Small Talk and Other US Norms

I first thought people were cold and distant, especially when entering shops and cafés, because they didn't engage in friendly chatter (small talk). Now I understand that it's more cultural than I imagined!

Learning about the culture of a country can be daunting and it very often remains at a superficial level. However, it's useful to have an idea of what to expect if you're contemplating visiting a country. 

So here's are  ten things you should know about the USA:

Ten Things You've Got to Know about US Culture

Tour the Murals, Lompoc

 

Nestled in the Sta. Rita Hills of California Central Coast, Lompoc has been a comfortable, peaceful destination where When Sara has bought her first home I heard less than complimentary things about this sleepy town of 43,000+, mostly because it's just a little sister to upscale beauty, Santa Barbara, an hour drive south along Highway 1. But, I'm loving my stay and am pleasantly surprised by the town's quaint charm, which started the weekend I arrived with delicious coffee and tea choices from South Side Coffee Co. and browsing its numerous antique stores, and abounding art and murals. The Lompoc Mural Map from 2016 touts 36 city murals, but I'm sure by now there are more. This photo sampler shows just a few from Art Alley.

Feeding Time (2015) 122 W. Ocean Ave. (back south wall/ Art Alley) Artist Jeff Raum - Moorpark, CA

“Like beautiful flowers

Blossoming along a vine,

The Murals of Lompoc surprise

and delight residents and visitors

as they stroll the downtown area”

– Lompoc Mural Society

Murals of Lompoc

Fun Things to do Lompoc

The Boatmen (2014) 112 South I St. (north wall/Sissy’s Uptown Café, in Art Alley)
Artist John Pugh (master of “trompe l’oeil”) - Truckee, CA

Fields of Gold (2004) 117½ South H St. • Mural In a Day (south wall)
Master Artist Colleen Goodwin Chronister (Salem, OR) with participating artists.

. Price of Freedom (2000) 125 South H St. - Pays tribute to all the men and women who served, fought and died in the 15 wars and conflicts of the 20th Century.
Artist Eliseo Silva - Corona, CA 

Dreamers

President Donald Trump has decided to end the Obama-era program that grants work permits to undocumented immigrants who arrived in the country as children.

The administration’s deliberations on the issue have been fluid and fast moving, and the president has faced strong warnings from members of his own party not to scrap the program.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA. But conversations with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who argued that Congress — rather than the executive branch — is responsible for writing immigration law, helped persuade the president to terminate the program and kick the issue to Congress.

House Speaker Paul Ryan had said during a radio interview on Friday that he didn’t think the president should terminate DACA, and that Congress should act on the issue.

campaign message about the importance of enforcing the country’s immigration laws and securing the border

The White House and Congress have tried to pass the issue off on each other – with each arguing that the other is responsible for determining the fate of the approximately 800,000 undocumented immigrants who are benefiting from DACA. 

Some Republican lawmakers, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, have said that Congress needs to pass a law to protect the so-called Dreamers.

Republicans, who are facing an end-of-September deadline to avert a government shutdown and government debt default, while also tackling a Hurricane Harvey relief package and a major tax reform push.

Meanwhile, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), who has called on Trump to stand up for the Dreamers, tweeted out her displeasure with Trump’s expected announcement.

“After teasing #Dreamers for months with talk of his 'great heart,' @POTUS slams door on them. Some 'heart'...” she wrote.

What do Christians in the USA have to say about DACA? The President and Vice President along with Chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have issued a statement denouncing the Administration’s termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program after six months. Here is the full statement:

     The cancellation of the DACA program is reprehensible. It causes unnecessary fear for DACA youth and their families. These youth entered the U.S. as minors and often know America as their only home. The Catholic Church has long watched with pride and admiration as DACA youth live out their daily lives with hope and a determination to flourish and contribute to society: continuing to work and provide for their families, continuing to serve in the military, and continuing to receive an education. Now, after months of anxiety and fear about their futures, these brave young people face deportation. This decision is unacceptable and does not reflect who we are as Americans.

     The Church has recognized and proclaimed the need to welcome young people: ‘Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me' (Mark 9:37). Today, our nation has done the opposite of how Scripture calls us to respond. It is a step back from the progress that we need to make as a country. Today’s actions represent a heartbreaking moment in our history that shows the absence of mercy and good will, and a short-sighted vision for the future. DACA youth are woven into the fabric of our country and of our Church, and are, by every social and human measure, American youth.

     We strongly urge Congress to act and immediately resume work toward a legislative solution. We pledge our support to work on finding an expeditious means of protection for DACA youth.

