Untwining

I'm listening to Vinicius de Moraes, Maria Creuza and Toquinho playing 'Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar'. In the repeat modus. "Eu sei que vou te amar. Por toda a minha vida eu vou te amar." In Portuguese it sounds simplesmente much more sweet than in English "I know I'll love you. All my life I'll love you." Isn't it lovely? "And for each absence I'll cry" :)

Since last week several sources of information are entangled in my head. Rio de Janeiro. Santiago de Chile. Sea. Beach. Big houses that no longer exist. Living in exile. Writing. Bossa Nova music. In this letter to you I'll try to untwine what came from which source.

Let me first show you Helô Pinheiro (1945). At the age of 17 she was the girl that inspired Vinicius de Moraes (1913-1980) to his song 'Girl of Ipanema' (1962). Look at that beautiful thing. Full of grace.

 

Last week I started to read Isabel Allende's book 'Mi País Inventado'. In a Dutch translation: 'Herinnering aan mijn Chili'. I only read the first half of this book when I received, via the postman, Chico Buarque de Holanda's book 'Leite Derramado'. I finished reading Chico's book - in a Dutch translation 'Herinneringen aan Rio' - in two evenings. After that, I read the second half of Isabel's book. 

In between I checked out wikipedia on Chico Buarque de Holande, Vinicius de Moraes and Augusto de Campos. Finding out that for Chico and Vinicius it was/ is a natural thing to write songs, make poems and write books. Such an unusual combination in my country. As if there is somewhere an unwritten rule that mixing of skills is not allowed. 

Untwining:

• Isabel Allende (1945). Lived in Santiago de Chile. Her father and stepfather were diplomats. She lived a part of her life in a big house with her grandfather. A house that no longer exists. Her grandfather almost became 100 year old. She went in exile (Venezuela) in 1975. Her book is about the memories and saudade of Chile. The country she was forced to leave when Pinochet became dictator (1973-1990) of her country. 
• Vinicius de Moraes.  Rio de Janeiro. Stayed at his grandfather's house when he attended primary school. Legal and Social Sciences. Poet. Film censor. Oxford University. Diplomat. One of the founders of Bossa Nova with album 'Cancão do Amor Demais' (1958). Writer of song 'Girl of Ipanema' (portuguese 'Garota de Ipanema'). In 1969, at the age of 55, he was forced to retire by the Brazilian Military Government (1964-1985). Vinicius wrote protest songs like 'A Tongo da Mironga do Kabuletê'. 
• Chico Buarque de Holanda (1944). Rio de Janeiro. Privileged family background. Performed Bossa Nova in early 1960s as singer and songwriter. Poet. Writer of books. Wrote many protest songs. E.g.   'Apesar de Você'. Went in 1970 for 18 months in exile (Italy). Chico's book is about a 100 year old man looking back at his life. His wife that left him. His jealousy. His big house - in Rio - that had to be sold. A house that no longer exists. A slow decline of financial and physical assets. 

For me the entangled information is untwined. For the biggest part. Did it make any sense to you?

P.S. I'm wondering if being the girl from Ipanema was/ is for Helô Pinheiro hell, blessing or ...? It must have changed her life for sure. Won't it?

Sun Will Always Shine On This List

I ran out of time. I'm working on a Twitter-list in which every country is represented by one twitterer. The sun will always shine on this list. Added 41 countries. 161 to go. (List of sovereign states.)  To be continued ...

In The Distance

... - THAT!

I wrote on my first two moments of enlightenment: Czestochowa (1984) and Aswan (1987). I never wrote about my third - and last one until today - in 1990. In a way I was not ready for it - not telling you.

Holiday in Portugal. N and I. Fly and Drive! We drove from Lisboa along the coast to Porto. Along the river Douro to Braganca. Along the Spanish border via Castelo Branco to Marvão.

I fell in love with this part of Portugal. Remote. Hot. Medieval. For days I was pregnant with 'that'. N wanted to read a book near the swimming-pool and didn't want to visit Marvão for a second time. I drove early in the morning all the way up to this big eagle's nest. I needed to see it for a second time. Strolled for a few hours along its walls. Making pictures and enjoying the views. Nothing happened. On my way back to the hotel in Castelo de Vide I saw a little chapel on the left. Wondering how the view would be of Marvão from the 'Capela de São Salvador do Mundo'. (I found out later it's name and history.) I changed my plans and drove to the Capela. Parked my car. Couple of old people were cleaning the remnants of some party.

