Video

KYHOI

In our quest to answer questions about the revolutions happening in the Arab world, we strive to find where it all started. I’ve heard many accounts beginning with, “It all started last summer when…” To find the origins of these events is not an easy task. Yet, a good question to ask ourselves is, has the government changed over the years or simply the people? Prior to the general public’s knowledge of American and European lifestyles, were the people as dissatisfied with their government? It’s possible they simply knew nothing different and managed to be content out of their ignorance. Sure, Egypt experienced a high volume of tourists, but it’s fair to say that they really knew little about freedom and alternative lifestyles until the internet and social media came about.

However, the revolution was not going to just happen; someone had to pave the way. That someone was Mohamed Bouazizi, who was a fruit vendor that was arrested for not having a permit to sell such goods. After being humiliated by the police and desperate for work, Bouazizi set himself on fire as a way to demonstrate to the people not to live in fear. Tunisia was in uproar and overthrew their dictator, Bin Ali. Encouraged by this, Egyptians fled to the streets in a similar manner only treated more brutally by authorities. They were also successful in overthrowing their dictator, Muareck who fled the country. Now, Libya has the same goal in mind only their dictator, Gaddafi hasn’t gone anywhere and does not plan on it.

Throughout history we can compare Revolutions and say that many would not have happened without the others. The French Revolution, for instance, took place after the success of the Americans over Britain. The only thing that has changed since then is the connectivity to everyone in the world. New ideas are being spread, people feel they have choice in how they want to live, and everyone who has the internet knows what’s going on everywhere. This is only the beginning.

KYHOI

Searching for my KYHOI has strongly consisted of watching Youtube videos and news articles due to the fact that the events that have taken place in Northern Africa are so recent.

As of now I have several contacts in Tunisia and Egypt. As of now I am setting up interviews with these individuals.

Because we are so far away from the situation, it is important that I use multiple news media sources, articles, and interviews to ensure that my research is valid.

Here are some links to news media I am currently using in my research:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2045328,00.html

http://www.channel4.com/news/arab-uprisings-what-happens-next-in-egypt-tunisia-libya

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12611726

http://abcnews.go.com/International/page?id=12949492

http://www.zimbio.com/Libya/articles/pDN5jHdTZa1/Latest+Updates+Libya+Revolt+Mideast+Protests

I have come across some scholarly sources for history of rebellious acts in Libya and Egypt :

http://www.jstor.org.er.lib.k-state.edu/stable/3011335?&Search=yes&searchText=Egypt%2C&searchText=Rebellions&searchText=Libya&searchText=Tunisia%2C&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DRebellions%2Bin%2BTunisia%252C%2BEgypt%252C%2BLibya%26acc%3Don%26wc%3Don&prevSearch=&item=1&ttl=74&returnArticleService=showFullText


http://www.jstor.org.er.lib.k-state.edu/stable/163658?&Search=yes&searchText=Egypt%2C&searchText=Rebellions&searchText=Libya&searchText=Tunisia%2C&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DRebellions%2Bin%2BTunisia%252C%2BEgypt%252C%2BLibya%26acc%3Don%26wc%3Don&prevSearch=&item=2&ttl=74&returnArticleService=showFullText

The interviews that will be conducted will prove to be likely more useful than the current information available at this time.

Tunisia

Tunisia----Egypt

Beyond Borders

I have been all over the place for this research project.  Mostly influenced by topics that were popular in the class, I went with South America and from there to Egypt.  I like the idea of freedom and if media has made us more or less free. Looking at the Egyptians one might argue that the revolutions (born of social media) have caused more problems than prior to the outbursts.  However, I have moved my focus another direction.

After much thought, I have decided to focus on the spread of Revolution from Tunisia to Egypt.  In my lab on campus, we just hosted a woman from Tunisia, and it was interesting to hear her perspective even as an upper class member of society.  She told me "we will fight for our freedom."  I found information of the people of Tunisia writing about freedom and revolution on facebook, triggering a revolution in Egypt shortly after.

I got to thinking, how interesting that two neighboring countries would start revolutions simultaneously.  I then became curious about how little of a coincidence it could be!  This website got me going in the right direction.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/opinion/31eldin.html

Traveling Ideas!

My biggest passion in life is traveling!  In my spare time I look up new places I want to see around the world.  I am not the white picket fence type of girl.  I would not survive working a 9-5 job! This is what I want out of life...to live out of a suitcase.

 I recently came across a website with ESL teaching jobs http://eslcafe.com/.  My husband and I are looking at the possibility of teaching in Taiwan for at least a year and then moving on into mainland China. From there who knows where we'll go!  

CIEE has some attractive programs, but I am in search of other programs around the world to check out! Any suggestions, be sure and let me know!

