Tweeny’s blog

I woke up today. Not that it’s a special thing, I just…I woke up. And as every morning for the past week  I felt it hard to stand up , get dressed and start my day. First two days I blamed the time difference, but now as I finally managed to overcome that little issue I realized that was not the problem. As I said I find it hard to leave my bed in the morning and now I think I know why… It may be because there is no loud, annoying American alarm clock that scared the hell out of me every morning and made it easy for me to get up (not that it had the same effect on my American roommate). It may also be because I knew there will be a few people in the living room trying to decide what to eat for breakfast (and I think we all understand why conversating with people was far more tempting than the food). It may even be the thrill of what that day classes will bring (a desperate try I know). All in all, I had an amazing time in the USA. The reason I’m writing it down is because everybody seems to have these ‘post-BFTF-traumatic-issues’ and they write about. And also because when I woke up I had a note on facebook waiting for me, written by my dear Jen Jen, which started with a heart-breaking statement. It has been a week…

And I couldn’t believe it. So I grabed my calendar and started to count the days since we’ve left. After a few repeatings I finally admited to myself that it is Wednesday and that it was Wednesday last week when I saw some of my dear fellow friends for the last time at the Frankfurt airport.  It definitely doesn’t feel like a week. It feels like forever…and at the same time it feels like half an hour ago. It’s like half an hour after lunch when you can barely remember what you ate, but you can stil feel that your stomach is full after the delicious meal. And you my dear BFTF were delicous. Each and every one of you on it’s very unique way. I’m not going to describe you all because Tracy did that very good in her post on facebook (which as I told you almost made me cry).

So I will finish now  and continue living my life. It was great meeting you guys and I am looking forward to see you again in Summer 2008!!!

p.s. I am too lazy to check my spelling, so please forgive me for any mixed or missing letters and any false use of English tenses (my brain is still on holiday).

Love,

Mo Mo

As we live our own lives, worrying about little things, such as what to wear, what to say or what to do to be loves, things that we consider as very important if not the most important in our lives, we can easily forget about bigger issues poisoning our society. It is hard to face the truth that that everything is not OK, that there are things happening we have no control of. Natural disasters we can not prevent nor predict. Wars we can not finish. Diseases we have no cure for. Issues to big to be solved only by giving a few dollars per month to charities. Not that donating is a bad thing, it’s just not enough. It is time to open our eyes, it is time to talk about it, it is time to inform people, it is time to safe lives.

As you can see from the title I’m going to talk about AIDS. I will write some information about AIDS in Africa that I collected from different sources.

An estimated 24.5 million adults and children were living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa at the end of 2005. During that year, an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. The epidemic has left behind some 12 million orphaned African children.
AIDS & Economics
Damages economy:
- Reducing the labor supply through increased mortality and illness.
- Government income declines, as tax revenues fall and governments are pressured to increase their spending to deal with the rising HIV prevalence.
- By making labour more expensive and reducing profits, AIDS limits the ability of African countries to attract industries that depend on low-cost labour and makes investments in African businesses less desirable.

One way in which this impact can be reduced is through the provision of antiretroviral drugs to people living with HIV. A recent study in South Africa suggested that, if the proportion of those in need of ARVs who are receiving them increased to 50%, the effect of the epidemic on economic growth would be reduced by 17%.

Today the highest HIV rates are found in Southern Africa. Several East and Central African countries also have very severe and mature epidemics, which are causing a very high number of AIDS deaths. West Africa has been less severely affected but, because it has such a large population, Nigeria has more people living with HIV than any other African country except South Africa. The lowest HIV rates are found in North Africa, where only Sudan has so far been badly affected.
In some countries there have been early and sustained HIV prevention efforts. For example, effective HIV prevention campaigns have been carried out in Senegal, which is still reflected in the relatively low adult HIV prevalence rate of 0.9%. Also, the experience of Uganda shows that a widespread AIDS epidemic can be brought under control. HIV prevalence in Uganda fell from around 15% in the early 1990s to around 5% by 2001.
Condoms play a key role in preventing HIV infection around the world. In Sub-Saharan Africa, most countries have seen an increase in condom use in recent years. In studies carried out between 2001 and 2005, eight out of eleven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa reported an increase in condom use. Relative to the enormity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa, providing condoms is cheap and cost effective. Even when condoms are available, though, there are still a number of social, cultural and practical factors that may prevent people from using them. In the context of stable partnerships where pregnancy is desired, or where it may be difficult for one partner to suddenly suggest condom use, this option may not be practical.
Some African countries have seen declines in the proportion of adults living with HIV (known as HIV prevalence). The most celebrated example is Uganda, where prevalence fell from around 15% in the early 1990s to 5% in 2001. This decline is thought to be at least partly due to effective HIV prevention campaigns, though an increase in the AIDS death rate was probably also significant. Smaller declines in HIV prevalence have been seen among adults in Kenya and Zimbabwe, and among young women in Zambia. Senegal has also won praise, for keeping HIV prevalence low.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that antiretroviral treatment is just as effective in Africa as it is in the USA and Europe. A comprehensive analysis of 58 studies involving nearly thirty thousand patients found that Africans are even better at following antiretroviral treatment regimens than North Americans are. Around 4.8 million Africans were in immediate need of the treatment at the end of 2006, including those already receiving it, giving a coverage rate of 28%.

