With Love From Paradise:

In Transit

An Improvised Adventure…

My flight from Edinburgh to London was at around 5am – a time when no human being should be awake without a good reason!  To add insult to injury, we sat on the tarmac for almost an hour due to air traffic delays! Not the best start to the trip. Less than an hour into flying, I discovered the airplane was not equipped with any real entertainment or snacks.  I was seated on the aisle seat next to an elderly woman who slept most of the time we were on the ground – not much for conversation – and on the other side of the aisle sat three lively women about my age. Out of the three, one was actually headed to Nice as well. Gabrielle, a journalist for a local French newspaper, was a delightful source of conversation. She was a fresh-faced, inexperienced, but adventurous traveler. The hour we spent on the ground flew by and I was slightly sorry that the plane did take off in the end. Nonetheless, the unfortunate consequence of the delay was that I ended up missing my flight from London to Nice.

We landed safely, just an hour and a half later than expected, meaning that I missed my connecting flight by 20 minutes – and, you guessed it, no refunds. I had to be in Nice the following day for a meeting, but the next flight wouldn’t get me there until after the meeting (there had been several other flight cancellations). So, my only option was to drive there… Oh joy. From London to Paris, I managed to grab a ticket for the underwater railroad (the “Eurostar” tunnel) that passes under the English Channel. It was a packed but pleasant ride that took about an hour. I didn’t manage to get much done, but I did enjoy the conversation of the lively British bunch on board.

Renting a car was an expense that had to be paid, but luckily I wasn’t alone: Gabrielle, my new friend from the airplane, also had to get down to Nice and was also trying to rent a car to get there. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but we decided to split the cost of the car and drive down to Nice together. With two potential drivers, we could alternate if one of us felt tired. I grabbed the keys to the Polo from the car rental guy, Gabby grabbed some snacks from the confectionery shop next door, and we hit the road. Fueled by friends, friendly locals, protein, and caffeine, Gabby and I drove for 15 hours (including rest-stops) to Nice. Let me tell you – it was a very “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” kind of ride because most of it took place during the night.

The French Riviera during one of our Petrol Pit-Stops

We had some good times, some great times, and some improvised adventures. I’ll sum up the best part of the trip – I like to refer to it as the “fuel maneuver”. With a little over four hours to go before Nice, Gabby and I had spent most of our money on snacks and didn’t really have much left to buy petrol. I offered to pay for gas on a credit card, but Gabby wanted to use the opportunity to flirt with a couple of men at the gas station. I was convinced that her actions wouldn’t lead to any free gas in the tank, so I started to dig through my purse to find my (rather bare) wallet. By the time I actually opened my wallet, Gabby had opened the door and sat down in the passenger seat again – I figured that this meant that she was unsuccessful, until I heard the car start to make a noise. I turned around to see a not unattractive (double negative = hot!) young man filling up the car with petrol. How did she do it? She handed him a piece of paper before telling me to drive away. This girl has talent. The rest of the trip’s highlights included listening to blaring music and singing along to it, rolling down the windows while on the freeway and having our hair blown around, playing road trip games, and even a few prank phone calls here and there. Definitely a day to remember!

So now we’ve come full circle: I arrived here (in Nice) about 30 minutes ago, where I parted ways with Gabby, and checked into an inn at the airport. Gabby is a great road trip partner and I hope to be able to do it again with her, but just for fun this time! The bottom line of this story, I suppose, is that no matter what life can throw at you to mess up your “plans”, don’t make a fuss about it. The more you resist change, the harder it will hit you – because it will hit you. It’s just a matter of when. I’m lucky because I didn’t react to the flight delays and such with anger or frustration, and I had alternative options – but that advice can be applied to other situations, not just concerning travels.

I’ll leave you, friends, as I usually do, with something that a new (and now better) friend of mine said to me when we went our separate ways in Nice: “never forget to bring snacks and just enjoy the ride.”

With love from paradise,

Amita

The next stop on Amita’s Adventure: Nice, France (seriously this time…)!

