..."One walks the streets knowing that he is mad, possessed, because it is only too obvious that these cold, indifferent faces are the visages of one's keepers. Here all boundaries fade away and the world reveals itself for the mad slaughterhouse that it is. The treadmill stretches away to infinitude, the hatches are closed down tight, logic runs rampant, with bloody cleaver flashing."
Student ideas. What do you want to learn? How will you improve your English and general education?
He received an offer to be a student in a private school in Laos. 82 days after applying from Nepal. High to low elevations.
She spoke specifics. Grade 7 history. Grade 6 social studies. They need to understand more of the world.
He said, it's a small world. Let's paint it. She said, bring your palette. We provide paints. Students need to understand more of themselves, our small significant way in the world. Yes, we do. Thank you.
He shifted from Cambodia to Laos. A prop jet in clouds.
He sits near the Mekong. Deep, wide and fast. Ride a bike through mud. Delicious. Follow your bliss.
Survivors were willing victims of their fear, uncertainty, doubt, adventure and surprise.
Their amygdala, a small almond shaped brain structure validated to be involved in fear and emotional response fired up.
Manipulated by their collective unconscious and the system of socialization control mechanisms and the subtle power of right wing conservative persuasion and media idiots, they either wanted control or approval facing this daily grinding, mind numbing, heart breaking choice.
They struggled, suffered, danced, experiencing gratitude and forgiveness in their heart.
They lived and died.
It’s essential to die at least once while you’re alive and get it out of the way.
An engraved Zippo lighter in a dusty Saigon museum cabinet, buried under service ribbons read, “You only die twice. Once when you’re born and when you face Death.”