I know that’s a lot of information about AIDS, but Ithink it’s important to know what is going on and how bad the situation is.
Bye,
Mojca

I wanted to add a post to my blog since Saturday after we returned from a great day in Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. But it was midnight before we returned to the dorm and I was to tired to do anything. That was also the night that I found out that my original host family got sick and that Heather and I are going to spend time with different host family. Heather went with Imo and I with Albina. So Sunday, day after Busch Gardens, was the day we were supposed to go to our host families. Albina and I were told to be ready at 11 am and so again I had no time to write into my blog. Not just that I was nervous about meeting my host family, but also because I was longing for the new and unfortuately the last Harry Potter book. It was released at midnight on Saturday, July 21st. I was investigating all the stores in Busch Gardens and also stores on our way home, but there was no Harry Potter book. It was sad But otherwise Busch Gardens has been wonderful! I love rolercoasters and there I was able to ride on the Griffon, the only ride with 90 degrees fall in the whole World. It has been great!!

Back to Sunday. At 11 am Albina and I were picked up by Valerie, our host mother. We drove home and there I met two of the founders, Dimo and Pavel, who were supposed to leave that very evening and move back to the dorm. We’ve also met Brian, our host father and later that they our host sisters, Jasmine and Brooke. What I really have to tell you is that I received a gift from my host family the day I came there. It was the most wonderful gift I could ever imagine and I felt happy as you can only feel when something great happens to you. I got a book. The book. The last Harry Potter book. I couldn’t believe my eyes, but there it was in my hands. Beautiful cover with these powerful words on it: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Well that was Sunday and now it’s Tuesday night, actually Wednesday, because it’s after midnight, and the only reason that I’m still awake is because I finished the book. I finished the last one and it is actually hard to believe that there will be no next book to wait for. Yet, it is not time to be sad because the story has ended, we have to be happy that we were able to be a part of the magical world for so long. So here I would like to thank the mother of Harry Potter. Joanne Kathleen Rowling for sharing her world with us and making us proud to be the generation that grew up reading Harry Potter and waiting desperately for the next book. It is hard to believe that I was only 11 years old when I chose to read the first book and that now, when the story ended I am 18. In some ways a completely different than who I used to be and in the other still sharing the same passion through these wild years. Fifteen minutes ago I closed the book after reading the last sentence, knowing that I’ve finaly found my answers. Some are still waiting to get the last answers. In this occasion I would like to mention that I am very very happy (and I believe that most of the Slovene HP fans are as well) that the last book is going to be translated by Jakob J. Kenda, who has shown his ability in the first 5 Harry Potter books and whose importance and value were seen after the release of the 6th Harry Potter, which was a great disappointment for all the fans.

I could probably keep writing forever about my love to Harry Potter books, but I believe it is time to tell something else. For example about my host family. They are very very nice and Albina and I have a great time there! Jasmine and Brooke are very sweet and funny and they remind me on me and my sister when we were younger. Yesterday we went to the small airport and Albina and I flew with Brian in a small plane. I totally enjoyed it, it was even better than the rolercoaster! I also love the food, it is great to eat home cooked food after 2 weeks. Especially delicious home cooked food.

On Sunday we have farewell dinner and during the dinner we will present our talents Hehe…I’ll be singing in a group although singing is not my greatest talent. I hope no one runs out of the room while we’re singing. But you can never know…hehe. I guess we will have to wait a few more days and then just let it happen.

That would be it for now. Until next time, my faithful readers.

Mojca (Moe)

Here I confess in front of the whole world (although that people who know me for a while already know it) that I love history! I have sat in the front row ever since I started history classes and in 6 years my position hasn’t changed. I still am nerdy, good student in history classes and this is actually the only class where I wrote everything down, what was necessary and what it wasn’t. I also chose history for my final high school exams next year. Therefore I was very excited about today’s trip to Williamsburg and Jamestown.

