One More Productive Day

So here I am at Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain, on July 7, 2008. The theme of this Tenth International Interdisciplinary Congress on Women is: EQUALITY IS NOT A UTOPIA. That is a state of mind, I think, and seems to be a place where one has nothing to do.
Personally I enjoy doing something. Too many things really. This human mind comes up will so many things I could be doing that I have to slow down and focus. There are only so many hours in my day. Besides that, I have only so much energy. I am limited to being in one place at one time.
That is also true at the conference. Many presentations are scheduled at the same hour although not in the same building so there is much walking. I must say that architects design buildings they meet the criteria of the use it has. That is not the case of those who design the sidewalks. We are channeled around bushes, or fountains, or statues instead of being directed to another place we really want to be.
No matter, the map of the grounds is adequate as long as I remember that it is not drawn to scale. Therefore I may have to walk a mile instead of 100 yards - or just there, as locals often tell me. Well they do not tell me that here in Madrid. If they understand where I want to be, and know that I cannot hablar Espaniol, they lead me far enough to point out my destination. I appreciate that.
Costumes of other cultures are colorful, although the wrapping of yards of gauze is puzzling. Locals and other Europeans dress in tight jeans and skimpy tops. One speaker questioned the sense of covering the head with a scarf but baring the mid drift to show the belly button. Bazaar. And tatoos are everywhere. At least on the esposed parts. And on some parts I did not expect to ge exposed.
Is there any body part off limits to piercing? Maybe. Because it cannot be seen anyway. Poor body. People want to violate all manner of strange places. Perhaps when an individual looks in the mirror, she or he sees a beautiful gem. They do sparkle. And I am happy to see the sparkle on someone else. It is not for me.
However, we are working for a world of peace. A world where one can pursue happiness without getting all over others.
Naomi Sherer