ben in london

Long awaited holiday in London!

2010-11-10T07:05:00.000Z

It had been a dream ever since I returned last year from London go back to visit, and I was able to go for eighteen days at the end of August! I wasn't sure how I'd feel going back: would people remember me? what is the neighborhood like? What would I do for fun? Who would I get to see? Life was full enough before going that these thoughts didn't plague me too much:)
While spending an extra day in Philly due to a mishap with the airlines, i studied for a test and got to know a football (soccer) coach from N. England-which helped the time pass. From the moment I saw my friends greet me at the Heathrow until I left, I felt warmly received and had an amazing time reconnecting with a place that had become home. I didn't miss the big city or tourist places, I missed relationships, so my highlights might seem small unless you know their depth:

1. the normalcy of seeing your old neighborhood
having my old CC, travel card (oyster), mobile and knowing the area made getting around much easier. I was dropped off for lunch at someone's house from the airport, walked into the charity shop I used to work at, ASHA and surprised the family working there, saw familiar faces, and was greeted on the street I used to live on with the shouts of boys calling out for me to play football with them. I stayed around Kenton with a neighboring Indian family, sharing meals and getting time with their son. I had several long conversations over tea, late nights with friends and dinners with families. The time flew by. After being gone almost a year it was comforting to know that the community that had become family to me was still there and still family in many ways despite the distance.
2.enjoying London with friends
I was able to take two boys to a Chelsea match. They had way more gear than me and their relentless chattering exhibited their enthusiasm. though Seattle has their own team now, their matches don't compare to those in the Premier League. I met a friend from high school who is working at a theatre in downtown London and she showed me around the backstage and introduced me to her coworkers. It is sweet to see someone pursue their dreams and trace how God opens up doors. Two high school students involved in the church plant New Life Suwarta Sangat were great as I played show and tell showing some of my favorite spots around the city. The Nottinghill Carnival was colorful, in more ways than one, and crowded but after hearing so much about it I am glad I went. After several full days of seeing people, it was nice to spend a few hours alone in Kew Gardens on an "Indian summer" day with rain pouring between sun breaks.

3. revisiting the ministries I was involved with
The building we were able to use rent free, Glebe Fellowship Hall, had been completely remodeled and our lease we had negotiated was finalized-which meant that I was visiting just before they were fully able to execute all their amazing ideas for using to host events and activities for the community. I was able to visit a few apprentices who were just starting program I had been a part of. It is exciting to keep up with them and hear how everything has developed since I was in their shoes.

4. an afternoon with the Irvines

Though my time with them was very short, it was sweet. The Irvine family with two kids and new baby in tow has just arrived a few days before I left and were the main family I got to know during my time in London. I got to wrestle, read, eat, and play with the kids and heard their stories and told my own of the past year. Reconnecting with kids does not happen easily and I was glad to find them so receptive to letting me back into their lives. The parents and I reflected on how easy and natural it felt for me to be there.

Overall I realized that despite the time and distance, I still have a community of friends in London that I can return to if/when a door opens in the future. But for now I remain in Seattle and begin my pursuit of a Masters in Teaching...another journey begins.

The Next Step

2010-02-03T06:35:00.004Z

I am have settled in Seattle, Washington and time has flown by since I left London four months ago. London became home to me during my year there and I am excited about returning for a holiday this summer for a few weeks. Several friends there have kept in touch and ASHA, the youth clubs and satsungs continue on without me. Despite the bad economy, I have been able to find two part time jobs that I enjoy and a nice place to live. There was definitely culture shock the first month and thoughts continue to bounce around in my head as I settle in. I decided to start another blog to keep people in touch with what I'm doing and thinking: http://www.benfromseattle.blogspot.com/ Thanks to all of you who've read and kept up with this blog, it was my first and a great way to keep people connected.

Saying Goodbye

2009-10-01T14:35:00.013+01:00

I told my friends months ago that I'd return to the States in the fall, but I was slow to have a countdown. I knew leaving would be hard and I didn't want to rush things. Was I excited about leaving? No. But in a weird sense I knew I shouldn't stay. After returning from Italy, I thought we'd start our youth clubs again but due to my pending departure we chose to postpone it. Though I would have loved to start the clubs, it was nice to have time for me to go door to door to say goodbye to the kids and their families. I had held off as long as possible actually saying goodbye to people because i had a hard time realizing I was actually leaving. My days were full but not demanding. I enjoyed spending more days in ASHA, our charity shop and with many of our volunteers back in school, the work load was heavier. I spent most evenings seeing different friends from this last year. My last week, I had three dinners with Indian neighbors and their families in the community. It felt weird to say goodbye. Once you’ve lived somewhere you get in the habit of thinking you’ll see them “around” or “next week”.

The reality of leaving hit me in waves, periodically rising suddenly out of seemingly mundane circumstances-taking my last bus ride, walking past certain streets, hearing Indian music, working at our charity shop, or simply having breakfast with my Indian family. During my last Sunday night, these waves came in abundance and the “tide” rose leaving me overwhelmed. I didn’t fight or ride the waves, I was knocked over-such was the loving affirmation of having 80 friends gather to say goodbye, shower me with cards and gifts, and tell me what I mean to them. Many of them welcomed me as a strange immigrant, brought me into their homes, and in time shared their doubts and dreams, hopes and fears. A year ago I did not know anyone in London; now I know so many and saw ongoing growth in many friendships up my last day leaving: it was not easy to leave, I will miss them.
I walked through downtown London the next afternoon and wandered through streets and sites from my first visit, four years ago when I first had an inkling about living here. Now I have and what an adventure it has been.

Leaving London

2009-10-01T13:01:00.008+01:00

I left London September 23rd, the exact day my visa expired, three days short of a year. I had told my friends in the summer I'd be returning, but I was slow to have a countdown. I knew leaving would be hard and I didn't want to rush things. Was I excited about leaving? No. Why am I leaving? Why did I come in the first place? I came to be equipped and shaped in what I want to do in life-love a city through caring for those in transition. Specifically I came to learn and understand South Asian culture within the British context. Knowing both cultures' beliefs and history was crucial, and demands much more than a year's time. London is a unique place. Its hostility to belief, frustration with the influx of immigrants (especially students) and loss of the classical education is met with having an intriguing history, being the gateway to the western world, and marvelously/tragically being the crossroads of the world. That is all big picture commentary. I wanted to see how it looked on the ground, with specific people, in a specific community, with very real, tough transitions and decisions. It is an experience I will never forget and forever be grateful for.

I came with many considerations: teaching, full time work with a charity, council work, career advising, tutoring but in all of those areas I knew I needed further equipping. I also knew I wanted to know my context before simply jumping in with both feet. I got to know the context well enough to feel confident about staying but the simple truth is that that equipping I was talking about was not available. Plus having an expiring visa limits lingering too long on possibilities. I can definitely see myself returning. When, how, where and with who are questions to sort out in the meantime.

Casting aside those future ambitions for a few weeks in Italy was nice because it brought clarity to why I want to do all these things. I want to find joy in what I do and bring joy to others. Everyone does, we just call this different names: vocation, calling, career, purpose in life, etc. Few people venture into the deeper levels of joy; it is convicting and troublesome because it demands community, it demands something/someone larger than yourself. Ask the burnt out humanitarians, teachers, activists, hippies, whoever pours themself out for the world without others being with them and all of them together learning of the higher order of things (God, ethics, a political party, economics, whatever) and clarifying, refining their role within it. Or ask the indifferent, contentedly lazy or "all-wise", armchair skeptic about the deeper levels of joy and they may try describing it but the listener knows they have never tasted it. At times like these, we see more clearly the difference between knowing something experientially and knowing it as merely as data. Though we might be world's apart, we are similar in wrestling with the grey, the mess, as we seek to regain a sense of wonder and hope in a broken world...My unique experience in London made me be honest about the struggles of life while dwelling on and clinging to the hope that only Jesus gives; relishing His grace

July Kids Club!

2009-09-28T19:13:00.009+01:00

I know this is long, long overdue but I finally got some photos from our summer kids club-Son Rock Kids Camp! We had over 80 kids come at the end of the July, school years 2-7. The place was packed. It was only four days, Tuesday through Friday but everyone had a blast. A group of high school students from the States came to lead different stations in our building in Kenton: arts/crafts, music, discussion/small games, and story time. Since I was organizing the week, I was overjoyed to have 18 local teenager volunteer to help lead four groups of kids separated by age. Each group had a color and name: purple-bears, green-eagles, red-wolves, blue-chipmunks. Hilarity ensued when the oldest group found out they were the chipmunks but didn’t feel as embarrassed when I announced that I was the “big chipmunk” leader. We tried to work the camping theme into every aspect of the week. We began each morning gathering as an assembly and then proceeded to a nearby park for outdoor games for an hour. We finished by rotating around four stations. The stories got kids involved
I had a fun time that week; largely due to the amount of help. We had a day to train the volunteers and have them connect with their American peers. Every afternoon a group of the student leaders played different sports outside. Even in the summer, rain can come at any moment in London so we were praying for a good week. Thankfully it rained only one morning. The American team did a great job with the stations and all the kids made sure they arrived early to get started ASAP. The parents were very thankful to have their kids at the camp instead of on their computers all day and asked if we could extend the camp another week maybe next summer we will…

There were many highlights that week but one that stands out is our Parent’s Night. Two wonderful mothers in my neighbourhood have always made the dinner and surpassed everyone’s expectations despite having almost 200 people! We had a slideshow and summary of the week, a prayer and then just mingled for a few hours. After getting so much time with the kids, it was nice to meet their parents. Many of them expressed their gratitude and wondered how we did all of this with only £8 cost for the week. Almost half of the kids were at the summer camp for the first time. It is definitely something I would enjoy doing more of, and having help makes it much easier to consider.
I knew it was a good week when two months later I saw some kids in the park and they yelled “Ben, Ben! When are you having another camp?” Yes it is tiring and demanding but very worth it.

2009-09-06T13:09:00.007+01:00

I knew very little about Sicily before going: a fun character in Princess Bride, old ruins and the mafia. But thankfully when it comes to traveling, who you know matters more-like a family living there. I landed in Palermo, took a bus into the city and a bus across Sicily to Catania. It was a beautiful drive, what stood out most was the vast open space. It was so nice to have a family take an interest in me and my time in London, show me around, and include me in their routine. I didn't check with them but I'm going to go ahead and tell you who they are: the Stiegler family!
I arrived Thursday and settled into their home. That evening I was invited to go cycling with the father and his friend. I borrowed a cycle and gear. It was one of many times to follow in which I felt spoiled. We climbed some hills and could see for several miles at the top...no cities. After cycling the streets of London, going to the countryside of Sicily was a dream come true!

