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!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
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!
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!
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!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
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!
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!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
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..."
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..."
Thursday, May 07, 2009
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.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
"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?
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?
Saturday, May 02, 2009
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...
Rockefeller...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
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!)
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!)
Monday, April 27, 2009
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!
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!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
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.
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?
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?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
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
"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.
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.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
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...
Liberty and justice for all...
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
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?
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?
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
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...
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...
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
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...
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...
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