To Summer girl about Winter season

Pamätám si na môj posledný deň vo Washingtone, DC. Teda skôr na neskorú noc. Po niekoľkohodinovej plavbe loďou po rieke Potomac sa niektorí kamaráti odobrali na party do centra, iní šli baliť kufre, lebo odchod na letisko mali o 4ej ráno. Ja som hľadala na youtube európsku hudbu s prvkami folklóru, ethno či world music a púšťala ju na posúdenie svojej priateľke Samar z Beirutu. Naša tretia blízka osôbka: Takhmina z Dushambe už snívala v posteli o tom, ako čoskoro uvidí svojho muža a deti. To ešte vtedy nevedela, že na celý víkend skysne pre nepriaznivé počasie v Istanbule. A vlastne aj tento blog bude o počasí. Tak trochu.

I remember my last day in Washington, DC. Or better said: very late night. After several hours of cruising the Potomac River, some of my buddies went to a party in the city-center, others went to pack their suitcases (because they were supposed to be at the airport at 4 am). I was looking on youtube for certain examples of European music with elements of folk, ethno and world music to play them for my friend from Beirut: great musician Samar. Our third close friend: Takhmina from Dushambe was already in bed dreaming about her reunion with her husband and children. At that time she couldn’t have an idea how this will end up. She stayed the entire weekend in Istanbul because of bad weather. And that’s what this blog is about. A weather. A bit.

Sedím teda nadránom na parapete hotela Washington Plaza, počúvam jeden z naj hlasov na svete: Dhafera Youssefa a zdieľam posledné hodiny so Samar – predtým, ako sa na pár mesiacov či rokov rozlúčime. Hoci som novinárka, jej životný príbeh by som si netrúfla vypovedať. A ani predstaviť si detstvo v Libanone – ako každú chvíľu leziem s rodinou do krytu a bombardovanie prekrývam spevom, aby ľudia nepociťovali takú úzkosť a beznádej... Dnes by som však do Libanonu šla. Vypočuť si, ako táto mladá žena pracuje so skupinami detí a cez hudobné workshopy či vystúpenia sa snažia spolu porozumieť svetu okolo. A čeliť problémom – lokálnym aj globálnym.

I was sitting on the windowsill of Samar’s room at Washington Plaza Hotel. We were listenning to one of the most beautiful voices in the world (Dhafer Youssef’s songs) and sharing the last few hours together – before we should leave each other  for a few months or maybe even a few years... Although I am capable journalist, I would not dare to testify her story. And not even imagine the childhood in Lebanon – all these moments when a person had to run to the fallout shelter and trying to make in such tough situation things easier by singing... Today, I would go to Lebanon. I’d like to watch how this young woman is working with youth groups and how through the music workshops & performances they are trying to understand the world around them (and to face local as well as global issues).

Samar sa vtedy pozerala z okna von a spomenula, čo najviac milovala na Washingtone, DC (počas jej štvormesačnej stáže): „Bola to jeseň – iná ako v Libanone – padanie lístia na chodníky, jeho zvuky, tvary, farby.“ A potom sa zamyslíte nad tým, akú krásnu dušu musí mať tá žena – aké maličkosti si dokáže vážiť. Nevedela som ako zareagovať, tak som spomenula, že doma na Slovensku máme všetky štyri ročné obdobia, listnaté aj ihličnaté stromy, že striedanie ročných období považujeme za samozrejmé. Na viac som sa nezmohla.

Strašne moc mi chýba. Moje interkontinentálne kamarátky, Samar, Takhmina a blízki ľudia z Albuquerque (kde som zasa pôsobila štyri mesiace ja). Posielam našej vysmiatej Samarke do Bejrútu fotky ozajstnej slovenskej zimy a yaxi-taxi funky-punky Bbnky zo zasneženej Bratislavy, spolu s ponukami práce a štipendií. Bola by som rada, keby sa čím skôr vybrala za mnou. Aby som jej nemusela veci a javy opisovať – aby ich mohla sama zažiť a zachytiť. „Samar, som si stopercentne istá, že naša obľúbená speváčka: Yasmine Hamdan napísala pieseň ‚Samar’ o tebe!”

Samar looked out the window and told me what was the most memorable moment from Washington, DC (during her four-month internship there): “It was the fall – completely different than in Lebanon – all these leafs falling on sidewalks and their sounds, shapes, colors.” Then you will realize how beautiful soul this woman must have – how little events she is willing to appreciate. I did not know how to react. I just mentioned that in Slovakia there are all four seasons, deciduous and coniferous trees too – and the changing of the seasons we take for granted. I couldn’t find more words.

I miss her so much. I miss my intercontinental friends, Samar, Takhmina, as well as my close people from Albuquerque (where I was placed as an intern last year). Every other day I send to Beirut (to our smiling 'Summer girl'): the photos of real Slovak winter and yaxi-taxi funky-punky Bobinkha in snowy Bratislava, along with some job offers and scholarships opportunities. I’d like her to come here to visit me as soon as possible. She should explore all these things and events on her own, in her unique way. "Samar, I am one hundred percent sure that our favorite singer Yasmine Hamdan wrote the song ‘Samar’ about you; you personally!"

