There are many places in the world that I have not been. One place that I would love to go to is New Zealand. I would also love to go to Spain and Ireland. I were to choose to spend six months in a place I've never been, I would choose a place that would not be easy for me to adapt to overnight (or even in a couple of weeks). That is why I would choose to go to India. India has a very interesting culture. I love the music. Actually I can't say I love all Indian music, but I love Ravi Shankar and his style of music. I think that the Hindu religion is very interesting and I have always wanted to study it. And there is so much history to learn.
I do not know a single word in the Hindi language not to mention the multiple other dialects you will find in India. Therefore, I will need a translation dictionary, not only for the Hindi language but for the other languages spoken in India. The only positive side is that there are many English settlers that came from Great Britain. Plus many of the large cities of India are very diverse and there are a lot of people who speak English in those cities.
I would not stay in one main region of India. I would travel throughout the entire county if I am able to. India has many different climates. I would need to bring clothes that for all of the extreme climates, from hot arid desert conditions, to monsoons in the jungles, to the frigid climate of the Himalayas. I would also bring all of my hiking and camping gear. I want to experience India "Jungle Book Style." I would want to explore the beautiful jungles and wildlife. I love the mountains and I think I would spend a great deal of my time traveling throughout the Himalayas. And while I'm at it, there is no way that I could possibly pass up the chance to ski out there. I'm not about to lug around my ski equipment but I'm sure I can find a place to rent some skis and hit up the slopes. But as awesome as visiting the extreme regions of India would be, it can also be very dangerous if I am not prepared.
I am not the most adventurous eater so I think this might be the hardest obstacle I may face while in India. I also have a serious addiction to Chicago style pizza. And when I say serious, I mean it. When I am in some of the major cities, such as New Delhi, I will have to figure out a way to get my pizza fix. I'm pretty sure Giordano's ships frozen deep dish pizzas. I just hope that they ship international, otherwise I may not make it. If I am able to have pizza shipped to me, this will be one of my contributions to the Indian culture.
In order to keep me busy I will bring some books from some of my favorite authors, namely Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson. I believe that these two authors are great examples of American Literature (and journalism). I would also have to bring some music. I do not own an IPOD, and I would like to keep it that way, but it would not be convenient carry around vinyl. Maybe I can bring along one of those Sony Disc-man things (do they even make those anymore?), my Beyer DT70 headphones, and some CD's. Or I can just suck it up and buy an IPOD after all, because I have to have my music, worse than I have to have my pizza. And I can't forget my camera. The whole trip would be absolutely pointless if I didn't bring a camera.
Last but not least, I would have to bring my daughter, because I would not be able to go away for that long without her. I would miss her greatly and she would be pretty pissed off at me if I didn't take her with me, especially if she finds out I got to cruise around on elephants.
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Cultural Survival and Me.
When going anywhere to stay put for a prolonged period of time you need the essentials first. Essentials are boring; you'll just have to trust that I packed enough clean underwear to last for a full year (you should always double up- in case of emergencies).
This is about sanity. Or, more correctly, the preservation of a recognizable identity in the face of massive cultural inundation. When out in the culture there is no tool or object that would prepare you for countless social faux pas' and encroaching feelings of isolation. Therefore, in an attempt to preserve sanity, surrounding yourself with the familiar is of paramount importance.
Music first, as there is nothing more interconnected to who we are emotionally.
An Ipod filled with the likes of David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Classical tracks to facilitate assimilation and some soundtracks to really great movies to help combat boredom. We could ague that there are no cultural universals but I disagree; music pulls what you like about it out of you. No one can explain what they love about a great song; it's just gone, like it was never there to begin with. You like or you don't- no translation required.
Books next, mostly because I couldn't figure out to fit a television into my suitcase.
Comedy! Comedy! Comedy! This also fits on the Ipod. I need to f*%king laugh. I need it, like drugs. Not that I need drugs. I need to laugh like it's a drug. There we go. Comedy is my heroin dealer. Books by George Carlin, scripts by Neil Simon- anything that gives me a chuckle. Also some popular fiction; Clive Cussler is a beautiful human being, no one better captures the awesomeness of the ridiculous. Also, I would need some comic books. My secret is out. I love comics and I am unashamed. Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan) and Brian K. Vaughn (Y the Last Man) are my golden gods.
These things, sadly,would not be translatable. Although, I would enjoy attempting to explain George Carlin's Sh*t/Stuff routine to Zulu tribesmen.
A Camera also, to take pictures.
That's it. Just to have some.
Finally, a journal. Because what good is an experience if you can't hear yourself in the voice you had when it was happening?
Recording an experience for yourself is, I think, essential to understanding it. The journal helps to expel bias and exercise fear when confronted with something new. It allows me to be myself at both the most flawed and most secure.
I have done some modest traveling; I have been all over the United States and to Europe. In traveling, my life has changed dramatically and for the better. I didn't pick a particular place for this entry because I have found out I don't go to one place to learn about other people; I want to go to many places and learn about myself.
Patrick
This is about sanity. Or, more correctly, the preservation of a recognizable identity in the face of massive cultural inundation. When out in the culture there is no tool or object that would prepare you for countless social faux pas' and encroaching feelings of isolation. Therefore, in an attempt to preserve sanity, surrounding yourself with the familiar is of paramount importance.
Music first, as there is nothing more interconnected to who we are emotionally.
An Ipod filled with the likes of David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Classical tracks to facilitate assimilation and some soundtracks to really great movies to help combat boredom. We could ague that there are no cultural universals but I disagree; music pulls what you like about it out of you. No one can explain what they love about a great song; it's just gone, like it was never there to begin with. You like or you don't- no translation required.
Books next, mostly because I couldn't figure out to fit a television into my suitcase.
Comedy! Comedy! Comedy! This also fits on the Ipod. I need to f*%king laugh. I need it, like drugs. Not that I need drugs. I need to laugh like it's a drug. There we go. Comedy is my heroin dealer. Books by George Carlin, scripts by Neil Simon- anything that gives me a chuckle. Also some popular fiction; Clive Cussler is a beautiful human being, no one better captures the awesomeness of the ridiculous. Also, I would need some comic books. My secret is out. I love comics and I am unashamed. Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan) and Brian K. Vaughn (Y the Last Man) are my golden gods.
These things, sadly,would not be translatable. Although, I would enjoy attempting to explain George Carlin's Sh*t/Stuff routine to Zulu tribesmen.
A Camera also, to take pictures.
That's it. Just to have some.
Finally, a journal. Because what good is an experience if you can't hear yourself in the voice you had when it was happening?
Recording an experience for yourself is, I think, essential to understanding it. The journal helps to expel bias and exercise fear when confronted with something new. It allows me to be myself at both the most flawed and most secure.
I have done some modest traveling; I have been all over the United States and to Europe. In traveling, my life has changed dramatically and for the better. I didn't pick a particular place for this entry because I have found out I don't go to one place to learn about other people; I want to go to many places and learn about myself.
Patrick
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