Marion Erskine's Blog, page 3

Gepla met die Maan

Ek was nog nooit een wat geglo het in waarsêery en daai dinge nie, maar ek glo wel in Wetenskap en hoe die heelal werk. 'n Ruk gelede het ek gelees van die Super Maan wat oppad is in 2011. Daar is blykbaar drie gevalle waar die maan baie naby aan die aarde sal kom. Die naaste wat dit was in 18 jaar om die waarheid te sê.  Verlede week lees ek weer van Wetenskaplikes wat waarsku dat vulkane kan bars, aardbewings kan geskied en tsoenamis dalk kan slaan in die volgende paar dae. Minder as 'n week daarna gebeur die einste ding. 


Sommige Wetenskaplikes soos Kelly Herbst meen ons het niks om oor te bekommer nie. Hierdie dinge gebeur gereeld, maar ander stem nie heeltemal saam nie. In 'n artikel twee dae voor die aarbewing in Japan noem Richard Nolle dat Super Mane verwoesting kan saai op die planeet aangesien die maan se krag 'n sterk inpak op die waters het.


Wat is julle gevoel oor die Super Maan? Dink julle dit is bloot toevallig dat daar een was voor Katrina Orkaan ? En ook rondom die tyd van die 2004 tsoenami? Of is mense net besig om aspris dinge te soek wat die oorsaak is van hierdie verwoestende weer?


Die tsoenami in Japan laat 'n boot op 'n huis se dak. Kan dit iets met die Super Maan te doen hê? Blykbaar was daar ook 'n Super Maan gedurende die Katrina Orkaan tydperk.

The Answer to World Peace

Switch on the telly and you're overwhelmed with what's going on in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Yemen and many more. For ages and ages countries bordering each other have been in feud. I'm not just talking war, but sometimes a war of words. Look at Canada and the US. What about Pakistan and India, Palestine and Israel, Taiwan and China - just to mention a few. What do we need to really have world peace? (if such a concept ever exists). I believe the answer is to travel. Traveling has opened my eyes to the world and I've learned so much about the world in this way. I was told as a young boy that the Yin-Yang is satanic, now I know it isn't. I was told all people in Asia eat cats and dogs, I certainly know that isn't true now. You get told that all Parisians are rude. Trust me, a smile in Paris can take you a long way. 


During the journeys through my last 46 countries, I've learned to challenge all those pre-set ideas I had about places and prove them myths... and so far I've done exactly that. I've made friends across races, sexes, sexualities and religions and I've learned so much about them. All you need is an open mind and the ability to see yourself in their shoes. Ask questions like "If I was oppressed for most of my childhood, why wouldn't I feel like this?" or "If my mother raised me to pray and honour this God and I don't know anything different, why would I allow others to tell me my religion is wrong and theirs is right?" How about "Sure, I'm sure every homosexual person in this world just loves getting teased and bashed while in school, why wouldn't they?"  Not. Thank God that I've gotten the heart to not be judgmental, but to actually listen and learn.






In a few days I'll be heading to country number 47:  India. I'm sure if you ask travelers why they waited to long to see places like India, one answer would echo from all sides.  "I simply wasn't ready for it yet."  India is one of the most challenging places in the world. Bursting at the seams with culture and colour, but also an environment that most people are simply not used to. If you know me well, you'll know that my stomach is more sensitive than Lindsey Lohan. If you search for 'Delhi Belly' in the dictionary, you'll probably find a picture of yours truly next to it. So, India will indeed be a challenge, but I'm ready for it. (or as ready as I'll ever be). One of my best friends here is going to take me on a true Indian dining experience in the coming weeks. I'm going to learn to eat like a proper Indian. I'm going to learn how to scoop the food with my hand only. While I'm there I have one rule, 'No Cutlery'. I'm going to do it like the locals do.  So, I'm very excited about this and I'll keep you posted on my Indian table manners in all good time.
This goes against everything I was ever taught as a boy. This is not my culure, but I'm prepared to give it a go.

