Prahran

Ishi

Yesterday on our way home, I told the driver to drop me off on our street outside the Post Office. The Post Office is probably about a 100m distance to the end of our driveway. We’ve got a new driver and as I was climbing out, he said to me “You better watch your back, Sophie.” This kind of startled me! This has been my neighbourhood for over four months now, and I feel like I know it pretty well. Like instead of walking on the footpath, where I get hassled by beggars and street children who won’t let go of your arm, I walk in close to all of the shops which have a driveway running along them. Although I have to dodge more vehicles, I keep away from the unsavouries. So when he said to me to “watch my back”, I felt kind of alarmed! “What? Why? Is there something dangerous going on in this area?” He just smiled and drove off. It was creepy! Like this ominous thing was about to happen to me…like in the movies when they’re all like “watch yourself” then take off wheels spinning, and you’re left on a dark street with no street lamps and a shady vehicle approaches…or something. Anyway, it turned out that he was just saying it as a throw away comment – kind of like the way Mum would sing “stranger danger!” at us as kids, before we set off to walk to school in the mornings. She didn’t mean a strange was literally going to come and kidnap us every time, just more of a “if it ever happens then be aware” kind of thing. Turns out telling me to watch my back yesterday merely meant “you’re a ferangi walking on the streets of Ethiopia, so be sensible.” Which is fine, we do this anyway. Every time we walk some where we clutch our pockets, we don’t flash our cash or iPhones around…we’re sensible. That’s all he was trying to say. I must have looked like a right know as I darted home, head looking spastically in all directions, clutching my stuff to my chest with white knuckles.

Sometimes I kind of feel like Scarlet Johanssen in the movie “Lost in Translation”. (Except less hot). You know, she’s cooped up in the Hotel room, the boyfriend or husband or whoever he is has gone away and she’s in a country where they don’t speak her language and everywhere you go it’s difficult to get around and do things, so you don’t necessarily feel like diving in head first, every second of the day. Some weeks I do spend a lot of time on my own, when Tim’s in the field. Sometimes I just don’t have the energy to get in the car and be driven around the fumy city (everyone here insists on driving with their windows open), getting stinging eyes and a scratchy throat and black snot. Sometimes it’s nice to sit a read a book on the lawn. But when you tell the drivers “I don’t want to go anywhere”, they all get kind of startled and concerned. Sitting at home all day is a sign of depression, it makes you crazy if you don’t have a television (which we don’t), and simply not wanting to go anywhere just doesn’t register. It’s like they think I’m saying “I never want to go anywhere, ever again”! Is this lost in translation or lost in the culture? Either way, their way of life doesn’t translate to mine, some of the time!

A few weeks ago, I told Genet, our cleaner to take the following day off to rest. She did, it was a Thursday. But then last week on Thursday she didn’t show up. I assumed she was sick because one of our Guards was and didn’t think too much of it. Then this week on Thursday she didn’t show up again. Turns out she thought I meant “take every Thursday off to rest.” When you give someone a rest day here, they don’t think of it as that one day in one week. They think THAT ONE DAY is a rest day from now on. So when I say “take a rest day on Thursday”, it means that the day “Thursday” is a rest day…forever…!

Often you will be approached by local guys on the street. They will come up and make conversation and then they will invite you to a café or their home for “some playing” or “to play”. Mostly this happens in the smaller towns outside of Addis, where the people don’t see as many ferangis as they do in Addis. I was shocked when this happened! I mean, I know some guys can be sleazes, but this was happening on every street, every corner, sometimes even in cafes when I was eating a meal! Turns out that the verb “to play” is the same as the verb “to chat, speak, spin a yarn…etc” in Amharic. These poor guys were only inviting me to come and chill out and have a good old chin wag. Too bad for them I turned in the opposite direction every time one of them asked me!

