29.04.12
Well, it's April 29, 2012. I sit in the basement of Hale Library and laugh. College is essentially done. I look back through all of these images..... These past few years have been great.
Upon graduation this blog will change a bit from dividing the years, to dividing my location I am currently living.
In several weeks I will be packing up to move to Lawrence, Kansas where I will stay for the summer. In September I plan to start my journey as an English as a second language teacher in the Republic of Georgia. I will be teaching first- sixth graders English in a rural setting.
I have been talking about this for the past few years- moving abroad...and now it's happening. I am so thankful for having the opportunity to obtain a college education from K-State. It certainly has taught me more than I could have imagined.
Peace & Love.
~Chelsy
Upon graduation this blog will change a bit from dividing the years, to dividing my location I am currently living.
In several weeks I will be packing up to move to Lawrence, Kansas where I will stay for the summer. In September I plan to start my journey as an English as a second language teacher in the Republic of Georgia. I will be teaching first- sixth graders English in a rural setting.
I have been talking about this for the past few years- moving abroad...and now it's happening. I am so thankful for having the opportunity to obtain a college education from K-State. It certainly has taught me more than I could have imagined.
Peace & Love.
~Chelsy
Kenneth at Henry's in Lawrence.
Remains of a fiesta- Manhattan!
Chicago.
Chicago.
A man walking across my favorite view on campus.
Members of K-State's Young Republican Club- Hale Library.
International Women's Day- Jardine
Delicious Saudi cuisine.
Moe & Herbie at 'the spot'
Lisle at Maes
Cricket in the parking lot
Ks- Walmart
Fashion Show
CrAzy girls- exercising in the snow
smoke break
Sign Language
01.03.12
The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right. ~William Safire
Not being able to govern events, I govern myself. ~Michel de Montaigne
It was a nice run at the Collegian. I have had the greatest opportunities to meet amazing people and tell their stories. I will always look back on the past years and smile.
Transition.
Not being able to govern events, I govern myself. ~Michel de Montaigne
It was a nice run at the Collegian. I have had the greatest opportunities to meet amazing people and tell their stories. I will always look back on the past years and smile.
Transition.
19.01.12
Learning to cook Malaysian food with Eda.
05.01.12
Above: This past week the weather allowed me to take many walks in Manhattan.
Below: Salina Sale Barn.
Below: Salina Sale Barn.
01.01.12
'Don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong.'- Ella Fitzgerald
This past weekend our family visited my Grandparents in Hope, Ks. It's a sleepy town of about 300 people. There's nothing really there except a school, a bar, houses, and a gas station...oh yes, and the senior center. As Kenneth (my cousin) and I were taking a stroll I became overwhelmed by a burst of creative energy that I haven't felt....since.....well, since I was in Turkey.....more than a year ago.
And I've missed it. Oh God knows I've missed it.
I've walked through the ceramics area dozens of times in the Old Stadium and creepily walked by trying to soak up some sort of creativity. I've watched Tiffany paint gorgeous paintings this past Spring and just been in awe of them. And walked through Willard, and sat in on art history classes and taken walks. and on. and on.
It's hard to describe, and irreplaceable to feel.
I have been struggling this past year to see beauty after being saturated with it in Istanbul. After coming back this past year I have tried to gain a sense of beauty by surrounding myself by beautiful people or beautiful minds; because I could not muster up the feeling of creativity/beauty/light/depth. I couldn't create anything and it was awful. Almost no story inspired me. Almost nothing compelled me to do anything creatively.
And then I took a media studies class.
-------
Before taking this course I felt that mainstream media had the power to change things....to be a voice for the underdog. To fight the evils of the world. (***If you aren't acquainted with the work of James Nachtwey or Sebastio Salgado- take a moment to look at their work.). But as the beginning of the semester began to unfold I found myself researching and poring over Arab mainstream and social media as the Arab Spring began.
I began to see that there were voices that could have never been heard that were heard- voices that caused people to wake up and change things for themselves. To tell their own stories when domestic and foreign news giants failed them. And that made me mad. Why would any journalist be happy about not giving justice to their fellow man by not providing the service they were trained for to the world?!?
The changing media landscape in that region of the world, alongside my apathy in Manhattan caused me to further distance myself from mainstream media.....all the while I consumed it more and more. (Makes no sense right?)
