Pensive! Who you callin' pensive?!

About half-way through my first semester of grad school, I had a few weeks when I was rather overwhelmed, to say the least. I felt like I was walking around in a constant state of deep, serious thought. As I sat silent and removed during a class discussion one day, my TA asked, "Shannon, is something wrong? You seem rather pensive lately." Not knowing what pensive meant, I felt a little offended. I mean, you might agree that that doesn't necessarily sound like a very nice word. I thought to myself, "Pensive! Who you callin' pensive?!" but simply replied saying, "No, I'm ok. Just thinking." After I went home and looked up the definition of pensive (engaged in deep, serious thought or reflection), I realized that yes, I was rather pensive and had been for a while. (I also promised myself that I would start learning 1 new vocabulary word per week, but that has yet to happen.)

At the time, I attributed my pensive state to the amount of work I had to complete. Looking back though, I now understand that my stress and reflective state was a result of something more. It was around this same time in grad school that I began questioning and re-evaluating my way of looking at education and my role in the American education system. I know now that it is natural to experience some prolonged stress when going through such a major change.

This week, I fell into another pensive state. It's only lasted for a few days, but I was feeling a little alone, missing home, and overall "outside myself." While deep in thought during class on Wednesday though, I went back to that moment in grad school and realized I've felt this way before. It also hit me that the result of my previous pensiveness was a profound personal change and, I hope, intellectual advancement. If I am experiencing the same thing now, then a similarly different evolution is taking place. I therefore embrace this moment with patience and anticipation. In the end, that's about all we can do. 

Abu Dhabi Film Festival

I'm not sure if many people know this about me or not, but I love film festivals! Well, I love independent films and documentaries, so as a result film festivals are my thing. It is my experience, although limited, that film festivals draw widely creative, diverse, and, for lack of a better word, hip crowds. This was the case at this year's Abu Dhabi Film Festival. A friend of mine who's lived here for 4 years says the ADFF is her favorite time of the year. It is now mine as well...so far. I will admit that, as my dad puts it, my eyes over-filled my stomach when I attempted to see over 10 films, at least one for every day of the festival. But, of the 10 that I did have the honor to view, I was both inspired and intrigued. Here are my personal reviews, in order of most enjoyment to least enjoyment (although I enjoyed every film):

The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975
From 1967-1975, several Swedish journalists travelled to and throughout the US to report on the Black Power Movement of that time. In this film, Goran Hugo Olsson mixes the footage and commentary from Harry Belafonte, Angela Davis (also featured in the documentary), Sonia Sanchez, Erykah Badu, and others. The interviews and images from the time the footage was taken and the feedback from today, present questions about where we as Black people are in the US and the world. It also forced me to question my contribution to and role in the advancement of Black Americans. It's definitely a must see...lucky for you, it's currently showing throughout the US. Search your local theaters to see if it's showing near you!

Position Among the Stars
This is the final documentary in the trilogy about an Indonesian family trying to survive and adapt to their increasingly westernized world. From something as simple as trying to turn on their new gas hotplate to how they will pay for the grand-daughter's college tuition to where the nephew should pray (a church or a mosque), the family struggles and triumphs through their everyday life as we watch on. My favorite line from the film was, "possessions take possession of us." For some reason I feel like I've heard some rapper, maybe Kanye, say the same thing. Who knew a 70 year old Indonesian woman would have the same thoughts as Kanye?

In My Mother's Arms
This film documented the struggles of an Iraqi orphanage as a small group of men attempt to meet not just the physical, but financial and psychological needs of 15 orphaned Iraqi boys. Before seeing this documentary, I had not considered the number of children without parents because of the war in Iraq, not to mention the horrific things that happen in the state-run orphanages in countries whose infrastructure and accountability has been virtually destroyed. What concerned me most though was not how the boys' psychological needs were being met, but more-so how the orphanage director was dealing with his overwhelming yet self-induced stress and responsibility.

Stockholm East
A man kills a little girl in a car accident, falls in love with her married mother, and they eventually begin an affair. Definitely not your typical love story, but (spoiler) they end up together. How you ask? Well, that's what was so good about his movie. It makes you wonder what rules are thrown out the window, what gray areas rise and expand when a tragedy happens. Is it ok to love your daughter's killer? Is it ok to bomb another country after they have bombed yours? Two polar opposite questions, but similar theme. What makes wrong ok?

