According to Ravi Shankar, who became the guru, or spiritual guide of George Harrison in the 1960’s, Indian classical music has “an unbroken history of development, and above all it is a living tradition that still is in the process of evolution.” (Indian Classical Music Website) Being a student of Indian music for ten years now, I can attest to this statement. Just as learning in general is a continuous process for everyone, the same idea applies to learning music. It is a process that takes many years of dedicated practice and devotion to master. I am now a teacher at the East Indian Music Academy in South Ozone Park, Queens. One thing I see that happens frequently is that when parents register their children into the school to learn music, many of them believe the child will learn every thing over-night. As mentioned before, it takes time because learning is an incessant process and no one can know every single thing.
Indian classical music has one of the most complicated and complete musical systems ever developed. Similar to Western classical music, which has eight basic notes, Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do, Indian music also has eight basic notes, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa. Originally, all Indian music was sung in Sanskrit. But after the two systems divided, Hindustani music was centered around Hindi and its dialect Brajabhasha, while the Carnatic system was mainly influenced by Telegu as well as Kannadese and Tamil, creating two parts to Indian Classical music: Carnatic and Hindustani music.
According to Wikipedia, “the classical music of India has its origin as a meditation tool to attain self realization. All the different forms of these melodies (raagas) affect various “chakras” (energy centers, or “moods”) in the path of the “Kundalini.” There are specific physical, mental, biological and spiritual results associated with activation of these centers.” Classical music is the main component of Indian music. When listening or playing classical Indian music, the person becomes a changed human being. “The heart of Indian classical music - of both the Hindustani and the Carnatic system - is the raaga: the melodic form upon which the musician improvises and which may take hours to develop. The raaga framework is established by tradition and nurtured by the leading musicians of the past and present, composer and sitar player Ravi Shankar being one of them.” (Indian Classical Music Website) A raaga is composed based upon many emotions, the time of day, and even the season.
Personally, I believe that by learning to play Indian instruments (the Harmonium and Sitar), singing, and also learning Hindi, I have been shaped into a better person. Indian music has influenced my life in many ways, such as enabling me to become closer to my religion and inspiring me to always want to learn more and more about my Indian culture. Also, I would consider my music school as my second home. My music teacher, who is originally from Trinidad but obtained his Masters Degree in Music in India, along with his wife and two sons, are like my second parents and brothers. Any student that is a part of the East Indian Music Academy knows that these people are more than just teachers. Their simplicity is something that I admire very much. If ever I have a personal problem, I know for a fact that I can go to them for help.
I don’t consider myself as a great musician. I believe it is important to give back what I learn to the community. As a teacher now, I look forward to sharing what I have learned with the younger kids and also adults. Think about it, we don’t live forever and in order to keep my religion alive and prosperous, I believe it is important to let the younger generations learn from an early age and help to improve the religious and musical beliefs.
Learning Indian music has numerous benefits. As I mentioned before, it has improved my whole life. During this process, I also met other students that would remain my life long friends. When playing an instrument, it helps me to feel very relaxed. For instance, if I am upset at someone or something, I go straight to my instruments and just start playing anything that comes to my mind. While doing this, it helps me to become calmer. Referring back to these raagas, playing classical music helps one to attain self-realization. Music brings me to another place, something which is difficult to explain. It helps me to grow spiritually and enables me to feel content with everything I have in my life.
I believe this concept is similar to that of yoga and meditation, where the person can experience life based on another level. It is said that we cannot see God, but those of us who are religious, believe that there is some form of God. I think that through playing music and being devoted to my culture, I become directly closer to God. According to the book, Awareness – The Center of Being, “God can be proven: indirectly through circumstantial evidence and directly through personal experience.” I believe this statement is true based upon my own experiences. This idea ties into the concept of faith, where one can become truly closer to God if he or she has steadfast commitment and devotion.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Influence That Indian Music Has on Me.
