and never written on paper. These stories are preserved in song and dance passed down by memory alone and keep the ethnic groups functioning together.African music might not be composed or put on paper, but sounds always accompany daily tasks, leaving little space for silence. Work songs from agricultural fields to the post office are played and are an essential part of the labor. Whether keeping time while stamping envelopes or drumming while collecting crops, the beat sets the pace for the operation. Like our heart, without the vital beat, everything comes to a stop.Music composes the African people’s past, present and future just as much as the people compose the music. Each special genre and dance has room for personal interpretation, allowing members to express their identity and creativity through transmission. With only a few days of sea separating us from the coast of Ghana, Sheriff has advised me to listen closely to all street sounds so that, even as a foreigner, I, too, can receive the full-fledged cultural experience by unveiling the message magnified in the music.
(02/07/12 3:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I just spent four days in Brazil on two sides of the Amazon River, encompassed by nature in the Amazon rainforests and the shuffling Samba steps in the city of Manaus. As I moved from one side to the other, I found myself rocking to two different rhythms. The Amazon River is the blending of the Coca-Cola colored waters of the Rio Negro and the café-latté-colored waters of the Solimos river, flowing side by side at two separate speeds for four miles before combining into a chocolate brown. Just like the obvious parting of the waters, I found a noticeable change of pace on each side of the Amazon.In Amazonia, I traveled by canoe in the slow, steady yet powerful waters, scouting for caimans, fishing for piranhas and visiting the indigenous people in Acajatuba village. The villagers nurtured the natural environment, moving at the same peaceful pace of the river, using the rainforest’s resources in place of a supermarket, butcher, pharmacy, etc. Being swayed to sleep in a hammock with the authentic chirping and slithering sounds I had only previously heard on nature CDs, I felt an unforgettable source of tranquility and serenity encompassed in the green, luscious landscape.Returning from such reflections in the Amazon to explore magical Manaus was a whole different cup of Brazilian coffee. I was given the last-minute opportunity to visit the Escola de Samba Aparecida, one of Manaus’s finest samba schools, where members spend all year practicing their routine to perform at Brazil’s largest annual celebration of Carnival. Carnival is a Brazilian form of Mardi Gras that celebrates the days leading up to Lent. For the week of Carnival, the streets are smothered in celebration, and every Brazilian — regardless of social status, career, beliefs or the problems going on in his or her life — will put everything aside and celebrate authentic Brazilian culture. Samba, the national dance and music genre of Brazil, is traditionally fast-paced and rhythmic, requiring quick, swift steps and a spot-on sense of rhythm. Wearing spectacular masks and embroidered costumes, party-goers disguise themselves, taking on different roles for the week in which everyone is equal and takes part in the fun. With only a few weeks before the samba school heads to Rio to perform in Carnival, I was able to take part in a “rehearsal,” the most vibrant, exciting and extraordinary cultural celebration I have ever been in. Two hours passed faster than the feet of the samba dancers. The whole city seemed to come to a stop while hundreds of students armed with powerful percussion instruments followed the dancers and invited locals to join the fun.The school participants took our hands, taught us the samba steps and even handed us their drums, allowing me to experience this exhilarating musical collaboration. Savoring a taste of the Carnival celebration while watching the electrifying feet of the samba dancers, I felt a whole different freedom through the rhythms on the other side of the Amazon River.Like the two separate rivers, I encountered two diverse and distinct experiences in the rhythms characteristic of each side of the Amazon River. The two separate paces ultimately combined to create the proud, matchless, exciting culture of Brazil’s brilliant beat.— espitzer@indiana.edu
(01/31/12 4:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Six splendid days have passed since I finally stepped on the ship, and one port has already been crossed off the itinerary. Dominica — no, not the Dominican Republic — the country I was least excited and anxious to visit, had me head-over-heels in love. With its luxurious landscape, friendly locals and rich culture, I was sold as soon as I saw it from the distance as we pulled in to port.When Christopher Columbus “discovered” the island of Dominica in 1493, he was not impressed with its design. About 330 square miles — nearly two thirds of the island — covered in rainforest, rugged mountains, volcanoes and hot springs made it seem like an inconvenient place to colonize. Today, the country is known as “The Nature Island of the Caribbean” and is distinguishable for its flora and fauna, rich soil, agriculture and its surviving population of indigenous people, who are known as the Caribs.The locals were eager to share their knowledge, take us around their homes and help us experience the Dominican lifestyle. I was surprised when my taxi driver gave us the full tour-guide experience, accompanying us on our hike and telling us all about the island, its history and about his own banana plantation.The two days at port were too short.I have never visited such a fascinating location where tropical palm trees are juxtaposed and shadowed by tall mountains lying in rainforest — the ecology made for sights that were prettier than a postcard. Visiting the Carib people at Tuna Village gave me a whole new appreciation for nature’s wonders.Their lifestyle seemed wonderful, and smiles seemed permanently painted on the locals’ faces. On top of that, our guide told us that not only have 20 Dominicans lived up to 100 years, but the longest-living woman in the world was Dominican, dying at the age of 128 years.Returning to the ship, I had a new favorite food (fried plantains and sweet potatoes, a delicacy in Dominica), new local friends both from Roseau and the Carib people at Tuna Village and a new appreciation for the unique, most unbelievably laid out island I have ever visited. With love, from the middle of the Caribbean.— espitzer@indiana.edu
