CLAZY CHRISTMAS in LONDON!!!

well well well....

I didn't know how important “Christmas" is until I spent my first Christmas in Europe this time!!lol It was crazy, but I enjoyed it very much!!

First, I wanted to make a surprise for my friends. So, I went to their house to post Christmas cards secretly as It was too late to use post office. but then I realized there was no post outside!! So, I had to get into the entrance. However I accidentally broke the vase which was made of glass!! I felt so awful that I went to someone's house in the evening of Christmas eve and just broke glass. Of course, they were very surprised. but It wasn't the way I wanted to do....orz

And then, I took a train to get to my another friend’s house. The tube was empty as the people left to their home to spend the Christmas eve with their family. So, there were only a few people who were drunk or very quiet people.
It was ok at first, but the man sitting in front of me suddenly started screaming and taking off his cloth. He wanted to show his important part of his body. I wanted to call police, but there is no mobile’s signal in the tube in London. So, I concentrated to think about other thing instead of focusing the crazy man.

I was already very late. So, once I got off the train, I ran and ran. And then, I noticed I was running to the opposite way from my friend's house. So, I returned to the station and I started running again. 

Finally, I was able to meet my friends. But then I noticed that I forgot to bring the meal I cooked for them in my kitchen...orz However I had a lovely Christmas eve dinner with them. We talked our secret and did bingo!

I checked the last train by using app in my mobile. But It was wrong and I missed the last train. Surprisingly, All the transportation&shops close on Christmas in London. No tube and no bus!! I had to walk to my home more than one hour. It was already around 1am.

As I wrote before, there were less people than usual on streets as people were staying at their house with family. But luckily I met 2 persons on the streets and became friends and walked together for while. The one girl was from China and the other woman was from US. What a coincidence, both of them were studying "Art".

It was dark and cold. But we laughed to find out that we all missed last bus&trains on Christmas eve, met each other on the streets who were also trying to walk more than one hour and who is also studying "Art" in London. Although It was really scary to walk through Camden town around 2am(drunk&drug) after I said goodbye to them, I think I enjoyed my long journey to home.

And today, I was finally allowed to open the Christmas present from my friend. It was the book of Peter Rabbit!!!
I was so surprised and impressed by this gift. Because that's the book which have brought me to England now!!! My mother was addicted to Peter Rabbit, she loved all the works of Beatrix Potter. It made her to visit UK to visit Peter rabbit's house with her family(I was around 9years old) in the end. That was the starting point of me to get interested in this country. I don't know the exactly reason why he choose this book for my Christmas present. But it will be my treasure.

I could go somewhere by walk even if transportation were closed today. But as I had a headache, I've stayed home and kept watching my favorite movie "Tim Burton's night mere before Christmas" for many times at empty house.

Now, I really feel like "I LOVE Christmas"!!!!

Merry Christmas from PoPo!!

“Art in Conflict: Syria" in London

For me, I feel Syria is very very far away country.
Language, food, fashion, religion and society...I can't imagine what is like. It might be completely different culture from Japan, Politically I don't really understand what is going on there.

However while I was doing my internship in Japan for UNHCR this summer, I've got a chance to know a little bit about the situation in syria by translating articles into Japanese, editing the movie of refugee camp and writing for web. I was quite surprised to know that so many people(more than 3milion people) are in danger. I’ve seen some news on TV, but It wasn’t in the “Top”news in Japan(I’m not sure about now).  And the most surprising truth I found was that the many of refugees were spending similar life like us before. Although they have a different culture and different lifestyle, they used to work in the office, they used to go to school, they used to go shopping and laugh with their friends&family...like us. I didn't notice this until I tried to understand this issue.

 

What a coincidence, I become a friend who is involved in supporting Syrian refugees in London by chance. Tonight, he invited me to the event is called “Art in Conflict: Syria" fundraising event for Syrian refugee. It was organized by “Art in Conflict”(new initiative) and the money goes to the organization is called “Hand in Hand”(according to my friends it’s the biggest supporting organization for Syria in UK), and it was held in The Frontline Club at paddington. There were presentation by Syrian artists and VICE news uk. We saw some pictures and filming. Especially I enjoyed the talk of Esam Hamzeh. She told us about the village is called “Ma'loura"in Syria which used to be very beautiful and peaceful place. Unfortunately, it was destroyed. But by seeing her painting, I could imagine how peaceful the place were and how people liked the place.

I was in front of computer when I was writing a short article about Syrian refugee in Japan. but now, I can imagine much more realistic by seeing their art works. I thought it was amazing idea that the person who organized this event actually used “Art” for telling people what’s really going on in Syria.

On my way to home, I forgot to get off the bus and I had to get off at somewhere I don't know. So, I've got time to think and walk.

If you think about other issues, there are so many people who need help, you can’t really make a list of ranking who need help the most. It's impossible for me.

so, I'm thinking that perhaps you can just start from the area you're particular interested in or the issue you've got to know by chance.

It doesn't mean if you help A, you have to help B, C or you have to keep helping A forever. when you want, you do. That will still help someone, I guess.

※you can see some of the works of today’s artist at Victoria&Albert Museum:)

■"Disobedient Object" 26 July 2014-1 February 2015
■Article:"Culture in Defiance: Syria Speaks"