If you were to ask me what I loved most about the environment around me here in the United States of America, you are bound to hear a rather odd comment back from me. I have spent the past few weeks of my fellowship here in the various states, walking around. I think that is the best way to learn the most about the environment around you and I’m really glad I did that. And here’s the weird bit I learned:
Pigeons and birds are so comfortable walking around people.
I am one of those people who will be happy to take a detour if I see a small animal infront of me who I think might be frightened of me, so these birds really intrigue me. They fly down to the ground and just stay here. In fact, I don’t think I have ever seen birds walk around as much as I have seen them walking here in the past few weeks. I found it particularly funny when a pigeon was trying to cross the road at the same time I did.
You have to understand that the only memory I have of pigeons is in London, where I was trying to get the pigeon to eat out of the palm of my hand, quite unsuccessfully because irritating small boys and girls were running around in aimless circles scaring them birds off. Even at that time, I remember thinking now why the heck they would want to do that!
Pigeons and birds, by nature, are very sensitive creatures and the fact that they are learning to cope with boisterous human behavior is indeed a fascinating marvel of nature.
As Mary Poppins would say, “Feed the birds!” We certainly benefit in having more birds on the ground waking around us than up in the air dropping in on us unannounced!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Heeled Shoes in the Garbage: Amy Butterwoth, homeless
I am currently sitting in a streetside café called ‘The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf” (coffeebean.com) on Main Market Street, typing this up on this Sunday afternoon and often sit back to watch the faces of the people passing me by.
Even on a Sunday, people are always on their way to somewhere. Going somewhere and more often than not, always in a hurry. No wonder they don’t have time to walk through the lanes and smaller streets to see the pain and misery that their fellow citizens are going through.
But perhaps one incident here that I will be sure not to forget was the woman who walked close to where I was sitting, to go through the garbage can. Blond hair and quite trendy to look at, she casually walked over, reached into the enclosed can and pulled out two plastic bottles of water. She looked up, saw that I was looking at her actions, smiled and reached in and whipped out a pair of black, heeled shoes. Heeled shoes in the garbage belonging to a café?
As crazy I am, I smiled and walked over to ask this woman if she would like to have a cup of coffee or something to eat. I couldn’t understand much of what she said but it was interesting to watch her gulp down her coffee. “It’s cold here, honey, and I’s ‘ppreciate the cawfee.”
Amy is 38 years old and has been living on the streets of San Francisco for 3 years. “I used ta live closeby to here and got thrown out of my home by my family. I gets around to where I need to when I have to but it is good that people throw away what they do in the garbage – it keeps me getting by.”
Was Amy scared at the prospect of living on the street? “At first, but not now. I don’t owe nothing to nobody and nobody has to depends on me for nothing. Its simple.”
Simple. How funny. Does one have to be evicted, disconnected from all things we know to be normal before we can find simplicity in our lives? Have we become so good at complicating our lives?
As we got into a conversation, we both stopped talking to see another man, probably around the same age, stopping to look through the same garbage can I saw Amy at. She said, “Thanks fer the cawfee. I gots ta take off now.” And I saw her running off down into some street off Market Street.
I must have spent 4 maybe 5 minutes with Amy. I doubt she will even remember me but despite the fact that I know I will remember her, I also know that there are thousands of people like her out there, and I realize the sad truth that there is nothing I or anyone else will remember to do to make her life better. I don’t think they will change things until people like her become important enough to contribute to the booming global economy.
Even on a Sunday, people are always on their way to somewhere. Going somewhere and more often than not, always in a hurry. No wonder they don’t have time to walk through the lanes and smaller streets to see the pain and misery that their fellow citizens are going through.
But perhaps one incident here that I will be sure not to forget was the woman who walked close to where I was sitting, to go through the garbage can. Blond hair and quite trendy to look at, she casually walked over, reached into the enclosed can and pulled out two plastic bottles of water. She looked up, saw that I was looking at her actions, smiled and reached in and whipped out a pair of black, heeled shoes. Heeled shoes in the garbage belonging to a café?
As crazy I am, I smiled and walked over to ask this woman if she would like to have a cup of coffee or something to eat. I couldn’t understand much of what she said but it was interesting to watch her gulp down her coffee. “It’s cold here, honey, and I’s ‘ppreciate the cawfee.”
Amy is 38 years old and has been living on the streets of San Francisco for 3 years. “I used ta live closeby to here and got thrown out of my home by my family. I gets around to where I need to when I have to but it is good that people throw away what they do in the garbage – it keeps me getting by.”
Was Amy scared at the prospect of living on the street? “At first, but not now. I don’t owe nothing to nobody and nobody has to depends on me for nothing. Its simple.”
Simple. How funny. Does one have to be evicted, disconnected from all things we know to be normal before we can find simplicity in our lives? Have we become so good at complicating our lives?
As we got into a conversation, we both stopped talking to see another man, probably around the same age, stopping to look through the same garbage can I saw Amy at. She said, “Thanks fer the cawfee. I gots ta take off now.” And I saw her running off down into some street off Market Street.
I must have spent 4 maybe 5 minutes with Amy. I doubt she will even remember me but despite the fact that I know I will remember her, I also know that there are thousands of people like her out there, and I realize the sad truth that there is nothing I or anyone else will remember to do to make her life better. I don’t think they will change things until people like her become important enough to contribute to the booming global economy.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
The homeless and the ignored
Not having traveled to the United States, or anywhere else for that matter, for a period longer than a few days, I was shocked when I find myself shocked at the state of people living on the street is.
A few months ago, I watched the Will Smith movie, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ and was reminded of the harsh truth of homeless shelters, and then like most people around the world, huddled under the comfort of my blanket and forgot about it. I walked past a homeless shelter a few hours ago here in San Francisco and stood at the sidewalk across on the street to watch what happened.
There was a line of about 150 people that extended down the block. I felt ashamed looking at the line because it reminded me of the line that I had stood in while waiting to enter the David Letterman show while I was in New York. When I walked looked around the block to figure out where this shelter was, I was shocked at how closely situated it was to the Hilton and Hotel Nikko, where I was staying. Such close proximity yet such a great void between them.
So I took a walk around the block and saw what I would have seen on the average, random street in India or Pakistan. People huddling together to keep warm, asleep on the side of the sidewalks, people ruffling through garbage in search for anything that might help them to survive through the day. No family units or friends looking out for one another – every man, woman and child for himself.
I am continued to be in awe of how the most powerful and richest country on the planet, will not exert the wisdom to cure issues of poverty and education in its own backyard. I am not a politically inclined individual so I see things in a more simplistic manner and maybe that just makes me stupid, but for a country that boasts about reviving the quality of life in a country hundreds of thousands of miles away, it’s a wonder they don’t have a more concrete plan to take care of their own people.
It’s like when the Government of Pakistan increases its Defense budget, the people protest because we would rather that the government use the money on raising the quality of life, rather than spend it on safeguarding our borders. People aren’t the eminent threat to neighboring countries – policies and diplomacy (or lack there of) are.
If I talk about how troubled I get to see the US from the perspective of the grassroot level in the various cities with people, they are quick to tell me that I don’t know what I am talking about because I am just getting a superficial look at the situation. I’ve spent several weeks here and I would imagine that my expertise as a writer does enable me to be quite observant and open to these experiences
You can smell the poverty and misery through the air as you walk down certain alleys and streets. And those streets are the ones that don’t have the Body Shop scents aerating the environment. In country’s such as mine, the slums are in pockets around the city, but you wouldn’t walk through those unintentionally. The lower economy I passed through today was something I stumbled through. It is a place that has fit itself into the make up of the community. One block away from the tourist destinations. So close, yet so far.
A few months ago, I watched the Will Smith movie, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ and was reminded of the harsh truth of homeless shelters, and then like most people around the world, huddled under the comfort of my blanket and forgot about it. I walked past a homeless shelter a few hours ago here in San Francisco and stood at the sidewalk across on the street to watch what happened.
There was a line of about 150 people that extended down the block. I felt ashamed looking at the line because it reminded me of the line that I had stood in while waiting to enter the David Letterman show while I was in New York. When I walked looked around the block to figure out where this shelter was, I was shocked at how closely situated it was to the Hilton and Hotel Nikko, where I was staying. Such close proximity yet such a great void between them.
So I took a walk around the block and saw what I would have seen on the average, random street in India or Pakistan. People huddling together to keep warm, asleep on the side of the sidewalks, people ruffling through garbage in search for anything that might help them to survive through the day. No family units or friends looking out for one another – every man, woman and child for himself.
I am continued to be in awe of how the most powerful and richest country on the planet, will not exert the wisdom to cure issues of poverty and education in its own backyard. I am not a politically inclined individual so I see things in a more simplistic manner and maybe that just makes me stupid, but for a country that boasts about reviving the quality of life in a country hundreds of thousands of miles away, it’s a wonder they don’t have a more concrete plan to take care of their own people.
It’s like when the Government of Pakistan increases its Defense budget, the people protest because we would rather that the government use the money on raising the quality of life, rather than spend it on safeguarding our borders. People aren’t the eminent threat to neighboring countries – policies and diplomacy (or lack there of) are.