(01/27/12 2:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A few days ago, I didn’t think I would be able to attend my Semester At Sea program, or even make it on the ship, due to the Consulate General of Brazil. Although my visa had been submitted to the Consulate long before it was due, political problems, pressure from the travel agency and false promises about how long it would take, kept me from getting to the Bahamas on time. After three days in Fort Lauderdale, waiting and wishing for a quick release, the ship ended up waiting for all 10 students who had visa problems. It cost $25,000 to hold the boat and keep it running at the dock for a day, and I have never felt like such a VIP before in my life.Because the Dean of Students was among the VIP voyagers who did not receive their papers, the Semester At Sea crew was willing to make the financial sacrifices to get us on the ship. We ended up getting new passports and boarded the last flight to the Bahamas, ready to meet the ship before it took off.Now I’m on board, and I could not be happier. The Semester At Sea ship, the MV Explorer, is the fastest traveling boat of its kind and is able to travel fast enough to get us to our first port at Rousseau, Dominica on time. The ship’s maximum cruising speed is 28 knots, and we have gone about 21 nautical miles every hour.With 800 of us wobbling around like a morning after Kilroys Sports Bar, we are all waiting to get our sea legs and get used to the motion of the ocean. The views are incredible, and my favorite part has been watching the sunrise and sunset from the ship’s dock, making me feel more brilliant than Rose from Titanic — before the whole iceberg incident, of course. With about 500 students on board, residents represent the multifarious interests from numerous colleges on the map. This community’s diversity brings a new kind of friendliness and thrill that keeps me pumped, regardless of the boat’s non-stop rock. Along with the wiggling and wobbling, getting used to life on the ship has been a sweet suite life. And no worries, IU, with five of us from Bloomington, we established an IU crew, and everyone on board is already aware that we boss around the Big Ten and do it better than any other campus.Cruisin’ through the Caribbean, we are following the waves of Columbus and will arrive in Dominica just in time to watch the ship reach Monday morning’s port. I am ecstatic to experience my first port, famous for its fantastic rainforests with a population of Carib indigenous people, and start marking up my passport.Finally, I am on a boat! With love, from the deep blue sea, and ready to hop out in Dominica tomorrow.— espitzer@indiana.edu
(01/18/12 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I’ve caught a case of the travel hiccups that even a good scare can’t cure. I hired a travel agency to take care of my various visas needed for the Semester At Sea and trusted that everything would be ready on time. The agency was supposed to expedite my passport and prepare my visas before Saturday but, as Saturday came and went, there were still no packages at my door. My flight for the Bahamas was in three days, and I started to panic when I realized no mail would be delivered Monday due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day.After months of endless preparation, packing and trust that my papers were taken care of, everything seemed to spin out of control very, very quickly. Immediately, I contacted Semester at Sea and travel agencies and found that my papers were stuck at the Consulate General of Brazil in New York. The embassy was closed Monday for the holiday, and I couldn’t be sure when my documents would be ready. The bad news: I won’t be able to go to the Bahamas. The good news: I’m not alone. Right now, there are about 25 other students whose passports are stuck in New York. We have been advised to fly to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., so that we will all be together. The best-case scenario is that we get our visas from the Brazilian embassy and meet the ship by Thursday to depart for Nassau. The worst-case scenario is that we remain visa-less and wait to meet the ship in the next port, which is at Rouseau, Dominica.In the span of three days, I have gone from preparing for an ideal family vacation in the Bahamas to finding out that no such vacation is possible, no matter who I slip a twenty to. Welcome to the world of international travel: Things don’t always go as planned, and trusting a foreign government to cater to your needs can require a big leap of faith.At this point, I can wallow in self-pity or be thankful that I am still on the course to take the trip of a lifetime. Sure, I may have to skip beach bumming in the Bahamas for a few days, but it is a small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things. Both the representatives at the travel agency and Semester At Sea are doing everything they can, and right now my only job is to follow a popular phrase: “Keep calm and carry on.”— espitzer@indiana.edu
(01/11/12 5:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>My pre-journey jitters are growing by day, but my progress with packing seems never-ending. I have six days before I head to the Bahamas and eight days before I depart and excitedly wish everyone “Bon Voyage, here we go.” How does one prepare for a 105-day trip to not one, but 11 different countries? Sandy, a good friend of mine, always told me that preparing for any trip requires much use of the F word — flexibility. I’ve had to pack lightly for everything from beautiful beaches in Singapore to the muggy climate of the Amazon to a night sleeping on China’s Great Wall. Not only have I been forced to become incredibly flexible, but so has everyone helping me prepare. The pharmacy knows me as the Ashley girl who spells her name with an “E” and needs a five-month supply of pretty much everything over-the-counter and not over-the-counter. My parents have enjoyed Googling which international cell phone plan will be most advantageous in, again, not one, but 11 foreign countries. The stack of Amazon.com order boxes, filled with everything from overnight bags to textbooks, has grown at an impressive rate. Although the preparations have made me anxious about how much there is to be done — the independent travel trips, the just-in-case list of medical supplies, the perfect outfits for a night out in Hong Kong — I have come to find that flexibility really is the secret. Preparing for travel may take time and homework, but some things are best done spontaneously. Talking to past Semester at Sea students, I have been told students’ most memorable experiences were traveling through cities, soaking in culture and speaking with locals. Of course, all plans must be taken with caution, but I have come to believe that the best traveler has enough spontaneity so that a perfectly-planned outfit, travel group and extra, just-in-case pack of accessories don’t get in the way of the actual experience. As I am signing up for trips at the first few ports, including an Amazon overnight and a rhythm music workshop in Brazil, I have left at least one full day in each port for a lot of F-ing around (flexibility, of course). With love, from home in Denver, Colo., and only eight days before I set sail.— espitzer@indiana.edu
