This is meant to keep record of my adventures moving and settling into a new city. Inspired by my friend Paula's blog about her move to Denmark, I want to share my feelings, impressions and anecdotes about living in a new place with friends and family.
I have one more week left in my essay writing course and while I have enjoyed the classes immensely, I have found the writing process challenging. As I sit down to write about meaningful episodes in my life, (with style and universal appeal) -I realize that I have been working through a fair number of dramatic issues and events over the last couple of years. Sometimes I feel like the stories are too gnarled to unravel -and I have trouble picking a starting point and pulling through on a single thread. My attempts are characterized by a lot of stops and starts and it has been frustrating. Our assignment for last week was to write a "This I Believe" essay. I did not know what this meant until I looked up the website: http://thisibelieve.org/ The following is lifted straight from the homepage: "This I Believe is an international project engaging people in writing and sharing essays describing the core values that guide their daily lives. Over 60,000 of these essays, written by people from all walks of life, are archived here on our website, heard on public radio, chronicled through our books and television programming, and featured in weekly podcasts. The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow." Contributors to the project range from Bill Gates and Muhammad Ali to the everyman or woman of middle America. I found the exercise of writing a "This I Believe" essay more manageable and rather satisfying as a value-clarification kind of exercise. My first "This I Believe" attempt was about Clash (as in debate, dissent, opposing ideas) and inspired by my frustration of censoring myself while living in Denmark.
In the days leading up to Halloween, Mallar and I began to notice that a number of our neighbours were erecting monstrous ghouls (grim reepers, skeletons, furries!?) and setting up other impressive engineering feats in preparation for the big night. As we inquired more about the extraordinary effort being put forth in our particular block (notorious for its displays, apparently) we were told that the woman just down the road from us had approx. 1200 trick or treaters last year. 1200! We had always planned to carve some jack-o-lanterns and give out candy but we had to go back to the store and stock up on more supplies in the face of the rumored traffic. Joining forces with our upstairs neighbors, we set up a good show in the end (skeleton, spiders, webbing, pumpkins, tombstone, creepy soundtrack) but it was really tame compared to the goings on a few doors down from us. The home-owners a few houses over were in full costume and character -and being very scary. There were open flames on torches, smoke, big pots of potions brewing, skeletons sliding down pulleys to scare you, the whole works. It was madness. Our house became a de facto "safe zone" for younger children who were knee-knocking terrified of the goings-on down the road. wild...
Last night I attended my final Michael Jackson dance class for the crowd-pleasing Thriller choreography. The 4-week course also covered Beat It, The Way You Make Me Feel, and Bad. The MJ class is another one of Century Ballroom's offerings (I took the Beyoncé Single Ladies class with them as well). I have to say that I love the idea of tribute-style dance classes. I only wish that Century Ballroom would limit the number of participants attending any one session. It's rather annoying to always be struggling to see the demos and to have to restrain arm movements lest a neighboring someone loses an eye. It's also rather fast learning too. Basically we are learning each choreography in one hour and a half sessions. I am realizing some interesting things about my learning style/preferences as I take these kinds of courses. My dance background is really informal -so while I have devised or been a part of numerous choreographies in my younger years (and even as a teacher, actually -lol) I don't count the same way as formal dancers do. Learning steps for me has always been to the music. You know, "so let's do the running man until this lyric/beat/break and then into the jazz splits...". The moves were always cued with music. Learning these choreographies to counts of 8 and in different tempos is really foreign to me. I feel as though when it comes to body movements (sports as well as dance) I am much more holistic in the way I learn. I guess I am a "right brain" dancer. lol. For kicks and giggles -here is a group of prison inmates in the Philippines doing Thriller:
Today is "Columbus Day" -an American federal holiday marking Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World over 500 years ago. It is a strange commemoration in many ways as some Americans celebrate it as an anniversary of the European "discovery" of America and others lament it as the onset of a period of exploitation, slavery and outright genocide of the indigenous peoples (who of course, were not the "Indians" Columbus believed them to be). At the extreme right are people like Michael Berliner (of Ayn Rand Institute) who hails the event as a time when Western civilization brought "reason, science, self-reliance, individualism, ambition, and productive achievement” to a people who were based in “primitivism, mysticism, and collectivism”. In Venezuela, by contrast, the anniversary is called, Día de la Resistencia Indígena (Day of Indigenous Resistance)and is used to criticize European colonialism and celebrate native culture. It's interesting to look at which groups have used the anniversary and for what causes. In past eras, Catholic-Americans and Italian-Americans have used Columbus Day to counter discrimination from supremist groups like the KKK -claiming that a Catholic/Italian man discovered America thereby legitimizing their citizenship rights. Hispanic groups call Columbus Day, Día de la Raza (Day of the (Hispanic) race) and mark the occasion as a time to celebrate Hispanic and Mestizo culture in the Americas. I remember reading a fascinating book about Columbus in a History of Latin America course I took in my undergrad. The book is called, "The Conquest of America" and is written by Tzvetan Todorov. Some of the 16th century sources Todorov cites are just incredible. Columbus is so convinced that he has found the mainland (of the Orient) that he totally disregards the native inhabitants of Hispaniola (Cuba) when they try to tell him that they are actually on an island. Quoted from one of Columbus' journals: "And since these are bestial men who believe that the whole world is an island and who do not know what the mainland is, and have neither letters nor long-standing memories, and since they take pleasure only in eating and being with their women, they said it was an island". At one point he apparently institutes a fine of ten thousand marravedis (Spanish currency) and a punishment of having the tongue cut off for anyone who contradicts him. A truly remarkable combination of arrogance and ignorance... Now, let's all go set off some fireworks in honour of this noble and heroic man.