     As people of faith, we say to DACA youth – regardless of your immigration status, you are children of God and welcome in the Catholic Church.  The Catholic Church supports you and will advocate for you.

September 5, 2017

Death tried to stop me twice, and it failed. Do you really think an orange haired orrangutan is going to take me down? I'm not alone in the fight and we will rise, if you don't want us here you better get used to it cuz we're not going anywhere and the fight has just begun. We are the vocal, we are the inspired, we are faithful, we are the future, we are the god damned dreamers of your American Nightmare and LORD how are you all about to wake up. But this is not a fight won with hate, violence, weapons, or blood. This a war won with educated minds, compassion, love and understanding. Rise my people and clean yourselves up for road is long and few are the refuges for those unwilling to surrender. Cry no more, fear no more. But fight forever and love for ever and ever more. 
#isupportdaca #donaldtrump #congress #dreamers #unstoppable.
Danilo Guerrero-León
September 6, 2017

#Dreamers #defendDACA #MarcoRubio #PaulRyan #USCCB #immigrantrights

Season

Advanced Literature class in Spain, in Academia La Cocina Verde, getting ready for an excellent read a year ago. Now, fall just around the corner, we've read our way through season by season.

Just like excellent poetry, this isn't a book to be read from cover-to-cover, but rather savoured throughout the year, reading each entry like a delicious tidbit in its season, hence the well-named title. I love this prose. It as though I'm playing while reading, dancing between the lines and then lingering here and there to drink up the visual flavours and imagery of almost every word and phrase. 

Imagine this: 

"The sky seems like a watercolor love story." - Fireflies

"The air smells like spring seduced late summer and drenched the night in promises. Somewhere between possibility and substance, the evening hovers, a strange shade of autumn....
Amazing...astounding what fifteen minutes surrounded by the throb of another's heart can do for the equilibrium of a soul. Storms arrive and abate. The planet spins. And hearts beat." - Heartbeat

Or

"End-of-summer rain traces the outline of the window panes next to me; damp trails glimmering beneath the slate clouds that seem to hover close enough to touch, should I stretch out my hand." 

-Blurred

"For that is the secret, isn't it. No matter how deep the pain, how unbearable it seems as it scrapes and tears and breaks our bodies, our dreams... our souls. No matter the wound, there is the balm of time. The bandage of memory, the antiseptic of grace." - Burns

I relish the Soup. It revives me, reminds me that the world is made of flesh and breath, not manufactured compounds (like that from a can) and synthetic fibers... For the truth of the Soup, the revelation, is that if you wait until 'it' is done - whatever your 'it' may be - you will miss out on the authentic happiness that is 'now'. We all have scuff and brokens and imperfects... but this is exactly what ties us together!" - Soup Afterglow

"We live, we love. We laugh and grieve and learn and grow. Life is a forge that burns away the surface, strengthens the core, and reveals the soul. This collection of essays and memories plunges through more than a decade of the beautiful struggle that is marriage and parenthood and finding one's self amidst the tangle of both. This journey weaves joy and sorrow, passion as well as isolation, into a tapestry that makes such an ordinary life, more splendid than its solitary threads."

Best of Portland

Salt & Straw

25 Free Things to Do in Portland
51 Weird & Fun Things to Do in Portland


Audubon Society of Portland

Paris Climate Accord

Shameful.

I spent hours last night and this morning sifting through news sources to try to understand our president's decision.

I listened to his speech, his concern that the Paris Climate Accord would weaken/ handicap /undermine (yes, all those negative words) our sovereignty, economy, legal recourse, workers, and more. Only the US would be at a disadvantage and other countries would be laughing at us? Really? With just my limited knowledge that sounds extremely paranoid. Then, after some fact checking it just sounded purely ludicrous. What about the sovereignty, economy, legal recourse and workers of the now other 200 countries that are supporting the the agreement?

President Trump says that he's ready to renegotiate...as if he holds all the cards in his hand ready to trump in the US's favour. While Macron very diplomatically assures the US of its respect and good will for future dealings, it's very clear that the other countries are agreed that there will be NO new deal. 

In addition, my great state, California, New York and Washington are seriously resisting the president's decision and have formed a "US Climate Alliance" committed to the Accord. More than 61 mayors have stated that President Trump is wrong on the facts and the science and pledged to back the Accord, promising to meet commitments agreed to under the international accord, namely cutting carbon emissions in an effort to ward off the worst effects of global climate change. "We will intensify efforts to meet each of our cities’ current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create a 21st century clean energy economy," the group of mayors wrote.

“The world cannot wait — and neither will we."

