I am in India. Crazy sights being seen. Lots to say but too much to do, I am on my way to see the sights of Mumbai (Bombay). Tonight going to check out a movie bollywood style.
amigos y amantes <3
Monday, March 26, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Half Way Round the World - We forward clocks by the half Hour
OK family, friends, everyone in between:
HERE IS THE UPDATE
So I painted a very pale picture of Brazil in my last blog. It was scary at times, true, but that’s true on 2nd and Christian sometimes. Few people got mugged, but who hasn’t? True true true.
Anyway, Carnaval was great, everything you think it would be, parades, people, floats, drinking, good fun. But, a big part of me and of others wishes we could’ve seen the country when it didn’t smell like piss.
Either way, don’t want to discount the beauty of it all. Salvador is an absolutely gorgeous City.
Then there that large trip across the ocean we took.
I’m telling you.
You have no idea what it is like every morning afternoon and night to look out in the ocean. To have 360 degree views of sunsets, to set calm seas and big waves, to just look at the sun and the moon and its incredible, I will miss it most of all things here. Sometimes there is so much going on here, so many people, so much action and activity, you can barely find a minute for yourself. When I am looking at the ocean I have as many minutes as I want (unless someone spots me from behind! haha).
Classes continue to go well. 5 Classes, in 4 I have solid A’s. In the 5th I have a B. My B is in Global Studies, it is the class everyone has to take. I’m sick of it. But I have to hold on to that B.
I took a leap here on this boat that really has made me proud. Before I left, as some of you may or may not know, I met up with Jennifer Weiner, she’s a Philadelphia Writer (In Her Shoes). I shared with her some of my work, my poetry. Needless to say she didn’t really read any of it. BUT, she gave me some good advice. She said “Jaime, today poets need to be more then just writers, they need to be performers.” Shy, I said, I don’t know if I can be that.
Well, I have read here on this ship. The last time I read was in front of the entire boat, at least whoever was present and watching, but I estimate 500 people. Wow, I was so nervous, my hand shaking as I begun, but I did it, I did it.
And the best part was—strangers coming up to that night and the next day. Saying, I loved your poem, or you did great, or the best was “I loved your poem so much I want a copy of it.” My friends were all proud of me, I was all proud of me. I felt like Jennifer was right. Who’s going to know I am a poet if I don’t show it to anyone? Everyone around the ship kinda knows I am a writer; people seem to react to it. I love it. It gives me energy and confidence and I feel so good sharing with people.
So, that was a sidebar. But in reply to that email you sent Dad, (which was beautiful and made me miss you, but that’s ok, you can still send more), I don’t have time to be bored here. Believe me, classes everyday, I’m tutoring one of the children, involved in lots of group work, all of which I try to take the leadership role, then friends, then quiet, they give a lot of work here too. This is NOT a party boat, I’ll tell you that.
Though we do have fun. They have “Pub Nights” here which give you a chance to socialize. They also have movies they show, we watched V for Vendetta the other night, everyone needs to see that!! My poetry class has been organizing events and most of all, I am reading, a lot. Trying to make good use of ALL my free time. I was sitting at the snack bar the other day when this guy I never talked to before turns to me and goes “you are always reading.” I said, “uh, yea..” He said, “I always see you reading, why?” “I said, I don’t know.” And that’s how you meet people. See there are so many students on this boat, I am still meeting new people, good people too, people from all over the country.
I have my group of friends and I think I have learned good things from them and hopefully they have learned from me too.
South Africa was incredible. Seriously, pardon my language but FUCK Disney World, take your kids on a Safari. Ok that’s not entirely true, I love Disney World, Mom, when we goin back there? Haha. But honestly. I can say that those 3 days at Kruger National Park, 5 hours outside of Johannesburg, were some of the best of my life so far. Animals up close, 5 am sunrise drives through the park, Edwin our “tour guide” and friend, the great food, they cooked right in front of us every night, traditional good food. We slept on tents and at night when I’d close my eyes I wouldn’t think of anything, I would just sleep. I would just sleep. Do you know what its like to simply close your eyes? To be so content, so, happy, that you just sleep? That’s how I was then.
