Things have been pretty serious here at “Tales From the Hood” for the past few posts. Maybe it’s time to mix things up a bit. And thanks to a multi-party twitter conversation for the inspiration to this post, here, purely for fun, is the “Aid-worker celebrity crushes” post:
* * * * *
From our blogs, published articles, presentations at various multi-agency forums, and other professional venues, it’s easy to get the impression that aid workers are these sort of uber-liberal not-susceptible-to-ordinary-human-tendency people who only ever have the most politically correct thoughts and desires possible, that we only ever have the highest moral standards; that we take vows of poverty and celibacy (well, we kind of do take vows of poverty…); and that we consistently refine our tastes to those higher things in life.
Well, I can assure you that this is not necessarily the case. And as evidence, here is a confessional post on the aid-worker celebrity crushes that I am personally aware of. We’re the same as everyone else… or maybe not….
Me: I’ll show you mine… More than all of the foxy CNN on-location commentators, more than Brazillian women’s beach volley-ball team, more than all of the latest Bollywood starlets, and – I hate to say it – even more than Queen Raina, my number-one celebrity crush of all time can only go to Mai Charoenpura. Look her up on YouTube or MySpace. Is any explanation really needed?
Is any explanation really needed?
Fiona: Anderson Cooper. It doesn’t matter that she’s not exactly his type. He’s still hot to her (and the entire female cast of “Nutty Professor”).
RPC: Can’t make up his mind between Kate Winslett and the entire Vietnam women’s SEA Games cycling team.
Rachel W: … is all about Hugh Jackman.
Bryan: Has a secret, guilty thing for Brittany Spears.
“Tiffany”: a bit of a girl-crush on Queen Raina, but balanced by a healthy longing for Jan Egeland.
Jeff: Sits in Baku pining, alternately, for Sandra Bullock and Salma Hayek.
Johanna: gets hot and bothered thinking about George Clooney (how original).
John: (I love this one) still mourns for Benzir Bhutto.
Monica (not technically and aid worker, but an archaeologist… close?): Mahmoud Ahmenidajad. (she hastens to add that she doesn’t really like HIM… just how he looks).
The woman previously referred to as “Bad Ass”: Has a thing for fierce looking Afghan guys with beards, turbans and AK-47s. Not exactly “celebrities” in the traditional sense, but I’m guessing that something could be arranged for her.
Liz: Used to like Denzel Washington, until he did his teeth. Now it’s a toss-up between Johnny Depp (“Edward Scissorhands”), Liam Neeson, and Chow Young Fat.
Frank: Is conflicted between Halle Berry (she’s 1 inch taller than him, so it might not work out) and Lucy Liu. … will probably end up going with Lucy.
Rebecca: Has a poster of Bruce Lee on her wall. (I’m fighting the urge to make an “Enter the Dragon” joke, here…)
* * * * *
So, there you have it. If you’re an aid-worker, or even an aspiring aid-worker, drop a comment confessing who you think is hot. (I’d love to know Bill Easterly’s celebrity crush…) Use a pseudonym if you must.
I may update this post later.
Johnny Depp.
Reza Aslan, Kaj Larson, Christoph Putzel, John Oliver…
Mine’s kinda embarassing… Niall Ferguson. Can’t explain it, but I think he’s hot.
Paula Abdul.
I also second the Vietnam Womens Cycling Team.
Hands down, David Tennant…geek glasses and all
Johnny Depp (seems to be a theme here) and Christian Bale… oh- and Nicolas Sarkozy. Don’t know what that’s about.
I see your point about Mai Charoenpura.
Nevertheless, my vote still goes to Eva Mendes.
And I can totally see your point about Eva Mendez. Thanks for getting her on the board!
[...] of other articulate and thought-provoking insights into the world of humanitarian work. And some highly amusing and frivolous ones as well. I highly recommend his pages to you if this is you area of [...]