Women and Networking: Maintain Your Safe Space

I remember as a young professional that I was in awe of a new up-and-comer who within a few months of starting at the company was already playing golf with a senior leader.  But then I realized these bonds are more easily created among men, where there were no risks of complications (for lack of a better word) or HR violations.  My female colleague shared the same sentiments with me.  A woman trying to establish herself in a man’s world is automatically up against a lot and every female professional has experienced what it is like to go against the grain.  But networking is still part of the game and despite challenges, we have to do it.  We also have to do it with safety in mind.

The most important and unique job advice I have ever received was from a speaker at a job seeker’s seminar for arts professionals.  He gave advice I had never heard before and have never heard again—it has stuck with me ever since.  He said this to everyone in the audience, not just women.  But as a female professional, I took heart to this advice even more.  The speaker said very plainly, “If you are ever in an interview or a situation where you feel unsafe, get up and leave.”

Sometimes walking away is the right thing to do.  As you progress in your career and continue to build your network, remember these safety tips when networking:

1. If you don’t know the person colloquially, they should never approach you with anything more than a handshake.  They should always be professional.  You are not friends.  If the person acts in a manner that is not professional, that should be a red flag that the relationship is not worth your time.
2. Never stray from the agreed meeting place.  If the person calls last minute to change the location with whatever excuse, try and reschedule.  Politely decline any requests to go somewhere else after the meeting.  Always pick a public meeting space like a coffee house.  Remember that you both agreed to this meeting place and time beforehand.  Any requests for changes to location can be a red flag for bad intentions.
3. Listen to your gut. If things feel unsafe, leave or find a staff member who can help.  More restaurant owners now are providing training to their employees for intervening when their patrons are in dangerous situations[i].  It’s okay to distance yourself from this person.  You will find other people who will truly support you in your career journey.

Good luck and stay safe out there, ladies.  I believe in you.

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[i] https://www.standupresources.com/stand-up-campaign/stand-up-training

https://www.thecenteronline.org/education/community-education/raise-the-bar/

https://www.ksat.com/news/2018/03/09/local-companies-using-domestic-violence-training-to-teach-employees-to-look-for-signs

When Artificial Intelligence Takes Over the World

When AI takes over the world, I see an explosion of small businesses as workers decide to take charge of their own professional destinies and launch their own companies.  Entrepreneurial pursuits will become more important and may one day be the norm.  This will give people an outlet to pursue their passions or turn hobbies into careers.  It is an exciting time to find something you are passionate about.  The gig economy will continue to be robust as people who are in transition will need a means to pay the bills. 

The flip side of the coin is that there will be fewer slots of traditional roles at traditional companies as automation becomes more prevalent.  Jobs will be created to manage AI because every robot needs its Chandler Handler to make sure it doesn’t misbehave.  But AI-based job growth will not outpace job displacement; companies are only investing all these resources in AI with the expectation of saving money on headcount in the long run, which, in turn, boosts their bottom lines. 

If work in the new age leads us away from the traditional 9-to-5 job, and if we have an entrepreneurship boom, being your own boss means that people will mostly be able to work when they want and how they want (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LiOOzEOrx8).  AI could make it much easier for people to start their own business, leveling the playing field.  This shift could redefine the work day for generations in the same way the Industrial Revolution made the 9-5 fashionable.  In the new norm, we could be returning to pre-Industrial work schedules.    

More people will be able to marry a purpose/passion with career.  There could be a resurgence and revival of artisan crafts and other dying arts (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dro3wVNQmE4) as people move towards work that is meaningful and fulfilling to them.  As a result, a premium will be placed on expertly crafted, handmade goods made with an artistic legacy or storied history (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRFaNF4HMyI).  It may be a new renaissance of sorts.  The implications for cuisine, music, entertainment, sports, literature, artistic crafts, and even education could be profound.  Personally, I’m hopeful for the continuation of Japanese calligraphy ink, which is a made with a manual and physically demanding process using traditional methods passed down for thousands of years (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=str2PVworH4). 

