Stereotypes

I've been thinking alot about stereotypes recently. It's been mainly since I started teaching and since my boyfriend came into my life. It's been interesting because I'm falling into some stereotypes. I.e. drinking red wine and playing Wizard of Oz monopoly while away on a weekend mini-break with A. But I'm wondering about stereotypes of my students and something that happened at church today.

I'll admit, I have a minor crush on the minister of my UU church (laugh all you want Liz!) Why is that though? I'll admit, he's got a Ken Doll look about him. But there is something about the forbidden fruit of a minister. I mean, isn't there a literary stereotype of the preacher's daughter? Corrupting the bad? Striving to be saintly? I guess in the 21st Century, one can go straight for the preacher. Not that I will, just fun to have a crush.

Now, my students - they live in the ghetto, they have hard lives and now it is my job to find the good in all of them.

It's the little things

I feel I've used this title before for a blog post. However, I don't feel like I have the patience to go back into the over 5 years of blogs to find it. It's also a song from that rather cooky musical COMPANY. But for me, it's becoming my life mantra. Something happened yesterday when I dropped the kids off in the computer lab. There was one kid E who whipped it out of his pants and decided to urinate on the floor of the lab. I don't know why but I lost it laughing. Does that make me a bad person?

The other much more positive little thing I learned about today is all the way out of Africa. I finally saw some pics from the theatre competition that I started in 2006. It went from 6 schools in 2006 with $1000 budget to a 2 day competition with 22 schools and an almost $10,000 competition in 2009.

I'm happy!!!! No Zanex involved.

Is it still sad?

I've been around a lot of death in my life. It has always been a major feature in my life. Maybe that is why I don't really fear it. I just don't. It's part of life. However, when I got home tonight I got some bad news from across the pond. A good dear friend died about 2 weeks ago. She lived in Pinner, NW London and was one of the kindest women I have ever met. Her name is Katharine Young and she died at 101. She was the mother of a friend of my mother. I used to go and visit her in London whenever I was there. Last time I was in London, she had her 100 birthday and I wanted to visit but she was not home. The family took her to Spain for the birthday celebration! She's been in and out of my life for many years and I always enjoyed watching some of those crazy gameshows with her.

What I'm wondering now. She lived a full life. I mean not many people really make it to 100 years! She touched so many people and I'll always remember her. All these good things about this woman that lived THOUSANDS of miles away...

Why is it still sad?

PS. I HATE the term passed away or passed. Don't know why...

A nuisance

So I haven't blogged since I started my job as a teacher. I'm dreadfully sorry to everybody who has read this so much over the years. I'm going to start up with a vengence again because I've picked up my journal and felt so wonderful. But after 38 days of school (112 left!), two separate grade assignments, finally understanding the definition of crack baby and finding someone who likes me I'm back.

I'm writing to you today about two things. Since it is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, we have elections. That means no one really notices and nothing really happens. We call ourselves the greatest democracy on earth? I don't get it honestly. I woke up this morning really happy that I would be able to vote but wondering if it would really matter. Of course I decided that I would have to. I knew too many people in Africa that would have slapped me silly if I didn't vote. It's just something we take too much for granted. One thing for certain, I don't understand why we don't have a civil holiday. South Africa has a national holiday AT THE WEEKEND every year. When I went, I asked them how many people they have seen so far today. They said 25. 25 out of 400 eligible voters in the district! Is voting a nuisance?

The other nuisance was proved to me today. A teacher was complaining about how horrible life is right now. Then a good friend of mine sent me a story of someone he knows. This person was laid off a month ago but was able to get her old job back. Her new job requires a lot of traveling and moving around. The catch is she is blind. But she would rather worry about "that small" problem with a job than worry about all the other problems that come with not having a job.

So let's breathe!

Process

Life's about the journey right? I've had a couple of journeys worth mentioning.

First, I'm buying my brother's clunker. It required that I trade in my Connecticut driver's license for a PA license. Easy enough thought right? Wrong. I woke up early to try and get to the Department of Motor Vehicles here in Philly - which the curiously call PENNDOT. I keep imagining some sort of Jetsons-esque house cleaning robot. Anyway, I get down there and see signs literally plastered on the outside of the building that they only take personal checks. Personal checks?!?!?! Leave it to the government to use something that no one else really takes any more unless you hand over your first born. Anyway, back up Columbus Blvd to my apartment to root out the dusty check book I only use to pay rent. :) Back down. I get the number, fill out my form, say NO I haven't been a residency of PA before and fork over $28. I'm then issued with a temporary photo ID that will serve as my driver's license until I get the real thing.

Now I wanted to be the nice neighbor to fill up the car after I used so much gas. I was in such a government induced stupor, that probably about $3 of gas poured all over my foot! But no matter, I have a PA driver's license!

More to come about the adventures of the swat team in NYC. Food poisoning, the SWAT team and the hottest week in recent history made for a fun time.

Gesellschaft

Who IS the Boss?