(01/06/12 5:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I fell in love with travel at a young age. From frequent family road trips to youth group excursions, choosing to go abroad wasn’t the hard part. The question was: Where? I knew I would miss Bloomington’s bustling energy, basketball season, Little 500 festivities and even my daily visit to the Indiana Memorial Union Starbucks, but going abroad my junior year was on the priority checklist. Experiencing different cultures, communities and cuisines is one of my greatest passions. My natural indecisiveness only made the decision harder. While most students have a list of three, maybe four possible destinations, I had nine on my “highly considerable” list. Every country in Europe intrigued me. I was interested in every dot on the map. From considering unique delicacies to travel magazines’ famous foreign scenes, my progress was slow. I reached out to my parents, friends, distant relatives and even my hairdresser for pros and cons about each.Finally, I was introduced to a program called “Semester at Sea.” In 105 days, I could stop in 11 countries and land in 15 different ports alongside almost 500 other college students, all while studying with professors from colleges across the country. The more I heard about “Semester At Sea,” the more I felt like Cinderella finding her glass slipper. It was a perfect fit. Preparing to go abroad has been an experience in itself. I have filled out applications for numerous visas, dealt with several international offices, ordered my international cell phone, invested in eight countries’ currencies and even had a yellow fever vaccination after a visit to the international travel doctor, a specialist I never knew existed. In speaking with past sailors of the program, I have been advised to prepare for the most full, fantastic, fun and exhaustive months of my life.After four months of preparation, I am almost ready to set sail. We will board the ship in the Bahamas, sail to ports in South America, continue across the Atlantic to Africa, then through the Indian Ocean, up the Pacific along the coast of Asia and finally back to the “US-of-A.” I am itching to start my adventure semester. I have chosen to go abroad and cannot wait to document the scenes, sounds and surprises I will find along the ride. Leaving my Hoosiers hurts, but I’d love to bring you all along for a taste of my travels. I’ll keep you posted by publishing from port to port and sharing the unexpected with you during the next five months. All I ask (and pray) is that my seasickness stays as settled as yours in Bloomington. With love, from home in Denver, Colo., and 13 days before I set sail.—espitzer@indiana.edu
(12/06/11 11:49pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Only a few years ago, we were peer-pressured into taking the dreaded SAT and ACT college entry exams. Come on, everybody was doing it. Whether you winged it or invested in multiple test-tip textbooks, settling on a score high enough to hopefully reel in some scholarship money from prospective universities is every college-bound student’s goal. How about cheating and getting someone else to take the test for you? What if you are willing to pay big bucks?Five students from Long Island, N.Y., face felony charges for paying other students as much as $3,600 to take the SAT and ACT tests for them. These students, many from respected and prominent families, were hoping to enhance their chances of being accepted to their schools of choice, knowing they would need high standardized test scores to do so. With fake IDs, they were able to have different students take the test for them and land suitable scores.Some students are gifted standardized test takers and can get a significantly high score without breaking a sweat. Others have a harder time proving their strengths through a test that does not reflect their GPAs, work ethic or strengths and talents beyond test taking. We agree that colleges need a fair, easily referenced measure they can use to determine acceptance rates, grant money and scholarships; however, the test certainly does not highlight certain strengths that are essential in determining a student’s success and capabilities. In many instances, studying for the SAT or ACT isn’t focused on mastering math equations and critical reading but instead on learning the test’s tricks that are meant to throw students off course. Many students have justified cheating by saying since the SAT and ACT are not true tests of their abilities or aptitudes, why play by the rules? Cheating to get ahead of peers and fool authorities has become the norm. Whether it’s by cheating on a quiz in class, a final exam or a college entrance exam, our competitive culture has become more comfortable with doing whatever it takes to get a high score, regardless of our actual credibility. Although these students who cheat may be unjustly acquiring scholarship money, stealing opportunities from deserving, honest students, it appears that another story about a standard cheater is no longer notably newsworthy. Ethics has taken a backseat to sheer ambition in the ride to success. We believe the students deserve to have the cheating incident put on their permanent records, subject to consequences determined by their respective colleges. They might be guilty of a misdemeanor but not a felony. Although they are not murderers or dangerous criminals, these students deserve to deal with our society’s standard rule: Once a cheater, always a cheater. They will taste the bitterness in their futures by being known as the students who just couldn’t take the test everyone else does, the honest way.