The AI transition that is starting will be a rough one as people will be forced to redefine their livelihoods.  It will not be easy.  Am I supposed to let it scare me into quitting my life in frustration and joining a monastery?  Don’t tempt me.  The robots may take over almost everything, but they cannot take our hearts.  “The heart is the highest order of logic and understanding.  The heart is connected to an intuition that’s not bounded to time and space; Some of the biggest questions for the heart unfold as a path” (The Power of the Heart https://youtu.be/mVq2pyIIwrY?si=PRQExXyzKv1NpSEI).  Perhaps AI is the tool that we need to uncover this fabled higher order that mystics have been pontificating about for millennia.  Maybe heart is what we need to expand our brain capacity and start using the idle 60% when we jailbreak our hidden X-men powers[i], because AI is freeing up our energy to realize our higher selves—just as agriculture allowed civilizations to advance when hunter-gatherer time was freed up from foraging.  And if the robot apocalypse comes, heart may be the one thing that saves us all.  

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[i] Watch The Secret of Water.

The Three Tragedies

Act I

“Threescore and ten I can remember well,

Within the volume of which time I have seen

Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night

Hath trifled former knowings.”

It began with a fire.  It was a melancholy night near the end of January.  The winter rains stilled after a long and delicate lament and the winds followed suit in quiet acquiescence.  It was one of those rare occasions that I chose to peak outside the blinds to catch one final glimpse of the day and the storm before turning in for the night.  My eyes met not a peaceful, dark sky, but one alight with smoke and flame.  The sirens I heard rushing by earlier suddenly made sense.  A home was burning a mere stone’s throw away.  I flung the front door open to the scent of ash and smoke.  I could almost feel the heat reaching through the chilly air.  After shouting about the fire to my mother, we began frantically packing in case the fire grew.   If the winds picked up, it certainly would have.

Something strange happens when you are forced to flee (or prepare for the possibility of it).  You start to home in on the things that are absolutely necessary, while abandoning the rest.  I was surprised at how much I was willing to leave behind, even if they were on my evacuation list.  Amidst the rushed packing, the frequent glimpses out the door and windows to check the fire, and formulating an evacuation strategy for my family, were thoughts of “let it go,” and “it can burn.”  The fire was contained within the hour with no other incidents, but I was left with a strange sense of letting go.

Act II

 “If you can look into the seeds of time

And say which grain will grow and which will not,

Speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear

Your favors nor your hate”

February opened with a golden fervor, verdant and hinting of spring.  It was another mundane day spent poring over routine spreadsheets and files, tidying up entries, and calculating numbers.  The certainty of numbers and the humdrum rhythm they produce always provided a certain comfort.  My phone buzzed.  “It’s stage 3 cancer,” my uncle wrote in a group text.  Not one week later, we learned my great-aunt, who has been battling a terminal brain cancer since last year, has a few months left.  Cancer is a formidable enemy.  It has touched relatives and claimed a few, and, perhaps, soon, shall claim a few more.  Nobody lives forever.  Sooner or later, I must let them go, but I was never quite prepared to let them go so soon.  You start to remember all the important roles they played in your life, how much you rely on them, and how ill-prepared you are to face the world alone.

Act III

“Hie thee hither,

That I may pour my spirit in thine ear

And chastise with the valor of my tongue

All that impedes thee from the golden round,

Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem

To have thee crowned withal”

Foreboding clouds settled in, casting stubborn tones of gray and white that spoke of loss and longing.  Only a day later the hospital called.  My aunt was losing her days-long battle with COVID and ventilators were not helping.  We were separated by a city and quarantine precautions.  How do you let go of someone you cannot even visit?  After being widowed, she lived the past 20 years largely alone with multiple ailments.  She had no kids.  The last year of her life was an especially painful one.  She suffered her third stroke when quarantines began—the pandemic was just picking up speed.  After a yearlong paralysis, she succumbed to the virus and left this world.  I told myself I would visit her when the pandemic is over, but plague got to her first.  I take comfort knowing that she did not die alone.  Doctors and nurses stayed with her.  I appreciate the diligence and the care the medical staff exhibited and them standing in as our proxies when we could not be there with her in her last moments.  “She looked peaceful,” the nurse said on the phone, “we prayed for her.”

