VIDEO-bad romance in Moz

Put Your Claws UP!

Want Your Bad, Your Bad ROMANCE!

You all know that it was only a matter of time before I had Mozambican children doing Gaga’s “Bad Romance” dance, monster claws and all.  And let me just say these little monsters did Gaga proud!  If you have not yet seen them then you should check it out on youtube NOW! And share it with every one you know. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SitWwx_oGQI

When my site mate, who works with a girls program asked me to help her teach her girls some American dances I couldn’t think of a better and more fun dance than Bad Romance.  For those of you who are like ‘ummm what the hell is the Bad Romance dance anyway’ you need to stop reading this post immediately at watch the brilliant and epic music video for Bad Romance and then you will know why Mozambican children and really everyone should learn the dance. 

When we told them that we were going to teach them some Lady Gaga all the girls went crazy and then started singing Bad Romance.  It was heaven.  They totally love Gaga….but who doesn’t? 

Before we even started dancing, we showed them the music video.  They were obsessed.  Most of them had never seen this music video.  I thought it would be cool for them see the video and then learn the dance that is in the video.  It was so cool to watch their faces as they watched for the first time the insanity and brilliance that is Gaga’s Bad Romance.    

Then I broke down the main dance sequences for the girls and showing them first and having them mimic me.  I also counted out loud each dance sequence for them, which really helped them.  Although it took several tries they learned the dance relatively fast and were excited to practice.  By the last time we did the entire dance they were pretty good.  But the best part was seeing them getting into doing the monster claws and monster faces.  I was literally obsessed!  And so were they.  We all had so much fun.    

My site mate and I decided that each month we would teach the girls another iconic American dance.  We are thinking for next month “Bye Bye Bye” and “Thriller”  Any other suggestions?!?

I was BORN THIS WAY BABY!

Thank you baby Jesus! I was able to download the latest Gaga single “Born This Way”! 

Obsessed! Brilliant! Inspirational! Been listening to it on repeat for days! Literally can’t get enough …never ask me to, cuz I never will (Frankism). It will become as classic as “Like a Prayer” and I can’t even breathe thinking about it (Frankism).

Born This Way is an anthem of self acceptance, originality and love.  The lyrics are empowering for anyone who has been rejected or targeted or marginalized because of who they are.  The song gives special attention to those who identify as LGBT-Lesbian, Gay Bisexual or Transgender, as it seems the assault of their humanity is never ending, from school bullying to governmental policies. 

Born This Way simply reminds us all that, we were born they way we are.  If you are gay, you were born that way.  If you are Black, you were born that way.  If you have a disability, you were born that way.  And as Gaga sings out, she empowers us not to feel ashamed of who we are, but to embrace and love ourselves…because as she sings, “God makes no mistakes, we were Born This Way”.

Although I love Gaga, I think she might actually be the second coming of Jesus Christ, she is not the first to introduce this liberating concept to the world.  I first came to understand the concept of “Born This Way”, of self acceptance and love, when I was a very young child, in a children’s book called “Free to Be…You and Me” by Marlo Thomas.  

“Free to Be…You and Me”, is a collection of short stories, poems, songs and pictures, that promote to children and adults alike, the very same ideas that Gaga’s “Born This Way” promote.  “Free to Be…You and Me” teaches children that it’s okay to be different.  And encourages children to love and accept themselves and others for who they are.  To this day, “Free to Be…You and Me”, is not only one of my favorite books but also my life motto. 

And although we, as a society, have come a long way in accepting “differentness”, we still have a long way to go.  Unfortunately it still takes great courage to be “different” in our society.  To live in truth.  To recognize and honor that we were Born This Way. 

So I write this post for all those people who do have the courage to live their truth and those who are gaining the strength, maybe even from Born This Way, to one day embrace who they were born and to live their truth.  And I write this in hopes that that one day we won’t need songs or books to tell us that it is okay to be Born This Way.  And we will really will be Free to Be… You and Me.     

ps... I thought I would share with you some parts of both Born This Way and Free to Be... You and ME.  

 

 I'm beautiful in my way,
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way 

For a land where the river runs free
For a land through the green country
For a land to a shining sea
For a land where the horses run free
And you and me are free to be you and me

welcome to the neighborhood Frank!

Question:  What do you do, when out of nowhere 30 kids just show up on your somewhat small front porch? 

Well this was the question running through my mind about a week ago when, one minute I was alone reading and the next was surrounded by hundreds of kids (really it was only like 30 but as all of you know I am dramatic and a chronic overexaggerater).  But seriously I am not kidding.  The kids, who ranged in age from 2 to 14 years old, all from the neighborhood in which I am living, just showed up to visit me. It was fantastic!

