Greetings to all Suzanne Armenian Kiva Adventure groupies and followers! Tomorrow is the beginning of Kiva Fellow Training in San Francisco. I arrived yesterday afternoon to adjust to the environment and get my bearings straight while participating in the tourist experience. San Francisco is its own experience--a quirky, vibrant, eccentric, eclectic and international city. Never have I seen so many tourists invade one place; this makes for a separate experience of people watching. Being an observer of San Francisco is like a trip to the zoo--"Who is watching who?" Are the locals catering to the tourists peering out or are the tourists gazing into the fishbowl? My growing smashed penny souvenir collection would definitely suggest who is winning the zoo debate--the locals' earnings from tourist dollars.
Being a tourist amongst many tourists has been rather bizarre. Seeing so many cultures collide and somehow meld together to witness a moment says something about the human condition. A genuine warm smile crosses cultural boundaries. Being a Midwesterner provides one with a healthy dose of schooling in "polite." In the Midwest being nice is not a luxury but a demand we place upon each other, its our way of life. Our life hum is politeness.
Tourists find the same amazement in watching a silver body painted street performer along side the charismatic street dancers next to the steel drummers. I am not sure this life hum would work in the Midwest--we are too reserved. My short time here feels like sensory overload.
San Franciso is a mixed bag of nice with a healthy dose of the unusual being expected. I like that--being unique in Frisco is expected. Freedom of expression is demanded. Those demands can be seen in the high end art galleries, street performers of every sort imaginable, and in the character of the locals. San Fransico is a city of extremes and contradictions. It is a place of high culture and high raunchy all converging on one tiny little penisula jutting into the sea.
More observations about training surely to come later in the week. This is one carnival ride I do not want to miss!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
What we learn...
My two blogs each have a unique identity to better portrait Armenia. This blog covers culture and the other current events. Hopefully you'll visit both sites to get a fuller sense of Armenia. What better way to understand a culture than through its language and fairy tales? Luckily I found several stories, but found this one to have the strongest punch. How often do any of us keep looking for the next best gadget or thing to make our lives better when what we need is right smack under our noses? I hope you enjoy the story. :-)
THE FOOLISH MAN
Once upon a time there lived a poor man. He labored all day long, took pains, but all the same he was always poor. Losing hope, one day he decided to go, find God and ask him when he could get rid of this condition. He also wanted to ask God for a favor.
On his way he met a wolf "Good befall you, brother man, where are you going?"
asked the wolf.
"I'm going in search of God," replied the poor man, "I want to tell him my sorrow."
"Since you're going to God," said wolf, "tell God there's a hungry wolf roaming about hills and dales, day and night, but can't find anything to eat. Ask God how long he'll be hungry. Since he has created me, let him feed me."
"All right," said the man and continued in his way. After a while he met a pretty maid "Where are you going, my man?" asked the girl. "I'm going in search of God."
"When you meet God," said the girl, "tell him there's such a pretty girl, young, healthy and rich but she isn't happy. What can help her?" "I will," promised the traveler and went on his way.
He came to a tree which was by the waterside but it had dried up. "Traveller, where are you going?" asked the dried tree.
"I'm going in search of God."
"Wait a, minute. Take my request to God," begged the tree.
"Tell God there's a tree growing on the bank of a clear brook, but it's dry all year round. When shall I ever get green?"
To this the man lent an ear and continued in his way. He went on and on until he found God. Beneath a high rock leaning back against it, in the form of a hoary man sat God.
"Good day," said the poor man and stopped before God. "And welcome to you!" answered God, "What do you want?" "Well, I want you to be fair to everyone. You give much to some and nothing to others. I toil hard, I take pains but still I go almost hungry. There are so many people who don't work half as much as I do but they are rich and live well."
"All right, go now, you'll get rich. I'll give you luck. Go, find it and enjoy it."
"I have something to tell you, Lord," said the poor man and told God about the hungry wolf, the pretty maid and the dried tree. God promised to help them all and told the poor man what they must do. Thanking God the poor man went back. On his way home he came upon the dried tree.
"What message did God have for me?" asked the dried tree.
"God says that there is gold under you. When the pot of gold is taken out, your roots will reach soil and you'll get green," answered the poor man. "All right, you' re just the person to help me. Dig out the gold for yourself and help me to become green."
"No, I have no time, I'm in a hurry," answered the poor man. "God has given me my luck. I must go, find it and enjoy it," said the man and hurried on his way.
Presently, the pretty maid came running to the traveller
"What message have you brought for me?"
"God . said you must find a bosom friend for yourself, then you won't be sad and your time will be spent in joy and you'll be happy."
"If so, be my bosom friend," entreated the maid.
"No, I have no time to be your friend. God has given me my luck. I must go, find it and enjoy it," replied the poor man and went on his way. The hungry wolf was waiting for the traveller.