So in the 1980's, there was a wonderful (read typically cheesy) American sitcom called Who's the Boss?, starring one Tony Danza. As with most 80's sitcom stars, he's pretty washed up now. Haven't really seen him do ANYTHING in a long time. I did find though that he was in the Producers on Broadway for 6 months. When you get so unknown, what do you think of doing? REALITY SHOWS!!!

Tony Danza's newest venture, I'm not joking, is going to be a reality show in Philadelphia. He won't be at my school (thank GOD!!) but he will be teaching English at Northeast High in Philly! I just want to know what the Mayor of Philly and the School Chancellor are thinking! None of this makes sense. I mean how will the students even learn. I'm all for career changers, but folks teaching is harder than he thinks. You fake it and the students will eat you alive! It is kind of ironic how they are putting him in a rather "quiet" neighborhood school. Doesn't this reek of exploitation though? I just shudder at the thought of allowing school fights to happen so they can up the ratings.

Anyway, I was waiting for my friend in front of the school today and Tony Danza walked right up. He looks ROUGH! His hands are knarled from arthritis and my friend put it perfectly, "Damn he looks like beat up shoe leather!"

Oh yeah, this is the guy that the Tony Danza slap is named after because of his previous history. Look it up!

265

I made it to 265 posts! I just think random numbers should be celebrated as well. Everything of everyday should be a celebration because as I've noticed, everything is worth it in life.

Happy 265th post!

Ladysmith Fish out of Water

It's been quite the ten days. Last weekend, I went with my brother and sister to go see Freshly Ground in New York. It was wonderful. This past weekend, Ladysmith Black Mambazo played at the Mann Centre in Philadelphia.

I've traveled around for some time now. (after my calculations, 8 of the past 10 years) The Mann Center is one of the best venues I've ever been to. Anyone who comes to visit maybe will be able to go to a concert there. Getting there is a whole different story and man does it work out for quite a story.

Philadelphia is built in the sensible grid pattern that many American cities are built in. Philadelphia was in fact the first "new European" city to be constructed that way. Anyway, the streets that run North to South are numbered from the Delaware River to the Schuykill River. East West streets are named after trees that grow here or places "in the colonies."

Now from Front Street to 50th Street, Philly is safe and normal. After 50th street it gets a little shady. Noel was kind enough to tell me that fact after I had to go to to 52nd street. I thought I would be green and take public transport to the venue. That meant I only had to take 2 subway lines, but I went to a different world. I took the blue line EL and transfered to the Green Trolley Lines. I was the only white person on the trolley and people started giving me weird looks. I was definitely out of my league. But you all know that it doesn't really bother me to be out of my league. I got off at my stop of 52nd and Lancaster. I had to walk. I noticed lots of greenery towards the north so headed that direction. When I got to some train tracks, I knew I was going the right direction. I called my brother though because I wanted another route back. It seemed a little too risky to walk back under the train tracks after dark, by myself and with my credit card. I did!

I stuffed everything into my underwear and just set off with a mission. I felt fine, just hurried not harried... until someone came my direction. The guy was with his girlfriend, so I wasn't too scared, until I notived how BIG this guy was. He greeted me with a hearty "How ya doin' dude?" I burst out laughing. I retorted with a "How YOU doin' dude!" and went on my merry way. As soon as I got to the stop, the number 10 trolley came and I was off.


The CONcert was amazing too!

New found distraction

I'm back in the land of the living and excited about all the bright, flashy things that are on offer. My favorite of the moment is Netflix. For $10 a month, I get one DVD at a time and unlimited streaming. Unlimited streaming!!! I'm catching up on all my favorite old BBC shows. Now I have access to finally watch ALL of Absolutely Fabulous. Netflix was also founded by a Peace Corps Volunteer from Swaziland. After 3 years in Africa, I feel like I know why he started it. Pure need. He's also famous for quoting "After hitchhiking across Africa with $10 in your pocket, starting a business doesn't seem so scary." I agree but would substitute teaching in there.

Yes I know I'm insane, but it is a wonderful distraction when your students tell you they saw their father get shot the night before. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I teach in the concrete jungle.

Another one of shows is Keeping up Appearances. It is almost 20 years old, but I love it. Unfortunately, as with most TV shows, it gets repetitive when you watch 3 episodes in a row! The need to put my brain off has become ENORMOUS! There is something curiously foreign about that British show though. Do people like that exist in America? There is the phrase Keeping up with the Joneses, which is said to originate in New York. But Americans in general are not so stuck up about class. You'll just have to see my neighborhood when you come visit me!

I'm definitely up for visits... hint hint... nudge nudge.

Another world

I've been having more trouble than I ever thought I would coming back to America. I've recently counted and of the past 10 years, I've lived 8 as the "American Abroad" or overseas. That means since I was 16, I've not been home really. But where is home anymore. Right now it's in a neighborhood called Fishtown. 6 Months ago, it was a shack on the Indian Ocean. For the first time in my life, I know I will be in America for the next 3 years and I'll admit I'm scared. I'm excited but scared. What happened earlier today was a perfect example.

