Chapter 3: 100 posts English blog

This week has been one of the most entertaining in while. We left on last Saturday so we'll start on Sunday. A general warning, this is a long entry which seems appropriate since this is the entry number 100 :) thank you to all of you who have been part of it so far!

Chapter 2: First week of class

First week of class. Well it was not exactly classes. It was a week of orientation “inductions”, explaining how the system works, the spaces, and what is expected of us and in between all we made presentations about our projects and backgrounds to get to know each other better.

Chapter 1: New beggining

  

New city, new people, new country, new places to get lost. To me, moving feels almost like a routine. Done some many times I already know what to expect, what are the priorities upon landing. Every country is different, is true, but immigrating is always the same. You are left with the same feelings. Now the biggest difference is the closeness to home, to be able to say “I will come get this later”, to be able to say, “call me when you can cause” we are on the same time zone, to be able to watch the news as they air… One of the things I like best is to wake up in the morning and drink my tea while I watch the sun come through the windows and on my backyard.

London is not a city that I have never seen before but I have never visit it in depth. It fascinates its architecture, the trains that run over and underground. The parks so green and quiet. There is so many people everywhere but fortunately no one desires to be touched and so you can walk easily between crowds. 

On the first day I decided to go to the university too see what world was expecting me. I took the train at my quiet station Bounds Green and I got down at King’s Cross. I have to explain that this station communicates all the trains coming from London airports, Europe and England besides almost all the underground lines. That means there is a huge crowd over and underground and everyone walks with purpose because what matters is to get to the destination fast. I simply cruised through the crowd because I didn’t had any idea where I was going. It turns out I was just going up a ramp, is not even a street. The university is a big square building with some windows. Modern architecture, full of modern struggling artists… was I going to fit? Turns out you can actually talk to this people as I discovered when I was trying to get through enrolment, so maybe is not going to be as bad…

This artsy world is new to me and so is difficult to get in when you don’t know many people. And so, I have spent the first week trying to open a bank account, get my Student ID, a phone, an oyster card (transportation) and figuring out my CV to get a job. Someone suggested I might have luck if I go to the theatres and let them know that I have experience and I am willing to work and so I am trying that too.

In general is been a good normal first week but now I am left hungry for more.

Chapter 23: 5 'till places

Another time to the theater. This time behind the black curtains masking the gears that make theater happen. For the first time, I have to press more than one button; running on stage with lights, remove one take another, bring the haze ...

Who thought that backstage light would be as bright as seen on stage

Having completed the design of "The Learned Ladies" (images) I embarked on the last theater project at the university: "Into the Woods," a work so famous that even Disney has made a  film. With actors that I have already work with, designers that had become friends, and one of the best stage managers in school and well renound director. My job? Basically make sure that the lighting design, made on paper, became a reality. In this case also, there were a lot more than just hanging lights. The creative part was reduced to almost nothing taking over with all my technical knowledge. It was a nice change.

For good (or bad) during my design I had to take over many of the functions of the Master Electrician. There were some mistakes done that helped me prevent from doing them as Master Electrician on the secon show. In that case I also put lights on stage and create the fog and some special effects. Very entertaining and a great experience for the future!

All this experience has helped me to better prepare myself as a designer, programmer and Master Electrician. Working in all those roles just before gradating just reinforce the idea that this is what I wan tto do. It was an amazing experience that I want to continue for some time. Now there are only two more shows, then strike and go home.

Visit my website to see more pictures of my designs and my experience: www.fredbp.com

   

Sailing

Sailing in the bay.

It was her birthday and I was looking for ideas online. Just a month ago we had Christmas, first time I understod how difficult it had been for the people around me having my birthday only 20 days after the three wise man.

I always thought that activities is a good gift; as my father who took my mother boating on her saint day, I found an offer to sail the bay. Sailing? At sunset? Perfect!

I bought two tickets and here are the results:

Feel the wind, waves, sun ... the smell of the sea, the wind speed, the rhythm of the waves, the reflection of the sun setting. Get lost in the inmensity, wind taking the noise away, be able to sing in the wind and nobody hears. Only you sliding on ocean at the pace that the wind sets you towards anywhere. "Where to Grandpa?" "Where there’s a captain ..." "No sailor rules .... but where should we go?" "Where would you like to go? Aren’t you the one on the helm?" Memories so many years ... Born to live in the sea, the ocean looks so different, aggressive and powerful, suitable for this coast, culture, as the Mediterranean does for us.

As we returned at night was windy and wet, both my hands were frozen but it was so worth it. We went to eat at a pizza place in Sausalito and by chance they were shoing Formula 1 on TV. She asked why I liked it so much. I had never thought about it but I guess I liked the strategy, speed, engineering, but mostly I liked to spend Sundays watching it with the family, especially with my father.

   

  

Baseball

Baseball:

2 leagues, 14 teams, more than 100 games ...

For the first time I went to see a baseball game when the season began. It is a very simple sport complicated by rules of the federation with little physical contact or resistance. Demands for strong arms and legs for both speed and strength for batters and pitchers. As I got near the ticket pitch my first experience was quite impressive.

It is customary in this country to make a party in the parking lot before the game. Families and friends come to the stadium hours before the game with their huge truks full of beer and meat to barbecue. Tends, music speakers, chairs and barbecues everywhere. Fans create their own party making me understand the origins of "pre-game". Well eaten and drunk, fans enter the stadium pass 6pm. Our seats are 10 rows from the field, no more than 7 meters from the benches; awesome. Before the game, and while the audience tries to find their seats, as in any other game, the fun begins in the stands. It continues between each inning. Mean while the screens show games and raffles to keep us all entertained

In the first Athletics (A's) game they won by 8 to 0 and the second by 12 to 0. Since then  my friends fans of the A's I consider "Our lucky charm" as if the presence of my freezing ass in the stadiumand my applause changed the team efforts and luck. But the truth is that seeing a  team win, always leaves you wanting more so I want the A’s to make it to the playoffs so I can have the full experience.

Marry Christmas and Happy 2013