Culturally Aware in 2012, Final Update

I figured a final update on the "Culturally Aware in 2012" challenge was in order.

Wrapping Up 2012

2012 was a rollercoaster year. I don't think I've ever felt more in a year than I have in 2012.

It's sort of frustrating that facebook doesn't sort all the New Year's Eve posts like it does Christmas or Mitt Romney posts (though maybe I'm just looking before it sorts itself, which is very possible). However, in my one-year-old tradition, I'm looking to my feeds to understand how everyone's 2012 went for them.

I might add that social networking is amazing because it is so much information so quickly and with very little filter. It provides a window into the lives of many, many people across the globe. Facebook/Twitter/Instagram provide one with many diverse opinions and some really weird posts, which is great. Here are a few of the posts from my feeds about the end of 2012:

My Evening With Nicholas Kristof

I've been told that it's easy to pick a great person out of a crowd - and perhaps I had even seen a little bit of truth in it - but after 4:00 yesterday afternoon I knew the phrase to be true.

It was an oddly warm December 3rd day, with temperatures staying around seventy Fahrenheit all afternoon. I threw on a tie and walked to the E H Little Library, internally debating the speed at which I should walk with the amount of time I had until the event started. When I made it to the library, I went upstairs to the Davidsonia room - the one adjacent and connected to the Rare Books Room to wait with many other eager colleagues of mine.

When Nick arrived in the room, everyone simultaneously stood up and turned around to face him. The three lovely ladies who escorted him to the room were beaming from ear to ear, expressing on their faces what I knew I was feeling inside.

I'm Thankful for Food

My father is an excellent chef. (I say "chef" rather than "cook" because a cook merely repeats recipes and a chef makes his own.) He's incredible. Everyone loves his cooking.

Anyway, he and I have been cooking together for a while, and he gave me little cooking lessons over the summer to learn little things about cooking - little things that help a ton.

This year for Thanksgiving we tried something new. I decided I wanted to help out with the meal this year and my father obliged. The turkey was his game, but I helped out on everything else.

Africa 2012, Pt. I - subtitled: the greatest trip ever

It's the halfway point of my trip to Southern Africa, and I figured I would offer a quick update of the adventure thus far.

Quick background information about the trip: the trip is through the Davidson Alumni Association, and includes tours in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia. The group is comprised of (I think, and will check to be sure) 17 people, including one Davidson guide and one South African guide. The flights to and from Africa are July 14th and July 28th with a day of travel included in each end. 

Oh, the quotes I provide...

Greenstock was a couple of weekends ago, and it was a great success. Here's an article by my friend, Addie, from the Davidsonian. I was interviewed during the event, and a quote was attributed to me in the article. If you're too lazy to read the entire article, here's my quote:

I hope the remainder of your day is great!

Culturally Aware in 2012 Update, April 5

I figured an update on the "Culturally Aware in 2012" challenge was in order.