I don’t agree with captivity in any way, but this is a story that touched me nonetheless: http://www.care2.com/causes/bonded-male-penguins-given-chick-to-raise.html

Then I found this “banned book” (it sounds like the term should be archaic, shouldn’t it? How backwards our society can be!) that piggy backs on the first link.  I think it’s a great book for children and all families of all sexual orientation: http://www.care2.com/causes/and-tango-makes-three-tops-list-of-banned-books.html

I haven’t done a post in a really long time, but this compelled me to share…

Have a beautiful weekend! <3

I shall be nursing my feet back to health (oh the joys of being a dancer and those lovely occupational hazards!).  I love my life    That last bit wasn’t sarcastic I swear, it’s all honest, just ironically placed.

Good Evening.  Thank you for having me here tonight – I greatly appreciate the opportunity to share with you not only a few experiences I’ve had since and because of this organization, but also humanitarian convictions and sentiments very near to heart that sustain my life’s work as well as everything I do.

Before I continue, (now that I have the opportunity to do it in person) I would like to personally thank you for providing the amazing experience of visiting the Philippines for the first time in 2007 in such a unique and authentic way.  I sincerely express my heartfelt gratitude for the experience that has served as a catalyst for so much more.

I have traveled extensively around the world – teaching and performing in over nine countries since I have last seen you, and I must say I’m happy to report that upon my first trip to the Philippines, I was finally able to really understand on a holistic level the sweet nostalgia of sounds, sights and smells of the islands many of you have called home your entire lives.  It was a beautiful place, the festivities were a wonderful time and I thank you for that.

I cannot stand here, however, without mentioning a caveat.  For I feel it would be a great disservice to you and myself if I didn’t mention this concern that in spite of the innate beauty of the culture and land of the Philippines, supersedes all I’ve discovered and learned my entire stay there.  It will continue to be at the forefront of my memories of the Philippines and much of it will haunt me for a very long time… that is, until as a community we decide to change.  And when I say community, I’m not speaking about Miagaoanons, Americans or even Filipino-Americans, as labels can only and have only divided us in the bigger picture.  As a community of people who visit another country, or as in many cases here, return to their homeland…as a community of people with good intentions… people hoping to define themselves by the contributions we make to this world… to uphold our integrity to ourselves (and consequently to each other) we must follow through on all we say and choose to do.

We must be responsible for each other, and unfortunately, I feel in the Philippines, the supposed contributions to the community I was told were happening were not seen or even common knowledge while I was there.  I had gone to the Philippines under false pretenses.  I was told we had raised money to send kids to school, help rebuild houses affected by typhoons and just give back to a community that has formed many of our families that live here today.  When I arrived in Miagao, I never heard of these things again.  I spoke to people on the street, local government officials and visited schools – no one knew what I was talking about.  My very naïve preconceived notions of a trip being spent volunteering or at the very least contributing in a concrete way, were shattered.  I feel physically visiting a country that could use so much of our genuine help and not doing much beyond attending events, on my part, was very shameful.

I spent one day in Miagao riding with the mayor (at the time) to an international medical mission screening people and giving free surgeries at a local hospital to as many people as they could during the few days they were there.  I went with a family member to pick up a neighbor whose eyes were completely blinded by cataracts.  I spoke with Canadian nurses who were crying in the halls of the hospital at the beauty of changing lives forever so quickly.  I watched doctors profusely thank the mayor for hosting them in his country.  While I was speaking to one of the women waiting for her son to be screened , the mayor told me that they’ve already seen us, we’ve made an appearance, it was enough and we had to leave.   The affects of his indifference have never left me.

