Everyday Life in D.C. #4 (Part 2 of 3)

Picking up where we left off yesterday:  What is Susan doing at the YMCA? 

Susan is a volunteer adult literacy teacher at the Washington Literacy Center, which is located in the 12th Street YMCA.      

Susan comes from a family of teachers. Her grandfather was school superintendent in Stark County, Ohio, near Canton.  Susan's parents were teachers.  Her mother Phyllis was an elementary school teacher and also President of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board in North Carolina.  Her father Lee was a long-time professor at the UNC School of Dentistry.  Plus, Susan herself has taught legal writing and research, appellate advocacy and legal ethics to hundreds of law students throughout her long career.  So, it is only natural that Susan selected teaching as one of her volunteer activities.

Susan selected teaching literacy to adults because she loves reading and writing, and she likes seeing a student's eyes light up when he/she catches on.  So many options are closed off to people who can't read or write in this society.  Teaching literacy skills is a way to help people improve their lives and achieve their personal goals.

The Washington Literacy Center welcomed Susan with open arms.  The Center's funding is at risk and there were no Summer classes when Susan arrived, despite a long waiting list of eager adult students.  So, Susan quickly trained herself in teaching literacy to adults who read English at the 3rd-5th grade levels and started teaching.  The classes meet twice weekly for 2.5 hours per day. 

Susan with one of her books

A classroom at the Washington Literacy Center

The experience has been rewarding.  The students are eager and they like homework.   Susan has noticed improvement during the weeks she has been teaching, and will continue teaching for the remainder of our time here in D.C.

Next Up:  More about the Y.M.C.A.

P.S.  So, now you know what Susan doing at the Y.M.C.A.--teaching, not trying out for the Village People.

If, however, Susan were in the Village People, which Village Person would she be?

The Village People

If you don't know the music of the Village People, you can click here to listen to their most famous song, Y.M.C.A., performed by a flash mob of wild Italians in Milan.  

Everyday Life in D.C. #4 (Part 1 of 3)

We are often asked: "What do you do with all your time?"

Our initial reaction is "what time?", since our daily life is busy.  Even though we are retired and every day is Saturday, our everyday life in D.C. is filled with all sorts of activities.

When we first arrived in D.C. in December last year, our typical activities revolved around being tourists--exploring all the museums and monuments that D.C. has to offer.  Our initial experience in NYC and Florence was similarly touristy.  

As Year 3 in D.C. has progressed, our daily lives have gradually shifted from us being tourists to us living locally.  For example, we visit museums less often and spend more time doing volunteer activities and socializing with long-time and new friends.  Years 1 and 2 shifted in a similar way.  

You might have noticed the gradual change in our blog posts.  Instead of frequent posts about visiting the National Gallery of Art, lately you might have noticed more posts about dining out and other activities with friends and more posts about local entertainment and sports.

About two months ago, Susan started a new volunteer activity.  Here's a hint:  The activity occurs at the historic Y.M.C.A.  

Next Up:  What is Susan doing at the Y.M.C.A.?  (Hint:  She is NOT trying out for a part in the Village People.)

Music in D.C.: Millennium Stage--Opera and Gaiteros

The Millennium Stage showcases a wide variety of musical artists--from classical opera to Colombian folk music.  We recently attended performances featuring both genres.  Check it out.

Classical Opera:  Each Summer, American University and the Kennedy Center's Washington National Opera co-host a training program for talented young opera singers from around the world.  Greg called it Opera Summer Camp.  The singers are high school aged and must audition for admission to the program.  

We event hearing the students sing.  The students in the program performed solos, duets and ensembles. Their performances were strong.  You can hear for yourself by clicking here.  Below are photos of some of the opera singers.

Colombian Folk Music:  On another night, we attended a performance featuring a troupe of performers from Colombia, Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto.  The troupe appeared in folkloric costume and played traditional percussion and wind instruments.  A gaitero is a piper, a musician playing a long wooden flute.

A lead vocalist sang stories in Spanish while the musicians played lively music.  Halfway through the performance an accordionist joined the group, which added melody and personality to the music.  

The troupe included two costumed dancers who whirled up and down the aisles.  Plus, the audience included many attendees from Colombia who joined the dancing.  A good time was had.  

Dancing in the aisles

To sample the performance, click here.

Thanks for joining us at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage.

Public Art #3

Around the corner from our building, we spotted the sculpture pictured below. 

The artwork is located at the entrance to "Heart House", the headquarters of the American College of Cardiology.

