Author: stencel123

Yesterday we had our final drum circle and it was very emotional. We did the normal sing and dance part with the drums but we also knew it was the last one for the year. We all had fun and with everyone gathered one last time. I think I am actually starting to get good… Continue reading My final drum circle

Sunday’s drum circle introduced us to the power of Uganda and the music that comes from the country. Due to the rain we unfortunately did not have drums but we did have spoons that when they are hit together can really make some good beats. We learned about the culture, language, and then did a… Continue reading My most unique drum circle

In smaller Pacific nation news, the country of the Solomon Islands located north of Australia has had mass rioting in the past few days. The rioting has lead to a number of deaths and hundreds of buildings burned down. Although it is not fully clear what caused the rioting in the first place, the general… Continue reading Solomon Island riots sparked by anti-PRC push

After reading Cairo House, I grew a new understanding of Middle Eastern culture. It was clear that the geopolitics of the region also had cultural effects. For instance, the rise and subsequent fall of Nasser brought change to Egypt in how people went upon their day. While Nasser himself was an anti-imperialist against the West,… Continue reading Now that Cairo House is over

Recently, a crisis has started to brew in Eastern Europe on the Polish and Belarusian border. Belarus has been taking in thousands of migrants from Iraq and Syria in recent weeks has a military propaganda tool to add pressure to Poland and NATO has a whole. Many of these migrants are Kurdish minorities who were… Continue reading The Treatment of Middle Eastern Migrants by Belarus

For today’s drum circle we spent the session inside due to the snow. Honestly it was still pretty cold but fun. The theme for this circle was about the islands of Okinawa which are a set of islands in Japan’s south. We learned the traditional terms there, parts of the language, and for the best… Continue reading Our first indoor drum circle

Reading these chapters, the main part that stuck out to me was the roll the Egyptian Officers Coup played on the perspective of the book. I was surprised to see that even the name of the book was influenced by Pasha being under house arrest so he could not leave his house arrest. I fully… Continue reading Cairo House’s readings today gave me a new perspective on Nasser

For this drum circle, we were back on campus. The main part of is what I have come used too drumming and setting up. We had more outside guests which was good because it really opens it up more and we learn more from everyone’s own background in it. I spent the majority of the… Continue reading My next drum circle

So for this drum circle we went off campus to a local Methodist Church that was having a celebration for Halloween. When we got there I was a bit nervous mostly because I have never done the drumming off campus and in front of the public before. We set up, practiced for a bit, met… Continue reading Drum circle outside campus on Halloween + Poster I made

Recently, outspoken critic of Authoritarian regimes like that in Turkey, Enes Kanter has gone to social media to go after the Chinese government for what he is calling forced labor in genocide in the Chinese Region of Xingjaing where their Muslim minority live.  He has called for people to boycott playing there, stop jersey sales… Continue reading Boston Celtics player takes on Chinese Government on treatment of Uighurs