This is not so much a post as a feeling I want to remember when I'm older (if I'm older...): Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0, on a gorgeous summer day in Washington DC. I mean, the match was at a not-so-gorgeous (It is England after all) day in Liverpool but the feelings over the result stands.
As always, there were extremes of emotion. Even until the final five moments, I was convinced they'd draw/lose but, today, it wasn't to be. Considering how my weekend's been going, maybe I should quickly apply for a few jobs since I might just get one.
I feel good. For now.
7.11.10
6.11.10
Walking in Baltimore: A (short) ethnography of N. Charles Street
I know I should be writing this when I'm less tired but that means it probably would never get written. So here goes:
Best moment: Finding an Irish pub practically next door to one (of two!) Nepali restaurants.
Other memorable moments: Being asked (three times) if I could give someone a dollar. One chap even asked me twice and then turned back and said, I asked you before? I said, yes and I said no then too.
- being asked by a young lad if his partner needed to lose weight. This was somewhat hilarious since the exchange went like this:
Him: Do you mind if I ask you a question? You are unbiased--I want to ask this.
Me: Sure.
Him (pointing to a pretty skinny female): Do you think she needs to lose weight? I think she's crazy to think that but she thinks she needs to lose weight.
Me (thinking): How on earth do I get these questions? (out loud): She'd probably disappear if she lost more weight.
Him: See? An unbiased person thinks the same I do.
- finding where I'd like to live if I were to move to Baltimore (a distinct possibility by the way since the city is fantastic): a loft-type apartment on N. Charles street.
- Riding the various (free!) circulators around the city. I pretty much went to all corners of Baltimore, walked around dodgy-ish and not-so-dodgy neighborhoods and generally thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I'm pretty sure these circulators didn't exist the last time I was in Baltimore.
- Being offered to buy food/beer by some complete stranger at the place I was having dinner. Maybe a younger version of me would have accepted (I was on a bit of a high after having caught up with old friends, finalized the book and had a rousing argument with people who will probably read my job application--farewell job, in other words) but the older me merely thanked the lad and had a solitary meal. I still think it's odd that these things never happened to me when younger!
- In addition to the Nepali restaurants, there was an Afghani one (Helmand), an Indian (?) called Akbar, numerous Thai and a few sushi places. There was also the George Washington monument thingy, three (or four? I went to three) churches, a couple of art museums and a couple of libraries. N. Charles street has it all, it seems.
- Accidentally crashing some chap's party at the Yacht Club was another memorable moment. I legged it quick but not before I ruined a few pictures by wandering around aimlessly, without realizing people were posing/taking pictures around me.
Well, there you have it. I thought N. Charles St pretty much epitomized what I like about Baltimore--the old buildings, the interesting people, the (many) food places, the libraries and museums (and a tiny park) and the general walkability of it all. I've got a post about Four Lions lined up but I have this to say to yous all: if it's showing in your area, go see it. I usually don't recommend stuff but this is well worth seeing.
Best moment: Finding an Irish pub practically next door to one (of two!) Nepali restaurants.
Other memorable moments: Being asked (three times) if I could give someone a dollar. One chap even asked me twice and then turned back and said, I asked you before? I said, yes and I said no then too.
- being asked by a young lad if his partner needed to lose weight. This was somewhat hilarious since the exchange went like this:
Him: Do you mind if I ask you a question? You are unbiased--I want to ask this.
Me: Sure.
Him (pointing to a pretty skinny female): Do you think she needs to lose weight? I think she's crazy to think that but she thinks she needs to lose weight.
Me (thinking): How on earth do I get these questions? (out loud): She'd probably disappear if she lost more weight.
Him: See? An unbiased person thinks the same I do.
- finding where I'd like to live if I were to move to Baltimore (a distinct possibility by the way since the city is fantastic): a loft-type apartment on N. Charles street.
- Riding the various (free!) circulators around the city. I pretty much went to all corners of Baltimore, walked around dodgy-ish and not-so-dodgy neighborhoods and generally thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I'm pretty sure these circulators didn't exist the last time I was in Baltimore.
