One by one, some of my fellow Canadians teaching in London are revealing that they feel as though they're putting their lives on hold or even regressing by being here. They watch from afar as their friends back home are reaching new milestones--graduations, marriages, babies, home ownerships--and are judging the progress of their own lives by the same yardstick.
I can relate to that feeling, but from a completely different context. I graduated from high school two years early and was on a path to earn 5 degrees by the time I turned 25. I'm about to turn 27 now and I only have one degree that I just earned last spring. On my way to getting there, I felt pathetic about my measly progress as I watched what seemed like my entire high school cohort (and several cohorts behind me) go on to earn their postgraduate degrees.
But now that my BA is proudly hanging on my wall, I see things a little differently. I realize now that the path I took made me who I am today. I have a wealth of real world experiences that I never would have encountered in school. And I have training in other areas that were never on the original plan. Inadvertently, I am now better prepared for the things I want to do with the rest of my life than I ever could have hoped, otherwise.
I suppose I don't feel the same way about being here because living abroad has always been part of my life plan. I spent years filled with envy of the people I knew who were travelling the world. I feel as though I've accomplished a great deal by coming here (although I feel that I still haven't travelled enough). There's still so much more for me to do, but owning a home doesn't even come close to being on that list.
I have a plan for the future, and another year of travelling and gaining experience in London schools is step number 1. Those are the most important things for me to be doing right now, and I feel sure that the future will thank me for it.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
On Modern Jive
I felt this topic deserved its own separate entry.
Last Sunday, I had my first ever bonafide Modern Jive experience. I headed out to the Marylebone Summer Fayre knowing there would be Modern Jive but expecting there to be a fair bit of West Coast Swing, as well. Alas, there was practically none, and so I had to have a go at this slightly-scary-to-me dance that I'd heard so much about.
Allow me to explain. Modern Jive (also known by the brand name Ceroc) is a dance form practically unheard of in North America but very popular in Europe. Inspired by swing, salsa, and other partner dances, it has simplifed footwork so that it's very easy to learn.
I first heard of it several years ago in a blues dance forum. We had a hot (and somewhat nasty) debate over the inherent evils of Modern Jive, which (as far as any of us could tell from descriptions and YouTube videos) taught people to dance with little-to-no connection, musicality, or technique. If you're a swing and/or blues dancer, you'll know that lack of connection, musicality, and technique = Satan. I decided that it wasn't fair of me to judge a dance that clearly had different values from my own, and so I put it on the shelf with other things that I don't personally care for but don't necessarily oppose.
Then I moved to Europe. Suddenly, Modern Jivers were a part of my reality. They were coming to my blues dance classes and made up the majority of the West Coast Swing scene. I was surprised to realise that these Modern Jivers actually made really good westies. They had style, they had technique, they had musicality, and they had connection! One of them explained to me that the MJ scene had stagnated several years ago, and so they'd turned to learning WCS technique.
But how was my experience actually dancing Modern Jive? I had a good time! Some of the dancers were pretty good, and although the dance style itself didn't do much for me, I also really understood for the first time how great it is that it exists. Many of us who partner dance often lament about how tragic it is that social dancing is no longer a part of popular culture. We go on and on about its social, emotional, and physical benefits. And yet, in the same breath, we are prescriptive about how this social dancing must be executed and which values people who participate must share. Thereby excluding a large number of people who might otherwise enjoy social dancing and its benefits.
The truth is, no matter how much joy and fulfillment some of us find in practicing and developing our craft, the majority of people in the world don't have the interest, the time, or the opportunity to focus on this particular pastime. Perhaps dancing intimidates them. Perhaps dancing isn't one of their primary passions in life. Perhaps they'd like to make it a priority but other realities stand in their way. But I believe dancing can and arguably should be a joyful part of any person's life, no matter how casual they want or have to be about it. Those who want to learn more, will.
What I saw last Sunday was a group of people who enjoyed dancing and who enjoyed the benefits of the social community they had formed. These are the parts of social dancing that are most important when it comes to the social, emotional, and physical benefits we extol. These are the sorts of interactions that are missing from our every day modern society. And these are the things that our society can reclaim if everyone is made to feel welcome dancing whichever style they want, with whatever skill or commitment level they have to offer.
Back in the golden era of swing, people weren't all Frankie Manning and Norma Miller. Most people just had fun messing about, moving to music, and socialising with people. Most of their dancing was bloody awful by today's swing scene standards. But they had something that most people today lack, and I for one would love to see us claiming it back.