Friday I went into Catania Market early while it was quiet. It was full of different colors and smells. The prices were actually alright and I got a nice piece of pottery for 1 euro. We had a small snack for breakfast. It was one of the few markets I went to with fresh seafood. In was interesting to know that a few years ago while digging to build a foundation, the city discovered some Greek ruins. We went back and met another family from the Navy base there and headed to Mt. Etna. The family has three girls who were all happy to orient me to the mountain and a cool house on the way up (see pic). After about an hour exploring the hills, it rained-a torrential downpour. We were soaked and headed home a little earlier than expected. Later that evening we went to the castle at Moda for gelato with a few families. It was a cool night and there was a festival going on with costumes, instruments, fire and choreographed dancing but we were tired and didn’t stay as long as we had wanted to.
Saturday we went to the beach at Fontane Biance. It was crowded but we got a paddle boat and explored a bit. Their dad knew of a good place to jump off a rock, about 25 ft up. He was brave enough to dive off, I just jumped. It was a hot day and compared to everyone else, as you'll see in another photo, I was pretty white. We went out for pizza in Nicolosi that night.
Sunday we were invited to an Italian man’s house. It was breathtaking-the covered patio, outdoor kitchen, clear blue pool with an amazing view of the plains below, orchards surrounding the property…and that was before the food was brought out! There were about 8 kids there, so they all kept me busy making sure I used the pool to our full advantage. We had the full 4 course meal and I had a hard time resisting more at each stage. The children had almost endless energy running around, jumping, swimming, racing, and playing with the inflatable shark I blew up for them. We were all full after a few hours. The whole day was a slice of heaven-wonderful food, fun and fellowship, most of us took a nap on the way back.
Monday after dropping off Katherine at swim practice, Becky and I drove to the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento. It was a scorching day! The ancient ruins were in remarkable condition. A Christian ruler built a cathedral around the temple of Concordia, keeping it free from the elements for centuries until the 18th c. when the cathedral was torn down-leaving the temple as it is today. These temples are located along a high ridge overlooking the sea which had a long wall fortified for protection. The temple of Zeus was in complete ruins, scattered rumble of what was once an immense structure. The sheer brilliance of the engineers to create such structures was amazing. I soaked in as much I could in a few hours and rested in the shade with a gelato!
That night I went to my very first swim meet. It was a “fun meet”(a prep for a real one).. I cheered on some kids from the families I had met during my time. Seeing an 8yr old swim smoother, faster and stronger than me was pretty humbling.
My last night we joined another family and went to Taormina, a city right next to the ocean atop high mts. There was a concert that night at the coliseum so we didn’t get to go inside. I loved the character of the whole place-the narrow, steep, twisting roads, the unique and colorful shops, the panoramic vistas. We had dinner at the Granduca, overlooking the ocean. I ordered swordfish for the first time. It was wonderful! I slept well that night with a very satisfied stomach.
My final highlight of Sicily was playing MarioKart Wii with the family I stayed with. I had played a few times with some kids in my neighborhood in London but it was very nice to kill some time, joke around, and get good enough to win more often! what part of italy are Mario and Luigi from?…

Trip to Wales

2009-07-15T01:12:00.015+01:00

About a month ago I had a friend invite me to join him in a hiking challenge in Wales: www.welsh3000s.co.uk Our goal was to summit and survive 15 3000ft mountain peaks
in Northern Wales within 24hrs. I had never been to Wales so I had no idea what to expect. I had missed the outdoors immensely since coming to the UK last fall and a drive in the countryside just does not cut it. Thankfully he had been to the area before, so I didn’t have to be too prepared. I borrowed gear from some friends. We knew we needed to do it sometime this summer while the days were long and chose last weekend to go. We planned on getting up there, camping and then going for the 15 the next day and camping the next night if we needed to and then maybe do a day hike our last day-far easier said than done.

Due to weather predictions, we drove up last Thursday afternoon and camped near the base of Snowden around 10pm. It was due to rain Saturday morning, so we figured we were safe with food, water, our bivy bags and some basic supplies until then. We slept alright that night and started off pretty early to Snowden. It was disappointing to learn on our way up that there is a railway that goes all the way to the top and has a café…not very rewarding in my view. We walked up in the fog and mist and started our long hike. From Snowden (1) we went to Garnedd Ugain (2), which was pretty easy. We had to tediously maneuver over boulders on a steep ridge to get to Crib Goch (3), which was incredibly dangerous with the winds and our backpacks. During our descent back near sea level on the road, I sprained my ankle, which was pretty embarrassing. Soon after, my friend Mark slipped and fell landing his knee on a big rock. It was rough way to complete our first set of peaks. I rested a bit and then pressed on, up a thistle-covered field toward Elidir Fawr and Y Garn. These had rocky summits but grassy areas around them. The crucial moment of the day came after completing these peaks: Mark’s hurt knee prevented him from continuing and he offered to return to the car and meet me at the end of the 15 peaks, about 6 miles from the last peak either that night or the following morning. It was the first time Mark had to turn back on an expedition, I would miss his company during the rest of the trip.

I stopped to eat some lunch and tape up my ankle and bandage up a developing blister before heading up a long rocky hill to Glyder Faur(6). Unlike the previous 5 peaks, which gave wonderful views and had clear trails, there was nothing scenic about #6 at the top, just a pile of stones. This was something that would become more and more common through my hike, making me really feel like Frodo or Sam going through Mordor, thankfully without the fire or hot steam (or smeagol of course). Step after step was on solid rock pounding my feet seemingly through my old pair of boots. Hobbit feet are more durable I guess. YET the day itself was beautiful, the sun came out, the mountainous landscape with sea in the distance was lovely. I pressed on to Glyder Fach (7) and Tryfan (8). Tryfan was not a bad ascent, the descent however was treacherous, I basically rock climbed down a steep bowl to get to the next range
I have to be honest; at that point my feet were hurting. It was a gorgeous day but I knew that completing the 15 peaks would be harder than I thought, and take more out of me. I would have loved to have a friend to complete it with. I was tempted as I passed a pub on the road to stop but with 7 more peaks to go and being on my own, I played it safe and pressed on. The hardest ascent was next to Pen yr Ole Wen (9) I was literally rock climbing most the way up with my backpack on, a little scary at points. I was told that after conquering #9, it is much easier from there just time consuming with progressive ascents and descents. They were right. I reached Carnedd Dafydd (10) and Yr Elen (11) within an hour or so. Carnedd Llewlyn (12) took a bit longer but there were amazing views with the sunshine out on the way. I ate dinner at the top of Foel Gras (13) at 8:30pm but it was already cold and foggy. The trail had been almost impossible to follow and I had used landmarks from the map to guide me. With the heavy fog and dimming light, I asked a group up ahead where the next peak was, they pointed me to the left.

Over an hour later after reaching the summit the fog lifted enough for me to see they had led me to the wrong peak, I had to turn around and return to where I had dinner-2 hrs wasted! Black skies and fog made me decide to get behind a stone wall, roll out my sleeping bag, get into my bivy bag and catch some sleep for a few hours, praying that God would help me find the right way in the morning! It was 10:30pm. It rained for a while, but I actually got some rest and my feet needed the break. I left around 5:30 and hiked far, far right (as my best guess) into the dense fog. Within 30 minutes I reached Garnedd Uchaf (14) and in another hour I reached Foel Fras (15). All in all I had an extra 30 minutes in the 24hr challenge. As I slowly walked down the steep grass slope after Foel Fras, the sun broke out, the fog lifted and I had a majestic view of the whole area- a nice little gift from God. Six miles later after passing sheep and wild ponies, I followed a river to the park where my friend sat in his car waiting for me.

We were a bit more worn than expected and with imminent rain two hours later, we decided to head home instead of staying another day. I was hungry, tired but glad I completed all the peaks (plus 1) safely and could look forward to a shower, meal and mattress at the end of the day.

Canals, parks and Wimbledon

2009-07-06T13:40:00.007+01:00

Last Monday we had a beautiful day in London so I thought I'd explore a little. I had cycled east from Alperton into and through central London to the Thames so I went west this time on the Grand Union Canal east down through Southall to the Thames at Brentwood. The canal was scenic until i came to Southall, where it looked like a dump. They've been raising funds to clean it out with little support. (see pice with yellow sign).

After reaching the Thames I cycled down to Sion Park hoping to see the Butterfly House, but was disappointed to find out that it was moved. I cycled to Kew Gardens but didn't go inside, that will be another day. I went on down to Richmond Park, the main cycling hangout in London due to the nice pavement, open roads, rolling hills and scenery. I sat down for a bit, broke out a map and decided to explore the Wimbledon area and go by the stadium. There were some beautiful parks with trails and the occasional horse trotting past. Wimbledon stadium was packed. I had some friends who were inside watching for the first time. They were leaving the country the next day, so it was a nice sendoff.

I found out the first major difference between Seattle and London: humidity. I could not believe how much I was sweating! I stopped for lunch at a pub to watch Wimbledon, since I couldn't find a good vantage point around the stadium. I must have had 5 glasses of water! As I watched the players run all around the court I felt very lazy. I played tennis about 2 weeks ago and enjoyed it but definitely could use some lessons. I'd be happy if I even got my racket on a 143mph serve! (I watched some of the men's final on Sunday. It was amazing to see those two guys play for almost 5 hrs! it was a battle, definitely the best match I've ever seen.) I watched the girls and guys' matches until around 3, filled up my water bottle, crossed the Thames at Hammersmith and rode up to Kenton. It was a good day's ride.

Bournemouth!

2009-07-06T13:18:00.003+01:00

Saturday June 26th about 80 of us from Harrow left on a coach to Bournemouth. Many of us had been praying for the nice sunny weather to hold out, conscious of how rare it is to have such a long streak of heat in London. A bunch of kids in my youth clubs wanted to go but one of the najor schools at rescheduled their summer fair to the same day:( yet we wouldn't have had space since the bus filled up over a week before going! the skies were grey as we left...
We arrived at the beach around 11:30 and the sun was blazing! we had many families with us and it was fun to see the kids run through the waves, play in the sand, make castles, throw frisbees, screaming their heads off with delight. I remember one little girl, around 3 laughing while slapping her hands in the waves over and over not realizing how cold she was (her lips were blue and her teeth were chattering uncontrolably.
It was my first time to the seaside in the UK and I felt pretty white when I took my shirt off and went for a swim. A group of us guys dragged a few people into the water whether they were ready or not (see pic). We had a Harrow v. Southall volleyball match that got a little intense as we debated different rules. The net must have fallen at least 6 or 7 times!
We ate lunch, ran around, ate ice cream, walked on the pier. It was a perfect day to go to the beach. Rain, thunder and lightning greeted us in Harrow when we returned. Evidentally there was a huge hail storm and several inches of rain while we were gone! I'm glad we missed it. anyways I didn't take many photos, I still need to work on remembering to take more.

Kids Club

2009-06-29T22:52:00.007+01:00

At the end of May I helped with a kids club in Southall which was a very enjoyable time even though I am mentioning it a month late. Truth be told I was waiting to get some photos from people before making this post. I had never been part of a kids club before, either as a participant or volunteer. Nonetheless I was excited to help lead the 8-9yr olds, the Blue group, the LIONS!! They were an energetic bunch and definitely hard to handle at times but it was a privilege to lead them. We played kickball, basketball, football and a bunch of indoor games. Initially we had 24 kids in my group and only 1 girl. Thankfully we had 5 more girls by the last day, and 30 kids overall!