I felt like a true adventuress on that trip, cruising through the airports with my backpack on my back, looking at things I never saw and can’t imagine seeing again. I can’t stress it enough or put it into words that will really express it, but those few days in South Africa were incredible. I’ll never forget them.
The rest of the days in Cape Town were awesome. It is a really cool city filled with awesome people. I could’ve grown up there.
But, then there were the townships. If you are familiar with the history of the country you know those townships were the only place black people could really go, torn between native land, struggles for jobs and literally finding a home.
Those townships were beautiful, but beautifully sad to me. Those people live lives filled with hope and that hope is everlasting. I went to this market and bought two pins with the South African flag and it has the AIDS Ribbon all done in beads. That’s one for me and one for my friend Gia.
One of my teachers started a performing arts initiative at a university and a middle school in S.A. We went on a trip there, about 30 of us, and we all interacted and they put on shows for us and we all played games. It was a lot of fun.
Another night, the first night there, we found this bangin bar on Long Street (where a lot of people go out to clubs and stuff). It was a strait up hip-hop bar, with a DJ soon as you walk in and people in the back playin pool. All this old American Soul and R&B records on the wall and graffiti surrounded the walls by the pool table. All the people in there could’ve easily fit into the scenes of Philly and NY. I was hearin beats I knew and some I wish I could find. It was a good time. I talked to some guy from Botswana, the country just North of S.A. I had just finished this book in my African American Lit class by Bessie Head called “When Rain Clouds Gather” which takes place there. He read the book and we talked about it.
We were pulled into a port in probably one of the richest parts of the city. I couldn’t afford half the stores.
One thing I noticed about S.A. is that most of the servers and workers are black while almost all the clients are white. While Apartheid is over, it still goes on in many ways, seems like though they have made quicker progress then we have in the U.S. in terms of race relations, hard to tell though, being in only one place really.
South Africa was awesome, one place I will definitely return to a few times in my life. Hopefully some of you will come with me.
The trip to Mauritius made me sick.
The boat rocked so hard we had to take the drawers shut.
Now on our way to India we are getting “low” on water so if we don’t start cutting back they are going to have to “ration it out.” Could you imagine? Haha. They say try only taking a shower every other day.
The heat is intense here, they say India is going to be scorching. I am booking tickets right now to go to Mumbai and Delhi to see the Taj. I can’t wait to be in India. My friend is getting a tattoo there, don’t worry, I’m waiting until California.
Mauritius was my first real culture shock. Get this- British accented Indians in an African tropical island, and they are Hindu. WOW. We were there 3 days; a lot of people took it as our Spring Break. Hey, me too, why not? We got there late and I was supposed to go on this trip the first day to explore how women live on the island, I think that would’ve helped with my lil shock I had. But instead Darron, Terron, Eric, Brenna, Jordi and I all walked around, visiting the markets, looking for a camera for Terron and Brenna and eventually climbing two flights of stairs to find an empty restaurant filled with smoke and old men. The food was great! A little curry to get me going before India.
When I am not on the ship I eat great. When I am on the ship, I eat the same everyday!
The food gets a littttttle tiring but how can I complain when I am getting off into countries where people are starving.
There’s so much more I want to tell you—about Cachoiera and how to make chocolate, about the Cab Driver who was in Blood Diamond, about Armando and Lea and the other Philippines who work here on the boat. I want to tell you about my day at the beach and the pineapple which make my tongue tingle. About all the little adventures inbetween.
But, the best things I think I’ll keep in my heart.
I miss you Mom most of all. Alex, I hope you’re not taller then me when I get home. Ok, you already are, but don’t grow too quick. Damn, I act like I have been gone for years, but Dad, I miss you too, I just thought of our trips up to Central and me running up the back steps—glad we don’t have to do that anymore!! But sometimes I wish we could.
Everyone else, Rosa, Cleo, and all my other amigos y amantes, until we meet again!
HERE IS THE UPDATE
So I painted a very pale picture of Brazil in my last blog. It was scary at times, true, but that’s true on 2nd and Christian sometimes. Few people got mugged, but who hasn’t? True true true.
Anyway, Carnaval was great, everything you think it would be, parades, people, floats, drinking, good fun. But, a big part of me and of others wishes we could’ve seen the country when it didn’t smell like piss.