Sea Change 2020

            2020 has been a throwaway year.  Most of the world experienced intermittent lockdowns in attempts to stifle the coronavirus.  Over 1.8 million people around the world have died from this disease, which means millions more family and friends are changed forever because they lost a loved one.  Many feel like they had to put their lives on hold, while being worn out from quarantine and sanitation procedures.  Many feel like their livelihoods have been eclipsed, with their paychecks at the mercy of flip-flopping policies and mandates.  Many are scared to live the way they normally do because racist attitudes are more prominent than should be in this modern age, where we should have reached equality already.  Exhausted nurses and doctors on the frontlines of the fight, who have been working in overdrive since March, feel disrespected because many ignore guidelines that prevent the disease from spreading and killing more.  In the meantime, ICU beds and morale are running out.

            This sea-change year has brought waves of change to countless individual lives, positive or not.  All the extra hours at home have given people a better look at what matters in life and the gift of time with their family.  People around the world have gotten to know neighbors for the first time and have built a new sense of community with various balcony performances and applauses for healthcare workers.  People have reflected more on their lives and how they want to live it.  Many created new goals and made drastic changes to align their lives to these goals.  I have heard personal or third party accounts of people having a child, getting married, getting divorced, buying homes, developing new business opportunities, quitting jobs and switching careers, moving cities, losing loved ones, getting fatal diagnoses, or surviving cancer treatment. 

            Despite the year’s misgivings, there has also been a lot of good. Companies stepped up to provide a smorgasbord of free services to the public to make quarantine easier.  Hundreds, if not thousands, of sewers and makers sewed face masks for donations to hospitals and other organizations.  People provided resources for charities, like food banks, to serve the needy, who, under various circumstances in the pandemic, no longer have the resources to get food on the table.  Many organized drive-by motorcades to safely celebrate those occasions that can no longer be celebrated under one roof.  Professional and amateur entertainers started new and reimagined projects to bring much-needed levity, music, theatre, and virtual dance parties to millions of households in quarantine.  People invented new ways to connect with others while apart and some launched new business opportunities in the process. 

            For me, I have been taking advantage of the freedom to slow down; and started gravitating to things and people that bring me joy.  I’d like to move away from those activities and relationships that no longer serve me.  I was one of those Rosie the Riveters that made free face masks for donation.  Doing things like that make me feel a tiny bit closer to the path I am here on this earth for, whatever that path may be.  In the future, when I look back at 2020, I want to think of all the things I accomplished instead of the hardships I endured.  The year was tough, but I’ll live to tell the tale.  All the bad and sacrifice will just be a blip in my memory.  I had a productive year of learning new things.  From virtual shows and celebrations, to remote work, to haircutting, to the overindulgence in television, to sewing, to Mom’s online birthday, it was a year of firsts.  I think all the hours spent holed up afforded me time for self-reflection.  I understand myself more and what I need in life, and joined the thousands who left a job for another one that is more in line with new goals.  I am especially grateful for the extra time spent with my family, being there for them in their moments of need, cancer or not.  Working at home has given me the flexibility to fulfill my responsibilities as a daughter, grand-daughter, niece…and perhaps being in those roles are my greatest purpose.  I know that when all of this is said and done, the world will go back to normal and so will our lives, with gears in motion constantly churning busy schedules, deadlines, events, and new responsibilities.  It was really nice to just stop, breathe, and feel.  With the churning on pause, the streets became quiet, polluted skies cleared, and nature returned to “places normally overrun by people.” I will probably never get the time with my family that I have now, so I’m just going to appreciate the time we are spending together and savor all those small moments we shared.