Several different moments stick out in my mind like trying to form a train and having one of them right me a thank you card but the best was on the last day. We finished with outdoor activities that were messy: a water balloon fight, having whipping cream pies stuffed in my face and hair, sliding on a tarp with oil, ice cream, water, whipping cream, and banana…I was a mess!
I had a fun time and was glad to experience the kids club since I’ll be leading one in Harrow in a few weeks. We decided to cap it at 80 kids since already I had 17 sign up this last week! Thankfully I know several older kids in the community who are willing to help out. It will be controlled chaos.
Well enjoy the pics, there are too many stories to tell…

Picasso Exhibit

2009-06-11T23:33:00.008+01:00

I went to the “Challenging the Past” Picasso exhibit at the National Gallery Thursday. Often when I go to free galleries and museums in London, I am overwhelmed with how much there is to see. I wander around aimlessly trying to soak in whatever interests me over centuries of art, invention and history. Though I periodically stop and try to educate myself on certain things, I normally end up leaving without capturing much. This is all especially true when I visit the National Gallery. But when I pay for something, my whole experience dramatically changes. It had been a while since I paid to visit something in London, and this exhibit was worth it.
How was it different? I enjoyed focusing on the particular theme of a particular artist because I came away appreciating and understanding something specific. I had taken an art and music appreciation course in college, which skimmed over the entire history of music and art in “the west”. The only thing I could really remember from Picasso was cubism, his abstract shapes, vibrant colors, sometimes grotesque portraits, and fascination with women. I remember some famous paintings like “Nude Descending a Staircase” and “Glass and Lemon”. I had understood him to be rebelling against the past way of seeing the world and portraying that world in art. Compared to the artistic giants of the past, Picasso didn’t fit. My memory was correct at points but I was definitely glad to revisit this great artist’s life and work.
As a student of history, I naturally am drawn to understanding Picasso’s background, who influenced him, what events surrounded his life and how all of that shaped his work. Even though this is just my memory, I admit that I sound like a curator already. The main theme for the exhibit was “Challenging the Past”. I was comforted to learn that I was not the only one who was confused about what to do with Picasso. I had thought of him as a painter but he also did prints, sculptures, drawings, ceramics, and even textiles. The basic thesis for the exhibit is that his themes, styles, and content were a challenge relating to, not breaking from, the past. View the Gallery of paintings here: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/picasso/slideshow/default.htm . ("they didn't like my hyperlink for some reason) The “Cubism” he started, which pushed the limits on this thesis in my opinion, especially since he refused to write about his work, preferring to let his art speak for him-which easily leads to an interpretive “grey” area. He was a student of his artistic heritage and was very concerned with establishing his place within that tradition.
Pablo Picasso was born in the avande garde setting of Barcelona and always retained and valued his Spanish identity. The Blue period (1901-1904) had gloomy, sad paintings mostly in blue and blue-green. The suicide of his close friend and trip through Spain are said to be a major impact. He also spent some time in Paris. The Rose period (1904-1906) is identified by a more cheery, light hearted tone with pink, orange and rose colors depicting carnival characters, the favorite being the harlequin, a kind of jester wearing checkered patterned clothes. Picasso also reflected Gozal’s theme of women washing and working with each others’ hair at this time. He had a brief period of African-influenced art shown in Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Upon seeing this painting you can see why this transitioned his move into the Cubist form. 1909-1912 brought Analytic cubism which used brown and grey colors. He and Georges Braque looked at aspects of reality as objects with shape. Cubism developed a multiplicity of perspectives which had different planes or facets like in “Seated Nude” 1910. I really liked “Glass and Lemon” even though it is hard to spot the glass and lemon at first. Synthetic cubism (1912-1919) was the initial use of collage as fine art and reminded me of other creative works done by my sister, especially “Violin and Bottle” With his models/muses, I liked “Fernande with Black Mantilla”, the shrouded women had a Hispanic influence. His seated portraits reflected an El Greco style at times, especially with the elongated features.
Random notes: Picasso took his mother’s surname b/c of the resemblance to his favorite artist Poussin, (17thc. painter). In 1918 he married his first wife, a ballerina named Olga Khokhlova. By 1923, their relationship was cold, seen in his portrait “Olga with Fur Collar”. His second wife was Jasqueline Roque, his volumptuos source for revived sensual still lifes.

some brief notes on his direct relation to older artists which I won’t give much detail on:
Velasquez: 17th c. Spanish artist “Las Meninas”, placed in the center of Prado in Madrid.
He humorously distorts the artist and royal family
Manet-“luncheon on the Grass” 1863 which alluded to another painting by Rafael
Picasso did a series of his own version-a huge controversy
Ingres-“aangra” heavily influenced his muses/models
Poussin-17th c. “Rape of the Sabines”
Picasso alluded to this with WWII and the Asian wars with themes of innocence, brutality and outcry (he also made perhaps the most famous anti war painting)
Delacroix-“Women of Algiers” clothed women facing threat
A very colourful portrayal with all kinds of shapes and angles with only one women being identifiable

Even though the place was completely silent, there were probably many minds like mine-buzzing as they processed what they saw. Ok, so I admit my thoughts were more random than most!

Cycling Canals in London

2009-05-28T22:09:00.009+01:00

We had gorgeous weather Saturday and Sunday but Monday was a mix of rain, wind and sun which actually reminded me of Seattle. Nonetheless, I decided to explore the canals through London. I started off by cycling from Harrow to Alperton and hopping on the Grand Union Canal towards Paddington. It was a pleasant ride along the water, with only a few boat homes. It was quiet and I saw swans, mallards, Canadian geese and some heron. The path was paved in most places since it was next to a canal it was very flat.
There is great contrast along the canals. In some places the water was filled with rubbish and oil and moored boat homes with all sorts of things tied to them with personal gardens and junk piles close by-creating more of a trailer park atmosphere. In other areas, like Little Venice, each boat was immaculate, cafes were nearby and the water was clean with carefully maintained plants on the side. While cycling alone the canals I also saw skate parks, industrial and commercial areas, schools, and markets.

It took 35 minutes to get from Alperton to Little Venice and from there I took Regent’s Canal towards the River Thames. After about 20 minutes I arrived at the Camden Lochs. I really like Camden Town. There is a great market and square with loads of character. It is the main highlight of the journey on the canals in my opinion. After that point, there is nothing really worth noting, besides feeling the accomplishment of reaching the River Thames at Limehouse Basin 50 minutes later. Regents Canal has a more narrow path than the pre-Little Venice branch, in addition to having more people crowding the road way. Also at at least four points I needed to explore on the roads to reconnect to the canal. Every couple minutes you needed to duck under a bridge to stay on the path but by in large the canal is accessible. It was nice to not be pressed for time, to be able to stop on the way and see different places and see new areas. I hope to use the canals more as a scenic entrance into central London than the roads, though they are a bit slower. There are still more areas to explore and though they don’t compare to Venice or Belgium’s canals, I think I’ll still enjoy them. Hopefully I can bring some friends along next time.

The Lion King and Les Mis

2009-05-19T01:22:00.009+01:00

Almost two weeks ago I went to go see two musicals in West End. I had two friends from university stop by London for a few days after teaching and doing various work in Nairobi for eight months. We had planned on seeing Les Miserables (a first for two of us) and purchased our tickets early. I was so excited to see this! Early the evening before going, they were walking around Central London and called me to ask if I wanted to see The Lion King since they found good tickets. I was ecstatic, especially when I heard how cheap they were! I quickly caught a train to meet up with them in Leicester Square and walk to Lyceum Theatre.

The Lion King was amazing! Since all the characters are animals, the performance demanded a higher level of creativity and they blew us away with the detail, precision, and artistry. The opening scene of the “Circle of Life” was overwhelming. People were using stilts, huge masks, and utilized banraku and shadow puppetry to create a full kingdom of animals. Giraffes, elephants, cheetah, monkeys, and more were walking, running, leaping, flying around. In comparison to that, I was at the scarcity of animals in “I Just Can’t Wait to be King”. Everyone on stage had training in ballet, which enhanced the dancing, choreography, and acting. The prancing gazelles, the wild river in the jungle, the grass waving in the wind, and thundering stampede I thought were exceptionally creative. Due to the superb makeup and the fluidity of movement, I found myself looking at the puppets or masks as if they indeed were the actors! My favourite character was Jafar, George Asprey did a wonderful job portraying his demeanour, displaying the mannerisms and delivering the lines. The set and stage were very well done to characterize the African Safari and jungle with Timon and Pumba. In many ways it was an excellent performance and we loved it. The singing was not as strong as I had hoped, and Simba’s voice didn’t seem to fit his character but the main area that stuck out to us as lacking was dramatic space. The dialogue was rushed at times, the line queues too clear, the timing too regimented…creating less flexibility and space for dramatic flair, for a comfortable settling of character. At least that is how it seemed. It has been fifteen years since I saw The Lion King as a Disney movie so the story was somewhat fresh. Seeing it as a musical was a much richer experience and I was glad to have some friends to enjoy it with.

The next night we went to see Les Mis, the other end of the spectrum in musical theatre. Whereas the Lion King demanded incredible creativity and dancing and lacked dramatic space, Les Mis would be complete rubbish without dramatic space and did not call for really unique costuming or set design and very little dancing. It is not fair to compare the two musicals. When one is based on a novel by Victor Hugo set in the context of the early 19th c. France it is obviously very different than a Disney movie set in Africa. I knew most of the Les Mis soundtrack and had attempted to read the novel at age 13 ( I gave up after two chapters were spent on Cosette and Maruis’ romance through mere observation of each other)… the musical was a great way to pull it all together for me. It is the longest running musical in the Broadway history. The singing blew me away. There are so many strong roles and rich characters. David Shannon did an excellent job as Jean Valjean. My favourite song of his was “who am I?” and I must admit a tingling excitement at hearing “Do You Hear the People Sing?” The rebel leader had tremendous flair and was comfortable in his role. Since I read the novel, the scenes had added depth, especially Valjean’s reaction to the priest’s mercy and Javert’s suicide. There are so many good songs, each loaded with major themes that resound in different voices! We enjoyed recalling our favourite ones. One of my friends was observant enough to note that our young Cosette was missing during our final applause…must have been past her bedtime by then:)
Les Mis has been performed all around the world and been translated into 21 languages- why? Hugo was content to have several stories interwoven into a historic tapestry-20 years after Napoleon’s defeat and the Paris Uprising in 1832. He did not try to tackle the social injustice and war with all its issues; he sought to tell individual stories that intersected each other within all of that in a way that was not limited to that context. Alain Boublil and his long time partner Claude-Michel Schönberg transformed Les Misérables into a musical theatre work in Paris in 1980 based on the lyrics of Herbert Kretzmer, selling as a concept album. Two years later, British producer Cameron Mackintosh and directors John Caird and Trevor Nunn did an excellent job analyzing the history, characters and themes to bring it to life on stage. I really do not know much about Les Mis so much of this could be off but it was an amazing musical and I definitely would love to see it again!
I love musicals for several reasons yet at the centre is its full expression of life with all its joys and sorrow, triumphs and tragedies through a feast for the senses-singing, dancing, acting, instruments, artistry and an overall creative production. Seeing two musicals in two nights was definitely a full enough experience to make me content for at least month before visiting the West End again.