Either way, don’t want to discount the beauty of it all. Salvador is an absolutely gorgeous City.
Then there that large trip across the ocean we took.
I’m telling you.
You have no idea what it is like every morning afternoon and night to look out in the ocean. To have 360 degree views of sunsets, to set calm seas and big waves, to just look at the sun and the moon and its incredible, I will miss it most of all things here. Sometimes there is so much going on here, so many people, so much action and activity, you can barely find a minute for yourself. When I am looking at the ocean I have as many minutes as I want (unless someone spots me from behind! haha).
Classes continue to go well. 5 Classes, in 4 I have solid A’s. In the 5th I have a B. My B is in Global Studies, it is the class everyone has to take. I’m sick of it. But I have to hold on to that B.
I took a leap here on this boat that really has made me proud. Before I left, as some of you may or may not know, I met up with Jennifer Weiner, she’s a Philadelphia Writer (In Her Shoes). I shared with her some of my work, my poetry. Needless to say she didn’t really read any of it. BUT, she gave me some good advice. She said “Jaime, today poets need to be more then just writers, they need to be performers.” Shy, I said, I don’t know if I can be that.
Well, I have read here on this ship. The last time I read was in front of the entire boat, at least whoever was present and watching, but I estimate 500 people. Wow, I was so nervous, my hand shaking as I begun, but I did it, I did it.
And the best part was—strangers coming up to that night and the next day. Saying, I loved your poem, or you did great, or the best was “I loved your poem so much I want a copy of it.” My friends were all proud of me, I was all proud of me. I felt like Jennifer was right. Who’s going to know I am a poet if I don’t show it to anyone? Everyone around the ship kinda knows I am a writer; people seem to react to it. I love it. It gives me energy and confidence and I feel so good sharing with people.
So, that was a sidebar. But in reply to that email you sent Dad, (which was beautiful and made me miss you, but that’s ok, you can still send more), I don’t have time to be bored here. Believe me, classes everyday, I’m tutoring one of the children, involved in lots of group work, all of which I try to take the leadership role, then friends, then quiet, they give a lot of work here too. This is NOT a party boat, I’ll tell you that.
Though we do have fun. They have “Pub Nights” here which give you a chance to socialize. They also have movies they show, we watched V for Vendetta the other night, everyone needs to see that!! My poetry class has been organizing events and most of all, I am reading, a lot. Trying to make good use of ALL my free time. I was sitting at the snack bar the other day when this guy I never talked to before turns to me and goes “you are always reading.” I said, “uh, yea..” He said, “I always see you reading, why?” “I said, I don’t know.” And that’s how you meet people. See there are so many students on this boat, I am still meeting new people, good people too, people from all over the country.
I have my group of friends and I think I have learned good things from them and hopefully they have learned from me too.
South Africa was incredible. Seriously, pardon my language but FUCK Disney World, take your kids on a Safari. Ok that’s not entirely true, I love Disney World, Mom, when we goin back there? Haha. But honestly. I can say that those 3 days at Kruger National Park, 5 hours outside of Johannesburg, were some of the best of my life so far. Animals up close, 5 am sunrise drives through the park, Edwin our “tour guide” and friend, the great food, they cooked right in front of us every night, traditional good food. We slept on tents and at night when I’d close my eyes I wouldn’t think of anything, I would just sleep. I would just sleep. Do you know what its like to simply close your eyes? To be so content, so, happy, that you just sleep? That’s how I was then.
I felt like a true adventuress on that trip, cruising through the airports with my backpack on my back, looking at things I never saw and can’t imagine seeing again. I can’t stress it enough or put it into words that will really express it, but those few days in South Africa were incredible. I’ll never forget them.
The rest of the days in Cape Town were awesome. It is a really cool city filled with awesome people. I could’ve grown up there.
But, then there were the townships. If you are familiar with the history of the country you know those townships were the only place black people could really go, torn between native land, struggles for jobs and literally finding a home.
Those townships were beautiful, but beautifully sad to me. Those people live lives filled with hope and that hope is everlasting. I went to this market and bought two pins with the South African flag and it has the AIDS Ribbon all done in beads. That’s one for me and one for my friend Gia.
