Do you speak Hindi?

”Do you speak Hindi?”, the guy next to me in the cinema smilingly asked, with the more often than not impeccable English Indians speak, albeit with a charming, but distinct accent. Having decided to see the movie Aarakshan on the grounds of hopefully learning a tad more about the to me incongruent piece of geography called India, my heart fell a little. No, I do not speak Hindi, I must admit I had counted on English sub-titles…, which the film, to my great relief, actually turned out to provide.

My knowledge of India is very limited, but my curiosity about this historically and culturally rich and immensely diverse country is unsaturable. Authors like Vikas Swarup, Vikram Seth, Gregory David Roberts, Tobjørn Færøvik, in addition to accounts by Mark Tully (BBC) and Joar Hoel Larsen (NRK) and other journalists, have fuelled my interest, as have talks with people who have travelled, done business or in other ways spent time in the country. 

Some focus on the opportunities, some on the challenges. India is lacking in neither. Nor is the world lacking in facts and statistics on the country, information that sometimes leave me optimistic about its future, sometimes pessimistic, but always baffled!

But the devil can cite scripture, and statistics, for his own purpose; the picture can be turned this way and that, depending on what we choose to focus on: Castisism, illiteracy, corruption, gross inequalities in terms of living conditions, education, job opportunities, health care, gender etc. etc. on the one side, and economic growth, “reservation” (securing “backward classes” places within educational institutions and GOs) and further state and province welfare schemes, subsidies, other programs etc. on the other.

When trying to figure out India and its future, juggling a whole lot of balls at the same time is necessary. Keeping the challenges in mind, one should welcome, encourage, explore and exploit the opportunities for improvement. India’s faith is not separate from ours, economically nor ethically.

And concerning books, articles, films, research… you come across, or your own experiences on the subject, please keep me posted:-)

Interesting links: 

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/the-10-top-challenges-for-india/quickiearticleshow/3137354.cms

http://diplomat.anandweb.com/2011/09/aarakshan-aka-reservation.html

Island Jumping Åfjord, Norway

You don’t have to go to Greece orThailand to indulge in what is referred to as island jumping. Even though the water may not be as warm, the sand not as fine, the palms non existing, amazing experiences await you many places here inNorway. Last weekend I went with a friend to the municipality of Åfjord, 2 hours northwest ofTrondheim, where a brand new cultural heritage “tinted” biking trail is laid out, covering parts of the mainland and two beautiful islands, Stokkøya and Linesøya.
 The trail takes you through beautiful landscapes, and features pointers to traces of prehistoric and historic life from different periods. Stone age cave dwellings, tools and ornamental finds, and quays, trading places, peat digging and other cultivated landscape sites of more recent times, are only some of what you get to see. All the while comfortably biking and, if you like, hiking, through a beautiful and varied landscape, sporting fjord and sea, rolling hills, mountains, lakes, caves and a similarly diverse flora and fauna.
 The trail can be covered in on, two or more days, depending on how much time you have/want to spend, and how many things you want to experience. If you choose to stay overnight, you have the choice between roughing it, tenting, sleeping under the stars (a little weather dependent) or doing it in style, by for instance lodging in the newly, and beautifully constructed Sub-houses (built partly below the turf) at Stokkøya Sjøsenter.
 If you’re a local, i.e. living in theTrondheim area, a life time experience is only a short drive away. If you come from out of town or from abroad, I’ll be happy to either take you there or show you the way. For a more elaborate description of the trail and our trip, click

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s92/sh/458ef32a-817c-467d-a086-a5d6f733d844/cee024c2026300eb3e45146fe1d5c184               


 If you don’t read Norwegian/Scandinavian, you may still enjoy the photos:-)

The Ebikon Challenge

In our house there is, among other things, a lot of cutting, hacking, churning, grinding, milling, crushing, mashing and beating going on. (Just to set your mind at rest, this is mainly referring to cooking…). So when I learned about a versatile kitchen machine actually performing all of these tasks, I, or rather the machine, was sold. The only obstacle was the price, but as I was soon going to Zürich on other business, I did a tiny bit of research and found that buying the “baby” in Switzerland would save me, while at the same time literally providing me with, quite a bit of “dough”. Still, to justify such a purchase, I would have to renounce at least a couple of years of Christmas and birthday presents. That would not represent a problem, though, as my live in partner was thrilled to have that load (thinking up presents for me) off his mind for a long time...

If you want to read more about a crazy, tiring, but fun day, follow this link:

http://www.evernote.com/shard/s92/sh/5dd12616-b096-4b41-9459-93224e4e1bd1/1f63c14acfc68ff6bc9f4ba650703e4a

The Tree of Life

When I first saw mentions of The Tree of Life, I got a strong feeling that I had to see it. Something about the few little snippets I came across appealed to me and urged me to see the movie. Before I had the chance, though, I had only spoken to two people who had actually seen the movie.

One hated it, and told me that some people had even left the movie theatre during screening. (The film, featuring Brad Pit and Sean Penn and as of yet less known actor Jessica Chastain, may have prompted an expectation of a typical American feel good film). Another loved it, and promised me, if I liked it, several recommendations of movies by the same director.