One Sunday Tim and I went on a day trip to Debre Libanos. Addis is quiet on Sundays as it’s a rest day; the markets shut down and everything’s much quieter, less traffic etc. Because Addis is roughly 50-50 Orthodox-Muslim (at least according to the most recent estimates I’ve heard), Friday afternoons are also restful. In Dubai the weekend is Friday and Saturday so I guess to compensate or facilitate the Muslim population in Addis, lots of places close early on Fridays. Anyway, I diagress. Sundays are boring, so we went to Debre Libanos. Just before you arrive, there is this magnificent viewing platform jutting out off the side of the road and it looks waaay down into the valley and down and up the valley. (Great for those happy snaps that you want to post on Facebook to prove to your facecreep “friends” how adventurous and how much of a cool dude seasoned traveller you are). Because the view is so awesome, ferangis always stop there and as a result, hoards and hoards of kids selling crafts hang out there waiting for the next car/van/bus load of foreigners to pull up, so they can sell them their crap. (It’s probably actually really nice stuff, but I can’t handle the mobbing long enough to even look at something let alone contemplate buying it). One kid, a younger one came bounding up to us with a stack of colourful woven baskets and trinkets, yelling “You! You! You! No basket! No basket! NO BASKET!!” Tim and I looked at each other and roared with laughter. Poor little dude didn’t know what he was saying. My guess is he just copied something a ferangi said to him one time, remembered it and now he yells it back at them.

Finally, there’s the issue of “ishi”.” And I think this has to be every foreigner’s nightmare in this country! We translate “ishi” as “ok, alright.” But really, it’s just an acknowledgement of what you said. Not proper acknowledgement, though. It’s not an agreement or a nod to show you are understood. But ferengis interpret it as “Ok, got that”. It’s more of an “uh huh”. But the kind of “uh huh” where you say it even if you don’t know what’s going on. So you’ll say to a waiter: “I’ll take a coke and a burger and a side of fries.” “Ishi.” That means they’ve got the order, right? Haha, wrong! So you sit there for a while and nothing comes, so you will ask what’s going on, is it coming? “ishi, ishi.” Still doesn’t come. Finally, you ask: “Where is my food?” “Ishi.” Only now, after an hour of waiting, do you come to realise that “ishi” doesn’t mean “ok”, today. Sometimes you will explain something to someone and all the while they will be standing there, nodding their heads, saying “ishi, ishi……ishi *nod, nod, nod*..ishi….” Then when you finish, you say “ok, have you got it? Did you understand? Any questions?” You are met with a reassuring smile and an: “ishi.” But a couple of hours later, after shit hits the fan, you realise that at the moment in time “ishi” was not acknowledgement, it did not infer agreement, and it was not indicative of any understanding, whatsoever. “Ishi”…every ferangi’s worst nightmare.

Then there’s the quick, sharp intake of air. So you’ll be saying something, and the Ethiopian will take in a short sharp breath of air. Loud, and obvious enough for you to hear. Haha, the first time this happened to me, I looked curiously at the person. I thought that maybe she was gasping with shock, which was surprising, as I didn’t think what I was saying was terribly shocking. But apparently this is a sign of agreement and acknowledgement. But the kind that is done and isn’t referred to again. So if you said “do you agree?”, they wouldn’t do it. But if you’re rambling on and saying a whole bunch of stuff, they might do it a couple of times, but you wouldn’t stop your sentence. It’s kind of like the whole eye-brow-raise thing, or the nod and long-blink thing, which shows understanding and agreement…it’s confusing.

Finally, there’s the way to greet someone. Traditionally, if you’re a guy, you shake the other guys hand and lean forward and touch opposite shoulders as you face each other. Females kiss females, three times, on alternating cheeks, right cheek first. Males kiss females in the same way to greet, while the female just stands there…Haha, well it seems that the Western world has had an influence on all of this, so it’s all a bit of a luck of the draw what you get done to you, really. If you’re a guy, it’s easy – you just shake and touch shoulders. Although guys will hold hands (another matter altogether), they don’t kiss. But they do kiss the girls. But if you’re a ferangi girl, a guy may greet you with a handshake only. Or he may try to touch your shoulder. So I’ve had a few awkward moments where I’ve stood there waiting for the three kisses, and he’s grabbed my limp arm and had to kind of drag my shoulder to his, while I recovered! Then once I went to kiss another girl three times but she grabbed my hand, so we were awkwardly holding hands while I kissed her. Then I aborted, but she was like “oops!” and started, so as I pulled away, she went to do the second kiss….argh! Talk about embarrassing! So anyway, it’s three kisses. But if someone happens to feel particularly friendly towards you, sometimes they’ll go in for a bonus fourth! But usually I’m pulling away after the third so I had a friend who ended up kissing the air where I had been just a second ago!