With Love, From Paradise:

Edinburgh, Scotland

Paradise, my friends, is a myth.  Its not a Caribbean beach, or a trek in Peru, or a journey across the Sahara desert, or scuba diving off the coast of Australia.  Its a state of mind.  A playground of mundane amusements can become a world to discover in proper sunlight

It’s a Sun-in-Your-Face, Wind-in-Your-Hair Life

I arrived three days ago, after spending a few days in sunny London visiting friends, and it was pouring down rain – oh great, I thought, more of that weather drifted over the border along with my plane. But all hope wasn’t lost! Scottish people are really nice – genuinely nice. Ok, maybe I’m generalizing a bit, but my first encounter with anyone Scottish came at the airport – and I think that these people are the indicators of a country’s attitude to foreigners. In my opinion, if you have a good airport experience, then you’re bound to have a good time in the country itself. I appreciated, upon my arrival, the instant acceptance of any cultural differences between me and the local people. Truth be told, I had some trouble understanding the taxi driver’s accent – but he was kind about it.

Now I’ll skip all the boring stuff of me getting to the hotel, getting cleaned up and getting my camera out for sightseeing, because all that was interrupted by a call from an old friend of mine who I haven’t seen in years. Mike, a fellow comedy lover and all-round solid guy, called me because he heard I was in town and offered to give me a private tour of the city. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance!

Oh. My. God.

We went everywhere from the Edinburgh castle, to the Royal Mile, to tiny side streets that led to open fields of emptiness and wholeness all the same. There was even a change in the weather to cloudless skies and bright sunshine, helping the beauty of the city to really strike you in the face (I mean that in the nicest way possible – like a slap in the face from someone you love to tell you to pay attention!) I’m not a terribly active, sporty person – while I do appreciate nature’s beauty – but you know you’re in some form of paradise when you hike to the top of a mountain in the middle of the city just because it’s there. More than that, I felt that it was almost a spiritual experience. I felt free, and close to nature that it brought me a sense of peace. Maybe this was a taste of that paradise-state-of-mind that I spoke of previously. The words that ran through my mind just as I was leaving the mountain was something my grandfather used to say to me, but really hit home in this moment: “never hesitate to take a first chance at something life-changing.” It was so clear to me. Right there. Right now. Stop worrying. What’s the point? You spend so much time and effort into worrying about the outcome of a decision instead of the possible opportunities that could come of saying yes. I vowed that I’d milk this adventure for all I could get… “why not?” would be my new mantra.

With this newfound mental clarity, we revisited the Royal Mile – definitely my favorite place in Edinburgh because it’s always bustling with activity in preparation for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, evident from the crazy number of advertisements stuck to a pillar in the middle of the street. This festival is a month-long theatre festival where actors come out onto the Royal Mile and promote their performance while in character. It was an incredible experience, and you haven’t lived until you’ve had someone in rags come up to you while crawling on the ground and hand you a flyer – and before you say anything, it is nothing like any encounter with beggars on the street. Since the festival doesn’t start until August, most of the shows at the moment are doing a test-run, so to speak. Best part… cheaper tickets! Mike and I ducked into two shows while we were there: an improv show, which was hilarious, and a drama, which honestly wasn’t anything to write home about – so I won’t. The only thing I will say about it is that, although it wasn’t my cup of tea, the hot blond male lead definitely caught my attention!

At night, the real party started. I realized that I had gone the whole day without seeing a man in a kilt – my personal goal while in Scotland! At 9.30pm, this goal was completed. Let’s rewind… I got back to my bed’n’breakfast at around 9pm, and I was starved! I had eaten bits and pieces here and there, but I hadn’t actually sat down to eat a meal all day. Before going on his way, Mike suggested I try some real Scottish pub food, and after a day like today, I had to give it a try.

