DC & Beijing... both worthless...

"Power is important, but the capitals of the world’s two most powerful countries—the nearest things to imperial cities today—do not quite fit the bill either. Beijing is a non-starter as a global city and will continue to be so as long as the Communist Party maintains its iron grip. In New York and London, between a quarter and a third of residents were born abroad. In Beijing the share is below 1%. Outsiders have to have a stake in a city if it is to get global status.

Washington, DC, looks a more plausible candidate for that. It contains more people who take the rest of the world seriously than any other place. The IMF and World Bank—the two prime international financial institutions—are based there. Washington takes itself seriously too, but so it should: as in 19th-century London, decisions made there matter more to the rest of the world than those taken elsewhere. Powertown has the capacity to make and unmake wars, to rescue or cripple economies. Yet there is more to being a dominant city than political authority or a multitude of think-tanks. Washington—a city of “northern charm and southern efficiency”, as John F. Kennedy said—has little going for it except the authority of the United States, and that is slipping. It is international without being cosmopolitan; it inspires respect but not imitation; it has political power, but not the power of example."

-John Parker, globalisation editor of The Economist.

Full article: What's the Capital of the World?

Notes from Dhaka

This is a ramble in the middle of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Stuck in a room of judges
... we're waiting
... often waiting for the next thing
... the whole country seems to be waiting
... I'm getting used to the waiting
... how much more they
... for elections
... for food
... for the next day
.... for better or for worse
It's interesting to be here stuck inside more often than not.
... we don't go out much
... unless we're in single file line
... 大家一起春游，小学生
... it's for our own protection
... from the uncomfortable and the poor
... corruption free Bangladesh
... rich in culture and history
... so much you'd never be able to understand it in these hours, minutes, days
... not unless you
... stayed ... with... us...
... how many are willing to stay?
... So your going to leave behind your Chinese students to teach here?
leave behind ... what?
I've stood outside for maybe an hour at most
I'm getting cabin fever here... these [sic] days
Culturally displaces...
Maybe the only Chinese American in the country
certainly the only one amongst the dozen
Asian nations represented here.
Let me out
So I can breathe that dirty air
just a little bit
... it can't be as bad for me as they think
... I wanna get my heart closer to my head... one step closer
... I wanna give it away
... give it away
... give it
... away
Get your camer stolen
get your chocolate stolen
Get your heart lost
and figure it out all over again.
...
zzzzZZZZ
but figure it out when you're rested
when you've eaten
regularly
Are you afraid of losing yourself?
If you bit loose too much...
will you be labeled that outsider
feeling lonely in your own country... home
maybe you don't fit where you are anyway
... than where?

.. .

It's nice to be admired...
-as a capable teacher
-as a quick learning judge
-as a cultural novelty
-as a fun and sociable guy
-as a token Westerner (sort of)
-as a cute face
-etc, etc, etc
but as time passes
as the music plays
the beat pulses
hips swaying
hands waving
lights flashing
smoke swirling
...it hits you
...I want those words
words
words
WORD
lyrics
to baptize
the beats
the melody
and bring me
Back...


to what?
Something Real...
Like the streets... like home
I don't know where I am going
But here I am, North-South,
University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
This is real too...
Check back in.
feel it
get
outside.

.. .

I'm getting used to the heat.
It seems I can often get used to most things
At heart, I'm passive
I try and understand
and if I can...
it's okay
If I can't
I try and make it that way.
I'm a peacemaker at hear,
but the absence of conflit is not peace
what's a better word?
平安
Shalom
Is that what I bring?
that's what i want to bring.

Policy and Principle at the Podium
Logic, rhyme, and reason on display
to sharpen young minds
break the status quo
raise up new leaders,
for what?

Outside the leaders of tomorrow riot
chaos amongst the elite
despair amongst the streets
and problems, problems, problems
for what?

One life worth a hundred more?
Democracy worth the Storm?
Sudden rainstorms, in and out of season
cars, rickshaws, clogged pipes, traffic
like our hearts

Debate right, Think right
But can weel feel right?
Feel it?

Notes from Beijing

The goal is to bring my internal feelings of love and commitment into external realities, specifically import relationships, in order to prepare my life for transition from singleness to togetherness, from "I" to "We," to ready myself for the coming of a queen, to ready my private life for the new home to be built, its foundations of servanthood, soul & vision, confidence & commitment.

Ephesians 5:25-28

.. .

Write more...
A better relationship w/ sister... equals
Stronger foundations w/ God
Serving the Church more?
Discipleship
Academics well learned & applie

What about internally my love? What kind of person do you want to be?
How can I help you go there?
To optimize your beauty?

.. .

Need to be "felt" -> feeling ignored
Need for movement vs. compassion
Don't "Sit in it" (push me with questions)
Don't
Discredit
Once I feel heard, there is
conversation.

.. .

1) Growth in honest & clear communication
what helps you feel heard?
private, doors closed
brainstorm & feedback
consistency + quality + connection

2) Feel more safe & comfortable & secure
with one another
appreciated
affirmation
be nice
:) Flattery

Trustworthiness -> Judged -> Dependable/reliable -> "gossip"

3) Don't let stress and busyness throw us off

when the other doesn't feel heard, appreciated, valued, loss of priority {sic} & conflicts
Speak up when not feeling valued