I tell you, it’s not easy being a ferangi blundering her way through Ethiopia!

Twyler will be showing art at Easter Island Festival this weekend (April 13 and 14)! That should be reason enough to go, but the festival also features an incredible, diverse lineup of local and regional acts. It’s put together and hosted by Twyler favorite the Moai Broadcast, who will play a headlining slot on Saturday night. I mean, seriously, look at that lineup. If you know local music at all you’ll know that this is a who’s who of awesome local flavor.

It’s a great way to support local music and kick off the festival season. Also, camping! And Twyler! Come out because this is going to be something special. Check out @Twyler for updates throughout the weekend. Come kick it with us!

And here’s one of the new paintings!

One of the statue in the Egyptian section kept in a glass box.

Photo taken by me at “The Hearst Museum of Anthropology.”

Art Puzzle 2: The Hearst Museum of Anthropology

On March 15^th 2012 our class headed out to go on the site for learning behind the story of each artifacts, and setting of our art puzzle two is at Hearst Museum of Anthropology along from College Avenue and Bancroft Avenue, it was after to the 1^st benefactor and to honored The “Hearst Family” to honor to his wife who loves to collect figurines and artifacts. Later, with the family’s permission as they honor the Hearst family in contributing their collection very well preserve and been taken care of. The building itself to anthropology artifacts and collection of reference books. The basement which is a museum artifacts and several mummies of human and crocodiles are laid out inside of a glass case to preserved them and kept in a room temperature are tediously monitored by the maintenance. Mostly, individuals who goes there from what I observed are mainly men and women from ages of nineteen up to thirty above mainly came from our class. At the time, it seems that we have a diverse population. Although, as we are all in line near by the cashier counter there are three ladies who are waiting area who are senior adults.

From what I have learned in our tour guide it was she was an Alumni student herself recently earned her degree as an anthropologist. As she graduated last 2007 since then been interested to learn more information mainly the artifacts in the museum and loves to share her knowledge as she talks to us like a story telling to us about it’s important factual information of each artifacts and its resemblance and why it is very important in our today’s culture. Some artifacts it is related to a prominent rituals such as like the false door as an Egyptian culture from this kind life experience, and the tour itself is like a form story telling to us. From what it struck me the most is the story of “Ishi” the last member of its Native Indian Tribe.

“Ishi” the name of ” The last member of his tribe” original member of the yahi people. During 1911 when an Anthropologist Dr. Krober brought him in the University of California in Berkeley. Ishi tries to share his survival skills in a traditional manner based on his knowledge which he inherits from his native tribe. As he willingly taught others by doing a show case way back when he still lives around the U.C. campus he did a tribal house, and lot of more of  basic necessities in order to live like in his hometown. As he tries to adapts to what is available materials in his surrounding here in our community. He showcase making his tradition items by using the available material/resources here in an urban environment. I am very impressed to all of his remarkable hand crafted items.

There are several categories and it sub-divided as it is laid out by groups in a categorize manner across each side of the room. For such like the african artifacts, roman empire, native american: the last of its kind “Ishi”all of them has its unique stories and it related to us and as our history in arts, philosophy, and culture. Each of the items are very well-organized in a closed sealed glass labeled with its information and numbered. The two item which struck me the most and I find it appreciated and to compare as to an item that I did not appreciate a lot. I love and it keep me interested was the meticulously hand-made woven basketry made by Ishi. In which, he tried to re-make those traditional items and in a traditional manner as he inherits from his cultural tribes. They practice such as like weaving fish nets, wood carving, making jewelry and basketry lot more. They are a lot of materials he uses it resemblance to its main materials inheritance from his culture. He was able to taught us and showed us to what it and how to live in a very traditional manner based on his cultural tribe. As I adored more about him and as he learns to adapt in our culture his posture in wearing his American formal suits and polished shoe ( in the picture of him featured in the museum) where as he timidly smiles..

