So, I am pretty much in shock that I am leaving for Singapore in only nine days time. I wonder how prepared I really am as I read the information sheet our professor sent us...I am going to study religion and I am not sure that I could be anything but excited about that. Last night as I sat on the balcony debating and discussing religion with Mike I was getting bubbly with excitement over the religions that I was studying. I had a lightbulb moment as I somewhat understood the buddhist understanding of the cycle of rebirth...the striving to eliminate all karma. I know that believing a religion and studying a religion is two different things and I often struggle with this divide. What right do I have to analyze and scrutinize other's beliefs? Do I like it when people do that with mine? I cannot say that I really have an answer to that honestly. As far as Singapore goes it is a hodge podge of religions. Singapore's history is one of continual immigration...a population that continually doubled, tripled in its beginning days. Because of this huge combination of different people with different beliefs, from my understanding thus far, there seems to be a great religious tolerance (except for Jehovah Witnesses?). This has made me think about Singapore in contrast to the United States...a country also founded on immigration. How religiously tolerant are we? I am ashamed of the answer. We suspect people who possess a certain religious background, we poke fun and stereotype another, we label one religion hypocrites, and another we call evil. Is it ignorance? I know that religion is an interesting thing because many claim to be the only way and so in that way it does put distance between one's own set of beliefs and another's...but are we really handeling it the right way? I guess this is why I am so interested to see Singapore and their approach. i know that human nature is the same everywhere you go and so I really am interested to see how this plays out...
In other words Mike got Civilization IV for his computer and its awesome. He doesn't know it yet, but I am going to figure out how to snatch it from him...I figure in 26 hours of travel we can build a pretty awesome city... 26 hours of travel to Singapore...about five hours of travel to Sri Lanka...11 hours to London...8 hours to home...In that short time it is possible to fly around this world. That blows my mind. If it is so easy to fly around the world why can't we go to other planets yet?
and here:
And did I mention spending a month in Singapore? How did I get so blessed? Thanks to those in my family and my friends that have encouraged me to step out and take chances, whether by their words or their actions. You have showed me that perhaps it is alright to spend my last dime on the chance to fly around the world. My feet are not glued to this continent. I am preparing to fling myself off into the world. I am excited, nervous, giddy, amazed.....