The Greyfriars Bobby Bar was amazing. Named after a famous dog who guarded his owner’s grave for years until he passed on, this bar is host to great food, people and music. This place has typical Scottish cuisine in the restaurant section, as well as good ol’ draft beer in solid glass pints – one step into this joint and the friendly atmosphere overwhelms you into calmness and excitement. The meat dishes looked exquisite, but I went straight for the bar, which didn’t have a long line of people waiting for tables, and told the bartender to give me what he thought was the typical Scottish dinner… big mistake. He brought out two pints of beer, a massive plate of french fries, a leg of lamb, and I stopped him before he got to the haggis (I’ve already had that pleasure before!) I looked up at him and gave him one of those “are you kidding me?” looks, when a flock of men, and I mean manly men, strode over to me and started to talk to me. Now, I’m not one to be easily intimidated, but these guys looked like rugby players because they were all about 6’ in any direction you measured them – but these were the men I was waiting for: they were wearing kilts! I inadvertently broke the ice by mentioning that they were the first men I met in Scotland with kilts, which made them laugh so loud I swear the floor shook a little. Quite surprisingly, they kindly asked if they could join me. Usually I’d be weary to accept, but it was perfect timing to test out my new mantra! They sat down with me, we had a couple of beers, they finished off the rest of my food, it was a good night. The best part, however, was once these 6’ Scotsmen got some alcohol in their system and started to teach me some Scottish slang. Let’s see how much of it I remember: “Aye, I’m visiting a but and ben, but I dunnae ken. Yer haver s’gotta mean yer bluttered! Yer auxters are boughin’ an yer hair is a burach, an ye looks like an eedjit, but do what suits ye. Show me to the shunky and give me a tattie, else yer erse is oot the windae.” You can do the translating on all that – I’m not too sure what that all means, but those are the phrases that stuck in my head after that night. Oh what a night.

So with only one full day to really explore this beautiful city, I have yet to explore it’s cracks and crevices and find out what makes its people so happy. A second and third visit are definitely in store for the future! I don’t think I have the words or the ability to describe Edinburgh’s beauty. I can’t do it justice. Breathtaking during the day and at night, the city is filled with so much greenery and life that my eyes were constantly entertained.

I’ll leave you, my friends, with three words that seem to capture the city’s vibrance: “just say yes.” You never really know where life is going to take you, and you’ll never get anywhere if you block off new roads with skepticism or refusal. Take my word for it, you can always go back, but you may not always be able to go forward that same way again. Take the chance, any may yer lums reek lang and weil!

With love from paradise,

Amita

The next stop on Amita’s Adventure: Nice, France!

There are a number of social problems which are difficult to ignore in our world, but the one we as individuals seem to put on the proverbial back burner are the inadequacies of the US education system. Particularly the gap between rich and poor, and the access to equal financing in education systems. The media may pay close attention to facts such as the low rankings of the majority of public education, however it seems conditions have yet to improve for those who would benefit the most from social change.

The Cost of Underfunded Education

The unfortunate reality is that the academic achievement of an individual is heavily influenced by factors not under their own control. Research suggests that the educational attainment of one’s parents is a strong determinant of the grades and academic achievement of the children.

In addition, children of single-parent families typically make grades lower than their peers from two-parent homes (Farkas).Both of these factors can be linked to socioeconomic status, for in today’s society, the positive correlation between education level and income is easily seen.

Also, the presence of two potential wage-earners in a household is likely to result in a higher income than just one.

Other research suggests that having minority status results in an increased likelihood of a low household income. Also, because funding for schools is in large part based on community property taxes, individuals living in poor areas are again disadvantaged when compared to more affluent areas. This can result in less qualified teachers, increased class size and therefore less individualized attention as well as limited access to educational resources such as computers and high-quality libraries (Thoreson).

It can be inferred that these factors alone make it difficult for low-income students to compete for acceptance to colleges and universities without even taking into consideration the inadequate financial aid programs, resulting in a lower matriculation rate for this group of students.

Overview of Financial Aid

The process of acquiring financial aid begins with the completion of a FAFSA form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Financial need is assessed based on formulas set forth by law. These formulas differ depending on whether the student is a dependent of their parents or not.The most basic explanation takes the cost of attendance at the university one plans to attend (which includes tuition and fees as well as living expenses) and subtracts what is referred to as the EFC, or Expected Family Contribution, which is based on parental income as well as the number of children currently attending college. Then, any merit or need-based grants are subtracted from the total, leaving the rest to be covered by loans (http://studentaid.ed.gov).

Merit-Based Grants

A fundamental source of the problem lies in the disparity between merit-based and need-based grants. Research suggests that merit-based grants have increased significantly in recent years due to the desire of state governments and universities to attract high quality students (Singell).