            There was a lot of grief this year and it is only right to acknowledge all the loss suffered around the globe.  Despite all the bad that unfolded in 2020, it was also a year that revealed the peak of humanity’s advancement, fortitude, and kindness that we all achieved in this “magical, modern world.”  A Ladders blog post put it best: we live in an age where we have the technological innovation, medical advancement, and scientific know-how to dampen the effects of this plague compared to historic ones.  “We communicated across global borders, cooperated without self-interest, and covered our basic needs, all in the space of weeks and months.  It is a remarkable achievement in the face of a great catastrophe.”  With the cooperation of government, science, and medicine, we developed an effective vaccine for a new virus in record time (mere months) which was not thought possible before.  Unlike the ages of Spanish Flu or Polio, we have in our era the capabilities to connect with loved ones and work remotely during quarantine to keep spirits up and large parts of the economy running.  And this plague will not end in the typical war or famine.  Sectors that had job losses will recover relatively quickly because there is a lot of pent-up demand for travel, entertainment, and restaurant dining.  There’s a lot to mourn in 2020, but there’s a lot more to be grateful for.  Because of our ingenuity and tenacity as a civilization, we are that much luckier than the generations before us who suffered plagues.  The best wisdom today came from a local news segment with a pastor: we already possess the talent and strength to get through this and any hardship; these skills got us to this point in our lives and will get us over this bump to the next level.

My Quest for the Infinite Shape: An Ode to the Mysterious Void of Space and Time

Could there be such a thing as an infinite shape, where boundaries are a mirage and the end simply becomes the beginning again?  If time had form, what shape would it take?  I guess it’s hard for our humble minds to fathom a world beyond three dimensions.  We are bound to three dimensions and we see all shapes as finite, with a definite beginning and end.  The volume of a sphere, the size of a car, and the surface area of a chair are all measurable.  Perhaps if we break outside of the confines of our three dimensions, there is a way to imagine indefinite shapes—like looking into two mirrors set facing each other to reveal an infinite world.

The idea of infinity amazes me.  Couldn’t understanding infinity on a higher level be the key to understanding the universe?  If the universe has an infinite form and the end is the beginning, I could be in two places at once, like a superhero with quantum powers.  The universe could be repeating itself like a fractal for all we know, but a girl can dream.

The Arts Remain Relevant in a Futuristic Society

Stephen Hawking recently predicted that humans will have to leave earth in 1000 years because our actions will create an inhospitable planet.  Never mind that our collective ignorance is leading to the destruction of the only world we have known.  Only time will tell if Hawking’s foreboding is accurate.  With this in mind, Stephen Hawking is not to be ignored.  If the average lifespan is 100 years, it means that we would have about ten generations to figure out how to facilitate one of the greatest human migrations in history.  It would be an undertaking of Interstellar proportions—a task we are currently not equipped to do.  It is heartbreaking to think that a future generation may never know the grandeur of the Roman Colosseum or see the emotion behind Monet’s paintings or feel the excitement of a Puccini finale.  We have made much progress as a species and our collective body of work—the knowledge that we have developed—is our greatest achievement.  Our very survival will depend on it.  Our artistic history is an inherent part of our body of work—our cultural heritage.  It would be a mistake not to bring it with us.  And I believe it will continue to help shape our journey, wherever we end up.  Throughout history, art has played a major role in our cultural identity.  Here are some examples of the arts in action.

Art allows us to connect with our emotions in a healthy and constructive way.  Art21’s Season 8 episode on Chicago showed how the Dorchester Arts District used arts engagement to turn a violent neighborhood around by incorporating shared arts spaces in the community.  Founder Theaster Gates believes that when art and culture are present, it paves the way for new possibilities and changes communities.  The neighborhood has already seen improvements.