The sculpture is a fine work--an allegory depicting how physicians (cardiologists in particular) help many people live long, healthy lives.  

What is interesting is the name of the 1979 work, Man Helping Man.  We suppose use of the word "man" is benignly intended to refer to everyone, men and women alike.  If the work were created and named today, we would hope that the name would be more inclusive.  Perhaps something like Doctors Saving Lives.  Or possibly, in honor of Shark Week, Get Out of the Water, a Shark is Coming!.

P.S.  By the way, in case you were wondering, 80% of cardiologists in the U.S. are men.  What's up with that?  Perhaps the name of the sculpture is sadly appropriate after all.  We can do better.      

Preparing for Year 4 of the 10 Year Plan

Year 3 here in D.C. has been wonderful--full of friends, adventures and rewarding experiences.  

Even though Year 3 is still in full swing (four months left), we have started thinking about Year 4 in Paris.

So, Susan signed herself and Greg up for French language lessons.  Here in D.C., many different places offer French language instruction.  One of the best is Alliance Française.

Susan already speaks French because she studied it in school and lived in France for a year during college. So, her placement test indicated she should take courses at the 500 level--the top level.  The class she selected is called Actualités (or News) and involves reading current news stories in French and then discussing them during class where only French is spoken.  At the last class, Susan read and spoke about the great French chef Joël Robuchon who died recently.  Robuchon's life is noteworthy because his restaurants earned more Michelin stars than any other chef.  Oh la la!  

Greg's French skills are not as good as Susan's.  He knows about French fries, but that's about it.  So, Greg was placed in the beginners' class and is learning quickly.  After just one month, most of the class is conducted in French, with very little English spoken.  With luck, by the time Greg arrives in Paris to begin Year 4, Greg will be able to say "Je voudrais des pommes frites, s'il vous plait."  (I would like some French fries, please.)

The Alliance Française school (pictured below) is located in a large townhouse in D.C.'s Kalorama neighborhood.  

Une hottie inconnu (some random hottie) on the steps of Alliance Francaise

If you read too much U.S. political news, then you know that the Kalorama neighborhood is the home of the Obama's and Kushner's, not to mention some other well-heeled folks (like Uncle Jeff).   In fact, the former President's house is just two blocks away from the school and very well-guarded.  

P.S.  If you have trouble counting in French, like Greg does, then click here.

A Story

Here in D.C., we religiously attend a church in Georgetown, Grace Episcopal Church.

Each week, during the prayers of the people, the names of the sick and departed are read during the service.

On a recent Sunday, a congregant read the list of names and hesitated on the name Puppy.  We guessed Puppy was a nickname for someone.  

After the service, we spoke with the reader Chris, who is a friend.  It turns out that Chris hesitated when reading the name Puppy because he knows the backstory.  While on vacation a week earlier, Chris and his family visited Philadelphia.  Chris's 11 year old daughter "Elizabeth" accidentally left behind in the hotel room her favorite stuffed animal, a dog named Puppy. It was a very sad event for young "Elizabeth."  So, at church the following Sunday, "Elizabeth" herself added Puppy to the prayer list, unbeknownst to Chris.

Chris shared the story and added that Puppy has been replaced with a new stuffed animal. "Elizabeth" is still sad because the new doggie just doesn't have the same smell as the well-worn Puppy. Of course, Puppy will always be remembered.  

We hope Puppy has found a happy new home.

Music in D.C.: Millennium Stage--Danças Ocultas

Whenever we attend a performance at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, we are usually unsure what we will see and hear.  The Millennium Stage features artists that are not well known.  The artists hail from around the U.S. and the world and they perform all sorts of music.  We have seen musical performances as diverse as D.C. funk and classical opera.  A recent visit to the Millennium Stage proves the point.

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During June, the Kennedy Center recently celebrated the Month of Portugal with a concert on the Millennium Stage featuring a quartet of concertina players from (you guessed it) Portugal.  

What is a concertina?  Here is a photo.

The quartet is called Danças Ocultas and the performers travel the world sharing their extraordinary style of music.  

Danças Ocultas performing on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage

The four members of Danças Ocultas 

The music, although very hard to describe, was enjoyable.  The music is experimental and seems to be a unique blend of ambient music, with its focus on tone and atmosphere, and traditional European accordion music.  You can decide for yourself by listening to some of the performance (click here).  Enjoy.

P.S. If you want to learn more about the quartet, here is some information.