At 9 am we drove to Williamsburg’s colonial town, where all the buildings look like 400 years ago and they even employed people who are dressed as people were in the past. The tour was quite long but it was interesting for me, because I’ve learned a lot about the American history. In our classes we talked more about European history and Slovene history, other parts of the World were just shortly described. So I knew the major things before, but I’ve learned a lot of new things here as well. After the guided tour we had an hour and a half to get something to eat and ti buy souvenirs and stuff like that. Jen Jen, Moni, Frederica and I went to a fast food restaurant (as most of us did) and first I wanted to order a Greek salad. Thankfully Moni ordered it first because after we’ve seen it Frederica and I changed our minds about eating healthy food and ordered a slice of cheese pizza.  I know pizza ain’t healthy, but believe me that salad didn’t look healthy either After the pizza we met some guys from our group and we went to get some ice cream. It was delicious! It was like a mixture of cookie and dolce latte (two of my favorite flavors in the local ice cream shop). After we finished eating we found out that there was no time left for shopping, so we returned to the bus. Short journey to Jamestown and the second tour began. First we went into the museum, which was really interesting, I’ve learned loads of new stuff there. As for example that the first Afro-Americans that came to the USA were not slaves, but free men. After the museum we walked outside and we’ve seen and Native-American village, ships, making boats, soldiers and tobacco plants. As I’ve said before, the tour was very interesting, but after 8 hours of walking (if we add Williamsburg) we were all very tired and uninterested at the end of the tour. All in all, I liked it a lot! American history is interesting as well What is more, my ex-roommate and my dear friend Jen Jen likes history as well. She loves American history and she’ll start European history the following year. I think she’ll like it, because European history is very interesting. I love European history and ancient history, together with the Egyptian history. Oh and British history… So if anyone ever comes up with an idea for a traveling through time machine, count me in. Until the I’ll just have to deal with present problems, knowing that I can not change the past, but still have the power to regulate my problems in the future.

With love to all my readers and comentators,

Mojca

p.s. Today, the 21st of July the last Harry Potter was published at midnight. I truly hope to get it soon!

While I’m writing this, I’m already in my new hotel room with my old roommates (Tracy, Maja and Lia) in Williamsburg. This morning we had to pack our stuff and bring it to the bus. Then we started classes at 9.30 as usual. I can gladly announce that today’s class was the most interesting one in Washington. We were talking about free press and expressing yourself in different ways (like clothes, music, poetry, dancing, etc.). Each of us got a big piece of paper in a form of a T-shirt and everyone had to write or draw something on it to express themselves. I was considering different possibilities for a while and then later decided for the following statement: ”Be yourself, your friends don’t want you to be anyone else!” I decided for this statement because there are more and more people pretending to be something they’re not in order to be respected or loved by others. The irony of this is that you can not actually be respected nor loved if you don’t show your real personality. So keep it real folks! Other people also had great T-Shirts. For example Ivan set up a celebrity adoption list and added his name with an empty spot to it’ Or Marcis’ statement: ‘I’m not used to live in prison!’ or something like that The explanation to this goes to our house rules, such as staying in our rooms after 11 pm. However after lunch we had a less interesting class and someone had a little nap during it. Haha, like Jen Jen yesterday. I guess we don’t go to sleep early enough! It’s already quarter past 1 am while I’m writing this Well after classes it was time to go to Williamsburg. I go a lot of sleep on the bus and a great salad for dinner. Rooms are pretty the same as they were in Washington, except of the fact that the beds are higher. Oh and breakfast is included here We also have an outside pool and I’ve already gone swimming after we arrived. It was great!

That would be all for today, because I’m to tired to write a long blog entry. Maybe some other day I hope we’ll have a great day tomorrow - today actually, we’re going to Williamsburg and Jamestown! Oh and I almost forgot, tomorrow- Saturday- new Harry Potter will be published!I certainly hope to get the books as soon as possible!