There are studies that show how music aids learning development in children, enhancing their ability to understand concepts absorbed in the classroom.  Studies have also shown that dopamine is released when people listen to music, which is why music therapy is so promising.  Non-profit organization Resounding Joy uses music therapy to help veterans and their children cope with PTSD and improve emotional health.  Maintaining emotional health is also important for astronauts.  A BBC news segment showed how space station astronauts actively play music in space; psychiatrists recommend music for them because it is necessary for mental health. When living in what is basically a vacuum for long periods, the isolation can have adverse emotional effects.  In Predictive Analytics, Eric Siegel notes that music helps expedite stroke patient recovery and improves mood.  Memory and attention span are also improved.  Research shows that arts and music help people develop new neurons, which may explain the neurological benefits.  If you want to keep your mind malleable and fluid, learn a new language or pick up a new instrument.

Art spurs creativity, which is what people need to innovate effectively.  Arts engagement helps with creative problem solving, speaking, teamwork, and self-confidence.  IDEO believes that creativity is what keeps organizations ahead in the market.  IDEO leaders explained how employees use improv in team building exercises to spur creativity.  Improv is relevant to IDEO for several reasons: teams are expected to listen, defer judgement, use playacting as a form of prototyping, and be compelling storytellers—all totems of the IDEO method.  Storytelling makes strategy accessible because it engages people.  An increasing number of business schools, like Stanford, are requiring MBA students to learn and apply management techniques through role playing.  Some even record their students in the process, so they can be reviewed and critiqued.  Why the drama?  The most innovative b-schools know that these exercises help strengthen soft skills that senior leaders need to manage successfully.

The arts do not just help with soft skills and creativity, they also have practical applications.  Rocket scientists are looking at origami to find creative ways to fold satellites for transport and unfold them in orbit.  On a smaller scale, the pill robot makers already used origami successfully to develop new non-invasive medical treatments.  A swallowed pill contains a small robot that would unfold itself to perform small procedures inside a patient, eliminating the need for heavy-duty surgery.

On a more innate level, art is the direct representation of the human ability to create.  Creativity is the essence of human intelligence.  Being creative is part of who we are as people—it is in our DNA.  And art fosters creativity, allowing us to develop our minds and engage with the world on a higher level.  That is why art is so fundamental to our existence.  It was the first humans that exercised their creative abilities to realize the power of toolmaking, using those tools to hunt, gather, and defend.  Early humans used art and music to hold a society together.  This developed their ability to create and innovate: they conveyed complex ideas in a way the Neanderthals could never communicate, sharing stories and ideas.  Coordinating and engaging.  This creativity helped human civilizations around the world rise.  Anthropologists believe that without these advanced forms of social communication, Neanderthals fell behind and became extinct.

We preserve our cultural identity through various art forms.  Keeping tradition alive through art is one of the most powerful ways art remains significant.  Countless cultural traditions, like artisanship, language, and customs have remained relevant because its art is still alive.  The resulting art form is not only a symbol of cultural tradition, it is a clue to the history of our past—just as song connects us to the moods and stories of the past.  Relics from cultures that are long gone continue to tell the story of their people, whether they are educating the public in museums or studied in detail by researchers.  It is amazing what an old vase can tell us about how the people lived by answering questions like what kind of paints were used, what was it used to hold, and what was the social status of its owner.  The National Yiddish Theatre-Folksbiene recognizes that culture can survive through art and is proactively using theater to preserve the Yiddish language.

Powerful Messages Are Conveyed Through Art

Though the arts can be considered ancillary, its absence can be deeply felt because it is so ingrained into the fabric of our humanity.  We do not need it to survive, but we all know that just surviving isn’t really living.  It is not a STEM discipline—though some art forms, like light and space, require a mix of all those.  It is the piece sitting squarely atop the pyramid that represents an elevated sense of fulfillment which rounds out our lives.  Without it, we cannot thrive.

