new vs old

Following the American girls’ experiences, observations and comments has me, i’ll admit, mildly jealous. how lovely to come here, do to this thing and see with new eyes, to be able to talk to people about their experiences to hear with completely fresh ears;  without trying to see/speak/hear behind/beyond/through the years and years of history and politics that drag us ‘locals’ down. it’s all so new and fascinating, not the tired, rehashed stories we hear through our media outlets and people who quite frankly, can’t be bothered to talk about it any more. what a wonderful thing that people do begin to speak freely about who they are and where they are to complete strangers – complete strangers who are not from here. it’s their chance to write the story again from the beginning, to teach, to learn, to re-feel the pride, the sadness, the ups and the downs of sharing. it’s all new news…for us, sadly, it’s all old news… however, when the girls share what has been shared with them – we have the opportunity to get a glimpse of what was once new all over again and that little flicker of something – interest? pride? sadness? frustration? gets reignited once more…