A buffalo for X-mas?

These are some buffalos I met as they were trying to cool down in a small river North in Thailand. I stayed on dry ground, sweating.

This year ADRA Norway is offering buffaloes as Christmas gifts. Buy 1/3 of a buffalo, give a card to your loved one, and both of you can enjoy the fact that the buffalo will provide critical help for someone in need.

Juno

He was born four years ago, one day I was waiting for the bus outside a toy store "Riktige leker". I felt a bit sorry for myself that day, so when I saw him, I immediately knew that he was there to comfort me. He got the name Junior, but it was later changed to Juno. He has been to all kind of places; Norway, Sweden, Denmark, UK, US, Iceland, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia, Peru, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda, Ethiopia... in fact I lost him in Ethiopia, but luckily he was found, and travelled with a friend of mine via Asia (see picture) to the US, where I got him back.

He continues to travel with me, and he doesn't mind. He doesn't even suffer from jet-lag, like I do. I don't talk to him like I did with my invisible friends when I was little, and I don't actually think he is alive, so I am not nuts. It's just nice to have a travel companion like Juno. That's why I blog about him.

Walking my goat

I have owned three goats in my life. One was offered me as a present once I visited a village in Mali. It was brought me in front of the entire village. It was a beautiful goat, it looked nice - but it didn't taste as nice. It was served as dinner for me and the village later in the day.

I also had two goats in Mitandi, Uganda. I gave them away to some families that needed them more than I did.

I know it has nothing to do with the goat per se, but on the way back from the place where I gave away one of my goats, I mentioned to the two people walking along with me that I thought it would start to rain soon. In fact I was sure it would start to rain within less than an hour, despite that it was no indication of rain clouds anywhere. Both my Norwegian friend who live there and a local fellow, believed that I couldn't possibly be right, and it wasn't really the season for it either. Less than an hour later we were all soaking wet.

Places to experience

Yemen! A favourite.

Cambodia! Not only Angkor Wat, but also the rural areas, the floating villages, the cafés in the cities.

Peru! Despite the altitude, Titicaca is worth a visit.

World view and the free thought

Am I living in the same world as you? My world is full of wonderful people, with good intentions. I have met so many of them around the globe; great people of various religions, ethnic groups and languages. Oh, there are so many lovely people out there, in Peru, Mali, Sudan, Yemen, Burma, Cambodia, US, Denmark, Norway and Australia (to mention just a few).

Am I living in the same world as you? I have wonderful high school students, who are sweet, polite and engaged in the subjects I teach. I think the other teachers at the school are great, and I look forward to go to work in the morning.

Am I living in the same world as you? There is a lot of suffering and injustice, which we can address through honest problem solving and genuine compassion, and communication with national leaders, local leaders, the oppressed, the children, the youth etc. By joining hand, we can make a difference. And leteral force is not part of it.

Am I living in the same world as you? I was raised in a church where I was inspired to study, to reflect, to find the answers outside the box. People like Carsten Johsen, Jens K. Jensen and Sigve Tonstad (again to mention just a few) challenged me to fight for other people's rights to religious liberty, liberty of conscience and love for fellow human beings (and animals for that matter). I didn't agree in all that they said, but that was exactly the point: I didn't have to agree to feel valued, in fact diversity was encouraged.

Am I living in the same world as you? People I meet are far from perfect, and neither am I. And still we have to live togheter in this small village called the earth. Last week my students defined three values that they saw as the most important values to live by: Love, Respect and Forgiveness. My students are wise.

Am I living in the same world as you? I hope so, because I would love to meet with you, and sit down with a fresh juice or coffee or water, and chat for a little while.

Les Miserables

Part of who I am (ref. blog from yesterday) is that I have a deep passion for Les Miz. I have experienced the musical three times in London. Up through the years, when the kids couldn't sleep, I would comfort them by singing a Lullaby; There is a castle on a cloud. I also like to play it on my cello.

But back to the Who am I quest. There are particularly three songs in the musical that addresses the deeper questions about being a person with integrity:

"What have I done?"
"Who am I?"
and Javerts song before he committs suicide.

It's about letting love transform life - or not. And it is about doing the right thing for the right reason. If fascinates me, provokes the thought, and inspires me.