TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

5:24 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Another day of crisp and slushy mixed, the bridge sparkles in afternoon sun, delicately tinted clouds hang suspended in the blue.

While back down on earth, my decision to become more involved has been instantly rewarded with a lovely day of visits, talking and laughter. Have something approaching a social life here - met three friends in succession, and various acquaintances on the streets and in cafes. drank a couple of shots of fernet with my favourite bartender - completely decadent in the middle of the day - baked banana bread and shared secrets with my favourite teenager, and then wandered through the main street with my favourite music teacher.

Had a second, late xmas with three packages arriving - the final book from mum, which was actually my request - 'friends, lovers, chocolate' - yes indeed! And sandra arrived from kirsty - yay, thank you! adding to my collection from bratislava and audrey, then a fantastic set of australian animal laser stickers with aboriginal designs and kitsch pens from lisa, so I don't forget where home is. Rang Sole for her birthday - Happy Birthday darling!!! xxxxxx good to hear a much loved voice.

Even managed to read some of Magris' erudite tome on the Danube,
which provided some philosophical comfort: 'To acquire a new identity does not mean betraying the first one, but enriching one's self with a new soul. Identity is a quest that is always open.'

And later, talking of Heidegger who was born and grew up in a town on the banks of the Danube, and despite his unfortunate fascist tendencies is still one of my favourite philosophers:

'Heidegger was perfectly well aware of the worldwide process threatening to uproot every individual from his own world and his fundamental ties.... He knew very well that to start out towards truth and love it is necessary to tear up our roots, to leave home far behind, to free ourselves from every immediate link connected with our origins'.

After writing yesterday about the choices available here, I was reminded that although there is a certain level of material and cultural privilege attached to a western democratic upbringing; this background definitely lacks a strong sense of identity and connection - there is something about the way that family and community are really valued here, beyond the lipservice paid to family values by conservative governments - many people don't wish to move far away from their home village and roots. A strong sense of identity and knowledge of your place in the world, are things that may be lacking in places with greater mobility and more options - the 'carnival of artifice' takes the place of genuine connection and sense of self. the inessential has become second nature - or am I romanticising again?

Anyway, to end on a quote from Heidegger, in 'contradicting the cult of putting down roots' (and the great australian/american dream) 'he taught us that "displacement is a fundamental way of being-in-the-world", that without loss and disorientation, without wandering along paths that peter out in the woods, there is no call, there is no possibility of hearing the authentic word of being'.

... or perhaps, the secret voice of bridges!!