Personally, I believe that by learning to play Indian instruments (the Harmonium and Sitar), singing, and also learning Hindi, has shaped me into a better person. Indian music has influenced my life in many ways, such as enabling me to become closer to my religion and inspiring me to always want to learn more and more about my Indian culture. Also, I would consider my music school as my second home. My music teacher, who is originally from Trinidad but obtained his Masters Degree in Music in India, along with his wife and two sons, are like my second parents and brothers. Any student that is a part of the East Indian Music Academy knows that these people are more than just teachers. Their simplicity is something that I admire very much. If ever I have a personal problem, I know for a fact that I can go to them for help.Learning Indian music has numerous benefits. As I mentioned before, it has improved my whole life. During this process, I also met other students that would remain my life long friends. I don’t consider myself as a great musician. I believe it is important to give back what I learn to the community. As a teacher now, I look forward to sharing what I have learned with the younger kids and also adults. Think about it, we don’t live forever and in order to keep my religion alive and prosperous, I believe it is important to let the younger generations learn from an early age and help to improve the religious and musical beliefs.
The Development of Indian Music and Its Influence on One’s Life. (Draft 1)
Music, a form of art, can be defined in various ways. According to the Webster Dictionary, music is defined as “the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity; vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony.” Music can be used for entertainment, religious purposes, to keep someone’s mind off an issue that is bothering him or her, or it can even express a culture’s values and beliefs. The type of music that is part of a particular group of people can define who those people are and what they believe in.
When studying Indian music, it is quite difficult to trace back the exact origins of how it all began. The music of India includes multiple varieties of folk, popular, pop, and classical music, a very important type of music. The earliest texts of Indian music are the Natya Shastra, Dattilam, Brihaddeshi, and the Sangita-Ratnakara. The origins of Indian classical music can be found from the oldest of scriptures, which are part of the Hindu tradition, known as the Vedas. The Sama Veda, one of the four Vedas, describes music in great detail.
The classical music of India has its origin as a meditation tool to attain self realization. All the different forms of these melodies (raagas) affect various “chakras” (energy centers, or “moods”) in the path of the “Kundalini.” There are specific physical, mental, biological and spiritual results associated with activation of these centers.
According to the traditional teaching, sound is God (Nada Brahma). Through music, human consciousness can be elevated to a degree which allows one to understand the eternal essence of the universe. Indian classical music has “an unbroken history of development, and above all it is a living tradition that still is in the process of evolution,” says Ravi Shankar, who became the guru, or spiritual guide of George Harrison in the 1960’s. He also helped to shape the Western perception of Indian classical music.
India’s classical music tradition, which includes Carnatic and Hindustani music, has a history spanning millennia and, developed over several eras, remains fundamental to the lives of Indians today as sources of religious inspiration, cultural expression and pure entertainment. The Hindustani or North Indian style of music developed after the subcontinent was invaded by the Moguls from the 13th century onwards. In the Mogul empire, cultures derived from Persia and elsewhere merged with local traditions. The original music of India, with its intricate systems of raagas (melodies) and taalas (rhythms), continued uninterrupted and has become the Carnatic, or South Indian style, which is dominant in the areas that were never conquered by the Moguls. Whereas in the North, musicians from Persia and India influenced each other and experimented with each others instruments.
India is made up of several dozen ethnic groups, speaking their own languages and dialects. Alongside distinctly sub-continental forms there are major influences from Persian, Arabic and British music. Indian genres like filmi and bhangra have become popular throughout the United Kingdom, South and East Asia, and around the world. Indian pop stars now sell records in many countries, while world music fans listen to the roots music of India's diverse nations. American soul, rock and hip hop have also made a large impact, primarily on Indian pop and filmi music. Other popular forms of Indian music are ghazals, qawwalis, kirtans and bhajans (religious songs).
Indian classical music has one of the most complicated and complete musical systems ever developed. Similar to Western classical music, which has eight basic notes, Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do, Indian music also has eight basic notes, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa. Originally, all Indian music was sung in Sanskrit. But after the two systems divided, Hindustani music was centered around Hindi and its dialect Brajabhasha, whereas the Carnatic system was mainly influenced by Telegu as well as Kannadese and Tamil.
