New Blog

Well, hello there. It's been a while. You can find me over at my new blog, jeannabauer.wordpress.com telling tales from South East Asia! xo

Karen Gum

One stand out afternoon, the Job Club participants and I ate lunch outside together. Afterwards, full of rice we laid under the shade trees and I listened to their jokes / stories in Karen trying to pick out words I could understand. Nearly all of the students offered me betel nut and I was reminded of my first day at KOM in 2010 my very first betel nut offer, "It's like gum! Also, it helps you speak Karen!" my colleague said.

Actually, betel is a leaf common in Asia (I fell for the gum thing, by the way). Betel leaf is often combined with areca nut, lime paste and/or tobacco. While most Karen from Burma only chew acerca nut - it's always offered as 'betel'.  Some say it's a mild stimulant, others say it cures stomach aches and most say it's a breath freshener. 

But all can agree - it's part of being Karen. Many Karen joke that wherever in the world Karen are - betel nut is sure to be available. They also say, if you can't tell what ethnicity someone is - look for a 'bleeding mouth' and you'll find the Karens (red staining of salvia is caused by acerca nut chewing). 

I've had everyone from employers to social workers, probation officers and doctors call and ask, "What are all these Karen chewing?! Why is their mouth red?" At the end of the day, red mouths aren't necessarily handsome and long term chewers have increased chances for oral cancers, but betel nut as a whole is innocent. The earliest memories of teens I work with are of selling betel nut to villagers in Burma (think: lemonade stand). 

I've always found comfort in the presence of betel nut. It has a lovely earthy, bitter smell. It's often distributed by the sweetest of elderly women out of beautifully woven bags and big, red smiles will always be endearing. So often bits of culture are lost in resettlement, but here's one silly little nut (not native to the US) here to stay. It magically appears at the finish of every meal or good deed. It's a consistent reminder of culture's deep roots. 

That day, under the shade trees I turned down the betel nut offered to me. I closed my eyes and went back to listening to the sounds of the Karen language, laughing and betel nut chewing ... until one lovely participant tapped my shoulder and handed me a piece of gum. 

Blossom

Tea For Two

I want that look. 

& isn't it perfect for a rainy, cold day in April? I think, yes. 

Blossom Photo

Aww

They make me so happy.
Even if they still have a lot of work to do on their 'silly photo' poses.

Noted.

via, stayfancyfree

Over Winter, but Not Complaining ...

Growing up in a place that has winter, you learn to avoid self-pity. Winter is not a personal experience, everybody else is just as cold as you, so you shouldn’t complain about it too much. You learn this as a kid, coming home crying from the cold, and Mother looks down and says, “It’s only a little frostbite. You’re okay.” And thus you learn to be okay. What’s done is done. Get over it. Drink your coffee. It’s not the best you’ll ever get but it’s good enough.

- Garrison Keillor

Need/Think

"And while many people around the world do not share the conditions and comforts we enjoy in America, don't let that fool you. Many of them do not need all the material things we think make us happy."

- Gail Shore, founder of Cultural Jambalaya in the Twin Cities 

via Women's Press - Your Thoughts March 2011

Attend This

Celebrate the 100th International Women's Day in St. Paul at Soaring Toward Gender Democracy: A Community Dialogue Event, Celebrating Refugee & Immigrant Women for Change

Tuesday, March 8th from 3 - 6:30 PM at St. Catherine University (remember to RSVP to RIWCNOW@capiusa.org by the 4th). The event is free and open to all, there will be performances, art, speakers & small group discussion. Come, surround yourself with those who believe in the strength, beauty & future of refugee and immigrant women. 

Show up & you'll know at least one person (hint - it's me). 

Letter! Book! Stickers!

It's well known I love mail & ma'pen pals.
& it should be known that I love Kim.

So, mail from Kim - is terribly exciting. & let me tell ya, I was not happy about having to find some obscure UPS hub until I saw that lil'rocket man.

The thing about Kim is she always seems to know how to - bring you back.
After bringing a close to the hazy rock & roll world of Keith Richard's LIFE, Kim gracefully swooped in with Not for Sale by David Batstone (a signed copy) to bring the reality of human trafficking back around into my hazy world. Like a true friend should. I cannot wait to read it. & I cannot wait until 2012, because that's when Kim told me I'm coming to visit her.

I stand with PP

I stand with Planned Parenthood because:

All women, no matter what their economic status - deserve quality health care services such as pap smears, preventative immunizations/screenings, prenatal healthcare, contraceptives & STI testing.

Not to mention - a safe haven for resources on body image, pregnancy prevention/testing, sexual assault & domestic abuse support services. 

All men deserve an affordable, safe, quality resource for cancer screening and sexual health / contraceptive services. 

I felt more comfortable with my Planned Parenthood OBGYN - then any other Dr. in my life. 

All women have the right to decide when they want to become mothers. 

An attack on Planned Parenthood is an attack on the rights and equality of women.  

It's not only about abortion. 

If Planned Parenthood was an organization focused on men's health - there would be no fight.  

I believe in the fight for women. 

It's very likely you know multiple individuals who have at some point in their lives used Planned Parenthood services.  

When women are able to take control over their own bodies, the poverty gap is reduced.

& so is the gender gap.

I can go on. But I think you get it.

If you're a woman. If you care about a women. If you believe the Government should back off uterus'. If you believe that the contraception for wild horses is less important than quality sexual healthcare services for women (that. is. real). If you believe in the equality of men & women. Or, simply, if you want to continue being my friend ... Stand with Planned Parenthood.

Again, Stand with Planned Parenthood
Again? Okay. Stand with Planned Parenthood

& ask yourself,

Would the world stand by if it were men who were dying just for completing their reproductive functions?

- Asha-Rose Migrio, UN Deputy Secretary General, 07

& start reading: Fair and Feminist