Fragments of Lykke Li, Bjork & Robyn

I've recently discovered another interesting Swedish artists, and there are two of her songs I'm loving these days:

Continuing my Nordic theme, I've also been getting high doses of Bjork (check out the PoMo videos)...

And finally, how can I resist some new(-ish) Robyn...

Potent Confusion

Three scratches -
The perfect addition to the texture
Who wants an unblemished premise?

A sip of counter-intuitive spirits
To offset the mellow cocktail
Savour the taste of the unfamiliar

I deserve love, and you do too
If only I could tear my gaze away
From all the self-loathing you do

This voyeurism is really affecting me
I need to close my eyes and simply just be
Too often I let my hopelessness take control of me

Marching to my own tune

Today, sometime in the early morning, all the pieces came together:
I learn best when I have a private tutor. I love music. I don't like fixed structures or sitting in a room with twenty other people. I don't like getting up at 9am. I had gained a lot from my previous language swaps, but felt like there was something missing - like I was out of control.
And then, suddenly, it all became clear: I should advertise for a partner who wants, like me, to learn language skills through song! Can there be a more enjoyable or interesting way to learn?

I have noted that I am most motivated to learn when a song worms its way into my ear, such as Robyn's Jag Vet En Dejlig Rosa or the Spanish Besame Mucho. I also think I would be great at helping any student of English grasp the subtle nuances of any song through my passion for the written and spoken word (or, in this case, the sung lyric). I have good memories of Utada Hikaru songs like Automatic when it comes to Japanese, and if I'm really lost for lyrical muses, I can always tackle the national anthems.

I hope other people are as enthusiastic about this as I am. Learning some elegant yet popular metaphor is so much more interesting than learning how to tell the time. And who's to say it's less practical? It all depends on how you intend to express yourself, no? I remember being so proud that I could say 'Oh, what can I say of the state of my heart since you entered my life?' in Hindi, after falling in love with the song Tumse Milke, brought to life by Shah Rukh Khan in a Bollywood film... I can still remember selected parts of the song, which is delightful.

Should people be too shy to take up my offer, I guess I'll just learn foreign songs by myself! ;o)

Worthwhile TED Talk

The Revolutionary's Anger

In the Mathews Building of UNSW I spotted a poster for some kind of Marxist group. In a few boldly rendered colours stood out a woman with her mouth opened as if in yelling protest, and a fist raised high. It seemed to me that the Australian left-wing scene was a repositary for angry young people with a high degree of intelligence and little practical experience with inevitable corruption, concealment and devastation wrought by Communist governments over four continents.

It's all about the anger.

Now, anger is a constant presence if you're a radical thinker of any kind. You witness the majority resort to things that make you shudder on a regular basis, and over time, the resentment becomes intense. University provides an environment where the anger of the intelligentsia is encouraged to build, and as such plays an important part in keeping all sorts of idealism alive.

Because infuriated Marxists are much more inspiring than those pleasantly plodding along, ticking off items on The To-Do List of Life every couple of years as they buy houses, secure promotions and have children.

I, too, am angry... and I think getting in touch with my aggression may be just what I need.

Thoughts on Religion

Religion: It doesn't register or resonate with me.
I have some religious friends, and I invite them to believe whatever they want to, but I will be eternally questioning of any claims to a universal truth represented by an omnipresent deity - or some such.
My resistance to Christianity can be articulated in the following way: I don't have, or wish to have, that much guilt. I lack the investment in guilt as a motivational emotion. Christians always seem to be struggling to overcome the darkest parts of their nature, of which they are ashamed. But we all have light and dark, and this is where self-acceptance comes in real handy.
Of the major religions, I am least turned off by Buddhism. I make use of some meditation techniques, and practice my own version of 'mindfulness'. And there's something quite beautiful about the Cao Dai temples in Vietnam, with their warm and light colours, and creative blend of world religions and particular theorists. But I would never believe in a religion, not even if I had to pretend to convert to one at gunpoint.

My parents were raised in a period of Bulgaria's history when religion was banned. (The dictator replaced the role of god, entrenching nation-wide veneration - the more adamant, the better.) I was raised to barely give religion a second thought, something about my upbringing I am thankful for, because religion breeds xenophobia, racism, sexism and homophobia. I do have a grandmother who is deeply Orthodox Christian, but I hardly ever see her, and in multicultural Australia it's unusual for religious groups to strongly assert their beliefs, so it's only when I listen to clips from Fox News (brought to me courtesy of American progressives) that I get the sensation that anyone believes my spiritual beliefs need improvement.

Today is one such day. Hence this post. I figure the atheists among my readers will sympathise, and the cool religious people will at least have a better understanding of my views. Lots of love to you all! :o)

One day...

One day I will be based in a number of cities/towns such as

Barcelona
Chiang Mai
Paris
Reykjavik*
San Francisco
Stockholm
Taipei*
and
Tokyo

(*These are places I project I will develop a strong relationship with, but we have yet to see as I haven't been there yet.)

I believe I have the sophistication, culture and appreciation for the fine things in life of an European, the friendliness, independence and open-mindedness of an Australian, the inquisitive nature and idealistic passion of an American, and the love for social harmony and amiable presentation of an Asian.

It has come to my attention that Melbourne would probably be to my liking much more than Sydney, and as such I wouldn't mind visiting it once in a while. But at this stage I have an overwhelming urge to get out of Australia, and since there is so much more of the world to see, I'm not at all sure that I'll return.

I also have constant (fun) disagreements with myself over which places are best suited to one-off holiday experiences and which places capture my imagination enough for me to get more attached. Vienna is a good example - I felt very stimulated by it in a way I didn't expect, and didn't want to leave. Places I haven't been before, like Brighton, inspire me, and I've recently been sussing out a city that wouldn't seem immediately compatible with my needs, Dublin, but might prove very rewarding all the same.

I think, if I can visit Taipei, Reykjavik, Brighton and/or Dublin this year at least, I would be a very happy girl.