Ahhh, how I love to sleep as well. Lazy is nice too.
I support you on your quest. It is not easy to do what you do and have done. I just can’t even imagine!!
To me, you are like a super hero.
*L*
P.S. Mom should be so very proud!
Me
I love cookies.
I tend to take things to heart. I am serious about our need as a country, world, and individuals to do something about poverty, discrimination, and upholding rights of all individuals. I think people need to care more. People think I care to much. I cry easily. I have worked with abused, neglected, and abandoned children. I personally know people who have been trafficked. I have seen mothers sell their children to survive. I found Roma (one such child). I lost Lenuta (another). I have friends who have died of AIDS alone in hospital rooms in secluded wards. I plan to spend my life trying to right the wrongs I feel in the world. People always comment that they don’t know how my mother lets me do this stuff. To them I say 1- how could she stop me, 2- she doesn’t want to stop me, she is my biggest cheerleader, 3- why do people always think of the mothers… my dad cares too.
I do believe that one person can make a difference. I know that I have to.
I love to go out dancing. Most of the time, I stay home and read books. I am lazy. Sleeping is my vice. Kopp’s ice cream in Milwaukee is the best anywhere. Outside of Milwaukee I settle for Ben and Jerry’s half baked or dulce de leche. In the summer, I could live on fresh tomatoes and smoothies. I love food. I think I inherited her affinity for food.
I find myself ever changing. I am introspective as of late. At school, I pushed myself to exceed expectations and move beyond my own boundaries. I am no longer afraid of research. I worked on a research project on asset building in Uganda. It was fascinating. Even the data analysis.
I currently living in Chile and have a research grant to look at the risk that street children in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar have for being trafficked and exploited. I think I am living my dream life.
This blog is a compilation of my thoughts. A lot of it is about work, about human trafficking, about ethical issues I run into, about my frustration and the hope I see. Some of it is Photo Wednesday, a weekly photo that inspires me to question, think or just sit in awe. Some of it is about food– because, let’s face it, I love food. Some of it is random, stuff I run into or do while procrastinating.
I welcome comments. I welcome other people’s thoughts and questions. I will not take bigotry or hatred on my site. I will erase any comment that I deem inappropriate. Feel free to poke around.
Also, feel free to email me at ClareSays at gmail dot com.
-Me
Responses
By: Heather on July 29, 2007
at 12:12 am
I think “terrified” is the wrong word. It makes me sound passive, weepy and opposed to your adventures. As you know, I have always supported your decisions to travel the world and work on issues like trafficing. So I would prefer if you said that I am “concerned for your safety” but that I have supported your work and travels. Keep up the good work.
By: Mom on August 10, 2007
at 1:40 pm
Note: the above has changed because my mother is right. I could not have a bigger cheerleader than I do in her. And my dad too. In fact, they are such great cheerleaders that they even braved the cold and mud of Moldova to visit and stayed a week! I am also really excited because my cheerleaders (as well as my sister and her family and the hartsmans) are planning another international excursion to come visit me here in Chile. Therefore, I am retract what was said earlier– as it was said more for poetic merit than truth and leave you with a revised version of the about me section.
By: Clare on August 11, 2007
at 2:17 pm
Hello Cousin! How long are you in Chile for? I would love to visit you for a few days if there is time. i am not expecting a very busy year since i did not get a teaching job ( i will be working part time) and i will only be taking 2 classes. Let me know! Hope you’re enjoying ‘living your dream life’. <3
By: Annie on August 21, 2007
at 7:51 pm
Hey Cousin.
Sorry about the job. On the upside. I will be in Chile through the end of May at least. Send me an email and we can talk.
By: Clare on August 21, 2007
at 8:09 pm
Clare, I couldn’t find your email so here we go:
I wrote you up on my blog, and people have already started reviewing you!
http://c.hileno.com/2007/08/clare-says-blog-review.html
I also wanted to encourage you to check out the other blogs and write reviews of them here:
http://c.hileno.com/2007/06/chile-blog-santiago-living-travel-blogs.html
My goal is to review all of the English language bloggers in Chile. Here is the list of Chile Blog Reviews so far:
http://c.hileno.com/2007/06/chile-blog-santiago-living-travel-blogs.html
Tell all your friends about the Chile Blog Reviews, and keep up the great work blogging!
-Chileno
By: Chileno on August 22, 2007
at 12:33 pm
Hey!! I like your space, I still don’t read it everything but I’ll do it.
Espero llegar a conocerte mas, pareces una persona de quien hay mucho que aprender, besos y estamos en contacto.
By: Geraldine on August 27, 2007
at 6:09 pm
Hi there,
you’ve inspired me to open up a blog here in wordpress.com. i found your blog while searching for social work stuff. your posts are awesome. that’s what i’m interested in here in remote Pamirs mountains of Tajikistan, Central Asia. This year i’m planning to apply for a scholarship of social work. Like you I tend to take things to heart. The poverty in our region is widespread. Currently, I work full time for an Educational Institution. Besides I’m volunteering for a social work research program which aims to study ultra-poor families of the region.
By: akobir on August 28, 2007
at 4:39 am
hey clare, this is annie from wearefambly. i’m adding you to my other blogroll over at bananie.com.
i think you’re great!
By: ohchicken on August 30, 2007
at 2:49 pm
Clare
There are very few things that move me as the first few lines upto “I think people need to care more”. I did read the rest with interest too.
Count me in, never was a cheerleader, might have to shave my legs, but it will be worth it!
I envy you and pleased to have “stubbed my toe”. Changing the world we live in is a noble cause and I am pleased to see your world through your eyes.
All the best from UK
winslie
By: Winslie Gomez on September 13, 2007
at 7:09 am
Hi Winslie. Glad you stumbled upon my site too. Its nice to find people in the blogosphere who are not afraid to talk about how they see the world and where the think it will go with the sensitivity that you have had.
Annie– Thanks for the add. As you know, I already have you on my list of blogs to read. Good luck!!
By: Clare on September 14, 2007
at 10:23 pm
Hola clare
saludos desde casa
que tengas un buen fin de semana y disfrutes las
partys jajajajajja…………..
un guau….. te manda la Harley
besos
luv
By: lady on November 23, 2007
at 8:48 am
Hello Clare!
I have spent the past 4 months interning as a social work student in very rural South Africa. I just graduated with my BSW, and I do not know where to go from here. I found you through the GWB website, and after reading through your blog, I think you would be able to give me some advice. I would like to do some more international social work before staying in the US…I would also like to go to graduate school but have limited funds…..how should I go about finding work in another country….especially if I only speak english fluently? work now….grad school later??? or Grad school now…work later? Thank you for your time.
peace.
noelle
By: noelle on December 19, 2007
at 3:18 pm
By: peter on April 14, 2008
at 9:31 am
Hi Claire, I had read your information provided on the “An MSW in Cambodia”. Maybe you can help. I am writing a theisis on Human Trafficking for school, any insight would be great.
Thanks in advance.
Joell
By: Joell on June 8, 2008
at 5:28 pm
Hello Joelle,
While I would be happy to help you… I would need a little more information on what you are interested in. Also, if you read through the site, there is sited information and lots of links you may be able
to use. Good luck on your thesis.
Also, the email you left in your comments did not work.
By: Clare on June 11, 2008
at 2:51 pm