Statements by President Trump with truthful counter: 

1. "China will be allowed to build hundreds of additional coal plants. So, we can't build the plants, but they can, according to this agreement."
False. Under the Paris agreement, each country publicly declares how much it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and what it will do to get there. In fact, China has actually taken steps to stop building coal plants. China has cut its use of coal three years in a row.
2. "Even if the Paris Agreement were implemented in full, with total compliance from all nations, it is estimated it would only produce a two-tenths of one degree -- think of that; this much -- Celsius reduction in global temperature by the year 2100. Tiny, tiny amount."
Misleading. Tackling climate problems depends on taking a series of incremental steps to reduce carbon emissions. Pulling out of the Paris agreement would require even bigger future reductions.
3. "At 1 percent growth, renewable sources of energy can meet some of our domestic demand. But at 3 or 4 percent growth, which I expect, we need all forms of available American energy, or our country will be at grave risk of brownouts and blackouts."
False. Economic growth stems from population growth and improvements in productivity. Neither of these factors will drive 3 percent or 4 percent growth in the U.S, regardless.
4. "India will be allowed to double its coal production by 2020. Think of it. India can double their coal production. We're supposed to get rid of ours."
Rubbish. The Paris accord doesn’t even mention the word coal, nor does it do anything to put a global moratorium on coal. Each signatory sets its own goals and has to report on its progress. India has committed to reduce emissions 33 to 35 percent of 2005 levels by 2030.
We have a president who will say anything. Anything.
Know the facts. Spread the truth. I, for one, want to put more of the world's wealth toward clean, sustainable energy.
http://www.politifact.com/.../fact-checking-donald.../

For the moment we are in "good company" with only two other countries, Nicaragua and Syria. If you know anything about either you'll understand. But, the U.S.?
I read later this morning and am finally seeing something that makes sense to me... corporate interests.
We know who can make Trump rethink his disastrous decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement: The 17 CEOs on Trump’s business advisory council. From IBM to Walmart, the CEOs that are on the council represent some of the most powerful corporations in the world. 
Already, two CEOs -- Elon Musk of Tesla and Bob Iger of Disney -- have stepped down from the council in protest of Trump pulling the US from the climate agreement. 
Tesla’s Elon Musk and Disney's Bob Iger have already stepped down from the advisory council in protest of Trump's catastrophic move. Now that Trump has made his announcement to abandon the deal that nearly every country in the world has signed onto, it’s time the other CEOs from massive multinational corporations like Walmart, PepsiCo, JPMorgan Chase, GM, GE, and Boeing follow Iger and Musks's lead.
In defiance of Trump’s catastrophic decision, a group including 30 mayors, three governors, more than 100 businesses and more than 80 presidents of U.S. universities is planning to present a plan to the United Nations that would meet the greenhouse-gas emission targets under the Paris climate agreement.
Let’s call on the remaining 15 CEOs on the council to take a stand for the future of our planet. Now is the opportunity to show their commitment to a safe and sustainable future and abandon Trump if he doesn’t back down.
Sign here if interested.
From SumofUs: SumOfUs is a global advocacy organization and online community that campaigns to hold big corporations accountable on issues such as climate change, workers’ rights, discrimination, human rights, animal rights, corruption, and corporate power grab.
#climatechange #ParisAccord

Then again, to be fair, there are still those arguing that Trump was right, such as Shapiro:
5 Reasons Trump is Right to Pull out of the Paris Accord

And, a well-respected friend and nuclear physicist wrote me saying this:
Please check your statement that China has cut its coal usage. That doesn't square with any data I have. They have cut how fast they increase their coal usage but they are still using more coal every year than the previous year.
Second, our state California, under governor Brown's leadership we are heading to shutting down all existing nuclear. San Onofre and Diablo Canyon produced more CO2 free electricity than all the solar and wind built in California for the last twenty years.
The big impact on CO2 emissions is what the developing countries choose to generate their electricity - this is far more important than what the US uses. As things currently stand they will choose coal or gas. The thing the US could do that will have a big impact is to create a carbon free power source that can compete with coal and gas cost wise. If you don't have electricity coal generated electricity sounds pretty good. Developing countries will choose the cheapest electricity so the important thing is to invent a carbon free choice for them. That is what we are attempting to do.

Photos while at the Organic Faire in Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
#productosecologicos #vidasana #biocantabria #energiasrenovables #bioconstrucción #comerciojusto #consumoresponsable #alimentosecologicos

Earth Day Portland

"Science is not partisan. Facts are not partisan." - Curt Waltman, March for Science organizer.

