
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
A funny thing happened on my way to depression...

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Sense of doubt

But as I was telling my team of therapists today, up until recently, I've always had something on my plate to look forward to. When I quit my job last summer, I focused on getting my ESL teaching certificate. After that, my focus was getting the hell out of Madison, Wisconsin. Then once I accepted the job in South Korea, my focus was preparing for a year abroad, getting rid of my apartment, selling possessions, etc. It was a very busy time for me, yet I clearly remember that I was not "happy", merely looking forward to a possible respite from a life(style) that I had grown bored with. Then after Korea fell apart, I quickly focused on Mexico, and geared up for that adventure, all the while hinging salvation on some obscure alternate reality where I might find happiness only because I am "elsewhere".
Well clearly, my attempts to pursue meaning and purpose through travel have not done the job, and now I cannot delude myself any longer. So this is where the doubt comes in. Even on a

Monday, August 24, 2009
Living the American Nightmare
The picture on the left was taken in a residential section of Guanajuato, Mexico. The picture on the right was taken in a residential section of Sun Prairie. The photos are illustrative of how building patterns impact social and environmental well-being.
The story of Guanajuato Mexico.
Even though this city is unique for Mexican standards, it still serves as an example of how sustainable building and living can be achieved. The city's buildings are terraced along the slopes of the surrounding mountains, giving a "stacked" look to the cityscape. Although people are literally living on top of one another, creative architecture and angles give every home plenty of windows which overlook the city and the neighboring homes. Bricks and stone provide solid housing and privacy even though walls are shared between living spaces. Due to the city's compactness and design, and the socioeconomic status of its residents, very few people own cars. Therefore, there are no garages, driveways, or for that matter, streets. A few roads pass through and underneath the city, but for the most part, the city has mostly pedestrian-designed alleyways and pathways. The result is a populace dependent on walking or public transportation, which is not a problem since the city is well-connected to other nearby communities with a cheap and efficient bus network. Because almost everyone is on foot, local merchants enjoy a steady stream of customers throughout the day. And the stores are jammed together in the same manner as the houses, which means you can pass by 25 different stores within 3 blocks. So the local economy does quite well, merely because driving to a nearby mall or Wal-Mart Supercenter is not an option.
All alone at home...
What bothers me is how they pitch these developments to would-be buyers, touting homes that have no street-facing garage, old-style porches, and plenty of parks nearby. From an environmental standpoint, it seems even worse than traditional suburban neighborhoods. Because all the garages are in the back of the homes, mini alleyways need to wrap around the backside of the houses. This creates more paved surfaces than a regular neighborhood would have, and therefore, gives LESS greenspace. The picture below illustrates the enormity of the homes being built in a more "dense" neighborhood, as well as the concrete required to get the Escalade parked safely in the 2-car garage.
I guess the point I am trying to make about all of this is that better options do exist, and are certainly possible, as far as how we live is concerned. I think the sense of community and connection that so many people crave is severely impaired by the infrastructure we already have in place, and is further exacerbated by our sense of entitlement and not wanting to share our space. As if the crushing loneliness we experience in life isn't bad enough, it is so tragic that we live in a society that almost encourages us to be alone.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Walled in.
Right now, I feel a bit overwhelmed by situations as they are, and am unable to formulate words to accurately describe the daily battles that I wage internally. But within a few days, I will post something more substantial, albeit non self-reflective.
Thanks for sticking with me, though.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Hasta luego, Mexico....
So for those of you committed enough to keep visiting my blog, you are in for a real treat. Instead of this being an exciting travel blog, exposing you to unique sights and wonderful stories from another country, it will transform into something quite the opposite. I plan on giving updates and insights from the "other side", the less-than-glamorous position I find myself in currently. It's not a bad place to be, just quite different.
Thanks for following along...
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A new lease on death...

Once I encountered the first body, I was not scared, not disgusted, but oddly uncomfortable because I felt I was viewing something so far-removed from a human being. This is primarily due to the fact that a dead body at a funeral is made to look alive, napping peacefully as we pay our respects. However, seeing this state of decay was quite divorced from anything resembling a living human being. I was left to ponder the question: What is the main difference between the decayed mess of bones and flesh underneath the glass and the person taking pictures of it from the outside?



Show and Tell

The city is sooooo picturesque!

Another view of the city....

What could everyone be waiting for???

Race cars of course!!! Gto. was the starting point for a famous rally in the nearby mountains. Beats me...

The fascination of loud, obnoxious engines is beyond my comprehension...

Beautiful vistas at "Cristo Rey".

Me at the massive "Cristo Rey" monument.

Some close friends of mine from the school...

The weather here always keeps me on my toes.

Me overlooking the city.
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