I've had a visit from a friend from Swaziland. She was a PCV over there that I met in Pretoria in 2006. We decided to go find my school where I have to report to tomorrow... at 7:45. Thanks Noel for taking the bike lock keys! :) I dutifully googled directions and we set off. We entered another world. It might as well have been Puerto Rico. I didn't see any American Flags even though it was National Hang Over day - ie the day after any major holiday. We were the only white native English Speakers around but that didn't bother us. Until I realized what was on my shirt that is. I was wearing a shirt that said "Gay? - Fine by me!" I realized it wouldn't go over particularly well in the very religious neighborhood. We didn't have any problems though, until there were two guys coming the opposite way who read the shirt. They kept going but turned back on us. We still didn't really freak.

We finally found the school (1.5 miles away according to the almighty Google) and noted a better way for me to get there. The school is in a totally different world but I realized that the inhabitants of the neighborhood right around the school live life on the front porches and listen to music en vivo. Things I've missed and I'm looking forward to having in my life again.

That is a reason I feel I like the West and America. We've got choice, we've got people and oh man do we have a mixture of cultures!

Independence Day

It was my first 4th of July in America for many years. The last 4th of July I spent in America was 2005. Before that I was in Australia and since then I was in Mozambique. I was excited to spend it in the true birthplace of America... Philadelphia. Apparently, Philadelphia was the second biggest city in the British Empire. It was second to only London. That means it was the second biggest city in the world. It's come a long way since then. But it still is a wonderful big city. 152 very distinct neighborhoods each with its own flavor and culture. (Great I've got 152 cultures to assimilate to!) The city tends to revolve around Independence mall.

Independence Mall is in the eastern part of Center City, so it's basically downtown. This is where the Declaration of Independence was written, signed, approved and read to the public for the first time. It is also the place where I experienced a tea party. I didn't even know I was in the middle of one. Needless to say, I felt like a fish out of water. I was beyond out of water. I was somewhere in the stratosphere. They were saying some things like "Commander in Thief" and "We're number one!" Some people were carrying signs saying "Today is Independence Day not Immigration Day." They're were signs of PALIN 2012 (Nightmarish thought!). They had a reenactment of the reading of the Declaration of Independence (complete with costumes) to exemplify how "far we've strayed" from our original course. All of a sudden, the crowd started chanting USA! USA! USA! I took that as my cue to leave.

Unfortunately, before I left, I saw a sign that said "Remember, Descent is Patriotic!" Now that the Democrats are in government, Descent is Patriotic again. Between USA! USA! and the descent thing, I'm having difficulty discerning the Republican Party from the NSDAP of the 1930's.

Happy 4th!

Gulp

I apologize for the lack of writing here. I've suddenly jumped into the real world now and I kind of want to go back to the wonderful laziness (but good laziness!) of Mozambique. I've been talking about it a lot recently. I think I've only started processing what really happened to me in the three years just now. Thanks so much to Mag. However, as I've processed, I've left the hotel. Let me tell you, I RAN out of there on the last day. The only person I really worry about keeping in touch with is in my phonebook so I don't have to worry. We actually went out to a club in the interim named Woody's. It was crazy fun and I ended up on the website. I'm not there anymore though!

I stupidly have not taken any mental down time from the hotel to this job. I've started a job teaching summer school and I'm taking two courses towards my masters. Luckily the school is within walking distance. That's how I'm still awake at 9 pm at night. :) But the Philadelphia heat has started. It's not as hot as Africa by any means, but the humidity is there. I'm not able to just go off to a bar for hours "getting work done" here. The bars aren't conveniently located on the Indian Ocean, so they wouldn't really help! It's hot, it's humid and I have to wear a tie to get work done. Africans are definitely smarter than us in so far as summer attire!

Anyway, I'm going to try to write a little each day because I think it will help with my sanity as I try to process all of this real world job-ness I have to process. But for now I end saying, it's official! I'm a salaried employee of the SD of Philly.

Don't get any thoughts in your head that it means I will be here in the States for good!

Facebook

Is there such a thing as too much connection? When I was living in Mozambique, I CRAVED connection. I would be desperate for the email that would elevate my mood. I would leave my phone on to field phone calls from the States even if it were at 3 AM. (Thank you Jess.) Now, since I've been back home, all I want to do is turn it off! Yet somehow I don't.

Facebook has poised itself as an interesting interloper into my consciousness. I've updated my brain to pure (almost) 140 character thoughts. Suddenly a 3 line thought seems like I'm getting too long. I recently ranted on Facebook about the stupidity of anti-equal rights campaign in America. It was misconstrued by some friends further afield. But it got me thinking. All you here on NPR and other broadcasters is how myspace and facebook are revolutionizing communication for politicians and more. I mean Obama got elected on an FB wave didn't he? Is it the right space for social expression. Or is it a space to write "Ian just came back from the bathroom..."

Philadelphia

I think I chose a wonderful place to come back to in America - as I hear the drunken shouting from the bar across the road. :) But, seriously Philadelphia is perfect. It is the smallest big city I've ever lived in. I've still got a chance at some culture though. I'm going out tomorrow night to the Symphony Orchestra. I got a free ticket from seeing their last performance! They perform in churches so the acoustics are amazing. Saturday Night I'll walk over to the Walking Fish for some comedy. I'll report back on Sunday with how it all went.

