This is a 'pick and mix' entry - the name is a shout out to my brother and our joy at being allowed to go to the pick and mix candy section in Woolworths, in London!!! Do you remember?????
Well, the idea of actually moving to LA is becoming more and more "real" and actually exciting and positive. Astounding how attitude (acceptance on my part, public declaration of the move, practical steps etc) can change perspective to such an extent.
On another note, the weather was fabulous this weekend and I organised a picnic in the park (Parc Royal)to take advantage of a rare, Belgian sunny Sunday! It was lovely - we played badminton, ate yummy foods and drank chilled white and rose wine. It was also a bit odd at moments with some underlining bitchiness from one of my friends. I think I may have to call her on it -- her comments to me and to two other friends have increased in their ferociousness.
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Anyway, the picnic was lovely because of the general good mood of the others, the weather and the food. We had an interesting discussion on Belgian colonialism as the park, the whole downtown, the city in fact, are all products of the richness of the Congo. Reading King Leopold's Ghost has just highlighted and detailed some of the horrors of Belgian colonialism. My general understanding of Belgian colonialism, was that while it was indeed brutal, it was a complicated love affair and that the paternalism (and meddling) of the past continues today but in a more positive manner and through development aid (and this is said in contrast to the Brits washing their hands of us 'hindus' and moving out as quickly as possible once they'd carved up the sub-continent). But, the actual level of brutality and interference by the Belgians in the Congo is astounding - the practice of chopping of hands, that we see done today by the crazy rebels - was introduced by the Belgian landlords.
Actually, even today, educated Belgians speak of the Congolese as if they are wild children. This easy "othering" by Euros is something I will never get used to and which really makes my skin crawl. At a dinner the other night, someone at the table started speaking about their trip to the South of Italy in such a manner that it really reminded me of Mann's exoticisation of the Italians in "Death in Venice". I'm am full of generalisations - don't get me wrong - I understand the need to generalise and I don't mind the funny stories on culture, but I don't like the stereotyping whereby we paint a group as "less than civilised" or "savage" - whether this is in reference to their work habits (lazy), their sexual appetites and rates of reproduction (like rabbits) or their level of cleanliness/living standards (crowded, no taste, smelly etc). The best quote was this person saying "the town square [in a part of Sicily] was decorated so kitschy and tastelessly, just like India, though I've never been to India". Oh, I see...hah, and this of course coming from a person who loves to travel to 'exotic locations' and shop till she drops - somehow this 'uncivilised' aspect - low prices and haggling with vendors - is totally tolerable!
On another, another note - I made my long term, mid term and short term goals' list last week. And I feel more at peace! This is also the summer of movement and changes and so it seems right that I am also in a process of flux:
1. Weddings: half my world will be married by September 2007 with a crazy rush around this September! oh vey - it is an epidemic!
2. Babies - people are suddenly popping them out!
3. Moving away from Brussels: 2 Quebecois and 2 Brits - heading home of their very own accord. I'll miss this departing lot a lot - two of them are my closest buddies in Brussels and my Quebecois pal, like a sister!!!
4. New loves and new jobs: the singles are all hooking up in earnest and then finding that they have job offers they can't refuse all the way across the world. The universe loves to play such games!
Last note: The WORLD CUP is on - the bars are full of boys (and some girls) with eyes on the tv screen - their shouts of glee or despair can be heard every evening. The excitement builds, tomorrow is Italy vs Ghana and my Italian pals are all going to watch at Place Luxembourg. I'll probably tag along though I tend to support the underdog, in this case Ghana. Reminds me of my very first boyfriend...sigh...Kofi!
I hope we see an unexpected winner this year and a revolution on the playing field - maybe a new Pele - we need a little hope. I'm going to try and post an interesting article by Kofin Annan (not my old bf!) on the the global aspects of the World Cup and its resemblence to the UN etc.
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