Ambassadorial Scholar thankful for Rotary's ticket to the world

Click to go to the article with photo on Rotary's website.

From Rotary World, April 2006
By Abby Breitstein
Rotary International News

Ruby Powers laughingly calls herself a "Rotary lifer," even though she has yet to join a Rotary club.

"I got started with Interact in high school, and then I spent two summers doing RYLA," says Powers, who is from San Antonio, Texas, USA. In her senior year, she attended a presentation by returned Youth Exchange participants and was struck by one similarity. "Every single one of them said, 'It was the best year of my life.'" Soon, Powers was in her own predeparture orientation for her year in Verviers, Belgium.

After attending the University of Texas at Austin, where she became president of her Rotaract club, Powers was ready for her next Rotary adventure. In the summer of 2004, she left for Barcelona, Spain, as an Ambassadorial Scholar. She had no plans for a service project, but right after she arrived, one found her.

"I got an e-mail about a woman whose son had a rare metabolic disease that could only be successfully treated by a doctor in Barcelona," she says. The family needed a place to stay, and Powers knew just whom to ask: the Rotary Club of Barcelona Millennium, who hosted her. Soon, she was the contact person for families from around the world, each with a very sick child.

As she learned more about the disease and the Manuela Martinez Foundation, which supports work to treat it, Powers began talking to clubs and, last June, organized a fundraising dinner. She now says the foundation has become a personal project.

Back in the United States and in her first year of law school, Powers is grateful to Rotary for her Ambassadorial Scholarship. "[The message isn't] get a 4.0 and hole up in your room studying. It's go out there, build bridges, learn, and connect the world. I love that."

Learn about the Manuela Martinez Foundation at www.martinezfoundation.org.

This article originally appeared in the April 2006 issue of Rotary World.

My summer in two sentences...

It has been crazy - finished my first year of law school, a week with family in MO, drive/move to TX, start a 7-week internship in San Antonio, one week in Mexico, move to Dallas, and start my 4 -week internship here. Now, I have just 3 weeks before we return and I have so much to do to prep for my life back in NC.

I read an article in Prevention about Americans have so little non-stressful time bc we are always surrounded by cell phones, computer, telephones, internet, tv, blackberries, etc. I agree. I will find some good quotes from that article.

Just finished reading Barefoot Heart by Elva Hart Trevino

It is about a migrant Mexican American Texan family from the youngest daughter's point of view. It was good to read and compare notes on experiences in Mexico, Texas, and midwest as being a mix of Mexican and American.

It actually inspires me to write a book sooner than later......

I saw a guy I went to HS with at my grocery store in Dallas

We went to hs in the late 90's in San Antonio and saw each other after about 5 years since meeting up at UT, at the local downtown grocery store in Dallas.

I think I might just start making a list of occurences that help explain my blog's url.

re: Daniel Pearl's 'We are watching you....' posting on BBC

Daniel Pearl's post on BBC News

You are right; you have the right to read what is openly free to the public.

The last part mentioned about student interns writing about their experiences on the blog for their friends reminds me of a similar occurrence on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in 2004. A Senate staffer maintained a blog where she wrote about her sexual escapades using code names for her lovers for her friends to follow the story. Soon it was discovered by people other than her friends and decoded. After being fired, she later wrote a book.

Thanks for showing me technorati site.

Price of virtual living: Patience, privacy

(CNN) -- The virtual worlds depicted in the movies "The Matrix" and "Minority Report" can often seem far too real in today's world of computers, e-mail, instant messaging, MP3 players, cell phones, laptops, Wi-Fi and RFID.

N.C. One Of Three States Considered For New Immigration Court

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina is on a short list to get an immigration court. The competition: Nebraska and Missouri. The goal is to process deportation claims more quickly.

Texting vs. Email

E-mail losing ground to IM, text messaging
Young people driving switch to instant gratification communication

Report: CIA unit that hunted bin Laden closed

N.Y Times says officials don't see al-Qaida as hierarchical as it once was

no comment.

Ode to Frequest Flier Miles...etc.

So I finally got around to reading this article about frequent flier miles and how to use them, etc.

I feel like there are a lot of people who dont know how to use them, get them, etc. and they are this scary topic of ' I know I could benefit from them but I dont know what to do.'

My grandmother has flown to more countries than I have and I just got her signed up for 2 airlines programs this last May. I feel bad I hadnt mentioned it to her before but I think I thought she already knew about it.

I got my first miles in 1999 when I flew to Belgium and back. Within a year and a half, I had a free flight from all my continental travels.

