Rest in Peace, Eugene. I will always miss you and I will always love you. August 13th was a day of remembrance; it bore life and death between us.
I've just finished 8 books of stories that detail specific stories and regions in the Middle East. I've read the books in a span of 2 months and now feel adequately versed in regards to many issues that lie within the Middle East. This is my favorite quote from all of the books, though, and I hope you find the irony within the context. I wish I could do more than display my opinion, but for now, I will wish for that in the future.
"I don't feel like coming home heartsick, Mohsen. The things that go on in the streets will just ruin my day, to no purpose. I can't come face-to-face with horrors and just keep on walking as if nothings' happened. Furthermore, I refuse to wear a burqa. Of all the burdens thev've put on us, that's the most degrading. The Shirt Of Nessus wouldn't do as much damage to my dignity as that wretched getup. It cancels my face and takes away my identity and turns me into an object. Here, at least, I'm me, Zunaira, Mohsen Ramat's wife, as thirty-two, former magistrate, dismissed by obscurantists without a hearing and without compensation, but with enough self-respect left to brush my hair every day and pay attention to my clothes. If I put that damned veil on, I'm neither a human being nor an animal, I'm just an affront, a disgrace, a blemish that has to be hidden. That's too hard to deal with. Especially for someone who was a lawyer, who worked for womens' rights. Please, I don't want you to think for a minute that I'm putting on some sort of act. I'd like to, you know, but unfortunately, my heart's not in it anymore. Don't ask me to give up my name, my features, the colors of my eyes, and shape of my lips so I can take a walk through squalor and desolation. Don't ask me to become something less than a shadow, an anonymous thing rustling around in a hostile place. You know how thin-skinned I am, Mohsen. I'd be angry at myself for being angry at you when you were only trying to please me." -from by novel, Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra.
Check out my website full of new pictures! You can find it here: www.tara-rava.com ..
***I am back in Montana. Just moved back from Greece, but I AM NOT GREEK. Please read my UPDATE section. Please, I am only learning Greek, I don't understand it (Den milao ellnika, mono ligo. Parakalo, milas masi mou sta anglika. Ego mono matheno!) I am AMERICAN! My parents' are Russian and Italian. I can understand and write in Spanish. Please, I only want to read emails of substance, hence, if it took less than 5 minutes to write then you should not send it.***
Yes!!! I finally saw Anathema in concert. They were absolutely flawless, just as I expected!! They sounded identical to their recordings (if not BETTER in real life.) Not only were they great onstage, but they were lovely in real life as well. Meeting them makes me appreciate and hold in pride, my tattoo even more so than when I initially got it! My only desire, is that I get to see them much more in the future! Thank you for the wonderful experience guys!
UPDATE! :) I am back in Montana now after the long awaited break that I needed after grad school. I earned my Masters degree in Industrial Hygiene which is basically environmental investigation and safety. The first semester I earned a 3.82 GPA. The second semester I earned straight A's. :D
This summer I attempted to refine my language skills!
Spanish: Para mis amigos hespanicos. Me vive en Mexico por 3 meses y estudie espanol a mi universidad por un ano. Tambien, tuve un amigo de Espana me hablaba todas las dias solo en espanol por 3 meses. Ahora, puedo hablar. Pero, prefiero practicar. Si quieres escribirme en Espanola, esta bien. Bueno. Me voy. :) Cuidate!
Arabic: Asaylum alaykum sahebi! Dorosto al loga alarabia fi jam3ti, lkn, la astat3 an atakelmha! Ana uhebek sahebi men al Saudia!
Greeks: Geia sas filos mou apo Ellada! Eemai Tara kai meno stin Glyfada, Athina. Diavaso ellnika, epidi eenai para poli dyskulo! Kamya fora, boro na katalaveno kai milao epsis. Depends on the day. ;)
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"One of my earliest and strongest impressions was of the ignorance of other people. I had read and absorbed Washington Irving's "[The] Alhambra" before I was nine, but could never understand how it was that the other ranchers knew nothing about it. Later I concluded that this ignorance was peculiar to the country, and felt that those who lived in cities would not be so dense. One day a man from the city came to the ranch; he wore shiny shoes and a cloth coat, and I felt that here was a good chance for me to exhange thoughts with an enlightened mind. From the bricks of an old fallen chimney I had built an Alhambra of my own; towers, terraces, and all were complete, and chalk inscriptions marked the different sections. Here I led the city man and questioned him about "The Alhambra", but he was as ignorant as the men on the ranch, and then I consoled myself with the thought that there were only two clever people in the world- Washington Irving and myself." -Jack London by himself in "The Star Rover"
"That's why I read them. If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking. That's the world of hicks and slobs. Real people would be ashamed of themselves doing that. Haven't you noticed, Watanabe? You and I are the only real ones in the dorm. The other guys are crap." - Haruki Murakami in "Norwegian Wood"
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I am engaged! My fiance is the beautiful man that has done a couple of photoshoots with me (see pictures!) I also have two other loves in my life. Kalmah is one...He's the the little black kitten, Kalmah, in the list of my "Top 8!" Tala is the other and he is the "fox" pictured in one of my photos.
I was the FEATURED 20 HOT DATES girl in January's issue of FHM.
My first and only tattoo is my favorite band logo: Anathema, on my foot!
TaPa Pa?a
BIOGRAPHY: Tara Rava is not only my name, but as well describes me as the individual that I am. The uniqueness of my physiology is that I originate from two distinct cultures. My father was born in Russia and my mothers parents were born and raised in Italy. The Italian and Russian characteristics are obvious in my features and qualities.
The other main factor in my life that contributes to my being- is the small community that I grew up in. The close knit town of 2,000 people residing in the beautiful state of Montana has also has a large influence on my personality.
This brief personal description will allow you, in a small capacity, to deduce the complexity of my personality.
I thoroughly hope that you enjoy my pictures.
To photographers: I love getting my pictures taken and being in front of the camera. Humor and comfort with photographers is something that I like to strive for and achieve within every shoot. It allows for a more relaxed environment, which in turn awards ameliorate pictures.
My Resume: please see www.tara-rava.com
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Credits: Background from flickr user