I have already mentioned that low-income students and minorities are somewhat disadvantaged in terms of academic achievement, so it is reasonable to infer that they are disproportionately awarded merit-based scholarships when compared to their peers of more affluent backgrounds. To highlight the consequences of merit-based scholarships, I will use the Georgia HOPE Scholarship, on which numerous studies have been conducted, as an example. The HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) Scholarship was introduced in 1993 as a reward for college students with a 3.0 or higher grade point average.

The scholarship covers the cost of tuition, fees as well as the cost of books for students at in-state colleges and universities. One study suggests that the implementation of the scholarship resulted in a 12% increase of enrollment for white students, while impacting the matriculation of African-American students very little (Singell). Another study suggests that following the introduction of the HOPE Scholarship, tuition and fees at four-year institutions in the state of Georgia rose dramatically when compared to colleges and universities in neighboring states.

It is important to recognize that while this limits the benefit for recipients of the award, it significantly deters non-recipients in terms of college affordability. As of 1997, approximately two-thirds of entering freshmen, or as many as 33,000 students, at public institutions in Georgia did not qualify for the award. Furthermore, only 31% of the initial recipients continued to qualify for the aid throughout their collegiate careers (Long). This information is significant because it demonstrates how merit-based scholarships can have unintended consequences that are far-reaching and can potentially inhibit low-income individuals from continuing their education.

Need-based Grants

The Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944 included a provision that access to higher education not discriminate against those with financial need; however, federal funding for need-based grants is not sufficient given the increases in tuition in recent years (Singell). Beginning in 1974, the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program resulted in a significant increase in the number of need-based grants in higher education (McPherson).  In 1989, this form of aid was renamed as a Pell Grant after a senator who advocated for reform to offset increasing undergraduate debt and the resulting repercussions. Need-based grants such as the Pell Grant can account for the matriculation of 16% of university students (Millett).

A study conducted at an anonymous university in the northeast demonstrates the impact of such grants when awarded in the place of loans. Low-income students were enrolled at an increased rate of 3%, while minority low-income students saw an increase between 8-10%. The researcher suggested that while these increases were modest, an increase in the availability of grants rather than loans at more colleges and universities would likely result in more significant numbers of minority and low-income student enrollment (Linsenmeier).

The problem with need-based aid lies in its funding. In the state of South Carolina, sources of funding for higher education are broken down as follows:  Federal government (45.9%), State and local government (6.6%), Industry (6.8%), the institution itself (36.1%), and the remaining 4.6% comes from other sources. While the state has provided up to $132,650,000 for merit-based scholarships, need-based students have only been allocated $67,876,000 (South Carolina).

Increasing Cost of Attendance and Resulting Increase in Loans

Research shows that the cost of attendance at institutions of higher learning has increased approximately 109-121% from 1971 to the year 2000, an increase that has not been matched by federal assistance programs. An increase in tuition by $1000 has proven to restrict low-income matriculation by 7.2% and higher-income enrollment by 4.4%. Additionally, loans have replaced grants as the primary source of funding for continuing education. It has been suggested that this is in large part due to a decrease in government support for institutions of higher learning. The current model of educational funding has been referred to as a “high-fee, high-aid” system.

One author observes that a more accurate description is a “high-fee, high-loan” system. It has also been observed that the increased focus on loans rather than grants has resulted in increased disparity between the number of low-income and moderate to high-income students attending university (Chang). Loans, unlike grants, are intended to be repaid following graduation with interest. Another study showed that a dependency on student loans by seniors increased by 31.4% between 1989 and 1996. In addition it was found that African-Americans and Hispanics were more likely to obtain student loans than whites (Millett).

Consequences

The increasing prevalence of student loans results in unintended consequences which may impact life outcomes and opportunities. What is known as “undergraduate debt” can preclude or deter individuals of modest circumstances from the possibility of post-graduate studies (Millett). I previously mentioned the positive correlation between education level and income. If recent graduates are discouraged from obtaining master’s and doctoral degrees because of exorbitant debt, then their future income might be disadvantaged as well. In addition to educational and occupational repercussions, undergraduate debt can influence an individual’s ability to purchase a home or start a family. And while the increase in tuition and resulting loans affects everyone, undergraduate debt is disproportionately a characteristic of students from low-income families (Millett).