Mastery in this musical art requires years of sincere, near-sacrificial devotion to its intricacies. Being a student of Indian music for ten years now, I can attest to this statement. Just as learning in general is a continuous process for everyone, the same idea applies to learning music. I am now a teacher at the East Indian Music Academy in South Ozone Park, Queens. One thing I see that happens frequently is that when parents register their children into the school to learn music, many of them believe the child will learn every thing over-night. As mentioned before, it takes time because learning is an incessant process and no one can know every single thing.
Personally, I believe that by learning to play Indian instruments (the Harmonium and Sitar), singing, and also learning Hindi, has shaped me into a better person. Indian music has influenced my life in many ways, such as enabling me to become closer to my religion and inspiring me to always want to learn more and more about my Indian culture. Also, I would consider my music school as my second home. My music teacher, who is originally from Trinidad but obtained his Masters Degree in Music in India, along with his wife and two sons, are like my second parents and brothers. Any student that is a part of the East Indian Music Academy knows that these people are more than just teachers. Their simplicity is something that I admire very much. If ever I have a personal problem, I know for a fact that I can go to them for help.
Learning Indian music has numerous benefits. As I mentioned before, it has improved my whole life. During this process, I also met other students that would remain my life long friends. I don’t consider myself as a great musician. I believe it is important to give back what I learn to the community. As a teacher now, I look forward to sharing what I have learned with the younger kids and also adults. Think about it, we don’t live forever and in order to keep my religion alive and prosperous, I believe it is important to let the younger generations learn from an early age and help to improve the religious and musical beliefs.
When studying Indian music, it is quite difficult to trace back the exact origins of how it all began. The music of India includes multiple varieties of folk, popular, pop, and classical music, a very important type of music. The earliest texts of Indian music are the Natya Shastra, Dattilam, Brihaddeshi, and the Sangita-Ratnakara. The origins of Indian classical music can be found from the oldest of scriptures, which are part of the Hindu tradition, known as the Vedas. The Sama Veda, one of the four Vedas, describes music in great detail.
The classical music of India has its origin as a meditation tool to attain self realization. All the different forms of these melodies (raagas) affect various “chakras” (energy centers, or “moods”) in the path of the “Kundalini.” There are specific physical, mental, biological and spiritual results associated with activation of these centers.
According to the traditional teaching, sound is God (Nada Brahma). Through music, human consciousness can be elevated to a degree which allows one to understand the eternal essence of the universe. Indian classical music has “an unbroken history of development, and above all it is a living tradition that still is in the process of evolution,” says Ravi Shankar, who became the guru, or spiritual guide of George Harrison in the 1960’s. He also helped to shape the Western perception of Indian classical music.
India’s classical music tradition, which includes Carnatic and Hindustani music, has a history spanning millennia and, developed over several eras, remains fundamental to the lives of Indians today as sources of religious inspiration, cultural expression and pure entertainment. The Hindustani or North Indian style of music developed after the subcontinent was invaded by the Moguls from the 13th century onwards. In the Mogul empire, cultures derived from Persia and elsewhere merged with local traditions. The original music of India, with its intricate systems of raagas (melodies) and taalas (rhythms), continued uninterrupted and has become the Carnatic, or South Indian style, which is dominant in the areas that were never conquered by the Moguls. Whereas in the North, musicians from Persia and India influenced each other and experimented with each others instruments.
India is made up of several dozen ethnic groups, speaking their own languages and dialects. Alongside distinctly sub-continental forms there are major influences from Persian, Arabic and British music. Indian genres like filmi and bhangra have become popular throughout the United Kingdom, South and East Asia, and around the world. Indian pop stars now sell records in many countries, while world music fans listen to the roots music of India's diverse nations. American soul, rock and hip hop have also made a large impact, primarily on Indian pop and filmi music. Other popular forms of Indian music are ghazals, qawwalis, kirtans and bhajans (religious songs).