As soon as he saw him, he ran forward and asked "What did God say for me?"
On my way to God's place I met a pretty maid and a dried tree. They begged me to ask God why the girl was always sad and the tree was dry the whole year round. I told God about them. The trouble with the tree is that there is a pot of gold under it. As soon as it is dug out the tree will get green. I came and told them God's words. The tree asked me to dig out the gold for myself, the maid asked me to become bosom friend. But I refused saying, "No, I can't. God has given me my luck. I must go, find it and enjoy it." "And what did God say for me?" asked the hungry wolf. "For you he said you' d go hungry so long as you have not found a foolish man to eat. When you find one and eat him up you'll be satisfied."
"Where on earth can I find a man more foolish than you?" said the wolf and gobbled him up
************************************************************************************************
The Armenian language in my eyes is beautiful in its curves and fluidity. Although learning the language may prove to be a challenge. The art lover in me cannot wait to soak in the Armenian culture--its ancient history, antiquities, music and museums. Here is a video that displays the alphabet in a sculpture park. I'd love to receive feedback from blog followers!
THE FOOLISH MAN
Once upon a time there lived a poor man. He labored all day long, took pains, but all the same he was always poor. Losing hope, one day he decided to go, find God and ask him when he could get rid of this condition. He also wanted to ask God for a favor.
On his way he met a wolf "Good befall you, brother man, where are you going?"
asked the wolf.
"I'm going in search of God," replied the poor man, "I want to tell him my sorrow."
"Since you're going to God," said wolf, "tell God there's a hungry wolf roaming about hills and dales, day and night, but can't find anything to eat. Ask God how long he'll be hungry. Since he has created me, let him feed me."
"All right," said the man and continued in his way. After a while he met a pretty maid "Where are you going, my man?" asked the girl. "I'm going in search of God."
"When you meet God," said the girl, "tell him there's such a pretty girl, young, healthy and rich but she isn't happy. What can help her?" "I will," promised the traveler and went on his way.
He came to a tree which was by the waterside but it had dried up. "Traveller, where are you going?" asked the dried tree.
"I'm going in search of God."
"Wait a, minute. Take my request to God," begged the tree.
"Tell God there's a tree growing on the bank of a clear brook, but it's dry all year round. When shall I ever get green?"
To this the man lent an ear and continued in his way. He went on and on until he found God. Beneath a high rock leaning back against it, in the form of a hoary man sat God.
"Good day," said the poor man and stopped before God. "And welcome to you!" answered God, "What do you want?" "Well, I want you to be fair to everyone. You give much to some and nothing to others. I toil hard, I take pains but still I go almost hungry. There are so many people who don't work half as much as I do but they are rich and live well."
"All right, go now, you'll get rich. I'll give you luck. Go, find it and enjoy it."
"I have something to tell you, Lord," said the poor man and told God about the hungry wolf, the pretty maid and the dried tree. God promised to help them all and told the poor man what they must do. Thanking God the poor man went back. On his way home he came upon the dried tree.
"What message did God have for me?" asked the dried tree.
"God says that there is gold under you. When the pot of gold is taken out, your roots will reach soil and you'll get green," answered the poor man. "All right, you' re just the person to help me. Dig out the gold for yourself and help me to become green."
"No, I have no time, I'm in a hurry," answered the poor man. "God has given me my luck. I must go, find it and enjoy it," said the man and hurried on his way.
Presently, the pretty maid came running to the traveller
"What message have you brought for me?"
"God . said you must find a bosom friend for yourself, then you won't be sad and your time will be spent in joy and you'll be happy."
"If so, be my bosom friend," entreated the maid.
"No, I have no time to be your friend. God has given me my luck. I must go, find it and enjoy it," replied the poor man and went on his way. The hungry wolf was waiting for the traveller.
As soon as he saw him, he ran forward and asked "What did God say for me?"
On my way to God's place I met a pretty maid and a dried tree. They begged me to ask God why the girl was always sad and the tree was dry the whole year round. I told God about them. The trouble with the tree is that there is a pot of gold under it. As soon as it is dug out the tree will get green. I came and told them God's words. The tree asked me to dig out the gold for myself, the maid asked me to become bosom friend. But I refused saying, "No, I can't. God has given me my luck. I must go, find it and enjoy it." "And what did God say for me?" asked the hungry wolf. "For you he said you' d go hungry so long as you have not found a foolish man to eat. When you find one and eat him up you'll be satisfied."
"Where on earth can I find a man more foolish than you?" said the wolf and gobbled him up
************************************************************************************************
The Armenian language in my eyes is beautiful in its curves and fluidity. Although learning the language may prove to be a challenge. The art lover in me cannot wait to soak in the Armenian culture--its ancient history, antiquities, music and museums. Here is a video that displays the alphabet in a sculpture park. I'd love to receive feedback from blog followers!
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