 

 

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References

“Aesthetic force,” not rational thought, has created some of the most powerful changes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSmAsbbzcB0&list=FL9zOgmlZArgWBm1TPspf4Hw&index=28

Some of the world’s most powerful messages have been conveyed through art. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/95/Legendary_kiss_V%E2%80%93J_day_in_Times_Square_Alfred_Eisenstaedt.jpg

http://www.npr.org/2014/05/02/308950771/yiddish-culture-takes-center-stage?utm_source=npr_email_a_friend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20140523&utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_term=

“art offers a glimpse into the minds and imaginations of the people who create it.”
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/08/neolithic-orkney/smith-text?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_tw20140807ngm-stone&utm_campaign=Content&utm_content=sf4056364&utm_medium=spredfast&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=Brand&sf4056364=1

https://www.fastcompany.com/3045424/work-smart/what-it-takes-to-change-your-brains-patterns-after-age-25

The Mystique of Japanese Practices: Wisdom From My Studies Abroad

There is always that sense of hectic craze when one travels.  And when the trip is for a prestigious study abroad program, there is the added burden of trekking with school supplies and business suits.  For the record, school supplies include a too-heavy-for-travel laptop.  The symptoms are unmistakable: the heated rush of stressed travelers already overburdened by the weight of their possessions after the first ten minutes, heavy and hurried footsteps that crescendo with every arrival and departure, the nonverbal complaints expressed at the sight of security lines, the distant hums of aircraft which add to the predictable cacophony of the airport, and the growing excitement of fellow fliers at every mention of the destination.   Travel is a lot of work, but why we travel has much to do with our innate curiosity about the world.  We travel to experience something outside of the norm of our daily lives.  We travel to learn about other places and people.  We travel to explore other customs and traditions.  And when we travel for school, we get the added bonus of seeing the other side of the world through a special lens that zooms in on local business customs, professional practices, and social issues.

This time, I landed in Tokyo with my Corporate Governance class.  Our class had the privilege of gaining insights from local leaders that normal travelers would never access.  After all our company visits, I learned three important things about business in Japan: public opinion is a big component of legal cases, continuous innovation is a necessity even at the most archetypical companies, and external influence is a challenge in an increasingly global world.

At Nagashima Ohno, & Tsunematsu law firm, partner Akihisa Shiozaki discussed the Olympus accounting scandal as one of the lawyers involved in the case.  The most poignant takeaway from his discussion was that public opinion can make or break a case.  This was why his client, the former CEO of Olympus, went to the press about the fraud.  In Japan, suits have to win in the courts and in public opinion, or all effort is lost.  This is an interesting feature of the legal landscape in Japan and differs from the US legal system, where legality is more black and white.  The public opinion requirement adds a human dimension to legal cases that can represent an extra challenge for firms.  Laws can be easy to interpret, but people can be hard to convince given all their biases and perceptions.

At Toyota, one of the most archetypical companies, and creator of some of the most iconic business practices like Just-in-Time production, we learned about Toyota’s need and philosophy for continuous improvement.  The team shared with us their belief that innovation is the key to continuous improvement.  This idea embodies the Japanese idea of kaizen and it permeates every aspect of business at Toyota.  To achieve this, the company looks at core building blocks of products to find ways to simplify processes and add value for customers.  Each new model becomes the base for later models, with improvement sought at each new iteration of a product.  For example, the increased use of laser welding has made the new Prius body more responsive, which feels sportier to the driver.  Continuous improvement like this allows Toyota to stay relevant and keep making cars that are fun to drive.

At several of our company visits, we learned that it is difficult being an outsider in Japan.  It can be difficult to understand this, given the US culture of a melting pot society.  US organizations are more accepting of diverse opinions and outside influences.  In Japan, this is not so.  External board members are supposed to represent the independent voice in the corporations they serve, but are often disregarded.  Foreign executives often find they have little leverage in their companies because employees are loyal to certain Japanese leaders.  Foreign residents may never fit in or secure a future in Japan unless they speak the language.  Because of these obstacles, outsiders may find it difficult to do business successfully in Japan.

Despite all of the challenges in Japan, there are abundant opportunities.  Japanese ingenuity will pave the way for future growth.  Tokyo is such a strong financial center, with amazing industry, life, and energy.  I’ve only witnessed a slice of Japanese life, and while I don’t know if I’ll ever return to see the rest of it, I bring home a bit of Tokyo with me in the experiences I have gained.

