S(kype)-Mas

Christmas is different these days. With a growing family living on different continents, distances get too far to cross to please everybody at the same time. Impossible, even if time differences are ticking in our favor.

The last time I spent the holidays with my family in Germany was in 2007. Selina was a year and a half and memorized, to everybody’s surprise, which wrapped gift belonged to whom.

In 2008, I joined the family gift giving remotely from an internet cafe in Vientiane, Laos.

The following year marked a very special exchange of American and German Christmas traditions facilitate through Skype. From the US we watched Selina sing songs and recite poems to “Santa Claus” who sat in my sister’s living room. Unimaginable in the US where Santa Claus (and Santa Mouse) climb through the chimney into the house before Christmas morning, leaving gifts and footprints, and taking cookies in exchange!

This year, the Skype chat on December 24^th has already become a tradition among the extended family. Selina sings English songs to (an amazed) Santa who now gets a special seat in front of the Skype camera. He even smiles and waves to us halfway across the world. Samira, my younger niece, observes Santa from a distance. She somehow doesn’t trust the guy in red with the big white beard.

After he left the family unwrapped the gifts that had traveled to them all the way from the Philippines.

A picture or life stream surely does not make up for a big hug, a personal exchange of gifts, or the smell of ginger bread. It is emotional nevertheless. And while I wipe away my tears I’m grateful for modern technology!

Washington, D.C.

Welcome to Washington D.C., The Fortress! If it wasn’t for cars (instead of horses) and security guards (instead of knights) equipped with the latest technology (instead of suits of armor), I’d believe we’ve entered the medieval ages.

Instead of hard woods and stones, we use concrete blocks and movable metal spikes to block off building entrances and drive ways these days. Metal detectors, surveillance cameras, and big guns complete the list of visible security measures welcoming visitors to the Capitol Building.

Security is tighter here than on any airport we passed in the past four days getting from the Philippines to the US. It was only at the Capitol Building that I had to part from my body splash, wisely (so I thought) bought in a plastic bottle instead of a glass container. It didn’t matter. I had to throw it out along with the banana I had sneaked out from the breakfast buffet at our downtown hotel. While I was assisted to the garbage facility just outside the entrance area, Glenn had to proceed inside, separating the suspect couple.

Inside we took a tour and learned a lot about the history not only of the Capitol building itself but of America as a nation, and its political power structure. As with various museums and historic places in Washington, D.C. entrance is free of charge!

That is, if you get in. For the third time getting on top of the Washington Memorial was off my limits “due to heavy winds”. Agreed, the wind was blowing hard, even flipping my camera lens cap out of my hands (which was followed by a funny chase around the memorial to bring it to a halt!). I’d given my cold fingers to go up there! The weather was perfect and I so wished to get a great view over The Mall from up there. Well, maybe next time...

Mr. Lincoln is far more accommodating and inviting. His door is always open. Although it is quite a walk all the way to the end of The Mall. Definitely worth the while though. What a charismatic man he must have been! I can only imagine how his height (he was huge, considering his times), his progressive thinking, and his whole personality must have impressed the people. If you climb into the lap of the Lincoln Memorial, take your time to read some of his persuasive and history-altering speeches!

It’s hard to get close to the current President. The street in front of the White House was blocked off, so was half of the open area opposite. Five years ago I took pictures of protesters right in front of the White House! I guess times have changed for good.

Refreshingly open and completely unexpected was the Christmas market we ran into a few blocks from the Ford's Theater, where Lincoln was assassinated. All my fatigue was blown away in an instant in the face of little tents selling various arts and crafts, and food. A brilliant Dixie band entertained the whole place! Great! The only thing missing was some good hot Gluehwein...

Inspiration

I met Jessica in Cambodia five years ago. A journalist by profession and in between assignments she was working in Phnom Penh for the Knight Foundation. Today, Jessica works for National Public Radio (NRP) out of Washington D.C.

Jessica is an exceptional woman. Her professional and personal life has impressed, inspired, and assured me in many ways.

One inspirational brainchild is this blog. It was one year ago when during my last visit to the US we shared stories. Jessica encouraged me to share my experiences online and this is what I started doing a few months later.

I’m grateful for this long-distance friendship and the opportunity to meet for dinner once a year!

New York City

I love New York. It’s not because of Alicia Keys’ praise for the “concrete jungle”, and neither through its audio-visual promotion through “Sex and the City”.

My love for the City is not just a fling. It grew over the years. During my days as an AuPair I'd go to NYC all by myself. Armed with my camera I’d spend the whole day chasing pavements and photo opts.

I walked the Brooklyn Bridge and conquered the Empire State Building. I climbed the Top of the Rock, admired the Flat Iron, and relaxed in Central Park. I went shopping in China Town, saw H&M’s first grand opening at Fifth Ave., and watched the ball drop to welcome the Y2K. I enjoyed a bird’s eye view of the New York skyline from the top of the World Trade Center one year before the towers fell.

My eyes were glued to the TV during the 9/11 events. Watching from Germany I saw the smoldering scar in my Lover's face. Five years later, I went back there. Ground Zero was a big empty spot in the heart of the City whose mood had changed.

Last year, arriving at Grand Central Station, the prominent American flag hanging from the station’s picturesque ceiling demonstrated Americans’ unchanged trust in the Nation. I felt the heightened patriotism in the face of a lingering threat that keeps on creeping from an invisible source since 9/11.

This year I explored the City with Glenn. We arrived from the south via PATH train and got off at World Trade Center station. The wounds are not just healing. They are being cosmetically removed. The World Trade Center Memorial taking shape!

Passing the massive construction site, we walked to Pier 17. We sipped our coffees in the morning sun overlooking the East River and admiring Brooklyn Bridge. What an architectural piece of art!

At 10AM sharp, we fell in line (along with hundreds of price conscious people) to get our hands on half-priced Broadway tickets. At 60$ a ticket is considered a bargain deal. The money was well invested and we had the best time watching “Rock of Ages” later that night. It was my first time to see a Broadway show! Surely not the last time!

It was Glenn’s first and my third time to see the “Bodies Exhibit”. Granted, the idea of looking at dead people does seem a bit creepy. However, the exhibit is nothing even close to a morgue. Professor von Hagens managed to display the human body and its parts and pieces in such an esthetic and interesting manner that walking the exhibit becomes an educational tour into human physique, nature, and health. I highly recommend catching a glimpse of it!