Indian classical music has one of the most complicated and complete musical systems ever developed. Similar to Western classical music, which has eight basic notes, Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do, Indian music also has eight basic notes, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa. Originally, all Indian music was sung in Sanskrit. But after the two systems divided, Hindustani music was centered around Hindi and its dialect Brajabhasha, whereas the Carnatic system was mainly influenced by Telegu as well as Kannadese and Tamil.
Mastery in this musical art requires years of sincere, near-sacrificial devotion to its intricacies. Being a student of Indian music for ten years now, I can attest to this statement. Just as learning in general is a continuous process for everyone, the same idea applies to learning music. I am now a teacher at the East Indian Music Academy in South Ozone Park, Queens. One thing I see that happens frequently is that when parents register their children into the school to learn music, many of them believe the child will learn every thing over-night. As mentioned before, it takes time because learning is an incessant process and no one can know every single thing.
Personally, I believe that by learning to play Indian instruments (the Harmonium and Sitar), singing, and also learning Hindi, has shaped me into a better person. Indian music has influenced my life in many ways, such as enabling me to become closer to my religion and inspiring me to always want to learn more and more about my Indian culture. Also, I would consider my music school as my second home. My music teacher, who is originally from Trinidad but obtained his Masters Degree in Music in India, along with his wife and two sons, are like my second parents and brothers. Any student that is a part of the East Indian Music Academy knows that these people are more than just teachers. Their simplicity is something that I admire very much. If ever I have a personal problem, I know for a fact that I can go to them for help.
Learning Indian music has numerous benefits. As I mentioned before, it has improved my whole life. During this process, I also met other students that would remain my life long friends. I don’t consider myself as a great musician. I believe it is important to give back what I learn to the community. As a teacher now, I look forward to sharing what I have learned with the younger kids and also adults. Think about it, we don’t live forever and in order to keep my religion alive and prosperous, I believe it is important to let the younger generations learn from an early age and help to improve the religious and musical beliefs.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Vegetarian....
Being a vegetarian for eight years now, many people constantly ask me if I regret becoming one. My answer is always No. I became a vegetarian in 1999. At first, it was very difficult. After all, who doesn't love those chicken nuggets and sandwiches from McDonald's?? However, over the years, you get used to it. I would have to say my form of chicken would probably be potatoes, whether is it baked, fried, mashed, etc. There are also many veggie products out there, like veggie shrimp, lamb, fish, tuna, chicken, and many more. Although they may not taste exactly the same, most of them are very similar. It also gives you an opportunity to try new recipes, for example, bbq veggie chicken legs. What I found amazing was that they put a stick in the chicken legs in replacement for a bone! I would have to say I primarily became a vegetarian because I took a deeper step as being a Hindu. In Hinduism, we believe that all living creatures should be treated equally, so why eat another animal? Another reason I became a vegetarian is because my boyfriend, being a Hindu priest, is one and they are supposed to follow the practice of Vegetarianism. And yes, Hindu priests can get married!! So, I don't think it's that bad after all. Yes, at times I do miss those chicken nuggets but it's okay. I think if I ever did start eating meat again, my body would reject it because it's so used to all those veggies now ; )
Intro. To P.A.