Visiting Portland's Waterfront Park on Earth Day and for the March for Science was a perfect last day in the city. There were celebrations and a march throughout this green city known for locals' passions for recycling, renewable energy, efficient public transport including bicycle commuting, sustainably designed buildings and more. Took lots of photos of people who showed up with their signs, undaunted by the rain to to show their commitment to protecting the Earth and her resources. 

#portland #environment #medioambiente#earthday #green #renewableenergy#sustainability #urbanoasis#portlandsaturdaymarket #sciencemarch
Portland Saturday Market.

Frondescence

\fron-DES-uh ns\
noun
1. leafage; foliage.
2. the process or period of putting forth leaves, as a tree, plant, or the like.

... they continued their journey under the frondescence of the mountain forests.
-- Cecilia Dart-Thornton, The Ill-Made Mute, 2001

Mutilando los árboles de León
Echando herbicidas

Always stand by trees.

When You Have Just One Day

When you have just one overnight, one day only, you plan the best. You begin with a lovely, slow Sunday just eating, playing games, and exploring together. And that's what Mi'ja, her partner, Pat, Enrique and I did. They organized a really nice day that, in her note to me, "included super vegetarian/vegan friendly restaurants, all locally farmed, and famed for deliciousness." Enrique, if he hadn't noticed before, discovered that, just like in Spain, it's all about the food.

The links take you to the actual names and places, that include menus for the below mentioned fabulous eateries.

Most of the following quotes are by Alexander Barrett, This is Portland: The City You've Heard You Should Like
"This is Portland is a first-hand look at a city that people can't seem to stop talking about. It's a guidebook of sorts, but not to restaurants and sightseeing. Instead, Alexander Barrett is your friendly guide to the quirky characters and atmosphere of Portland, Oregon and how fun, beautiful, and ridiculous it can be. With its approachable, often hilarious tone, this book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about bikes, beards, beers, rain, and everything else important about the city you've heard you should like." - Amazon Review

11:30am - Met for brunch at Harlow's (3632 SE Hawthorne St)

Harlow's was awesome for lunch. Enrique and I were lucky since we had happened in just few days earlier when we stopped with my dear friend Wendy for a coffee and hot chocolate.

12-5ish - Explore Hawthorne District! Lots of thrift stores, coffee shops, book stores, very "Portland" vibes. Good thing for the GPS most of our visit. It wasn't necessary once we got to Hawthorne Street, though. No matter where we looked there was something to see. We visited the vintage shops a bit and had fun with the funky, but being old thrifters we weren't having the high prices. What we were having was enjoying the atmosphere, the kind of apparel that earns Portland it's reputation.

Keep Portland Weird - #1Bumper Sticker
Locals don't think it's weird or know what it means exactly - the city is too nice. Maybe it's the annual naked bike ride, aging hippies, weird hats, art and punk shows... 

Standing in line to have Fight Club signed by author Chuck Palahniuk. After some wait we finally made it into Memento, but there discovered that the signing was only for those who also opted to purchase Bait, his new colouring book for adults. *Emigrantes was a book I gifted Mi'ja, an early birthday present of sorts, the Spanish version of The Arrival, by Shaun Tan:

*In a heartbreaking parting, a man gives his wife and daughter a last kiss and boards a steamship to cross the ocean. He's embarking on the most painful yet important journey of his life- he's leaving home to build a better future for his family.
Shaun Tan evokes universal aspects of an immigrant's experience through a singular work of the imagination. He does so using brilliantly clear and mesmerizing images. Because the main character can't communicate in words, the book forgoes them too. But while the reader experiences the main character's isolation, he also shares his ultimate joy. - Goodreads

The kind of place to bring Spanish cards for Chinchón and play them at a donut & coffee shop.

Hawthorne v. Belmont
H. by far the hippest street in the SE and home of every bad P. stereotype: Lazy 20 somethings, crazy homeless, the dirtiest hippies, the loudest petitioners, buskers every 10 ft., fashionable parents w/widest strollers available in the US, ALL out there! Makes you feel like a raging neo-conservative, "Get a job!, Hey try some birth control!" Belmont on the other hand is the good Portland stereotype: great restaurants, green, cool parents w/normal strollers, ...

At the Cider Ale House Enrique and I had our first "Flight" of drinks.

For dinner head over to the Pearl District at Verde Cocina (524 NW 14th St)
Ice-cream after dinner at Salt and Straw

Monday 4/10
9am - Breakfast of cream-of-wheat and fruit at our Airbnb.
11:30am - Head to airport for good-byes.