One of my teachers started a performing arts initiative at a university and a middle school in S.A. We went on a trip there, about 30 of us, and we all interacted and they put on shows for us and we all played games. It was a lot of fun.
Another night, the first night there, we found this bangin bar on Long Street (where a lot of people go out to clubs and stuff). It was a strait up hip-hop bar, with a DJ soon as you walk in and people in the back playin pool. All this old American Soul and R&B records on the wall and graffiti surrounded the walls by the pool table. All the people in there could’ve easily fit into the scenes of Philly and NY. I was hearin beats I knew and some I wish I could find. It was a good time. I talked to some guy from Botswana, the country just North of S.A. I had just finished this book in my African American Lit class by Bessie Head called “When Rain Clouds Gather” which takes place there. He read the book and we talked about it.
We were pulled into a port in probably one of the richest parts of the city. I couldn’t afford half the stores.
One thing I noticed about S.A. is that most of the servers and workers are black while almost all the clients are white. While Apartheid is over, it still goes on in many ways, seems like though they have made quicker progress then we have in the U.S. in terms of race relations, hard to tell though, being in only one place really.
South Africa was awesome, one place I will definitely return to a few times in my life. Hopefully some of you will come with me.
The trip to Mauritius made me sick.
The boat rocked so hard we had to take the drawers shut.
Now on our way to India we are getting “low” on water so if we don’t start cutting back they are going to have to “ration it out.” Could you imagine? Haha. They say try only taking a shower every other day.
The heat is intense here, they say India is going to be scorching. I am booking tickets right now to go to Mumbai and Delhi to see the Taj. I can’t wait to be in India. My friend is getting a tattoo there, don’t worry, I’m waiting until California.
Mauritius was my first real culture shock. Get this- British accented Indians in an African tropical island, and they are Hindu. WOW. We were there 3 days; a lot of people took it as our Spring Break. Hey, me too, why not? We got there late and I was supposed to go on this trip the first day to explore how women live on the island, I think that would’ve helped with my lil shock I had. But instead Darron, Terron, Eric, Brenna, Jordi and I all walked around, visiting the markets, looking for a camera for Terron and Brenna and eventually climbing two flights of stairs to find an empty restaurant filled with smoke and old men. The food was great! A little curry to get me going before India.
When I am not on the ship I eat great. When I am on the ship, I eat the same everyday!
The food gets a littttttle tiring but how can I complain when I am getting off into countries where people are starving.
There’s so much more I want to tell you—about Cachoiera and how to make chocolate, about the Cab Driver who was in Blood Diamond, about Armando and Lea and the other Philippines who work here on the boat. I want to tell you about my day at the beach and the pineapple which make my tongue tingle. About all the little adventures inbetween.
But, the best things I think I’ll keep in my heart.
I miss you Mom most of all. Alex, I hope you’re not taller then me when I get home. Ok, you already are, but don’t grow too quick. Damn, I act like I have been gone for years, but Dad, I miss you too, I just thought of our trips up to Central and me running up the back steps—glad we don’t have to do that anymore!! But sometimes I wish we could.
Everyone else, Rosa, Cleo, and all my other amigos y amantes, until we meet again!
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Long Overdue
a blog update is long overdue.
but i have no time.
i am in cape town, south africa. My favorite port so far. Everything is great with me. I am healthy happy safe and in love with Africa. My Safari was some of the best 3 days of my life. I am on my way out to a swanky little jazz spot for dinner with a big group of friends. I am going to update soon with a lot of pictures, so I hope everyone is still checking up on things here.
Brazil was great, but I need to let everyone know more about that -- later.
Until then, adios amigos y amantes.
I miss you all, but not enough to go home!! hahaha
but i have no time.
i am in cape town, south africa. My favorite port so far. Everything is great with me. I am healthy happy safe and in love with Africa. My Safari was some of the best 3 days of my life. I am on my way out to a swanky little jazz spot for dinner with a big group of friends. I am going to update soon with a lot of pictures, so I hope everyone is still checking up on things here.
Brazil was great, but I need to let everyone know more about that -- later.
Until then, adios amigos y amantes.
I miss you all, but not enough to go home!! hahaha
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