Relationships & Change

This week was quite an interesting week.  In classes we had very interesting discussions centred on individualism and how it adversely affects American society.  In a way I realise how lucky I was to grow up in a context were community is very strong and relationships are really treasured. 

 

You know, it is quite ironic that I came here to discover how precious what I left back home is.  The people in class kept harping on how necessary it is to build such communities, which have certain values, which do not necessarily pursue maximization of profits.  These values are mostly present in Maltese society, and this makes me quite proud.  Yet, with our ever-increasing progress, life in Malta is changing too.  And from what I’m hearing here, it isn’t necessarily changing for the better.  Although better economic prosperity is a good thing, we need to make sure that in this change we do not loose our values which form the backbone of our society.  We have to avoid becoming more individualistic, we have to think about a community, a community in which we become one big family.

Listening to myself, I’m realising I’m sounding pretty much like our politicians, or church leaders.  Still, this experience here is convincing me that these words are not just clichés, and the threat to our society is a real one.  We have to embrace progress, but we have to value our identity.  We need some concrete action, and it will not be easy, especially when this means reducing our profits.

Do you think we’ll succeed in doing this? Can we bring about this change?


I do hope so!!

Some snapshots for this week

D'Amato Bakery

I discovered a D’amato Bakery in Chicago. I was told there was an Italian bakery in the area, and when I arrived it, I found out it was named in a Maltese Surname.  Mind you, apparently this surname came from Sicily.  Unfortunately it was closed, so I couldn’t check neither their bread, nor their origins.

Bellarmine

I had this wonderful opportunity of doing a sort of Lenten retreat in this wonderful place just outside Chicago.  It’s Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington.  It was nice to spend some time in the quiet and peacefulness, away from the hustle and bustle of Chicago’s City life.  Hopefully I will visit again this place in Summer, and maybe I’ll get a proper retreat then.

Tree Hole

Just outside the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art I came across this.  I liked the way the pavement was cut around the bark of the tree.  Altough I don’t know what happens when the tree trunk grows thicker.  Still it’s interesting and I wanted to share with you.

As you realise I still haven’t bought a camera, and am still using my phone camera.  I don’t have much time for shopping these days, but hopefully will get myself to buy one, soon.

And by the way, I haven’t mentioned Tina for a while, but Spring has done wonders on her.  She is two months old now.

St. Patrick's in Chicago

Hi there,

This week’s blog comes to you later than usual and in a short version, as I didn’t feel like writing a lot this week.  In the beginning of the week I got the sad news that my uncle passed away.  Being away from home, makes such circumstances more difficult, as families provide quite a strong support system.  Fortunately enough, now I’m feeling much better and yesterday I had the opportunity to enjoy St. Patricks’ day, of which I'm sharing some below. 

St. Paddy’s.

Chicago celebrates St. Patrick’s day, in quite a grand manner.  They organise a big parade, and everyone wears green.  There are parties everywhere, and its quite fun.  Yet, the most impressive thing for me is that they also dye the river green.

River dyed green for St. Patrick's Day

The river is already green, but on this day its colour changes to a more vivid green.  Apparently this is done by adding orange (rather than green).  This makes the river look very green and irish, and adds to the euphoria.  The atmosphere was quite nice, and probably the warm weather helped a lot.  Needless to say, beer is the protagonist of the feast (not much the Saint himself).  I went out to see what was going on, met some friends, and in the end we ended up in a pub, where I met some very nice new people, who liked me and gifted me with a number of souvenirs of the day. 

2 Films

I’m writing this blog while my chicken and seafood are marinating in preparation for my paella.  I tweaked the recipe so much that I doubt it can be still considered paella….  I have just also realized that the recipe says it serves six…, which means I’ve got six portions, but no one else to feed, as there’s no one here today… I’m not sure I can freeze it.

Anyway let’s put the cooking aside for a while and let me share with you my thoughts for the week.  This week I watched two movies: ‘The Social Network” and “The Iron Lady”.  Without going into the merit if these two movies are good or not, the stories are quite interesting especially because they represent personal stories which have become World history.

The thing that struck me most (maybe because I have now some more experience of the American Culture), is that both films shed lights on the difference between American culture and British culture.  And by British culture I mean Maltese and European because in a way they’re more related than I perceived they were. 

Sometime during the film, Margaret Thatcher says something on the lines: We base ourselves on our rich history whereas they (Americans) base themselves on what they can achieve (my words).  This struck me because I’ve been experiencing this for a while.  Our rich history and traditions are a blessing, but sometimes these limit our way of thinking. 