For my Intro. to Physician Assistant class, we were assigned into groups of ten and we had to choose two topics for our papers. For our first paper, my group decided to do it on Teen Pregnancy. You would think this is an issue that is fairly easy to write about. However, with ten people in the group, it was very difficult to find a time when every one could meet to work on the report which was four pages, but more like eight because it was to be single-spaced. This is because we all have classes at different times every day and most of us commute to school. However, we managed to make Tuesday nights our "meeting night." With only about three meetings, it was quite hard to actually work on this project. Nevertheless, we decided to break up the topic into subtopics and divide ourselves so that we could get more done at once. For example, my part was to write about the financial trends of teen pregnancy. Even though we would all attempt to get this part of the report done, we knew the more difficult part was yet to come: putting it all together so that it was readable as a report, and also the editing part. Most of us did our assigned work, except for one group member, who decided that she didn't feel like attending class and our meetings. At our last meeting, the Tuesday night before our paper was due (which was Thursday), we decided to call her. While most of us were waiting on campus all day just to kill time and not have to go home and come all the way back to school, this group member was HOME, just relaxing!Of course, we all got upset and decided we would have to stay very late in order to get all this work done, since she had to do the most important parts of the paper: the introduction and the social aspects of teen pregnancy. While we were working in the library, she emailed another member saying that if we go into a chat room with her, we can tell her what she should write about and she would send it to us the next day so we can include it in the paper. What would you do in this situation? Well, we did not go in any chat room with her and we stayed until 9:30pm working on the paper. Next, we had to get two articles and do a works cited page. The day that the paper was due, we were all emailing each other. One group member stayed up until 4am that morning putting the actual paper together, while I put together the works cited page and the other members found the two articles we would include in our report. In the end, all nine of us knew that we did not put our best effort into this project. Our next one is due on March 1st. and we hope to do much more work on that one. As for the girl, the professor will speak to her in our next class. Why should someone get credit for something he or she didn't help to do? One thing that our professor constantly repeats in class that I really believe is true, is that if we see someone cheating in this class in any way, we should tell him because when we are working with patients in the near future, we cannot cheat on their lives.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Valentine's Day!
What a great day for Valentine's Day, right? Why couldn't we have snow another day, like a day when I didn't have a Biostats test at 8am? The professor didn't even show up, but all of the students did and we had a substitute. I bet he was probably home..sleeping! As for the streets, they are horrible. You would think the main streets, like Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, or Lefferts Blvd. would be cleaned. But NO! On my way to school at 7am this morning and on my way back home at 10am, everyone was driving at like 20mph because the roads were nastyyyy! The cars were all sliding. I also have a Biology test at 7am tomorrow morning. I wonder how that will go, since everything is basically ice out there. For those of you who are home and can spend Valentine's Day with your loved ones, that's great! For the rest of us, I guess we have to celebrate on another day. Stay Warm!!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Research Project.
At the Writing Center on Thursday, February 8th, my group had to interview one of the consultants. Her name is Marylinda Dewitt. She was very nice and welcoming to us. Usually, I am not the type of person that likes talking a lot, but I felt very comfortable around Marylinda. I began the interview by asking her how she would describe a "good" writer. Her response was that she believes every one is a good writer as long as they are brave and patient with themselves and the process of writing. One thing that I found very interesting was that when I asked Marylinda if she considers herself to be a good writer, she said no. When I asked her why, her response was that she doesn't think so because when she is writing, she tends to worry about her finished result rather than the process. Overall, I think this interview went very well. I learned many things, and I'm sure the other members of my group did as well. I also know that Marylinda learned some new things from us (AIM language...) On a more serious note, I think that during this interview, I was able to not only talk to Marylinda about writing and research tips, but also about life in general. I really enjoyed this research project and I look forward to visiting the Writing Center soon!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
"Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words. Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions. Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits. Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character. Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny."
Virginia Hall
Posted by Jason Bellows on January 14th, 2007 at 10:46 am 
In the early 1940s, German secret police agents in Nazi-occupied France were on the lookout for a woman with a wooden leg. She was known only as "the woman with a limp," but the Gestapo's many wanted posters described her as "the most dangerous of all Allied spies," asserting that the Nazis "must find and destroy her." Her name was Virginia Hall.
She became a spy entirely by accident. She was studying abroad and working for the Ambulance Service in France when the Blitzkrieg struck, and she was suddenly in the middle of Vichy-controlled France. Despite having been turned away by the Foreign Service because of her handicap, Miss Hall was able to join the British Special Operations Executive and later the US Office of Strategic Services for her remarkable accomplishments.Born in Maryland of 1906, Virginia Hall was the youngest daughter of a wealthy shipping tycoon. Perhaps the setting of international travel paired with the privilege of her wealth imbued her with a strong sense of adventure. Over the years she attended all of the best schools and colleges, and set her sights on a career with the Foreign Service. However, in 1932 Virginia was hunting in Turkey and accidentally shot herself in the leg. The injury was so extensive that the surgeons were unable to save the damaged limb, and they were eventually forced to amputate at the knee. At only twenty-six years old, Virginia's choice of vocation abruptly closed to her.