If I talk about how troubled I get to see the US from the perspective of the grassroot level in the various cities with people, they are quick to tell me that I don’t know what I am talking about because I am just getting a superficial look at the situation. I’ve spent several weeks here and I would imagine that my expertise as a writer does enable me to be quite observant and open to these experiences
You can smell the poverty and misery through the air as you walk down certain alleys and streets. And those streets are the ones that don’t have the Body Shop scents aerating the environment. In country’s such as mine, the slums are in pockets around the city, but you wouldn’t walk through those unintentionally. The lower economy I passed through today was something I stumbled through. It is a place that has fit itself into the make up of the community. One block away from the tourist destinations. So close, yet so far.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Chasing Cars with Meredith Grey in Seattle!
I am a HUGE fan of the Grey’s Anatomy series. So huge a fan I am, that I downloaded all the episodes when my local television network wouldn’t show the more recent ones, and then went out and bought each of the series on DVD and watch and watched them again. I love the execution of the entire show and the manner in which each of the actors has created such a powerful show. And yes, I know all the soundtracks. Okay – let’s cut back to my life for a minute
One of the reasons I was so excited to go to Seattle was because at the beginning and end of each episode of GA, they show an overview of the main city. So I was thrilled to be able to be living in a hotel so close to McDreamy’s Ferry Boats.
And so my last day, after my meetings ended, I grabbed my camera and took a walk down to the fisherman’s wharf aka Seattle’s port. And as I made my way upto the observatory landing, as always, I had my radio plugged into one ear. By the way, I do love radio here in the US, but more on that later.
So randomly clicking stations, I climbed up the stairs and watched one of those ferryboats. I broke out into a huge smile because I really felt like I was on top of the world. And then it happened…
Chasing Cars, the song by Snow Patrol that became a number one hit around the universe because of the attention it got through the last episode of season 2, came on the radio!! My mind stopped working and there was a flutter in my heart that could have been mistaken for a palpation. There I was, a happy camper having spent 2.5 days in Seattle, Washington, standing at the pier watching ferryboats I had seen on television, and the icing on the cake was this wonderfully moving soundtrack.
Was this too perfect? Did it mean something? Was big brother watching closely enough to time the song on a random radio station? And while it would have been unbelievable to meet with the cast or the creator of the show, I couldn’t have been more content. With all these random pieces falling in place, I was happy enough.
One of the reasons I was so excited to go to Seattle was because at the beginning and end of each episode of GA, they show an overview of the main city. So I was thrilled to be able to be living in a hotel so close to McDreamy’s Ferry Boats.
And so my last day, after my meetings ended, I grabbed my camera and took a walk down to the fisherman’s wharf aka Seattle’s port. And as I made my way upto the observatory landing, as always, I had my radio plugged into one ear. By the way, I do love radio here in the US, but more on that later.
So randomly clicking stations, I climbed up the stairs and watched one of those ferryboats. I broke out into a huge smile because I really felt like I was on top of the world. And then it happened…
Chasing Cars, the song by Snow Patrol that became a number one hit around the universe because of the attention it got through the last episode of season 2, came on the radio!! My mind stopped working and there was a flutter in my heart that could have been mistaken for a palpation. There I was, a happy camper having spent 2.5 days in Seattle, Washington, standing at the pier watching ferryboats I had seen on television, and the icing on the cake was this wonderfully moving soundtrack.
Was this too perfect? Did it mean something? Was big brother watching closely enough to time the song on a random radio station? And while it would have been unbelievable to meet with the cast or the creator of the show, I couldn’t have been more content. With all these random pieces falling in place, I was happy enough.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Unwinding at the Grand Canyon
The Fellowship that started a little more than one month ago has a purpose – to experience and have the ability to come together with your co-fellows and share those experiences. So it was natural for all of us to look forward to the half way point of the fellowship experience to be able to come together and share.
My co-fellows are wonderful people who have literally worked their hearts out into making the most of every minute of every day during the past 4 weeks of their stay in the United States. They have pushed their limits and personalities to the hilt; demanded more of their individual Program Officers than any other generation of fellows; and have managed to meet more people and attend more receptions than ever before.
I think the group of 24 of us represents a unique combination of people and talents. As Rafael Bundoc from the Philippines smiles and says, “there are people who are quiet, those of us who enjoy parties and those who don’t, those who are here with the ambition to change the world and others who are here with the intention of learning what they can manage to fit into these 10 weeks – we have a very well balanced group.” And a well-balanced group indeed.
However it is amazing how closely-knit the group is when it wants to unwind and share its energy with one another. It would be unfair to say that the group enjoys a party despite the fact that they can rock the pebbles out of the Canyon, but it’s something more than that.
It’s about being together and drawing from one another. It’s about talking through the successes and resolving the frustrations of meetings that work or don’t. it’s about addressing issues from different perspectives and angles. But yes – it is largely about being together, which is why each member of the group was just so eager to assume a role in making this trip such a blasted success.
Thankfully, what happens amongst the Eisenhower Fellows, shall remain amongst the Fellows, and I am certainly not at liberty to divulge the details, but I can tell you this much about the character of each of my co-fellows – these people are amazing and are made up of some of the most fantastic energy that brings all the exciting karma into this world. They are an unbelievably inclusive group of some outstanding individuals that know how to share and how to give back. Regardless of race, ethnicity, background or creed, these guys are off to take on the world and stitch it back together… bit by bit (of course with a bit of that technical support provided by me) –
Rejuvenated, revived and recharged, the fellows take off today to different states and locations to continue on with their journey of the Fellowship.
More details from them as I hear from each one, later on!
My co-fellows are wonderful people who have literally worked their hearts out into making the most of every minute of every day during the past 4 weeks of their stay in the United States. They have pushed their limits and personalities to the hilt; demanded more of their individual Program Officers than any other generation of fellows; and have managed to meet more people and attend more receptions than ever before.
I think the group of 24 of us represents a unique combination of people and talents. As Rafael Bundoc from the Philippines smiles and says, “there are people who are quiet, those of us who enjoy parties and those who don’t, those who are here with the ambition to change the world and others who are here with the intention of learning what they can manage to fit into these 10 weeks – we have a very well balanced group.” And a well-balanced group indeed.
However it is amazing how closely-knit the group is when it wants to unwind and share its energy with one another. It would be unfair to say that the group enjoys a party despite the fact that they can rock the pebbles out of the Canyon, but it’s something more than that.
It’s about being together and drawing from one another. It’s about talking through the successes and resolving the frustrations of meetings that work or don’t. it’s about addressing issues from different perspectives and angles. But yes – it is largely about being together, which is why each member of the group was just so eager to assume a role in making this trip such a blasted success.
Thankfully, what happens amongst the Eisenhower Fellows, shall remain amongst the Fellows, and I am certainly not at liberty to divulge the details, but I can tell you this much about the character of each of my co-fellows – these people are amazing and are made up of some of the most fantastic energy that brings all the exciting karma into this world. They are an unbelievably inclusive group of some outstanding individuals that know how to share and how to give back. Regardless of race, ethnicity, background or creed, these guys are off to take on the world and stitch it back together… bit by bit (of course with a bit of that technical support provided by me) –
Rejuvenated, revived and recharged, the fellows take off today to different states and locations to continue on with their journey of the Fellowship.
More details from them as I hear from each one, later on!
The Grand Canyon Comes to Life
The Grand Canyon was beautiful, breathtaking, benevolent, sacred and a collection of about a million other adjectives that I could use to describe its beauty. It’s as if God took a brush and painted one of the most beautiful and intense canvases that can neither be captured in any camera or any post card. You can’t help but put your faith back in the Supreme Being who created something so precious and beautiful. Untouched and untarnished by the vulgar habit of humans to commercialize every inch of mother earth.
As I ran/walked the morning of our second day with Caroline Casey, and took a walk with Tiffany O’Neal over a path on the afternoon of our third day there, that’s all I could think about. Time has come to stand still in the aging rocks of the Grand Canyon. I wonder what atrocities the underbrush has witnessed. I wonder how much history has been archived in the walls of the Canyon. What stories the Hopi Indian tribes may have shared there or the pain and joy that John Wesley Powell, the one-armed explorer who braved the rivers and valleys of the great canyon and made the basis for much of the documentation that is followed even now.
Despite the fact that there was such immense beauty all around us, it did seem a bit surprising that there was such limited connectivity for cell phone reception or internet out there. The hotel that we were staying at, provided the equivalent of a slowspeed, dial up connection that worked only when it was fed two dollar bills for a duration of 8 minutes. Sharlene, Roberto and Bulent were all those who suffered from money-gone-no-service syndrome when the browser refused to spit out ay data after receiving what it referred to as the “generous contribution” from each of them.
Here’s a piece of advise of people who consider the internet to be part of their lifelines into the real world – take a satellite phone with you or invest in some kind of communication peripherals that will allow you to have two-way communication. Even those little walkie-talkies would do.
