Sundar (beautiful) Lilla ( Little) Sjöjungfru (Mermaid)

Beautiful Little Mermaid 

     Ever since I read Hans Christensen Anderson, I have been fascinated by his writings and imaginings.  The greatest and the most popular of all Danes. He won that title over the Nobel Laureate Niels Bohr.  So, a visit to Copenhagen would be incomplete without experiencing all things Andersen. I went to Copenhagen because there was a research retreat about two hours train ride away from Copenhagen.  How could I miss the opportunity?  The city is about 7 hrs train ride away from Karlstad.  So, I was sensible --for the first time, and combined work with a short break. 

The unimposing sculpture still attracts all tourists. Besides on a good spring day, which it was the day I walked on the promenade, the walk itself is a prize. April. 2013

      The brewer Carl Jacobsen (The Carlsberg Breweries) presented the mermaid's statue to the city of Copenhagen. The Little Mermaid was unveiled at Langelinje in 1913, as part of a general trend in Copenhagen in those days, selecting classical and historical figures to be used as decorations in the city's parks and public areas.

     The story goes that way back In 1909, brewer Carl Jacobsen was so enchanted by the solo dancer Ellen Price's performance in the "The Little Mermaid" at the Royal Theatre that he commissioned to present the city with the statue. In fact, he asked her if she would pose for the statue. She agreed in principle, but was not very interested in posing without any clothes on, when she found out just how public the statue would be. Instead sculptor Edvard Erichsen's wife stepped in and modeled for the body. Throughout the year, 75% of all tourists visiting Copenhagen go to see The Little Mermaid.

An exhibit at Hans Christensen Anderson Museum 

Copenhagen as the backdrop for the Little Mermaid, April 2013

It was a beautiful walk. I walked nearly 11 hours that day, and fell in love with the city.  I  hope to return soon.  But it is important to state that the statue in of itself is nothing spectacular.  But as with tourist spots, they make for great pictures and conversation starters.  So, is this one--a conversation starter!

For me, it was the experience of experiencing the city that H.C. Andersen called home.  

I met a group of Filipino au pairs, who were enjoying their day off.  Until I noticed that there was one girl from Nepal.  To her delight I spoke to her in Hindi.  She gave me a hug for that.

Hmm....language---just like stories--reaches parts of mind and body that have not been named yet!!

The Last Upper Class Hero

August, 2012, Winterton, 

Near to Inkosana Lodge, 

Close to Drakensberg Mountains, 

South Africa 

I was waiting to return to Durban, and he passed by. 

'Hi, could I please, please take a picture of you?'

He smiled and stood still.

I then asked him to stand next to the trash can that had South African Flag on it.  He complied. I was grateful.  But what touched my heart was when he gave me a soldier like look for the photograph.

Not sure if he was just playing with the camera, honoring me, or simply because he thought that was the appropriate posture for the Camera.

The reason I asked him to stop was his T-shirt.

(I'm) The Last Upper Class Hero!!

A close look will show you that at the bottom of the T-shirt it says, 'Sunny side of life'

I wonder if he knew what all that meant---even if he could read it.

And I truly wonder what would happen if he truly believed it!!

Sade Teen Kahaniyan (Three-and-Half Stories)

When I first arrived here, this Photo was my landmark. I oriented myself around this picture, so I where I was on the campus.  Look closed or in an enlarged version--it is a semi-3-D version of "Moose cleaning".  In addition, it gives an idea of how big a moose is.  I have still not seen it in Sweden, but hear that drivers have to be wary of them in the country, just like in the US drivers are wary of deers. 

The following three and a half stories were a reminder to me, that despite frustration, despite anger, despite wanting to fit into a mould that I will not give more than I receive---that some how I am lucky to have maintained....a sense of love and simplicity--a way of holding on to my glasses that show me the world's potential rather than harp on how it does not work!! (something critical cultural scholars have mastered)--

I was reminded a few times in the last month that a caring heart still matters....that without it, our world will become brittle and crumble into pieces----it is caring and love that holds it.  Everyday, despite our work and jobs, it is a connection that we seek...

Via love, work, friendships, family, politics, ---all we seek and can give is that four letter word that starts with 'L"

Three and a half Stories!

So, at the end of March we were wrapping up the first section of our spring classes.  The second section started a weekend later. I gave my end of the semester speech and instructions for turning in the assignments.

The class dealt with change in technology and its impact on culture.  We talked much about theory, but as was the case, I always talked about several issues that the young deal with.

We have separated education, learning and character building.  In olden days, an educated person was a person of character, and so it was considered prestigious to deal/interact with them.  Today, we can hardly say that, or else we won't have major business scandals.  


I could see the light in the eyes of these students change as I talked about technology, culture, and more importantly our responsibility.

So, at the end I saw three erasmus exchange students hanging around the classroom.  

