Spring

The house has been taken over by spiders, bees and lady birds.
S. doesn't allow me to vacuum or smash them with a slipper, instead he tries to catch them with a glass and then puts them in the garden. Very correct! In the meantime we've been living with a big creepy hairy spider on the ceiling of our bedroom and one in the bathroom (not to mention the ones that come and go), a family of lady birds and a couple of noisy bumblebees. These were the first signs of spring.
It was a fantastic spring day today: bright sun, blue sky and warm. I was off today so I went to meet J. for lunch. We sat by the canal, absorbing the sun while eating a sandwich. It was super nice. Nothing like a bit of sun to cheer me up.
The day didn't start so well today, I lost a fingernail which was a big shock because I thought all my fingernails would survive, but I was wrong. If I look carefully I can see that at least two more nails are going to fall off soon. I had never seen a finger without a nail... it looks weird,... pink. Not everyone can say they have touched their scalp and nail bed, right? Well, I can. So, what does a 36 year old woman do when she looses a nail? She calls her mother to do a sniffie sniffie. So grown up! Sometimes I wonder if my mother called her mother for every little thing.

Undesired, by Walter Astrada

In India, all women must confront the cultural pressure to bear a son. The consequences of this preference is a disregard for the lives of women and girls. From birth until death they face a constant threat of violence. See the project at http://mediastorm.com/publication/undesired

Happy Deepavali!

The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

Ramayana: The story of Rama and Sita

Set in India, Rama (incarnation of the God Vishnu) and his wife Sita have been banished from their kingdom of Kosala for fourteen years, due to a plot by the mother of one of Rama's four brothers to keep Rama from the throne. Rama's brother, Laksmana, accompanies the couple. King Rawana of Ceylon spies the beautiful Sita and creates a plan to abduct her. He sends one of his minions, magically disguised as a golden deer to entice Rama and Laksmana away from Sita. Rama goes after the deer, instructing Laksmana not to leave Sita. Rama brings down the golden deer with his bow and arrow. The golden deer reverts to its original shape and with its dying breath calls out "Help, help, help" in Rama's voice. Sita, hearing Rama's voice, entreats Laksmana to go and help Rama. When he refuses, she goads him into leaving. Laksmana draws a magic circle around Sita and tells her that she must stay inside it until he and Rama return. When Sita is alone, Rawana appears, disguised as an ailing old man, who begs Sita for help. When Sita steps out of the magic circle to aid the old man, the old man changes into Rawana and abducts Sita, telling her that Rama is dead. He rises in the air with her and flies to his Kingdom.

Garuda spies Rawana carrying off Sita and they battle in the air. Rawana delivers a fatal wound to Garuda who falls to the ground, where he is discovered by Rama and Laksmana. Garuda is near death and manages to tell Rama of his failure to rescue Sita.

Rama and Laksmana travel onward and enlist the aid of the army of wanaras, a race of huge monkeys. Sugriwa, King of the wanaras, agrees to help Rama rescue Sita in return for Rama's support of Sugriwa's attempt to regain his rightful throne in the land of Guakiskenda. When Sugriwa meets his nemesis, Subali, Rama saves Sugriwa's life with a magic arrow which kills Subali. After Sugriwa is crowned King of Guakiskenda, the white monkey general, Hanuman, is sent to Alengka (Ceylon) to scout the defences and to deliver Rama's ring to Sita, so that she would know that Rama was alive.

After a narrow escape from the stomach of Wikateksi, the enormous sea monster which guarded the approaches to Alengka, Hanuman kills Wikateksi and flies to the capital of Alengka, the kingdom of the giants. Fortunately, there are many monkeys living among the giants, which provide cover for Hanuman, who reduces his size. He looks everywhere in the city for Sita. Eventually Hanuman finds Rawana's palace and the women's quarters. Hanuman meets Sita in the garden and gives her Rama's ring, which she recognizes at once, and tells her that Rama is on his way to rescue her.

Hanuman, in order to test the strength of the city, resumes his normal size, climbs to the top of a tall building and hurls a challenge to the awestruck crowd below. He begins to destroy the buildings around him by using an uprooted palm tree as a club. He is felled by an arrow shot by the crown prince of Alengka, Hindrajit. Hanuman is shackled in chains and sentenced to die by slow fire. Hanuman appeals to Agni, the god of fire, to save him. A wall of flame springs up between Hanuman and the watching crowd. With a burst of strength, Hanuman breaks his bonds, and swinging a glowing torch picked up from the fire, goes on a rampage which ends in the burning of a large part of the city. Assuring himself that Sita's pavilion is safe, Hanuman leaps into the air and flies back to Guakiskenda.

After hearing of Hanuman's exploits, Rama adopts him as his own son. The army then heads for Alengka, which they find surrounded by a boiling sea. By hurling huge boulders into the sea, the monkey soldiers build a causeway to the island. Rawana learns of the invasion and assembles his generals. Some of the generals resent Rawana's evil rule, but heretofore have lacked the courage to oppose him. Wibisana, Rawana's brother, as spokesman, points out that it was because Rawana abducted Sita that Alengka is now beset by enemy armies. He suggests that Rawana release Sita and avoid bloodshed and loss of life and property. Angered, Rawana strikes Wibisana, who then deserts to Rama's army. Rawana is tempted to murder Sita, but is thwarted by Trijata, Wibisana's beautiful daughter, who has grown to love Sita as a sister. Rawana turns to another brother, the giant Kumbakarna, who although disapproving of Rawana's crimes and baseness, decides to help because they are of the same blood.

