You always have to think about the first course, second course, and dessert..
then you do the shopping...then the cooking....
its fun.
and then a bottle of red wine:P
Living with Austeja and Maciej in London...I learn how to do it the European way:P
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Virus virus Virus!!!
So we, the LSA-ers are lucky enough to have a week plus of holiday, but so what??
Most of us are screwed with the aftermath of sickness:flu, cold, dirrhae ....
It started off well on last thursday, when we took the High velocity train (AVE) from Barcelona to Madrid. Took us only slightly more than 2.5 hours. The hotel we live in, Opera hotel was excellent, with good meals and strategic location at the center of Madrid. Still can´t believe that we are paid by Dartmouth just to visit the two important Museums in Madrid: Prado and Reina Sofia.
I think i fell in love with Valazquez, the pioneer artist in Spain whose master piece ¨the Meninas¨is Prado´s proudest asset. His modern idea of mixing reality and illusion, with different levels of space and light tells a story of his own, which still amazes today´s spectators.
On Saturday, we were ´released´to be on our own. Most of us chose to explore around Spain, near from Segovia and Toledo and far towards the south of Spain, the Andalusia state which important cities are Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada....
However, my travelling mate, Ana, started to show signs of uncomfort, our day started out slower as plan, and we headed to her hosts´apartment. Turns out she has high fever and suspected swine flu case.
Sunday, I decided to travel around Toledo, Spain´s old capital by myself. I forgot my camera, which was a pity. But lucky enough to have found travelmates upon arrival. There were a group of Thai stewards and stewardess and they are kind enough to help me take some photo.
Toledo is spectacular with the old castle, long river, cathedral and the theme color of badge that fill up the whole city. However, my nightmare also began here when we decided to order their local specialty: pork, veal, jamon....
The mixture of meat and the exotic way of preparing the dishes might have caused my stomach ache. I ended up have a dirrhae the very next day when I was supposed to travel south to Cordoba, the city where Mosque is built inside Cathedral... I am still contemplating whether I should take a midnight bus today to go to Cordoba and spend a day there before coming back to Madrid the very same evening...
Most of us are screwed with the aftermath of sickness:flu, cold, dirrhae ....
It started off well on last thursday, when we took the High velocity train (AVE) from Barcelona to Madrid. Took us only slightly more than 2.5 hours. The hotel we live in, Opera hotel was excellent, with good meals and strategic location at the center of Madrid. Still can´t believe that we are paid by Dartmouth just to visit the two important Museums in Madrid: Prado and Reina Sofia.
I think i fell in love with Valazquez, the pioneer artist in Spain whose master piece ¨the Meninas¨is Prado´s proudest asset. His modern idea of mixing reality and illusion, with different levels of space and light tells a story of his own, which still amazes today´s spectators.
On Saturday, we were ´released´to be on our own. Most of us chose to explore around Spain, near from Segovia and Toledo and far towards the south of Spain, the Andalusia state which important cities are Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada....
However, my travelling mate, Ana, started to show signs of uncomfort, our day started out slower as plan, and we headed to her hosts´apartment. Turns out she has high fever and suspected swine flu case.
Sunday, I decided to travel around Toledo, Spain´s old capital by myself. I forgot my camera, which was a pity. But lucky enough to have found travelmates upon arrival. There were a group of Thai stewards and stewardess and they are kind enough to help me take some photo.
Toledo is spectacular with the old castle, long river, cathedral and the theme color of badge that fill up the whole city. However, my nightmare also began here when we decided to order their local specialty: pork, veal, jamon....
The mixture of meat and the exotic way of preparing the dishes might have caused my stomach ache. I ended up have a dirrhae the very next day when I was supposed to travel south to Cordoba, the city where Mosque is built inside Cathedral... I am still contemplating whether I should take a midnight bus today to go to Cordoba and spend a day there before coming back to Madrid the very same evening...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The rhetoric of Chinese women in relationship
I have not been really updated with Chinese entertainment news, but the latest news I have heard is Andy Lau, the Hong Kong movie star/singer recently got married and has finally admitted his girlfriend of 24 years.
Growing up in Malaysia, we often hear rumours about his secret lover, since his girlfriend is Malaysian. I have always known that this day would come, but didn't really expect that he has been hiding this relationship for this long.
I bet you are wondering: why suddenly brought up a tabloid like this?