Sitting alone. Capela on my back. In the distance Marvão. Enjoying the view. And there it was again: THAT!   

One Definition Fits None

And my definition? My personal opinion is that happiness depends on one's level of consciousness. In other words there's not one definition. One definition fits none. 

Look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs. On the 'Physiological' level Epicurus' definition is valid: "The cry of the flesh bids us escape from hunger, thirst, and cold; for he who is free of these and expects to remain so might vie in happiness even with Zeus." On the level of 'Safety' I'm happy when there's peace in my part of the world, my job pays well, my own house needs no maintenance and my kids are doing well. Kate Bush's definition "loving and being loved" fits to the level of 'Love/ belonging'. When I write another nice blog that's received well, I'm happy on the level of 'Esteem'. Level of 'Self-actualization' is looking at life and planet Earth like this and this.

What makes me most happy? É simples: ter você.

Beminnen en bemind worden

To be honest. I'm fascinated by the definition of happiness. There are so many definitions! I guess my first wonder was born when I was eight years old - or am I idealizing myself on this? Remember what I wrote before? "What a bore is life and how predictable: to be born, live and die." This is what I told my maternal grandma at the age of eight after reading next week's TV-guide completely. She looked at me with a little, mysterious smile and said "Yes, you are right". I was old at the age of eight. The strange thing is this feeling never really left me. In retrospect my opinion back then was only a part of homo sapiens' life truth. In life, it's not about milestones, it's about all the days in between."

Next to that, I keep on puzzling on what people Say and how they Act. Sometimes the gap is so big and obvious. Why are they fooling themselves? Do they really think that no-one observes the 'Say-Act-Gap'?

Last week in my newspaper there was an interview with Kate Bush. Kate shared her definition of 'perfect happiness': "(Giggling) The point of these questions come down to this  'Loving and being loved'. That's what all of us want."

I can't tell if there is a 'Say-Act-Gap' for Kate. She could have referred to the image in her song 'Symphony in Blue' that she is needed for the symphony. This is taking care for procreation. She did not. She could have talked about her moment of enlightenment she refers to in her song 'Somewhere in Between'. She did not.

It's down to earth for her. Kate loving and being loved. That's all. Husband? Secret lover(s)? God(s)? Her son? Parent(s)? Friend(s)? Or ...?

In Dutch it reads "Beminnen en bemind worden". Was she referring to 'loving and being loved'? Or 'making love'? She was giggling! Or referring to both? 

P.S. Source: NRC weekend, Maart 2012, page 66.

This is not a :)

World according to Netherlands. 2012 edition

Let's for once skip the polite and well balanced opinions. What are the Dutch stereotypes of how they look at the world around them? Don't be alarmed :)

Aren't they lovely Alphadesigner's Maps of Stereotypes? Shocking but they seem so true to me!

Our Stereotypes:

Member state United Nations	World according to The Netherlands. 2012 edition
Jordan	Actual Palestine
Lebanon	Always Fighting
Costa Rica	Ananas. Somewhere in South America
Syrian Arab Republic	Assad Kills his People
Poland	Auswitz. Behind Iron Curtain
Switzerland	Banks & Skiing
Bahamas	Beach. No idea where on map
Belgium	Belgium Frites
Germany	Big Brother
India	Big Country & Many People
Suriname	Bouterse. Glad we Lost This Country
Turkey	Cheap Beaches. Human Rights Violations
Pakistan	Cheaters
Japan	Copy and Paste
Maldives	Diving. No idea where on map
Colombia	Drugs
Haiti	Earthquake
Bangladesh	Famine. No idea where on map
Spain	FC Barcelona & Beach
Cuba	Fidel Castro & Cigars
Netherlands	Gateway to Europe
Armenia	Genocide. No idea where on map
Iceland	Geysers
Monaco	Glitter and Glamour
Greece	Good money is turned into bad money by Lazy and Corrupt Greeks
Czech Republic	Havel. Behind Iron Curtain
Nepal	Himalaya. No idea where on map
France	Holiday
Morocco	Homeland of Moroccans
Cyprus	Independent Country?
Iran (Islamic Republic of)	Islam Extremists
Israel	Jews
Chile	Junta
Australia	Kangaroos & Aboriginals
Libya	Khadaffi Country
Mongolia	Kind of China
New Zealand	Kiwis :) but no idea what that means
Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Korea, North. Pathetic
Republic of Korea	Korea, South. Pathetic too but Free
Papua New Guinea	Little Man
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	London & Lovely Scots
Indonesia	Lost Country. Those Good Old Days
Argentina	Maxima Country
Saudi Arabia	More Oil
Denmark	Nobel Price & Vikings. Finland: unkown
Finland	Nobel Price & Vikings. Finland: unkown
Norway	Nobel Price & Vikings. Finland: unkown
Sweden	Nobel Price & Vikings. Finland: unkown
Kuwait	Oil
United Arab Emirates	Oil
South Africa	Once Our Country
Cambodia	Once War
Viet Nam	Once War & Rice Fields
Egypt	Piramides
Italy	Pizza & Mafia
Portugal	Port & Fado
Ethiopia	Poverty. No idea where in Africa
Somalia	Poverty. No idea where in Africa
Ireland	Rain
Jamaica	Reaggea. No idea where on map
Brazil	Rio: Beach & Carnaval. Vanishing Forests
Iraq	Saddam country
Thailand	Sex almost for Free
Philippines	Sex almost for Free
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Shame of Srebrenica
Austria	Skiing
Luxembourg	Small
United States of America	Super Power
Liechtenstein	Tax Evasion. No idea where on map
Mexico	Transit Country for Drugs to USA
Russian Federation	Unreliable Reds
China	Upcoming Superpower
Canada	USA but Different
Afghanistan	War
Bulgaria	Unkown. Behind Iron Curtain
Croatia	Unkown. Behind Iron Curtain
Georgia	Unkown. Behind Iron Curtain
Hungary	Unkown. Behind Iron Curtain
Romania	Unkown. Behind Iron Curtain
Serbia	Unkown. Behind Iron Curtain
Albania	Unkown. Behind Iron Curtain
Congo	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Côte d'Ivoire	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Ghana	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Namibia	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Nigeria	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Senegal	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Zimbabwe	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Cameroon	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Algeria	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Angola	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Kenya	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Mozambique	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Rwanda	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Swaziland	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
United Republic of Tanzania	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Tunisia	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Uganda	Unkown. Somewhere in Africa
Bolivia	Unkown. Somewhere in South America
El Salvador	Unkown. Somewhere in South America
Panama	Unkown. Somewhere in South America
Paraguay	Unkown. Somewhere in South America
Peru	Unkown. Somewhere in South America
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)	Unkown. Somewhere in South America
Dominican Republic	Unkown. Somewhere in South America
Honduras	Unkown. Somewhere in South America
Nicaragua	Unkown. Somewhere in South America
Uruguay	Unkown. Somewhere in South America
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia	Unkown
Barbados	Unkown
Andorra	Unkown
Antigua and Barbuda	Unkown
Azerbaijan	Unkown
Bahrain	Unkown
Belarus	Unkown
Belize	Unkown
Benin	Unkown
Bhutan	Unkown
Botswana	Unkown
Brunei Darussalam	Unkown
Burkina Faso	Unkown
Burundi	Unkown
Cape Verde	Unkown
Central African Republic	Unkown
Chad	Unkown
Comoros	Unkown
Djibouti	Unkown
Dominica	Unkown
Ecuador	Unkown
Equatorial Guinea	Unkown
Eritrea	Unkown
Estonia	Unkown
Fiji	Unkown
Gabon	Unkown
Gambia	Unkown
Grenada	Unkown
Guatemala	Unkown
Guinea	Unkown
Guinea-Bissau	Unkown
Guyana	Unkown
Kazakhstan	Unkown
Kiribati	Unkown
Kyrgyzstan	Unkown
Lao People's Democratic Republic	Unkown
Latvia	Unkown
Lesotho	Unkown
Liberia	Unkown
Lithuania	Unkown
Madagascar	Unkown
Malawi	Unkown
Malaysia	Unkown
Mali	Unkown
Malta	Unkown
Marshall Islands	Unkown
Mauritania	Unkown
Mauritius	Unkown
Micronesia	Unkown
Republic of Moldova	Unkown
Montenegro	Unkown
Myanmar	Unkown
Nauru	Unkown
Niger	Unkown
Oman	Unkown
Palau	Unkown
Qatar	Unkown
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Unkown
Saint Lucia	Unkown
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Unkown
Samoa	Unkown
San Marino	Unkown
Sao Tome and Principe	Unkown
Seychelles	Unkown
Sierra Leone	Unkown
Singapore	Unkown
Slovakia	Unkown
Slovenia	Unkown
Solomon Islands	Unkown
South Sudan	Unkown
Sri Lanka	Unkown
Sudan	Unkown
Tajikistan	Unkown
Timor-Leste	Unkown
Togo	Unkown
Tonga	Unkown
Trinidad and Tobago	Unkown
Turkmenistan	Unkown
Tuvalu	Unkown
Ukraine	Unkown
Uzbekistan	Unkown
Vanuatu	Unkown
Yemen	Unkown
Zambia	Unkown