"I Shall Be Saved!"

Hi, my name is Ian and I am not a religious nut job! I'm happy, healthy (swine flu free!) and perfectly content to go to Hell if people like the good folk of the Stephen Bennett Ministries are going to be in Heaven. Today I went to the Equality Forum in Philadelphia. The highlight was obviously getting to see Gavin Newsom talk. He's the STRAIGHT gay friendly Mayor of San Francisco that started the avalanche in 2004. His speech was inspirational and he's my new hero. He supports the "everyone knows one" practice. So as I've mentioned before, every one of you reading this knows a gay person. There are more pressing issues in 2009. Our economy is in tatters, the wars are going on longer than any war in American history and yet we try to control the natural force of love?

People outside were definitely defenders of "marriage." I'm not going to take any more time talking about them (it's just a waste of space) but I have to mention that a good interview with me will be available on www.citypaper.net some time this week. READ!!!


PS. I thought today that if I were a newcomer to this country (some may say I am!) I would think that Americans are some of the most hate filled people in the world. Is that what it means to be a Christian?

Rich as a....

A couple of days ago, I mentioned that a really impressive car came into the driveway at work. I mentioned that I thought royalty would step out of the car. Well, the car has been back. He came back 3 times and I was "lucky" enough to talk to him one day. As I'm writing the ticket out so we can mark his car in our records, I ask for the name.

Rockefeller...

A Tale of Two Cars

America is obsessed with cars. The history of Detroit and the destruction of the railroad are proof. But I'm parking cars now to get me through until teaching starts. Let me tell you, I've seen some crazy cars. Two really stuck out in my mind today.

A mini-cooper drove up with the obligatory Union Jack sticker and I nearly fell over myself to get to drive that car. I have decided it is the perfect car for me - even though, quite frankly I would be PETRIFIED to take it out against some of the monster trucks that masquerade as private cars in this country. Even the owner of the car was cool. He looked very academic, silver hair, black glasses frames etc. He addressed me by my name and I complemented his car. Then I took the car on a four block joy ride to park it. Manual shift and all! (I said I could drive stick shift... white lies don't hurt do they?)

Around lunch time this boat pulls into the drive way. It is a white and silver Rolls Royce convertible. The doors open backwards and it just exudes snob. I half expected some Royal Family member to get out of the car. A jerk who thought he was royalty did. He left orders to "wipe down the car to get rid of the rain spots." That's what happens when it rains!!! Anyway, my boss wouldn't let any of us touch the car. Good thing, since I've lost my sea legs, I may have been ill inside it. The thing that got me was when Prince Jerk came back out of the Japanese restaurant on the corner. I went to collect the $20 fee for parking and he asked for "the other boy." What is this colonial Africa?!?!?! The other boy went and got a tip of $20 for "wiping the boat's bum." Made me think that I should have been nicer to my staff in Africa.

But you can rest assured I never called her "girl!"
(She actually couldn't pronounce my name very well and would call me boy!)

It's a Small World!

I'm a firm believer in Six Degrees of Separation. I always have and that's part of the appeal of UUism to me. This interconnected web of all existence is proving itself to me more with every year that passes. There is Ubuntu from Africa which can be seen as the basis of it all.

My first "believe it or not story" takes us back to 1996. My brother was showing my father and I how to use the internet. We went into a chat room and he showed us what IMing was. Remember, this is 1996. So he asked if anybody wanted to chat with us. This girl named Starseed9 said yes. So we did. She was Lisa, from Greenwich and we told her that we were Ian and Noel from Norwalk. She connected the dots a hell of a lot faster than we did. Lisa turned out to be our second cousin from Greenwich - who we didn't really keep well in contact with.

Second Story:

I joined a listserve for the Youth Group of my church. It was something impulsive, but I've met a lot of new people through it. One night, I came home from work and there was an email from this girl named Lucy. She was introducing herself. It turns out she was a PCV in Walvis Bay Namibia who just got home in December. We started chatting, connecting the dots and shop talking. Suddenly, I knew people she knew, we both had been to our respective villages when the other wasn't there etc. The thing that blew me away though. She apparently met me on the beach in Mozambique in 2007. I, on the otherhand, could not remember the meeting.

G'night!

Culture of...

As I sit here experiencing the strongest I miss Africa moment I have since coming back, I can't help thinking about the culture of America. I've been to many places where the locals will tell me that my home country doesn't have any culture.

According to the ever entertaining Wikipedia, culture as it is popularly understood is broken into three phases.

• excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities
• an integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning
• the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group.

I tended to agree with my friends. I mean where do wonderfully majestic buildings exist in America? No place kind of like London. Where are there wonderfully small roads with a surprise around every corner in the form of little shops or restaurants? Melbourne and the bar quarters of most European cities have this. Yet, moving back to America I just have to disagree now. (Sorry L!) The answer to the first question is most definitely Washington DC. Not allowing any other building to be bigger than the US Capitol Building has lead to a sense of majesty that I have to say is unique to DC. Philadelphia has to be the most European of American cities I've ever been to. I just hope the Italians of South Philly don't read this! There is a whole neighborhood called Society Hill here that looks like it was transplanted straight from England. I'm also extremely impressed by this city because it is the smallest big city that I've seen. It has a million and a half people yet seems so much better.