The mayor’s disposition I have little to no say about, but when I continually saw Filipino-American mansions in these tiny communities where their next-door neighbors had literally nothing, when I go to these fundraisers where Americans are dressed like they’re going to a prom, with DJs, dance instructors, a huge buffet and rows of children (some without shoes) holding onto the bars that separate us from them – watching an extravagant event take place inside the bars to fundraise for their education, while they were deliberately kept out – I had to question the general Filipino-American attitude towards coming home.  A man who lived in Miagao spoke at that event about how much he disdained seeing Americans spend all this money on showing off when it could do so much more good.  I filled a plate full of fruit and walked through the bars outside to eat with the kids, but none of their parents let them speak to me.  This strong dichotomy between us and them, American and Filipino, rich and poor, among other socially-constructed barriers broke my heart.  And though I’ve always been involved with human rights, experiences like these both break and support me at the same time.

The life we witness unfold around us regardless of our location, is a human story, and that involves all of us – our hypocrisy and authenticity equally.  Since being in the Philippines, I’ve traveled a bit more and every experience I have reaffirms my belief that though we may not all choose to (because of time, fear, lack of information, what-have-you…) we all want to do good for the world and deep down have good intentions.  I’ve started a non-profit organization in honor of my late father, Josef Sarreal, providing free therapeutic arts programs to women and children around the world who have been victimized by domestic violence and/or human trafficking – which has become an increasing problem in the Philippines and South East Asia in particular.  There are more people in slavery today than there ever have been in the history of our world.  Over 27 million.  And though I know I cannot abolish modern-day slavery alone, every little bit I do to change one life at a time, or inspire one more person to action, is everything to me.

I’m just one person, and to see a room full of people who have collectively, as an organization, fed over 200 families with your Food Project, it gives me hope.  I applaud and commend that wonderful project, and I know the potential to do much more exists, but I want to challenge you to really question “who” you are as an organization and not just “what”.  We all know that this organization promotes charity to Miagao as well as a perpetuation of its rich culture, but it is in how that is accomplished that gives it its true meaning and defines “who” the organization is, not just “what”.  We do not choose where we are born, but we are where we are for a reason.  If even not a good reason, it is our responsibility to bring purpose to it.  Being Americans with the influence and power we have to make big changes in the world with little everyday actions, I do want to implore you to really consider with the myriad of resources and time and energy in this room alone, what more can be done in Miagao and in our own communities here.  Filipino-Americans seem to identify with the soil of their mother country, but until the focus leaves the idea of a connection to soil and enters the hearts and minds of the people through tangible action, we will never transcend those fictitious boundaries of us and them, which are strongly felt all throughout that beautiful country.  So I want to leave you with the challenge of using your solidarity as an organization to do more good.  There is always more to do.  And if somehow you find a way to better bridge the painful gaps still seen and felt between Filipino-Americans and their countrymen, you will have all my support.

Thank you.

Oh yeah, it’s in Spanish, but I know you know what it says. I use the Portuguese word “banho” for shower instead of the Spanish “ducha,” because well, it means something completely different in Portuguese, and I REALLY didn’t want him to think that word was the same in Spanish, hahaha!  Needless to say, Portuguese is Felipe’s first language…sometimes words are lost in translation when I write in Spanish, but there’s no way I would be able to email so quickly in Portuguese.  My Portuguese is still mierda… but I’m working on it!

I edited out parts that have nothing to do with my funny story -yes, also with your convenience in mind.  But honestly this is done (as Coach used to always tell me) to keep private conversations private and public conversations public.  Speaking of Coach, I’m going to see him Thursday!  Yay! =D  I love our Coach!  Okay, back to the story…

Here it is!

subject: !!

Felipe!!! Jajajajajaa!  Tengo un cuento para ti!  =p

Estuve en el banho, y me olvide que no haya mas champu =\  Y! no pude salir para comprar mas porque ya yo estaba alla en la agua….
Entonces!
Que hizo, la protaganista (yo) de esta historia??

Jajajaaa!  No diga nadie, pero ya yo estaba muuuy tarde para comenzar mi dia, y por eso…
Yo usaba la unica cosa que yo tenia a dentro el bano…

EL CHAMPU DE BELLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aaaaahahahahaa!