Varanasi

2009-05-02T00:15:00.017+01:00

This is the city of Shiva on the bank of the sacred Ganges. Also known as Benares, it is the place where heaven meets the earth. Dying here ensures freedom from karma and attainment of moksha-salvation. “Varanasi” comes from being between the two rivers Varuna and Assi. I stayed there Varanasi 3 days, the longest I was in any place during my time in India, so naturally it was my favourite. The airport is a long was from where I was staying with some Hindus who follow Jesus, so I was hoping my driver knew where he was going. Thankfully I connected with my friends there smoothly, heard more about their work in the city and joined in a gathering that night for singing, some dramas, and a dinner.
The next morning I walked up and down the ghats near the Ganges River, starting at Assi Ghat in the south. I stopped at one of the burning ghats to hear from one of the workers more about it. At their ghat they burn 70-80 bodies a day, 360kg of wood is needed for each body. They dip the body wrapped in white in the Ganges, pour water in their mouth five times, bring it back to shore and stack wood around the body. They walk around the pyre five times, once for each element-earth, fire, water, wind, spirit. The family will sit and wait for hours until the body is burnt, then gather the ashes and throw them in the river. Long ago, most of the ghats were owned by a maharaja or guru who purchased the land in order for their people to have a place to worship and do their ceremonies. This is how most of them attained their names and distinct character. People get up early to bathe and wash their clothes in the river. I won’t go into detail but the water is clearly not sanitary and I passed on going for a swim. Before leaving, I took a break under a tent overlooking the river to have some tea. It was a nice way to soak in my first viewing of the Ganges.
I hung out with my friends that afternoon at a nice pool in a hotel and had lunch. I felt spoiled on such a hot day to have that break. Sunday I walked for about 8 hours around the city. The journey started with a rickshaw ride to Shivala Ghat-Panchkot Court. I met a student from BHU, Banares Hindu University, which is the largest university in the country having on campus housing for all students-almost 20,000. The guy I met was studying computer science. We got to talking and he was excited to show me around the Golden Temple Market and the temple itself, which holds over 20 other temples inside. It was in the heart of the Old City, so the streets were narrow and the shops were busy. I needed to remove my sandals and leave my backpack behind to enter certain areas but having them stolen was a serious threat, so I found a small wooden box used as a locker I could pay Rs. 20 to use. They had tight security, mainly due to the mosques which were nearby. Apparently there has been some strife. After seeing the temples, he took me to his shop to look at kurta, lungis, scarves, and sarees. I searched through a large variety before choosing some and received a special discount. I enjoyed getting to know him, meeting his family, and being shown around the area. He helped direct me to Mother Teresa Guest House. It wasn’t very impressive but it was a peaceful, relatively clean place. It holds around 100 people. Mother Teresa is definitely venerated as a saint there.
From there I walked back down the ghats and met a journalist from Delhi. He was very intrigued to hear of my experience but did not give a formal interview. We talked about family, religion, and of course India. India is definitely a diverse place with thousands of languages, varied landscapes, and an ancient history. He and I walked down to Assi Ghat, took a rickshaw to BHU and parted ways. I briefly saw the university and then went to see the Sankat Mochan Mundir nearby. There were other temples nearby. It was hot, hot day so I was drinking lots of water and was glad to take a 10 minute break to sit in the shade with some tea, I could spare Rs. 5. I walked on past Vijay Cinema into more of the central part of the city. I was going to see some friends at an ashram later in the afternoon but didn’t know where so I thought I might as well kill sometime until I heard from them. When I finally called them, I found out I had several kilometres to walk. So I walked back up the ghats all the way to Gay Ghat, far in the north. As I weaved through the labyrinth of alleyways, I was reminded of the scene in Aladdin with him running from the guards over a loaf of bread. The satsung was much like what we do back in London with the dol, harmonium, tabla but they also had a new instrument to me, a shell used like a horn. I recognized quite a few of the bhajans. Afterwards we had tea and I walked back the ghats. I convinced a man, Simeon, the give me a boat ride down the river close to where I needed to go for only Rs. 80. We passed several torch light ceremonies and rituals along the way. Sadly I didn’t get very good photos. It was a long, full day but I loved having time to see more of the city’s character.
I flew from there the next day to Delhi and flew to London the next day-end of the trip. Feel free to comment and ask questions! I loved my time and would definitely go back.

A Day in Agra

2009-05-01T23:42:00.015+01:00

It was last minute but I decided to go ahead and see the Taj Mahal. I left the station at 7:15am to Agra, arrived three hours later and paid for a taxi for the day. Automobiles are not allowed closer than ½ mile so I walked the rest of the way. I went in the West Gate into a beautiful square with ancient Mughal buildings. The Taj Mahal was magnificent but very different than Indian architecture. It was built by a foreigner, a Muslim, and it is flanked by two mosques. As a Muslim, he would not allow any images to be made, so it appears very plain with only Arabic calligraphy and some flowers to accent the white marble. This may seem boring to many but after seeing so many temples filled with images and intricate carvings that made your eyes tired with how busy they were, I enjoyed the Taj’s simplicity. The emperor built it as a memorial for his second wife. His fake coffin is in the middle of the Taj Mahal. It took over 20 years to complete. The central structure is made of translucent white marble which is why people talk about the different colours seen at different times in the day. The marble is also carved with flowers and inlaid with thousands of precious stones. The cornelian stone is red but when it receives light it glows as orange for a period of time. At night the Taj looks like a pale blue or even purple depending on the light of the moon, by morning the sun creates a golden glow. The gardens, pools and fountains around the Taj are also quite nice. As I promised to a customer from ASHA, I fed a cow for her. It was frustrating that I did not have much space left on my camera so I had to prioritize when taking photos that day.

Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire and the emperor and his family lived inside Agra Fort. It was well fortified, had over 20 palaces inside and is one of the few forts still in use day by royalty. I enjoyed walking around inside because it has so much character after centuries of war, repair, additions, and renovations. We were not allowed to access certain parts of the fort. It is right next to the river Jamuna and you can see the Taj Mahal from it. There were temples and mosques inside and some gardens, which looked very British in their layout. Though it was wonderful to see, I was glad to take a break from walking around and return to the taxi.

My driver Saneer took me to some specialty shops sponsored by the government. I went to a textile place known around the world for their high quality, handmade Persian rugs. I looked at all their varieties but didn’t have Rs. 30,000 to spare so it was a short visit. The next place I went worked with marble, inlaying precious stones. They worked with three colours of marble: black, white and green. I was amazed at the intricacy of carving the marble, shaping the stones and setting them to create a smooth, polished surface-all by hand. Technically this was not a place to bargain, so I hesitated at first when I entered their shop of marble carvings, boxes, animals, etc. But when I found a small box that I like, I gave in a bargained for it-paying half of his original price. As we drove to the market, I had a chance to speak with Saneer more. He has been driving the cab for tourists for 11 years, is 33 and has four children-10, 9, 4, 1. He told me about the kids’ school, his new home, and the history of Agra. I enjoyed getting to speak with him. I decided to walk around the market on my own and let him return home early. The market was not impressive, so I walked to the train station. On the way, I decided to try cycling a rickshaw to see how different it was. The young driver was surprised at my request and said I did alright. Those drivers must have iron legs to earn a living off of that job! At the station I spoke with a few Indian families and one student in particular was excited to speak with an American. We shared a drink while waiting for the train discussing school, religion, cricket, girls…an interesting conversation to say the least.

Old Delhi, a train to Ferozpur, an afternoon in Amritsar

2009-05-01T23:02:00.019+01:00

I joined some friends in Delhi, washed some laundry, ate lunch and went out to Old Delhi to see the Red Fort and Chandi Chowk. The fort was nothing like the small little forts of the old western movies in the States. The Red Fort, like most forts throughout history, was a fortified town. Thick walls kept enemies out but inside they had palaces, homes, a water supply, gardens-everything you need and want in a place to live. We could see remnants of British colonialism in certain sections. Outside the fort we took some rickshaws into Chandi Chowk through an immense maze of shops. Our two drivers did amazing navigating through 1000s of people in tight alleyways filled with shops and I was surprised to not hear anyone yelling at them. The buildings around us were centuries old and people still live in and operated business out of them. The stands were organized by product type: spices, jewellery, kurtas, sarees, etc. A bag of pepper broke up as we entered the spice area so we all we coughing for about 5 minutes. We stopped at an ancient Jain temple and had to wash up before entering. Our rickshaw drivers had much to say about Obama. It made me realize that no matter how much the media can control something; it takes charisma to captivate people to the point that a rickshaw driver in Old Delhi becomes impassioned.

Our train “Punjab Mail” to Ferozpur was 90 minutes late; we left at 11:30pm. We had a 3 level sleeper right next to the cabin door so it was noisy and a guy was selling chai and food all night walking down the middle. We spoke with the Indian family next to us. They have been to London several times and know people in Southall. They joked that there were more Punjabi in London than Punjab. I actually slept alright on the top bunk. We arrived at 7:30am. Ferozpur is a small city very, very close to Pakistan and filled with 1000s of soldiers. After a brief nap, we had breakfast. We celebrated out friend’s grandson’s birthday mid-morning and then visited a church. I knew some of the songs they were singing in Hindi. It was very hot while we were there, so we retreated indoors for a few hours when it was really intense. In the evening we visited a woman who was training other women in her village to design and make blankets, sarees, wall hangings, etc. It had started as a hobby for her a few years ago and now is sponsored by a local NGO that operates a bank. They have helped start a program for women in that village. We spoke with her and took some photos since there are other groups in India we know of and support through ASHA that make and sell handiwork. What they were making in her village in the Canal Colony was very nice but took a long time to make.

The next day we took a cab ride to Amritsar and passed miles and miles of wheat on the way. Punjab is the breadbasket of India and people were busy gathering it all. And we also saw big batches of marijuana growing, but refrained from taking any. We first stopped to see the site of the Jallianwade Bagh Massacre, where hundreds of Indians were shot by the order of a senior British officer in 1919. It was a beautiful memorial and serves as a lasting reminder of British atrocities in India. From there we walked to the Golden Temple, the mecca for Sikhs. Most of those who came were Indian, I only saw a few white faces. We were in Sikh country. The Golden Temple is in the middle of a huge pool of water with one narrow ornate bridge leading to it. The water is sacred and many were bathing in it. I saw very few women in that place. On our train ride back to Delhi, I enjoyed talking with a Sikh man and hearing more about his faith and the significance of the Golden Temple to him. Though he lives in Delhi, he makes a trip there every month! We had excellent service on our train and arrived well rested into Delhi that night.