(11/30/11 4:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a week of gratitude, great food and sufficient sleep, I came home to the same depressing discussion that tends to greet me by the front door on a regular basis. A friend of mine was dishing about her newest boy toy’s faulty features. “Honestly, I just want to find my prince charming,” she said. “Where is he?”I didn’t know how to break it to her, but I think it might be at least a few more weeks and some big dreaming before the frat stars down the street transform into attractive princes living in palaces.Those vicious VHS films taught us to expect our own happily ever after ending, but these fairy-tale fantasies don’t happen on college campuses. No stud rides a steed or transforms from hairy to hottie for an average beauty.Did Disney set us up for disappointment? The ravishing royal chaps aren’t sprouting in the IU arboretum, but there are some Disney lessons we can learn from those paradigm princesses. I don’t advise that you ditch your posse for a friendly fawn and wildlife, but take a few of these dos and don’ts into account the next time you are out and about.Snow White, palest of them all, certainly knew how to work the circle of friends as she buddied up with the Seven Dwarfs. She always had her men’s support, and she knew how to be one of the guys. But sometimes, her good heart let anyone from Sneezy to Grumpy take advantage of her, pushing her very last corset button. Do be a guy’s girl, but don’t let any man take advantage of you. You become less worthy than a poisoned apple.We all have those weekends when we’re a little gone like Sleeping Beauty. It’s fun to go out and play, but Blackout Beauty never made the big screens for a reason. One thing Aurora had right was that she lived on her own time. Any guy worth your worries can wait for you to come around (or out of a coma). If he’s worthy, he’ll wait; don’t rush it.Cinderella is a little smarter than those sisters gave her credit for, “accidently” leaving a shoe behind. It’s a classic move for those of us who’ve got some guts. Don’t be afraid to make a bold, daring move. It might leave a guy unafraid to find his dream girl by going door-to-door.Belle is one to admire. She sticks to her passions and knows how to make a man fall head over heels in love. Be yourself; don’t be afraid to be a nerd who reads novel after novel and openly bursts into song with the townies at the Showalter Fountain.Last but not least, my favorite of the fairest: Jasmine. This exotic beauty was able to lower her standards a little and find, in my opinion, the cutest of the majestic men. Aladdin might have been a “street rat” who didn’t fit her highest standards, but it’s OK to open up to a guy you might not have considered before; sometimes they are the best catches. Yes, Jasmine picked a winner, but she earned some notoriety for being quite the sleaze. Though the turquoise color did wonders for her, it’s best to save some dignity and not flaunt everything you’ve got. Be willing to make some sacrifices for the ultimate prize, but don’t give it all up at once.I’ll say the same thing I said to my sulking friend: one day, the man of your dreams might just sweep you off your feet for a luxurious life full of chirping birds and cheer. But until then, soak up the college campus sun and use these princess pointers.— espitzer@indiana.edu
(11/16/11 12:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I saw Conrad Weiner and assumed he was someone else. He was smiling, wearing a red sweater vest and looking as content as though he had just returned from a family fishing trip. As we exchanged a warm greeting, he flashed me a vibrant, contagious smile that left me puzzled. How could this be a man who survived a concentration camp in the Holocaust?As part of last week's “From Hate to Harmony Week," sponsored by the IU Hillel Center, Weiner participated in a series of panel discussions about the relevance of the Holocaust today. During our interview, Weiner managed to relate his personal connection and sense of humor through every shared story.Just before his 4th birthday, Weiner was deported from his hometown of Bucovina, Romania, to a labor camp in Transnistria. Each day, until he was liberated before his 8th birthday, Weiner survived the horrors of the Holocaust.Although he was a small child, there are things Weiner said he will never forget about the daily tortures of the concentration camp.“I remember always being cold and always being hungry,” he said. “I remember the women trying to teach us stories to give us something else to think about. I remember watching thousands sleep together in a barn full of straw, packed like dominos. I remember my mother jumping to reach the top of a cherry tree when the Nazis weren’t looking, trying to get something nourishing to help nurse me back to health.”Weiner shared several stories with me, a combination of his family members’ experiences, personal recollections and information he had researched. He depicted scenes in the labor camp where Jews were shot by drunk Nazis “playing games” to see who could hit the most targets, and he shared the memories of his mother’s stubbornness and determination to keep him alive, no matter the risk.“When I was sick, they told my mother not to let me suffer, to let me die in peace and be done with this nightmare,” Weiner said. “The best thing she did was never listening to them.”After about four years of unimaginable genocide, the Russian army liberated Weiner and his mother, uncle and cousin. With very few countries accepting Jewish immigrants at that time, Weiner and his family had an ambiguous status in Romania until they were finally accepted into the United States.“Uncle Sam was good to me, and I was given another chance,” Weiner said.Serving in the U.S. Army, Weiner had the chance to return to Germany for training in intelligence. What most people would consider a nightmare for a Jewish Holocaust survivor ended up being one of the greatest experiences in Weiner’s life.“I learned that hatred stemmed from brainwashing,” he said. “I made some of my best friends in Germany, friends who called me brother, took me on vacations, hosted me and made me a part of their family. These Germans that I thought I hated, terrible people who hated me, taught me not to hate. Don’t hate anyone. If you hate the oppressor, they win.”After many years of joining the Speaker’s Bureau for Holocaust Education, Weiner’s main message for his audience remains the same: combat hatred.