After many guerrilla attacks by the monkey soldiers, the two armies finally face each other. Two opposing generals, Kumbakarna and Laksmana challenge each other. Kumbakarna is killed by Laksmana's magic arrow. Other duels take place on the battlefield. Rama spots Rawana and pursues him, shooting showers of arrows, which seem to have no effect on Rawana other than to make him back off. Rawana backs in between two unusually formed rocks which snap together and hold him in an inescapable grip. These rocks are inhabited by the souls of two of his daughters, who Rawana had murdered, and who are at last able to avenge themselves on their father.

Rawana's army surrenders and Rama gives the throne of Alengka to Wibisana. Rama and Sita are joyfully united. The fourteen years of exile being over, Rama, Sita and Laksmana return to Kosala, where they are welcomed by all. However, rumours circulate about Sita's virtue. She offers to test her virtue by fire. She enters the ring of fire and emerges unscathed, her faithfulness confirmed. When the rumours persist, she leaves the palace for the spiritual life.

Nonya Kaya

Yesterday, on our way to ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) to see a Singaporean movie, Sandcastle by director Boo Junfeng, we passed by China Town, where I couldn’t resist going in one of the Chinese supermarkets. In there I found Nonya Kaya, made in Singapore. I love kaya. Most people think it is too sweet, but I just love it. It is a coconut and egg jam, with a hint of pandan, that Singaporeans eat on toast with a thick layer of butter. Even though I know my tummy will not be able to take it for now, I bought two jars.

The film, that was part of the London Film Festival, was different than I expected. I thought it would be a critique to the current political situation in Singapore but, although it touched some sensitive social and historical aspects, it was more focused on family values. I enjoyed it but it will probably not win any prizes.

London Film Festival

I really liked this movie, "I am Kalam", directed by Nila Madhab Panda.
It is set in Bikaner in Rajasthan, where I have already been (including to the Karni Mata Temple, also known as the rat temple, where rats are believed to be an incarnation of the goddess Durga and wander around freely in the temple).
The characters seem real, the landscapes are beautiful, it is full of colour, has fantastic music and great acting. It is a moving story with a feel good factor. I hope it reaches the commercial distribution soon.

Where is my Christmas spirit this year?

This year I’ve decided I don’t like Christmas. And I don’t like it for what it is supposed to be.
It is supposed to be jolly. I hate Christmas carols and I don’t like other people telling me when to be “jolly”. Even the word annoys me. I also don’t like to be told to give to charity. I give when and if I want to, not because it is Christmas.
It is supposed to be a family celebration. Mine is just too far and there’s no skype or video cameras that can replace being with them. I guess I just have to grow up and get used to it.
It is supposed to have nice food. There’s no good possible substitute to speculaas, my mother’s pudding or turkey. Laksa and chili crab won’t do it!
This year I don’t like Christmas because I feel like I’ve failed. I failed to get caught by the spirit of it.
During Christmas people are just too jolly, eat too much and spend too much. The Christmas spirit has been overshadowed by commercialism. People spend too much on food, gifts, decoration and gasoline and don’t even think twice about sustainability. Then they worry too much about how to lose the extra kilos, how to get rid of undesirable gifts, where to store the decoration items and how to pay the credit card debts.
Some more religious people say Christmas is about giving, worshipping, loving and hoping. Well, throughout the year, I give attention, affection and some presents, I don’t worship anything or anyone, I love a lot of people and I always hope for something good (not just before the yearend). Talking about the yearend, I also don’t like when people keep postponing decisions: “Next year I will lose weight.” “Next year I will start going to the gym.” Why wait for the new year? Just do it!
I’ve lost my Christmas spirit this year. Sorry about that!

Recommend

Talking to a nine year old

Round 1:
- Wow, you’re tall. Do you bump your head into things?
- Not really, only if things are hanging too low.
- How did you get so tall?
- Good genes, I guess.
- ??
- You know, my mother is tall, my father is tall… and they made me eat soup every day!
- Why, they didn’t like you?

Round 2:
- How old are you?
- 33
- Do you have children?
- No
- Hum, you’re not married?
- No
- Oh! - she said looking sad – you should get married and have children.

Round 3:
- You talk funny, are you French?
- No, I’m Portuguese.
- There’s a French boy in my class, he also talks funny.
- You know why? Because English is not our first language.
- Mum, what is my second language?

Potato Eaters

I am not as creative as Mia Couto, but when I am inspired I make up my own words. My favourite creation is “gepatateerd” which is how I feel after eating too much “pataat” (French fries). Those who know me well know I can eat until I blow-up, I feel very often gepatateerd. Will it ever be accepted in the Dikke Van Dale?
That would be a great legacy to the potato eaters’ culture.

Languages

Although English is not the mother tongue of most of my friends, I’ve decided to write here in English. It would have been easier for me to do it in Portuguese of course, but the purpose is to keep in touch with friends and most of them don’t speak Portuguese.
As you have already understood, this is a kind of disclaimer:” While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy, this translation has been provided for convenience purposes only…”
Please feel free to comment in any language, but bear in mind Mandarin is not my strongest!