Wedding and Cancun Pics

I have finally uploaded my pictures from Hanna & Denis's wedding and from the rest of my time in Cancun. Check them out here:

Hanna & Denis's Wedding Photos
Other Cancun Photos

Happy Viewing!!

ANGRY...VERY ANGRY!!

3 Bombs went off in Dahab....

Anger wasn't my first response....
First, there was NAUSEA as I first heard about the bombing and got that sinking feeling in my stomach.
Next came CONFUSION as I searched google news and refreshed CNN and BBC every few seconds, finding almost no details about the incident for about 20 minutes.
Then there was PANIC as I rushed to grab my phone and call Luli whose last words to me on Thursday were "We are heading off to Dahab for the holiday."
Next was FEAR as I dialed and dialed to get through to all my friends in Egypt. Almost everyone was somewhere in Sinai because of the long holiday weekend.
RELIEF as I hear voices and see text messages from those who could of (or in some cases should have if it wasn't for a last minute hotel problems) been there.
That left me with LINGERING ANXIETY of the ones who didn't text back, or whose messages aren't showing delivery receipts.
The ongoing FRUSTRATION of the "Sorry, All International Circuits are Busy Now" recording that i keep hearing over and over again as my fingers get sore from trying to get through.

And then, only then, comes the ANGER . Then I start wondering how many times we have to do this. This isn't the first time, and I wish, god how I wish, I could say that I think it will be the last.

They are saying over 100 dead but don't take that number too seriously. They try to hide the Egyptian deaths because they don't want to freak-out tourists with big death tolls. I was in Sharm el Sheikh a week after the last bombings in July. BBC says 60 people died in those attacks, CNN says 86, but my friends who were there said there were over 200-300 dead. Poor egyptian hotel workers are easy deaths to hide. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who lost friends, loved ones, parents, children in this horrible act...even those who will never get counted in the "death count" ticker on CNN.

Fairytale Wedding

Hanna & Denis on the Beach
Originally uploaded by suzannemo.

Just arrived off the plane from Cancun and barely processing the return to reality.

Hanna & Denis's wedding was amazing...truly a fairytale as this picture proves. I took over 200 pictures and will post them soon.

Weddings seem to have become the equivalent of conferences for AIESEC alumni (except no annoying morning plenary) and this one was a huge reunion. Almost my entire MC from my first MCP year was there and it was incredible to catch up with everyone.

Mazal Tov Hanna and Denis..you are gonna have some beautiful kids who really know how to dance!!!

The Best Birthday Present Ever

This year I got the most expensive birthday present ever. It came from Mr. J. William Fulbright. The letter (dated on my birthday April 7th) reads... "It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on your selection as a Fulbright grantee to Morocco." It also mentioned that 35 Fulbright grantees have been awarded Nobel Prizes so now I have my eyes set on a new competition.

So, my friends, after much anticipation it is official!!! Sometime later this year (probably the beginning of September) I will be moving to Morocco to spend between 9-12 months researching Morocco's progress with global economic integration, looking at how Morocco is addressing the challenge to build global management capacity-building, and watching first hand the implications of free-trade implementation on the first country in Africa to sign an FTA with the US. I am SOOOOO excited about this opportunity and I can't thank the Fulbright Scholarship Board enough for this incredible birthday gift.

Walkin' on Sunshine...Whoo Hoo!!

10 reasons why Suzanne is in a GREAT mood today:
1) I don't ever have to wear my stupid walking cast again..I am back in SHOES!!
2) We had 4 sunny and warm days in NYC this week
3) I am going to see my family in Ohio this weekend.
4) In less than 1 week I will be on a beach in Cancun, Mexico where I will be attending HANNA and DENIS'S WEDDING!!
5) My best friend from High School, Taura, just got back in touch with me...and I might even get to see her this weekend!!
6) Two of the Salaam Trainees just got MARRIED (talk about impacting someone's life!!)
7) Three amazing concerts in 2 weeks- Coldplay on Monday of last week, an amazing Accapella performance on Saturday, and this Thursday Jim and Scott are performing.
8) I started looking for tickets to Egypt for my MCP reunion in May..it is going to ROCK!!
9) I just rediscovered my summer wardrobe.. you know that great feeling when you dig out your boxes of clothing and find all these things you forget you had?
10) I am turning another year older this week and I don't care at all. 28...Bring it!!

Life is good...very good. 'Nuff said.