The movie, directed by Terrence Malick, was several years in the coming, which is not difficult to understand, watching and experiencing the movie.

The concept of non-linear narrative is unusual, but never confusing; the voice/monologue of the main character gracefully binds it all together. Neither was the scarce dialogue disturbing, due to Malick’s skilful directing and the actors’ performances.

The amazing filming, the depicting of the actual awesomeness of the world around us, is beautifully done, leaving you in doubt of where natural phenomena end and animation begins.

The result is a beautiful, poetic piece of art, telling a story of life, death, love, faith, loss, grief, innocence and loss of same, conflict goodness-selfishness, hope, perseverance, reconciliation and much more.

All set against a backdrop of the birth and death of the universe(s), and everything in between, besides, above and after.

Even though this is not a feel-good-film per se, it left me, somewhat surprisingly, with a strange peace of mind.

To see how it will leave you, you'll have to go see for yourself...

I for one, in addition to already having browsed the net for more movies by the same director, will go back to my positively inclined source for more recommendations:-)

Upset

Upset

Do you count yourself among those people who very rarely get upset, who are not easily moved or rocked? Well stop reading, and go play with the other robots!

Even though, as mentioned in a previous blog, I don’t think I’ll ever be fully “grown up” (I don’t drink coffee, I don’t have all, if any, answers to the big questions in life, I am easily moved, touched, rocked etc. etc.), I am old enough to take responsibility for my own feelings. No matter what other people have said or done, I should be master of my own emotions. But this is not always easy!

Today I am upset, a little angry, but mostly upset.

When I find myself in that situation I make use of a combination of several strategies. Brooding is fortunately not an inherent quality of mine, nor is passivity. Action is.

My first course of action is trying to shift focus, from me, myself, I, to the world outside me, and in the process touch bases with what makes me “tick”.

So I started the day by texting some people, just to tell them that I care. Just doing that made me feel better; I had found a small piece of purpose to hold on to. Positive response (from those who were not too shocked:-) did of course not diminish the effect:-) Then I sent a few mails and made a call I'd be meaning to make for a long time.

But peace of mind was not restored that easily, so I endeavoured on the next measure on my list, tidying up. The house is never as clean and orderly as after an anger, upset- or frustration spell of mine. The kids’ and spouse’s belongings cluttering the common living areas are promptly collected and literally thrown into the rooms in which they belong, and the doors are not locked, but slammed shut. Nice! Laundry is quickly disposed of, so is garbage and other objects which happen to be in my way, and that should have been “dealt” with by other occupants of the house ages ago. The Salvation Army usually benefits greatly from these occasions. If later prompted as to these things’ whereabouts, I usually feign ignorance (silently giving my self absolution, claiming Non compos mentis, Of unsound mind at the time of the crime..).

Next I became more physical. That always makes me feel better, both about myself and other people. On the agenda was swimming. In the pool with me was only one other person, a what seemed to be a pretty proficient swimmer, and that was perfect; my competition instinct clicked in, and I set off to overtake him. The other guy never knew what hit him, how could he know what all the fuss was about:-), but it got my adrenalin racing, in turn giving me a nice dose of much needed endorphins.

A nice, warm shower added to the balancing effect, and I went about more practical business, preparing for a two days’ biking trip with a friend the coming weekend. When upset and a little angry, I can manage anything, even technicalities that usually leave me baffled. And if I need help, I seek it, and things get fixed! So there!

And speaking about friends: When the going gets, if not tough seen in a bigger perspective, but at least frustrating, good friends come in handy. You don’t necessarily need to tell them about your upset, just being with them makes you feel better.  Fortunately, conveniently prescheduled, I have a dinner appointment with several good friends this evening, so that should be good.

But peace is not yet restored, so right now I am down to one of my last strategies, writing, a process that enables me to vent my feelings and helps me put everything into perspective.

My upset barometer is still indicating High Pressure, but, I think, pointing towards calmer weather. Low pressure, or as it is also called in meteorology, “depression”, is not what I am looking for, in either of the word’s connotations:-), because that’s not who I am, but some reduction in voltage would not be a bad thing.

What do you do, to cope with your upsets? I am wide open to suggestions:-) Have a good day, maybe not without upsets, but with strategies to deal with them…

Musings

Conversations, heart to heart, can make wonders

Shared thoughts; an insight sought and found

You don’t have to act upon your dreams, thoughts and desires

But you must reflect upon your musings

If you stop thinking, talking,

You’ll start sinking, balking

Till existing  becomes an excuse

 For living! 

Election Time

Are you an abstainer? Er du en sofavelger?

 

Get off the coach!

Sorry, English speaking friends. The video below may be difficult to understand for non-Scandinavians…, but the message is this:

Whenever there is an election, in your country, your state, your municipality: VOTE! Or forever hold your tongue...

Be sure to watch the video to the very end. The name of the political party that made it, is not important, the message is.

The video was “brought to us” by a quality “server”/”sharer” of good “stuff” in Denmark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYapxO_5_i0 

Godt valg!