Ahmedabad

2009-05-01T22:41:00.008+01:00

Due to the heavy city traffic, I had to get off on the outer motorway and take an auto rickshaw in to meet my friend. One nice thing about being a foreigner is that I’m easier to spot in a crowd. He took me to his house and I had dinner with him and his wife. He was surprised to see me sitting cross-legged eating food without a fork, knife or spoon. I had learned that much at least back in London, along with eating only with my right hand. He took me to a room I rented for two nights at a church. The next day was a long one, but good. I had breakfast with a family of a mutual friend and then he and I went to the Gandhi Ashram. It was a peaceful, simple and quiet place next to the river. After reading Freedom at Midnight, I knew much more about this unique, seemingly frail man who has shaped so much of India. I think he would like the ashram as it is. We left to Maninagar and saw the huge Swaminarayan mundir before arriving in the slum area that he has invested so much time in. We entered a small house and over 30 people gathered. We sang bhajans, I shared about what I’m doing in London and we prayed. Even out of their poverty they offered me lunch; I was honoured. While they were cooking I visited many families and prayed with them. All of them gave me water and chai (tea) so that my stomach was already pretty full by lunch. As I walked through the slum, I saw many people making incense to sell and doing handcrafts. Two girls I met were around eight years old and stitching small mirrors into cloth. It was beautiful but they would receive two rupees for their work though it would be sold in Delhi for about 100. After lunch, we went outside the city to a village. His brother lives there and parents are staying them briefly. He showed me around and introduced me to people. He has met and prayed with all the families there, around 35. It was great to see his passion to serve that community. We hopped on his bike and explored to local bazaar. Going through a city’s market is a great way to get to know the ethos of a place. I was looking specifically for a watch, since I didn’t own one and needed one. I searched for a small earring and drew a picture of what I wanted but no one had it. Many shop owners were surprised to have such a picky buyer. Afterwards we drove back, had dinner and got some sleep. The weather was in the 40s, normally people take a nap so he was shocked when he saw me still energized through the heat. Early the next morning he drove me to the airport and I took off to Delhi. There was a ton I did not see in Ahmedabad, it would have been nice to stay one more day.

Rajkot

2009-05-01T22:18:00.004+01:00

I have a good friend in London who has been here about two years. When I told him I was going to Gujarat, he quickly suggested I see his family. A mutual friend had gone out for his brother and sister’s wedding last year, so I had already heard a bit about the family. Thankfully his brother speaks English very well. It was admittedly intimidating travelling around trying to translate Hindi and Gujarati script. His brother took me back to his house, I met his sister and parents, had tea and then we went out to the city. His cousins joined us on their motorcycles. We went to the zoo, saw the dam, fed some pelicans and got some local food. It was nice to talk with them. Meeting a friend’s family and friends always allows you to get a fuller picture for who he is. They told me stories of him growing up and little habits. It felt good to laugh with them. They took me to one of the major temples, we entered, sat for a while and then left. Each temple I’ve been to has been different in some way. That may sound obvious but it reinforces the diversity within Hinduism. Being in India, the heartland, I paid more attention to the details and being an outsider allowed me to ask questions more freely. After the temple, his brother and I went shopping for a kurta, which was harder than we thoughts since places were closing. I ended up finding nice, cheap yellow short kurta.

We came back late, I met his cousins family and had dinner around 11:00. We had some sugarcane juice and relaxed on their roof. The next morning I enjoyed learning to play cricket. Seeing that England has such a bad team, it was a good thing to learn from Indians. Cricket is by far the most popular sport. Throughout my time there I saw kids playing by whatever means necessary. I saw kids use rolled up paper for a ball, a branch for a bat, bricks for the stumps in dirt patches, rooftops, market streets, ghats…it reminded me of how desperate kids in Mexico were to play football. I had fun bowling, fielding, batting in their front yard. Though I’ve played baseball, cricket has a different technique. Anyways, after lunch he took me to the station and coordinated with my friend in Ahmedabad. I am so glad I only had a backpack this whole time, it made me a lot more mobile.

Jamnagar

2009-05-01T21:47:00.007+01:00

I live with an Indian family in London and two of their children attend the youth club I run so when I told them about going to India, they were excited to coordinate with me to see their family in Jamnagar. Another kid in the youth club who lives on my street has family there and I met his older cousin at a restaurant while he was completing a masters degree here. I know it sounds like small connections to base a trip off of in a foreign country knowing hardly any Gujarati, but I went for it. This older cousin picked me up from the airport and took me around to see all the family members.

The city is very different than Mumbai. It is pretty quiet, small and less developed-I actually enjoyed how peaceful in seemed in contrast to the noisy, busy big city. One of the cousins who spoke some English took me around that afternoon to see the sites. We went to see Lakhota Palace in the middle of Ranmal Lake. It was very dry but come August it will be very full. The palace itself has been under renovation for years. Just nearby is Bala Hanuman temple which has had 24 hour chanting since 1964, a world record. We visited a beautiful Jain Temple with intricate carvings and art inside and out. Just across the street I had my first experience bartering/bargaining in India. It isn’t much different than in other parts of the world. I am still white and they still demand a much higher price as a result. I found a nice green bandhani silk saree. Bandhani is a unique style of tying and dyeing pieces of cotton or silk to make dots or other shapes in cloth. He started the price at Rs. 1200, I ended up getting it and two bottles of Pepsi for 800.
I loved meeting the families, telling them how their families were doing back in London. They were really interested in what I was doing there and glad to help me with some Gujarati. I know some sentences and the alphabet since I found a tutor one week before coming. So I can read and write but my vocabulary is horrible. Since I sing bhajans in Gujarati and Hindi I at least had a jump on the pronunciation. Every family welcomed me so warmly. I had brought gifts from their families in London, and they in turn had some for me to bring back to London. Half of my backpack was gifts!
Gujarati food is sweet and my favourite is malpua, like a sweet roti. The mango is in season, so I loved it. I was so full but everything tasted so good I wish I had a bigger stomach. I am pretty sure I gained 5-8kg. While I was riding around on the motorbikes with the cousins, we stopped for chai and pan (tobacco and some nuts rolled up in a leaf). With no signals, few lights and cows and dogs in the roads, you needed to honk at each intersection. Being with the families, visiting their shops and favourite places was a wonderful way to see the city.

The following morning my friend who studied in London showed me his factory. About 70-80 people work there processing metal in parts for residential and commercial electric bases. (He’ll have to help me out with remembering the details.) Sadly I didn’t have my camera with me at the time. He introduced me to the engineers, more cousins and other workers. They start by melting the brass into small but heavy bars. From there they polish, cut, shave, and drill into all sorts of part that will be packed and shipped all over India. They are also beginning to do business in Europe. It is a pretty big industry. Jamnagar is known for its metalworking, and I know hardly anything about metal so I can’t describe this very well. What I do know is that it is an intricate process that is eased by being able to purchase machines to save time and your back. After the tour, he took me to my bus. I was very thankful to have him arrange transportation for me and coordinate with my friend in Rajkot.

Mumbai

2009-04-30T22:32:00.007+01:00

Upon hearing the word “Mumbai” you might immediately think of Slumdog Millionaire. As my plane approached the ground I did see several slums but no kids were playing cricket on the tarmac. It is the economic and entertainment capital of India. It is a city of contrasts with amazing wealth and poverty. It is also very diverse with people from all over the country and institutions recognized around the world. It is hard to think of an equivalent city.

Well I did not see all the tourists spots, go to the beach or even stay in a hotel. I did something better-I stayed in the homes of local people hearing and seeing their involvement with various projects and work in the city.
Saturday I met with a couple who are doctors operating an HIV clinic in Thane. The husband took me through a PowerPoint summarizing their work and some of the main issues they struggle with. I was privileged to join in a staff meeting that afternoon hearing about some of the families, facility needs, and ideas for connecting with the larger medical community. The shame associated with HIV and view that God is judging them keeps many people from reaching out to these people. It can be overwhelming to holistically address these patients since there are also relational and psychological wounds. Their program and these doctors are well respected in the community and there are some opportunities for partnership with a local hospital.
Sunday evening I stayed with a family who have a passion to serve the community around them yet strive to call others to serve with them. They are Christians and though Jesus calls them to visibly love those around them, it is difficult to convince others to step out of their comfort zone. I had a good conversation with their oldest son about ways youth might be able to get involved in even small ways to make a difference. Education is a huge problem and he has a close friend who teaches children from the slums and connects them with a local government school for further education. Their younger son is applying to do grad work in counselling. There are hardly any counselors in Mumbai but with the mounting pressure on students and employees along with natural strain from being a congested city, there is a huge need. The number of suicide attempts in the city is staggering.
Monday I met with an agency involved with forced prostitution and the legal prosecution of the perpetrators. They have a tough job and nothing is simple, quick and straightforward. The girls want to make a living, the owners want money, and the authorities can sometimes be bribed to let things slide. Even when they finally coordinate with the authorities to make a move and rescue the girls, the girls do not always want to leave their previous life. The legal prosecutors face threats and physical danger from others for taking away someone’s business. The aftercare workers also have a difficult task in helping these girls deal with the abuse, their own identity and worth, and their transition and acceptance back into regular society. The government provides meagre supplies for living causing most to want to return to prostitution. There are so few counsellors and even fewer who have any experience with the trauma of prostitution. In spite of all this, it was encouraging to hear of all the women who have been saved, learned a skill, and become wives and mothers.
Our charity shop, ASHA, is small but growing and we love to support projects addressing education, healthcare and local handcrafts. I definitely think that those I met in Mumbai working with HIV, education in the slums and forced prostitution would be worth supporting.

Off to India!

2009-04-30T22:17:00.003+01:00

I went to India for two main reasons. One is cultural exposure. If I am living in a community dominated by people from India, going to their country will definitely help me understand them better. The second is to check in on charities and projects our charity shop ASHA supports and visit others we may support in the future. I will have a variety of posts to make; I had bad internet connection while there so I am catching up now.
I left Friday the 10th to Mumbai landing Saturday afternoon with one backpack. I left by plane from there to Jamnagar Tuesday morning, took a bus to Rajkot the following afternoon and another bus to Ahmedabad the next afternoon. I flew from there Saturday morning to Delhi to meet up with two friends. We left Delhi that night by train to Ferozpur. Monday we took a cab to Amritsar and a train back to Delhi. Thursday I took a day trip to see the Taj Mahal in Agra. Friday I flew to Varanasi and returned to Delhi Monday morning. I flew back to London at 2 the next day. 18 days. So if you want to break out a map here are the cities in order: Mumbai(Bombay), Jamnagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Ferozpur, Amritsar, Delhi, Agra, Delhi, Varanasi, Delhi, London.

more than a lost bag

2009-04-30T22:12:00.001+01:00

March 30th at 10:35pm I received unexpected phone call from my friend. He asked what was in my backpack and how much it was worth because his care was just broken into. Someone smashed his back window, took his GPS system, ipod, some personal items and my backpack. Quickly I tried to recall what was in it of importance, thankfully not any wallet or passport. The backpack itself and my ipod were the most expensive things I lost-around £80. I mainly focused on how he was, especially since he was getting married 5 days later-horrible timing!