Aye, Felipe!  Las cosas que hago para estar al trabajo en punto!

Ok, solo estoy aqui a decirte que mi cabello es limpio, pero…tu sabes!  Jajajaa

Me voy comprar champu! =\

xoxo
=*

<3 La Bailarina y La Cachorrita (senorita bella)

How beautiful it is!

But!

I was researching the Amtrak (never taken it before) and while reminiscing my lovely experiences on trains in Thailand, India and through Europe I started leaning towards the Amtrak.  Problem is, Bella is not a service dog.  She’d need a fancy vest to get on that.  I REEEEALLY want to take the train, but I really want to take my dog, too!  I’ve always wanted to take a hiking trip with my doggie!  Then I thought, can my dog handle the drive?  I know we’ll be making stops, and she’s taken long drives before, and quite accustomed to being in unfamiliar places on a regular basis, but the whole hiking and starving thing doesn’t work out with a dog who needs meds and a special diet in the morning, you know?

Who knows, knowing me I’ll just say fuck it, drop the dog in the car with me and give it a shot.  Worst case scenario, we turn back and go home…with a lovely scenic drive of California!

My car needs to go to the shop before we leave.  The brake light went on.  I was fighting the urge to say “brake light thing” haha.  It’s amazing how when a word becomes a prefix to “thing” at the end, our words sound, well, you fill in the blank

Any way, it’s Labor Day and I’m still in my pjs and fuzzy socks (why is it so cold in early September?! It’s still summer!).  Walking the dog a little late, but I’m allowed – it’s Monday! =p  I’m working today, so I thought at the very least I’d give myself a few hours of lounging with America in honor of Labor Day.  According to Felipe, Brazilians are doing it too – tomorrow is Brazilian Independence Day so they have Monday off too.

I spent the morning (which started at 6:30am) watching Democracy Now online.  Really enjoyed Michael Moore’s interview and his candid comments on the path he has chosen.  His talk about getting fired on Labor Day made me giggle, the rest I found interesting and uplifting for the most part.  There’s something very warm and sincere about his talk, and that is what is so endearing about it.  I hope he keeps fighting the good fight! =)

With that said, me voy!  I’m going on a technology detox pretty soon, so I’ll be offline for awhile (a week?).  Maybe call Tait – I have a feeling I may end up in Monterey!  Big Sur is beautiful…

To dog, or not to dog, the train is the question!!!!!

Our book party has OFFICIALLY been relocated to Hellada (yay!).  I love that place!  =D  Saturday, Sept 18 at 6ish.  Hope you can make it!  Details under “Events 2010″ on my site: www.DancingTehani.com   Sweet!  Very excited about it!  A couple other things to look forward to: 1) Dec 18 I’m having a book signing at Fern’s Garden on 2nd Street  2) October I’ll have my books at the presentation I’m doing on traditional dance as cultural identity and social dissent for SBIFA (sweet!).  Really looking forward to the presentation itself, too!

Other book stuff coming up, but you know me, I don’t talk about things until they can stand on their own and have been confirmed, you know?  It’s one of the manifestation rules I stick with.  Which reminds me, as a Reiki Master I should probably schedule more workshops soon… Hmm…

Moving along…

Also, about my book, I am very touched and grateful that a sweet friend of mine had told me (without telling me, really) that the purpose of my book has been achieved.  The writing in the book, supplemented with photography,  as stated in my introduction, was an effort to reach people at the ground level of human experience – our emotions, our experiences, the worlds we all carry…  I wanted to create the book I’ve always wanted to read.  A book that really connected me with the author – a book that told me I wasn’t alone in my convictions and idealism… a book that brought me catharsis when I couldn’t extract it from myself.  A book about the soul.  A book about art and love, our common humanity, Mother Earth.  Obviously, given my interests, this is a Tehani book, but I have read other books (which you can imagine have become my favorites) that have unearthed pieces of myself I have long buried, suppressed or both.  These books were healing and therapeutic.  Well, this friend of mine is going through a tough time, and he says he goes to my book for comfort.  Going through a tough experience, in his words, he says my book is “the real shit”.  Take it for what it is, it was one of the highest compliments I’ve ever been given!  Yes, real shit, that made me happy.  It told me I was able to extract an authentic truth from my experience and reach out to someone beyond the page.  That meant a lot to me.  Like the books I love, I want to connect with others.