Over the following few years, Hall continued her travels in Europe, studying and seeking a new niche. Eventually she settled in France where she worked as a highly over-qualified file clerk. When Nazi Germany invaded in 1940, Hall was trapped in hostile territory. She found herself with no capacity to help the situation, so she soon sneaked out of France. Upon making her way to Britain she volunteered for the newly-formed Special Operations Executive (SOE), an organization launched by Winston Churchill to make war in ways other than direct military engagement. Often referred to as the "Baker Street Irregulars," these spooks were charged to "set Europe ablaze" with tools like propaganda, economics, and spies. Therein Virginia was educated in the arts of weaponry, strategy, and covert operations. In 1941 she was returned to German-occupied France under the guise of a news reporter from the US–a viable cover story in the days before the US joined the war.
Where most agents were in the field an average of three months, Hall's first tour kept her operating in France for fifteen months. Allies routinely made supply drops by parachute–providing Hall with covert signals as to where–and it was her task to aid the French in retrieving them. The Resistance, being a largely untrained lot, also looked to Hall to coordinate tandem attacks. To evade capture, she went through several identities and code-names, working out of bars and restaurants. On one occasion, she used an asylum as a base of operations.
The Germans moved to consume all of France in 1942, and Virginia was forced to flee through the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain. Her prosthetic leg, which she had nicknamed "Cuthbert", began to cause her pain during the journey, slowing her progress. She reported to her superiors via radio that Cuthbert was being problematic. Either the recipients didn't understand the message, or in a rare display of macabre humor, the response was: "If Cuthbert troublesome, eliminate him."
Once she'd returned to London, Hall joined the American intelligence office, the Office of Strategic Services. The US spy organization immediately saw Hall's skill and reputation as too valuable to be forsaken, thus despite the Gestapo's flier campaign to capture her, Virginia was sent back into France in 1944. In the guise of an elderly peasant woman, Virginia worked with members of the French resistance to destroy bridges, sabotage German trains, engage in guerrilla warfare, and sow general chaos for the Nazis.
After Normandy, it was Hall who first radioed to Allied Command that the German General Staff was moving its headquarters from Lyon to Le Puy, which led to a turning point for the fighting in France.
After war's end there was a document waiting in a safe in London making Virginia Hall a member of the Order of the British Empire, but she never received it due to efforts to keep her identity secret. She was awarded the US Distinguished Service Cross by General William Joseph Donovan–the only one awarded to a woman in World War II. The sole guest to view the ceremony was Virginia's mother.
After marrying a fellow OSS agent in 1950, Virginia worked for the CIA until she retired. She lived on a farm in Maryland until she died in 1982. Hall's niece, also from Baltimore, said of her aunt: "She never wanted any recognition. I think she believed she was just doing her job. Even when she retired, she would talk about books and animals, but not about the incredible things she had done."
In the early 1940s, German secret police agents in Nazi-occupied France were on the lookout for a woman with a wooden leg. She was known only as "the woman with a limp," but the Gestapo's many wanted posters described her as "the most dangerous of all Allied spies," asserting that the Nazis "must find and destroy her." Her name was Virginia Hall.
She became a spy entirely by accident. She was studying abroad and working for the Ambulance Service in France when the Blitzkrieg struck, and she was suddenly in the middle of Vichy-controlled France. Despite having been turned away by the Foreign Service because of her handicap, Miss Hall was able to join the British Special Operations Executive and later the US Office of Strategic Services for her remarkable accomplishments.Born in Maryland of 1906, Virginia Hall was the youngest daughter of a wealthy shipping tycoon. Perhaps the setting of international travel paired with the privilege of her wealth imbued her with a strong sense of adventure. Over the years she attended all of the best schools and colleges, and set her sights on a career with the Foreign Service. However, in 1932 Virginia was hunting in Turkey and accidentally shot herself in the leg. The injury was so extensive that the surgeons were unable to save the damaged limb, and they were eventually forced to amputate at the knee. At only twenty-six years old, Virginia's choice of vocation abruptly closed to her.