It wasn’t until the next morning that I realized all that I had lost; it was more than a bag and its contents. The biggest loss was my journal from the last 6 months, something I had hoped to look back on years from now. It was filled with memories and reflections on my time in London-names of new friends, observations of a new community, a log of ideas and desires, notes of new tastes, words and sounds, a testimony of solace within transition. I had a small hand-sized journal of personal writing, collected notes and favourite quotes of friends, authors, heroes-people who have shaped how I see the world and myself. Only some of them did I record elsewhere. I had Belgian chocolate to give away-Cote D’Or. I had one tiny chocolate from Leonidas I had kept from my last day in Belgium from a café, a Belgian lager, an ipod given by a friend from the states, an 8GB USB that held 100s of documents and articles of different subjects, my small print leather-bound Bible. Its worn cover, battered pages and penned in comments gave its own history. Then there were random items I habitually had in there: athletic tape, penknife, sharpie, paper, notes, and water bottle. Most obvious is the backpack itself. I won it in a six mile trail race on Signal Mtn, TN, USA March 2005 by getting 3rd place after wrenching my ankle the first mile on a rock. I stubbornly ran on after stopping a few minutes. It was not a smart thing to do. I hobbled around with an ice pack the rest of the day. It was a nice trail pack that I would never let myself buy but I loved. I used it all the time with my nomadic lifestyle. I took it to 5 countries, backpacking up mountains, canoing across rivers, running/hiking through forests…it didn’t look very good but it held a lot of memories. And now it is gone. I couldn’t even post a photo of it here since I never took one. I know all of this sounds ridiculous but I thought I’d share. I’m not creative enough to make this sound like a eulogy but maybe you’ll see that this is about more than a lost bag.

Belgium

2009-03-27T15:00:00.010Z

It was a bit last minute but I went to Belgium last weekend, Friday morning through Monday afternoon. Everyone I met there said I had perfect timing since the sun was out almost the entire time I was there! Leaving at 6am on the train to Brussels meant that it was still dark outside and going through the Chunnel didn't seem as momentous. I actually didn't even pay attention to went we "went under". I had arranged with friends of my parents to meet them upon my arrival, having never met them though, I was banking on my childhood recollection of their photo on my fridge. Thankfully we spotted each other; otherwise the weekend would have been quite different! In Harrow, I am used to hearing Gujerati, Hindi, and Polish which was a contrast from the French, Flemish and Dutch I heard in Belgium.
We enjoyed a full breakfast with lots of bread, which I loved. They showed me around a bit of center city giving a summary of its history and recent changes in demographics with immigration and Brussels' position in the EU. It is always nice to be shown around by locals. We went back into town that night, ate at a Greek restaurant and walked to the Grand Place to see the magnificent medieval constructions. I loved the atmosphere given by having only foot traffic, small shops and a cool clear night.

Saturday I woke up early and played tennis with two guys and had coffee afterwards. It was on clay, which was definitely different than I was used to but I am so bad anyways it did not legitimately mess with "my game". We decided to go to Bruges, known as the Venice of the North. It was another beautiful day and we decided to explore the canals. The architecture is amazing! I went up the immense 13th c. belfry with over 45 bells constructed to play various songs (view photos of the weird, massive wheel). The Beguinage was exceptionally attractive with their flowers in bloom and the stream running through the main square.

The next day they introduced me to some friends in Ghent. The city has a rich history like Bruges but unlike Bruges it has a local community which gives it more life and present cultural colour. We were blessed with sunshine again but the wind was still chilly. It was in Ghent that I bought my first Belgian waffle. We were passing by on the street and I could smell it, hmm. They put small bits of sugar in with the batter so that it crystalized when heated. I lack the vocabulary to describe what a large, warm, and sweet Belgian waffle tastes like so use your imagination. The last highlight of the day was having drinks together on a terrace looking out towards a cobblestone square between two cathedrals. The sun went down and it got cold quickly.

My last day, I had breakfast at the Cafe Metropole in the most famous hotel in Brussels. It was expensive but worth it, plus I got to explore the hotel without paying. After two busy days, i enjoyed slowing down. I went to a local grocery store, bought some waffles to take home and chocolate-Cote d'Or. Knowing that I love bread, when I saw a shop selling varieties of olive oil from around the world I couldn't resist going in. After several different tastes, it turns out that I like Moulin Des Penitents-Andre Pinatel from AOC Haute-Provence, France the best. I couldn't afford their smallest quantity but it is good to know. As for beer, there were over 250 to choose from in one shop, most of them mixing in fruit of some kind. I grabbed a few of the non-fruit kind-Chiray, Leffe and Duval. I normally don't treat myself to these kind of luxuries, but "when in Belgium" (an abuse of a "when in Rome" I admit, which my brother at least will catch a reference to something else). I explored some chocolate shops but was rather selective with my purchases. I found the most famous statue in Brussels dedicated to the boy who according to legend put out a fire that threatened to burn down the palace. Every time a foreign diplomat comes to Brussels, they need to dress him in new clothes. The old outfits have been kept to be viewed, the most valued second hand clothing I know of in the world! I had a pint of Krab, the local Belgian beer of the month at a pub across from the statue-evidently every beer has its own distinct glass.
I know I've skimmed through the weekend and probably focused on things that others would not have but I enjoyed the weekend. The main highlight was meeting and making friends with my parents' friends there, hearing and sharing stories over the last 24 yrs. It was well worth the trip and we hope to see each other again. Well, that was my fully loaded weekend!

Happy Holi!

2009-03-16T11:42:00.006Z

Last Tuesday, I went with a friend to Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colours, which celebrates the coming of spring and the conquering of good over evil by throwing colors on each other. It was the night before, so they had a bonfire with coconuts inside reminding them of the story surrounding the occasion. I wasn't sure what to expect, and being one of the only non-Indians and knowing only one person made me hesitant to get involved. My friend and I bought some bags of coloured powder, which is supposed to be washable, and went outside. People put a little of the colour in their palm and smeared it on someone's face saying "happy holi!" I was curious to see how orderly this colouring of each other would be. Having orange thrown into my face by a nine year old confirmed that I welcome to join in the fun. It resembled kids running around chasing each other in a waterfight, but with coloured powder instead. I joined in tossing, rubbing colours on anyone and everyone while also getting colours in my ears, eyes, mouth, on my neck, anywhere that was penetrable. I enjoyed meeting new people, making new friends and seeing all the colours and smiles in a city that is normally dark and melancholy, especially in the winter.
Last night, I went with some famiies from the youth clubs I run to a larger celebration and thankfully still had the clothes I used previously. This time it got more messy but it was nice to have a posse to celebrate the experience with. It took more than one shower but I did eventually get all the colours out! They told me it is crazy in India with waterguns and thousands of people; too bad I'll miss it by only a few weeks when I go.

Happy Birthday!

2009-03-16T11:31:00.007Z

While I moved into a new home to celebrate my birthday, my triplet brother and sister entered Disneyland to celebrate theirs. Yet despite being separated by thousands of miles, we both shared adventures. For eight years my birthday fell on spring break, so I developed a habit of not really planning much for it. I was thankful to have others here initiate a night out with friends for pizza and complimentary tiramisu! My birthday morning, Monday the 9th, was a beautiful day and I thought it would be amazing to go to the countryside for a drive. Having no car, I was overjoyed when I received a call from a couple here who offered to take me for a spin and out for lunch at a pub! It was nice to get out of the city, see the country, drive down narrow, hedged in roads, see old churches and towns, farms, animals, SPACE. We found an old pub, with dark lagers and savoury meals. What a birthday treat!

ASHA Anniversary

2009-03-08T01:27:00.007Z

Last Saturday, the charity shop I work at, ASHA (meaning "hope"), celebrated their 2nd year anniversary! We cleared out the front room, put on some mats and chairs, and brought Indian snacks and drinks to welcome over 70 people: customers, neighbor shop owners, and volunteers. The shop was closed but we still had several new people join in. I loved seeing everyone connect and tell their stories. We sang bhajans, heard more details about the specific charities we support and had a few prayers of thanksgiving.

I will be going to India next month and will visit some of the charities we support in heathcare, education and small enterprise. I'll soak up as much of that trip as I can and fill in more about the work going on. As far as the details of my journeys, I am still working on that. I have been told it will be very hot, which is completely fine with me considering how cold it is here! Being able to visit India and have a story of my own will help me connect even more with charity efforts like those at ASHA. There is beautiful traditional clothing but mostly for women, I hope to find something for my sisters and mum.

Art week!

2009-03-08T01:12:00.007Z

The youth clubs I help run in Kenton and New Life Suwarta Sangat(http://www.nlss.org.uk/) hosted a kids half-term arts week February 18-21. Over 45 kids came! They were ages 6-12, divided younger and older. A team of eleven people came from California with all the art and craft supplies. With their help plus a number of kids from the community, the week was a huge success. Each day we did arts and crafts from 9:30-12:00 with a snack break. We then gathered in the front room to hear a story or teaching about God the Creator and sang songs together from 12:00-12:30.
The kids were so excited to come each day and several parents said they got up early to make sure they arrived on time! Many of the volunteers were older youth I've come to know in the community. We also had a few parents join us. Everyone learned a song about the virtues of life called “Rappin Fruit” which also related to a series of sketches performed each day. On the last night, we had a slideshow of photographs for all the parents to see. We shared a big meal afterwards and viewed all the projects from the previous 4 days. It was a joyful time to connect with the families and meet new people. All of them wanted to know when the next kids week would be. It won't be until late July; we hope to see many of them return.

Haircut

2009-03-07T21:30:00.002Z

I readily admit that making a post about a haircut seems ridiculous, especially being a guy. The fact is that I've had quite the experience thus far in London and wanted to share it. I am 23, my mom, sister and friends have always cut my hair. I found a voucher for a free haircut at a high-class salon in London-Vidal Sassoon. My hair was about 7 inches long and getting ridiculous and thought I'd see what a student might do with the "bush".
For my first haircut (pic 1) I am very glad I brought a book. I was there for 3 hours. I read a good portion of the book, I have no idea how people do this on a regular basis! None of the students wanted to tackle the beast, and the one who ended up with me was dumbfounded in where to begin. They asked what my feeling and philosophy was for my hair, the words "butcher" and "tame" are not words artsy barbers hear often. Supposedly I was getting a new "shape" to my hair. You know you get bored when you actually decide to follow the process of a haircut, kind of like knowing the exact process of a teeth cleaning. Well 3-4 inches later I was actually pretty happy with my haircut (picture 1). The only "shape" that was attained though was square-hard to judge curly hair I guess.

6 weeks later i got a free voucher at Vidal Sassoon from students focusing on guys' hair. I decided to go for it and be willing to go with whatever they did. I had a good book again, and somehow landed a Japanese student and her translator. It amazes me all the language, strategy, methods they have for a simple cut. 90min in, with just the top left to cut I quickly realized they were not planning on cutting the top at all. I had instructed them that I wouldn't mind it being longer than the sides. Look at the second photo, I am not sure what they call this type of cut. I had to hold back my laughter! yes there is an "optional part". I wouldn't have minded a mohawk but ended up with a Kramer look. And worse than that, they had cut irregularly in the front. The student was extremely grateful for me being patient and cheerful; it had made her more relaxed. I was her first client in her time in the UK. That, plus not having more time for a "fix-up", made me decide to just live with it. Despite thinking I looked ridiculous, i was bold and confidently walked around London that afternoon but late that night I gave in and cut the rest of it myself, resulting in picture 3.

