This afternoon, Carlos took us on a field trip. We went to the South Park Blocks, where row after row of grand, old London Plane trees preside over cobblestone, asphalt and human, the constant rustling of their leaves singing blessings to the life below, the life above and the life within.
We stopped at the Shemanski Fountain and gathered in a semi-circle on the steps.
Joseph Shemanski was a Polish immigrant who in 1926 commissioned this fountain of Rebecca drawing water for Abraham and his camels when she was revealed to be Isaac’s bride. Shemanski was a dog lover, and the fountain has two drinking platforms one for people and one for dogs.
Just then a group of college students, many of Asian ancestry, filed by, also, apparently, on a field trip. “Look! There’s another gang,” said Carlos. “Lets rumble with them!” Carlos shouted at them and raised both hands over his head, fingers in the peace sign, “Hey! What are you doing?!”
Their young teacher, curious, led her group over and they stood before us in a semi-circle. “Do you know who these people are?” Carlos asked them. “They are a world famous choir and they are going to sing for you.” He directed us to sing “Happy Birthday” in four-part harmony, which we proceeded to approximate. They applauded whole-heartedly.
“Now you have to sing us a song,” said Carlos. They looked at each other, unsure. Then one of our group, a woman named Sun, spoke to them in Korean. They all looked relieved as she defected and went over to stand among them. Sun led them in the Korean national anthem. I wept. Everyone applauded.
“Thank you very much,” said Carlos, “Now they have to rehearse.” We all waved good-bye and Carlos turned his attention to the next portion of our training.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Sarah // Jul 15, 2008 at 6:48 am
Hmmmm….
Curious journey into being “put on the spot” and invited to be something out of your comfort zone…
and to play
in the mystery
where we all meet.
Wondering how it all fits into the Black Belt Boogie.
Teaching AO with a twist today.
How is Carlos’ haircut?
squeezin you
xoxo
2 Richard // Jul 15, 2008 at 7:43 am
Great story, Rach. How rich: the old Plane trees of the Park Blocks (planted around 1876), the Polish immigrant who came to Portland in 1889 and made a fortune running the Eastern Outfitting Company and donated the fountain 37 years later, Isaac and Rebecca, who lived about 3700 years ago (the tradition says that Rebecca gathered 140 gallons of water for the camels), and you and your colleagues and your teacher and your chance encounter with the group of Korean students on July 14, 2008!
According to Wikipedia, “Aegukga is the national anthem of South Korea, though it is not legally recognized as such. The title literally means “The Song of Love for the Country,” or “The Patriotic Song.”
It is believed that the lyrics were written at the time of the corner stone ceremony of the Independence Gate in Seoul in 1896 by Yun Chiho, a politician, or by An Chang-ho, a pro-independence leader and educator. Initially, Aegukga was sung to the Scottish folk tune “Auld Lang Syne” that American missionaries had taught. The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (1919-1945) in Shanghai, China adopted it as their national anthem. At a ceremony celebrating the founding of South Korea on 15 August 1948, exactly three years after liberation from Japanese rule, the Scottish tune was finally replaced by the Finale of Korea Fantasia that Ahn Eak-tae had composed in 1935. ”
Part of the anthem is translated as, “The pinetree atop the mountain stands firmly unchanged under wind and frost as if wrapped in armour,
as is our resilient spirit.
Autumn sky is void and vast, high and cloudless,
the bright moon is our heart, undivided and true.”
Thank you for your resilient spirit and your bright heart that stays so true to what it loves.
3 Isabelle Alzado // Jul 15, 2008 at 8:53 am
Rachael, I wish I had been there to join the international feast : The 14 Juillet is Bastille day!!! 🙂 guiding everybody into singing the Marseilleise!!!ahahah
The synchronicity… What a marvel ! it seems that this Boogy is in line with other forces…
Thank you for your great writings!
Isabelle
4 Doris // Jul 15, 2008 at 2:32 pm
This is making me smile! A beautiful interlude of cross-pollination on the Silk Road that runs through Portland, runs through our opening hearts, runs through all the earths where we stand and sway. And nice mini-monograph, Ricardo!
love, Doris
5 Sharry // Jul 15, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I loved the post and loved the comments. Keep shining.
Sharry
6 Rachael // Jul 15, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Thank you beloved Richard for bringing us the fullness of the story, the details of the story, for weaving a little piece of the world in that moment and in the Ocean of All Time.
Thank you beloved friends for traveling with me and dancing with me on the road to Black Belt.
7 Rone' Prinz // Jul 15, 2008 at 9:52 pm
it’s just magic…..a magical mystery tour……I can’t wait to hear more….Sun I think is from the LA area, I have taken her class, she has a true heart & kind soul!! 33 what a great number……thanks for sharing!!!
8 Ernie // Jul 17, 2008 at 8:25 am
I love anyone who loves trees, anyone who would provide a perch for dogs to quench their thirst, anyone who would encourage strangers to sing and anyone who would take such intense notice!!!
You are a delight, dear Rachael. I’m with you.
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