The Americans on the other hand, have this American dream, in which if you work hard you can achieve whatever you want.  It is perhaps this forward looking mentality that has given us Microsoft, Apple, Google, Facebook and so many more innovative ideas.

These were all people with a dream.  We too have plenty of dreams, but how many of us have the guts to make these dreams come true?  These people had enough faith in themselves that they could do it, and they indeed succeeded.  They dared to break boundaries; question limits which had been imposed.  They dared to be different and this brought about success.

From the Social Network I got: It’s not about seeking a job, but inventing one.  Yet again we come across the idea of not fitting any particular pre-set notion, but of being what you are to be. 

Mind you I’m not infatuated with this American way of thinking I’ve just discovered.   As much as it is successful, the American Dream renders also millions of people homeless, and strips them of their dignity, because in a world were whoever works hard, achieves whatever he needs, low achievers are surely not working enough, and this is not necessarily true.

For us that are comfortable in our lives, have plenty of opportunities, we must break free of notions which limit our thinking, and render us cynic.  We must however also think of those who through circumstances in life have not had the opportunities we had.  Opportunities are not just a matter of hard work, but also of luck.   

Needless to say, history is not to be thrown away.  It too should play a role, because sometimes ambitions blind us and through our greed we forget about anything else which makes us human.  In this process such as portrayed in both films we may be successful but end up alone, and that to me is very sad.

Sunshine & Hobz biz-zejt

The comforting warmth of the sun's rays in winter, the wind blowing gently, (and sometimes not so gently), and a sound of a tractor ploughing away.

No, I'm still writing from my apartment in Downtown Chicago, but these are the things which were pleasing my senses when I started writing this blog.  

Its also quite nostalgic because these things remind me of Spring in Malta.  The springs, in which I used to go to the fields with my father.  I loved lying on the grass, and nature did provide something for all senses.  Trust me, its a very nice feeling, and I wish you all to enjoy it. 

Some might ask what would a tractor be doing in the midst of Downtown Chicago.  In fact I don't think it is a tractor.  I don't know what it actually is, because I can't see the source of this sound, which to many is just noise.  But I don't want to discover what the source is, because probably then I would be disappointed, and that point the sound will change into noise, for me too.

Anyway, it is a very good feeling indeed to start spring break with :).

Yes, because today starts spring break - a week in which we have no classes.  Many have already left for exotic places, including the warmth of the sun, as it started snowing again,now.  I'm staying here in Chicago, andI'm planning to be a tourist this week.  Hopefully we'll have nice weather as it was this week.  Will update you on that in the coming blog!

Hobz biz-zejt 

This week it was my first time eating hobz biz-zejt since I left Malta.  For those of you who don't know what it is, it is probably the simplest and most common food in Malta.  It is Maltese bread, literally with olive oil.  Many times a tomato paste is spread over the bread, and all is sprinkled with salt and pepper.  Other stuff is usually added such as garlic, basil and so on.  It is definitely what I eat when I'm at home and want something quick and good, and its a good appetizer to serve with beer.  

So this week I found a bread which resembles our maltese bread, and a thick tomato paste which resembles our kunserva.  Sprinkled over with plenty of olive oil, pinch of salt and pepper, and let the feast begin. The taste is obviously not the same, but not too far from the original.  I should strike a deal with Magro brothers, Lol.  

Dealing with problems.

Before I end this week's blog, I want to share with you something which struck me from this week's readings.  

In communities, many times we have huge problems, which we find impossible to tackle.  After trying to deal with the problem we generally surrender.  An example of such a problem in my community would be youth involvement in decision making institutions.  Such a problem is too big to be solved, all at once.  One way to solve such a problem, would be to identify issues which form part of that larger problem.  These issues can be considered as a step towards solving that bigger problem.  Theses issues need to have three main characteristics.

1. They are specific (One issue at a time.)

2. A need for them should be felt.

3. They are winnable, i.e. you think that you can convince others and that the proposal will be accepted.

It is interesting because many times we are blinded in our panic to give solutions.  Thus what we do is mostly ineffective. Many times we deal with problems which are too big for us to solve.  A good start would be to divide this problem into the small issues, which are directly affecting the community.

An important aspect which is not to be left out, is that a need should be felt for this issue to be tackled in the community.  Many times, we as leaders come up with our own agenda, but rarely check if this agenda is the same as the one shared by the community.  Many times this is one of the reasons why  people do not participate.  We as leaders need to learn to listen more.  It is only by listening to the needs in our communities that we will be able to help it solve its problems.

Have a strong week!!