Text / Written by: Boba Baluchová, Foto / Photo: Palo Markovič

Loving hippie fashion more than hippie life-style

Už mesiac som doma, na Slovensku. Pripravujem sa na nástup do novej práce a vychutnávam si umenie aj kultúru v Bratislave. Teda dobieham zameškané. Galérie a divadlá majú čo ponúknuť. Galériu 19 aj Satelit som stihla včera; premiéru ‚Mojmíra II.’ si musím ešte nechať uležať v hlave; zato ‚5Chalanov‘ dokážem odporučiť ľuďom aj o polnoci. Tento týždeň sa chystám na ďalšie štyri hry do troch divadiel. Len ponuka kín sa akosi scvrkla, odkedy je kino Lumiere v rekonštrukcii. Ešteže minulý týždeň Kino Film Europe ponúklo kolekciu zaujímavých severských filmov. Skvelé rodinné drámy: ‘Vyššia moc‘ (Turist) a ‚Boj snežného pluhu s mafiou‘ (Kraftidioten) som si pozrela cez víkend. Obe sa odohrávajú na samote, kde je človek odrezaný od sveta (občas aj od života) pre bohatú snežnú nádielku. Mňa od zážitku neodradilo ani vetrisko či neodhrnutý sneh v meste. Stačí nezabudnúť na šál, čiapku, rukavice, horúci zázvorový čaj do termosky, pevnú vôľu, a ide sa!

I'm at home, in Slovakia, since December. Ready to start my new job; as well as to enjoy arts and culture in Bratislava. Or let’s say: to catch up on program I've missed. Galleries and theaters have much to offer. I already managed to visit Gallery 19 and Satelit gallery yesterday. I went to the premiere of theatre play: 'Moimir II' at Slovak national theatre; I can also recommend to watch the play: '5 boys' at Studio 12. This week I am going to check other four plays at three theaters. Just art-cinema offer has been somehow weak since the reconstruction of Lumiere cinema. Thanks God for last week’s collection of exciting Nordic films at Cinema Film Europe. I watched great family drama: 'Force Majeure' (Turist) and 'In Order of Disappearance' (Kraftidioten) over the weekend. Both take place in a remote area where a person is cut off from the world (sometimes even from the life) because of huge portion of snow. Strong wind and continuous snow didn’t stopped me on my way towards cultural experience. Important details not to forget: the scarf, hat, gloves, hot ginger tea in a mug and strong will!

Čím je vonku chladnejšie, tým viac sa vrstvím. Ten štýl by som nazvala: „niečo medzi cigošškou a hippiesáčkou“. Má to však háčik. Nechcem vyznieť stereotypne a necitlivo – nejakú kultúru či menšinu zaradiť do jedného šuflíka na základe kvetinových sukní a strapcových šatiek. S hnutím hippies či teraz už skôr neo-hippies mám zasa problém iný. Osobný aj osobnostný. V Novom Mexiku mi moji známi rozprávali historky zo života svojich rodičov, z korých som nebola dvakrát nadšená. Občas mi vyčítali moju konzervatívnu náturu a nedostatočne otvorenú myseľ. Móda sa mi páči veľmi – pre tie vzory, farby, materiály, a možnosť šialených kombinácií oblečenia bez rozmyslu. Ale na drogy, alkohol, prechodný pobyt, neistú prácu a spanie s kdekým kdekade som asi už pristará a príliš zodpovedná. Čiže hippie štýl u mňa: odtiaľ-potiaľ.

The colder it is outside, the more layers I can put on myself. "Between gipsy and hippie girl" could be the name of the costume I wear these days. There is an issue, however. Firstly, I do not want to act in stereotypical and insensitive way against any culture or minority just because of flower skirts and tassel scarves. Secondly, I’m not very OK with the hippie or neo-hippie life-style. In New Mexico, my friends used to tell me some stories from the past of their parents and to be honest: I wasn’t thrilled that much. Sometimes I was blamed because of my conservative nature and being not-open-minded. Ha! I like the hippie-fashion a lot, I love all those patterns, colors, materials and that possibility to combine clothing pieces in a crazy way without thinking. But I am probably too old and too responsible for all these drugs, alcohol, temporary residence, precarious job and sleeping with anybody anywhere. So there are certain limitations within my hippie style.

Doma mám asi štyri kožuchy zo second handov, ale vyťahujem ich až vtedy, ak je vonku hlboko pod nulou. V týchto dňoch je to tu len okolo nuly: večer nasneží a ráno je z toho jarná čľapkanica. Takže nateraz stačí prechodný outfit – „čakanie na ozajstnú zimu“. Vytiahla som zo skrine 8-ročné zelené topane-culty, ktoré sa mi nikdy nechcú šnurovať a 15-rokov starú zelenú koženú bundu, ktorej sa neviem vzdať. K tomu jednoduchá štrikovaná čiapka (zo sekáča z Albuquerque), dlhočizný háčkovaný šál so strapcami (zo sekáča z Bratislavy), dve trigovice (Converse) a vlnená sukňa s najkrajším vzorom, aký som kedy videla (Betty Barclay). Radosť v tej sukni chodiť hore-dolu po schodoch! Čo poviete?

There are four second hand coats in my wardrobe. I usually lift them up when there is below zero degree Celsius outside. These days it's just about zero: snow in the evening and spring sleet in the next morning. So for now I need just temporary outfit, called "waiting for real winter." I pulled out of the closet 8-year-old green Cult-boots (that I always hate to lace) and 15-year-old green leather jacket (which I often love to wear). I also chose simple knitting hat from Albuquerque second hand, crochet scarf with tassels from Bratislava second hand, one or two Converse jumpers and unique Betty Barclay’s wool skirt with the most beautiful pattern I've ever worn. It’s a pleasure to walk up and down the stairs! What do you think?

Text / Written by: Boba Baluchová, Foto / Photo: Palo Markovič