From: "Kismet" <kismet-AT-bigpond.net.au>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 09:31:59 +1000
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] World Festival of Puppet Art in Prague


Well I was TRYING to be diplomatic (OK thats unusual for me) but yes being a 
jerk for the sake of being a jerk is what I consider is the mediterranean 
way (which actually refers to a language/cultural group rather than a 
geographical location.....). Its not the outcome its the process...haggling 
is their way of life (haggling is the Australian word for it by the way). 
their way of doing things. Having spent ten years in and around Europe and 
assisting my Wife with her Hotel in Feungerolla on the Costa del Sol I 
became pretty used to there ways and mannerisms (some may say I adopted 
some?) Its THEIR culture. Americans have similar ways that I wont go 
into....but take for example the country of Wales. Mostly limited to rural 
areas now but still common is the practice of never answering with a yes or 
no. Instead they will answer with a question...Is this the way to X? Is it X 
that you want to go to? Yes. then that is the way to X.
Our own indigenous people NEVER had a word or concept for No and to this day 
it is a major cultural problem for them.

Kindness IS universal...but the delivery may vary....and that may depend on 
how you recieve it.....

D.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Yvette Edery" <art_goo-AT-yahoo.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 8:56 AM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] World Festival of Puppet Art in Prague


This email made me laugh. Thank you.

  Actually, I am a Latina. and very proud. My family is Colombian, I am the 
first generation born in the states, Spanish was my first language and I 
learned English in Elementary school. I also speak conversational Italian 
and a little bit of French. The reason I was in Spain was to be a Spanish to 
English translator for Peter Schumann. And those people were not haggling. 
They were being jerks for the sake of being jerks. There were no awards 
involved.

  Rude is rude is rude in any language. Kindness is universal.

  and class...

  is priceless.

  Yvette

  PS Spain is not Mediterranean. It is Castilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, 
Galician 7%, Basque 2%. The Mediterranean classically refers to a close, but 
different country group. But I digress....

Kismet <kismet-AT-bigpond.net.au> wrote:
  No, its not another anti-american tyrade......
I think the point you have missed Yvette is that that is the mediteranian
culture...they weren't being rude to you...they were
being....."mediteranian"...... to EVERY ONE!...the complaining bitterely is
a very European way of doing business...didnt you go into the markets?...its
called Haggling..If you want to buy anything...haggle...you want to be taken
somewhere, you haggle......if you go to a European (particularly latin)
festival to win neat little awards then you have to haggle...otherwise just
enjoy the experience like you suggest. I think Ive suggested it before on
this list...before going to a different country try and get some insight
into their culture..makes for a lot happier...and safer....experience.

D.
PS Is any one else on this list disturbed that G.B has now made it possible
for the votes of ALL Afro-Americans and Latinos to be excluded from the
count? Is anyone doing anything about it?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Yvette Edery"
To:

Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 3:22 AM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] World Festival of Puppet Art in Prague


I have to say, I understand your frustration.

When in the festival of Seville, Spain- I had a somewhat similar
experience. Festival coordinators were rude, the americans were looked down
upon (we're not the most popular internationally foreign policy wise- if
you've traveled internationally you may have picked up on this), I saw the
people that complained BITTERLY go on to make the fesitval their own, while
the people that tried to make the best of the situation get trampled
underfoot time and time again.

My advice in this situation is to remember what is really important. Why
you love puppetry to begin with. Revel in the magic. Let go of the awards
and everything else. Take a day off from the festival to see the town or
city. Enjoy yourself. Don't buy into the drama.

Puppetry is essentially about creation, motion and energy- all
supernatural and otherworldly characteristics. It is the closest we can ever
come to God- making something out of nothing, giving it life, and then
sharing the energy with an audience. If we buy into awards, especially
spinach awards, then we are missing the point entirely.

Just make sure people are polite and hospitable and that your needs are
met. After that, enjoy life.

Yvette

Robert Rogers wrote:
> I just came from World Festival of Puppet Art, Prague.I presented the
150
> Years Old Puppets of Pioneer Indian Dramatist Vishnudas Bhave.I won a
> Special Jury Award for the traditional performance.

Dear Ramdas,

I'm glad you had a successful time in Prague. I performed in that festival
in 2000 and found it to be a frustrating experience. Don't think I'm
suffering from a case of sour grapes but consider this:

Despite a lot of information sent on my part about my production, it was
listed offhandedly in the festival program as "A typical American show."
Whatever that is.

A performer from Sweden who showed his work on day one cried to the festival
director, "How will the judges remember my performance at the end of the
week. How can I go home without an award?" He got an award.

It was widely publicized that the Chinese Embassy gave financial support to
the festival. A Chinese troupe was given an award.

A very successful Austrian troupe complained vociferously about a perceived
lack of quality in some of the performances. I too felt that the festival
director was interested in bragging about where participants came from
rather than the quality of their shows. The Austrians got an award.

The festival director was given a special award in a made-up catagory at the
end of the festival.

Me? Well, I was so happy to be there, whenever I was asked how things were
going I replied, "fine." Perhaps I should have complained.

Don't get me wrong. There were many fine inspiring performances. But
politics, politics, politics...

Robert Rogers
www.robertrogerspuppets.com

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Yvette Edery
Director, ArtistrYE Productions
Puppetry for Film, Television, & Theater

http://www.artistrye.com

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Yvette Edery
Director, ArtistrYE Productions
Puppetry for Film, Television, & Theater

http://www.artistrye.com

***********************************************
EASY Tips for Reducing Energy Waste

Replace a regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb.

Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
Cleaning a dirty air filter saves 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases
Look for an Energy Star label on appliances to choose efficient models.

Turn off electronic devices and unplug them when you're not using them
Things that are plugged in are still using energy: hairdryers, cell chargers

When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle.
Try renting a hybrid on your next business trip and consider it a free week 
of testing.

---------------------------------
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starting at 1=A2/min.
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