Obamacare

Can someone please explain to me why people are so against healthcare reform? I am annoyed by all the requests on Facebook to have me fight against healthcare reform.

USA healthcare may be the worst thing about our country! (It's either that or the fact that we don't have public transportation and destroy the environment with automobiles) It needs to be fixed. It should be a priority. Even some steps in the wrong direction will be better than stagnation (and consequent price inflation).

It is Wrong how expensive it is to buy simple health needs. The prescription medication companies are secretly making a killing of a profit. Like 500 percent profits on something that is a life or death issue--something that people have to buy or they could die. In India, that's against the law. And in India, I just bought a year's worth of prescription medicine for $3.

If you travel at all you will be astonished at the price differences. People in other countries worry about visiting ours because of the prohibitive costs in the case they needed some kind of care on a visit.

People are fighting against this unknowing that it is the health insurance companies that are feeding them misinformation.

They are fighting against healthcare reform because they have never had a personal problem with it. What they don't know is that at anytime, they could be diagnosed with a chronic illness and face bankruptcy because of the high costs. Or that they could lose their job, lose their health plan concurrently, and then find they are unable to even pay for a doctor's visit.

It could happen to anyone, but as long as they have their health insurance, they think they are safe. It is a false sense of security. What is a truly secure back up plan, and what I plan to do annually at this rate, is you can always travel to another country and take advantage of their cheap health care if you really needed something.

I imagine it is the same in India. People may be saying, "Education is a right!" But the private schools don't want to lose their profits and so they would put up an enormous amount of resistance if India tried to make public school a universal right.

It seems that many disagree but they don't have solutions that they are trying to implement. They are just "anti." Come up with a solution and fight to get it passed like Obama has tried to get his passed instead of just saying "No!"

Just my opinion.

Best (And Worst) of 2009

I've decided to give awards and "first times" for all the cities we've been in over the last year...Travel is all about superlatives, right?

Global Cities Awards For Our First Year of Travel According to Kalli in Collaboration With Jacob


Heiligenhaus, Germany:
First Time to Visit Germany after studying German for Many Years
Most Rural German City
Most Difficult to Reach by Public Transportation
Best Pizza
School Principal Most Influenced by the Nazi Regime

Sofia, Bulgaria:
Worst Traffic
Most Dangerous for Pedestrians
Most Dishonest Taxi Drivers

Radovis, Macedonia:
Most Alcohol-Loving
Most Time on Their Hands
Most Jolly
Most Welcoming
Most Fashion-Conscious
Most Hair/Nail Places Per Capita
Best Breakfast (burek and ayran)
Cheapest Skiing
Sassiest Music
First Time to Dye My Hair
First Time to Get Served Fish Whole, Head Included

Jerusalem, Israel:
Most Historic
Most Spiritual
Most Dangerous-Feeling
Most Religiously Significant
Most Emotion-Inspiring
Most Like a Costume Party
Most Underlying Tension

First Time to Meet Palestinians

Jericho, Israel:
Oldest Continuously-Existing City
First Time to Stand Straight Up in Water (At the Dead Sea)


Istanbul, Turkey:
Most Exotic
Most Beautiful Mosques
Largest City
Best Hostel With Dinner and Friends Included
Best LDS Ward to Visit
Best Practically Free Ferry Rides
First Time To Eat in the Homes of People From Turkmenistan and Senegal
First Time To Learn About Islam
First Time to Try Turkish Delight

Diyarbakir, Turkey:
First Place to Make A Friend With Ties to a Terrorist-Affiliated Group
Longest City Walls Besides the Great Wall of China
Most Exciting Sporting Event
Most Black-and-White Striped Buildings
Most Mentally Ill People On the Streets
First Time To Wear Muslim Scarves

Urfa, Turkey:
First Time To Hang Out With Former Nomads
Cleanest Eastern Turkey City

Cappadocia, Turkey:
Weirdest Terrain
Best Hostel Breakfast
First Hot Air Balloon Ride
First Year Anniversary Celebration By Eating "Manti" For the First Time

Pammukale, Turkey:
Best Natural Water Park

Ephesus, Turkey:
Best Preserved Biblical City
Most Crowded With Tourists

Rhodes, Greece:
Most Relaxed Island
First Couch Surfing Experience

Santorini, Greece:
Most Beautiful Sunset
Best Snorkeling
First Time to See a Red Sand Beach
Funniest Villa Owner

Athens, Greece:
Most Polluted
Most Obvious Drug Problem
Most International LDS Ward
First Introduced to Death Metal







Larissa, Greece:
Most Pleasant Greek City
Best Greek Cooking

Leeds, England:
Most Pleasant, Polite, and Soft-Spoken People
Best Bridal Shower
Best Family Dinners


