OVERALL my mother, sister and friends have done a better job with my hair...but maybe that's b/c they never felt burdened with the "transformation" and creation of a style. I won't need a cut until mid-summer and the saying is probably true: the difference between a good and bad haircut is two weeks.

Picture 1-first haircut 2-the experiment 3-the resolution

Snow Day!

2009-02-08T23:52:00.008Z

Last Monday London received the most snow since 1990, 4-5 inches! It sounds pathetic i know but the whole city was transformed. Few people went into work since the roads were "impassable" and public transport was closed for most the day. Kids rejoiced to be off from school and teachers no doubt appreciated an extended weekend. My flatmates and I enjoyed a leisurely morning inside with hot drinks and warm food. One of them, out of sheer determination and goodwill, walked 3 miles to the nearest operating bus station in order to work at the hotel! most people stayed close to home or hibernated.
I ventured out on my bicycle, which sounds either brave or foolish but I suppose it was a pure temptation of "man v. nature"- I won (meaning I did not fall or freeze I suppose) There were several kids who threw snowballs at me but thankfully they had bad aim. The parks were filled with people, especially in central London! I helped build some snowmen and explored other creations. I must admit that the snowman I am with in the photo was not made by me but by some neighborhood kids from my youth club.
It snowed off and on the rest of the week, which I actually enjoyed despite the difficulty on my bike, having mountain bike tires helped. I was happy to get some snow, I had been rather envious of Seattle getting some over the Christmas holidays. After growing up there I know what a treat/mess that must have been. For now, the rains have returned in London and I am longing for spring to come.

Speaking English

2009-02-02T11:33:00.006Z

George Bernard Shaw expressed it this way: "England and America are two countries separated by a common language" When I first arrived here, I had thought of adopting an English accent. Within 10 minutes I gave up. Though there is a certainly an accent distinguishable from Australia, America, New Zealand, etc., there is not one English accent. In four months I have identified several different native accents. And of course each immigrant brings in their own flair and adaptation. One of the major signs of being a foreigner is now simply how you say something, but what you say-your vocabulary. Most languages function this way, difference in sounds and words: Spanish in Spain and Spanish in Mexico, English here and the US, etc. but what is amazing is to see the variety within a country or region: southern France, northern France. Though this all might seem obvious, it is easy to forget, especially when you come in speaking the same language.
Actors know all too well that accents are not everything. A simple accent and phrase here or there might earn you some points, but your delivery will be seen as mere imitation until you learn and adopt new vocabulary. I have some theories about why British actors find it easier to adopt an American accent than Americans a British one, but i'll stop that tangential stream here.
Accents in general are fascinating to consider. Urban areas tend to speak faster than rural areas, with some natural consequences. For example the slow "drawl" or "twang" heard in the southern states compared to the speed of Washington DC; or the more open, round tone of the Australian Outback compared to Sydney. I don't think it unfair to read something into the values this reveals in each community.
I am still learning to distinguish the various regional accents, helpfully shown in the graphic here. As I get out of London more, i hope to hear and identify these however feebly. Disclaimer: I am not a linguist, never have been and completely fulfill the stereotype of Americans being monolingual. I am surrounded by the South Asian community, so when I speak on my experience with "English, English" it is limited. When I travel, I tend to be a silent observer and catch things occasionally people watching. This list could obviously be huge but I thought I'd just include a portion of the things I've noted thus far, and admit "off the bat" that most of these are not set in stone but simply perceptions I have:
(USA-English)
food:take out/to go-take away, check-bill, dessert-pudding or sweet, fries-chips, chips-crisps, candy-sweets, cookies-biscuits (sweet), crackers-biscuits (savory), roast-joint
around home: yard-garden, window-glass, coach-sofa/settee, flashlight-torch, trash-rubbish,
grocery store-market: toilet paper-toilet roll, paper towel-kitchen roll
clothing: pants-trousers, sweater-jumper,
around town: line-queue, friend-mate, cell phone-mobile, sidewalk-pavement, billboard-poster,
car: trunk-boot, hood-bonnet, windshield-windscreen, gas-petrol, yield-give way, detour-diversion, parking lot-car park, 2 way street-dual carriageway, highway/turnpike-motorway, fat tire(tyre)-puncture
one i made up but some mates liked: sanitation engineer for rubbishman, "trashman"
misc: fired-made redundant, study-revision (to revise), doc's office-surgery, college-University (uni), resume-CV, field-pitch, soccer-football, game-match, restroom/bathroom-WC, loo, toilet, bog, garderobe (each has distinctions), napkin-serviette and excuse me-pardon are used but avoided with middle/upper class

pronunciation:
a in the middle of a word is often "ah"-tomahto, vahz, etc.
"z"-zed, "h"-HAYtch, vitamin-VITTamin
t,d-clear t, almost carried over to next syllable,or creating a new one "but-ter", God=Gah-t

emphasis:
weekEND, conTROversy, fruSTRATing,

general observations:
-upper class drop vowels so to write it out it would look like a text message, Birmingham-brmnhm, handkerchief-hnkrchf
-lower/working class drop their consonants, handkerchief-'ankercheef, kettle-ke'le
th-f, teeth-teef, thing-fing
ending/final g's become ks-everyfink, nuffink

normal English understatements:
beware!-mind
I hate it!-I find it unpleasant, uncomfortable,
horrible-not recommended, unfortunate
gory or disgusting-fairly graphic, slightly disturbing
when talking of people, "very" is excusable but "rather" is preferred all around

general rules:
-crunch your words
-"z" is suffixes are "s"-realised, idealised
-a "c" between 3 vowels is eliminated- leicester-lester, gloucester-gloster
-w following a consonant and leading a second syllable is often eliminated-warwick, chiswick
-old English places adjectives after nouns or pronouns-park royal, river thames

Culinary Creations

2009-01-23T14:55:00.003Z

I've been cooking for myself for a few years now but am not a great chef. Being a guy, not much is expected but I actually want to challenge myself this year to attempt a new dish at least once a week. I enjoy cooking, even during my studies it was a relaxing break in my day. I miss hosting people and cooking in larger quantities. It is hard to be motivated when I share a small refrigerator and am cooking for one. I tend to stick with what i know. Moving here I was excited about making Indian food, shopping in markets, and learning new recipes but there are many reasons/excuses that have kept me from experimenting. Nonetheless, I told myself each week I would pick a dish, get the ingredients and try it out. So far, so good but then again I'm the only one eating it!
I have not worked from a recipe yet. I kind of explore what's on sale and develop something as go. I first made spaghetti with minced beef, onion, garlic, black pepper, coriander, oregano, mushrooms, tomato sauce served with a light salad, sourdough bread and red wine. I like the sauce a little heavier and spicier than most. Last week I tried stir fry: strips of chicken, red and green bell peppers, rice, egg noodles, ginger, carrots, onions and soy sauce. I was clearing out my frig and it all came together ok! This last week, I made small burritos, or soft tacos or whatever you want to call them. (poorly photographed here) chili sauce cooked into the ground beef, onion, refried beans, cheese, lettuce, some peppers and tomatoes.
When I eat, I hate being rushed, especially with good food. I remember debating with friends whether cooking was art or science, i probably need a bit of both. I am embarrased by how hard it has been to transfer to the metric measuring system. Anyways, if you have any suggestions, critique, or ideas let me know! I normally avoid resolutions but I thought this would be a worthy one to make. Don't worry, I won't be making a post about each one;)

A New Year Rolls On

2009-01-14T11:45:00.009Z

1000s of people flocked into central London to bring in 2009, standing outside for hours in the cold to celebrate and watch fireworks from the London Eye-I was not one of them. I was nice and warm inside a house nearby with a couple families from the youth clubs learning new card games and playing Nintendo Wii! I joined in some other festivities New Year's Day with more friends but no bike trip into London:) It was great to catch up with friends back in the States the next few days, hear about their resolutions and recent transitions and share about my own.

It is the 14th already! I am sorry for not posting yet. I've been shuffling different responsibilities and projects but it has been nice to have time to grab a book, make some coffee and chill. I finished Freedom at Midnight on the partition of India. It was very well written and though it is non-fiction, it reads like a novel. After exploring several bookstores, mainly on Tottenham Court Road, I gave into Borders 3 for 2 deal: Roots, The Shack and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Public transportation can take a long, long time so I always try to have a book with me. I read The Shack last week, a NY Times Bestseller people have been recommending to me. It is a quick, curious and powerful read. A Thousand Splendid Suns is next, it has been out a while and highly recommended. Last Thursday, when I bought these books, I explored Hyde Park. It wasn't a particularly beautiful day but it wasn't raining at least. I was surprised to be surrounded by about 20 swans at one point. I admit that it was intimidating to have them flock to me when I reached the lakeside. Though it is in the middle of the city, the size and layout of the park makes you feel like you're actually escaping it. And yes, like any tourist, I visited the statue of Peter Pan.

Monday it was a windy, rainy "unpleasant" day as they'd say here. For lunch I went with some friends to St. Albans, originally Verulanium, a Roman settlement north of their capital London. We visited the cathedral which holds the remains of St. Alban the first Christian martyr in Britain. I visited their museum and it is stocked full of artifacts they've escavated and are still finding. I had bangers and mash and a Czech lager at possibly the oldest pub in England, the the biggest portions but probably the tastiest meal in a pub yet! The building dates back to 1400. Their name came from hosting cockfights in the 17 and 18th centuries. The place is full of stories! It still amazes me to be surrounded by so much history. All of this was about 30 minutes away.

photos: the frozen Serpentine, swan bathing, birds surrounding someone else at the Round Pond, St. Alban's Cathedral, reputedly the oldest public house in Britain

brief holiday away

2008-12-31T02:11:00.006Z

Monday I took a one day holiday via coach (bus) to see Salisbury, Stonehenge and Bath. It was a long day and I didn't get to see everything of course but it was worth it. There is so much history in those places! Stonehenge was impressive but it would have been more so if I could get closer than 25 yds! (just to add some clarity to my "impressive" claim-it basically is a pile of rocks out in the middle of nowhere. What impressed me was the determination people must have had to bring rocks with them and travel a long ways to make a pile. I remember carrying legos around building forts in different rooms in the house but that doesn't really compare)
Salisbury Cathedral recently celebrated its 750th birthday! They added a huge spire to it later without adding to the foundation-little to say problems developed:) Evidentally you can still climb the scaffolding to the top. I saw the Magna Carta as well, the best copy in existence but I can't read Latin anyways. I explored the city and managed to have time to stop at a bakery for a croissant. There were a variety of old structures and pubs in the city, dating back centuries.
In Bath, I spent most of my time at the Roman baths. I've been to some hotsprings in the States but they didn't compare:) Though it is kind of sick to be thinking how old the water is, it is cool at the same time to realise the long, long history of travelers coming to see them. I briefly ran around the city and barely made it back in time to catch my ride back into London! I definitely would like to return to Bath, though when it is warmer. The whole day it averaged 1 degree celsius! There is much more I could say but definitely check out "my photos" link.

a very merry Christmas

2008-12-30T23:10:00.011Z

Christmas Eve afternoon I went down to hear the "Service of Lessons and Carols" at Westminster Abbey. I had two wait in the queue (line) for about 2 hrs before getting a seat but it was worth it to be two rows from the choir. It was a brilliant performance and I loved that they had the audience sing along for a few familiar songs. Other being concerned about time, I am not sure why they only did 6 lessons instead of the regular 9. After the service, I had dinner with two other families. It was a very English dinner with turkey and stuffing, minced pie, malt wine and Christmas pudding. I loved opening up our bag of wrapped treats, it was almost like having stockings!

