Yiddish culture

Today, I went to my Yiddish teacher's home to learn Yiddish language and songs.
She is a master student as well, but her school is not SOAS.
She studies Yiddish  literature for five years and came to London two years ago from Poland.
She is really nice and smart! She knows a lot about Yiddish songs and klezmer as well as language, novel and poem. She has many CDs and Cassette tapes of Yiddish music, so I could listen to them in her flat.
Thanks to her, I feel that learning Yiddish is fun! It is true that reading Hebrew letters is not easy,
but a dialogue in Yiddish seems to be a kind of word game!
I listened to some Yiddish songs, and I found these are accompanied by klezmer musicians, such as "Klezmatics." The lyrics of these are strongly related to the Jewish people's life (love, child, community...) So I think it is possible to understand Jewish culture by singing and playing Yiddish songs.
By the way, I plan to go to Yiddish workshop or summer school to learn Yiddish music and language.
In some countries, such workshop or class will be held. Now I have not much money, so I try to apply to a scholarship.

V&A Museum 2

V&A Museum

I attended to a  lecture on musical instruments, and I went to go to Victoria and Albert Museum to see musical minstuments. Going to museum and looking at musical instruments is very good way to collect the information on music in certain place before going to the field directly. 

However, we cannnot see any instrument now in this museum. I think this is because many rooms are closed now for the future plan... I was disappointed...but  I took pictures of something related to music. So enjoy looking theses pictures!! 

Old Spitalfields Market

I went to Spitalfields Market today with my friend. It is big and fashionable market.
There were many kinds of shops, and it was fan just to look around.
Some shops sold clothes or accessaries with unique designs.
We would like to stay there more but, this week it's too cold outside.

This market is located near Liverpool Street Station.

On every Sunday, a lot of shops open. (It opens on other days but on a smaller scale.)

 As usual, foods kept my eyes riveted. These looked really delicious. (but a little expensive...)

We had a lunch in a restaurant, Patisserie Valerie. I ordered Omelet. It was pretty large and delicious.

There are many custmers so we cannot stay there long. According to my friend, this restaurant (cafe?) is famous for cakes. I saw many wonderful-looking cakes in a showcase. I would like to eat them next time!

My friend ordered a grilled Croissan'wich. Inside the croissant, there were mashrooms and cheese. Looked great.

Japanese hip hop+

I wrote about hip hop music in Israel and other countries in one of my essays which I submitted in this week. The essay's theme was a message in Palestinian hip hop bands. When I dealt with hip hop in Palestine and the USA,all of a sudden I became curious about Japanese hip hop. I knew some rap songs in Japan, and I like them because the rhythm and sound are good. However, I've never concerned about the lyrics and messages in these songs.
I searched a rap song which has a strong message in lyricsby surfing the Internet. And I found it.
At the beginning, I thought that there must be a song related with The Japan Earthquake. So I started to search by keywords "The Japan Earthquake" and "hip hop." I could find a rap song soon.
I really recommend to hear this song "Apocalypse Now" by King Giddra. Listening to its lyrics, you can't help smiling. Actually, I am not sure about the current situation in Japan after the earthquake. I experienced the planned blackout and continuing aftershocks. But do people in Japan still feel a strong fear? I know there is the danger of a nuclear radiation. This is a long long-term problem.
Anyway, in the lyrics of this song, rappers express a fear and anger, and protest against the electric company and government.  I found rapping is a great tool to protest against the authorities because it represents people's emotion and opinion.
Also, I recommend a documentary film "Slingshop hip hop" on the Palestinian hip hop artists. I think it is difficult to watch it online, but you can buy it from its homepage. It tells us a severe situation surrounding the Palestinian within Israel, Gaza and West Bank, and rappers who wants to convey a message to tell about the situation in their homeland, and their anger, and hope.

Trip to Barcelona

In this X'mas holiday, I visited Barcelona with my husband. It was four days' trip. The morning we left London, an accident happened. It was Boxing Day, and we had to arrive at Gatwick Airport at 8:30. We planned to go there directly by train from King's cross station, but when we arrived at King's cross station, all train and underground services were closed. Bus service also seemed to be closed because we could not see a bus on the road. Looking around, we found there were some tourists who were under a same situation as us. It was around seven o'clock in the morning and still dark. A taxi driver talked to us. He asked to us where we were going to go, and he could gave us a ride for 95 pounds. He was persistent, so we thought he was a fraud. After that, we found there were a few buses, and managed to get on a bus to Victoria. At Victria Station, train services were not closed, so we  could go to the airport by the Gatwick Express.

Arrived at a airport in Barcelona, we got on an air bus, by which we could go to the centre of Barcelona, Catalonia Square.

Looking back

I didn't update this blog for a long time... This is because the essay and presentation kept me. Time flies! I found I already finished the first term. I can remember the first day arrived in Heathrow airport like it was a few weeks ago.

After a tremendous happy homestay in Swindon, I spent busy but fruitful days in London. I met a lot of people and learned many things. I don’t think my English improved, yet I think I manage to follow the lectures and conversation with friends. When I was in Japan, some friends told me ‘don’t worry, you can improve your listening and speaking soon in UK.’ I didn’t trust them since I couldn’t imagine that my listening and speaking skills improved by just living in the circumstance where people speak English. Although I’ve never thought that I am a good English speaker, I found myself to be able to understand what other people talked. I tried to listen to every single word before, but now I discovered the way to listen to English efficiently, I think. However, at times I suddenly become a poor listener, especially when someone new speak to me, or ask me a question.

My school life in London started on 26^th September.

Looking back to the past, I feel it took many days to settle into the life here. There were many things to do. It was true that there were a lot of attractions in London, such as museums, delicious restaurants, communities both inside and outside school, shops, beautiful parks and making new friends…I tried to prioritize the school things such as classes, meetings with teachers, assignments and readings. It worked well. I didn’t drop out in school. ( I wanted give up to submit one of my essay due to yesterday, because I was not satisfied my writing. Finally, I could submit it a few minutes before the deadline.)

In November, I spread my wings and challenged some new things. I went to music concerts and met a new friend. I joined in language and music circles. As I wrote before, I could find some study partners. I went to the other libraries, and now I have five library cards. I traveled with some friends to the west by train.

From the second half in November, I started a preparation for my presentation and essay. In London, university students have some assignments such as essay or exam before the X’mas holidays.