“I want discrimination to be erased, for people to be understanding of every religion and race,” Weiner said. “If adversity doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger.”Still smiling, I was amazed by how a man with such a story could be so happy and spirited. Weiner’s outlook on the world, after experiencing the utmost suffering, inspired me in an indescribable way.After an hour of sharing stories, jokes, advice and insights, Weiner recited an Elie Wiesel quote he leaves his audiences with, a perfect ending message. “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victims. Silence encourages the tormenter, never the tormented.”Weiner’s words were a breath of fresh air and a slap on the head all at once. He reminded me to not sweat the small stuff, to live with purpose by seeking gratitude for life and to actively repair the world by bringing destruction to one basic thing: hatred.— espitzer@indiana.edu
(11/02/11 1:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a week of difficult midterms, back-to-back meetings and unpredictable weather, I was overcome with feelings of anxiety and relief for my sorority’s family weekend. Having my parents come to town evokes mixed emotions. All week, I looked forward to reuniting with a part of home on my own turf, anticipating some parental pampering; yet the comforting conditions came with frustrations. My parents had been to Bloomington several times before, and I needed something to convince them that they were not simply being used for their wallets. How could I make it clear to my dad that he wasn’t just Mr. Cash and prove to him that I was actually doing something credible here in Bloomington? Something worthy of out-of-state tuition?I had already shown my parents the IU School of Journalism and Hutton Honors College, among other key sites. We took a desperately needed detox drive to Lake Monroe to admire our autumn scenery and several circles around campus to capture Bloomington’s culture — that was Friday. With two days left to make the trip worthwhile, my heart was racing. The overwhelming pressure was getting to me.I opened my laptop and was greeted by a Denver Post article informing me that Florida Gov. Rick Scott suggested universities scale back on psychology and political science degrees and focus on “science, technology, engineering and math degrees. ... Those types of degrees that when they get out of school, they can get a job.”Here I am, a psychology and journalism major, watching my four years of fun fly by faster than I can fathom, and Scott is telling me that my degree is a waste of time. I beg to disagree. The idea that college is supposed to act as a factory, spitting out technicians and mathematicians, misses an essential part of a college education’s worth. Not only should we be preparing ourselves to enter the work force, we should be benefiting from the liberal arts education, the cultural events, the speakers and the programs that expand our minds and enrich our understandings.The ability to think critically inspires growth that does not end when we are handed our diplomas. We use the outlets available on a liberal arts campus to become more well-rounded individuals, enhanced additions to the world where the job market no longer caters to a single lifetime career. Boosting creativity and generating passions that will energize us for the rest of our lives is just as much of an asset as being able to master the Pythagorean Theorem. If the math majors aren’t taking advantage of the luxurious opportunities that ooze out of our campus’s classes and events, then they are at just as much of a loss as everyone else here. Family weekend gave me the extra opportunity to remember IU’s greatness. The academic path I have taken at IU, along with the campus opportunities, leaves me feeling like I have done something great.With the opportunities available on campus, no student should feel like less than Charlie in the chocolate factory, given a taste of the world’s sweetest gifts. — espitzer@indiana.edu
(10/04/11 11:39pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“Keep calm and carry on.”The popular poster phrase, introduced in 1939 by the British government to strengthen the public’s morale during wartime, has been revitalized to help us through current times of trouble. The economy dwindles, job opportunities plummet, Mother Nature deteriorates, our country loses its prestigious position, Jersey Shore stars make loads of money and the 2012 end-of-the-world conspiracy is the cherry on top. Keep calm and carry on?Here we are, in an age in which good news is a godsend and a surprise nuclear attack seems more dependable then a future of fulfillment. But, somehow, we keep going.I, too, am guilty of imagining an optimistic future. I mentally time travel to the days after graduation, when I have landed an admirably fantastic job with buzz-worthy benefits and a pleasing paycheck. I want a beautiful, mortgage-free home; a nice Jewish husband in my picture-perfect family; and enough leisure time and money to check off all the fun boxes that have accumulated on my bucket list. Believing the future will be even greater than yesterday is a survival tactic we call optimism. We may expect it to wear off as the news floods with negativity, but our idea of the future stays fanciful. It may seem as though too much optimism would keep us from acting rationally to avoid another bad investment.However, optimism motivates us, inspiring us to keep calm, continue to carry on and believe that, somehow, we can bring the changes we see fit to triumph today’s disasters and conquer our childhood dreams. With a dose of optimism, we continue to work hard and play hard, staying motivated to pursue our goals, committed to finding our fairy-tale endings. Even if our ideal future is powered by an illustrative illusion, staying positive blesses us with benefits in the present.In Tali Sharot’s book “The Optimism Bias,” she refers to a 2007 study that illustrated the effect of future optimism. While 70 percent