As I ran/walked the morning of our second day with Caroline Casey, and took a walk with Tiffany O’Neal over a path on the afternoon of our third day there, that’s all I could think about. Time has come to stand still in the aging rocks of the Grand Canyon. I wonder what atrocities the underbrush has witnessed. I wonder how much history has been archived in the walls of the Canyon. What stories the Hopi Indian tribes may have shared there or the pain and joy that John Wesley Powell, the one-armed explorer who braved the rivers and valleys of the great canyon and made the basis for much of the documentation that is followed even now.
Despite the fact that there was such immense beauty all around us, it did seem a bit surprising that there was such limited connectivity for cell phone reception or internet out there. The hotel that we were staying at, provided the equivalent of a slowspeed, dial up connection that worked only when it was fed two dollar bills for a duration of 8 minutes. Sharlene, Roberto and Bulent were all those who suffered from money-gone-no-service syndrome when the browser refused to spit out ay data after receiving what it referred to as the “generous contribution” from each of them.
Here’s a piece of advise of people who consider the internet to be part of their lifelines into the real world – take a satellite phone with you or invest in some kind of communication peripherals that will allow you to have two-way communication. Even those little walkie-talkies would do.
Bye bye Keila!
After spending almost 5 weeks with Keila Knoebel, wife of Dr Marcelo Knoebel, I wave a tearful goodbye to her as she makes her way back home to be with her son and family. I got a chance to get to know Keila my first day in Philadelphia when Marcel, Keila and I made our way to St Peters school to interact with the kids there. First days are always tough and we managed to survive through the day by talking about things, trying to get to know each other. The next day, the three of us had a wonderful lunch and I learned the most wonderful things about this very special couple.
Things like Keila made a pitstop to the post office each day to send something out to her son - and how Keila would insist on going back to the same restaurant and ordering the same things because she had liked it so much the first time around..
Bug eyed as I was, I thought the 2-months of the fellowship would last forever. And yet today, at the Phoenix airport as I just hugged Keila, I found myself surprised at how quickly this time had passed by.
Keila? You are a wonderful person and have such a gentle soul inside of you. I wish you all the very best and pray that success finds you and your family wherever you are.
Oi!
Things like Keila made a pitstop to the post office each day to send something out to her son - and how Keila would insist on going back to the same restaurant and ordering the same things because she had liked it so much the first time around..
Bug eyed as I was, I thought the 2-months of the fellowship would last forever. And yet today, at the Phoenix airport as I just hugged Keila, I found myself surprised at how quickly this time had passed by.
Keila? You are a wonderful person and have such a gentle soul inside of you. I wish you all the very best and pray that success finds you and your family wherever you are.
Oi!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
If you hear the words SP at the Airport, be Scared! Be Very Scared! – says SP Roberto
Advancing economies continue to surprise me with the speed at which they do things. Fast cars, fast lives, fast food… fast, quick and short. Short-cuts. Phrases like “ ‘Sup?” or “yea” or just plain abbreviations. Most of these abbreviations don’t make sense to me. So I completely empathized with my co-fellow, Roberto Guerrero, told us a story involving the SP abbreviation, you can imagine our astonishment. Care to lend an ear? Here goes –
So Roberto and his wife, Andrea, walk into the La Guardia airport on their way to some destination on their program. Well dressed as he always is, Roberto gets looked up and down and pulled from his long line of people and he comments, “I was just so excited because I thought I was being treated so well because of my great sense of dress.” However, people who travel frequently should have all kinds of alarms going off in their heads by this time.
Of course, an SP is a Special Passenger who is plucked out of a long line of ordinary people and thrown into a complete and utterly humiliating experience.
The SP is based on a formula of random selection, whereby an individual is pulled out of line to be searched, poked, prodded and completely helpless and to the security process at the hands of the airport security. “They yell out ‘WE HAVE TWO SPs” and someone comes and guides you into an area where they essentially tell you to undress, go through your clothes, bags and spray and test everything at random.”
Isn’t it enough to take off our shoes, whip out our laptops, take off our coats and belts and other colorful accessories to put through the Xray machines, to be exposed to such a threat of being openly humiliated? I mean, there should be some difference in the way people traveling on a commercial airliner and the way an epidemic would be treated, shouldn’t there?
I automatically hold out my passport during all the scrutiny and checks that I pass through and then remain ready to be pulled out of line when the guard inevitably scream “NO ALARM, FEMALE ASSISTANCE REQUIRED!” as I pass through a silent screening machine. I can hide my passport but I can’t hide the color of my skin or shape of my face and go through the treatment every time.
There really has to be a better way to travel in the West. Seriously. The 3-ounce liquid rule and the number of times you have to undress, take off your shoes and empty your bags, only to forget to take out the loose change from your pocket and then be pulled out of the line once again.
I love the freedom to travel but treating people like this, just doesn’t seem like a great plan. It just doesn’t.
So Roberto and his wife, Andrea, walk into the La Guardia airport on their way to some destination on their program. Well dressed as he always is, Roberto gets looked up and down and pulled from his long line of people and he comments, “I was just so excited because I thought I was being treated so well because of my great sense of dress.” However, people who travel frequently should have all kinds of alarms going off in their heads by this time.
Of course, an SP is a Special Passenger who is plucked out of a long line of ordinary people and thrown into a complete and utterly humiliating experience.
The SP is based on a formula of random selection, whereby an individual is pulled out of line to be searched, poked, prodded and completely helpless and to the security process at the hands of the airport security. “They yell out ‘WE HAVE TWO SPs” and someone comes and guides you into an area where they essentially tell you to undress, go through your clothes, bags and spray and test everything at random.”
Isn’t it enough to take off our shoes, whip out our laptops, take off our coats and belts and other colorful accessories to put through the Xray machines, to be exposed to such a threat of being openly humiliated? I mean, there should be some difference in the way people traveling on a commercial airliner and the way an epidemic would be treated, shouldn’t there?
I automatically hold out my passport during all the scrutiny and checks that I pass through and then remain ready to be pulled out of line when the guard inevitably scream “NO ALARM, FEMALE ASSISTANCE REQUIRED!” as I pass through a silent screening machine. I can hide my passport but I can’t hide the color of my skin or shape of my face and go through the treatment every time.
There really has to be a better way to travel in the West. Seriously. The 3-ounce liquid rule and the number of times you have to undress, take off your shoes and empty your bags, only to forget to take out the loose change from your pocket and then be pulled out of the line once again.
I love the freedom to travel but treating people like this, just doesn’t seem like a great plan. It just doesn’t.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
I’ve been NABbed! A superficial look at NAB 2007
And so here I was, flying on my own to Las Vegas. Please understand that I am a HUGE CSI Las Vegas fan. I mean – like a mega mega fan. I’ve watched every episode there was, and then watched them again and then some more. The thing is, each episode of CSI begins with an overshot of the Las Vegas strip, and if you don’t pay too much attention to the fact that the CSI series is all about gory killings and murders, they actually make Las Vegas look like a great place. And then of course, there are those crazy stories you’ll hear from people who will tell you how wild and fun the casinos are…
To see the irony it is to have me, as in Rabia Garib, travel to Las Vegas, the casino capital of the world, you have to only see me once. The fact that the National Association of Broadcasters organizes the world’s largest electronics show there, was purely a coincidence. Believe me! Even my program officer, Jan, was relieved that I wouldn’t gamble my life down the tubes there when we met for the first time. I mean, look at me!
The conference was unbelievable. The conference had everything I could possibly dream of, and then some more. They had about 8 different, concurrent sessions that had everything to do with the integration of traditional media with new media. So whether it was television, radio or print, they had experts from around the US who flew in to teach you the cutting edge trends in expanding the horizons a little bit more. And these workshops and seminars catered to large audiences but addressed the nitty gritty of everything. We were introduced to the workings of either different software, animation or just techniques that made it all worthwhile. I was enrolled in an intense Pod Casting Summit, for example, where we discussed not only how to create Pod Casts but also how to effectively market them and promote them. Heck, these are the inside secrets nobody in the business ever tells you!
I’m not a programmer and am quite hopeless at exerting patience to understand what tags and lines of code mean, but I learned how to create and read an RSS Feed. So according to David Lawrence, since I attended his sessions, I can successfully be called an RSS Wrangler. Wow! I’m a Wrangler! Ha ha!
The organization was superb; the setup was out of this world, it was a self-check in system where you plugged in your confirmation number on one of maybe 30 terminals and boom, you get your registration cards, badges and the works. But shocked the pants off me was the number of publications that are produced and made available to everyone who visits NAB. I know I freaked out and picked up about 18 different magazines that appealed to me. Sure this was stupid and all considering the fact that on average, a magazine weighs about a couple of pounds and then to have 18!! But personally, its all worth it. The halls that had the actual exhibition in, opened on Monday and took the breath out of me. Hundreds upon hundreds of companies who were there to showcase their products and services and network and get to know their customers.
Studios and production facilities were storming the place just to find the right equipment, do their demos and start getting into business.
A phenomenal experience!
To see the irony it is to have me, as in Rabia Garib, travel to Las Vegas, the casino capital of the world, you have to only see me once. The fact that the National Association of Broadcasters organizes the world’s largest electronics show there, was purely a coincidence. Believe me! Even my program officer, Jan, was relieved that I wouldn’t gamble my life down the tubes there when we met for the first time. I mean, look at me!
