APPALACHIAN ADVENTURES

On Friday, I embarked on a kind-of spur-of-the-moment road trip to the southern Appalachians.

On Saturday, I arrived in Asheville for Bele Chere 2007. With all downtown streets becoming pedestrian for the festival, it was easy to explore leisurely. After buying a pint of organic IPA, I listened to reggae, shopped (yay for fantastic finds at vintage boutique), and enjoyed the Burt’s Bees mini spa.

After Bele Chere, Jimmy Buffett’s Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant was the next destination.

Memo to general manager: You are a theme restaurant. You do not compete on food; you compete on atmosphere. You failed. The mood was somber; funeral parlors have better atmospheres. Also, you were wearing a suit. IT IS A BEACH RESTAURANT. Wear at least a Hawaiian shirt! The number of Buffett songs I heard during my hour-long meal: ONE. It wasn’t even “Cheeseburger in Paradise” or “Margaritaville.” You could have least played those instead of “5 O’clock Somewhere” which isn’t even on one of Buffett’s CDs. Any self-respecting Parrothead would be thoroughly disappointed. You let me down. You really did and as a die-hard Parrothead, I did not think this was possible.

Somehow I was able to find the Blue Ridge Parkway from downtown Asheville without getting on the interstate (it was all luck). Replacing Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in the CD player with Songs You Know By Heart, it took only a few verses of “Cheeseburger in Paradise” before all was well again in Margaritaville. Cruising down the Blue Ridge Parkway listening to Buffett and later Prairie Home Companion, I thought to myself: “This is the good life.”

PS. Gatlinburg, TN should carry a warning sign: “If you have ever been anywhere in this world, you will be disappointed with our low-life version of hell.”

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled Hosseini is the author of one of my favorite books, The Kite Runner and my newest favorite, A Thousand Splendid Suns. This novel is the story of 2 women growing up in Afghanistan; the country lived under the rule of a monarch, communists, warlords, and the Taliban.

The following is Hosseini's description of the Taliban's rules:
(this is not the exact wording from the novel--it's paraphrased)

All citizens must pray 5 times a day. If it is prayer time and you are caught doing something other, you will be beaten.
All men will grow their beards. If you do not abide by this, you will be beaten.
All boys will wear turbans. They will be color-coded by age.
Singing is forbidden.
Dancing is forbidden.
Playing cards, chess, gambling, and kite flying are forbidden.
Writing books, watching films, and painting pictures are forbidden.
If you steal, your hand will be cut off at the wrist. Steal again , your foot will be cut off.
If you are not Muslim, do not worship where you can be seen by Muslims.
Attention women:
You will stay inside your homes at all times. It is not proper for women to wander aimlessly about the street. If you go outside, you must be accompanied by a male relative.
You will not show your face.
Cosmetics are forbidden.
Jewelry is forbidden.
You will not wear charming clothes.
You will not speak unless spoken to.
You will not make eye contact with men.
You will not laugh in public.
You will not paint your nails. If you do, you will lose a finger.
Girls are forbidden from attending school.
Women are forbidden from working.
If you commit adultery, you will be stoned to death.

I want to cry...

Something To Read...

The New York Times has an opinion blog featuring posts from the Class of 2007. It is worth taking the time to read.

http://thegraduates.blogs.nytimes.com/

First Post

This blog is to help me connect and inform my friends, family, and others while I am a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco. In the next 27 months (starting in September), I will learn Arabic, improve on my limited French, and observe a society far different from the one I grew up. George Bernard Shaw said “life isn’t about finding yourself; life is about creating yourself.” Each experience and decision I make will have influences on the whole person I hope to become.

Peace Corps represents a new phase in my life. Along for the journey is my friend, Mr. Optimism, who will help me persevere in times on hardship and self-doubt. I’m enthusiastic about my chances to make a difference in the lives of the Moroccans and naïve enough to think my age and idealistic nature are more of a strength than a weakness.

I’m a product of the Deep South. I love the food, hospitality, and the pace of life. What will Morocco’s be like? I have 27 months to find out.