Lucky
After 12 year-old Lucky's mom dies, he travels to a near-by South African city looking for his uncle. After he realizes that the uncle has stolen his tuition money, he tries to stay with the Indian neighbor. Only problem is that she does not like Black South Africans; calls them dogs and forbids them to even touch her. After allowing Lucky to sleep on her back porch and enrolling him in school (refusing to give him a good-bye hug), they eventually forge a relationship of trust and love, all while speaking two different languages. Simply, a sweet story.

Diaries
I arrived about 15 minutes late, watched about 45 minutes, left to go to the bathroom, and by the time I came back the movie was over. Fail. Of the 45 minutes I did see of this documentary, I was inspired by the three main subjects as they discussed their lives as Palestinian women during the Gaza double-siege. I must admit that I know little of the siege, but I knew that these women take great risks challenging control and restraint in a city trying to define for them what it means to be woman.

Midaq Alley
Not the best acting or screenplay I've ever experienced, but it did feature one of Selma Heyek's first big-screen performances, so not too bad. An adaptation of Mahfouz's 1947 novel, this version takes place in Mexico City. What I enjoyed most is that the same story is told from various viewpoints. Perspective is something I've been interested in for some time now; how one instance/object appears from different places and people, as (I believe) exploring perspective leads to humility and understanding.

The Wholly Family
I saw this as a modern-day, Italian Where the Wild Things Are. Jake's parents send him to bed without any dinner and he has a strange nightmare. Not too much else happens in this short film, but it was fun making some text-to-text connections (my fellow Reading teachers will like that reference ;-)

Habemus Papam 
This "comedy" is about a Pope who doesn't want to be a Pope. Even though I had a very hard time finding much to laugh at or to keep my eyes open, I liked the theme. Simply put, peer pressure. Should you do something just because everyone else is expecting you to? Should a Pope be a Pope just because he's elected and everyone expects it? Well, obviously (spoiler) not.

Pina
Another one I just couldn't stay awake for. This 3-D tribute documentary to Pina Baucsh, the revered choreographer was beautifully artful. I loved the featured choreography, especially in 3D. But, I just couldn't follow the stories of the pieces. I will say that Pina's work is truly poetry in movement. Maybe I need to read more poetry.

Your Average Friday

Oh, just an average Friday. Wake up, work-out, get on a boat to the "secret" Al Maya Island, spend the majority of the day on the beach/in the pool with a swim up bar. Yea, just your average Friday.

I got a close-up of the amazing Khalidiya Palace on the way to the boat.

If you ever need to tell your taxi driver how to get to the boat, simply say "dirt road behind Khalidiya Palace" and he'll know where to go...really, he will.

This is Al Maya Island.

My view for the day. Look closely and you'll see the Abu Dhabi skyline.

Legend = Janet Jackson

Legend = Good Times, A New Kind of Family, Diff'rent Strokes, Fame, Poetic Justice, Nutty Professor II, Why Did I Get Married 1 & 2, For Colored Girls, 307 awards, including 6 Grammy awards, 15 AMA awards, 9 MTV awards, and 36 Billboard awards, 6 tours from 1990-2011 including the award winning Velvet Rope Tour (which I saw!), timeless number one hits including Control, Rhythm Nation, Pleasure Principle, Again, If, That's the Way Love Goes, Runaway, I Get Lonely, What's It Gonna Be, and the list goes on.

Last night, I saw a legend perform.

No, it wasn't the full theatrical show that I saw with my mom and aunt when I was in the 8th grade. No, I did not bring my Janet Jackson Fan Club Membership Card from 3rd grade. No, I didn't wear my Janet Jackson Halloween costume from 2nd grade.  But, YES, it was a great show. To perform, dance to, and sing two dozen number one songs at the age of 45 is beyond commendable. As the show was ending I thought, "I may never see this woman, this legend, perform live, no more than 30 feet away from me again. To get to see her in concert not once, but twice in my life. Wow!" What was even more "wow" was that when she shouted "I love you Abu Dhabi!!!!" she was talking to me!

I apologize in advance for the poor sound quality. It's clearly time for a new camera.

