Mucha cultura :)

Recently, we've done quite a few things on the culture front here at Asia-Pacific International University (we've been forbidden to say AIU :) )...

Culture Show, 1st Semester 2009-2010

There were lots of beautiful items, of course, but here are only a few.

The Mexican girls studying here this semester put on an item, an all the rest of the Latin Americans pitched in...

Vietnamese students, with their beautiful Ao Dai costumes.

Indonesian students, Irian Jaya region dance.

Chinese male students and their tai chi, the girls and their ethnic tribal (can't remember the name) dance.

Iraqi and Iranian students (plus honorary ones)... I got dragged up on this one, but fortunately nobody took pictures of me...(or did they...hmm, possible blackmail material ;) )

Several of the groups asked (or rather dragged) people from the audience to join them on stage. Here's Daniel (of renowned tango fame), and  Paola and John Bueno, doing their best Bhangra dance with the Indian and Nepalese girls... Ok, so I got carried away with the editing...thought the little "supernovas" would cover all the general strange flailing of hands rather nicely.

Ancient "Culture"

Well, okay, maybe this isn't exactly culture with a capital C...but...
Some very gracious friends usually have me over on friday evenings. After supper, their girls often prepare Bible charades (previously featured here ), inviting the adults to join in. Well, I think this one wins the "best improvised costume" award (note the royal asparagus)...don't you?

Cultural Sabbath

The Latin American girls got together again, this time to present a special music item at Asia-Pacific International University Church: "Padre de Amor"

My many birthdays.... :)

Thanks to all my friends and colleagues who contributed to making my birthday/s a happy occasion! Friends also provided photos here and here.

Just in case you had any doubts...

I do not have perfect pitch...hehe (my neighbors could have told you that!)...but it was still fun to take this test and make my small contribution to science :).

If you think you do (or to get rid of the people who keep bugging you to sing with them), try out the

University of California Absolute Pitch Study
http://perfectpitch.ucsf.edu/

Primo Posto del Kao Yai revisited

Love the light and lines...

Striking a pose....nothing else to do but take pictures after a great gelatto and chocolate cake...

There, now you know where to turn...can't miss it....

Silliness brought on by a sugar high...

This is what happens after eating sinful chocolate desserts... :) oh bliss...

Tadaaah....

...the place where I live.

Pretty, isn't it?

Tangueros y Chinita Trucha :)

(click on photo to view large size)
MC organized an "Amazing Cultures" show. Yours truly and two other Argentineans improvised an item.
Nuestro colegio organizo una "noche cultural"...jeje... Marlise & Daniel hicieron de tangueros, luego de que yo entrara al son de "El Humahuaqueno", fuera rechazada por el "dandy Daniel", y me cayera de traste (las alpargatas de yute y el piso alfombrado no son una buea combinacion)...en fin, lo que hacemos por un cacho de cultura, por favor...tambien pusimos un powerpoint con preguntas para la audiencia (sobre Argentinos famosos y etc), y a los que acertaron, les regalamos empanadas "dorimarliseanas"...a que no adivinan con que las rellenamos!? :)

3 years old!

Gracias a los buenos amigos, el dia de "ponerse viejo" es mas divertido. Este cumple fue especial en lo culinario tambien, ya que Laura, la señora de rojo que esta parada en la segunda fila, me hizo una torta de chocolate con almendras y dulce de leche! (importado especialmente por avion por Marlise & Daniel S.R.L...jeje...gracias!)

"Getting old" day is not so bad if you have good friends to celebrate it with. This one was extra special because Chef Laura (2nd row, red t-shirt) baked me a heavenly chocolate cake with almonds and dulce de leche (argentinean thing, google it! This item was flown in specially for my b-day by Marlise & Daniel -pink shirt & white shirt with tie in this picture...thanks to all 3). Thank you Julie for organizing! Thanks Dot & Marvin! It was a great evening!

Meet Maina..

Maina is the cutie that belongs to my friends Hoang & George.

Ultima moda en patas rotas

El viernes pasado me resbale (estupidamente, sobre pavimento mojado), torci el pie, y me fracture el 5to metatarso (o algo asi) de mi pie derecho. Me cai a las 4 de la tarde, pero no me di cuenta que me lo habia quebrado hasta las 8 de la noche (re dura.... :( ) cuando el dolor se hizo evidente. Me llevaron al hospital donde me entablillaron y enderezaron sin calmantes... y asi pase la primera noche...demas esta decir que tres calmantes y un diazepam mas tarde, aun no lograba conciliar el sueño...

Hoy (dos medicos ineptos mediante...larga historia...) vi a un tercer ortopedista (o como se llame :) ) que me puso un yeso plastico color rosado fluor...digamos que no me dejo elegir el color...asi que, aca andamos...saltando en una pata...y en el mes maaaaasss caluroso de la historia...durante las vacaciones de Songkran (año nuevo tailandes en abril)...que habia pensado tomarme en Malasia (perdi el pasaje y todo....buaaaahhh)...pero no habia manera de ir a hacer snorkelling con este adefecio... se imaginan el susto que se llevarian los pescados? :)

Vista Bucolica

...desde la cima de la colina mas alta del campus, vista de los alrededores (cuando no esta lloviendo :) )

La VipDoris :)

Que niivel, no??? Jaja... En el casamiento de una de las docentes de esta medianamente alta casa de estudios, me toco sentarme en la mesa del presidente (del colegio, of course)...ah, y no les conte que fui a cenar con el embajador argentino en Tailandia?....
Bueno, en realidad tambien habia otros 40 argentinos invitados a su residencia para una festichola del 25 de mayo....asado, tartas, vinos argentinos y unos postres riquisimos!! (Yo comi las tartas y postres solamente...imaginense una argentina vegetariana en un asado argentino en Tailandia....que desubicada! :) )

Venice: Sigh...

Yours truly with the Bridge of Sighs in the background