Berlin, Germany:
Best Modern Historical Interest
Best Museums
Best Variety of Food From Ethiopian to Eritean
Best Public Transportation
First Time For Jacob to Visit a Concentration Camp
Most Flamboyant Gay Parade
Best Place to Learn German
Jacob's First Time To A Real Opera

Ouarzazate, Morocco:
Biggest Apartment

Calmest With the Least Stuff to Do City

First Place I've Ever Visited Without A Library

Jacob Would Say Friendliest Folks

First and Last Time To Visit A Hammam

Marrakesh, Morocco:
Nuttiest
Rudest People
Most Aggressive
Most Exotic Animals
Best Place to Depart For A Camel Trip in the Sahara
Best McDonalds to Get Food Poisoning
Weirdest Food (pigeon pie, goat head, snails)

Tangiers, Morocco:
Hands-Down Worst Hostel

Coin, Spain:
Loveliest Overlook
Most Hilly

Madrid, Spain:
Most Talented Pickpockets
Most Comfortable Apartment
Most Surprising Lack of a Good Typically Spanish Main Dish
Most Ham Museums
Nicest Parks

Segovia, Spain:
Prettiest Old-Timey Castle

Barcelona, Spain:
Sexiest
Best Architecture
Best Street Music
Most Entertaining Street to Take A Stroll (Las Ramblas)

New York City, New York:
Tastiest Food
Most Expensive
Most Languages Spoken
Most American History
Most Neon Lights

Buenos Aires, Argentina:
Most Crime
Most Literate
Best Amusement Park
Most Street Demonstrations
Grassiest Drinks
Best Steaks
Best Gyms
Most Free Tours
Most Crowded Public Transportation
First Time To Be Openly Threatened
Fanciest Restaurant Meal Which Included Foam on Salmon
Best Street Dancing

Iguazu Falls, Argentina:
Biggest and Longest Waterfalls
Most Exciting Speedboat Ride
Best Place to See Monkeys in Their Native Habitat
Biggest Ants
Most Butterflies

Top Questions Asked After Returning Home:
What Was Your Favorite Place? Israel. Runners Up: Turkey and Berlin


What Do You Miss the Most? free bathrooms with real toilets, toilet paper, soap, and sinks, water fountains, and unlimited soda refills. The English language.


Where Do You Want to Settle Down?
No doubt, the USA. It's the best place on Earth!!!

First Date Anniversary

Three years ago today, Jacob and I went on our first date.

Here's our story.

I wish we had more pictures during our dating/engagement/wedding/early marriage, but we didn't start getting camera happy until we traveled. 

In September, a little over three years ago, I announced to Jacob I had decided I was going on a mission. He was the first person I told, even though I didn't know him. This was because he was the ward executive leader, which means he set up appointments with the bishop. My first impression of him was a bell going off in my head thinking "He's cute!" but I didn't dwell on it, as I was planning on a mission and all. Jacob says his first impression was that I was feisty. I did announce "I've decided to go on a mission!" very dramatically, I think...

Anyways, we interacted on a completely interview-related basis for about a month. I didn't think twice about it, although his name was written all over our white board (call Jacob Hiller) because I was POSITIVE I was going on a mission. Totally focused.

I did find it irksome because he would speak in French to me on the phone, which I didn't understand, and because he told the Bishop I had missed my bishop's appointment one night due to carelessness on my part (which wasn't true). I started shouting up at Jacob, who was standing on a balcony above me, telling him it was HIS fault. Bro. Horne, who would later officiate at our wedding luncheon, looked on in amusement. It turned out Jacob was only talking to a friend, and he drove me to the appointment himself (on his motorcycle, which wasn't easy in a skirt, even though he had a car). "Does it make you mad to know," he asked as we drove on the motorcycle out of the parking lot, "that I have a car?"

It was my first, but certainly not my last, ride on a motorcycle. I burned my leg getting off. When Jacob heard this, he said, "Well, I have scratch marks in my side from your fingernails!"

I had a white sweater with pompom balls on strings that I used to twirl while waiting to talk to the Bishop. Jacob used to watch me do it, I guess, and thought it was cute, but I was oblivious, ha.

Well, the week leading up to Jacob asking me out included me passing him on campus (the only time I ever saw him at school) and feeling unaccountably happy for the rest of the day, just because I saw him; and going over to his apartment, getting shocked at his teasing, and leaving in a huff.

Jacob came over to ask me out a few days later. He said, "Listen. I know you're pre-mish, but this is definitely a date. Are you still interested?"

