ebay reconsidered

I don't like ebay. The founders, alumni of my college, were my commencement speakers. They were horrible. I was told to "be an enzyme. . . create change in the world without being used up." One of their examples of enzymeishness was Martin Luther King, Jr. He was definately a man who was "used up" by making change. He was assassinated. Speechwriting 101: if you're going to give a speech, make sure the illustrations of your point actually support your point.

And my coworker J sells on ebay. She talks about it a lot. Shows me her postings. Shows me things she bid on or thought was cute. It's rather gross. So I hate that website.

Anyway, there is a reason for this ranting. The Omidiyars, the ebay founders, have given all sorts of money to my college to promote 'citizenship and public service.' A few friends got scholarships from them, but I really haven't seen any benefit. . . until now.

The college has alumni trips, mostly your overpriced chance to traipse about the French Alps with a professor who knows all about the wildflowers that grow there while being assured that your traveling companions are at least as snooty and elitist as you are. They have started doing service trips now, so 50 year olds who have spent half their lives exploiting the world can volunteer in an exotic locale for a week and remember that they have a soul.

Anyway, the alumni trips and the Omidiyars have teamed up. Next October, there's a habitat for humanity alumni trip to Hungary. The ebay people are going to cover all expenses for four young alumni to go, provided they keep a journal, take a few photos, and share them with the college.

So I'm applying for a free trip to Hungary. . . I just need to figure 'what I would like to get out of this experience,' as the application phrases it. I doubt that 'a free trip to Hungary' is the answer that they are looking for.