Tina Brescanu's Blog, page 4
August 8, 2014
Why do you write a book review?
Writing reviews can bring a new dimension to your reading, but do you write a review of every book you've enjoyed or just the one's you've loved or hated?
Do you dare to be different?
Conformity keeps things ticking along. Non-conformity brings innovation. I thrive on always finding the opposite of normal. How strong is your need for uniqueness?
August 7, 2014
Music is an emotional release
I prefer to work in silence when writing, but blast music when I'm cooking. I love folk music with a difference, Värttinä from northern Karelia in eastern Finland is one of the best ethno world music bands in the world, I don't understand a word they are singing, my Finnish is almost gone from lack of use, but I can feel every word, and that's how I understand the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlSPnk...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlSPnk...
The best job in the world
9 yo daughter: "You have the best job in the world!"
"Do I?"
"Yes, being my mum, you're so lucky."
I am indeed.
"Do I?"
"Yes, being my mum, you're so lucky."
I am indeed.
August 5, 2014
What language (s) do you speak and why?
I grew up speaking my mother's second language, Swedish, her first language is as dying as the Irish language, Karelian Finnish. My children are growing up speaking my second language, English. My lover has two native languages, Moldovan and Russian, but he speaks his third with our children.
"I don't care what language you speak as long as you talk to me like you love me," said my clever then 7 year old daughter, now 9. Our children don't speak our native languages, a smidgen perhaps and that's OK, it's their choice. My son is learning Japanese off youtube and my daughter has invented her own language. Perfect. Language is for communication, not for show off. I also believe in letting dying languages die, or at least not be force taught. I met a Finnish seaman many years ago, he only spoke Finnish but had travelled the world and made friends everywhere. To me, that's more impressive than speaking 3+ languages fluently.
"I don't care what language you speak as long as you talk to me like you love me," said my clever then 7 year old daughter, now 9. Our children don't speak our native languages, a smidgen perhaps and that's OK, it's their choice. My son is learning Japanese off youtube and my daughter has invented her own language. Perfect. Language is for communication, not for show off. I also believe in letting dying languages die, or at least not be force taught. I met a Finnish seaman many years ago, he only spoke Finnish but had travelled the world and made friends everywhere. To me, that's more impressive than speaking 3+ languages fluently.
August 4, 2014
Why are we so ignorant about poverty?
Poverty is not a crime or a character flaw. Disgrace those who let people struggle to live when change is possible. Everyone should have a guaranteed minimum income, a citizen wage.
I prefer change to traditions
I have had nearly everything one can imagine to be Swedish questioned since I came to Ireland, I've always taken it with a laugh.
Someone recently said to me they think Ikea is crap, was it a personal insult, was it a defamation of Sweden? NO, it was a personal opinion and I think in a democracy we are still entitled to them, supported or not.
If Ikea was a religion, and it is to some people, I would be offended if it weren't questioned and ridiculed, it should be part of the package.
Thanks to Ireland I have questioned my culture, and discarded what doesn't serve me, I think this is a huge bonus, one of the biggest of being an immigrant, it's an internal spring clean, there's so much guck in culture, so much is done automatically, without thinking. I can see the integration journey in much the same way as stages of grieving, perhaps that's why I figured out later in life that I'm poly, pan and oh so sick of traditions, I had to leave Sweden to see who I really was and now, if I can change anything I will if I can do anything differently, I will. What's your take on culture and change or do you prefer tradition?
Someone recently said to me they think Ikea is crap, was it a personal insult, was it a defamation of Sweden? NO, it was a personal opinion and I think in a democracy we are still entitled to them, supported or not.
If Ikea was a religion, and it is to some people, I would be offended if it weren't questioned and ridiculed, it should be part of the package.
Thanks to Ireland I have questioned my culture, and discarded what doesn't serve me, I think this is a huge bonus, one of the biggest of being an immigrant, it's an internal spring clean, there's so much guck in culture, so much is done automatically, without thinking. I can see the integration journey in much the same way as stages of grieving, perhaps that's why I figured out later in life that I'm poly, pan and oh so sick of traditions, I had to leave Sweden to see who I really was and now, if I can change anything I will if I can do anything differently, I will. What's your take on culture and change or do you prefer tradition?
Early Birds vs Night Owls
New research, some people are night owls and some people are early birds, both are creative, both have their own time, both can be weird and live outside the norm, but none is better than the other.
Authentic diversity is a cultural asset
Diversity has become a social and political philosophy and the excessive devotion to ethnicity is divisive rather than uniting.
Superficial diversity, like extreme cultural sensitivity and excessive division according to ethnicity is creating an unseen, growing upset, not just among ethnic natives, but among newcomers too, as there is such a vastness of ethnicities and naturally the minorities might not necessarily be who we think they are.
Authentic diversity is a cultural asset and the best way to treat a newcomer is like one of us.
Superficial diversity, like extreme cultural sensitivity and excessive division according to ethnicity is creating an unseen, growing upset, not just among ethnic natives, but among newcomers too, as there is such a vastness of ethnicities and naturally the minorities might not necessarily be who we think they are.
Authentic diversity is a cultural asset and the best way to treat a newcomer is like one of us.
What is love?
I grew up thinking love was something manipulative, something that could be controlled, but just like other cultural teachings it was wrong. What were you taught about love that you later found out to be wrong?
I learnt very early that love is a force you can’t force, I have even fallen in love with people I didn’t like. Love is completely unselfish, you want to just give, give and give when love hits you like lightning. Love is free, love can’t be turned on as a reward or off as a punishment. Love is unlimited and also limitless, you can love as many as you love and more. Love is impersonal. Love is never more or less, love is love. Love is both a choice and a surrender. Love doesn’t follow man-made codes or societal customs. You don’t deserve love, you are love. Love doesn’t die, love changes form.
I learnt very early that love is a force you can’t force, I have even fallen in love with people I didn’t like. Love is completely unselfish, you want to just give, give and give when love hits you like lightning. Love is free, love can’t be turned on as a reward or off as a punishment. Love is unlimited and also limitless, you can love as many as you love and more. Love is impersonal. Love is never more or less, love is love. Love is both a choice and a surrender. Love doesn’t follow man-made codes or societal customs. You don’t deserve love, you are love. Love doesn’t die, love changes form.