Sure, I could educate people about other more “worldly” things, spoon-feed information, spread some bull dogma about our existence…but that would be in-genuine.  I want to encourage people to find their own personal truths, their own paths, their own lives!  Nothing sticks if it isn’t a conscious, personal choice anyway.  And if we want to talk real-life, nothing external has lasting or permanent effects if the transformation is not made within.  Simple enough, no?  Simplicity is so difficult in a complicated world.  May I one day live with the simplicity of my father’s wisdom.  I believe the most profound wisdom is simple.  All great genius philosophies and approaches to life (disclaimer: in my opinion and experience!) can be boiled down to simple truth.  The truth is simple.  It’s when we complicate it with our worldly bull-kaka that our worlds become complicated, stuck, mundane and stagnant… And as I’ve written in this book, “we only find true death in stagnation”.  Movement is the way!  Movement is my Lila!! <3

Lila is one of my favorite pieces.  I read it to remind myself of things I know I know, but too :::fill in the blank here::: to listen to the core of my being.  The book helps me.  Being the writer, I can go back to my own truth and remind myself of my journey when I stagger or stumble on the road (dancers ARE after all, some of the clumsiest people in the universe!) hahaha.  We need reminders sometimes, and seeing my dad’s photography while reading truths  -many which have been inspired by being in his presence and around his energy- brings me back to a place of grounding, peace and bliss.  Good times!

Well, I can go on on this Mind-Wander forever, but I’d like to share a glimpse of my book (I wish I could share the photography on here too, but as I am unable and unwilling to figure out how to do that on a blog, I suppose you’ll have to buy it for that, love).  Here is one of my favorites.  It’s titled “Lila”.  Plus it’s light and airy, nothing heavy so you can leave with levity instead of some of the heavy deep stuff to carry on to wherever you’re journeying next in “cyberspace” bum bum bum!  Hahaha =p

I’ll add the Spanish translation under too (feel free to let me know if my translation is off – necesito mejorar mi espanol!)

**I femininized (did I just make up a word?) juego which means game, to juega because I wanted emphasize Lila being a playful feminine energy… I know juega probably isn’t correct, but it just felt wrong calling it Lila: El Juego Divino, you know?  And “play” itself takes on many different forms in the English version, as there are varying definitions of the word in English… I know a phucked (thanks Greg for cleaning up my profanity! haha) up the Spanish at least a little bit with the varying definitions of “play,” but I tried… and the English version can take on different meanings, so it was challenging for me – but a fun challenge nonetheless

Bueno, so as I said earlier, let me know if there’s something funky in my translation – anything helps!  My Spanish needs a tune-up sometimes (more often than not)!

Enjoy!

————————-

[the copy-paste won't allow the spaces between stanzas -- sorry guys!]

Lila (from SARREAL VISIONS: Reflections & Journeys)

Lila: The Divine Play –

A play that leaves us running

Through sprinklers on a summer day.

A play in which our dialogue

And memorization have gone astray.

A Divine Chaos that keeps us

Childlike in every single way.

That is Lila.

For to play is to abandon,

And to abandon is to trust

In the song of life around us

That says to live we must

Have the courage to accept

The mystery that is in all

And in everything that we know,

For to fly is also to fall.

Leap backward into the unknown.

Embrace and meet the child within:

A fearless youth that’s always known

The flight of creative elation.

Limiting the great mystery

By explaining it all away

Is to give parameters to infinite

That holds a much better way.

Just play.

Have faith in spontaneity alone.

