Joshua Radin Concert

The first time I heard Joshua Radin was when Justin burnt me a CD with all his favorite songs.

But the first time I fell in love with Joshua Radin's songs was in the Paris Charles de Gaulles airport. I had ten minutes of free internet time. I sent off a paper, which I was frantically writing the whole time we were in Paris, checked facebook, and fed my OCD habit of checking my email.

Kenji had written me a long email. And sent me this song. And it's been one of my favorite ever since.




I really hope he plays it at his concert tomorrow night!

Our Iron Curtain

I've always been a little more sympathetic to the Communist ideology than my American friends. Maybe it's because history has treated my family better than most in China. But sometimes, I tend to forget that Communism is not about Mao's mausoleum in Beijing, old photos from my waipo's younger days, or my fashion totes.

Instead, it's about this.

We visited the House of Terror in Budapest. We saw the torture chamber where the political prisoners were interrogated for their affiliations with groups aiming to overthrow the Communist regime. We touched the cell walls where hopeless men have clawed through their desperation.

 

 

An excerpt from a documentary in the background:

Old Man 1: You can forgive but you can't forget.

Old Man 2: But you have to forget, no?

Otherwise there is no way to forgive. 

These young men came with their ideals. 

And their executioners.

Why, why?

This was their socialism.

Oh God, how could they have done this . . . and still believe?

People still put flowers on the ledge outside the House.

  

If he had lived, he would probably be a handsome intellectual 

who was constantly holed up in a cafe writing books.

Or a Hungarian Elvis slash Grease front man.

Gushing

A few things that made today fantastic:

* Officially applied (and approved) for graduation! The advisement counselor teased me about being too uptight about my grades. She was a great cheerleader even when I expressed uncertainty about my future plans and I felt like a winner coming out of her office.

* Found out that the five best thermal baths in Budapest are actually not too pricey. In just three days, I'll be lounging around in one of the hot water spas in Hungary. My only reservation? The sites are not very specific about whether or not bath patrons wear clothes inside. If they are anything like Chinese bath houses, everybody would be (very) naked. You think they will let me in with my swimming suit?

* Justin dropped by last night and surprised me with a mixed CD of his favorite songs and a letter explaining what each one means to him. I listened to it five times since I was up till 6 a.m. writing a paper.

* It is warm even though the mountains are blanketed with snow. Need I say more?

Dreaming of Kanas

I just want to forget about the four midterms I have this week, the honors thesis that I've been meaning to work on, and the portfolio that I need to hand in next week. Normally during times like these, I dream about going away. Anywhere. Preferably somewhere where people do not speak English and will not ask me about my thesis (by the way, it is not a good conversation starter).

Even though I'm heading to Eastern Europe in two weeks, all I can think about right now is Kanas, Xinjiang.

When she didn't have enough change for my one kuai snack, she rummaged through her cupboard and stuffed these chalk pieces into my hands. She motioned for me to eat it. I did. It tasted like chalk. 

Apparently that's their sweet milk candy.

 

A shaman inside told my mom that I would bring good
fortune to my whole family. 

My mom and I were pretty touched.

He even gave me a dragon tooth charm.

The ancient Mongolians would touch these cloths for the blessings that they wanted: 

white for longevity, red for courage, blue for wisdom, and yellow for peace.

I don't know why, but this is one of my favorite photos by far. 

Perhaps it's because everybody laughed when I asked to take his photo.

Even he seemed shocked and unsure. 

After I showed him the photo, he straightened his back, ran his fingers through his hair, and smiled.

Slices of Budapest

I'm falling in love with Budapest already - largely because of this photo blog. Ordinary people share their slices of Budapest and it's so much more exotic than all of the Lonely Planet books out there.

Here are some of my favorite photos.

Bullet Damages

Hard to say if these bullet damages are from 1944 or from 1956. 

Celebrating Our National Day

August 20th. Hungary's birthday.

Stairhouse

Old staircase in the Roma Parliament.

Gypsy Musician

Kálmán Kis, gypsy man, in VIIIth district of Budapest.

Szimpla

A ruin-pub.

(Photo cred: www.budapestdailyphoto.com)

Thanksgiving Plans

It's decided. Two days in Budapest.  Two days in Vienna. Three and a half days in Olomouc. One and a half days in Prague. And a whole ton of flying in and out of Paris.

Czech MUN?

If you were given an opportunity to go to these places over Thanksgiving, would you say no?

Prague

Olomouc

Vienna

And maybe even Paris.

I'm starting to find it hard to refuse.