Facebook has got this really good application lately. It's called "My Friend Map" and by using it, you'll get a map like the one beneath, showing you where all your friends are from. Now the World Map, makes me as excited as a tennis ball makes the Williams sisters. When I look at all these dots, they remind me of the people who came across my life and blessed me with their knowledge and who were keen to show me how things are done in their countries. I've learned so much from Puerto Ricans, Sri Lankans, Taiwanese. Aussies, Tunisians and from all over. To all of you who have impacted my life and taught me that we're not that different at all, I thank you. Most of you have been great ambassadors of your countries. Now if we can only get the whole world to travel more, we should have some World Peace by 2040. I'm sure of it.  ;)


My Friends Map created by the Facebook application.

It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a crazy guy flying from the Burj Khalifa

Back in 2008 while they were building the (current) tallest building on earth, two men decided to sneak in and jump off it. In those days the Burj Khalifa was still known as the Burj Dubai.  Have a look at this incredible video. You'll also see a bit more of the country I currently reside in. Remind yourself that pre-1990, there was almost nothing there. Incredible to think what has happened here in a mere 20something years. These two actually got away with it. This is really something you have to watch.



The Burj Birdmen from Buzz Films on Vimeo.

Kan ALI modelle hulle hande opsteek?

Verlede week het ek julle ingenooi in my skoollewe. Dankie vir die kommentaar wat ek gekry het op epos en in die blog. Mens sukkel regtig om deur te dring in hierdie kultuur, maar dit voel goed om te weet jy maak darem 'n klein verskil. Die kinders geniet die kleurvolle klaskamer baie en ek het besluit dit was tyd vir stap twee: Gebruik die studente as my modelle.


Models Inc


Kinders oor die hele planeet wil graag voel hulle is belangrik, maak nie saak van watter kultuur hulle af is nie. Enige goeie woord van 'n ouer of 'n onderwyser kan 'n baie lang tyd 'n impak op daardie kind hê. Ek stap toe so kameragereed na die Graad 6-2 klas nou die dag en vra vir die onderwyser dat ek opsoek is na drie modelle wat graag op die klaskamer se muur wil wees.  Ek noem ook dat ek net 'good looking' kinders nodig het.  Voor my gaan 'n hand op. Die seun waai amper sy arm af. En hy is niemand anders as Ali nie.


Nou liewe Ali is daai seun in die skool wat geen meisie sou ooit mee wil matriekafskeid toe gaan nie. Sy Engels is goed, maar hy's glad nie baie gewild in die klas nie en hy word baie gespot oor sy voorkoms.  Ek besluit net daar en dan dat ek ou Ali se dag gaan maak.  "Yes, Ali! You're handsome. I want you on my wall!"  Ek kies toe nog 2 seuns, maar my oog vang vir Ali. Daai laaitie glimlag soos ek lanklaas 'n kind gesien glimlag het.  Ek neem hulle toe na die kantoor vir hulle 'photo shoot'. Maak sus, maak so, vertel ek hulle. Ou Ali probeer sy bes om vir Mr Marion te wys hy kan.

Ek het die fotos toe uitgedruk en vir Ali nou saam met die Idiome in die klas gesit. Toe hulle klas daar instap verlede week, toe glimlag hy weer soos 'n beer wat heuning gekry het. Sedert toe wag hy in die oggende vir my by die skoolhek om net te groet, hy kom gesels met my pouses en sy hele gesig verlig wanneer ek in die klas instap.

 
Handsome Ali, trots op die klas se muur.
Hoe min kos dit om 'n kompliment te gee vir iemand? Maar nee, ons raak so vasgevang in ons daaglikse 'rat race' dat ons skoon vergeet van mense soos Ali. Miskien pas hy goed saam met die idiome. 'Beauty is (indeed) in the eye of the beholder'. Hy is werlik 'n dierbare siel vasgevang in 'n reus se lyf. Kom ons hoop hy hou vas aan die yl gesaaide komplimente in sy lewe en verander die wêreld eendag.