• Linsenmeier, David M., Harvey S. Rosen, and Cecilia Elena Rouse. “Financial Aid Packages and College Enrollment Decisions: An Econometric Case Study.” Review of Economics & Statistics Feb 2006 126-145.
• McPherson, Micheal S. and Morton Owen Schapiro. “Does student aid affect college enrollment? New evidence on a persistent controversy.” American Economic Review Mar 1991 Vol. 81 Issue 1.
• Chang, Gordon C. and Colin Ong-Dean. “The ‘High-Fee, High-Loan’ Model of Student Finance in U.S. Higher Education: Consequences for Low-Income Students.” Conference Papers of the American Sociological Association 2005 Annual Meeting (Philadelphia) 1-24.
• Long, Bridget Terry. “How do Financial Aid Policies Affect Colleges?” Journal of Human Resources Vol. 39 Issue 4(2004) 1045-1066.
• Millett, Catherine M. “How Undergraduate Loan Debt Affects Application and Enrollment in Graduate or First Professional School.” Journal of Higher Education Vol. 74 Issue 4Jul/Aug 2003 386-428.
• “South Carolina.” Chronicle of Higher Education Vol. 51 Issue 127 Aug 2004 83-84.
• Singell, Waddell, and Curs. “HOPE for the Pelt? Institutional Effects in the Intersection of Merit-Based and Need-Based Aid” Southern Economic Journal Jul 2006 79-99.

However, many of Atlanta’s newer residents and even some of the great city’s longer residents are not aware of the contrast between the nuanced re-gentrification of Atlanta, to the overbearing homelessness statistics of this city.

Provided by the Metro-Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless (MATFH) website, MATFH states Atlanta has the fastest growing group of homeless individuals under 9 years of age in America. This is an alarming statistic for the youngest of Generation Y and the following generations in this metropolitan city.

Homeless youth may engage in harmful behaviors while in between or away from a permanent housing, leading to the almost inevitable “chronic homelessness” of these youth; where they are susceptible to reenter a state of homelessness, as they enter their quarterlife.

What is more alarming was the discovery of the trending increase of youths and young adult homelessness began while the first of Generation Y was growing-up in the 1980s and ’90s.
A study by Helvie & Kunstamnn, comparing homelessness rates in America from the 1970s to the 1990s showed a 14 percent increase in the number of homeless individuals under the age of 30, from 15 to 29 percent of the total homeless population in America.

Up until the 1970s, most youth homelessness cases were handled locally, leaving responsibility to city governments, like Atlanta, to best identify and fix their youth homelessness problems. Now however, the federal government is responsible for taking care of the unspecified problems entailed with Generation-Y youth homelessness – leaving a potential disjoint in identifying the specific needs for each city’s young homeless population.

As far as Atlanta, the city is ultimately a potential breeding ground for future quarterlife homelessness; MATFH states Atlanta is “the poorest city in the U.S. for children – more children in Atlanta live in poverty than in any other city.” With 71 percent of America’s homeless population located in cities, Atlanta is at quite a statistical disadvantage for the potential for homeless individuals aged 18-30 in the next few decades.

Ultimately it will take a deeper insight, and local centralization of homeless programs to understand how to end homelessness and its many causes before we can avoid the potential for any city, not just Atlanta, to be susceptible to having large, young homeless population.

Moreover, with what should be a moot discussion over interracial marriage in this day-and-age, the adoption of a child outside of one’s race is bound to be an interesting topic and forefront discussion as Generation Y and our new sense of “family” become the parents of tomorrow’s future.

In 1990, according to Adoption.com, 14 percent of the almost 120,000 adoptions in the United States were transracial/transcultural adoptions. Though the percentages of interracial adoptions, and popularity amongst other races are lower than the “traditional adoption” of intra-racial adoption, it is an increasingly popular option and yields no significant difference of outcome of the child than “traditional” adoption arrangements. The increase in this option is an exciting prospect for many, but some considerations need to be taken.

We researched popular articles and sources to compile a list of concerns which repeatedly showed up regarding interracial adoptions. We feel it is especially worthy for Generation Y to understand these points as to further help those who are considering interracial adoption to begin their transition into parenthood.