We had a very nice visit.  I introduced myself to them and they did the same for me.  They then sang some Mozambiquan songs and did some dancing.  I of course then was forced to stand up and sing and dance to Bad Romance…but who am I kidding no one has to force me to do some Gaga!  All the kids then did it with me as they know it as well.  It was brilliant.  Then, prompted by the kids, I started to do a little English lesson….which they all seemed to totally enjoy. 

And so it seems that now I have 30 new little and very loud and energetic friends.  They have all or almost all of them, come over every other day or so, to hang out with me.  I let them decide what we do… they are very into learning English, so we do that often.  We also spend time singing and dancing and playing games.  Their favorite games seem to be “duck, duck, goose and “red light green light” (which totally brings me back to summer time on Park Ave in Downers Grove). 

I have no idea if their visits will slowly stop, my guess is, for some yeah and others no.  But nonetheless I have very much enjoyed hanging out with them.  They have helped me greatly in integrating into the neighborhood, which is imperative to my work here.

And now back to the original question “What do you do, when out of nowhere 30 kids just show up on your somewhat small front porch?”    

Smile. Breathe.  Be thankful for the beautiful openness and curiosity of children.  And then begin to speak and listen and share and sing and dance and play and laugh.

2010…oh what a year!

As 2010 comes to a close I can’t help but reflect (must be all those years of Jesuit education) on all the important and not-so-important things that happened in my life.  And because I now have a blog I thought I would share my reflections with of you.

So in a nutshell 2010 was the year….

-I finished grad school and graduated at Madison Square Garden… I’m kinda a big deal.

-I perfected my Gaga claw.

-I became obsessed with Glee.

-I traveled to New Orleans with a group of college students to work at Project Lazarus.

-I worked with some unbelievably brilliant New York high school students, supporting them and preparing them to go to the Dominican Republic with Global Potential.

-I spent an obnoxious amount of time at NYSC (New York Sports Club) and then an equally obnoxious amount of time at LifeTime Fitness, for the 2 months I was home.  Ahhh LifeTime how I miss you!

-I started to boycott American Idol.  I mean they can’t top Kelly, Fantasia, Clay or Adam…..I mean not even, a power lesbian could save it.  It’s okay Ellen..you tried.  Ps… I am on team Paula, bring back the crazy!

-I moved to Mozambique and became a Peace Corps volunteer.

-I lived for SVU marathons.

-I learned the entire “Bad Romance” dance. 

-I went to New Orleans with my Mom to move Claire to college.  So fun, yet so traumatic!

-I learned to take a bucket bath and use a latrine toilet.

-I drank a lot of malabou and orange juice.

-I went to see Gaga twice this summer.  Once with the Claire, Jack and Kaylan (Marty was there in spirit).  And then again with Claire at Gagapolozza in Chicago.  So epic… we stood (literally) for 9 hours waiting for mother monster.  But we were 3^rd row and rocked out with 80,000 other crazies in Grant Park! Doesn’t get much better than that.  Obsessed! Peaked!

-I turned 27 years old somewhere over the continent of Africa…as it should be.

-I ate about a million peanut M&Ms.  (there are no peanut M&Ms here..send them to me!) 

-I famously danced my ass off at Claire’s graduation party!  So epic! The DJ was told to play Gaga, Beyonce, Madonna…literally the gayest party ever…but would Claire’s grad party be anything but the gayest thing ever!

-I left New York, my home for the last 3 years, saying “see ya later” to many very good friends and colleagues….still recovering.

-I lived at Starbucks.  Ps there are NO Starbucks in Moz.

-I learned to speak Portuguese…well actually still learning.

-I moved back home with the parents for about 3 months…such a great time!  They are the best. 

-I continued to work as a resident director at Fordham Lincoln Center. (I heart res life LC)

-I spent lots of time at the cottage, with G…it was great!

-I became a regular at Blockheads on West 50^th street…can’t beat $3 margaritas! 

-I galavanted around Marquette (with Leah… I mean there is no other way) for the first time since I graduated.  What a blast from the past!

-I officially became a Social Worker!

-I lived with a random Mozambiquan family for 10 weeks.  Now that I don’t live with them I miss them and think of them often.  What a great experience. 

-I was beyond tan by the end of the summer…

Okay… so those are the highlights.  I hope that wasn’t too boring or self indulgent.  But I do hope that it was entertaining, obnoxious and inappropriate…and encouraging.  I would encourage everyone to reflect on all the great and maybe not-so-great things that shaped your life this last year.  It is both fun and interesting. 

So as we say good bye to 2010, I want to wish everyone a fantastic 2011.  Because with a new year comes all kinds of fun times, challenging experiences, fabulous opportunities, new friends,  and amazing adventures! 

Happy New Year!