I have never been in such a love-hate relationship as I have with mainstream media.
I do not know if journalism is the direction I will go in my life, but as much as I love and hate it, I feel like this isn't going down without a good fight.
A large part of me wants to honestly say that I don't care about journalism any more, that I would be fine becoming a chef in some fantastic little local restaurant. That citizen journalists have the power to change the world themselves, so why bother with trying to tell other people's stories when they already have a cellphone camera and a laptop?
......To really love on people in my community and to invest heavily into certain friends and people. To stay small, and to live small, and to love big. But the other part of me wants to take on the challenges of creating a media platform that will change the world. (Idealistic right? I love it. And I dislike it. ) A part of me wants to say there can be a combination of this, but a part of me believes there never can be such a thing. I do not know, yet.
I think there is so much that needs to be discussed and created. And now's the time. At least I believe it is. I am graduating in May. I have my whole life a head of me to create, love and cherish.
This may just be a sparking of a kindle that goes out right away. But a part of me does not think so. I care too much, and not enough...all of the time.
If anyone is interested in discussing New Media...please contact me, I would like to begin an online (or offline) collaboration of individuals interested in discussing the future of journalism.
Here's to rambling and starting off the 2012 year.
With love,
Chelsy
This past weekend our family visited my Grandparents in Hope, Ks. It's a sleepy town of about 300 people. There's nothing really there except a school, a bar, houses, and a gas station...oh yes, and the senior center. As Kenneth (my cousin) and I were taking a stroll I became overwhelmed by a burst of creative energy that I haven't felt....since.....well, since I was in Turkey.....more than a year ago.
And I've missed it. Oh God knows I've missed it.
I've walked through the ceramics area dozens of times in the Old Stadium and creepily walked by trying to soak up some sort of creativity. I've watched Tiffany paint gorgeous paintings this past Spring and just been in awe of them. And walked through Willard, and sat in on art history classes and taken walks. and on. and on.
It's hard to describe, and irreplaceable to feel.
I have been struggling this past year to see beauty after being saturated with it in Istanbul. After coming back this past year I have tried to gain a sense of beauty by surrounding myself by beautiful people or beautiful minds; because I could not muster up the feeling of creativity/beauty/light/depth. I couldn't create anything and it was awful. Almost no story inspired me. Almost nothing compelled me to do anything creatively.
And then I took a media studies class.
-------
Before taking this course I felt that mainstream media had the power to change things....to be a voice for the underdog. To fight the evils of the world. (***If you aren't acquainted with the work of James Nachtwey or Sebastio Salgado- take a moment to look at their work.). But as the beginning of the semester began to unfold I found myself researching and poring over Arab mainstream and social media as the Arab Spring began.
I began to see that there were voices that could have never been heard that were heard- voices that caused people to wake up and change things for themselves. To tell their own stories when domestic and foreign news giants failed them. And that made me mad. Why would any journalist be happy about not giving justice to their fellow man by not providing the service they were trained for to the world?!?
The changing media landscape in that region of the world, alongside my apathy in Manhattan caused me to further distance myself from mainstream media.....all the while I consumed it more and more. (Makes no sense right?)
I have never been in such a love-hate relationship as I have with mainstream media.
I do not know if journalism is the direction I will go in my life, but as much as I love and hate it, I feel like this isn't going down without a good fight.
A large part of me wants to honestly say that I don't care about journalism any more, that I would be fine becoming a chef in some fantastic little local restaurant. That citizen journalists have the power to change the world themselves, so why bother with trying to tell other people's stories when they already have a cellphone camera and a laptop?
......To really love on people in my community and to invest heavily into certain friends and people. To stay small, and to live small, and to love big. But the other part of me wants to take on the challenges of creating a media platform that will change the world. (Idealistic right? I love it. And I dislike it. ) A part of me wants to say there can be a combination of this, but a part of me believes there never can be such a thing. I do not know, yet.
I think there is so much that needs to be discussed and created. And now's the time. At least I believe it is. I am graduating in May. I have my whole life a head of me to create, love and cherish.
This may just be a sparking of a kindle that goes out right away. But a part of me does not think so. I care too much, and not enough...all of the time.
If anyone is interested in discussing New Media...please contact me, I would like to begin an online (or offline) collaboration of individuals interested in discussing the future of journalism.