I also have received one free flight with United and one with Southwest. In total, I have racked up 3 free flights, each iwth a different airline. I should have a free one with United and SW soon.

My husband and I got the United Credit Card in 2004 probably and use it all the time. I just ordered the Southwest CC because I fly SW all the time and it looks like they have the best program out there.

Here are the links to some articles:
Mileage programs: Been great to know you

Airline Miles - Useless? Part Two

Bush, Cheney condemn terror financing reports

President calls disclosure of program in newspaper stories ‘disgraceful’

Smart, Skilled, Shut Out

Intel agencies are desperate for Arabic speakers. So why do they reject some of the best and brightest?

I know someone who this happened to...so it must be happening to a lot of skilled people.

Abuse plagues Muslim women in Germany

Immigrant women, especially those from Muslim countries, find themselves isolated and mistreated by husbands clinging to sexual and marital attitudes alien in the adopted country. MSNBC.com's Rachel Elbaum tells the stories of two these women and what is being done to help them.

When society gets in the way of sexuality

Culture clashes with human nature in the strangest of ways

Excerpts:
Koro, the anxious feeling that your penis is retracting back into your body, is often described as a “culture-bound” psychiatric disorder. Sometimes, episodes of koro come in waves, almost epidemics. Some victims believe that if the penis shrinks far enough into their bodies, they’ll die.

Dhat syndrome is another so-called culture-bound disorder. Victims of dhat syndrome come to believe that semen lost during sleep, through masturbation, or by having sex, is literally draining them of life force. They can feel lethargic or weak. Some have great sexual performance anxiety.

For example, Caucasian women were much more likely to masturbate than were African-American, Hispanic, Chinese or Japanese women. Almost half of Hispanic women engaged in oral sex once per week or more, but only 10.5 percent of Chinese women did. Just over 70 percent of African-American women had intercourse once per week or more; 41.5 percent of Japanese women did.

Iran pushes Islamic dress code for women

Fears rise that Tehran will restore mandatory head coverings, overcoats


'Now on Tehran’s busy streets, only some women adhere to the strict code of the chador. Others are seen in scarves that leave almost their entire heads bare, showing blonde-highlighted hair, and brightly colored formfitting jackets, called “manteaus,” that stop just under the waist, revealing jeans and sandaled feet with painted nails.'

Oh no, painted nails!! That reminds me, I need to get a pedicure.

1470 miles in 4 days - Durham to Dallas to San Antonio

I finally made it. Burak and I drove 1200 miles from Durham to Dallas then we unloaded our cars to set up our apartment in downtown Dallas. Then I drove to Austin, had dinner with a great friend, Ann, and then drove on down to SA. I start my law internship at Legal Aid in downtown SA tomorrow AM. 8AM!

This is going to be a great learning experience. What is like to live in SA after leaving it 7 years ago? Where do I want to end up, in Austin, Dallas, Round Rock, etc? What do I like about Texas? Can I live with this crazy heat? What is like to work in a law office? What will I actually be doing?

Anyway, I have a lot of questions but I hope to find a lot of answers these next 3 months.

Stay tuned...ok, now for a nap.
rubes

U.K. crackdown on wild bachelor parties abroad

Britons to be charged for seeking government's help when things go wrong

It blamed an increase in anti-social behavior on holiday on the growing number of no-frills airlines offering cheap flights.


When we lived in Barcelona, we knew at least 3 ppl at 2 separate companies that catered to these parties in Barcelona. With the pound so strong, a weekend in Barcelona was so cheap for Brits. They would often be at the touristy places so I wouldtn see them. It was a known fact that the Brits couldnt hold their liquor though.

Funny to actually see an article about this....
ruby

'Honour killing' brother jailed - Turkish siblings in Berlin

A 19-year-old Turkish man has been jailed for nine years and three months by a German court for shooting his sister in a so-called "honour killing".

There are 200,000 Turks in Berlin alone..
This girl that was shot by her brother must have been 15 when she was married to her cousin. Then she has a 5 year old at 23..must have had him at 18.

This story is just sad...Girl tries to make the most out of her life but can't because of her family and family's culture.

For more about Honor Killings..got to love BBC news for giving a lot of background information at each article they cover...

Q&A: Honour killings explained

Nine Steps to a Perfect Career Fit

By Susan Pines, Jist Publishing

James Leahy, 39, of Cincinnati has held and resigned from more than 20 jobs. "I've built fences, inspected property, worked in sales and done home remodeling, to name a few." Currently he works in distribution and warehousing.