Intrigued, I agreed. As he left, he stopped before exiting and asked, "Is that chain mail?" It was a silvery glittery shirt. I still laugh thinking about that.

We went on a large group date with people from our apartments, the foreign language housing. In a role reversal, Jacob asked to borrow my sweatshirt because he was cold. All of a sudden, I felt embarrassed. I realized I was wearing my "Jacob Lake" sweatshirt. I was so not nervous about the date, so casual about trying to impress, that I hadn't thought about the fact I was wearing the guy's name on my sweatshirt. Ha.

 My old workplace, Jacob Lake Inn

Jacob picked me up in his business partner's Porsche. Unfortunately, the effort was wasted. I can't tell a Porsche from a Pinto. He asked me if I liked the car. I replied, "Yes...it's, um, it's very shiny!"

We went to a corn maze. The man at the booth instructed us before we went in, "Now, please don't throw any corn tonight. We've had a couple of babies hit, and you've got to promise it's not going to happen again." We found that hilariously random.

In the maze, Jacob announced, "Give me your hand." I've always appreciated how direct and confident Jacob is. I accepted.

We went together to return the car to Dan Todd, then played a board game as a team against another dating couple. Neither of us remember the game, but we do remember that despite the fact they'd been dating longer than us, we still completely destroyed them.

The date was a complete success, despite the fact that it broke the first date rule on length--it was super long! We were together right away from then on. True, we had some bumps as I decided about my mission and Jacob decided whether or not he could keep me from serving one, but it all worked out, he proposed exactly one year, one month, and 5 days later, we were married five months minus a day later, and we are living happily ever after!

How I would fix the economy

So we are headed to Morocco in less than two weeks. The 21 of June is our flight at 5 am...probably shouldn't go to bed that night, we sleep in too easily. We will have a huge apartment there; you can see it at http://www.zoufi.com/
More by necessity than choice, it was the only one we could find with all our requirements. It costs less than our apartment here at least. So that just means you guys will have to visit us!!! (Anyone who is reading this)

And fyi, sometimes we are told we are brave for traveling to different countries the way we do. My answer to that is--childbirth sounds a heck of a lot scarier than relaxing on a beach in Europe. I am in awe of mothers for how tough they are. My friends who are also mothers--I am amazed by you!

We've just been doing what we do. Working. Jacob goes to the gym while I explore the city and take photos...

I'm going to post some political opinions now, in honor of the 4th of July, which we didn't really celebrate, sadly. I've been thinking a lot about this stuff lately because I try to keep up with the news on the other side of the pond. I tend to have strong opinions but am influenceable if your argument makes sense. So feel free to disagree with me. If you aren't interested in my spoutings, then skip to the pretty pictures below :)

To begin, I love America. The more I travel, the more I am proud of my nationality. But I naturally don't always (or usually) agree with our government.

There is a reason why I'm not a Democrat or a Republican. No party seems to match my views exactly. Neither can see the other's point of view, or recognize that the other must have some valid points to have half the population. I voted for Obama because I liked the guy better than McCain, almost as much as I liked Palin. Here is how I think he is handling things.

The economy: Well, things have gone from bad to worse from what I hear. Obama's excuse is that "we didn't realize how bad the economy was when we arrived in office." Sure. If only he had owned a business before, he might know a little more about economics. Now that Jacob and I fit into that group called "small business owners" I understand better than ever why raising taxes on people who are successful is very demotivating. I'm with the Republicans on this one. Keeping taxes low on businesses is a fundamentable principle of successful capitalism. George Bush, although Republican, didn't always spend money like one.

Now I wouldn't mind if my taxes were raised if I got to choose where my money went. If, for example, I got to check the box that said, "Improve public transportation" I would be very pleased. But unfortunately, I don't get to choose, and I tend to feel that the government squanders my hard-earned money.

Welfare: I think we give too much money to other countries. It's money that we don't have, and unfortunately, it's money that often isn't well spent. For example, we've given tons of money to the African country of Cameroon. The people there complain they haven't seen a cent, and the money has been squandered by the corrupt government officials.

I believe Americans are the most charitable people in the world. We are generous. I base this on the fact that I know so many friends who have gone abroad to help orphans in Ghana and Romania, Guatemala and Mexico, Zambia and within the States themselves. We have the Peace Corps; we have missionaries; we have celebrities who have donated millions to charities. Given the chance, Americans would donate their own time, money, and effort to people around the globe more than any other people I know. Therefore, in most situations I believe the US government should not transfer money to another government, but individuals should serve other individuals with their own free will and choice to their own individual causes. This can be supported through tax breaks (not raises).