of survey respondents thought families were less successful than in their parents’ days, 76 percent were still optimistic about the future of their own families. How? Our brains have been wired to help us find the silver lining. The human race would never be fit for survival, if we didn’t have a biological tendency to put on a smile and recognize misfortunes as “blessings in disguise” that will ultimately strengthen us and lead to a bigger and better open door.Why stay optimistic? We do so because we are smart. We know we are mortal and that time is ticking, and we are wired to encode positive information and disregard the news that will detract from our potential success. Optimism for the future is simply the key to survival for the fittest. Samuel Johnson was right when he said we triumph hope over experience. The end of the world may be months away, but we pull all-nighters studying for our tests, take loans to pay college bills, predict a blossoming job market just in time for graduation and expect partition that promises world peace ... soon. It is in our best interest to follow our biological instincts and acknowledge the British mandate to keep our cool. What if George Washington became pessimistic while looking at the forecast and never crossed the Delaware? What if Martin Luther King Jr. lost sight of his optimism and never shared his dream?We have made it through history; we are bound to make it through today’s challenges, which even Kanye West agrees can only make us stronger. One thing is for certain: We have limited time left to enjoy the gift of life. We may often feel the fear stemming from a consistently updated news feed of unfortunate events, but the fact that we are still around is evidence that there are enough positive reinforcers encoding themselves into our memories and helping us overcome challenges. There is a reason it worked for the British in 1939 and a reason it should work today. We can’t forget the importance of seeing the glass as half full and rosily running along. — espitzer@indiana.edu
(09/20/11 11:47pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The time will come on Friday, gotta get down on Friday.Friday marks the day that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will ask for full United Nation status for Palestinian statehood and independence through a unilateral declaration.Unilateralism is what Abbas is presenting as the path to peace in the Middle East.However, just as it would be in any other city, state, country or continent in the world, the path to peace requires a partner — in this case, one that is ready to recognize Israel through negotiation.From before the day it was established, Israel proved that it was ready to work toward peace. Even before Israel was declared as a state, the U.N. proposed a partition plan to split the territory that would be known as Israel into two separate states: Israel and Palestine. Israel accepted the partition, but Palestine rejected it, refusing to recognize the state of Israel. Since the day it was established, Israel has fought seven wars for self-defense, faced countless terrorist attacks, made several sacrifices including evacuations with no counter offer, and has tried to find a peaceful solution while defending its right to exist among its neighbors. The country managed to accomplish this — twice — with Egypt and Jordan, states that were willing to recognize Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. However, despite repeated efforts, Israel has failed to find a partner on the Palestinian side and has instead found violence and a stern unwillingness for negotiations or compromise.In 1993, the Oslo Accords created hope for a potential Palestinian peace partner for Israel. The newly established Palestinian Authority agreed to recognize Israel and move forward in peace. Israel began to turn over administration of the territories where 98 percent of Palestinians lived and pulled out of those areas.The agreement to recognize Israel was short lived, however, and immediately after Israel left the territories, violence erupted from the West Bank, marking the beginning of the second Intifada in 2000.Facing countless terrorist attacks between 2000 and 2005, Israelis living in Jewish settlements along the borders of Gaza and the West Bank were forced to leave their homes. Israel withdrew from Gaza and was still met by daily rocket attacks fired from the area. Children in Sderot still, to this day, have been conditioned to run to the nearest bomb shelter after hearing the alarm that means a rocket will strike in 15 seconds. What Israel hoped would be recognized as a gesture of goodwill to Palestine instead became a launching pad for violence.The Oslo Accords are only one example of the many times that Israel has tried making negotiations but has failed to find a peace partner willing to simply recognize Israel.Nothing concrete can be gained by the U.N.’s unilateral move in acknowledging the statehood of Palestine. Since when are borders decided by a signed slip of paper instead of cooperation between two parties?How does the Palestinian Authority expect the Unilateral Declaration of Statehood to be supported when it pursues an association with Hamas, a terrorist organization that has called for the complete destruction of Israel and even the destruction of the United States? The peace process may finally move forward once Israel is recognized as a state and has a negotiating partner that is not run by a terrorist organization whose ultimate goal is to destroy the state and its people. Lasting negotiations require partnership. Thus, the Palestinian Authority must start acting as a responsible partner and not a unilateral entity that takes all of Israel’s concessions and offers nothing in return. Incitement, violence and failure to recognize Israel must cease before a two-state solution is plausible.As Friday approaches and the U.N. unilateral vote arrives, expect the United States to do everything it can to get the peace talks back on a constructive path, even if that means vetoing the Palestinian’s unilateral declaration of statehood in the Security Council. We must continue to support achieving peace through lasting cooperation between responsible parties.— Espitzer@indiana.edu