Even my heart was not ready to let them go.  I could feel that there was something missing, that something called for completion.

Finally, I spread my arms.

They came running to give me a hug.  That is what they were waiting for. And in many ways I was as well would not have felt right without that hug.  The students were from Latvia, Poland and Spain.  

When I spread my arms, the beautiful Latvian girl screamed 'Yes!!"

And my heart nodded!!

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Its a trend now not to have landlines.  And it makes sense.  They cost much and we hardly use them. I still keep them for old times sake, but I also consider them reliable.  May be in an old fashioned way....but I consider them reliable. 

But I also know that calling from landline to cell phone and vice versa is expensive.  So, I get all my personal calls on cell phone.

The land line is saved for telemarketers, and to be used in forms that ask me for a 'home-phone.'

Occasionally my family might call me on the landline, when my cell phone is buried under a pillow, or my Swedish Mom calls me-when she cannot get a hold of me on my cell phone. 

But this one friday, when my landline rang -I picked up the phone, just like that. 

"He asked for me.

"Ao, men jag kan inte forstad mycket svenska"(But I do not understand much Swedish".  

"Okej, we can talk in english then"

Sure

I am selling a lottery....

Before he could finish, I said, "Wait if it is a monthly thing, I do not want it, because then just canceling it takes energy."

"Well, we have deals going on now...you could win a lot of money"

Sure, but not interested, all this takes time, and that is the thing I have least of.

Where are you from?

Grew up in India.

Aww...." he started to tell me how his girl friend spent some time there and now both of them are planning to return there...I listened carefully to the excitement in his voice.  

Touched to the core, I said,"Really nice!!"

As we were about to hang up, he said, "Wait, I do have to ask you one question since you picked up the phone..."

"Oh, shoot...." I thought what now...

"I have to ask you, if were to win a million kronor what would you do with it?"

Ahhh....I sat down.

"Oh, so much, you have no idea. I want to start my own school for youngsters, I want to create a new kind of bilingual children's magazine, but on a larger scale, I want to creat something for street children..."

There was silence on the other end.

"Hello....??"

"Yeah, I am listening" he paused, "that is so nice.  This is the nicest response I have received in all my talks today."

I was smiling on this side.

Before he hung up, he said, "Do check out our lotteries in the shop, and I do hope you get the money to do all of that, and .." he paused again, "really, this was the nicest answer I got all day."

*****************************************

I had little time to file an application, I needed to talk someone who was taking care of it.  Her name was Farah R. I recognized instantly that the lady is not Swedish.  But when I got there she spoke better swedish than english.

Obviously, she had lived in sweden for 30 years.  But there is a huge Iranian diaspora in Sweden. 

Meena Kumari, a famous Indian actress in a frame being sold at Indiska -- a shop that sells clothes, draperies and accessories from India. 

I met Farah on Nawroz--new day--the beginning of spring --a festival celebration with bonfires, and singing and dancing around the fire.  I had attended it once, but have been too busy since to go.

'So, what are you going to do today?"

"Oh my sons are coming home, both of them are doctors and live away in the city, but today they are coming home."

And as she was saying this one of her sons called.

She quickly switched to Persian, a heart warming language.   

"Do you miss Iran?"

"Well, it is not my country anymore, Iran of my childhood does not exist"

"I understand", I said.

I have heard that from many people.  
We talked about spirituality, religion, family and home.  The she said something that struck me as the solid truth--only if we want to follow.

"I dont care if I believe in God or religion, I believe in three things that existed before Iran became Islamic--right speech, right thinking, and right deeds. If one has done this, then one has lived right."

Her words echoed the truth of any religion, but especially asian religions.  

All this time as she was talking, there was not a moment when she stopped smiling.  I loved looking at her childlike face.

As I was leaving, she gave me a hug and said, "Hej, call me sometime and we can have fika sometime"

I left her office with some work done, but a light heart, with renewed faith that---all we want from our lives is that "connection--that resting of the spirit---that intertwining of our hearts to feel alive."

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And now the last one, a very short story.  Most of my readers know, many of my friends know....how hard it is for me to understand where I am in life. I question much!  Get frustrated, angry and sad, that my integrity and hard work is not enough.  That a strategy is required in this world.  And yet, when I sit down, there is a fountain of joy that springs from within me.  

But there have been times when I have asked if that has dried out....

So, when the following incident happened....I had to say---nope it is eternal....

While paying at the grocery store the lady at the counter asked me something in Swedish.  I asked her to repeat since I understood only a few words.

She said it a bit loud this time...leaning towards me

"är du alltid här lycklig?"  I understood something but could not believe if that is what I heard. 

Still not sure, I asked her to repeat. 

This time she said it in english.

Are you always this happy? 

I chuckled--smiled --and gave a coy look.  But a winning smile lingered in my heart, much much longer!!