Christmas morning I woke up at 6am and rode into central London. It was dark and cold but thankfully it only took about 40 minutes to get to Hyde Park and then I spent about an hour cycling around London. Yes I know this sounds like an odd thing to do for a Christmas morning but it is very rare to have no cars around and have no public transportation running. I got to see the city lights and zoom through major intersections ignoring lights and signs:) I went back to my flat and brought my gifts and cards over to another family's house. We opened our gifts together. I loved being with their kids, a boy and girl, 5 and 3 respectively. They provide the cheer needed on an otherwise gloomy Christmas to get into the spirit. I was given enough sweets to last me a long time, let's hope my teeth last!
that afternoon I rode over to another family's house and enjoyed hearing the kids tell me all about Christmas and what they received. I helped prepare some food for the amazing meal that night. It was a long fun night of eating, singing Christmas songs, playing games, hearing stories and riddles. It was so nice to be invited by so many people to join them in their celebrations, especially since I'm new and away from other friends and family. After biking home that night, I was tired but thankful for a very merry Christmas-plus having Boxing Day following just after was a new treat!
pics: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, Millennium Bridge, Piccadilly Circus

Christmas Time

2008-12-22T10:47:00.015Z

Last week we had Christmas parties for the youth clubs I run with all sorts of games, prizes and small but much appreciated gifts for all. An older couple who helped introduced me to new games like pass the parcel and "crackers" with prizes inside. I've seen school plays, walked through the decorated streets, explored some open markets, heard carol singers at Trafalgar Square, attempted to go ice-skating with my friends but tickets were sold out, toured Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland. We've not had snow recently and in fact the weather has been pretty clear and even sunny at points-a relief as I'm bicyling around. Sorry for the long break in my posts, I'll try to be more faithful in the new year. Merry Christmas!

pics: Ciao's ice cream wonders in Leicester Square, sadly the closest we got to actually ice skating, rides in Hyde Park, Neal's Yard artsy area,

Bleak midwinter?

2008-12-21T13:07:00.004Z

Headlines these days are not presenting much Christmas cheer. Unemployment is at 9% in London, Woolsworth and other stores are closing, concerts are being canceled and even caroling nas been banned in certain areas, I and many others will not be with our families...it seems that "Happy Holidays" might appropiately reflect English irony. Many would easily admit that we all played a part in bringing to life an economical "Grinch" who is bent on stealing Christmas YET there is good evidence that the Whos are still going to celebrate. (Hopefully you realise that I am referencing Dr. Seuss' classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas) Of course the rough times have drawn out age old questions about the season, what we're actually celebrating and why, and then perhaps the answers we find will make our hearts painfully grow just like the Grinch's from being "two sizes too small". I for one will search out "whoville" this season-okay I've had my laughs!

ASHA

2008-12-05T23:56:00.007Z

ASHA, meaning "HOPE" in Hindu/Gujarati, is an Asian themed charity shop that I work at, visit and read in a few days a week. When I'm out on my bicycle, it is nice to stop in to see familiar staff, volunteers, and customers and have some chai tea. The last few weeks I've enjoyed having more time to talk with the customers, hear about their families and work alongside volunteers, most of them high school students, and discuss their classes, interests, and answering questions about life in the States. We're getting new books soon! We sell new and used adult & children's clothing, jewelry, bric-a-brac, books, music, DVDs. Besides the occasional western clothing, I'm still learning the names of some clothing (Sarees, Punjabi suits, kurtas, paijamas) b/c several items have 3-4 different names! As a charity, ASHA supports projects in India and East Africa:
Sugandh--Education for children living in extreme poverty (India)
Dorcas--Women's Development Society (India)
Sahara--Women's shelter and job training (India)
E.H.A.--Hospoital association providing healthcare in many rural areas (India)
Christ's School--educational institution in rural Western Uganda (East Africa)

ASHA has been a unique and joyful place to serve the community and meet new people. I just wanted to give a bit of a summary so you know what I'm referring to from now on:)

Wicked!

2008-11-28T10:36:00.000Z

It is easy to experience London's fine arts b/c of all the free museums and galleries. I've certainly had enough of those for a while. Enjoying London's performing arts demands more intentionality. About a month ago I heard the UK Premier of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom Phantasia" in the O2 Building-can't beat free tickets. As far as musicals, there are almost too many options. Wicked is one of the newer ones, 2003, based on a parallel novel of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Its story intrigued me and I had heard such positive feedback about it, I was afraid it wouldn't meet my expectations. Well Tuesday night I saw it at the Apollo Theatre with some friends-it blew me away! The singing was amazing, the acting pulled you into the story, the stage and costume designs were so intricate... it was truly a sensesational performace. My favorite song was Elphaba's "Defying Gravity". Les Miserables is next on the list, probably in the spring. I've heard the Nine Lessons and Carols at Westminster Abbey Christmas Eve is fantastic but I'll need to come early for a seat. I'll keep you all posted on how these turn out!

trip to Oxford, and other experiences

2008-11-21T00:11:00.001Z

I visited some friends up in Oxford last weekend! It was a brief trip but well worth it. They showed me around the city, we got some good fish and chips and watched a late showing of the newest Bond movie. There is a ton of history to see and before leaving Sunday I grabbed some lunch and the Eagle and Child pub, where the Inklings met (CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien among others).
I forgot to mention but the week prior I went with the guys from our older youth club to a Liverpool v. Tottenham football match. It was a great first experience! We sat in the Tottenham section, so it was a good thing they won 4-2. We had sweet seats near the goal, cheered with the crowd, learn some new chants and joined 1000s with the long Tube ride home. I'll be leading both youth clubs for a few months, which includes running the indoor soccer matches that get pretty intense-no injuries so far.
I went to an Indian restaurant/nightclub with some friends last Thursday. I was used to the food but dancing to Bollywood music was new, I recognized a few of the songs. The place is normally packed but not that night so I stood out more. While I mention Bollywood, you all can be assured I've asked for personal of suggestions of what films to watch. They're definitely longer than American films and present a unique Indian perspective on similar themes. Thankfully they have English subtitles!

Christmas decorations went up the first week of November and the city is buzzing with holiday fever-they don't celebrate Thanksgiving here. I'll be having Thanksgiving with some other friends and am looking forward to some American football beforehand! I'm not quite sure what I'll be doing for Christmas yet.
*for recent photos check the link to flickr on the site, and for even more befriend me on facebook to see some albums:)

exploration!

2008-11-10T16:27:00.000Z

Every week I take a day or simply an afternoon to explore my neighborhood or other parts of London. Depending on the location, I'll take my bicycle with my lock, reflective gear and helmet since I've been warned about how hazardous cycling in London can be. It has been much quicker to get around this way but when I'm in central London I just take the Tube. There is so much to see and most places have free admission but I would like to get outside the city and see the countryside sometime soon. The weather has recently been very rainy and makes my bike rides less enjoyable...no accidents yet.
photos: 1. a canal path I found which was a nice change in terrain and scenery 2. a small chapel turned into a courtyard which almost completely hidden by other buildings in central London, me in front of my flat on a typical morning.

Fireworks!

2008-11-06T23:36:00.001Z

Diwali, the largest and most popular Indian festival, was celebrated with fireworks throughout the week. This fuzzy photo is from a celebration in Trafalgar Square (I had to jump for the shot, which is why it is poor quality) For the first time in 70 yrs, it snowed in the UK in October-the night just before Diwali. I was with some kids from the youth club who were pretty disappointed. The day of Diwali, Wednesday the 29th, I visited the Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden. Over 30,000 people passed through the doors of that Hindu temple. It was an amazing experience to see the intricate construction and hear more about Hinduism from those around me.

There were smaller celebrations within the next several days. Halloween is understood in many different ways but for myself, several young kids and some parents it meant spending time together having fun dressing up in costumes, carving pumpkins, playing games, and grabbing candy from a broken piñata! Guy Fawkes Day, Nov. 5th gave the Brits a reason to light fireworks as well. For over a week I had a fireworks display every night in our back alley-cheaper than me having to buy any!

a cosmopolitan slice of London

2008-11-03T13:12:00.000Z

I had originally hoped to find an Indian family to stay with but when the doors didn’t open (no pun intended), I was happy to find a comfortable flat close to the bus, tube and charity above a furnishing store with three guys last Thursday. The store is owned by a British man, who grew up locally and whose father opened the shop in 1938. He had some great stories to tell over tea about how the community has changed since then. Two of the guys I live with are from Romania, and the other is from Granada-all of them are well traveled. We had a barbeque with the flat two doors down, housing three girls and one guy from India, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic and Canada. Thankfully they all speak English, and well enough to have our conversations vary from politics and the economic crisis to Halloween.

Football

2008-11-03T13:05:00.000Z

You can always start a conversation mentioning football (soccer) here, especially the Premier League. I am a Chelsea fan, and through that choice I have many enemies. Most of the kids at our youth clubs support Arsenal or Liverpool so they’ve been trying to sway my allegiance. I was not able to follow the Premier League in the States much so I have enjoyed having it be a way of life here. I’ve played once a week with some of the older guys indoors and thankfully they already expected my poor performance by being American. I would prefer to be outside on a pitch but I have not yet found equipment, good weather, or enough people to make it worthwhile. It has been difficult to find any type of adult league for a mediocre player like me, but I’ll keep looking! I am excited about going to a match on the 12^th with some friends. For now, I am content to go to the local pub and watch bigger matches over a good meal and a pint.

navratri

2008-11-03T12:40:00.000Z

On Sunday night, the 5^th, I attended Navratri at the Harrow Leisure Center with two friends. Though this is primarily a spiritual ceremony, it seemed to provide a special social opportunity for reunion and interaction between Indian families and communities. I was one of the few non-Indians present but everyone was very welcoming and patient as I learned the dance steps for their garba and asked questions. The first thing that struck me upon entering the large room was all the colors. Though I had only been in London a few days, it seemed the usual colors for Brits were darker-black, brown, navy blue, etc. So when I saw all the bright colors and intricate designs of the sarees, kurtas, and other clothes, I felt like I walked into a rainbow! It was all very festive with friends coming together, families taking pictures and live music. While I was off to the side during the main prayer, an Indian explained to me what was being said and was being symbolized in the middle. We were there for a few hours so my feet were definitely sore the next day from dancing barefoot but it was worth the experience.