The funniest thing for me is "relearning" America. The dialects and sayings are so funny and vast. The newest one I'm trying to decipher is as follows.

I say "How are you?" to someone.
He or She responds "Sucker free or trying to stay sucker free."

Anyone have any idea what that means?

U U and YOU

Religion and spirituality has always been important to me. I think I can trace it back to when my mom died in 1990. I had to believe that I would see her again. Having her here with me for only 7 short years just seemed like the ultimate cosmic cheat. I was pissed in general. Nothing was really making sense to me and the adults were saying things to me that just confused me even more. I got some beauties as

"God wanted her with him."
"She's in a better place."
"She's not suffering anymore."

The list goes on. None of it made me really feel any better. I turned to the Catholic Church where I had grown up in. I reasoned that I could be around more people that knew my mom, the more I would learn about her. I was desperate for any and all stories. I will admit that I had a very warped sense of Catholicism. I just always thought that eating someone's flesh and drinking someone's blood was WEIRD. (I never believed it and thought it was weird.) For years after, I would pray but never talk to God. God took my mom, he didn't deserve to listen to me. So I talked with Jesus. I thought, "hey his own father let him get crucified, he'll understand me." The Trinity went out the window. Those were my thoughts, and I kept going. I felt that I couldn't fill the hole that I experienced. I couldn't break myself from a religion that I just didn't agree with before I found something else. I remember in a youth group meeting years ago, one leader asked us for some thoughts on "what is prayer." A response was "prayer is talking to an imaginary being that humans invented to make themselves feel better. The leader resolutely shot the answer down saying that's not what we Catholics believe. I thought that was very wrong. Religion to me has always been something more personal, positive, loving and none of the fearful, sinful, penitent scariness that Catholicism can seem.

After I finally came to terms with who I am, it was even harder to buy into a dogma that told me I was inherently flawed or wrong - I mean I love being right! I know I'm not perfect, but I never bought the whole original sin or the homosexuality is evil thing. Ok I bought it for awhile but then I started thinking maybe I wasn't wrong, maybe the rules were wrong. After attending church services in Mozambique where I had Bibles literally thrown at me and stayed in the church building for 12 hours, I had to move on.

SO I found Unitarian Universalism. The moment I walked in and someone said, Hi nice to see you, I was hooked. I'll tell you about it, I'm discovering it slowly. I like it so far and hope it likes me. The pastor is openly gay and so welcoming to all.

More next week.

Ian

A Blasphemus Tutu?

Polygamist
Rapist
Racketeering Phony
Corrupt Bastard
Down right idiot

No I'm not talking about dance costumes and George Bush. I'm talking about "the future president of South Africa" Jacob Zuma. He is going to follow in the footsteps of people like Nelson Mandela. April 22nd will be the fourth general election in South Africa since the fall of Apartheid in 1994. Zuma (or JZ as he is sometimes known) is in the lead. He has multiple wives, at least 18 children and who knows how many mistresses. He's the hope for such a beautiful country as South Africa? My issues are two fold. His campaign song is Umshini Wami. Bring Me My Machine GUN?!?!?! Second, as his rape charges were unfolding, I was in South Africa. He apparently slept with an HIV positive prostitute but wasn't worried... because he took a shower. What saddens me is that people in the locations will be taking showers and eating beetroot now to cure AIDS. I can hear the questions to future PCVs "Teacher, if I bath, will I still get HIV?" It's scary.

This article caught my attention. Here we have Desmond Tutu. A Noble Lauriete, a man of peace, an educated man. He is saying that he will not be voting for the ANC come April 22nd because he doesn't believe it is the right direction for the country. Suddenly the ANC is calling him sacriligious. I hope anyone out there who reads this article laughs. It has to be the only way of coping in a country that looks like it will be reverting back to a one party state like with the National Party under Apartheid.

The Wind of Change

I firmly believe the winds of change are blowing. After the wonderful victory in Iowa and Vermont, good old New York announced this. I guess liberal minded New York doesn't want to be out done by the hicks of Iowa. Let's have it change and finally be proud to say

Liberty and justice for all...

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Carpark...

So, I've been working parking cars at a hotel in University City in Philly. That's partly the reason why I haven't been completely coherent in the past couple of weeks. It's also the reason I haven't responded to many emails recently either. But I am fighting through my desires to take an afternoon nap and studying. I'm also trying to make sure I get some of my emails answered. Sorry everybody!!!

Anyway, I have a funny story of what has happened a few days ago. It's all been rather odd having a job at the front door of a hotel. It's in the middle of the University of Pennsylvania. I say it's funny because all the valets are these random guys (really butch) who comment on every female "bundas" that walks by. They also were almost in tears when the local team's announcer died last week. On the other side of the door, there are some obviously gay bellmen but no overt flag waving. In other words, I'm in the wrong department. It's actually really funny though. My uncle once told me that I should "know my enemies" so I can know my own beliefs better. I'm knowing my enemies for sure as I park the rich people's cars.