The conference was unbelievable. The conference had everything I could possibly dream of, and then some more. They had about 8 different, concurrent sessions that had everything to do with the integration of traditional media with new media. So whether it was television, radio or print, they had experts from around the US who flew in to teach you the cutting edge trends in expanding the horizons a little bit more. And these workshops and seminars catered to large audiences but addressed the nitty gritty of everything. We were introduced to the workings of either different software, animation or just techniques that made it all worthwhile. I was enrolled in an intense Pod Casting Summit, for example, where we discussed not only how to create Pod Casts but also how to effectively market them and promote them. Heck, these are the inside secrets nobody in the business ever tells you!
I’m not a programmer and am quite hopeless at exerting patience to understand what tags and lines of code mean, but I learned how to create and read an RSS Feed. So according to David Lawrence, since I attended his sessions, I can successfully be called an RSS Wrangler. Wow! I’m a Wrangler! Ha ha!
The organization was superb; the setup was out of this world, it was a self-check in system where you plugged in your confirmation number on one of maybe 30 terminals and boom, you get your registration cards, badges and the works. But shocked the pants off me was the number of publications that are produced and made available to everyone who visits NAB. I know I freaked out and picked up about 18 different magazines that appealed to me. Sure this was stupid and all considering the fact that on average, a magazine weighs about a couple of pounds and then to have 18!! But personally, its all worth it. The halls that had the actual exhibition in, opened on Monday and took the breath out of me. Hundreds upon hundreds of companies who were there to showcase their products and services and network and get to know their customers.
Studios and production facilities were storming the place just to find the right equipment, do their demos and start getting into business.
A phenomenal experience!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Random House and Sterling Publishers – Calling the best writers in Pakistan!
I’m never going to forget Thursday April 12, 2007. This was my first experience running from the post office on 55th and 3rd in New York with Ratish, getting late for my meeting, running 8 blocks down to Broadway. Did I mention it was raining? I should have. Was this the freezing wind chill that I had read about and heard on the news?
Anyways, so here I am, running to my meeting, my trousers absolutely drenched and my black Ann Klein jacket that doubles up like a raincoat, covering my head. I have a fantastic meeting at Random House. I love books. Did I mention that? I should have because I do. The best way to describe what I felt when I walked through the massive revolving doors of the Random House lobby, was perhaps was Alice felt when she walked through the mirror… or perhaps what Neo felt when he chose the blue pill over the red one – It was my portal to a world I have dreamed about for all my life.
I met with the Publisher-at-large and I wanted to give her a huge hug. That was before she handed me her compact umbrella to help me get some shelter from the downpour outside. By the time I got done with Sterling Books, I had an such an overwhelming feeling was of so much excitement, I wanted to run up to the top of some building and shout at the top of my lungs. What was the meeting all about? I should have perhaps mentioned a bit of that too, shouldn’t I? So here’s a bit of background –
You know that famous, used-to-death analogy of whether the glass is half full of half empty? When it comes to Pakistan, my default instinct is to think of the glass as half full. That’s what I feel and that’s the part of the glass that I do my work in. Welcome to my world. So when I requested to meet with Random House and Sterling Books, I was thinking maybe I could do something to push our many young and talented writers. Did I mention that earlier? There are! A large and growing exuberant young writers club. No – not club. A young writers community. Yes. That’s more like it.
Oh yes – did I explain that English language books written by local authors have few or no avenues to get out of. Hmmm… Here’s the funny part :- In a day and age when we are trying to get out thoughts and voices out, how can we expect to communicate with the majority of the world, if we don’t speak their language? While native languages are so essential for the preservation and understanding of culture and identity, creation of publications, documents and books are extremely important to let the outside world, they who do not speak your native tongue, understand who you are. And so here’s my reason for being so ecstatic –
Random House and Sterling Publishers are both willing and in fact, looking forward to receiving manuscripts and ideas from writers from across Pakistan! Did you hear that? Isn’t that reason enough for me to leap, skip, hop and dance around? I am going to be a literary agent working with them. Should the extraordinary woman at Random House be surprised when I said this feels like a dream come true? Hmmm… Didn’t I say that already? I just think that repetition makes the dream a reality.
Okay – so here’s something that I am going to request everyone reading this blog entry help me do – Pass the word around to your friends, uncles, cousins, friends of friends and other pen-thrift men and women… If they write and write well enough, I’d like them to get in touch with me through email at: rgarib@gmail.com and I’ll walk them through the screening process for both publishing houses. Also pass the word around that this is a HUGE deal.. Be sure and mention that part.
Now run off… stop reading this blog and run off and pass the word around!
Anyways, so here I am, running to my meeting, my trousers absolutely drenched and my black Ann Klein jacket that doubles up like a raincoat, covering my head. I have a fantastic meeting at Random House. I love books. Did I mention that? I should have because I do. The best way to describe what I felt when I walked through the massive revolving doors of the Random House lobby, was perhaps was Alice felt when she walked through the mirror… or perhaps what Neo felt when he chose the blue pill over the red one – It was my portal to a world I have dreamed about for all my life.
I met with the Publisher-at-large and I wanted to give her a huge hug. That was before she handed me her compact umbrella to help me get some shelter from the downpour outside. By the time I got done with Sterling Books, I had an such an overwhelming feeling was of so much excitement, I wanted to run up to the top of some building and shout at the top of my lungs. What was the meeting all about? I should have perhaps mentioned a bit of that too, shouldn’t I? So here’s a bit of background –
You know that famous, used-to-death analogy of whether the glass is half full of half empty? When it comes to Pakistan, my default instinct is to think of the glass as half full. That’s what I feel and that’s the part of the glass that I do my work in. Welcome to my world. So when I requested to meet with Random House and Sterling Books, I was thinking maybe I could do something to push our many young and talented writers. Did I mention that earlier? There are! A large and growing exuberant young writers club. No – not club. A young writers community. Yes. That’s more like it.
Oh yes – did I explain that English language books written by local authors have few or no avenues to get out of. Hmmm… Here’s the funny part :- In a day and age when we are trying to get out thoughts and voices out, how can we expect to communicate with the majority of the world, if we don’t speak their language? While native languages are so essential for the preservation and understanding of culture and identity, creation of publications, documents and books are extremely important to let the outside world, they who do not speak your native tongue, understand who you are. And so here’s my reason for being so ecstatic –
Random House and Sterling Publishers are both willing and in fact, looking forward to receiving manuscripts and ideas from writers from across Pakistan! Did you hear that? Isn’t that reason enough for me to leap, skip, hop and dance around? I am going to be a literary agent working with them. Should the extraordinary woman at Random House be surprised when I said this feels like a dream come true? Hmmm… Didn’t I say that already? I just think that repetition makes the dream a reality.
Okay – so here’s something that I am going to request everyone reading this blog entry help me do – Pass the word around to your friends, uncles, cousins, friends of friends and other pen-thrift men and women… If they write and write well enough, I’d like them to get in touch with me through email at: rgarib@gmail.com and I’ll walk them through the screening process for both publishing houses. Also pass the word around that this is a HUGE deal.. Be sure and mention that part.
Now run off… stop reading this blog and run off and pass the word around!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Wafa: Continuing to Make Waves!
Wafa, Wafa? Where art thou, Wafa? When one of the strongest, most influential and moving voices is no where to be found, it does cause your ears to ring a bit funny - (Though yes, that could be from the bitter cold weather in the New York!)
So I just heard from Wafa and was really excited to post her message up here..
Our co-fellow Wafa finds herself in a warm, sunny San Francisco, preparing to depart for Long Beach on Friday. Unlike the rain and wind chill that has frozen most of New York to the sidewalks, a smiling sun welcomes Wafa onto Long Beach on Sunday. But what I find so amazing about Wafa's message is this next part: "Yesterday I was in Santa Cruz, where I had two interviews, one for a documentary film on violence against women, and the second was for the community TV and radio of Santa Cruz.
"Today, I was at link TV and KPOO Radio where I was also interviewed to talk about media situation in Palestine, another guest was from Ethiopia."
I am thrilled at the fact that Wafa is finding channels and outlets to have her voice and opinions heard. If it is vital enough for us to learn about the American Culture, it is just as critical for American audiences to learn about each of our lives.. After all, isn't that what the greatest part of this fellowship is supposed to be?
Well done, Wafa!! Well done!
So I just heard from Wafa and was really excited to post her message up here..
Our co-fellow Wafa finds herself in a warm, sunny San Francisco, preparing to depart for Long Beach on Friday. Unlike the rain and wind chill that has frozen most of New York to the sidewalks, a smiling sun welcomes Wafa onto Long Beach on Sunday. But what I find so amazing about Wafa's message is this next part: "Yesterday I was in Santa Cruz, where I had two interviews, one for a documentary film on violence against women, and the second was for the community TV and radio of Santa Cruz.
"Today, I was at link TV and KPOO Radio where I was also interviewed to talk about media situation in Palestine, another guest was from Ethiopia."
I am thrilled at the fact that Wafa is finding channels and outlets to have her voice and opinions heard. If it is vital enough for us to learn about the American Culture, it is just as critical for American audiences to learn about each of our lives.. After all, isn't that what the greatest part of this fellowship is supposed to be?