Over the following few years, Hall continued her travels in Europe, studying and seeking a new niche. Eventually she settled in France where she worked as a highly over-qualified file clerk. When Nazi Germany invaded in 1940, Hall was trapped in hostile territory. She found herself with no capacity to help the situation, so she soon sneaked out of France. Upon making her way to Britain she volunteered for the newly-formed Special Operations Executive (SOE), an organization launched by Winston Churchill to make war in ways other than direct military engagement. Often referred to as the "Baker Street Irregulars," these spooks were charged to "set Europe ablaze" with tools like propaganda, economics, and spies. Therein Virginia was educated in the arts of weaponry, strategy, and covert operations. In 1941 she was returned to German-occupied France under the guise of a news reporter from the US–a viable cover story in the days before the US joined the war.
Where most agents were in the field an average of three months, Hall's first tour kept her operating in France for fifteen months. Allies routinely made supply drops by parachute–providing Hall with covert signals as to where–and it was her task to aid the French in retrieving them. The Resistance, being a largely untrained lot, also looked to Hall to coordinate tandem attacks. To evade capture, she went through several identities and code-names, working out of bars and restaurants. On one occasion, she used an asylum as a base of operations.
The Germans moved to consume all of France in 1942, and Virginia was forced to flee through the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain. Her prosthetic leg, which she had nicknamed "Cuthbert", began to cause her pain during the journey, slowing her progress. She reported to her superiors via radio that Cuthbert was being problematic. Either the recipients didn't understand the message, or in a rare display of macabre humor, the response was: "If Cuthbert troublesome, eliminate him."
Once she'd returned to London, Hall joined the American intelligence office, the Office of Strategic Services. The US spy organization immediately saw Hall's skill and reputation as too valuable to be forsaken, thus despite the Gestapo's flier campaign to capture her, Virginia was sent back into France in 1944. In the guise of an elderly peasant woman, Virginia worked with members of the French resistance to destroy bridges, sabotage German trains, engage in guerrilla warfare, and sow general chaos for the Nazis.
After Normandy, it was Hall who first radioed to Allied Command that the German General Staff was moving its headquarters from Lyon to Le Puy, which led to a turning point for the fighting in France.
After war's end there was a document waiting in a safe in London making Virginia Hall a member of the Order of the British Empire, but she never received it due to efforts to keep her identity secret. She was awarded the US Distinguished Service Cross by General William Joseph Donovan–the only one awarded to a woman in World War II. The sole guest to view the ceremony was Virginia's mother.
After marrying a fellow OSS agent in 1950, Virginia worked for the CIA until she retired. She lived on a farm in Maryland until she died in 1982. Hall's niece, also from Baltimore, said of her aunt: "She never wanted any recognition. I think she believed she was just doing her job. Even when she retired, she would talk about books and animals, but not about the incredible things she had done."
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Boys..??
When I first started High School in 2002, I felt really strange because I went to an all girls Catholic High School. After changing from public school to Catholic school in the Seventh grade, I thought that transition was a major one, because I was introduced to new things like wearing uniforms and taking Religion classes. However, during the first few weeks when I started going to The Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica Estates, Queens, all of the freshmen girls were like, "Where are the guys??" Yes, we did have some male teachers, but there were no boys in our classes. Very weird!
In Sociology class during my Senior year of High School, we had to do a group project. My group decided to interview the different class years (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors) to find out things like what they thought about the uniforms, the school, rules, and having no boys in the classes. Most girls said that they felt strange at first (which was normal) but they gradually got used to the idea of "no boys." They said that with no boys in the classes, they felt that they would be able to concentrate more in class and pay more attention to the course work. They also said that they didn't have to wear make-up and look pretty to "impress" any guys (although some girls did do that to impress some of the male teachers!)