The other day, a congressman showed up at the hotel. One of his staffers came up to me earlier in the day asking if the driver could just park in our circle while the congressman was inside. It was fine by me as long as the driver stayed in the car. It is a fire lane after all! So I went up to the driver to ask him to move to the other side of the circle so I could park some cars on the side he was diagonally parked in. He told me that he had to stay where he was "so the congressman is not delayed when he comes out." The driver was this small little white boy that obviously was petrified to anger the congressman and it was probably his first job. I tried to reason with him, but gave up because I quickly saw I was not going anywhere. One of the bellmen came out who happened to be black. He went to the driver, said the exact same thing that I tried to say and the guy moved!!!! I laughed soooooooooooooooooooooo hard. The man probably never had a black person in such close conversation with him.

It was just funny to me that color matters so much still.

Communism is Dead!

Wow, I never thought I would write a title quite like the one above. Let me just preface this with the thought that I still believe in universal Education, universal health care and a fair tax system. I think that means I believe since the government is "of the people, for the people" it should be in the interest of society.

I've got an interesting downstairs neighbor. He doesn't read this (I think) but I'm going to call him R. His flat is decorated with posters of Marx and Che. He listens to philosophy lectures for fun and every sentence out of his mouth has to do with Plato, Socrates or Aristotle. It gets old. Some other mutual friends consider him looney, but he is entertaining no less. A couple of weeks ago, I had this experience with him and some friends that prompted me to write this title. A 2L law student had been over and really into "personal freedom." He defines himself as a libertarian and has an interesting view of "personal freedom." It involved stripping naked and walking down Frankford Ave (A BIG thoroughfare in Philly) The cops picked him up. To make a long story short, he dissapeared for awhile - to read Nietsche (a bit of light reading no?) I later found out.

He reappered after some time and I got chatting with him a few nights ago. He apologized profusely for his "superman" episode and got talking about how we have to help each other. I'm all about helping each other, but this boy is calling for a communist overthrow. Somehow it involved him washing his clothes by hand?!?!?! I would love to see him accomplish that.

I'm just profoundly confused by him. I don't want to come across as a profound arrogant fool so I usually just sit back and listen to his rants. However, what I want to know is, once humans become involved; can communism really exist?

A week of equality

So this past week in America has been pretty cool on the human rights front for gays and lesbians. Notice I say human rights, cause that's exactly what I believe it is. Anyway, we are now at 4 states where a marriage between a man and a man or a woman and a woman is legal. I'm beyond happy that Iowa ruled in our favor. It was truly inspirational that Vermont brought equal rights into effect through legislation! It wasn't a court mandate, it was "the will of the people." I just think it's very ironic that this country prides itself on "liberty and justice for all." Yet I can't get married in the majority of states.

However, with the events of the past week (and the fact that a state OUTSIDE of the Northeast has ruled in favor of human rights) has given me hope. It's given me hope that religious conservatives will finally start practicing what they preach. Maybe the God is Love doctrine will finally be understood. God is love.

Is love capable of hate?

Thank you Vermont, Iowa, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Remember everyone that you know at least one person these hateful,bigoted laws like prop 8 in CA and prop 2 in FL affect personally.

You read this blog after all...

Meetup.com

There once was a time where you knew everyone on your block. You would talk to your neighbors and watch each other plants and pets when you weren't around. That's somewhat true in part. I know everyone in my building. That's not too hard, their are only 6 apartments. But, I'm not too sure I want to know everyone else on my block. You get the range of racists Catholics to downright scary prostitutes. So I've entered the twenty first century and joined meetup.com.


You basically sign up for meetings with like minded people in your city. So I looked into what Philadelphia had to offer. I put in German, Spanish, Portuguese and others along with my zip code. The results that came back were staggering. I joined 4 groups and soon will have a kicking social life... :O) But tonight was the first one, Portuguese. I got to know the south of Philadelphia better because I had to go to South 13th Street. That required me to get on the orange line. Gasp horror! The Orange LINE!! I never really have to go North or South in this city, so I braved the newness of it all and went two whole stops to Lombard Street. I walked in bedecked with my Mozambican Flag Bag in it's full AK47 glory. I heard some Portuguese and it was love at first hearing. Until I figured out the majority of people were Brazilian. I haven't spoken Portuguese in almost 3 months and never really learned the Brazilian accent properly. We had a good time though and will meet up closer to the Center City next time.

When I got home, there was a friend request on Facebook...

Supermarkets make me grumpy

I'm beginning to wonder what is exactly super about them. I remember when I was growing up going to the Stop and Shop in Wilton, CT with my dad every week. It was fun (I had no social life to speak of) and I got to push my own cart around and go look for the sales. That was back when I knew how to function in Supermarkets. Now, supermarkets put me into such a state, my brother won't talk to me for about 15 minutes.