(09/07/11 1:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Seemed we got the job done.Party all day, party all night. We were greeted by red cup remnants and barbecue residue scattered along our route to class Tuesday after Labor Day. Five minutes behind and two aspirin later, we were counting down to tailgate time.It took until only 11:01 p.m. Monday for curiosity to get the best of a friend, who invoked the trivial question, “what did we celebrate?”It’s more than a few hot dogs, Heinekens and hangovers. Labor Day is the day we honor the American worker.When 10,000 laborers marched in Union Square on Sept. 5, 1882, employed union workers came together to celebrate the working man, the holiday we now know as our first long weekend on the academic calendar.Determined to jump start the American economy, labor workers in the late 1800s worked 12-hour days at minimum wage in conditions our generation wouldn’t consider. With the idea of work breaks and job perks eliminated, they never lost the determination to make do in dismal economic times and somehow support their families. There is no arguing that these American workers needed a day to enjoy a round of Sink the Biz and receive an appreciation card. Today, you can’t ignore the deficit if you tried. Even if you ran from the news headlines, you can’t help but feel it in your lighter wallets, your parents’ finances or even your friends’ sacrifices. Scrimmaging on job searches and struggling with spending, the American workers are back to signing waivers in order to make do.Living la vida loca in our wonderful college bubble, it’s hard to remember what awaits us on the outside. If you are lucky enough to snag a job, the benefits won’t be as dreamy in today’s mad-money world as earning a college degree promised they would be.Labor Day serves a purpose. It is an office conference call for all, a reminder on our desks and a highlighted note in our reading. Work may be laborious, but a position is a privilege. The days of high demand for workers have dwindled, reminding us to never take an offer for granted.If you are employed, give yourself a pat on the back. If you are living the college student dream, don’t forget why you go to class. If you are waiting for the perfect offer, drop the superiority and start at the bottom of the ladder. Don’t forget the workers who were driven by determination, dodging the doozies to ultimately earn the prize. Don’t disregard today’s workforce, sacrificing the glamorous benefits to keep their spot on the invite list. Forget the pity and acknowledge your average worker with a little more respect.Take a day off to celebrate summer and soak up the fun, but not at the expense of forgetting why we take off for the workers. In the real world, the lucky ones on payroll can’t simply plan their schedule so they can sleep past noon.We can only hope that our IU diplomas will stand out among all the others and admit us to the workforce. Take those aspirin, along with a seat in class, and pick up some determination so that you will one day once again have the privilege of taking Labor Day off. — Espitzer@indiana.edu
(05/02/11 2:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Anyone enjoying a beautiful afternoon at the Sample Gates was in for an unexpected surprise at precisely 12:07 p.m. Friday. Pedestrians were caught off guard when “Firework” by Katy Perry started playing and more than 100 students joined in a choreographed dance.Dustin Stephan, a dance instructor in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, combined his beginning hip-hop class, two beginning social dance classes and one intermediate social dance class to put together the flash mob. “It was my goal to give a performance opportunity to my students that they wouldn’t normally be involved in,” Stephan said. “I had seen a couple of really great flash mobs online and wanted to stage something similar for the IU campus, give the opportunity for people to witness something here at Indiana University that they might not see otherwise.”Stephan added choreography from the classes into the flash mob dance that was related to the concepts and steps that he taught in the classroom. He said he hoped that having a flash mob at the Sample Gates would be a good way to give his students an opportunity to perform that was far from ordinary.“For me, a flash mob breaks the barrier of what is considered traditional performance and blurs the lines between spectator and performer,” Stephan said. “In this digital age of mass media, creative approaches to performance are needed to vie for an engaging audience.”Participants danced to a medley of four songs including “Firework” by Katy Perry, “Opposites Attract” by Michael Jackson and Paula Abdul, “Till the World Ends” by Britney Spears and “This is Indiana” by Brice Fox and Daniel Weber.Pedestrians, such as senior Nimrod Ginsburg, were pleasantly surprised.“I had no idea what was happening but more and more people kept joining and it was crazy,” Ginsburg said. “I’ve never seen something like this before, only on ‘Modern Family.’”Dancers, including senior Michelle Crain, were very excited for the highly anticipated performance.“We have been practicing ever since late February for this. We were really excited for it to finally happen,” Crain said. “It was really thrilling. I didn’t expect this many people and we never practiced it with so many people so this was awesome.”Some dancers, including sophomore Taryn Rosenberg, were glad to add their participation in the flash mob to their list of memorable experiences at IU.“I got to cross it off my bucket list,” Rosenberg said. “It was so exciting to see how people gathered and our hard work really paid off.” Some audience members, like sophomore Alyssa Lapin, were let in on the secret.“I came to watch my best friend. She has been practicing at home for weeks and it was really exciting to see the real-life performance,” Lapin said. “It was honestly so much bigger than I expected.”Stephan said he was happy all the effort led to the successful final performance.“It was exciting for me to see so many spectators congregate around the mob and enjoy the students’ work,” Stephan said. “I’m extremely proud of all of the work the students put in to create such an amazing performance.”
