Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Ireland or UK? hmmmmm.....

I am so happy to be a part of this trip. Going to Ireland and the UK has always been something I had wanted to do in my life. Choosing which of the the three places I am most looking forward to is no easy task though. Ireland is something I wanted to experience for the longest time due to my heritage. I am 75% Irish and made it a point to see Ireland at least once in my life. My grandparents were born there and supposedly I still have relatives in Ireland, but they are distant and I know that my family doesn't really communicate with them. But, imagining what Ireland looks like is just overwhelming, because you see pictures of it and it just looks beautiful. My grandmother was there recently and whenever we talk about it she goes on about how nice it is.

The UK on the other hand is a place where a lot of the music I listen to originates. Music is a very big part of my life and always wondered what it would be like to see where many world renown artists came from.The UK also happens to be one of the biggest centers for DJing and DJ culture. DJ culture is something that has had a profound effect on my life and London is home to many artists and record labels that produce some of my favorite music, EDM. Learning as much as I can about the culture and the music itself is definitely going to be mind-blowing. (Anjunabeats, the logo to the side, is one of the major EDM labels operated out of London).


Another big part of London's culture is soccer. I don't play the game and I am not a huge fan, but it is very enjoyable to watch and to be a part of. Soccer fans have to be some of the most intense people, and their loyalty to their teams is unmatched. Recently, I just saw a film my brother introduced to me called "Green Street Hooligans." The movie is about soccer hooliganism in London. I'm not sure how accurate it is (I've heard multiple opinions), but it was definitely intense and it really shows how big soccer culture is.


London is also one of the many places that the Parkour culture has sprung up. Parkour, is also called the art of displacement. It is kind of difficult for me to explain, but since I found out about it and learned a little bit about its history, it has done nothing but amaze me. The individuals who are capable of this stuff are incredibly talented, in my opinion, and it would be awesome if I was able to see some Parkour while over in London. My younger brother is learning parkour, and wants to teach me so it is pretty important for that reason as well.

Here is a video clip about Parkour...