Here's to rambling and starting off the 2012 year.
With love,
Chelsy
Above: My little brother, Cory, and his dog Maggie.
Below: Family Christmas!
Below: Family Christmas!
15.11.11
These past few months have been a whirlwind. I remember thinking back in April that I didn't know how I would make it through the summer, and look! ........ Now it's mid-November!
Lately it has been a struggle of breaking through melancholy and mediocrity. Everything seems to trace back to a lack of passion. Or so it seems.
Lately it has been a struggle of breaking through melancholy and mediocrity. Everything seems to trace back to a lack of passion. Or so it seems.
Above: Yugul and his son Emir hang out at Buhara in Ogden. I enjoy this family so much. I wish I could spend every day just being with them. Emir is a sweet, ornery, fiesty little boy- he's adorable.
Below: Petals and rubbish floating in the fountain outside of the Union.
Below: Petals and rubbish floating in the fountain outside of the Union.
Above: My dad got remarried this last weekend to Susan. It is nice to see them together.
Below: The ongoing attempts in cooking. Stir fry.
Below: The ongoing attempts in cooking. Stir fry.
08.10.11
These past few weeks I have had the honor to document the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in Manhattan, Kansas. Here are a few images.
06.10.11
So...in one of my journalism classes we are assigned a semester long project concerning an issue-driven topic...here's to the beginning of learning, documenting and exploring 'gun-culture' and conceal and carry policy.
Ogden, Kansas.
Ogden, Kansas.
24.09.11
Walking back to my house has been...eh...dark. But so calming.
For the past five weeks we have been in university I have started a nice routine of grabbing a newspaper from the Union and then sitting in front of Kedzie on the smoke benches to people watch and observe beauty. I swear, this is the best view on campus. This photograph doesn't really do it justice, but it's just more of a mental note to myself.
This past week , my good friend, Austin, and I went to the Egyptian Student Association's movie in the Little Theatre. I've always wanted to make a photograph of something to do with all of the flags in this room, and I finally had the chance to.
28.08.11
The first week of school has come and gone. This week I have had the honor to hang out with Beth a few days this week. She studied in Turkey this past spring, and it is so nice to talk with her about Turkey and, well just to talk. This week I also had the honor to attend the Muslim Student Association's Break/Fast Breakfast at the International Student Center here on campus.
Below- breaking of the fast.
Above- Roya and Omar, Beth, and Mai at the International Student Center
Below- breaking of the fast.
Above- Roya and Omar, Beth, and Mai at the International Student Center
17.08.11
This week Sharon came to visit. It was great to catch up with her and talk about Turkey. Lots of good conversation and good food.
This next Monday school begins. Yikes. I am ready to see people and take BLT Arabic.
Alright. That's it for now.
'Give me your eyes for just one second, give me your eyes so I can see. Everything that I keep missing...'-Brandon Heath
[Above- Turkey.
Below-Kansas]
This next Monday school begins. Yikes. I am ready to see people and take BLT Arabic.
Alright. That's it for now.
'Give me your eyes for just one second, give me your eyes so I can see. Everything that I keep missing...'-Brandon Heath
[Above- Turkey.
Below-Kansas]
02.08.11
Today I had the opportunity to spend time with some ladies in Junction City. They were a part of the Junction City Puzzle Club. Every Tuesday 5-12 women gather to piece together puzzles and line dance. It was such a cheesy delight. One of the ladies there asked me if I do any other type of reporting besides "fluff" stories...and I just laughed and shrugged. :D
01.08.11
This past weekend Cory and I spent some time out at Milford at the Olde Tyme Bluegrass Music Festival. I LOVE ME SOME BLUEGRASS MUSIC.
Lauren and I moved into our new place this past weekend. It has a sense of rest in it. Transitioning.
re·fresh·ing [ri-fresh-ing] adjective 1. having the power to restore freshness, vitality, energy, etc.
2. pleasingly fresh or different:
Lauren and I moved into our new place this past weekend. It has a sense of rest in it. Transitioning.
re·fresh·ing [ri-fresh-ing] adjective 1. having the power to restore freshness, vitality, energy, etc.
2. pleasingly fresh or different:
24.07.11
Mmm. Baba ghanoush & pita.
Fresh egglant from the farmers market.
Fresh egglant from the farmers market.