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.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Mas Kiwiana!
Photos from this past weekend. Card games, Mt. Ruapeu, roadtrip, and south coast of Welli sunset - killer weekend.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
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.
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.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Ass-end of the world...
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):
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.
Giver 'er a spin.
Runnin' the rat race...
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.
Nothing new but a novel definition of spring, 42 degrees (or 6 for other Celsius users) as the southerlies whale on this wee town.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Spring is threatening
According to the tulips in the botanical gardens near my house - spring is upon us here in NZ. According to my friend the thermometer... not even close. Pics Here
Sporty Photos
Here's a grouping (I shrink from saying portfolio as I have so few in this category) of old photos I submitted for some "outdoorsy" work.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Green with envy...
Damn, hearing stories of this year's ACL Fest makes me miss Austin!
I hope everyone had a blast, you lucky dogs.
I hope everyone had a blast, you lucky dogs.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Mas photos
BTW, I uploaded some photos about 2 weeks ago. (I'm so on top of this blog) Shots from both my first weekend back up in Auckland and from Taupo weekend over my birthday, available here: http://flickr.com/photos/treyguinn/sets
Checkin' in
I'm 28, but haven't changed much. My plan to take a photo a day, despite the inherent genius I still see in the idea, fell apart within 4 days.
I wrote this on my birthday:
"Today is my birthday, the second overseas. Since my last birthday I've spent 6 days in the U.S., and the telling emotion is the lack there of. A lack of surprise, unease, or a sense of being out of the ordinary. The longer I spend away, the further I move into what I had seen as the great blue beyond, yet the less exotic it feels."
Other than a fab weekend in Taupo for my weekend and a bit of snowboarding I've been buried with work (the IT kind). But, I'm shooting a fashion show and a concert this weekend, French classes going well, and my new flat mates are swell. Not to mention, the weather has begun to threaten spring, and that is fabulous news for a boy from Texas that feels the cold like a thin man.
No big news as I'm just pushing through the rat race.
BTW, My new address (so that I can be showered with postcards):
155 Grant Rd.
Thorndon
Wellington 6001
New Zealand
I wrote this on my birthday:
"Today is my birthday, the second overseas. Since my last birthday I've spent 6 days in the U.S., and the telling emotion is the lack there of. A lack of surprise, unease, or a sense of being out of the ordinary. The longer I spend away, the further I move into what I had seen as the great blue beyond, yet the less exotic it feels."
Other than a fab weekend in Taupo for my weekend and a bit of snowboarding I've been buried with work (the IT kind). But, I'm shooting a fashion show and a concert this weekend, French classes going well, and my new flat mates are swell. Not to mention, the weather has begun to threaten spring, and that is fabulous news for a boy from Texas that feels the cold like a thin man.
No big news as I'm just pushing through the rat race.
BTW, My new address (so that I can be showered with postcards):
155 Grant Rd.
Thorndon
Wellington 6001
New Zealand
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