American, even Texan sized guilt

En route to my French class tonight I swung by the New World Metro to grab a panini. A lovely girl in her early twenties helped me with a big smile. Being the talkative guy that I am I asked her about her accent because I couldn't place it. (English was a second language, but it was excellent). She bantered back with "guess". I started thinking, looking to the ceiling... then she interjected with "Iraqi".

Now I've met a number of Iraqis here that came over during the war with Iran. They are always quick make some distinction I can't even remember now that lets me know they were part of a group that left ages ago. So I ask this girl, when did you leave Iraq?

She smiles, "About 2 years".
"How do you like it?"
"I love it here, great country."
"I really like it here as well."
"Oh yeah, where are you from?"

...hummm.

"I'm from the US... err Texas"

Then the gut shot - "I guess were not supposed to get along?" she tries to keep the smile friendly.

She tells me "I've lived through too many wars", "It's hell when you don't know if you will live through the day", "I got into Jordan during the start of the war, and then came here... I'm one of the lucky ones."

I pathetically retort "I didn't vote for *him*". The guilt has contorted my face. She tells me not to worry about it, "I'm over it" she tells me.

How can anyone be "over it"? How does someone young and beautiful stay young and beautiful when they deal with what she has?

So much of the pain she has dealt with is the result of my country, particularly my state's most famous... err infamous export. damn. I think to myself, "maybe I should invite her for a coffee?" Yeah, that'll do, I'll by you a coffee to assuage my guilt for my country destroying your country, home, and probably causing the death of your family members...

So I tell her she has all of my respect and I take my panini and walk back into my ridiculously comfortable lifestyle that has never been threatened or needed me to fight for it.

Independent of who I vote for, I am still responsible for what America does. It has a government "for the people, *by* the people". And I believe the last few years will leave a stain on all Americans' conscience when history begins to judge... as it has begun to do already.

Mas Kiwiana!

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Originally uploaded by treyguinn.

Photos from this past weekend. Card games, Mt. Ruapeu, roadtrip, and south coast of Welli sunset - killer weekend.

Spring and love is in the air...

No, not a woman, or any other option for that matter! Wellington and New Zealand. A weekend filled with good friends, hiking, reading, beautiful snow-capped mountains and a perfect ending.

Monique (a great new friend) and I headed out to the south coast of Welli, climbed all over the rocks, watched the sunset, and ate authentic fish and chips. Cruised through a beautiful part of the city I never see, which reminding me over and over of San Francisco. The harsh winter really is losing it's grip. The orange light of the sunsets warm my face and radiate into my heart.

This weekend was great as it re-engendered that "I love being here" feeling in my chest.

Only a couple snamps, but the photos are forthcoming.

Kiwiana

Kiwiana
Originally uploaded by treyguinn.

Spring is poking her head up again... Will she decide to stick with us?

Soul, baby!

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Originally uploaded by treyguinn.

Shot a great show with one hell of a singer, Lisa Tomlins. She gets a thumbs up.

Ass-end of the world...

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Originally uploaded by treyguinn.

I love the public art around Wellington, especially a series of concrete poetry and prose - this one in particular is a favorite.

Spoiling myself.

Nobody can spoil you like yourself! I've gone out and purchased a new lens, a Nikkor 28-70 f/2.8, which kicks serious photo butt.

Here are some photos I took with it this weekend (added to my views of wellington set on flickr):

Cool game

I spend entirely too much time looking at stuff on the ol' inter-web we have, but this has to be my favorite game yet: Line Rider

Giver 'er a spin.

Runnin' the rat race...

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Originally uploaded by treyguinn.

Working, learning a bit of french, rock climbing again, and snapping a some photos. Pics available on my flickr site including Mattafix and some new shots from around wellington.

Nothing new but a novel definition of spring, 42 degrees (or 6 for other Celsius users) as the southerlies whale on this wee town.