Good Times

It was so cool having Pol and Daniela here. The weekend workshop went very well, aside from the fact that there were so few beginners. It was a bit of a disappointment to have about 6 cancel on me the night before and morning of the workshop...but those who came ended up doing the WHOLE DOGGONE DAY--every single class.

Needless to say everyone was completely dead by the evening, though I think they all enjoyed it.

The most challenging part was The Big Apple, because those types of jazz movements are things we haven't practiced in class. But we all had a good time, especially with Spank the Baby ;)


For me, it was good to have Pol and Daniela to help teach some details of Lindy Hop that I haven't been able to teach on my own, and we also had time at home to practice my leading skills.

I felt encouraged by them and at the same time overwhelmed by how much work I have ahead to get my skills up to snuff and to find Portuguese Lindy Hoppers. Doing something new and different doesn't come easily to most of them.

So, we're hoping to do more dancing in public, like at our party at Uptown Bar on Saturday night. yes, after a full day of classes and exhaustion, everyone still came out to dance at night! It was fantastic!

big weekend coming up

Yea, the weekend workshop is here!!! I'm a bit nervous because we're still in need of about 3 or 4 more people to do the workshop and it's quite difficult to nail people down and make them commit! And then there's the guy problem. Guys can be so lame, so afraid to try something ne. Don't they realize that if they learn to dance, they could have doors just fly open for them???? We girls are all waiting for a guy who can dance. there are more girls dancing than guys so a guy who's in the know never sits out a dance.

But, well, something's blocking them. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that people show up without having enrolled beforehand. Last minute sign ups are definitely welcome!

whatever the case, it'll be fun to have Pol and Daniela here. We're going to try to see if we can do some Lindy in the street and get the word out there, have it be seen. I'm really looking forward to a great weekend!

I'll let you know how it goes.

a lot to be thankful for, it's twoo, twoo, vewy twoo

What a lovely evening last night!

A few weeks ago while listening to Vegetarian Food for Thought podcast and hearing Colleen talk about Vegan Thanksgiving and sharing some ideas for food to make, I thought it would be nice to have my very own here with my closest friends in Porto. Then I gave up the idea because it just seemed like so much work and with the workshop next week I thought it might be overkill, two weekends in a row planning and prepping and running around.

Something this week, however, made me decide I really DID want to do it. I know that my friends here in Porto are very special. When my roommate talks about her first experiences here meeting Portuguese people and the frustrations that can arise, I stop and think "but wait, the people I know aren't like that", "the people I know are much more open than that."
It makes me realize how blessed I've been in the people I've had the opportunity to meet and in the life I've been able to create so far away from "home" (California is less home now than 5 years ago, I must admit). The fact is, I think I must have had the honour of meeting the most amazing people Porto has to offer! My friends are incredible people. Compassionate and open, fun-loving and sincere and caring, so caring. They've been there for me when I've needed them, and have likewise been there to share a laugh and some fun.

So, my first Vegan Thanksgiving plans began to form. I couldn't have done it without my lovely housemate, though. She's a corker! and put up with me trying to poison her with hidden gluten in everything when I promised her that I had used non-gluten flour (READ READ READ the ingredients very carefully Abeth!)

Aside from that, it was a success, even with lots of last minute cancellations :( but we were able to fit 25 people under one roof which is something we weren't sure would work. I had a great time and there was extra food, imagine that! (I woke up on Sunday morning worried that there wouldn't be enough).

And all that fun and good time and NO ANIMALS SUFFERED FOR IT!!!!

Photos to come. . .
"Agradacerei hoje todas as coisas boas e menos boas que a vida me deu". . . mas os meus amigos são das coisas optimas que a vida me deu e agradeço mil vezes.

grrrrreat concert

i think i've gone out more in the past month or so than the last 6!!! it's been good, though, in spite of often practically dying the next day from the vestiges of smoke. . . one day this country will WAKE UP and realize that smoking in closed places is KILLING PEOPLE!!! until then, i've got to rely on my drugs to keep my lungs in working order.

anyway, sat night a few friends and i went out to see a great band, Tchakare Kanyembe. a friend of mine plays congas and djembe and other assorted percussion in the band. the first and last time i had seen them was when there were only 3 members. it was quite mellow but it had the seeds of something good.

now they're 8 or so members strong (there were 8 on stage, but their myspace lists more). the energy in the room was palpable. i was right by the stage and dancing non stop. you've got to go hear them because i don't know exactly how to explain them. think fela kuti. . . think african, funk, jazz. their lead singer is often not singing but dancing on stage and i found myself inadvertently matching my steps and movements to his, such is his connection with the music and the audience.

okay, this is not a music review blog so i won't pretend to be able to critique them, etc. just go have a listen.

and here she is. . . but check out the other songs too!

From Crackle: Jesca Hoop - Big Fish

long time. . . nothing

but learning experiences abound. even in the mundane, we can glean lessons. particularly if we're surrounded by creative and interesting people. and i'm so lucky to have that be the case in my life.

when you think you've got some lesson under your belt, out comes something else to show you where you need to change. be more open, less harsh with others, less perfectionist, less serious and more fun-loving.

i find myself surrounded by peer mentors. life strategically places those people you need when you need them.

one such person is my roommate of the moment. i was so adamant that i didn't want to share a house with an english speaker, perfecting my portuguese being one of my top priorities, but it IS good when things don't work out exactly as we've planned. my English housemate shares wisdom with me day in and day out, not to mention she's a laugh to hang out with, and sometimes says things i truly don't understand. after all, i am but a humble yank. i'm anxiously awaiting her to get her energy back after feeling sick so we can go out and dance, turning heads and creating gawkers.

then there's my lindy hop group. oh yea, i've started up lindy hop in porto! it's slowly growing, but i'm excited and hopeful! the people taking classes with me are fantastic and down-to-earth and fun and have been very important to me lately.

then there are my friends from afar. and those coming to visit. woohoo, i can't wait!!! :)

hey, just remembered. . . it's been a year since i went vegan! happy vegan b-day to me! and, hey, just so you know, i'm still alive and well, and able to keep up with the swimming thrice a week, the dance and other activities. :)

now here'e my fav new singer of the moment. some months ago it was Regina Spektor.
this week I met another who has, dare I say it, usurped Regina's place, and for some reasons i can actually be thankful for that.

Have a listen and I dare you not to fall in love:
http://hypem.com/search/jesca%20hoop

here i am again

It's hard to know where to begin when you've been so decidedly behind the times. I spent a mad 6 weeks working at Herräng. I knew it would be a lot of work, but I wasn't quite prepared for the insane whirlwind that it ended up being. In 6 weeks I danced a total of 3 night (which actually beats my one night from last year).

Ask any of my fellow workers there, though, and they will tell you that I pretty much nearly lost it Weeks 3 and 4, which were just overwhelming for me. Two days away in Stockholm, however, did wonders to cure my nigh on nervous breakdown. You know you're in a bad way when your kinda boss (can I call you that Eddie? who's really the boss there anyway?) doesn't want you to come back for another 2 or even 3 days. Ha ha! Well, 16-20 hour work days will do that to you, or at least to me :)

I had a lovely relaxing week after camp, though. I spent it in Stockholm swimming, shopping, going to the supermarket (yes, this WAS a highlight) and buying food and making food and watching TV with my friend. And then I even got to hang out with my bro, K, for a few days. He came up to visit and we went out on the town and had some laughs. 'Twas just what the doctor ordered.

Now back in Portugal and back to the house search. Yes, I'm homeless. Well, I would be if I didn't have great friends that put up with me staying at their place while I look for somewhere to call home. Anyway, that's the update for now!