Health care: Obama is right that we have a system that needs to be fixed. Ironic that we spend more than any other nation and yet have such a horrible record in terms of people insured. I'm willing to pay more in taxes for this benefit BUT I don't think it's right that the richer people should pay for other people's poor health choices. I think that the overweight, the smoker, the drink-and-driver should be paying the higher taxes, not the hard working businessman. Am I biased? Maybe, and that would be a hard system to enforce, but it's the most fair way. I don't know why Republicans are so against a national health care system along with privatized. Their solution is always "give a tax credit." It's true, tax credits are the answer sometimes, but really, do you think that will solve our broken healthcare system?
[Note to readers: Do. Not. Use. Humana.]

Abortion: Obama signed into law the ability to fund overseas abortions. So we're using taxpayers' money to fund something that probably half of the US population feels is morally wrong? Why can't we use that money to provide free birth control instead? Or to cover adoption costs? We're trillions of dollars in debt and we're funding women around the world to get abortions. Brilliant. To learn why I am against abortions, visit this site to learn the disturbing manner in which abortions are performed: http://prochoice.com/abort_how.html
It's hard to read but important to know. I think my view on abortion was fundamentally changed after I read an essay by an abortion nurse on how abortions are performed. It's fairly gruesome. I believe if women were educated on what they were about to do to their bodies they would be less likely to go through with it.
PS I believe birth control should not be prescription. It's not in Turkey and I think a woman can decide as good as a gynecologist can which birth control works the best for her personally. Actually, better. And abortion rate would be greatly reduced if women didn't have to go to a doctor to obtain birth control.

Environment: Sometimes it astonishes me at how little the Republicans seem to care about the environment. It would only take a little bit more effort on America's part to become more green, but the very idea seems to shake some people to the core. To give up your SUV is like giving up your life(style).

Climate change: I don't believe it's a real problem, but I know Obama does--he and his wife donated $25,000 to the cause each. I'm more worried about pollution and cancer-causing agents.

War: I'm with Ron Paul on this one. Send the troops home. We use taxpayers money to keep people based in Germany, Korea, etc and I just think it would make more sense to build up our defense at home. I think we'd stop encouraging our reputation as the world's bully, too. I'm not sure why Republicans are always so army-hungry. They seem to be a little bit more paranoid than Democrats. Maybe that's why they're so concerned about national defense. I know since we're the most powerful nation in the world, we've got to be able to protect ourselves, but if we just lowered our budget as little as 5% on this issue, think of how much money we could use in its stead towards, for example, health care. I'm not saying that war is never justified, I'm just saying that it seems our government tends to be far too willing to jump right in. And then in hindsight, "Well, that five year war probably wasn't a good use of resources... oh well" duh, how many times must history repeat itself.

Gay marriage: Although Obama said when he was running for president that he believed marriage should be between a man and a woman, apparently he told a gay rally that their struggle for rights was similar to the civil rights movement... thus implying that he actually supported gay marriage. Oh well, I'm going to be honest. I don't think there's any stopping it now. 25 years from now it will be the total norm. I wrote a pro-gay marriage paper at BYU, which was probably the only one written there in all of history, (I got an A) but I don't think I would actually vote for it, for reasons in the previous post. But it's so fashionable these days to be pro-gay marriage, really, it's practically très chic.

Guatanamo Bay: Congratulations, Obama. You did the right thing to close this up. Torturing our enemies will put us right along side the Nazis and Communist regimes. The saddest thing is, anyone would confess anything under those conditions. Think of better ways to get people to tell you what you want to know.

And...that's enough for now. Here's some more of what we've been up to. Berlin is a wonderful city- I love it!!

Marchenbrunnen in Volksgarten (an adorable fountain with fairy tale character statues (the Brothers Grimm are buried here in Berlin)

Jacob and a communist car
Alexanderplatz

Gorgeous...Berlin is so beautiful...

We went to the zoo... biggest zoo in Europe.
Rhinos
My favorite birds...

Nice shot, eh? In Prenzlauer Burg neighborhood

I think this is the River Spree.

Former Communist Prison. That's the wire tapping on the walls. These were paranoid times.

Beautiful Potsdam. Where the Prussian kings went in the summer.
Vomiting fountain

Jacob, not given to superlatives, gave a compliment of this area, saying it was among the most beautiful places he's ever seen...

Graves of Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn. It doesn't bode likely for a person, if he or she happens to be fantastically talented, to get a lot of whistles on their tombstone. You're much more likely to have a fancy grave if you are rich. Here is Bertolt Brecht's grave. He was a popular playwright.

About as plain as you can get.

Medieval choir stalls.
Alter piece. It's official. Italy has the most beautiful religious art. (This museum had a ton of stuff from Italy.) Free museum night is Thursday, so I walk around til my feet get tired.