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What I appreciate about the Japanese:
-Japanese efficiency and innovation
-Adherence to values and tradition
-Hospitality and respect
-Public toilets that actually invite you to sit down

Returning back home after all the hubbub of travel always requires an adjustment.  I re-learn to settle back in to the rhythm of my daily life—and the work that is waiting for me.  I catch up on my life, and, if I’m lucky, pick up right where I left off.  Of course, I am comforted to return to my loved ones and the life that I left behind.  After every trip, I always return appreciating home a bit more—grateful for the life that I lead, the people I share it with, and the opportunities I have seized.  And when that travel bug gets me again, I will be seizing the next opportunity to journey abroad once more.

The Sunset at the End of an Overcast Day

There is something in the density of the clouds that weighs heavily on the heart. Maybe it is too much time wrapped in solitude. Perhaps it is the synthesis of a year’s worth of graduate work. It was back-breaking hard work, but I am grateful for the experience and thankful for all the knowledge gained. Today was beautiful—warm and the air thick with moisture. The cloud cover was a welcome reprieve from the blistering heat of the last few days. But there is a lingering sense of forlornness that neither warmth nor the brilliant glow of sunset can cure. Perhaps it is the restlessness stirring inside of me.

Spain beckons. And there is a certain mystique to travel that holds all the promise of adventure and romance. There is romance in sailing the seven seas, or flying across one of them. I hope to see incredible things and find new inspiration. If serendipity permits, I’ll recover a part of myself that I had lost or did not know was missing. So off I go once again, with all the curiosity of a five-year-old…or a puppy.  Itinerary set.  Suitcase ready.  Eager to discover all that this next study abroad experience has to offer.

The Gravity of a Year is Immense

The gravity of a year is immense.  It is funny to think of our monthly activities, whether they are appointments, meetings, or bills, and see that they only count up to twelve occurrences.  Twelve seems so insignificant, even if it feels like we are constantly engaged in appointments, meetings, or bills.  And it is strange to think of all the events that have occurred in between these activities.

I look back at the last twelve months in awe of all the things I’ve learned, hurdles I’ve conquered, all the places I’ve traveled, the faces I’ve met, and the new friends I’ve made.   These accomplishments play so much significance to my journey.  Where I was a year ago is so different from where I am now.  I can’t hope for much, other than to keep learning and keep doing.  And to sit back and appreciate how far I’ve come.

Southern California Shut Down by Water Crisis

March 10, 2093

Southern California has run out of water.  Water restrictions that have been in effect for years were to no avail.  In an emergency move last Thursday, the state was forced to cut off the water supply to its residents following a ten-year drought that crippled the region.  The withering Colorado River has not been a major source of water for the state in many years.  The region relied heavily on Northern California for its water.  Any remaining water left in reservoirs are reserved for farming, government agencies, and important sectors such as defense, healthcare, and keystone manufacturing like food production.  Government agencies will receive water rations according to a specific pecking order, with the military and law enforcement at the top.  Any lake reservoirs operated as parks will be closed to the public indefinitely.  The gates to all reservoirs and water facilities are currently heavily guarded by military forces in anticipation of riots and water theft.

The Governor has declared a state of emergency.  It is is expected FEMA will deliver as much drinking water as it can get to residents in the next two days.  Rations for food and water will start with school children, seniors, patients with severe illness, women who are pregnant or nursing, and families with infants.  However, water shortage plagues most of the nation and most states do not have much water to spare.  Likewise, Northern California has already maxed out its quota on water transfers to Southern California and cannot provide more.  In previous years, Northern California had enough rainfall to make up for Southern California’s deficits and was able to shift the supply down to the southern region, but it has become difficult to spare water in recent years.  It was the Governor’s decision during an emergency meeting with officials that Northern California would stop the water allocations, citing it was important to protect the region’s large agricultural industry to curb growing food shortages.