Well done, Wafa!! Well done!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Museum of Television and Radio - Keeping the Tube Alive
I've been intrigued about a number of things about New York since the time I landed here. Sure I wanted to see all the sights that the average visitor wanted to see, but the Museum of Television and Radio rated somewhere at the top of the list. Television and radio intrigue me. I find the medium so unbelievably powerful, and the fact that I work alongside some producers, channels and artists back in Pakistan, makes me feel like if I can understand it, I can make a solid contribution through it.
So I saw MTR on the map of New York that my hotel gave me - no big deal. The fact that I had an appointment there - big deal! So what is the MTR all about?
They have more than 140,000 programs and advertisements, covering more than eighty-five years of television and radio history. So you won't find artifacts and ornaments - You will find programming. These guys collect, digitize and archive programming content. And it's a fairly unbelievable collection covering all genres: comedy, drama, news, public affairs, performing arts, children’s, sports, reality, animation, and documentary, and includes a significant international presence, with seven thousand assets from seventy countries. Searchable and accessible. Browse through the library, select your programs, move to the cubicle areas and start viewing your personalized programs. Spend as many hours as you want there.
I wanted to watch Reverend Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech that he gave in Washington at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial - I read that speech back in school and I was able to finally see it (will dedicate another blog to that since THAT story is just so long).
Unfortunately, MTR doesn't carry any Pakistani content. No drama and none of our great television programs. However, speaking with Richard Weigle, who is a Producer and Archivist and who was also giving me the tour of the museum, I will hopefully get in touch with one of the curators and make that change happen. Some of our biggest and best names need to be made available to the public audiences in the United States. That's the first step in any cultural exchange and understanding that will happen between our countries.
The Kara Film Festival that takes place each year in Karachi in December? That needs to be linked up to an institution like this. There is so much going on in the television industry in Pakistan that simply must link with MTR -
I've often wondered why Pakistan's government won't see that the ony way we will be able to show the world who we truly are, is if we don't begin to use the media to project ourselves. We already have a culture and a history. It just needs to find itself out of the history books to give people a better understanding of who we really are.
Below is a photograph of Amy Douthett, Manager Public Relations and Jennifer, from the Media Center at MTR. Amy? Thanks for all your help and ideas. I look forward to keeping in touch with you!
So I saw MTR on the map of New York that my hotel gave me - no big deal. The fact that I had an appointment there - big deal! So what is the MTR all about?
They have more than 140,000 programs and advertisements, covering more than eighty-five years of television and radio history. So you won't find artifacts and ornaments - You will find programming. These guys collect, digitize and archive programming content. And it's a fairly unbelievable collection covering all genres: comedy, drama, news, public affairs, performing arts, children’s, sports, reality, animation, and documentary, and includes a significant international presence, with seven thousand assets from seventy countries. Searchable and accessible. Browse through the library, select your programs, move to the cubicle areas and start viewing your personalized programs. Spend as many hours as you want there.
I wanted to watch Reverend Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech that he gave in Washington at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial - I read that speech back in school and I was able to finally see it (will dedicate another blog to that since THAT story is just so long).
Unfortunately, MTR doesn't carry any Pakistani content. No drama and none of our great television programs. However, speaking with Richard Weigle, who is a Producer and Archivist and who was also giving me the tour of the museum, I will hopefully get in touch with one of the curators and make that change happen. Some of our biggest and best names need to be made available to the public audiences in the United States. That's the first step in any cultural exchange and understanding that will happen between our countries.
The Kara Film Festival that takes place each year in Karachi in December? That needs to be linked up to an institution like this. There is so much going on in the television industry in Pakistan that simply must link with MTR -
I've often wondered why Pakistan's government won't see that the ony way we will be able to show the world who we truly are, is if we don't begin to use the media to project ourselves. We already have a culture and a history. It just needs to find itself out of the history books to give people a better understanding of who we really are.
Below is a photograph of Amy Douthett, Manager Public Relations and Jennifer, from the Media Center at MTR. Amy? Thanks for all your help and ideas. I look forward to keeping in touch with you!
Me on Voice of America
Hahaha! Too funny! And so here I was, all set to have my 2-cent tour of the Voice of America studios simply because they make up one of the largest network of radio and television content producers in the world.
I meet with the Urdu/Hindi producers and program managers and Faiz talks to me about what we will be talking about on air. For some odd reason, I was under the impression that I would be interviewed for radio until we walked through the television studio. Yes. This was a teevee interview segment for the Urdu broadcast, aired last night through Pakistan's Geo Television.
A very interesting experience. Here's the link for those of you who want to either see it or read the summary online:
http://www.voanews.com/urdu/TV/2007-04-10-voa1.cfm
Oh - meet the urdu/hindi team -
I meet with the Urdu/Hindi producers and program managers and Faiz talks to me about what we will be talking about on air. For some odd reason, I was under the impression that I would be interviewed for radio until we walked through the television studio. Yes. This was a teevee interview segment for the Urdu broadcast, aired last night through Pakistan's Geo Television.
A very interesting experience. Here's the link for those of you who want to either see it or read the summary online:
http://www.voanews.com/urdu/TV/2007-04-10-voa1.cfm
Oh - meet the urdu/hindi team -
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Gunvor and Henrik in New York
Gunvor has landed! They got to NYC a few hours ago and also at the UN Plaza with the rest of us. What was the first thing Gunvor did when she reached the city? Rushed to the MoMart - "I've always wanted to see it. Actually it was something of a disappointment - not as impressive as I had imagined. But this often happens with things you have very high expectations of." True Gunvor - So for all you folks who want to visit the Momart, perhaps lower expectations for greater result?
Gunvor and Henrik join us in New York from Washington DC. How were their last days in the capital? "Yesterday we had a wonderful day back in DC. We went to the Great Falls with friends and had a 10 mile long walk. Cold - yes - but fantastic scenery and so many birds! We slept very well after this hiking experince and it was nice to get out of the city."
I have to say that Gunvor's experience in the US is opening her up to all kinds of exercise - First experience on the treadmill in the DoubleTree gym at the Double Tree? Excellent!
Gunvor and Henrik join us in New York from Washington DC. How were their last days in the capital? "Yesterday we had a wonderful day back in DC. We went to the Great Falls with friends and had a 10 mile long walk. Cold - yes - but fantastic scenery and so many birds! We slept very well after this hiking experince and it was nice to get out of the city."
I have to say that Gunvor's experience in the US is opening her up to all kinds of exercise - First experience on the treadmill in the DoubleTree gym at the Double Tree? Excellent!
Headline: Stubborn Women on Ice
I'm grateful for each day that I am here. I am so grateful for a wonderful family, great friends and extraordinary opportunities. I am eternally thankful for being with people who are passionate about what the change they want to bring about in their communities to learn and be continually inspired by each of their struggles and lives. I am so thankful for finally having had the chance to experience my first snowfall. Yes. Most definately thankful for so much. What I thought I would never be grateful for would be for sore feet and a bruised fanny (is that even a word is this day and age!!?) - Here's the scoop on that -
As we made out way down to the Central Park, Casey and I got started chatting on a number of things up until the time we both found ourselves infront of a white mirage: the Trump Ice Rink. One would imagine you need a sense of adventure and a great deal of body cushion (both of which I have in large quantities) to follow Casey down her mad craving for adventure on the Ice. Could I just let her make fun of me and not follow her?! Under normal circumstances when I wouldn't be suffering from Brainfreeze in New York's cold spring weather, I'm sure I could handle all the poking possible, but since the part of my brain that would normally make the critical practical decision of "no - can't do therefore shouldn't do" wasn't functioning, I did. Yes. I lept.
I've never been on the ice. Never. I thought about it may times, but you have to remember that I live in Karachi, Pakistan where the closest you'll get to weather like this is if you decided to sit in the freezer. So yes, you guessed it - I was down in the first 5 minutes of my first steps in the rink. But Casey was determined. Funny how her determination found itself in the soles of my feet and I actually made my way around the rink hanging onto Casey's hand and relying on her to guide me through.
Round one. No fall. Round two. Boom! Forward momentum, Forward momentum and boom. "The trick is to keep your feet just slightly apart and make sure you lean forward" says Casey. I could have sworn that I was in the shooting of a film about dedication and overcoming the most severe challenge on earth, and though I wasn't ready to give up, I had Casey to hang onto. And so we went onto finish Round 2 with only one fall and then laughs and says, "Okay - You're doing great. Now I'm going to let go of you and you're going to get around this on your own" -
And so with Casey on my side, I take off.. Round 3. As much as I would like to imagine this to be the most courageous thing I have ever done, it was really nothing that heroic. And I fell.... more than once. But it was strange - This Casey woman, who I met just 2 weeks ago and actually only spoke to yesterday on the train, was there to help me up everytime. With her words of encouragement, and mastering the ability to brake, I did it. I went around with Casey determined not to pull me up.
Now that I sit and think back to the hour that I was there at the rink, I feel full of life and more adventure, happy that I tried something I otherwise never thought I would do. But that hour was quite a bit more than just a ice skating adventure. It was an hour where I was able to remind myself about something so important: there is more than just simple humanity all around us. We developed wonderful friends who give us the push (or in this case, the shove) needed to experience something and expand life as you know it. And most importantly, no matter how many times you fall, there will always be a hand to help you up and give you that subtle guidance until you get back on your feet.