What's going on in Egypt after the Revolution

The power of blogging

This article discusses the events in history which have lead up to recent political unrest in Egypt, but as Hirschkind states, "it did not come out of the blue."  Many of the activists (both Islamic and secular) in this movement were utilizing the social web in order to make their statements. In 2004 a group of  Islamic groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, and secular leftist organizations found a common ground in support of one another.  Although these groups had much to quarrel about, they agreed on one thing: to end the Mubarack regime. Their coming together is known as the Kiyafa movement.  Many human rights issues in Egypt had been questioned prior but always denied.  However a local Egyptian uploaded a video to his blog of a prisoner being physically and sexually abused by police.  Within a year, these blogs jumped into the hundreds.  Many of these bloggers played huge roles in the recent events. Clearly new forms of media have made tremendous changes globally.
http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2011/02/09/the-road-to-tahrir/

Robots

Ok so my first semester at K-State (Spring of 2010) I started noticing a trend as students walked to class. It all started when I was walking by Ackert Hall and I could vaguely hear the old Pringles commercial song...you know the House of Pain's song "Jump Around".  Anyway, the closer I got to Waters Hall, the louder the song got.  I thought, there must be an outdoors event going on or something.  However, to my surprise, down the steps came a guy with a huge boom-box on his left shoulder.  As I got close to him I smiled and and said, "That's awesome man!"  To my surprise, everyone around me continued walking, looking down, no expression on their faces. Maybe they said seen him around and we're now unaffected by the display, but this made me start observing students more.
  I had been at other campuses where it seemed like people were more lively.  I had lived in Mexico where you greet people and smile; when you're leaving a restaurant you say to those who are staying "Provecho" roughly translated as -"have a nice meal". Anyway, I started noticing in classes that very few if any started conversations with people next to them. To avoid awkward eye contact or silences, people seemed to be on their phones. 
  The interesting thing is that I know all these people who walk around like robots, afraid of possibly breaking any social norms, are updating their facebook statuses at least once a day. I'm sure that at least 40% have a blog, so I know they have a voice, but for some reason I will never hear it unless I go read it through a text...through media.  That reminds me of the contrast between talking to someone online and talking to them in person.  Is it that they're too shy to let their true selves show? Are we becoming poor face to face communicators because a majority of our communicating takes places through some form of mediation?  started when I was walking by Ackert Hall and I could vaguely hear the old Pringles commercial song...you know the House of Pain's song "Jump Around".  Anyway, the closer I got to Waters Hall, the louder the song got.  I thought, there must be an outdoors event going on or something.  However, to my surprise, down the steps came a guy with a huge boom-box on his left shoulder.  As I got close to him I smiled and and said, "That's awesome man!"  To my surprise, everyone around me continued walking, looking down, no expression on their faces. Maybe they said seen him around and we're now unaffected by the display, but this made me start observing students more.
  I had been at other campuses where it seemed like people were more lively.  I had lived in Mexico where you greet people and smile; when you're leaving a restaurant you say to those who are staying "Provecho" roughly translated as -"have a nice meal". Anyway, I started noticing in classes that very few if any started conversations with people next to them. To avoid awkward eye contact or silences, people seemed to be on their phones. 
  The interesting thing is that I know all these people who walk around like robots, afraid of possibly breaking any social norms, are updating their facebook statuses at least once a day. I'm sure that at least 40% have a blog, so I know they have a voice, but for some reason I will never hear it unless I go read it through a text...through media.  That reminds me of the contrast between talking to someone online and talking to them in person.  Is it that they're too shy to let their true selves show? Are we becoming poor face to face communicators because a majority of our communicating takes places through some form of mediation?  

Early Writing Systems of South America

The earliest form of a writing system found in the Incan Empire of South America prior to colonialism was the Quipu. Although writing system may not be fitting, it served as some sort of a "transmittal system."  The quipu is colored strings made of wool and cotton which are joined in many different ways and knotted in order to communicate. Several South American societies were capable of reading it. 

Upon the arrival of the Spanish in 1531, the conquistadors were suspicious of the quipu and burned most of them.  To this day, only 300 quipu's remain. 

As to what the Incans were communicating with each other about, archaeologists remain uncertain.  They do know however that they were used for administrative purposes such as tracking tributes. They might also have been used as maps or legends to be told orally in the future. Little is still known about this fascinating system of communication.

Trailer

First blog! ...of my life...lol

     I've never really been one to blog, but like Dr.Wesch has pointed out...you should do it if you've got something to say (hopefully I have something even remotely interesting to say). The closest I've come to blogging is keeping a journal of my trip to India...I recorded the first 2 days of my trip and then I simply forgot about it. I do regret not continuing to write down my experiences on that trip. With each passing year I remember less and less, and it's starting to feel more like a dream.
    I don't know how to describe who I am in words. The truth is, it's difficult to know who someone is without direct experience. Maybe sometime I'll talk about the experiences in my life....maybe not...but all I will say for now is that I want to change the world. I probably won't be remembered in history; I doubt anyone will ever write about me or know my name. However, I see a need for change. I could be wrong in what I think needs to change. I might try to make those changes and realize that things are exactly as they need to be. I'm only 22. I haven't solved the mysteries of the universe, but if I never try I will never know or learn or grow or impact others. We must not be afraid of being wrong, saying the wrong thing, going against popular belief...but if you have a pure heart and genuinely want to help and love people or whatever it is you're dealing with...you should not fear. Now I realize that I have not said what it is I think needs to change. Hopefully I will continue writing on this blog (depending on if I have more assignments here, lol). That is all for now world!