Did I miss something? What are the stereotypes your country places on other countries?

P.S. I took as baseline the United Nations' Member State List

Fog

#hangover #carnaval

Children on a Seesaw

Cláudia Roquette-Pinto's poem 'Cinco líções de inglês'. This poem (poema/ gedicht) is about a woman for whom 'children on a seesaw' are her biggest joy and fear.

Portuguese (original) - Dutch (translation):

Cinco líções de inglês

That summer he missed his lover — Ele puxou do bolso, com 

máximo cuidado, a última carta, a qual imediatamente rasgou-

se ao longo das dobras puídas.

The letter confused her — Mesmo depois de ler e reler a carta, 

ela não conseguia impedir que suas maiores expectativas e seus 

piores temores —crianças numa gangorra— 

se alternassem em sua mente.

She felt very sad — Ela andava, dia e noite, como se levasse no

peito a vidraça que uma pedra acabara de acertar.

He was angry — Ele batia com insistência a ponta do sapato no

rodapé, e, repentinamente, repetia entre dentes alguma frase

incompreensível, que pontuava com um soco.

She begged him to stay — Ela agarrou-se à manga de sua camisa

sem dizer palavra.

Vijf lessen Engels

That summer he missed his lover — Uiterst voorzichtig haalde hij

de laatste brief uit zijn broekzak, die onmiddellijk scheurde

langs de halfvergane vouwen

The letter confused her — Zelfs na het lezen en nog eens lezen

van de brief kon ze niet verhinderen dat haar hoogste

verwachtingen en grootste angst — kinderen op een wip —

elkaar afwisselden in haar hoofd.

She felt very sad — Ze liep dag en nacht rond alsof ze een ruit in

haar borst droeg die net was ingegooid door een steen.

He was angry — Hij tikte halsstarrig met de punt van zijn schoen

tegen de plint en herhaalde onverhoeds tussen zijn tanden een

onverstaanbare zin, waar hij met een schop een punt achter zette.

She begged him to stay — Ze klemde zich zonder een woord vast

aan de mouw van zijn hemd.

Source: Vijfentwintig keer Brazilië; Hedendaagse poëzie uit Brazilië (2011). The poem above is translated in Dutch by Harrie Lemmens.

This poem is translated in Spanish too: 'Cinco lecciones de ingles'. I couldn't find a translation in English. Will you give it a try?

Poema Simples

A litte kiss for my sweety: x
                                           .
                                           .
                                            .
                                             .
                                              .
                                                .
                                                 .
                                                  .
                                                   .
                                                   .
                                                   .
                                                  .
                                                 .
                                               .
                                             .
                                           .
                                          .
                                        .
                                        .
                                        .
                                        .
                                         .
                                           .
                                             .
                                               .
                                                 .
                                                  .
                                                   .
                                                     .......................................................\.../..@@.............
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                                                                                                                                   .
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                                                                                                                                  .
                                                                                                                                 .
                                                                                                                               .
                                                                                                                                 .
                                                                                                                                .
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                                                                                                                                 .
                                                                                                                               .
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                                                                                 ...........................................
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                                                                                     i
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                                                                                      .
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                                                                                 X
                                                                     
                                                                        Happy Valentine ;)