The overall atmosphere of the museum it is very quiet, calm, lighting is very dimmed, and it has several small division subjected to those section parting out of the different artifacts from out of the many. The way it is organized based on the different categories, its artifacts composition is very well intact and tediously restored each of the artifacts very well-kept inside of the glass. Also, each of the retrieved artifacts and remains of the mummies of human and crocodile have labeled on its side. As labeled on each artifact along the upper corner left hand, there is an introduction of the item’s information wrote down to explain as their origin and its contribution to the museum. As I got the chance to talk and discussed some of my questions about the artifacts around the museum in one of the anthropology on the job working in-progress restoring its recently found vase water jar.

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• Mamo, Art Puzzle 2: Hearst Museum (hunnyoats.wordpress.com)

Ishi

Control and confidence.

In allegiance with several great bands currently hailing from Panther City, The Burning Hotels are the most ready. They are, in my mind, the closest heir to the Toadies legacy. Not in similar musical styles, but just with unparalleled drive, confidence and their demeanor of control onstage.

What I witnessed from The Burning Hotels at Lola’s Saloon was an incredibly tight, confident band solely in control of their destiny and their crowd. Playing heavily from last year’s self-titled Synaptic album of the year, The Burning Hotels tore through roughly 75 minutes worth of hits, highlighting the entirety of their recorded output. There’s a reason I go on and on about this band. They outdo themselves every time I see them. Add the minimal laser light show to the mix, this certainly didn’t feel like a small club show, but the intimacy and energy did.

Add to the bill the former Black Tie Dynasty/Daryl supergroup Mon Julien and headliners in their own right Ishi and you had a stacked bill from top to bottom. All three acts headliners on their own, bringing the house down for not just a rock show, but what was also upstart Blackbox Music’s coming out party, it was an extraordinary night all around. If this is how Blackbox Music is coming out swinging, we’re all on notice.

You know when the evening breaks down into an impromptu dance party after all festivities were over it was an undeniable success. A Whitney dance party erupted into God knows what, even a little pole dancing on the bar.

Congrats to everyone involved for a triumphant night of local music!

Click To Buy Tickets

2011 was the year Fort Worth’s The Burning Hotels put everyone on notice. 2010 saw them knocking on the door of greatness with their album Novels and a handful of blistering live shows, yet 2011 saw their self titled third release announce their full arrival – Burning Hotels topped most local “Best Of” lists as they honed their live show into a balanced juggernaut of post-punk/new wave brilliance. 2012 shows no signs of slowing them down either, their triumphant performance at Dallas’ Granada Theater last month proved that.

Packing the power of that show, reportedly 800 in attendance, into one of their home stages at Lola’s Saloon is an almost frightening prospect. With headliners in their own rights, Black Tie Dynasty/Tripping Daisy/Midlake/Daryl supergroup Mon Julien makes their Fort Worth debut along with openers(!) Dallas’s self-described “Folktronic” act Ishi this is indeed a stacked bill.

I truly believe this will be one of those “I was there” types of shows. If you do not have your tickets already get them now as you don’t want to miss this one.

See you there.

aka…. ”Written In The Stars Part II!”

Produced by iSHi, this is the first single from Eric’s forthcoming debut album.

Eric previously teamed up with Tinie on ”Written In The Stars” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgFyi74DVjc and he joined Lupe on the track “Break The Chain” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkJ2gQVSDxA from the album Lasers.

aka…. ”Written In The Stars Part II!”

Produced by iSHi, this is the first single from Eric’s forthcoming debut album.

Eric previously teamed up with Tinie on ”Written In The Stars” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgFyi74DVjc and he joined Lupe on the track “Break The Chain” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkJ2gQVSDxA from the album Lasers.

Eric Turner has finally released the video for his debut single ‘Angels & Stars’ featuring Lupe Fiasco & Tinie Tempah. Produced by iSHi the mastermind behind Tinie Tempah’s ‘Written In The Stars’ maybe this will be another hit! ENJOY!

For the past few months I’ve been seeing Ishi’s paste ups everywhere, although these two are a little smaller, you can find some double this size and with a full fledged body. For now, these should entertain y’all!

Melbourne

Ishi / Ishi Blog