- Being offered to buy food/beer by some complete stranger at the place I was having dinner. Maybe a younger version of me would have accepted (I was on a bit of a high after having caught up with old friends, finalized the book and had a rousing argument with people who will probably read my job application--farewell job, in other words) but the older me merely thanked the lad and had a solitary meal. I still think it's odd that these things never happened to me when younger!
- In addition to the Nepali restaurants, there was an Afghani one (Helmand), an Indian (?) called Akbar, numerous Thai and a few sushi places. There was also the George Washington monument thingy, three (or four? I went to three) churches, a couple of art museums and a couple of libraries. N. Charles street has it all, it seems.
- Accidentally crashing some chap's party at the Yacht Club was another memorable moment. I legged it quick but not before I ruined a few pictures by wandering around aimlessly, without realizing people were posing/taking pictures around me.
Well, there you have it. I thought N. Charles St pretty much epitomized what I like about Baltimore--the old buildings, the interesting people, the (many) food places, the libraries and museums (and a tiny park) and the general walkability of it all. I've got a post about Four Lions lined up but I have this to say to yous all: if it's showing in your area, go see it. I usually don't recommend stuff but this is well worth seeing.
5.11.10
A few words on national distinctiveness
Yet another quick post. It's Diwali (Hindu holiday) this weekend. Except for the Nepali folks it's called Tihar and our biggest day is Sunday for Bhaitika, when sisters invite brothers over to theirs for foods/etc and get heaps of money/pressies from the brothers in return.
I've realised two things about celebrating non-mainstream holidays:
a) people assume they know what you're on about so I get "oh, right, you're celebrating Diwali". Well, sort of but the Nepali version is a bit different. And we emphasize different things. It's not *really* Diwali. It's a mixup of local traditions and the religious holiday.
b) people assume you *should* celebrate Diwali. Well, again, sort of. Most of the time, I don't know when the holidays are coming up since they work on the lunar calendar so are on different days each year. This year, I know when the holidays are since the parents have been about. Usually, I breeze through life without knowing since both my brothers are not accessible so the likelihood of presents is low. If I'm not getting pressies, why celebrate, eh?
I'm off to a conference in Baltimore but I'll try to be better at updating things. Maybe I'll even update from Baltimore. We'll see.
I've realised two things about celebrating non-mainstream holidays:
a) people assume they know what you're on about so I get "oh, right, you're celebrating Diwali". Well, sort of but the Nepali version is a bit different. And we emphasize different things. It's not *really* Diwali. It's a mixup of local traditions and the religious holiday.
b) people assume you *should* celebrate Diwali. Well, again, sort of. Most of the time, I don't know when the holidays are coming up since they work on the lunar calendar so are on different days each year. This year, I know when the holidays are since the parents have been about. Usually, I breeze through life without knowing since both my brothers are not accessible so the likelihood of presents is low. If I'm not getting pressies, why celebrate, eh?
I'm off to a conference in Baltimore but I'll try to be better at updating things. Maybe I'll even update from Baltimore. We'll see.
4.11.10
Thoughts on the US elections (and other things)
Yet another breeze through post (or, rather, a bit of a rant):
1. Had someone tell me "why do YOU care about the US elections? It doesn't matter to you."
Well, that's true. I don't give a fucking damn might be the usual answer. Except I do. I live here. I've lived here for the past 7 years and I plan to live here in the next few years (all going well, etc etc). I do care about where I live and I'd like to live in a country where terms like "compassion" and "addressing inequality" and "health" do matter. And, really, if I could vote, I would because, as a blasted immigrant, I'm well aware that I'm here because my "place"/"space" (however defined) is not half as good (however defined) as here. The stakes in this election (or in any US election) are high. What is decided here affects US foreign (and aid) policy abroad. It affects how people deal with the US. So, yes, the US elections are irrelevant to me as a voting process but are probably more relevant to me than to many others here. I'll stick with this claim.
2. We discussed in class today about how vacillating undeciders are classified as "Independent" here. Did I mention we've now started week 1 of Discourse Analysis? Well, we have. We also discussed how actions are legitimated by particular descriptions of an issue. I talked about my favorite topic here: terrorism. Tell students that Nelson Mandela was once labelled a "terrorist" and you get shocked reactions. Well, he was.
