The other side of the world

It really bothers me when people don't keep up with current events. Walking around Whitworth's campus, I have found the occasion to ask some of my friends what they know about everything that is going on in Egypt. Sadly, most people have no idea. To be honest, I don't know all that much, either, but at least I know something. The situation has been so escalated that countries, like the UK, are pulling all of their diplomats out of the country.

This all began with a bomb outside of a church during New Year celebrations. Now hundreds of people have died, Cairo has been shut down. Police have left their posts and people must try and live life in the middle of a warzone. It makes me angry. I don't know what I can do. Now the working class people are taking the protests to a new level against the government, asking the current president to step down (he's been president for 20 years) and not run for re-election in September. It is spreading to other countries in the Middle East. Tunisia's president has already stepped down. Will it keep going?

Looting, stealing, burning, innocent people dying. Why is this okay? Why does the world stand by and let them just figure it out themselves? Where are the peacemakers? 

on the train to Cambuslang

Their hooves trample the frosty grass
A deep fog has set in
The trees rustle and crack
A frigid cold has settled o'er the land.

The lone voice of a shepherd
sings a melancholy tune.
Scotland's rolling hills are trapped in a fog.

My heart is heavy and I don't know hy
I am so busy, I must find time.
But I am torn between terror and action.

The thaw will melt,
The train will keep moving.
My soul will find rest in the arms of my maker. 

Starbucks - they're EVERYWHERE

So, I'm sitting in Starbucks on my iPod touch. I really should be studying for my test that is in a few days, but I can do that later. I'm sitting in a window on the second floor watching people walking around outside and listening to music - I am thoroughly enjoying myself. The thing with traveling with 18 other people is that you don't really get any alone time. Frankly, I am people'd out for the moment. Which ihave cone to realise is fine. I'm also nursing a slight cold that has given me a pretty persistent headache and I think an occasional fever. So a couple hours of sitting around is going to probably be a good thing. Edinburgh is absolutely beautiful. I'm thinking of going farther north to Dundee or somewhere smaller for my day off, though. Or I can just let other people make a plan instead. I find myself annoyed with how I make plans so often. It's like I've lost some of my adventurous spirit or something.

Yesterday I spent a decent amount of time sitting at the back of the st. Giles kirk (church) staring at a statue of an angel holding a shell made of marble. It took me a decent amount of time (until today, actually) for me to realise that it was a baptismal font. It was absolutely beautiful.

Anyways, many churches to visit and museums to go to. Tomorrow we'll be off to cambuslang and Glasgow. Next day - the highlands!

One thing is for sure - grad school over here is looking more and more like a possibility.