"Winter" Enrichment Period

With temperatures dipping to near 70 degrees fahrenheit over the last few weeks I can honestly say it is 'winter' in the desert. I know much of my family and friends on the east coast of the US would beg to differ with my use of the word winter but this is how it is in this region of the world.

The Winter Enrichment Period on campus is the four weeks between the start of the new year and the start of the spring semester. It was meant as time for cultural or social types of classes- a 'calgon, take me away from science and engineering' month. There were language classes and history classes; music events; and international food events.

Unfortuntely, because my work schedule is such as it is this time of year, I was not able to take advantage of as many events as I had wanted. I did attend a musical performance by Simon Shaheen who plays the violin and the oud (a gourd-shaped string instrument that pre-dates the lute). A Galilee native who graduated from Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University, Shaheen became a standard-bearer of Arabic music in the past decade as leader of the Near Eastern Music Ensemble. He lectures about music so it was very interesting to learn about the foundation and rythms of arabic music compared to that in the west. He played music from his most recent album- Blue Flame- which melds Arabic, Indian, jazz, Mediterranean, North African and classical music. I highly recommend it for any of my 'adventurous' international music friends. Available on i-Tunes ;-)

I also attended a lecture called "Finding Nemo." As you all know, Nemo is a clown fish. Clownfish are native to the Red Sea. I learned all about sea anemone and how clownfish are one of the few fishes that can avoid th epoison of the anemone. I will confess that is about the depth of my attention span there. I am sure my brother John would have been more interested or perhaps could have even given the lecture.

At the start and end of WEP were big cultural fairs. The opening one had arts and crafts tents set up along the Harbor walk and the closing event this past Wednesday was a international food event and parade by the elementary school children. As you could probably guess- the 'North America' food stall was hamburgers and corn on the cob and potato salad! No hot dogs or bacon :-( This week's pictures are mostly from the closing event though there are also some of the opening. The Beacon and the Marina are the things lit that look so far away. And the Mosque at night.

Congratulations to my friends Juan and Lori who welcomed their first child this week- Michael Kenzo Alavarez. I can't wait to meet you!!