Casey? Thank you!
As we made out way down to the Central Park, Casey and I got started chatting on a number of things up until the time we both found ourselves infront of a white mirage: the Trump Ice Rink. One would imagine you need a sense of adventure and a great deal of body cushion (both of which I have in large quantities) to follow Casey down her mad craving for adventure on the Ice. Could I just let her make fun of me and not follow her?! Under normal circumstances when I wouldn't be suffering from Brainfreeze in New York's cold spring weather, I'm sure I could handle all the poking possible, but since the part of my brain that would normally make the critical practical decision of "no - can't do therefore shouldn't do" wasn't functioning, I did. Yes. I lept.
I've never been on the ice. Never. I thought about it may times, but you have to remember that I live in Karachi, Pakistan where the closest you'll get to weather like this is if you decided to sit in the freezer. So yes, you guessed it - I was down in the first 5 minutes of my first steps in the rink. But Casey was determined. Funny how her determination found itself in the soles of my feet and I actually made my way around the rink hanging onto Casey's hand and relying on her to guide me through.
Round one. No fall. Round two. Boom! Forward momentum, Forward momentum and boom. "The trick is to keep your feet just slightly apart and make sure you lean forward" says Casey. I could have sworn that I was in the shooting of a film about dedication and overcoming the most severe challenge on earth, and though I wasn't ready to give up, I had Casey to hang onto. And so we went onto finish Round 2 with only one fall and then laughs and says, "Okay - You're doing great. Now I'm going to let go of you and you're going to get around this on your own" -
And so with Casey on my side, I take off.. Round 3. As much as I would like to imagine this to be the most courageous thing I have ever done, it was really nothing that heroic. And I fell.... more than once. But it was strange - This Casey woman, who I met just 2 weeks ago and actually only spoke to yesterday on the train, was there to help me up everytime. With her words of encouragement, and mastering the ability to brake, I did it. I went around with Casey determined not to pull me up.
Now that I sit and think back to the hour that I was there at the rink, I feel full of life and more adventure, happy that I tried something I otherwise never thought I would do. But that hour was quite a bit more than just a ice skating adventure. It was an hour where I was able to remind myself about something so important: there is more than just simple humanity all around us. We developed wonderful friends who give us the push (or in this case, the shove) needed to experience something and expand life as you know it. And most importantly, no matter how many times you fall, there will always be a hand to help you up and give you that subtle guidance until you get back on your feet.
Casey? Thank you!
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Ratish's Quarters
Just a quick note to convince the power of blog to Indian Fellow, Ratish - If you notice reallllly carefully, you'll see that the quarters that jingle in your pocket are from across all 50 states. Our friend Ratish, is on his way to collecting them from as many states as possible. If you have quarters, please run their origin states by him so we can help him achieve his goal of having one of each.
Maybe we can have him sponsor discounts and cashback prizes once he achieves his goal!
Maybe we can have him sponsor discounts and cashback prizes once he achieves his goal!
Subway trains XYZ, GOFO GSAT HOBO and PQRST (FEE FI FO FUM!)
What better way to experience New York than just to go ahead and jump into the system. Not walk. Definitely not tip toe. Jump. I am careful not to use the word “leap” since that is usually directional and Casey and my jump into the system was not necessarily in any specific direction.
To be quite honest, we were going in no particular direction, to no particular destination with no specific route in mind. I would imagine if our route was that flexible, we could never actually get lost. Huh!
So first things first – Buy yourself a metro card for $10 rather than going in for a single ride – if you’re going to spend a few days in New York and don’t want to get run over by mad cab drivers, it’s probably a good idea to stick to the underground. Well.. kind of a good idea. Okay – it’s an idea, and here’s why – If you don’t spend a few minutes trying to read the metro map, you will only use, re-use and keep using the card until you run out of a few dollars before you actually SIT on the subway. Yes. We say this from experience. *giggles
The hotel usually provides you with a street and subway map (or you can always ask V at the UN Plaza hotel – He’ll whip one up for you..) The subway information booths can usually part with a metro map which is even more complicated than the street map, but could help. Please do take the time to notice the look on the information providers face before you grab the map and run. It makes Britney Spears look like a hyperactive toy (wait.. isn't she that anyway!?)
Okay – Now here’s how we get around in the underground world and I’m not making this up – There are ‘123 lines’ which are red; blue ACE lines; Yellow NRQW lines, Green 456 trains, Mustard BDFV trains; Brown JMV lines, the magenta 7 train and the lonely S or L train. I have no clue what these numbers or letters stand for, but you can imagine the fright Casey and I had whilst trying to deal with impaired sight and mental retardation whilst trying to figure out what the damn routes were. I can safely say that we were today’s Short and Tall crew for the underground – If you see two people whipping out maps and stopping at every corner (up and down several blocks at a time), on the news, you’ll know that to be us.
We chose what was supposed to be the most complicated way to travel from 42nd street and Avenue of the Americas, down to the trendy and chique Greenwich Village. And the route was just so darn confusing, we got there without realizing that we had reached! How’s that for knowing where we were?!
For your information, UN Plaza and the Bronx is UPTOWN which is where I got further confused and made us use our metro cards twice over. I think this one exploratory trip into the underground of New York probably cost us about 6 dollars since it costs about 2 quid a trip.
But we made it back home, despite the fact that Casey flew here and I panted on four legs right behind her. You can tell she is the taller one from the both of us. ☺
New York is only New York in certain streets and you haven’t landed in New York until you block someone’s speed travel on the street and have them yell back at you. 5th Avenue upwards is life on the edge – you stand too close to the edge of that sidewalk and you shall be whisked away.
More from Shorty later on!
To be quite honest, we were going in no particular direction, to no particular destination with no specific route in mind. I would imagine if our route was that flexible, we could never actually get lost. Huh!
So first things first – Buy yourself a metro card for $10 rather than going in for a single ride – if you’re going to spend a few days in New York and don’t want to get run over by mad cab drivers, it’s probably a good idea to stick to the underground. Well.. kind of a good idea. Okay – it’s an idea, and here’s why – If you don’t spend a few minutes trying to read the metro map, you will only use, re-use and keep using the card until you run out of a few dollars before you actually SIT on the subway. Yes. We say this from experience. *giggles
The hotel usually provides you with a street and subway map (or you can always ask V at the UN Plaza hotel – He’ll whip one up for you..) The subway information booths can usually part with a metro map which is even more complicated than the street map, but could help. Please do take the time to notice the look on the information providers face before you grab the map and run. It makes Britney Spears look like a hyperactive toy (wait.. isn't she that anyway!?)
Okay – Now here’s how we get around in the underground world and I’m not making this up – There are ‘123 lines’ which are red; blue ACE lines; Yellow NRQW lines, Green 456 trains, Mustard BDFV trains; Brown JMV lines, the magenta 7 train and the lonely S or L train. I have no clue what these numbers or letters stand for, but you can imagine the fright Casey and I had whilst trying to deal with impaired sight and mental retardation whilst trying to figure out what the damn routes were. I can safely say that we were today’s Short and Tall crew for the underground – If you see two people whipping out maps and stopping at every corner (up and down several blocks at a time), on the news, you’ll know that to be us.
We chose what was supposed to be the most complicated way to travel from 42nd street and Avenue of the Americas, down to the trendy and chique Greenwich Village. And the route was just so darn confusing, we got there without realizing that we had reached! How’s that for knowing where we were?!
For your information, UN Plaza and the Bronx is UPTOWN which is where I got further confused and made us use our metro cards twice over. I think this one exploratory trip into the underground of New York probably cost us about 6 dollars since it costs about 2 quid a trip.
But we made it back home, despite the fact that Casey flew here and I panted on four legs right behind her. You can tell she is the taller one from the both of us. ☺
New York is only New York in certain streets and you haven’t landed in New York until you block someone’s speed travel on the street and have them yell back at you. 5th Avenue upwards is life on the edge – you stand too close to the edge of that sidewalk and you shall be whisked away.
More from Shorty later on!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Ode to Abe
– April 1, 2007
I decided to take a walk down to the Lincoln Memorial yesterday. Took the 23rd street down all the way until I came to the place where, you guessed it, Reese Witherspoon stood and questioned Abe Lincoln about justice and opportunity. Regardless of what anyone says, the memorial is a complex monument that stands for so many things.
I sat down for a while and watched people passing me by, running up and down the stairs, taking photographs of one another to capture the moment in the lens of their cameras - the fact that they were on the foot of a monument that encapsulates the rights, virtues and values of life better than most people will ever know.
Don’t take me wrong – I’m not a history buff. I don’t remember when the memorial was built and I don’t even know why President Abraham Lincoln has a memorial attributed to him. What I do know is this (though feel free to correct me if I am wrong) –
Abraham Lincoln, as unpopular as he was before he actually assumed his presidency, is a testament to freedom, democracy, equality and gives people like me a bit of hope. I climbed up the stairs and for some odd reason, I couldn’t turn my back on the statue, despite the fact that I wanted to turn around and take a photograph of the The Mall and the Washington Monument. I had to maneuver myself around the sitting public and got a side shot of the view I wanted. In fact, the small, almost insignificant sign that said, ‘quiet – please respect’ didn’t do too much to get the people to quiet down either, which just led me to question whether the people who were there really understood the significance of the Lincoln Memorial.