Lila never disappoints a companion.

When we see anew in every moment,

Artistic abandon is fueled with passion.

The cycle of play is continuous.

Each thought becomes the first and the last.

Samsara spins, Spider eats her web,

Shiva dances, Phoenix glows from ashes past.

Live with Lila in your life.

It is to honor the highest You –

A play of love unconditional,

For God is synonymous with love too.

——-

Lila

Lila: La Juega Divina

La juega que nos deja corriendo

Por las rociaderas en dias veranos.

La obra en que nuestro dialogo

Y memorizacion se han extraviado

El Caos Divino que nos mantiene

Juvenil en cada manera.

Esa es Lila.

Por jugar es abandonar,

Y abandoner es confiazar

En la cancion de la vida alrededor

Que dice: a vivir, debemos

Tener el valor para aceptar

El misterio que esta en todo

Y en todo que sabemos,

Por volar es caer tambien.

Salta atras en el desconocido.

Embraza y conozca el nino adentro:

Un joven audaz que siempre sabia

El vuelo de regocijarse creativo.

A limitar el misterio grande

De explicando que todo se vaya

Es a dar limites para Infinidad

Que tiene caminos muchos mejores.

Solo juega.

Tenga confianza en espontaneidad solamente.

Nunca Lila decepciona un companero.

Cuando vemos de nuevo en cada momento,

Abandono artistico esta alimentado con pasion.

El ciclo de la juega es continuoso.

Cada pensamiento va estar el primero y el ultimo.

Samsara hace girar, Arana come su telarana,

Shiva baila, Fenix lumina de las cenizas del pasado.

Viva con Lila en su vida.

Es para honrar el Usted exitoso –

Un juega del amor incondicional ,

Por Dios es sinonimo con amor tambien.

I had made the mistake of taking the actions of a classic over-confident to incredibly self-conscious passive-aggressive guy personally.  I love my work and therefore work with a growing fervor for passion as my work affects others just as much as myself.  It’s a positive feedback, and something I source a great sense of purpose from.  Anyone who speaks to me for more than a minute understands my dedication and life path.  Now, when a guy calls and texts me all day incessantly while I’m trying to use my phone for work (planning on calling him once things calm down), it can push me…

Push me til I snap a bit.

Just because a guy is well-known or successful or whatever you want to label him, doesn’t exempt him from being overbearing if he is being just so.  It was a bit much.  I’m not with this guy, and he kept checking up on me.   It felt claustrophobic.

He is endearing in many ways, but he is so guarded it’s difficult to get to that space of transparency.  The facade of over-confidence, always being a tell tale of insecurity was gut-wrenching for me to see.  I saw much more SINCERITY in this guy than I believe he sees in himself.  Everything out of his mouth is a statement of self-justification, when it was enough for me to see actions.  He tried to hard to prove himself to himself.  I work with a lot of people like him, the only difference is, he thinks he’s perfect…

We all have things we wrestle with and have desafios that always arrive for a reason (otherwise they wouldn’t be challenges, now would they?) but his self-righteousness was extreeeeeme.  I found it a bit sickening.

I know that’s not who he is deep down (none of us are), but that’s something he must discover for himself I suppose.

I am not without fault.  I will be the first to admit my hot buttons, short fuses and lack of patience in very particular areas.  But I ADMIT IT, and allow everyone else to be weighed on an equal scale… no one more special or horrible than the next.  And as I have written before, the ubiquitous of this uniqueness does not dilute its grandeur.  Oh no, just this opposite as it cultivates more of that energy

I saw a lot more in him that what I’ve been shown, but then again, that’s how flings usually work right?  You get fragments, pieces and then those pieces move on to reconstruct themselves in other ways in front of other people.  Do you ever really get the whole picture with anyone?  Perhaps not.  But transparency shows a willingness to be shown in the light.  There’s a hurt or a bruise in him.  I feel like there’s something he’s protecting with his guardedness.  But I choose my own battles, and it’s time to put energy into something that will allow that energy to be (meaning free to influence, absorb, share, or not at all).  I had no room to be myself.  I was too busy being attacked.