If you don't already partner dance, I really encourage you to give it a try. The benefits, as I've mentioned, are enormous. Start with a dance style done to music you enjoy so that you'll remain inspired and can have fun even if you're sitting out for a while. If you're mostly into contemporary music and worry that you have two left feet, Modern Jive may well be a good option for you. It doesn't matter what you do, so long as you get out there and do it.
Incidentally, I think the rest of us dancers have something to learn from Modern Jivers. Many of them have said to me, "When I tell other dancers that I'm into Modern Jive, they tend to snub their noses up at me. I don't understand why they do that. I don't do that to them."
Last Sunday, I had my first ever bonafide Modern Jive experience. I headed out to the Marylebone Summer Fayre knowing there would be Modern Jive but expecting there to be a fair bit of West Coast Swing, as well. Alas, there was practically none, and so I had to have a go at this slightly-scary-to-me dance that I'd heard so much about.
Allow me to explain. Modern Jive (also known by the brand name Ceroc) is a dance form practically unheard of in North America but very popular in Europe. Inspired by swing, salsa, and other partner dances, it has simplifed footwork so that it's very easy to learn.
I first heard of it several years ago in a blues dance forum. We had a hot (and somewhat nasty) debate over the inherent evils of Modern Jive, which (as far as any of us could tell from descriptions and YouTube videos) taught people to dance with little-to-no connection, musicality, or technique. If you're a swing and/or blues dancer, you'll know that lack of connection, musicality, and technique = Satan. I decided that it wasn't fair of me to judge a dance that clearly had different values from my own, and so I put it on the shelf with other things that I don't personally care for but don't necessarily oppose.
Then I moved to Europe. Suddenly, Modern Jivers were a part of my reality. They were coming to my blues dance classes and made up the majority of the West Coast Swing scene. I was surprised to realise that these Modern Jivers actually made really good westies. They had style, they had technique, they had musicality, and they had connection! One of them explained to me that the MJ scene had stagnated several years ago, and so they'd turned to learning WCS technique.
But how was my experience actually dancing Modern Jive? I had a good time! Some of the dancers were pretty good, and although the dance style itself didn't do much for me, I also really understood for the first time how great it is that it exists. Many of us who partner dance often lament about how tragic it is that social dancing is no longer a part of popular culture. We go on and on about its social, emotional, and physical benefits. And yet, in the same breath, we are prescriptive about how this social dancing must be executed and which values people who participate must share. Thereby excluding a large number of people who might otherwise enjoy social dancing and its benefits.
The truth is, no matter how much joy and fulfillment some of us find in practicing and developing our craft, the majority of people in the world don't have the interest, the time, or the opportunity to focus on this particular pastime. Perhaps dancing intimidates them. Perhaps dancing isn't one of their primary passions in life. Perhaps they'd like to make it a priority but other realities stand in their way. But I believe dancing can and arguably should be a joyful part of any person's life, no matter how casual they want or have to be about it. Those who want to learn more, will.
What I saw last Sunday was a group of people who enjoyed dancing and who enjoyed the benefits of the social community they had formed. These are the parts of social dancing that are most important when it comes to the social, emotional, and physical benefits we extol. These are the sorts of interactions that are missing from our every day modern society. And these are the things that our society can reclaim if everyone is made to feel welcome dancing whichever style they want, with whatever skill or commitment level they have to offer.
Back in the golden era of swing, people weren't all Frankie Manning and Norma Miller. Most people just had fun messing about, moving to music, and socialising with people. Most of their dancing was bloody awful by today's swing scene standards. But they had something that most people today lack, and I for one would love to see us claiming it back.
If you don't already partner dance, I really encourage you to give it a try. The benefits, as I've mentioned, are enormous. Start with a dance style done to music you enjoy so that you'll remain inspired and can have fun even if you're sitting out for a while. If you're mostly into contemporary music and worry that you have two left feet, Modern Jive may well be a good option for you. It doesn't matter what you do, so long as you get out there and do it.
Incidentally, I think the rest of us dancers have something to learn from Modern Jivers. Many of them have said to me, "When I tell other dancers that I'm into Modern Jive, they tend to snub their noses up at me. I don't understand why they do that. I don't do that to them."
Life goes on
Ok, so it's been a while...
Nathan and I broke up last week. I sort of had over a month's warning, but I'm still having a rough go of it, cycling through the 5 stages of grief on repeat.