It’s not about race, religion or creed – it’s a statue for god’s sakes. But hello? It’s about something more than that.
It’s funny how honest Abe draws out more emotion in me than the museums I went through (and don’t take me wrong because I loved those museums!! That’s why I went through all of them!!)
People like me who come from lands so far away, often are in awe of how great the history of western countries are – something that the present circumstance doesn’t necessarily reflect. Wait a second - am I reading too much into symbolism and significance and the historical reference?
And so my running route was mapped and I went back the next evening, armed with my Ipod Nano, listening to Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ About a Revolution”, running next to the Arlington Cemetary, thinking about how people from different backgrounds and ethnicities help to make the world a better place… or do they…
I decided to take a walk down to the Lincoln Memorial yesterday. Took the 23rd street down all the way until I came to the place where, you guessed it, Reese Witherspoon stood and questioned Abe Lincoln about justice and opportunity. Regardless of what anyone says, the memorial is a complex monument that stands for so many things.
I sat down for a while and watched people passing me by, running up and down the stairs, taking photographs of one another to capture the moment in the lens of their cameras - the fact that they were on the foot of a monument that encapsulates the rights, virtues and values of life better than most people will ever know.
Don’t take me wrong – I’m not a history buff. I don’t remember when the memorial was built and I don’t even know why President Abraham Lincoln has a memorial attributed to him. What I do know is this (though feel free to correct me if I am wrong) –
Abraham Lincoln, as unpopular as he was before he actually assumed his presidency, is a testament to freedom, democracy, equality and gives people like me a bit of hope. I climbed up the stairs and for some odd reason, I couldn’t turn my back on the statue, despite the fact that I wanted to turn around and take a photograph of the The Mall and the Washington Monument. I had to maneuver myself around the sitting public and got a side shot of the view I wanted. In fact, the small, almost insignificant sign that said, ‘quiet – please respect’ didn’t do too much to get the people to quiet down either, which just led me to question whether the people who were there really understood the significance of the Lincoln Memorial.
It’s not about race, religion or creed – it’s a statue for god’s sakes. But hello? It’s about something more than that.
It’s funny how honest Abe draws out more emotion in me than the museums I went through (and don’t take me wrong because I loved those museums!! That’s why I went through all of them!!)
People like me who come from lands so far away, often are in awe of how great the history of western countries are – something that the present circumstance doesn’t necessarily reflect. Wait a second - am I reading too much into symbolism and significance and the historical reference?
And so my running route was mapped and I went back the next evening, armed with my Ipod Nano, listening to Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ About a Revolution”, running next to the Arlington Cemetary, thinking about how people from different backgrounds and ethnicities help to make the world a better place… or do they…
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Hello Caroline? Am I there?
The joke could be no bigger and the irony could be no less obvious. But before I go onto write about the queer title, here's a bit of background -
Rizwana and Caroline both had very busy schedules today, yet needed a bit of technical assistance in buying some computer paraphranelia. Because I had a free morning, I offered to run out to Radio Shack before my 2pm meeting, and get their stuff for them. I went to Radio Shack on 18th street (take the Metro to Farragut West, exit Metro and take a right) and drooled some at the site of the gadget Mecca.. It's always amazing how many treasures these little stores have packed into them.. Anyways, getting back to the story -
I make my evening rounds and give Rizwana the one-two guide on using her stuff and take Caroline's webcam upto her room to install it for her and make sure its working.... After a fun chat with her on how heavy the work burden on our little shoulders are, I walked back to my room and I thought my evening would end there.
I consider myself a careful person.. I carry a huge napsack everywhere because I keep all kinds of cables and accessories with me - who knows what curve balls situations can throw at you. But when I sat down to write a thought-provoking blog about a photograph I snapped with my phone-camera during my run to the Arlington Cemetary today, I couldn't find my phone. Please understand that my work is dependent on people who live in my phone. So I went through my suitcase, opened the safe, went back to the kitchen, ruffled up my bed, looked under the table, went through my napsack (again) until I realized that I should just call myself from the room phone. Simple enough? I think not!
The hotel hadn't activated my call facilities and so I called the front desk and requested them to give my phone a call.. And that's when, yes you guessed it, Caroline answered the phone and told them where she had found the darn thing sitting in her room..
Moral of the story here? No matter how great the distance between Ireland and Pakistan, I won't be able to talk to Caroline if I leave my phone in her room. Huh...
Rizwana and Caroline both had very busy schedules today, yet needed a bit of technical assistance in buying some computer paraphranelia. Because I had a free morning, I offered to run out to Radio Shack before my 2pm meeting, and get their stuff for them. I went to Radio Shack on 18th street (take the Metro to Farragut West, exit Metro and take a right) and drooled some at the site of the gadget Mecca.. It's always amazing how many treasures these little stores have packed into them.. Anyways, getting back to the story -
I make my evening rounds and give Rizwana the one-two guide on using her stuff and take Caroline's webcam upto her room to install it for her and make sure its working.... After a fun chat with her on how heavy the work burden on our little shoulders are, I walked back to my room and I thought my evening would end there.
I consider myself a careful person.. I carry a huge napsack everywhere because I keep all kinds of cables and accessories with me - who knows what curve balls situations can throw at you. But when I sat down to write a thought-provoking blog about a photograph I snapped with my phone-camera during my run to the Arlington Cemetary today, I couldn't find my phone. Please understand that my work is dependent on people who live in my phone. So I went through my suitcase, opened the safe, went back to the kitchen, ruffled up my bed, looked under the table, went through my napsack (again) until I realized that I should just call myself from the room phone. Simple enough? I think not!
The hotel hadn't activated my call facilities and so I called the front desk and requested them to give my phone a call.. And that's when, yes you guessed it, Caroline answered the phone and told them where she had found the darn thing sitting in her room..
Moral of the story here? No matter how great the distance between Ireland and Pakistan, I won't be able to talk to Caroline if I leave my phone in her room. Huh...
Bulent "Upsizes" Eisenhower Fellows!
When I met with Bulent during the orientation week in Philadelphia with Emine at the breakfast brunch, I didn't quite know what to make of him. A doctor from Turkey who knows something about technology? (Yes - the story on that is this discussion and revelation was happening when Emine was still trying to convince Bulent that she really really NEEDS a new Mac!) - And so we did what most fellows did during the first week - we talked, ate and tried to act like we were really upset at the concierge who would not bring the cheque over the instant we were done.
When I heard that the good Turkish doctor is focusing on Obseity in the US during his fellowship, I thought this guy was just really cool!! (Even cooler than the famous Simrik song!!)
I don't know if the other fellows know it yet, but Bulent is going to bring all of us on the right track - Make a project out of us. How? Get ready to share your height, weight and other stats with the Doctor who is going to help us make an assessment on how American food has an impact on us. Will we be transformed into big bowls of melted cheese or just simple pieces of eggplant and carrots swirling in the great American Cultural Salad Bowl?
Ummm... Bulent? I'm exempt from this exercise simply because I'll grab all the before-after shots... :-) Besides.. I was the one out on a run towards the Lincoln Memorial today when you and Caroline called about dinner plans... the timing of your call could not have been more appropriate!
Studying Obesity in the US - Finding contacts a 'big' problem? ;-)
When I heard that the good Turkish doctor is focusing on Obseity in the US during his fellowship, I thought this guy was just really cool!! (Even cooler than the famous Simrik song!!)
I don't know if the other fellows know it yet, but Bulent is going to bring all of us on the right track - Make a project out of us. How? Get ready to share your height, weight and other stats with the Doctor who is going to help us make an assessment on how American food has an impact on us. Will we be transformed into big bowls of melted cheese or just simple pieces of eggplant and carrots swirling in the great American Cultural Salad Bowl?
Ummm... Bulent? I'm exempt from this exercise simply because I'll grab all the before-after shots... :-) Besides.. I was the one out on a run towards the Lincoln Memorial today when you and Caroline called about dinner plans... the timing of your call could not have been more appropriate!
Studying Obesity in the US - Finding contacts a 'big' problem? ;-)
Monday, April 2, 2007
The Kenya Project
Okay - so we're just starting up this Fellowship session and to show you how organized we are, there is already the proposal of having a reunion in Kenya. David? So you're the man in-charge for the project (as Donald Trump would say, the Project Manager for the Kenya Reunion) - We're talking about September? We're talking?
Yes Mandira - we're probably going to plan campfires, and according to Caroline, we could strongly consider having tents to sleep in (Though I have to admit, Caroline - If we place each tent in the middle of two trees, then we can repackage and sell the image of a 'Double Tree Inn' kind of effect... what say you?)