After four years of not really being around guys, when I started college, once again, I felt very strange. Beginning at Orientation, I asked myself, "Why are there guys here?" I guess this idea leads to one interpretation of the quote by John Dewey, "We get used to the chains we wear, and we miss them when removed." Since I was so use to not having guys around me, it feels very different now. Similarly, we get used to certain habits and when they are gone, we miss them.
In Sociology class during my Senior year of High School, we had to do a group project. My group decided to interview the different class years (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors) to find out things like what they thought about the uniforms, the school, rules, and having no boys in the classes. Most girls said that they felt strange at first (which was normal) but they gradually got used to the idea of "no boys." They said that with no boys in the classes, they felt that they would be able to concentrate more in class and pay more attention to the course work. They also said that they didn't have to wear make-up and look pretty to "impress" any guys (although some girls did do that to impress some of the male teachers!)
After four years of not really being around guys, when I started college, once again, I felt very strange. Beginning at Orientation, I asked myself, "Why are there guys here?" I guess this idea leads to one interpretation of the quote by John Dewey, "We get used to the chains we wear, and we miss them when removed." Since I was so use to not having guys around me, it feels very different now. Similarly, we get used to certain habits and when they are gone, we miss them.
Physician Assistant.
Within the next few years I hope to become a Physician Assistant. I became interested in the Physician Assistant Program around two years ago when I worked at my aunt’s medical office in Queens, NY over the summer of 2005. Before I worked in the medical office, I wanted to pursue a career in Social Work. However, I realized that social workers have to be very strict and firm sometimes and I don’t think I am that type of a person. After a few weeks of experiencing what it is like to be in a doctor’s office daily, I became very interested in the medical field.
My aunt is a Physician and her husband is a Physician Assistant. While working in the office, I was primarily a receptionist. However, I did have the opportunity of taking patients to their rooms, filling out patient charts and files, verifying their insurance, setting up appointments and also calling pharmacies to refill the patient’s medications.
I enjoy working with people, whether it is working with children, adults, or even the elderly. I am currently an Indian music teacher at the East Indian Music Academy, where I teach younger kids and adults to play Indian instruments and to sing. I personally believe that everyone should have a career where not only they love what they are doing, but it should also benefit others. For example, teachers help students, and doctors help their patients. Thinking beyond college, I think if I was to pursue a career as being a Physician, it would affect my family (children, etc.) in the years ahead. Therefore, I believe that I would like to be a Physician Assistant and I am willing to work hard in order to make this goal come true.
My aunt is a Physician and her husband is a Physician Assistant. While working in the office, I was primarily a receptionist. However, I did have the opportunity of taking patients to their rooms, filling out patient charts and files, verifying their insurance, setting up appointments and also calling pharmacies to refill the patient’s medications.
I enjoy working with people, whether it is working with children, adults, or even the elderly. I am currently an Indian music teacher at the East Indian Music Academy, where I teach younger kids and adults to play Indian instruments and to sing. I personally believe that everyone should have a career where not only they love what they are doing, but it should also benefit others. For example, teachers help students, and doctors help their patients. Thinking beyond college, I think if I was to pursue a career as being a Physician, it would affect my family (children, etc.) in the years ahead. Therefore, I believe that I would like to be a Physician Assistant and I am willing to work hard in order to make this goal come true.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
"FOOTPRINTS"
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.Scenes from his life flashed across the sky and he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life had flashed before him, he recalled that at the lowest and saddest times of his life there was only one set of footprints.
Dismayed, he asked, "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious child. I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering, when you saw only one set of footprints...
That was when I carried you."
Friends (Quote)
I think this quote is very true because from experience I know that when we are happy and everything is going well, the ones we call our "friends" are also rejoicing with us. However, when something goes wrong, they act as though they do not know us. Only our true friends are there to comfort us in times of pain and sorrow. Personally for the past few months when I have been going through a time of sadness, there is only one person I can call my "true" friend, who I will tell everything to and go to for advice. I think we all should choose our friends very wisely and make sure they are ones we will trust forever. 
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