I feel I was too harsh on that poor guy… but given I won’t be speaking with him again, I let it all hang out.  Right or wrong in its delivery, the truth which is everything got out there.  There was something about that guy that drew me in.  Unfortunately that something was a minority in his being, and the inferiority-complex-like majority pushed me away.  Oh well.  Moving on.

On a lighter note!

Doing the Children’s Hospital with Sasha tomorrow.  Given she used to be a patient there and now returning to volunteer really is a beautiful thing.  Jerry is sweet enough to make an appearance too, so I’m quite happy.  Merielle, well, I cut her off the roster.  Punctuality and responsibility to our words are prime.  I know she’s young, but better to learn the consequences through me than later on in life, you know?  She’ll learn.

I’ve been quite tough on others lately – including myself.  I think this altercation with what’s-his-face has hardened me a bit.  Today I thanked God for “intard” Greg hahahahaa.  Oh he makes me laugh!  Acupuncture helped too, but feel there’s still a bit more road to walk before we’re off therapy – but I’m up for it!  I don’t feel like me lately.  This has really stressed me out.  Plus, I realize the growing negativity in some areas of my life.  One of my best friends is increasingly indifferent to his own life path and pessimistic of those around him.  I love him, but he’s been dragging me down.

Let me rephrase that: I’ve been dragging myself down with him as no one takes you down without your permission.

Madre.

I was doing so well!  Another thing is I haven’t heard from Felipe in a long time.  He feeds my soul.  He’s my kindred spirit!  If there’s one person who reminds me of the path and who I choose to be, it’s Felipe.  I just sent him something in the mail – I hope it gets there!  His last letter never made it here.  In his words Afffff!  Hahahaha

I hope I can shake this “altercation” off.  What frustrates me most about it is that he simply doesn’t get it.  Perhaps I don’t either — I’m usually more patient than this.

I suppose when you have a physical relationship with someone it skews the minds path a bit.

I really saw more in him than what he showed me.

Tomorrow will be a better day.

It has to be.

I hate venting, but better here than letting it out through unhealthy channels.

I have to keep reminding myself that we fall away from the center to not only remember but STRENGTHEN our capacity to return to what we truly are.  Love, light, joy, purpose, peace… Yes, peace.

I love you! <3 T

PS: It’s been awhile since I’ve done it but I threw pasta on the ceiling to see if it would stick and therefore be “al dente” and yes, as it did back in the day, it got stuck up there.  It felt good to do one of those childhood food tests again!  There’s pasta on my ceiling now — Tehani has definitely finally settled into her new place!  =p

GREAT NEWS!  Sarreal Visions: Reflections and Journeys is officially up on Amazon.com!  Yay! =D   So it’s available.  It’s quite funny – I went online the other day and Googled my name just for kicks, and found that my book is available in India!  En serio!  Cool beans   

Speaking of Google, if you are a user of the internet (and reading this is indicative that you are) PLEEEEASE visit this very important site: www.savetheinternet.com   I’m seriously considering canceling my gmail account if Google doesn’t get their sh!t together.  <– Am I allowed to curse on this thing??  Hmm.

Book Release Party coming up on August 29th!  Yay! =D  Great times!  Please check my site under “Events” for more details www.dancingtehani.com 

Such a beautiful day outside!  It’s time to get back to work! 

Love you!