Due to my nature, I did some research on Youtube and found a Taiwanese program that specially discussed about Andy Lau and his 'concrete' girlfriend. He was accused a liar by fans for hiding the fact that he is 'engaged', but that wasn't the point. If you are dumb enough to ignore this rumor and blindly thinks that he is still single at 50, that's fine.
My point is, which type of women could bear such anonymity and sacrifice? To be invisible? To be unknown? to have no voice of your own? The program proudly analyzed the other Superstars like Jackie Chan. He too, has been hidding his wife and son for 20 years. His wife, Lin Feng Jiao, was a rising star in Taiwan when they first met. However, as soon as she got pregnant, she announced her exit from the entertainment industry and willing to be Jackie's invisible wife.
Many said that (chinese) women can bear and sacrifice anything, as long as the man 'loves' her, (by giving her a son/ daughter?) she does not need to be 'certified'. I am not surprised that critics found this positive. They actually admire such persistence from these women, who ask nothing in return. Instead, always do whatever the men wants. They always take care of his needs: never jealous because they understand the nature of their job as movie stars; never walk hand-in-hand in the public; worse, never say a word when questions are raised.
Perhaps these are extreme cases, we are talking about superstars here. But I find this kind of character in woman exists everywhere. I was taught that self sacrifice without any return is an honorable thing to do. My mom is such a woman, and I slowly realized myself too, is slowly falling into this rhetoric:
Lastly, just want to throw this into my argument: What is the cause of Domestic Violence?
Last week, I watched a movie " Te doy mis ojos" ( I give you my eyes) about domestic violence and I have to write a commentary on it:
I thought domestic violence are caused by man's insecurity of their 'self' rather than insecurity about the woman. He might have low self-esteem at work or his social life and therefore needs to release their sense of defeat at home by acting like a 'tyrant'. Housewives are usually the victims because they depend on their husband so much for living. Thus, bearing their temper seem to be the most natural thing to 'pay back' for what he has given to her, financially. But is this fair?
Going back to the Andy Lau and Jackie Chan's case-- Yes, I am happy for the women in their story. But are they the best example in showing the role of Chinese women in a relationship?
Having grow up in this culture and having exposed to romantic stories in novels and movie of this nature, I can't help the fact that I am clearly influenced by such rhetoric when I am in a relationship. I am 'weak' and 'self'less. But I am determined to be a more outspoken and independent woman, even though most of the time that does not really please the man.
Growing up in Malaysia, we often hear rumours about his secret lover, since his girlfriend is Malaysian. I have always known that this day would come, but didn't really expect that he has been hiding this relationship for this long.
I bet you are wondering: why suddenly brought up a tabloid like this?
Due to my nature, I did some research on Youtube and found a Taiwanese program that specially discussed about Andy Lau and his 'concrete' girlfriend. He was accused a liar by fans for hiding the fact that he is 'engaged', but that wasn't the point. If you are dumb enough to ignore this rumor and blindly thinks that he is still single at 50, that's fine.
My point is, which type of women could bear such anonymity and sacrifice? To be invisible? To be unknown? to have no voice of your own? The program proudly analyzed the other Superstars like Jackie Chan. He too, has been hidding his wife and son for 20 years. His wife, Lin Feng Jiao, was a rising star in Taiwan when they first met. However, as soon as she got pregnant, she announced her exit from the entertainment industry and willing to be Jackie's invisible wife.
Many said that (chinese) women can bear and sacrifice anything, as long as the man 'loves' her, (by giving her a son/ daughter?) she does not need to be 'certified'. I am not surprised that critics found this positive. They actually admire such persistence from these women, who ask nothing in return. Instead, always do whatever the men wants. They always take care of his needs: never jealous because they understand the nature of their job as movie stars; never walk hand-in-hand in the public; worse, never say a word when questions are raised.
Perhaps these are extreme cases, we are talking about superstars here. But I find this kind of character in woman exists everywhere. I was taught that self sacrifice without any return is an honorable thing to do. My mom is such a woman, and I slowly realized myself too, is slowly falling into this rhetoric:
- We are smart enough to let the guy 'win' in arguments (even though we know the truth is not necessary how he sees it);
- we suffer with them ( even if we could easily solve the problem by ourselves) because we don't want to ruin their reputation;
- we give them 'face' ( meaning not to ruin their public image, though the image might be a pretense);
- we keep our fights and our problems to ourselves (never tell others besides close family member);
- we give everything into the relationship: heart, soul, and 'self'. Being in the relationship seem to require us to lose our sense of self: we no longer pursue our own dreams ( especially dreams like movie star, singer, public figure that would outweigh the man), our own hobbies (cause our time is used to adjust around their life).Some might even give up their job and be a 24/7 mother.
