Everyone must take time
to sit and watch the leaves turn.
~Elizabeth Lawrence
So beautiful yet so short. . .
My Russian Diary - Odessa at the Black Sea
12 years ago
Showing posts with label Free Fridays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Free Fridays. Show all posts
Friday, November 6, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Free fo All Fridays - E
E for the English language!
If there is one thing we are thankful to the Americans, it was forcing the English language on us. Now, wherever the Pinoy goes, he blends. What made me think about this was my recent experiences at the TIFF.
1) During the Q and A after the showing of the Filipino film, Dining Sana Kita - a Caucasian asked
"In the movie, the characters spoke English and switched back and forth to a different language. How at ease are Filipinos in the English language?"
When it was asked, almost everyone of the Filipino audience gave a sigh and a whisper "yes, we are". Director Sandejas replied about English being our medium of instruction and then a bit of plugging. "For those of you who have not been to the Philippines, go visit the country as you will not be lost, almost everyone understands and can speak English". Good answer, good answer.
2) Meanwhile during the Q & A of a Uruguay film - they had to have an interpreter as the director did not speak English. What added insult to injury too was that most questions asked were also in Spanish. Too bad for us non Spanish speaking audience.
3) I have seen a several directors who struggle to reply in English -- and I think, once it goes through an interpreter -- something gets lost in translation. Proud of Manny Pacquaio who never asks for an interpreter and answers in English after any fight.
Thanks to my English teachers!
If there is one thing we are thankful to the Americans, it was forcing the English language on us. Now, wherever the Pinoy goes, he blends. What made me think about this was my recent experiences at the TIFF.
1) During the Q and A after the showing of the Filipino film, Dining Sana Kita - a Caucasian asked
"In the movie, the characters spoke English and switched back and forth to a different language. How at ease are Filipinos in the English language?"
When it was asked, almost everyone of the Filipino audience gave a sigh and a whisper "yes, we are". Director Sandejas replied about English being our medium of instruction and then a bit of plugging. "For those of you who have not been to the Philippines, go visit the country as you will not be lost, almost everyone understands and can speak English". Good answer, good answer.
2) Meanwhile during the Q & A of a Uruguay film - they had to have an interpreter as the director did not speak English. What added insult to injury too was that most questions asked were also in Spanish. Too bad for us non Spanish speaking audience.
3) I have seen a several directors who struggle to reply in English -- and I think, once it goes through an interpreter -- something gets lost in translation. Proud of Manny Pacquaio who never asks for an interpreter and answers in English after any fight.
Thanks to my English teachers!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Free for All Fridays - D
D is for Drawing
Do you know how to draw? I don't.
Even my stick people are not good, thus I always appreciate people who can.
Like some Toronto street artists.
Even my stick people are not good, thus I always appreciate people who can.
Like some Toronto street artists.
Draws portraits in chalk and on the sidewalk too!
Do you know who he is drawing?
Friday, October 16, 2009
Free for All Fridays - C
C - for the CN TowerIt is impossible to miss this Toronto icon. Featured in postcards, vacation snapshots, and almost always part of a tourists' itinerary.
The CN tower was part of a joint venture between CBC and Canadian National (CN) to build a series of building across the bottom of the city. CBC withdrew from the deal, but CN went ahead causing so much interest even before the tower was completed in April 1975.
Now, after 34 years the tower is still in the news. In Sept 2009, the Guinness Book of Records announced that the CN tower has retained its distinction as the worlds' tallest tower. (Read here)
Free for All Fridays - C
Friday, October 9, 2009
Free Fridays - B as in Banana
Maggie (an officemate from Ghana) : How come everytime I offer you a banana, you don't accept it?Me : Because I am Filipino. I have already eaten my banana allocation for this lifetime.
Maggie : What do you mean?
Me : Your bananas here are so boring. Back home - we eat bananas raw, we have them mashed, fried, boiled, grilled, sugar coated. Name it, we have done it to the poor banana.
Me (continuing) : Well, almost everything -- except having them with peanut butter!
So Maggie nevers offer me a banana anymore.
* * *
Free for All Fridays - B as in Banana
Friday, October 2, 2009
Free Fridays - A is for Alabama
Alabama (Mobile) is 20 driving hours from Toronto and Ajax; 15 hours from Michigan. Alabama is also the Life After Steel for a colleague who we visited in 2008.
Beautiful memories of Alabama included. . .
Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Mobile,
side trip to historic New Orleans,
and of course, the food, reminiscing and laughter.
Beautiful memories of Alabama included. . .
Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Mobile,
side trip to historic New Orleans,
and of course, the food, reminiscing and laughter.
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