<3 T

NEW ZEALAND
The first stop on my trip was absolutely beautiful and equally (yes) cold!  Well, I didn´t know what cold was back then (now that I´m in Europe) but it was cold nonetheless.  I stayed with Servas members in Tokoroa who work with “Forest and Bird,” a conservation program on the North Island, and spent lots of time in the the forest (what they call “bush” but that name doesn´t make me happy).  Then I headed out to Rotorua where I made lots of wonderful friends.  I interviewed Maori guides at Te Puia (and had more than my share of beer with them afterwards) and met Ngamoni (who everyone calls Munch), an elder who is also a channel.  She is a judge for a lot of the Maori dance competitions and between my newfound friends and great location, I got a lot of information about the cross-cultural link between movement and spirituality (what I came to learn) within Maori culture.  I stayed with Tui for a while too, her family runs Mitaki, and I got to watch some awesome shows for free and eat yummy yummy Maori food!  Oh yeah, I got a tattoo out there too… it is purrty.  Then I headed out to Auckland to hangout for a day before my flight out.  Auckland kinda sucks.

THAILAND
Thailand is an interesting place.  I spent time out in Bangkok and taught a workshop at the rumPUREE world dance studio.  Good times.  I also took two classes in classical Thai dance and, yes, my fingers survived!  Visited the wats along the river, went to the Silom Festival, watched some “movers” in Lumphini park (where I saw the strangest animal I´ve ever seen in the water!  I´ll show pictures when I get back) and met up with my cousin who I don´t wish to speak about.  Long story short, I ended up at 5 police stations in the middle of the night and was on my way to the embassy when I find her crying at the hotel hours later.  She could have texted me back to let me know she was alive.  As Dad used to say, how many hours do you have to wait to file a missing persons report? (inside joke, sorry).  On Dad´s death anniversary, I spent the day at the aquarium then waited in Hualamphong to see if I could get a train to Chiang Mai (success!).  The train up to Chiang Mai is wonderful.  It´s open-aired and the sleepers are super comfortable.  Then I went up to Chiang Mai where I had a GOOD Thai massage (the one in Bangkok was traumatizing – I told the woman I knew she was Thai but that wasn´t Thai massage and walked out) where I met Khun Nappasorn, who I hope to take a holistic healing class with when I return to do a fire show up North in Pai.  I also went to the OSCC One Stop Crisis Center for victims of domestic violence and hooked up with the Women´s Center at Chiang Mai University where we set up potential workshops next year with my foundation and I saw a graduation out there.  I met some Spaniards at my hostel who were studying Muy Thai and they took me out for beers and matches.   Great times.  There was a blindfolded match that was pure comedy.  I´m going to miss the random elephants in the road and the street food at the night markets (I met a Brazilian who got me addicted to banana pancakes at 3am and I kept going back long after he left).  And, then… I left for India.

INDIA
India really is as colorful as a Bollywood movie.  I flew from Mumbai into Cochin where I taught poi to the owners of the homestay for free lunches and rides to places.  There was a great 3 day festival there celebrating the local arts center.  I spent a lot of time listening to sitar and tabla concerts, watching Keralan martial arts and Kathakali performances.  I spent time with the director there who told me about their struggle to stay afloat.  Even with the Lonely Planet acknowledging them as an authentic educational center, they at times continue to perform for 2-3 people during low season.  They are open 365 days a year (366 on leap year haha) and do it for the love of the art.  Their center was burned down by the government and that festival was a testament to not only their beauty but also their resilience.  I got a great interview for my article with them.  Saw the fishing nets, toured the backwaters, met a place called Rose Garden… I spent every night in Cochin teaching cheap magic tricks in exchange for free beer.  And yes, it didn´t take me long to start swapping some belly dance for bollywood dance moves at 1am haha.  From there I went to the Amritapuri ashram where I received a hug from Ammachi, the hugging saint of India.  She is a beautiful person, but some of the devotees were way too aggressive for me.  It felt like a strict spiritual commune, but I did a full 24 hours and escaped to Varkala.  Varkala was beautiful, then I moved on to Trivandrum where I met Santhosh, a friend of a friend, who was kind enough to show me around for a couple days.  I hooked up with a traditional dance studio where I had an awesome dance exchange!  I had a lot of fun hanging out with those girls and thank them for their patience with my million questions!  Then it was off to Tamil Nadu (three buses and a train later) to see Sundar!!  The highlight of my trip was meeting my little boy.  Palayankottai has really made an impact on me.  I hung out in Sundar´s village with his parents and family, went to his school (where I taught dance again, and little girls performed with me), hung out with the local women´s group and a few Sri Lankan refugess who I now call true friends and got to know the CFCA staff on a more personal level.  Great times!  I was escorted by a trio of hilarious buddies to the airport who took me to Cape (Ghandi´s memorial where three seas meet), introduced me to fortune telling birds and got lost 5 times on the way to the airport.  India is such a beautiful place!  I have so many stories, but again, this is the Cliff Notes version