Brazilian Beef & Horseradish Sausage - Homemade Salsa

Two new foods this week!
1 - Brazilian Beef and Horseradish Sausage
I was in Lulu's looking for some Italian sausage for my pasta, and I came across Brazilian Beef and Horseradish Sausage (I never found the Italian sausage.) My previous experiences with horseradish made me ask if the sausage would be too spicy. The Lulu's employee informed me that it was "normal, not spicy." So I took some home. I also wondered why there were Brazilian cows in Abu Dhabi, but soon figured they just ship the meat over ;-) Anywho, I figured it'd be worth a try. OMG, it was delicious! I prepared it with sauteed garlic, scallions, mushrooms, bell peppers, various seasonings, and tomato sauce, on top of noodles. It's a good thing I made enough for 2 days worth of lunch and dinner, because it's definitely a meal I wanted to have over and over again.

2 - The same day I also tried my hand at making salsa. I did a good job too! It turned out great! Chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro, fresh squeezed lime juice, a little corn, a pinch of salt, and I threw in some diced peaches ...voila, salsa!

I think I should have a cooking show on The Food Network called, "Cooking with Shannon in Abu Dhabi." I know, it's not the most creative title, but it'll work.

Treat Yourself to a Staycation

Abu Dhabi is a great place to have a weekend Staycation (definition: staying at home/in your area, relaxing, enjoying life there.) Last Thursday, I went to a great book club where we spent 2.5 hours drinking wine and eating various yummy dips and cakes and then 15 minutes talking about books :-) This book club is great because it's not about everyone reading the same book. You simply come, drink, eat, and review/trade books that you've already read or are currently reading. I talked about one of my new favorites, Sold. Written in short vignettes, it's about a young Nepalese girl who is sold into sexual slavery. The way Patricia McCormick addresses such a taboo, ungodly horrible, yet very real subject is amazing. She shows how the main character is able to find very small moments of joy, which are especially helpful when trying to read about this topic. I definitely recommend it to all!

On Friday, I spent most of my day at the beach. Amazingly, this was the first time I've been to the beach since I've been here. It's just been too darn hot! While walking to the beach though, I heard a very loud and long "call to prayer." But, I was a little confused, considering it wasn't the appropriate time of the day for a call. Then, I realized it was the sermon/message being blasted from the mosque bullhorns! I guess the Iman said, "If they won't come to the well, I'll bring the water to them!"

After the beach, I went and had a few drinks with friends, and then turned in for an early night. On Saturday, I woke up SUPER early and was at LuLu's (aka Super-Walmart) by 7am. Spent the day cleaning, watching the original version of "Father of the Bride", doing my nails, getting my eyebrows done, running along the Corniche, and cooking. Man, I am one lucky girl!

And the great thing is...SO ARE YOU! You are a lucky girl (or guy, or guyrl for my gender-neutral readers). My point is, you are lucky to be wherever you are and have a chance to do whatever you want, even just for a short while. Give yourself a weekend, or just a day, or even an evening staycation. See what there is to get into in your city/town and get into it. Or, dont! Sit at home, cook dinner for yourself, and watch a movie. Paint those toenails bright orange (Ashley), go bike riding with your siblings (Alicia), visit a museum (Kelly), sleep 'til noon (Nikki). Whatever it is, treat yourself to enjoying life. You know you deserve it!

Student Work

My students and I are reading Holes by Louis Sacher. After eading Chapter 7, I gave my students the following assignment:
"Imagine you are Elya Yelnats and you are on your way to America. Write a letter to Myra Menke."
One of my male student's letters is a follows:

Dear Myra Menke,
I thought you loved me. I wanted to marry you and you say pick a number. Don't you realize that Igor is dumb? I gave you a pig (big one) and I have a heart full of love and I'm good looking while Igor looks dumb and he doesn't know how to talk well. Now I'm on my way to America and I never want to see your ugly face again. You can keep my pig as a gift. BTW I hate your lipstick doll face. I even made a poem about you
     Myra Menke looks like an ugly doll
     She can't even control a ball
     She smells like dirty-rotten goats
     She even can't sit on a boat
     Her breath is very smelly
     And her husband Igor has a big belly
P.S. I hate you

My student is clearly connecting with Elya's character and fully comprehends this part of the plot...maybe he's suffered a little heartache himself :-/