According to my family from the city, supermarkets were a pretty suburban thing. In New York City, you went to the butchers, bakers, grocers...they were all different stores. Now they're all packed into a hermetically sealed environment that could not be further removed from nature. Everything seems to be "buy one get one" nowadays to part us with a few more bucks. Let me try to explain why I don't like supermarkets anymore. First of all, it's a barrage of colors. Things stacked to the ceiling in bright attractive colors are just too much for me to handle. I also am totally lost when I have to pick out new toiletries - too much choice. My biggest supermarket for years was a room about the size of the Chester House TV room (that's for you L) and stocked with one of everything. They had marmite, it made me happy. Supersizing in America has gone to the extreme! It's tricky how they put the biggest size at eye level and any person with a healthy appetite has to go to their knees looking for sensible portions. It's almost as if it's an act of contricition for not buying the gluttonus portions.

The thing that makes me grumpy is that my local store (a ghetto place called thriftway) has more food in it than I saw in my entire village in Africa. Then people just go and eat crap! Even though, to be fair, I did buy and B1G1 of gallon tubs of ice cream.

I'm going to sulk now.

Catch up

Life in Philadelphia has been crazy. I've written many blogs over the course of the past month but haven't put any of them up. Sorry! I'm going to play catch up with some short blogs about what's been going on in my reintergration to American culture - which is not as easy as I thought it would be!

I

Snow Day

The East Coast of the United States is blanketed in white. We got about 5 inches of snow here in Philly. It's still coming down. I was supposed to go to a company today at 9:30 AM for an interview. It was canceled. They only called me at 8:00 as I was headed to the train. No one is out. It's kind of eerie. I don't remember businesses closing like this. The dow is below 7000. It's going to get down to 14 F today. Is the world ending?

I think I'm going to go out and take some pictures. Keep an eye out.

What's in a Name?

America. A country or a continent? If I told a Mexican or a Costa Rican that I am American, they would understand. They would say, "so what, I am too!" In any language south of the Rio Grande, I would have to say that I am "estado unidense" or US American (United Statesian, literally translated) But, the past twenty four hours have gotten me thinking about names.

Kensington. Just sounds posh, doesn't it? I life on the cusp of Kensington, Philadelphia. I tend to tell people I live in Fishtown because it just sounds better. Fishtown sounds better?!?!?! I just imagine a bunch of fat crass women who you wouldn't want to mess with when I think of Fishtown. That may have to do with the term fishwife and the fishwives I met in the Fishtown of Maputo. Anyway, Kensington. That just sounds posh to me. I remember when I was exploring London for the first time (1996) and was based in South Kensington. I just thought if the garbage cans were covered in gold lettering than the place must be nice. I mean, it's called the royal borough, isn't it? Kensington Philadelphia is a whole different matter.

In this Kensington, there are regular police helicopter patrols. It's cool and makes you feel "safe" until they put the strobe lights on. Then you feel like you are in an Escape from New York scene. But last night, when I was coming home from Center City (Downtown Philly) I saw a bit of a commotion across the street from my house. Suddenly someone got curb checked. I heard the pop and freaked. I just didn't want to get caught up somewhere I didn't belong. I got my phone out to dial 911 but then someone ran out of Bob's Pub saying they already dialed 911 and I heard them coming. I had to go inside. But before I went inside, I saw them put the guy into the ambulance. He was bleeding and convulsing.

Welcome to America? Kensington on this side of the pond is not quite as posh. I guess this is a lesson to not take anything by its name.

Ate mais

I'm back

Hey everybody. Sorry for the long silence. I've been trying to acclimatize to the arctic weather that we've been experiencing here. I'm writing about a little jewel from the BBC that has been keeping me happy during the long hours of sending out CV's.

Thanks to my friend Liz, I've discovered the Friday Night Comedy from Radio 4. She was intent an Anglicizing this American. I remember when I was young and would watch some British television or movies. I wouldn't understand it. My father would say, "it's just not funny to us." Or something to that affect. However, the comedy skit is astounding. I'm so grateful to have been introduced to it. Many times I'll be listening to it in my room and laugh out loud - which is always good. My brother will ask me what's so funny. I'll explain to him and he just won't get it. I dread to think how he'll fair in Wolverhampton in September.

More soon

Silver Linings?

In this time of economic hardship, things are tough. I'm breathing deeply every night before I go to bed and praying hard that I find a job. But, you know this bigotry and racism of my last post is changing slowly too. America is in trouble, she elects a black man - who likes to talk to people! What a novel idea! Iceland collapses and she elects a lesbian. Change is coming...

How many years for America to elect a woman or an openly gay person? Ideas?


Food for thought

Female Heads of Government

Female Heads of State

Race in America

We as a country are now about 8 days into the Obama presidency and I personally couldn't be happier. I will admit though, I never thought this country would be able to elect a black man.


I remember learning about "multi-culturalism" in middle school and high school. We were taught to be sensitive and never mention "race" or at least not by the color of the skin. Black suddenly became African -America (a term my friends in Africa do NOT understand) brown became Latin-American, yellow became Asian-American and white became white-cracker... :) Why did we stay white? Aren't we Europen-Americans. Or here is a novel idea that the rest of the world thinks already, we are all AMERICANS! I remember the fear I had if I said black within ear shot of a darker skinned fellow American. Now, I just don't understand the fear of color. (any kind!)