TURKEY
I don´t have too much to say about Turkey because I spent most of it being sick… I try not to think about it much, but Istanbul was a good experience overall (I got to see snowfall in Taksim while watching dervishes and a local blues band with one of the artsy guys there – something new – the snow and the dervishes that is…) and Cappadoccia was beautiful!  I got to ride motorcycles up crazy canyons, explore underground cities in caves that pre-date Christ (things Dad and I always wanted to do together) and yes, drink lots and lots of Turkish tea.  I must have had seven to nine cups a day there…there is much to be said about Turkish hospitality.  Then I spent Valentine´s Day with my favorite dead poet: Rumi <3  and also with a great guy named Osman who was sweet enough to deal with my throwing up…down the stairs, in an ash tray at the gas station, in a bag, while they were taking my blood.  I threw up a lot on V-Day and it was very sweet of my translator to stick with me throughout the whole hospital experience when he could have been wining and dining someone else and not holding my puke bag (yuck!).  The doctor said I couldn´t fly and I had to wait a couple days and change my flight.  I spent those days throwing up, watching undecipherable Turkish news/cartoons and hearing the wonderful AAAALLLLLLAAAAAH AAAAA!!! from the mosque across the street four times a night.  Yeah… Any way, I escaped and went off to Belgium.

BELGIUM
Belgium was great times!  I hung out with my now “Eskimo Mommy” (haha, sorry Ella) and it just felt really great to see a familiar face, have home cooked meals and hear great music again.  I didn´t bring an iPod or anything like that (I don´t own one) so it was nice to hear great stuff.  There was good music everywhere I went, but there´s just something special about hearing something from your own playlist after months of not getting a note of them, you know?  She took care of me – with my being sick and cold and everything.  Thanks Ella, you´re the best!  And yes, Belgian fries are great!  I wish that place in the Pike was still open…

FRANCE ??
I got stuck in France.  I made it on time for my first two connections, but by my third, my train was 25 minutes late and I missed the only train to Madrid.  So I was in Pontiers for a night (compliments of the train station – since it was their fault).  I contemplated visiting Ben and Ana (new buddies, different countries) who were both in Paris at the time, but because I was some days behind I talked my way into a change of ticket for free and went straight to Madrid from Pontiers.

17 hours of trains and waits later…. SPAIN

And here I am =)  A few more countries to go, but I have a feeling this is my one and only update.  I think I´ll try to take a boat to Morrocco in a few days from Sevilla.

There´s a lot more to say about each place but I have to pee and I wanted to just give you guys an update and let you know I am alive and well and miss you dearly.  Someone give my doggie a big hug and a little scratch for me =)  I hope this email finds you all in good health and high spirits and look forward to catching up with all of you when I get back home to have my “moving party”!  Anyone want to help me move my things out of storage?  Haha, and oh yeah… find a place to live!  Oh!  I almost forgot – I´m receiving the proofs for my first book via email and it´s going to be a beautiful project!  I´ll be having a book release party for both me and my dad in March/early April.  Details soon!  Laugh more often and be great!

Love,
T =)

–
Jennifer Tehani Sarreal
562.230.9194
P.O. Box 15653  Long Beach, CA 90815
DancingTehani@peacemail.com
www.DancingTehani.com