All of you are welcome to post your wishlist for David to look over.. My wishlist for the meet is to please have Wifi Connectivity - Ummm... Need to document our activities regularly through blogs.. :-)
Yes Mandira - we're probably going to plan campfires, and according to Caroline, we could strongly consider having tents to sleep in (Though I have to admit, Caroline - If we place each tent in the middle of two trees, then we can repackage and sell the image of a 'Double Tree Inn' kind of effect... what say you?)
All of you are welcome to post your wishlist for David to look over.. My wishlist for the meet is to please have Wifi Connectivity - Ummm... Need to document our activities regularly through blogs.. :-)
The American Competitiveness Initiative, Rising Above the Gathering Storm and other stories from the House
Thanks to the wise decision (yes! It was a conscious choice!) Aaron Sorkin’s West Wing, I know what the State of the Union now means. After meeting with the House Committee on Science and Technology, I heard a few phrases that seemed to raise my curiosity.
The American Competitive Initiative covers all bills and programs that help the US be more competent in the increased competition that America and is facing from skilled workforce from the East. The ACI proposed doubling the budgets of the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology laboratory programs, and then Department of Energy’s Office of Science over the course of 10 years. We are obviously talking of several billion dollars.
It’s no secret that countries like China and India (and soon hopefully Pakistan!) give the American system of Education a run for its money when it comes to technical studies. ‘Rising above the Gathering Storm’ was a report published in 2005 by the National Academy of Sciences recommending increased investment in research and education. It was on the basis of the recommendations of this report that the then chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology hosted a day-long innovation summit at the Department of Commerce that brought together more than 50 chief executives and university presidents to discuss the Nation’s economic challenges with top Administrative officials, including secretaries of Education, Energy, Commerce and Labor.
Rise Above the Gathering Storm.. Sounds like the House plays a somewhat reactive role in policy formulation rather than being more aggressively proactive. The ‘storm’ has already gathered.
Bills can take anywhere from 1 to a few years to make it down to the approval/disapproval process, which seems strange to begin with. But then, working with Government regardless of country, is pretty consistent. The only difference I can make out in this case would be the fact that since most things are virtual, the paperwork has lesser chances of being misplaced. But it is all about the money. Most departments/agencies get readjusted budgets give or take a few million. The nature of working at the federal level just seems to be to stand out so you don’t get lost in the multitude of paperwork that has to come in.
Just wanted to make a note for Marcelo (Brazil) here – Last year, the committee worked with a research regime to help promote the development of nanotechnology, which was estimated by the National Science Foundation to become a $1 trillion industry within a decade. Recognizing the huge economic potential of Nanotechnology, the committee has authored something known as the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (2003) which authorized increased funding and established a coordinated interagency program to carry out nanotechnology research.
The American Competitive Initiative covers all bills and programs that help the US be more competent in the increased competition that America and is facing from skilled workforce from the East. The ACI proposed doubling the budgets of the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology laboratory programs, and then Department of Energy’s Office of Science over the course of 10 years. We are obviously talking of several billion dollars.
It’s no secret that countries like China and India (and soon hopefully Pakistan!) give the American system of Education a run for its money when it comes to technical studies. ‘Rising above the Gathering Storm’ was a report published in 2005 by the National Academy of Sciences recommending increased investment in research and education. It was on the basis of the recommendations of this report that the then chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology hosted a day-long innovation summit at the Department of Commerce that brought together more than 50 chief executives and university presidents to discuss the Nation’s economic challenges with top Administrative officials, including secretaries of Education, Energy, Commerce and Labor.
Rise Above the Gathering Storm.. Sounds like the House plays a somewhat reactive role in policy formulation rather than being more aggressively proactive. The ‘storm’ has already gathered.
Bills can take anywhere from 1 to a few years to make it down to the approval/disapproval process, which seems strange to begin with. But then, working with Government regardless of country, is pretty consistent. The only difference I can make out in this case would be the fact that since most things are virtual, the paperwork has lesser chances of being misplaced. But it is all about the money. Most departments/agencies get readjusted budgets give or take a few million. The nature of working at the federal level just seems to be to stand out so you don’t get lost in the multitude of paperwork that has to come in.
Just wanted to make a note for Marcelo (Brazil) here – Last year, the committee worked with a research regime to help promote the development of nanotechnology, which was estimated by the National Science Foundation to become a $1 trillion industry within a decade. Recognizing the huge economic potential of Nanotechnology, the committee has authored something known as the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (2003) which authorized increased funding and established a coordinated interagency program to carry out nanotechnology research.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Fatin, Farith, Piesecki and the small world
You know the theory of six degrees of separation? It is said, that there chances are extremely high that you will establish some link with every 6th person you come across. Sure I believed it to some extent. When I'm in Pakistan. it's not surprising to know that someone you know, knows someone else, who knows someone else who knows you. But when that happens half way around the world, it tends to open your mind to a whole new level.
Here I was sitting on the train from Philadelphia to Radnor with Rafael (Philippines) and Fatin (Saudi Arabia) when we got talking about our backgrounds. Only namesake fellows until the time when you sit down and share a cup of Dunkin Donuts Ice Coffee on a train, I mentioned that I had lived in Saudi Arabia and promptly began to describe a dear friend of mine I had grown up with. Not wishing to invade her privacy, but suffice to say that this woman (this friend of mine) is perhaps the only Saudi Woman to have been sent to Oxford to complete her PhD. I said this much, when Fatin broke into a smile and yelled out her name. "You know her!!?? I know her too!!!" and there. The link had been established. A few moments later, it turned out that Fatin had regularly interacted with two cousins of mine, and I thought I would have a heart attack. Could the world really be that small? The answer to that question obviously doesn't end there...
The first evening I was there at the Doubletree Hotel in Philadelphia, I met with Farith (Malaysia) - Turned out I had interviewed Mr Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim a year earlier on his brief trip to Karachi - Mr Ibrahim was the ex-deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia until the problems in Malaysia broke out. Farith's father worked with Mr Ibrahim. Perhaps not as direct a link as with Fatin, but we had SOMEONE in common.
But the incident that almost pulled the floor from under my two pretty feet, was this one - At the Trustees Dinner, last week in Philadelphia, there would have been about a hundred people filling up that room. I met with people from all over, and then decided to turn around to meet a very dignified woman. Without paying attention to her name, I shook her outstretched hand and introduced myself. When she introduced herself, I focused on her name tag and asked her if she knew of a Nicole Piaeseki. "Why yes! She is my daughter!" I couldn't help but laugh and then said, "I don't believe this..." I had interviewed Ms Nicole Piaeseki during the MAP Conference in Karachi, Pakistan as the VP Marketing of Boeing, as a leader and one of the team of people who helped to turn Boeing around.. I had met with her, chatted with her and caught her interview on tape and made it a part of my Image Building video. Do you see the reason I am so excited?
The moral of this brief bloggy (a blog-story) is simple: there is someone out there who knows you... or has a link to you. I disagree with Thomas Friedman's title "The World is Flat" - I believe that the world is just tight, small and deep. The deeper you dig and explore, the more links and commonalities you find.
More later!
Here I was sitting on the train from Philadelphia to Radnor with Rafael (Philippines) and Fatin (Saudi Arabia) when we got talking about our backgrounds. Only namesake fellows until the time when you sit down and share a cup of Dunkin Donuts Ice Coffee on a train, I mentioned that I had lived in Saudi Arabia and promptly began to describe a dear friend of mine I had grown up with. Not wishing to invade her privacy, but suffice to say that this woman (this friend of mine) is perhaps the only Saudi Woman to have been sent to Oxford to complete her PhD. I said this much, when Fatin broke into a smile and yelled out her name. "You know her!!?? I know her too!!!" and there. The link had been established. A few moments later, it turned out that Fatin had regularly interacted with two cousins of mine, and I thought I would have a heart attack. Could the world really be that small? The answer to that question obviously doesn't end there...
The first evening I was there at the Doubletree Hotel in Philadelphia, I met with Farith (Malaysia) - Turned out I had interviewed Mr Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim a year earlier on his brief trip to Karachi - Mr Ibrahim was the ex-deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia until the problems in Malaysia broke out. Farith's father worked with Mr Ibrahim. Perhaps not as direct a link as with Fatin, but we had SOMEONE in common.
But the incident that almost pulled the floor from under my two pretty feet, was this one - At the Trustees Dinner, last week in Philadelphia, there would have been about a hundred people filling up that room. I met with people from all over, and then decided to turn around to meet a very dignified woman. Without paying attention to her name, I shook her outstretched hand and introduced myself. When she introduced herself, I focused on her name tag and asked her if she knew of a Nicole Piaeseki. "Why yes! She is my daughter!" I couldn't help but laugh and then said, "I don't believe this..." I had interviewed Ms Nicole Piaeseki during the MAP Conference in Karachi, Pakistan as the VP Marketing of Boeing, as a leader and one of the team of people who helped to turn Boeing around.. I had met with her, chatted with her and caught her interview on tape and made it a part of my Image Building video. Do you see the reason I am so excited?
The moral of this brief bloggy (a blog-story) is simple: there is someone out there who knows you... or has a link to you. I disagree with Thomas Friedman's title "The World is Flat" - I believe that the world is just tight, small and deep. The deeper you dig and explore, the more links and commonalities you find.
More later!
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