I don't think it is a mistake of linguistics that the words for heat and color are so similar in Portuguese and Spanish CALOR and COLOR. Color and the varients of it is what makes our life so interesting. That is something I looked forward to so much when I was winding down in Africa. The value of difference here in America. So many different people who believe so many different things and don't mind that many different opinions exist...then I got home. I didn't realize this hate exists. I think I'm just an eternal optimist and am a genuine supporter of the hand that Obama is extending. He's turning out to be quite the elegant statesman.

Now he's viewed as a black man here. But he's half white. That is very often forgotten in American politics. We view any black heritage as being black. Yet Obama was raised by a white family and dumped by his father early on. In Africa he is viewed as a white man - with African roots. If you think of it though, we all have African roots.

According to the Guardian today, Obama's White House is extending a hand to Iran, after already extending a hand to the Arab world. He's proven that you can't view things as black and white. When will we learn that lesson?

Timisela

Timisela is Xitswa for patience. Something America doesn't seem to have. Three things happened today where I was just astounded by the speed of America. An old lady was crossing the road in a walker/frame and cars were honking at her to "hurry up." The other honking for hurry uping involved the famous yellow American school buses. They were making their rounds dropping students back off at home. They have a stop sign attached to their sides that they can use when necessary. Now, it's a law to stop for that stop sign and wait for the kids to make it to the sidewalk. Well, this bastard was yelling out the window that the kids needed to hurry up!

I then thought to myself I have all the time in the world to do my shopping and get ready for the Zolani concert tonight.

May I never lose that....

Is this man evil?

I'm going to the Daily Show today and found this prayer from my friend Virginia. It's a prayer by Bishop Gene Robinson who is the gay Episcopal/Anglican bishop from New Hampshire.

A Prayer for the Nation and Our Next President, Barack Obama

By The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire

Opening Inaugural Event
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
January 18, 2009

Welcome to Washington! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God's blessing upon our nation and our next president.

O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will...

Bless us with tears - for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.

Bless us with anger - at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Bless us with discomfort - at the easy, simplistic "answers" we've preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.

Bless us with patience - and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be "fixed" anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.

Bless us with humility - open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance - replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.

Bless us with compassion and generosity - remembering that every religion's God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.

And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.

Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln's reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy's ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King's dream of a nation for ALL the people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.

Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.

Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters' childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we're asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand - that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.

AMEN.


Is he evil because he likes men?

Been Thinking

So I'm almost back in America one solid week and I haven't made it beyond Brooklyn. I hope the extended family is not getting mad at me. It has been snowing almost non-stop since I've been back though so I can understand the "better safe than sorry" mentality in traveling, especially since that is what I used in 3 years in Africa. But I thought about how Africa is still in my blood. In exactly a week, I will have experienced 3 Africa themed things in my life.

Last Friday, we went to the MOMA (which FYI is free every Friday from 4 to 8 PM) to see the American premier of the first Mozambican produced movie called A Terra Sonambula or Sleepwalking land. Then today I found out that one of my favorite singers is playing in NY this week. Her name is Zolani. She's amazing. I'm taking advantage of all of this on top of going to see the Daily Show for the important day of Bush's goodbye and the hello to a new era. (Hopefully in my life too!)

More Soon

It could only happen to me...

So, I'm back and America. It's been about 72 hours and it's cold. I went to the cafe around the corner from my sister's house and tried to "meet people." Truthfully I was just bored in the apartment and wanted some sort of tolerable stimulation. Anyway, I worked up the nerve to speak "coffeeese" and tried to order a hot drink. Luckily the barista was patient and I got my task accomplished. However, the guy next to me was having some trouble. He was asked whether he would like a small, medium or large. So, he retorted with "well, it depends how large the American large is." Think supersize me people. I laughed outloud and he and his girlfriend came to sit at my table. (Which by the way had a picture of Felix on it.) So the first new people I meet in America and become friends with are two Estonians named Peeter and Lissie. Is that a sign?

First and Last

So this is my first post for 2009 and my last post from abroad... for this time at least. Lots has happened but that will stay until I'm sitting in Weston with nothing to do but update my life online. I think there will be some funny posts to come though as I struggle back into America. Fasten your seatbelts!

But, I just wanted to write about Europe and the UK. All of the above has played such an important part in my life. This is the first time in my life that I am flying from London without an even "vague" plan on coming back. I love this city, London, so much but no I could never afford it... I'm watching Absolutely Fabulous right now and realizing how wonderful the humor is. I met up with some of my old friends from University here in London and some of them said to me that I should base myself here in Europe. I'm excited to come back to the States though.

It's a new beginning. I feel like I'm almost going to be discovering a new country. However, I've not had much luck with Americans abroad because most of them find me rather arrogant and full of myself. :O) I don't know how I will be viewed in America after all these years abroad. I guess I'm just wondering how much of an American I still am. Am I the American abroad, the abroad American or just..... (fill in the blank)