The past four weeks were very productive, indeed! The melodramas ingrained with action, comedy, thriller, romance, and suspense made every session and activity colorful and exciting. It is no accident that we, the 15 scholars coming from around the world,…
Vibrant First Fridays in Phoenix
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…
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.…
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…
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…
Of Aliens, Sun Devils and Sun-Affected SUSI scholars
After four weeks in Phoenix, the SUSI scholars hit Los Angeles on Saturday, with the Arizona weather still the “hot” topic of discussion. The emblem of Arizona is the Sun Devil, for good reason: the heat is simply hideous. We…
Einstein and Cronkite Meet SUSI
Time and space are relative Most of us have traveled 24 or more hours and we still arrived the same day we left our home countries. For the first few days, we woke up in the middle of the night…
Phoenix, the Colorful City
The beautiful city of Phoenix is in many aspects currently the fastest growing in the United States. It is the fifth biggest city in the country. Economically the city has registered massive growth; transport infrastructure has speedily developed to include…