We remain good friends, though. Last weekend, we even managed to spend a perfectly delightful day together in Brighton, wherein I dipped my feet in the (much colder than in Hawaii) ocean and we strolled along the pier, sampled sinfully indulgent Thai food, poked through a museum where I found a chair that I will one day own, browsed (ok, shopped) in quirky little shops, played board games in a pub, and generally decided that Brighton is much more than what meets the average tourist's eye (though the touristy stuff was fun as well). There are no pictures, sadly, because my dad managed to drown my camera on our dolphin excursion and Nathan was lazy about using his ;)
Other than that, I'm looking forward to heading back to Canada in 22 days. Spending a few hours with friends during my layover in Ottawa was amazing but also made me really homesick for the first time since I moved here. I'll be spending a week in Ottawa followed by two weeks at the best camp in the universe followed by four more weeks in Ottawa and then topped off by a weekend near Boston (for a dance event). Then home. Yes, London is home.
Once I get back, I have no idea what the next year will have in store for me. But I didn't know what to expect when I first arrived, either. If there's one certainty I can cling to, it's that it won't be boring.
Nathan and I broke up last week. I sort of had over a month's warning, but I'm still having a rough go of it, cycling through the 5 stages of grief on repeat.
We remain good friends, though. Last weekend, we even managed to spend a perfectly delightful day together in Brighton, wherein I dipped my feet in the (much colder than in Hawaii) ocean and we strolled along the pier, sampled sinfully indulgent Thai food, poked through a museum where I found a chair that I will one day own, browsed (ok, shopped) in quirky little shops, played board games in a pub, and generally decided that Brighton is much more than what meets the average tourist's eye (though the touristy stuff was fun as well). There are no pictures, sadly, because my dad managed to drown my camera on our dolphin excursion and Nathan was lazy about using his ;)
Other than that, I'm looking forward to heading back to Canada in 22 days. Spending a few hours with friends during my layover in Ottawa was amazing but also made me really homesick for the first time since I moved here. I'll be spending a week in Ottawa followed by two weeks at the best camp in the universe followed by four more weeks in Ottawa and then topped off by a weekend near Boston (for a dance event). Then home. Yes, London is home.
Once I get back, I have no idea what the next year will have in store for me. But I didn't know what to expect when I first arrived, either. If there's one certainty I can cling to, it's that it won't be boring.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
My life is rough, I tell ya
As we speak, I am lounging on a deck chair, listening to the roar of the Pacific Ocean. I never want to leave.
Yesterday, we took a boat out to the sandbar, which is essentially a beach in the middle of the ocean. People set up chairs, tents, and even barbeques... right in the water.
Today, we headed out to Coconut (Gilligan's) Island.
Famous for its place in the opening credits of Gilligan's Island, it is now a research facility owned by the University of Hawaii. We got to learn all about its history and a little about their current research. I met some sharks, conspicuous sea cucumbers, feather duster worms, a baracuda, and a very friendly puffer fish who followed us around.
This afternoon, we headed over to Honolulu to go parasailing.
This isn't us, but it could have been. I'm regretting not bringing my camera up for the ride. I was going to, but then chickened out... worrying that I might drop it in the ocean. But the ride is fairly gentle and I could have held on to it, no problem. Oh well. I'll know for next time!
Tomorrow, we're getting up at the crack of dawn to drive to the other side of the island for our dolphin/sea turtle adventure. Can't wait!
Have I mentioned that I never want to leave?
Yesterday, we took a boat out to the sandbar, which is essentially a beach in the middle of the ocean. People set up chairs, tents, and even barbeques... right in the water.
Today, we headed out to Coconut (Gilligan's) Island.
Famous for its place in the opening credits of Gilligan's Island, it is now a research facility owned by the University of Hawaii. We got to learn all about its history and a little about their current research. I met some sharks, conspicuous sea cucumbers, feather duster worms, a baracuda, and a very friendly puffer fish who followed us around.
This afternoon, we headed over to Honolulu to go parasailing.
This isn't us, but it could have been. I'm regretting not bringing my camera up for the ride. I was going to, but then chickened out... worrying that I might drop it in the ocean. But the ride is fairly gentle and I could have held on to it, no problem. Oh well. I'll know for next time!
Tomorrow, we're getting up at the crack of dawn to drive to the other side of the island for our dolphin/sea turtle adventure. Can't wait!
Have I mentioned that I never want to leave?
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