Ro-cha-cha!

I just got back around midnight from a day-trip to Rochester. That was neat. The History department had a "History Day," and I found out about it from Ben, who informed me I should try to go even though I'm not a student anymore. But hey, I was a history minor, right? And since Micah decided not to go after-all, I went in his place. We went to the Memorial Art Gallery for about 3 hours... One of the paintings I really liked was by Lyonel Feininger, called Zirchow VI. I saw it and I was instantly transported back home. Sometimes I don't really get what the more abstract or random or (as this one is) cubism paintings are trying to show. But this one I knew the instant I saw it. Home.

It was rather neat, to get to spend a day exploring art, culture here in the States. I think the last time I did this was in NYC over a year ago--also a Dr. Airhart trip. lol.

We went to a place called The Little Theatre where we ate supper at the Little Cafe (I had a sort of hummus I haven't had before--made with red peppers rather than most excellent garlic goodness) and then we chose individually between three different movies--Doubt, Milk, and The Reader. I chose the latter. It was probably among the most explicit films I have ever watched, and it was really hard and difficult, but I would still say it was good nonetheless. Definitely gives a person lots to think about, that's for sure...

We all went to Spot Coffee after that. It was funny, the memories I have of that place. Two years ago, a group of us performing A Christmas Carol came there after English Country Dancing in the city. I'm pretty sure I've not actually been there since, but whilst I was in Uganda, one of the guys I knew there was from Rochester, and we talked about Spot a good bit.

I wish I were off travelling right now somewhere. It's nice, though, to find myself wishing for the one thing I never thought to want.

But to get back to the day... it was exciting, exploring again. My car (Ben's, actually) was the first to arrive because we took 2 shortcuts I know to the city. :) That made me happy. We also beat the others home for the same reason. Again, happiness. I know; i really am that competitive.

It's neat to slowly discover these things. I discovered over Christmas break that Rochester has its own waterfalls, called High Falls or something like that. And now I've enjoyed its art gallery and theatre. And I am looking forward to going up to the museums there sometime, or to the Eastman house itself. I do have a car now, so it's nice that i could take myself there if I want.

The Do's and Don'ts we Do and Don't Want

I was just looking back at some things I wrote back in Nov 2006 on Facebook... and how i commented in one note that I didn't want to go to Africa, and wondered whether or no that was ok. And of course, I went and had an amazing time, even though I didn't really want to be there almost the whole way through.

And now I'm wanting to go to Africa... and it's okay. One of the reasons I didn't want to go was because I was afraid of going back. But I'm not afraid anymore. I'm not afraid of "backness" anymore, not so much, anyways. Because I don't think it means what i used to think it might--fear it might. Going "back" a) doesn't have to mean forever, b) doesn't have to be the final death, and c) doesn't always even have to mean anything at all! It can just...be.

Anyways. I also noticed something in a survey thing, where in response to the question I wrote about the two things I wanted most in the world... "mobility within stability and permanence without stagnation." I suppose I should be the happiest person in the world if getting what we want most is supposed to make us most happy... Because I'm pretty stable now, but I have mobility--generally--as I want it. And because I feel a sense--can find a sense--of permanence in my life that I have not seen in years... but I don't feel trapped, or grounded, or stuck at all. I feel like a tree that is just realising that it has roots and what they mean...but understanding that it can still grow wider and higher and make a difference right by being where it is. It's cool, to use a very inexpressive but all-expressive expression.

2009

Who would have thought it could already be 2009?
I've not been much in a blogging, journaling, writing, or otherwise wordy mood these last...months. There hasn't seemed much point, either... After all, it's not like I've been away. I've been here.

But I feel the need to comment right now that it has, in fact, now been for more than a full year I have been in only one country.

Furthermore, I have no clue when the last time was that such a phenomena has occured, but I'm pretty sure it has not been since 1995. Can you imagine that? i have not stayed in one country for a year since 14 years ago!

No wonder it's so weird!

Right now I am really missing Slovakia. Everything is changing there and continuing there and I miss being part of it all and seeing it... We're switching from Slovak krowns (national currency) to euros now. I have a lot of krown in my wallet here that I don't know how or when I'll get the chance to change over. But everyone is changing now. They say the lines in stores move ridiculously slowly, because know one (well, few) know how the coins work and everyone has to figure out the exchange.

I'm going to miss the krown a lot. It was beautiful, every bill a different colour and different size... all our national monuments and history and famous people on the bills and coins... I liked using the euro... outside of Slovakia!

I miss the opera. There's a really interesting looking one on recently of early Slovak history. It's a bonafide Slovak opera and I would almost die to see it. I miss opera in general--good opera. But "what's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Come, let's withdraw."

I will say, though, that despite the homesickness which assails me--and here I would mention that I am also homesick for the Caribbean these days, not because of the weather but just because it's been such a long time--that I do like where I am living and what I am doing. I really do. I think that living fully simply means that we will always have all things... contentedness and restlessness, joy and sorrow, love and hate, and they will always be present in our hearts at the same time. We just have to know how to handle them--and that falls under living well.

I think I write funny. When I read my posts or writings/reflections, I usually laugh at how things come out. So "flamboyant." My biology teacher always protested that I was "too flamboyant," and needed to be more factual, less elaborate, more scientific, more simple, etc etc etc. He should know, though--he did drama on the side, too.

"the theatre, the theatre. Oh how we love the theatre!"

Alright. I'm out of here for now. I've got dinner to go catch before hunger overtakes me.

Cheers!