3. On Saturday, while everyone I knew went to the Colbert/Stewart rally, I ended up walking around my neighbourhood/going online and asking people why they were not at the rally. Got a series of rather shirty comments (understandably--why would anyone like being asked "oh, why didn't you go to the rally, then?" while they were merely trying to do their usual stuff) but also some gems. One rather elderly gentleman told me he was there for a Bale hattrick (watching Man Utd-Spurs). Well, Mr. Bale did not oblige then but he sure did on Tuesday (Champions League vs Inter Milan). One of my best moments of footy-viewing this year.
4. The many usages of terrorism in the past week or so, especially to describe the DC (alleged) bomber and the suspicious packages on planes. The lack of usage of terrorism especially in the lead up to the US elections. Actually foreign policy was not a major concern in the US elections, it seems.
5. The odd ways in which discourse works: Obama, the product of a single mum, who grew up in rural America and pretty much slogged his way through uni: elitist. How does that work? I'd have characterized him as a representative of the American Dream. Instead, we get a chap who is clamouring for tax cuts to the rich to be continued and who wants to dismantle a healthcare system that just may get more poor people insurance coverage, saying this:
"I spent my whole life chasing the American dream. I put myself through school… working every rotten job there was and every night shift I could find," he sobbed.
"I poured my heart and soul into running a small business - and when I saw how out of touch Washington had become with the core values of this great nation, I put my name forward and ran for office."
He also cries. (though apparently it's okay when old white men cry. It's just when others do it that it becomes problematic.)
1. Had someone tell me "why do YOU care about the US elections? It doesn't matter to you."
Well, that's true. I don't give a fucking damn might be the usual answer. Except I do. I live here. I've lived here for the past 7 years and I plan to live here in the next few years (all going well, etc etc). I do care about where I live and I'd like to live in a country where terms like "compassion" and "addressing inequality" and "health" do matter. And, really, if I could vote, I would because, as a blasted immigrant, I'm well aware that I'm here because my "place"/"space" (however defined) is not half as good (however defined) as here. The stakes in this election (or in any US election) are high. What is decided here affects US foreign (and aid) policy abroad. It affects how people deal with the US. So, yes, the US elections are irrelevant to me as a voting process but are probably more relevant to me than to many others here. I'll stick with this claim.
2. We discussed in class today about how vacillating undeciders are classified as "Independent" here. Did I mention we've now started week 1 of Discourse Analysis? Well, we have. We also discussed how actions are legitimated by particular descriptions of an issue. I talked about my favorite topic here: terrorism. Tell students that Nelson Mandela was once labelled a "terrorist" and you get shocked reactions. Well, he was.
3. On Saturday, while everyone I knew went to the Colbert/Stewart rally, I ended up walking around my neighbourhood/going online and asking people why they were not at the rally. Got a series of rather shirty comments (understandably--why would anyone like being asked "oh, why didn't you go to the rally, then?" while they were merely trying to do their usual stuff) but also some gems. One rather elderly gentleman told me he was there for a Bale hattrick (watching Man Utd-Spurs). Well, Mr. Bale did not oblige then but he sure did on Tuesday (Champions League vs Inter Milan). One of my best moments of footy-viewing this year.
4. The many usages of terrorism in the past week or so, especially to describe the DC (alleged) bomber and the suspicious packages on planes. The lack of usage of terrorism especially in the lead up to the US elections. Actually foreign policy was not a major concern in the US elections, it seems.
5. The odd ways in which discourse works: Obama, the product of a single mum, who grew up in rural America and pretty much slogged his way through uni: elitist. How does that work? I'd have characterized him as a representative of the American Dream. Instead, we get a chap who is clamouring for tax cuts to the rich to be continued and who wants to dismantle a healthcare system that just may get more poor people insurance coverage, saying this:
"I spent my whole life chasing the American dream. I put myself through school… working every rotten job there was and every night shift I could find," he sobbed.
"I poured my heart and soul into running a small business - and when I saw how out of touch Washington had become with the core values of this great nation, I put my name forward and ran for office."
He also cries. (though apparently it's okay when old white men cry. It's just when others do it that it becomes problematic.)
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