Top 5 Concerns When Considering Interracial Adopting:

Racism
(About.com)

“Racism is out there despite the huge changes in our world. Are you prepared to handle questions from people, sometimes total strangers, about your child’s heritage or parentage? What about the opinions of your extended family? Unlike strangers where comments will be new, with family one usually knows what to expect. Does it bother you that an Uncle uses racial slurs…”

Cultural Identity
(Wikipedia.com)

“Parental encouragement of cultural activities & co-participation in them seemed to be critical in the development of ethnic identification.”

Health/Skin/Hair Care
(About.com)

“Each race has its own susceptibility to different medical problems. Have you educated yourself on the different medical and skin conditions that children of color may develop?”

Siblings
(Adoption.com)

“It is always good for siblings to be adopted together. It is no different in the case of transracial or transcultural adoption. Siblings who are adopted together have the security of seeing another person in the family who looks like them…”

Age
(About.com)

“Children begin to see that each person has different physical characteristics around the age of 3 or 4. One of the first things noticed is the color of skin.”  Take into consideration the age you choose to adopt your child, the age you choose may influence your need to prioritize your tactics in engaging your child culturally.

1. Generation Y is still so young a demographic that the full scope of their philanthropic giving can’t be measured until history can confirm it.
2. The ability of our generation to contribute financially to society is not what it would be given more favorable economic conditions.
3. “Charitable giving” encompasses a wide range of behaviors and activities (such as volunteer  work) that can’t be limited to finances, thus making it more difficult to measure. For example, I made a campaign contribution in 2007 that is documented as required by law, and so it can be measured. But you’ll just have to take my word that I regularly take outdated possessions by Goodwill and occasionally treat homeless men to lunch with my friend, Isabelle. Okay, that was once.

I will do my best to do this topic justice with my opinions and interpretations of data:

First, I will discuss the volunteering aspect of charitable giving across demographic groups. In recent years, it has been found those individuals between the ages of 35 and 44 volunteer at the highest rate (31.3 percent in 2008). Individuals in their early 20s were surprisingly the least likely to volunteer at a rate of 18.6 percent (1). I say “surprisingly” because at this age we seemingly have fewer obligations of time and finances – but we also tend to be preoccupied with other aspects of life such as school, career-building, finding a mate…or just partying like rock stars.

As of 2008, there was an increase in the volunteer patterns amongst individuals ages 16-19, and I find this significant, partially because there are a number of institutions that are encouraging these behaviors (1).

For example, at the high school level, there is the National Honor Society which requires a certain amount of volunteer hours to remain in the organization which of course looks excellent on college applications.

Additionally, an increasing number of scholarship programs are requiring a certain amount of volunteer hours in order to qualify for financial aid. Another interesting factor related to volunteering patterns is marital status and family.

Married individuals volunteer at a rate that is higher by approximately 10 percentage points, and individuals with children are also substantially more likely to volunteer (1). These trends also help us to understand the lower rates for Generation Yers as many of us have not yet reached these milestones in life.

Finally, individuals with higher levels of education are likely to volunteer at higher rates as well. So while the initial finding is that individuals in their early 20s currently volunteer the least, it is likely that in 10-15 years we will be more apt to do so.

Another factor relating to both financial and action-based “giving” is measured in religiosity. One source shows how later generations are less likely than our predecessors to contribute to religious institutions, which have served as a vital source for charitable activity in the past. Our generations are less likely to be actively involved in those organizations, and we are more likely to contribute to secular purposes or simply “to make the world a better place (2).”

It is also significant to note the impact the Internet has had and will continue to have on charitable giving – making it quicker and easier for individuals to donate to what they consider a worthy cause. Nearly every interest website has the option of making a contribution, and even small contributions to a number of organizations add up rather quickly.

I don’t believe it’s fair to judge our generation by financial contributions because it is only reasonable that individuals in our demographic have not reached a level of comfort that is conducive to making charitable donations. However, based upon the small amount of research I’ve come across in addition to my own perspective and beliefs, I come to the conclusion that although currently limited by our circumstances, our generation will exceed others in both action-based and financial contributions.