Greetings,

Mojca (aka Fleck, Mo, MoMo)

There are certainly many advantages to participate in a program such as the BFTF. We are learning so much here and we get to meet all these important and great people who come to us and talk about modern issues. I think we all know that this is a once in a lifetime oportunity, which will help us grow into more sophisticated, critical and cosmopolitan human beings. All the mentioned things are very important, however I do believe that the greatest advantage we were given in this program, was meeting other people. People from different countries, different cultures and different religions and more important, people with different values, different opinions and different aproach to live. It is really challenging to meet people with so different backgrounds and then be able to overcome the border issues and really connect on a personal level.
There are many people that make days at BFTF special. For example my first roommate Jennifer, who’s one of the greatest girls I’ve ever met and who understands me as only a few people do. Then we have Stefania (Federica) who’s a great company and makes delicious pasta. Next comes ”zakouhana” Monika, who takes care that we’re always excited about her new adventures an Plamena, my singing partner (we create headaches together :p). I should also mention Visar, ou Apple King, who makes us laugh as no one else does! Anf there are of course lots of you that make all days special and our dear staff that we all love!
Because of these extraordinary people times passes by 10 times quicker as they do back home and are full of impressions that are impossible to forget.
That’s all I wanted to say at the moment. I ran out of words, maybe because is 20 past 2 am and I’m still sleepy because of the last night Have fun my friends and see you soon!

We survived! We survived and not just that, it WAS good! This morning we found out whether we’re going to cook for the international dinner or not. I was one of the ”chosen” ones. It kinda scared me at first, because I’ve never baked the thing I was about to do before. I mean I love to try new things, but I love to do it at home with ingredients that are familiar to me. Even there I force everyone to leave the kitchen and prepare them to stay without the dessert if my recipe doesn’t turn out the way it should. I even locked the kitchen doors once and my mum totally freaked out, because she wanted to make dinner and I didn’t let her in. It may sound crazy, but I never let people help me or watch me in kitchen. No matter how much I like them. Luckily my family already got used to it and also my best friend, Lucija. She got used to it last year when we were on holidays together and I didn’t want her to help me with the dishes. She insisted for about 4 days and then gave up. I can be very stubborn when I want something. I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not, it’s just how it is.

I think it’s time to write about the topic again. As I said,I was chosen to do a national dish for other diplomats, staff and guests this evening. I chose to make trenta. Trenta is something like flat bread with different topings (like sour cream and cumin), baked and cut into triangles. It’s our local dish, but I’ve never done it before. My godmother is an expert in trenta, she can make it very good. Delicious, njami She also bakes it for tourists that come to our village and they never left a piece behind. Mine wasn’t as good though The meal wasn’t the same as in Slovenia so the dough turned out slightly different as it should be. However, people tried it and some even took two pieces or more (wow!). I did my best!

About other people’s food - it was fantastic!! I totally loved it and so did everybody else. After cooking and eating some people cleaned everything up and the one that were cooking played various indoor games. I was playing table football (or soccer for Americans) and I was quite good. At least I think so, hehe. Unfortunately we had to leave then and 10 of us drove back to dorm with Chris. And again, we survived! That was just a joke, Chris can drive really well!

It’s over for today folks! For the end you can take a look at a very nice picture!

Right now I’m sitting in a classroom setting up my very first blog. I’ve just become one of the many people who share their thoughts and experiences with the rest of the world. The only problem is that right now I don’t know what to write. There are so many things to be said and still I have no idea what to write about. I’ll try to write something really interesting and smart, but so far all I am able to do is to write a sentence and then delete it, because it isn’t good enough. Not that I’d know what’s good enough What is more, I have some problems with the American keyboard, because the buttons are set a little bit differently than Slovene keyboards. Y and Z are the biggest problem and so I keep writing zou instead of you (I know, this was a stupid example). Well I’ll have to get used to it.

So let’s go to bussines. It’s my third day at Wake Forest and everything has been ok this far. Actually more than ok, it’s been great. Today we started our classes and we were divided into two groups. I’m in the first group and our first class was about globalization. It was really interesting, because it wasn’t like a regular class where you have to listen to what the professor has to say (usually in a very boring way). The professor just guided us through the conversation and we were the one talking. Well I didn’t talk much either, I rather listened to the conversation agreeing or disagreeing to what they said. It’s always like that, I need some time to encourage myself to talk. It also depends on the day. Today is a great day though, but I still didn’t talk much. After lunch we started our afternoon class - we’ve been taught how to set up and write a blog. So here I am.

This would be all for today, I’ll also add some pictures from my family and friends so that the whole wide world could see who I’m hanging around with. This is also a good excuse to see the pictures of my family, because I kinda miss them. I just received my mum’s email (I taught here how to write an email well) and it was so sweet, because it was full of information about my little nephew and I started to miss then a little. But just a little, because this place is great so far and I’m totally not the person who misses their family hardly. Not that it’s a bad thing, I’m just not that kind of a person. I guess it’s because I’m used to going on holidays for a long time (also without my parents).

Until next time,

Mojca

My family

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