(04/29/11 2:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The “Driving Change: Greening the Automotive Workforce” conference exploring the current issues and evolving transformations in the auto industry will take place in Michigan on May 3 and 4. The Indiana Business Research Center at the Kelley School of Business will present research findings at the conference.Research presentations, tours of General Motors facilities and production sites and examinations of energy-efficient vehicles will be included in the conference.An 18-month study led by the U.S. Department of Labor will be unveiled at the event. The study was compiled by the IBRC in cooperation with Labor Market Information offices in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, the Center for Automotive Research and Case Western Reserve University.“Michigan, Ohio and Indiana have seen half of their auto sector jobs disappear over the past decade, and many of those won’t be returning,” said Jerry Conover, director of the IBRC. “The jobs that will be in demand will require different sets of skills and knowledge to make and sell the vehicles tomorrow’s consumers will want. This study clarifies what occupations will be in demand and how today’s workers can make the transition to those jobs.”Event directors said they hope to interest a diverse group of attendees from both the public and private sector workforces and lead them in training programs with economic development educators and employment sectors.“The conference should be useful to anyone who needs to prepare for the transitions in the industry,” Conover said.Since the researchers who conducted the study said they believe the auto industry will never be as big as it used to be, speakers will examine the industry’s future.“We’re seeing new hires, as well as an effort to infuse green skills to incumbent workers throughout the industry — and beyond,” said Kristin Dziczek, director of the Labor and Industry Group at CAR.The conference is meant to provide attendees with information that will help them prepare for the changes the industry will face while also grasping the tools needed to find jobs inside and outside the industry, Dziczek said. Anyone, including manufacturers, government relations specialists, economic developers, college developers and government official, is encouraged to take part in the conference.Registration for the weekend is $200 and is still open. For more information, visit online at www.drivingworkforcechange.com.
(04/22/11 2:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the midst of a back-to-back campus tour, Jamie Tworkowski, creator of the nonprofit organization To Write Love On Her Arms, took to the stage, wearing the word “Love” across his sweatshirt.Tworkowski and musician Ryan O’Neal presented music and personal stories from the stage of Alumni Hall.“It’s a privilege to be here, and it means just as much that you want to be here to talk about the things we sometimes don’t talk about,” Tworkowski said. “It’s fun to talk about this thing that happened almost by accident five years ago when trying to help a friend.”Tworkowski invited O’Neal to perform several songs for the crowd as a start to his lecture.“Music has a unique ability to remind us that we are alive, operating with a sense of urgency and passion. Music allows for honesty and reflection,” Tworkowski said.After performing four songs featuring vocals, piano, ukulele and some participation from the crowd, O’Neal thanked students for coming to the event.“Performing with Jamie is one of my favorite things to do with my music. It’s such a wonderful thing to play music for people as wonderful and genuine as you are.” O’Neal said.A short video introduced the organization, which is dedicated to helping those who suffer from depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide attempts. Made to help people find help, support and love, the organization was founded after Tworkowski lost a friend to suicide and watched a different friend struggle through addiction.Sharing his personal journey, Tworkowski explained that his organization began by selling T-shirts to help fund a friend’s recovery process. When bands, including Switchfoot and Anberlin, wore shirts at concerts to help spread the message, Tworkowski’s organization took off.When the T-shirts became popular, TWLOHA began receiving messages from those in need of help and it began an online network.Tworkowski and his team in Florida have responded to more than 100,600 messages and donated more than $500,000 to treatment and recovery organizations. “This is not a black, white or emo conversation. This is a part of the human experience. When you hear the words suicide or addiction, we relate in different ways, but we can all relate to the idea of pain,” Tworkowski said.“Two out of three people struggling with depression don’t get help and have to deal with it alone, and that should never happen. Our stories deserve other characters and we need other people, even if that means sharing something we might not like about ourselves.”Chris Meno, a counselor from IU Counseling and Psychological Services, shared information about CAPS and suicide prevention. She spoke about the importance of being honest and using resources to get through college, encouraging students not to feel alone and seek help. Local organizations provided information on suicide prevention, and merchandise was available for students. Tworkowski and O’Neil stayed to talk and meet with students.After sharing his personal story and the success of his organization, Tworkowski finished by sharing a quote by Paul Young about the power of having a community in hard times. “You can have an impressive number of Facebook friends, but you deserve the people that can walk through your story with you,” Tworkowski said.“We each have a story that is priceless, sacred and incredibly unique that will never be replicated or replaced.”