Out of the state’s ten desalination plants, only one remains functional but is not operating at full capacity due to disrepair.  Because salt water is so corrosive, desalination plants require intensive maintenance on a daily basis.  Moving parts need to be replaced frequently and it does not help that the raw materials needed to manufacture these parts have become scarce.  The private companies that built and ran these plants were daunted by the costs to operate these facilities and eventually lost interest.  By the ’50s the nine failing plants were abandoned and left to ruin.

There has been major gridlock on the freeways.  A mass migration northward has begun; people are trying to seek refuge in wetter regions.  Authorities expect traffic to be backed up for days and advise against travel of any kind.  This situation is worsened with southbound traffic in San Diego, where Mexican authorities have closed their border, despite the long lines of cars and people trying to get in to the country.  Travel in to Mexico is suspended until further notice.  There are rumors that illegal border crossings have put many American lives at risk.  The Border Patrol has reported hearing gunfire, but it is unclear whether the shots were fired by authorities or bandits.  As of now, there are no reports that the disaster has caused any loss of life, although there have been dozens injured in car accidents, mostly caused by panicked drivers.  People are advised to stay home and wait for aid.   There is concern about the congestion and officials are already making plans to clear at least one lane for the military.

FEMA will need a clear path in to cities to deliver aid. The good news is that Colorado recently had record snowfall and a makeshift snow allocation program is quickly packing snow to be trucked to the region before the spring snowmelt.  A million tons of snow will be a fresh water supply for Southern California.  A portion of it will be shipped directly to California for emergency use.  The rest of it will be dumped into the Colorado River to feed Southern California’s water supply.  There is still no word about whether the use of this supply will be restricted.  Citizens who are anxious for aid are reminded to stay calm.  A healthy person can survive three days without water.

Many businesses were forced to close because of the water shortage. Restaurants have started closing their doors months ago. Water intensive manufacturers, many from the high tech industry, are no longer producing and have halted operations indefinitely. Retailers have shut down, most stating they can no longer provide a safe working environment for employees without water. Vacated malls look like eerie ghost towns. Grocers are quickly selling off all perishable items and some are reportedly giving away canned goods in anticipation of closure. There have been long lines at the supermarkets–people are scrambling for food. Water is sold out at all stores.

Many schools are closed for the time being since Friday. Principals closed early,  fearing they could not ensure the health and safety of the children and did not want to be held responsible. At the few still open, many parents are pulling their kids out of class early.  Those schools are expected to close after the last child is picked up today.  Colleges have stopped classes, but remain open to house students that are far from home.  Many have been turned into emergency shelters, with various relief groups setting up centers on campus.

The disaster has prompted crowds to be creative with their daily needs.  Coastal residents have resorted to bathing and washing in the ocean.  Environmentalists have asked that bathers use eco-friendly soap that is biodegradable and non-toxic to prevent harm to marine life.  Some non-profit groups have been passing out free eco-soap at the beach for bathers.  Some folks aren’t washing at all.  Those too far inland to travel to the shore are only showering once a week with the little rain water collected in their personal reservoirs.  These so-called rain tanks have been sold out across the nation for nearly twelve months, but owners have to deal with a growing water theft problem.  Numerous break-ins are still being reported to the police, who are already inundated with calls.

There is widespread fear growing among Southern Californians and the rest of the nation.  Many states fear the disaster will spread to them, as water shortages and rain deficits have become a frequent occurrence in the last decade.  The growing catastrophe has been blamed on the irresponsible management of water in prior decades.  Many citizens claim that older generations were allowed to misuse water for so long because they were not informed enough and that greater emphasis should have been placed on educating the public.  They feel strong restrictions weren’t put in place to limit waste until it was too late.  Because of this, the survival of this generation is threatened.  The thing is, water isn’t just consumed when we turn on the faucet.  In a sense, water is consumed every time we buy something, anything.  Curbing water usage means curbing our buying habits in addition to being careful at the faucet.  What will happen is to be determined, but what we will learn is that this affects all of us.  If we want a better future our behaviors have to change.