Lastly, just want to throw this into my argument: What is the cause of Domestic Violence?
Last week, I watched a movie " Te doy mis ojos" ( I give you my eyes) about domestic violence and I have to write a commentary on it:
The husband has been abusing his wife for years but still claims to love her. She left him to stay with her sister, and found her passion in being an Art Curator in Museums and decided to pursue her dreams. ( she found her 'self') But as she decided to go back home to his husband, her husband was challenged by the fact she dresses up for work, and not answers his phone calls. He thought she is cheating thus he lost his temper again and started to smash things in the house. At the end of the story, the wife was heading to her new job interview, when his husband stripped her off by force and humiliated her by locking her in the balcony of the house.
Just to be brief, she finally decided to leave him, even though he has not beaten her since.
I thought domestic violence are caused by man's insecurity of their 'self' rather than insecurity about the woman. He might have low self-esteem at work or his social life and therefore needs to release their sense of defeat at home by acting like a 'tyrant'. Housewives are usually the victims because they depend on their husband so much for living. Thus, bearing their temper seem to be the most natural thing to 'pay back' for what he has given to her, financially. But is this fair?
Going back to the Andy Lau and Jackie Chan's case-- Yes, I am happy for the women in their story. But are they the best example in showing the role of Chinese women in a relationship?
Having grow up in this culture and having exposed to romantic stories in novels and movie of this nature, I can't help the fact that I am clearly influenced by such rhetoric when I am in a relationship. I am 'weak' and 'self'less. But I am determined to be a more outspoken and independent woman, even though most of the time that does not really please the man.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Friends' collection of photos...
Pictures from: Beach in Sitges, Liquor tasting , eatting juicy tree branch, Museum in Monserrat (old monastery by the mountain), and flamenco in Park Guel
Friday, October 2, 2009
Spanish culture observed and learned
PIROPOS
meaning whistling or complimenting your physical appearance on the streets. Totally permissible in Spanish culture and its not an attack for the ladies. Ladies actually enjoy the ‘pilopos’ and usually smiles back (though didn’t stop walking). Might be a bit sketchy at night though.Wonder what the 8-10% of Muslims in Spain think about this.
MARIJUANA
Illegal to buy or sell, but legal to consume. Spanish respect everybody’s private life, therefore have no comment on what happen behind your own backyard. Basically you are allow to smoke pot at home, but people do it anyway in the Metro, on the street, before class, in the garden…. You name it. My conversation professor said that he once smelt pot from a student in his 8 30am class.
DRINKING
Alcohol beverages are cheap here for a reason. It doesn’t have a timeframe for a can of beer or a glass of wine. Some people drink at lunchtime before going back to work, which is a norm.
SMOKE
There’s no negative connotation to smoking here when 9 in 10 people smoke.
INTERRUPTING
The more the merrier! Spaniards interrupt all the time—according to my professor, they like to talk more than to listen, I hope he’s just joking. Hahaha. He once talked with a Chinese student, and he couldn’t stop talking because she wouldn’t interrupt! lol
PDA( Public Display Affection)
I couldn’t stress more how frequently they do it here. Touching and kissing is a way to express love, thus I see couples, from teenagers to old couple, they would hold hands, caress each other and of course kiss in public. Once, I was waiting on a Metro, when a couple sitting next to me making out loudly….The lady was sitting on the man’s lap, French kissing like nobody’s business. I was just 3 inches away from them….
SPANISH
Apparently, when you are absolutely certain that you will do something in the future, you use PRESENT tense instead of FUTURE tense. Therefore, when somebody is using FUTURE tense talking about the FUTURE, he/she has not make up their mind…hahaha
For example: He watches TV tomorrow (absolutely sure he’s gonna watch tv)
He will watch TV tomorrow ( he’s just saying, not sure yet)
HOW LIBERAL?
Homosexual marriage is legal for 5 years now and Abortion is legal since 1986!
Can’t think of more right now. Till next time. Dieu (Catalan way of saying ‘Adios’)
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