It was the first Friday of the month, and that has a special meaning here in Phoenix. My anticipation was especially high for the opportunity to get to know the Scholars a little more through their personal projects and what…
Wild Forest
“It was an amazing day. We fed wild animals, explored the hidden beauty of the forest and met with some of the native people of Arizona…” No, it didn’t happen like that. This is all my wild imagination. I and…
In the heat of the night…and day!
As I am writing, tiny drops of rain gently knock on my window. There is a pleasant silence. The monsoon season has just started in Arizona: it brings joy and relief, an escape from the agony of the extreme heat.…
Every Profession Has Its Own Struggle
Today I learned one important thing through the SUSI program: every opportunity that comes along brings its own consequences and struggles. After two weeks of attending classes and activities with experts in their fields, I believe they are also still…
Unity in diversity…the SUSI Way
Scorching, arid, sweltering, sizzling, etc. Mr. Thesaurus may have more options to shout upon stepping into the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix, Arizona. This is what I felt when I first set foot in Phoenix, the home of the best…
From Historic Flagstaff to Symbolic Cacti: A Sublime Beauty
Sunday morning, 11:00, in front of a hotel in Flagstaff. Sunny weather with a blue sky, 74°F, fresh with a gentle breeze. The green tree leaves are swaying softly. Mountain views in the near distance with fluffy white clouds draw…
The Grand Canyon, an Overwhelming Experience from a Sacred Place
As the sun goes down, the Grand Canyon transforms. The sunlight is like brushstrokes on a canvas of rocks, drawing shapes and textures. These natural paintings are ephemeral, changing from one minute to another, showing magical landscapes, an echo from…
Brainstorming
Today we completed a week with brainstorming and refreshing dialogues. Everybody discussed their own projects with great enthusiasm. We have been learning a lot from each other every day. Different perspectives from various countries have been creating a rich intellectual…
Full Throttle
It was an energetic start to the fourth day of the SUSI program on Thursday. And I am not yet talking about the classes. The thing is: Argentinian scholar Soledad finally acquired a thermos and was able to drink mate…
Layered Mysteries & a Phoenix-Inspired Future
Phoenix is a city of mysterious aura. In mythology, Phoenix symbolizes renewal as well as the sun. As an anthropologist, I was always fascinated by the imaginary representations and the construction of realities. What journalists do is give meaning and…