Today I attended the first class of a 6-week course called, Pilfering Our Way Through the Great Personal Essays. The course is one of many writing courses offered at the Richard Hugo House, a Seattle literary arts center that supports writers of all ages and backgrounds. There were 9 women in my class this morning, with varied levels of writing experience. Some have been crafting personal essays and memoirs for years and others, like me, were there to try something relatively new. I look forward to having this kind of opportunity -to take a course just for personal pleasure. I think I will enjoy investing myself in the hard work of developing my skills as a writer. It gives me the push I need to actually put pen to paper. I'm that person with a very long mental list of things I'd like to do and a very poor record of following through. I've decided that now is probably a very good time to pursue my interests (in earnest). Having a job isn't the only way to be productive after all.
My dear friend, the "Talented Foreigner" challenged me to come up with this list. Whereas her list was written as a Singaporean in Denmark, I guess my list is as a Canadian in America. It would probably have been juicier a year ago as a Canadian in Denmark but here goes:
1. Needless Apologies
Even though there is often nothing to be "sorry" for, I often find myself reflexively apologizing for random things -even the mis-steps of complete strangers.
2. Ici on parle français
I still look for the French language on everything from street signs to cereal boxes. The Spanish translations on products still startle me from time to time. I do like the Mexican influence here in America but I sometimes miss the "distinctively" French imprint.
3. Responsible Reporting
I am still shocked by the sensationalism of American news reporting. "College woman brutally attacked by masked mad man -stay tuned", or "Find out why your carpet may be killing you -more at 6:00". It's so repulsive and gross. I miss the calm and sober voices of Canadian newscasters like Peter Mansbridge and Lloyd Robertson.
4. Socialized Medicine
I simply do not understand the hysteria around Obama's health care reform. There are all these crazy people on the streets with placards likening Obama to Hitler (!?). It's offensive. Obama just wants to make sure all Americans have health care. The arguments of these people are really illogical and borderline insane.
5. Hockey
While not nearly the most avid of hockey fans (by Canadian standards), I still feel more comfortable in a milieu of hockey fanaticism (Go, Habs, Go!) than that of American football.
6. Really? Are you really "carding" me?
The drinking laws are surprisingly strict in the U.S. Coming from Montreal, where you can pretty much buy booze at 10 years old if you wanted to, being carded at the age of 33 is hard to wrap my head around. Seems really illogical to be able to go die for your country at 18 but not have a beer at a restaurant until you are 21.
7. Moderation
America is known and criticized for its "supersize" mentality about many things and I think as a Canadian, I do crave more moderation generally -especially with sugar content. I do not know why but everything always tastes way too sweet here-from smoothies to Thai curry pastes to Mexican Mole. I feel like the American palate favors sweet and unfortunately, some of my favorite dishes taste "off" because of it.
8. Homeland Security scares me
I have been told many times that Canada and the US share the world's largest unprotected border and yet somehow it feels very "protected" and "securitized" to me. I do not like being regarded with suspicion when I come into the US and I resent being denied a work permit especially when I know that if I were an American entering Canada in the same context and with the same qualifications I would have the right to work.
9. American (Canadian) celebrities
I, like many people around the world, enjoy the world of American entertainment. As a Canadian however, I find it my duty to point out which American stars are really Canadian: Alex Trebec (Jeopardy), William Shatner (Captain Kirk), Jim Carrey, Pamela Anderson, Mike Myers, Dan Aykroyd, Lorne Michaels (SNL), Matthew Perry (Friends), Michael J. Fox, Ellen Page (Juno), Michael Cera, Kim Catrall (Sex in the City), Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, Joshua Jackson (Dawson's Creek), Jason Priestley (90210), Evangeline Lilly (Lost), Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy), Seth Rogan, Kiefer Sutherland (24), etc.
10. I find patriotism in beer commercials I am Canadian
Last night, Mallar and I went to "Soul Nite" at the Northwest Film Forum. The event is described on their website as follows: "...unforgettable voices, funky grooves, magic moves and smooth styles of 60s and 70s SOUL MUSIC! Curator Peter Lucas culls classic and rare performance footage and hosts electrifying, all-star Soul shows on the big screen (and cranked up loud!) We also have djs spinning soul records in the cinema between sets and drinks available too. Clapping and dancing in the aisles is encouraged!".
Last night featured the likes of Sam and Dave, Lee Dorsey, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes and Otis Redding (who's birthday was celebrated at the event with free cake!). The audience wasn't quite dancing in the aisles but I was sure bopping joyously in my seat and there was a lot of hooting and hollering from the crowd during the screening. It was hilarious to see the hairstyles and outfits of the 1960s appearances -and the choreography!The music, though, the music was/is just brilliant! What voices... and stage presence... Much of the audience stuck around afterward to dance. The DJ had a great collection of get-up-off-your-seat soul/motown classics.