Did unhappiness cause him to leave most of the jobs?

"Definitely," Leahy says. He added that he's never found just the right job or had a true career focus.

Career Satisfaction Elusive for Many

While most people have not worked in 20 different jobs, Leahy is not alone in his career dissatisfaction. Half of all Americans are unhappy in their jobs, according to findings by the Conference Board, a New York-based business research group. In addition, most people can expect three to five career changes and 10 or more job changes in their working years, reports the U.S. Department of Labor.

"Many people spend years unhappy in their careers," says Michael Farr, author of "Overnight Career Choice" (JIST Publishing).

"Some move from job to job, searching for more-fulfilling or better-paying work. Others say they fell into a career without asking it if suited them. Still others follow in the footsteps of a parent or pursue a hot field."

Career indecision and unhappiness have high stakes, both in pay and personal satisfaction.

"You are more likely to enjoy, stay with and be successful in a career that suits your interests and skills. For these reasons, you would be wise to spend some time considering what you want out of your work," Farr says.

Nine Steps to Your Best Career Fit

A large body of research gives nine predictors for career satisfaction and success, according to Farr's book. By thinking about these factors in an organized way, you can make the right career choice in a short time.

Farr suggests you take a few hours to consider the following nine most important components of an ideal career before thinking about specific job titles:

1. What are you good at?
List your top skills and abilities. Think about your personality traits, such as honesty and enthusiasm; your general skills that are useful in many jobs, such as writing clearly or an ability to prioritize; and your job-related skills learned through education, training and experience.

2. What interests you?
Write down your top interests. Are you good with computers? Do you have a knack for repairing engines or furniture? Do you enjoy photography? Do you have a flair for numbers? Do you like to help people solve their problems? Consider all of your interests.

3. What motivates you and is most important to you?
Prioritize the values you would like to include in a career. Do you want to help society and others? Would you like to have authority? Do you want creative or exciting work? How important is variety, independence, recognition, good pay and security to you? Think about what you really want from your career.

4. How much money would you realistically like to earn?
Mull over the money issue now so you can make a good decision when you receive a job offer. If you found the perfect job in all other respects, what would be the least pay you would accept? What is the reasonable lower end and upper end of pay you can expect on your next job?

5. What level of responsibility do you want?
Decide how much responsibility you are willing to accept in your ideal career. Do you like to be in charge? Are you good at supervising others? Do you want to be accountable for the performance of others, of a department, or of a territory?

6. Where do you want your ideal job to be located?
Consider where you would like your work to be located geographically. Are you willing to move? What kind of a commute do you want? Do you want to be near relatives or public transportation? As you add criteria, you will have fewer places to look for your job, but you may end up with what you want.

7. What special knowledge would you like to include in your career?
List knowledge that you have gained from school, hobbies, family experiences and other formal and informal sources. Are you a good cook? Are you talented at home decorating? Do you like to work with kids? Do you have a good understanding of investments? As you fine-tune your career choice, include one or two of your special knowledges. They could make you a unique applicant in the right setting. For example, a public relations specialist who knows a great deal about bicycle racing would be an ideal candidate at a bicycling association.

8. What kind of work environment do you prefer?
Define what you did and did not like in past work settings to create your ideal work environment picture. For example, do you like to work outdoors? Do you prefer a small or large organization? Does a quiet work space appeal to you?

9. What types of people do you like to work for and with?
Identify the types of co-workers you prefer. If you have ever had a rotten boss or worked with a group of losers, you know why this is important. Do you prefer creative types? People who are friendly or who keep your relationship very professional? Do you want a boss who interacts with you all day or one who lets you work independently?

After you define these nine ideal career factors, Farr suggests that you use them to research specific job titles and employers and keep the factors in mind during job interviews.

"Although you may need to compromise, getting as close as possible to your ideal career choice will likely pay off in success and satisfaction for years to come."


Susan Pines is the Associate Publisher of JIST Publishing and is responsible for managing some of JIST's best-selling reference products, including Overnight Career Choice, Best Jobs for the 21st Century, and College Majors Handbook. She has dedicated her career to helping people by making complicated labor market and career information understandable, accessible and beneficial.

Irish language skills lure Amazon

Online retailer Amazon is to move its European customer service centre from the UK to the Irish Republic, to take advantage of better language skills.

In a 2005 European Commission poll conducted by Eurobarometer, 30% of UK inhabitants surveyed said they could speak a second language at conversational level.

In Ireland, this figure was about a third higher at 41%.