Translate that Australian Slang

Peter Brandon, Professor of Sociology, who is leading this Off-Campus program trip brought the 12 participants (who were on campus) to his house for a pre-departure dinner. This was one of our "cultural-immersion videos."

We knew then we were in for a great time!

a test post

no particular reason for this post,

expect to test out and

to procrastinate

Academic Exercises

The academic exercises are taking over my mind. As I attempt to write my senior thesis, I have realised a couple of things about the way I think:

I cannot think well in words. I think better in terms of diagrams, timelines, details. But not drawing on relatoinships between abstract concepts. It is even more difficult to try to understand these abstract concepts, internalize them and reorganize them in words. Perhaps it would have been easier if I was spoken to or being lectured about these concepts but words in books just do not speak to me.

Secondly, I am thinking how it is that I am pouring in so much of my time to this paper, and if it would even matter. I don't think that doing something (or not doing someting) just because it matters is not a good framework for thinking because it will place us in existentist mode. But I just can;t help but wonder how I am making myself think that this is so important as to disregard other things in my daily life...

haste

A couple of weeks ago, I can't help by notice the changing colours of fall, and the falling leaves.

Boastful red leaves, hasty to change its colors before others are the ones that fall first. I can't help but draw parallels between this natural state of things and my own state of mind. I have not had a moment of feeling settled, since I have been back here. My mind is stretched across a vast temporal scape-- thinking about navigating through the immigration policies for my off campus studies for Winter term and how that would affect what I would do after Carleton, which I have no clear idea as of now.

In short, I have been too hasty in moving on, and finding it difficult to remain in the present time, here at Carleton. I hope that the wind would blow gently but I know I can't rely on that, any more than I could rely the connection of the stem of the leaf to the tree itself. To slow down the process of changing colour or to hang on tight? Or perhaps the fall itself will not be so bad afterall, if we learn to glide the wind and land gently.

Another entry. without comments.

I have become indulgent of quiet moments.
Too peaceful to catch my own thoughts in words.

One Goal, One Hope

A film from Mathare Slums of Kenya.

One Goal, One Hope from Brian Ekdale on Vimeo.

International Fesetival

Northfield. Spring 2010. 5th week

Chicago

First Colours of Spring

Spring brings colors back to the white, snow-covered Minnesotan landscape. I can't help but record down all these colours that bring such simple joys!


This is the first flower I noticed in spring. It was yellow! (29th March 10)



The first red. It's on the tree right outside my bedroom window and it greets me every morning.


The first white flower. White was the color of winter but seeing it on a tree, in blooming flowers/leaves makes it different.



Purple: Sunset from the Asia House window.


Colors of the sunset.

Pass Over [Jewish Holiday]

Today I went to photograph Pass over, a religious event put together by the Chaplin's office... A nice, late dinner + learning and hearing about traditions.















students being the sea parted by moses as part of the skit.











I forgot why we did this, but there was a part when we had to hit each other with spring onions. (It has a lot more signifinace than this but I can't remember...)












The chapel at night, by the moonlight

Archiving

Over spring break, I was hunting information about Carleton's buildings, and delved into their histories, to as early as 1866 as part of my on-campus job. During those four hours in the the morning when I worked, it seemed like I was living in a different era. The documents and photographs brought me back in time.

I have been thinking about this concept of time; about past, present and future. Having raised as a Buddhist and having grown up in Singapore, I have learned to live in the present, and plan for the future... don't dwell on the past too often. But now that I have had a chance to know how documenting the present and storing them into the "past" compartment could be important...

A journal that I carry along with me has been the main form of archiving. But more recently, I have been seeing certain sights that illustrate the abstract/intangible/conceptual thoughts I have in my mind... And hence, a need for a small portable camera.

The one of the highlights of my break has been the acquisition of a Nikon S570. Small, humble camera, but functional. (: I am going to see how far I can get ahead with photojournaling.



Here's one of the first photos I took:



















Coffee @ Blue Mondays.

comtemplations on nature

bright sun
casts dark shadows
on sparkling snow.

the stronger the light,
the darker the shadow

thought

when you move too fast, things around you become a messy blur.
when you move too fast, the surroundings blur out, until you don't know
where you are going
why you are moving
or where it's taking you.

perplexities of nature #1 (of many)

I find it interesting
how when snow falls,
it erases the footprints

set on snow itself.

side by side

There are two pictures in the news today
printed side by side

one of earthquake and despair in Haiti
the other of celebrations in New York City.

Karen New Year

Birthday

----------
Cake, champagne, presents
Oh what a day of celebration!

But how much happier could these make you?
When your everyday can be filled with untainted joy
[from within]

pure yet lasting,
precious yet abundant,
entrusted upon you since
the day you were born.

--------------------------

4 Jan 2010

coming and going

Fluid as steel, I am
drawn to the magnet of
unfamiliarity.

Certain as a pendulum, I
return to my
beginnings.

Repeatedly
I surrender to
the incomplete truths of nature.
(What is the engine of gravity, and
the fuel of magnetic attractions?
What drives a human soul?)

Too weak to resist nature
I stopped searching for truth and
let nature set path
became less certain
of the destination.


On this path,
Am I going,
leaving behind comforts of familiarity
Or am I coming,
nearing the end of a labyrinth?
Only to become familiar with and
repeat the cycle of coming or going
once again.