Tag Archives: music

You Can Call Me… Grape?

How would you feel standing up in front of a group of Koreans and telling your life story???

Monday night, that’s exactly what I did.

Perhaps now is that time when you are sitting there wondering how I managed to get myself in this situation. I’d say that’s a fair question.

Well… it all started when I joined the – don’t laugh – traditional Korean drum and dance club. It’s called pungmul -풍물. Have I ever played drums before? No. Do I have any rhythm? I’m white… so no. So why did I join? I joined for a few reasons. 1) I never had the chance to learn Korean drum, so what better place to learn than in Korea?! 2) It’d be a fun skill to say I learned while abroad 3) This could be a great chance to meet and interact with local koreans at my university. And lastly, 4) WHY NOT?!

One of the traditinal drums: 장구 – Janggu

From the very first club meeting I went to, I knew I made the right decision. The people there were so kind and fun, I immediately felt welcomed. And that’s saying a lot, considering hardly any of the club members speak English (and we all know I hardly speak any Korean). But the best part is it doesn’t matter, most of the meetings I just spend the time laughing and learning the instruments. We can still joke around and enjoy each others presence, and I’ve really enjoyed every meeting so far.

We had our first performance this past weekend! We went around to multiple restaurants in Sinchon 신촌, a popular area for young people that is located near our university campus, and played for the restaurant owners. From my understanding, this tradition comes from when 풍물 players used to go to farms in the olden days and play for farmers to bring them good luck in their harvest. We play for the restaurant owners to bring good luck to their business. In return, they gave us free food and drinks (!!!!!).

Where there is free korean food, you will always find Paige.

When I showed up for the performance, I had no idea it was going to be such a big ordeal. Our club has about 10-15 consistent members, but for this performance, we teamed up with other universities and played, so that there was around ~75 people. And at first, I was literally the only non-asian. My friends from my program are Korean-American and Chinese-American, but they could still blend in. But me? Whiter than white? It was the first time I was really aware of my whiteness, as strange or shocking as that seems. It was the first time I was really reminded that I was a minority, and it was… an interesting experience to say the least.

We lined up in parade form, and played all around 신촌. The drums aren’t exactly quiet as you can imagine, so it wasn’t long before people would turn to look at us and take out their cell phones to record. It was so much fun!

We ended the night by heading over another popular young area in Seoul, called Hongdae 홍대. There we found a spot in the street and put on a full performance. Afterward, all of the university students went out and ate and drank together! With the help of my good friend soju, I was able to actually hold some conversations in Korean, which I count as a success!!! The entire experience was one I’ll never forget.

That’s all good and fun, but now may be the time you’re wondering why I had to get up in front of everyone and tell my life story?! Get to the point already!!!

In this club, everyone goes by their nickname. They don’t call each other by their real names… ever. And in order to get a nickname, you stand up in front of all the members and tell them your life story. Your family, your friends, your dreams, your failures, your ideal man or woman, your favorites books and movies, etc etc etc. The whole ordeal takes about an hour, but it was SO much fun! Through all this, you really get to know each member. Then, at the end, potential nicknames are thrown out and everyone votes!

My nickname is 포도! Literal translation is Grape, but it comes from ‘포장되지 않은 진실된 도음” Which basically means someone who is sincere and pure in all their help, since I am someone who really enjoys volunteering and hope to work for an NGO one day. I absolutely love it, and when I was given the nickname, I truly felt like I was part of the club.

Aren’t we the cutest club you ever saw????

(((Credit to the lovely Ashuka Xue for the pictures in this post! Thanks for the memories girl)))

Location: Seoul, South Korea

Singing for Strangers

On Tuesday, February 23rd, I attended a Hudson Taylor concert at the Black Box Theatre, which is just a short walk from my apartment. For any of you who don’t know, Hudson Taylor is an Irish band, formed by two brothers from Dublin, Alfie and Harry Hudson-Taylor. I’ve been a fan of their music for years, but they aren’t very popular in the United States. When I found out that they were playing a gig in Galway back in the fall of 2014, I bought tickets as soon as I could (which meant waking up early on a school day and ordering them on my phone… at the time, I wasn’t in the right time zone for getting them at a decent hour!). Whenever I had anxieties about leaving home before coming to Ireland, I would remind myself that I had tickets to Hudson Taylor because I knew there was no way in the world I would ever miss that!

Three of my friends joined me: Amara, Kaity, and Kelly. We got ready at my apartment before heading over to the venue early, but on the walk over, we got caught in a torrential downpour that made straightening my hair completely useless! But we laughed it off and took a photo of ourselves to remember how we had been soaked by the Irish rain… and definitely not for the first time!

Two friends and I soaked by the Irish rain

Rain soaked, but still glad to be seeing Hudson Taylor!

Arriving early was definitely a good thing, as the concert was general admission, or standing room only. The four of us were delighted when we entered the theatre and walked straight up to the front to claim our space. We couldn’t have been any closer – front row was better than any of us had expected. Needless to say, I was over the moon.

There were two opening acts, one of which was a band called Southern composed of a brother and sister from Belfast as well as a drummer and bassist from England. They were really great and I definitely hope they gain popularity. Below is a video of a song they performed at the concert:

After Southern finished, there was a period of excruciating anticipation while the stage was set up for Hudson Taylor. In the interim, I tried to guess which of the brothers would be directly in front of us on stage, and I decided it was going to be Alfie because the microphone was shorter and Alfie’s instruments were eventually brought out and placed on our side. And soon enough, my prediction came true.

Alfie Hudson-Taylor

Alfie took his place just in front of us as he, Harry, and their band started the concert with a high energy performance of “Just A Thought” – a song I’ve been singing so much that by now all my housemates should know the lyrics from memory.

Alfie and Harry Hudson Taylor performing right in front of us

Could we get any closer?

Fortunately for me, they played a bunch of my favorite songs, so I got to sing along very loudly. Because of that, I’ll include a Hudson Taylor music video for you to watch instead of the ones I took from the concert… I didn’t realize how loud I was singing until I could hear myself on the video when I got home. It’s equal parts embarrassing and funny, but it’s more pertinent for you to watch a video of Hudson Taylor, not Hudson Taylor featuring special guest Maddison.

The video I’ve included below will always hold a special place in my heart because it was filmed in Galway, not too far from where I’m living now. As of late, I’ve adopted it as my Galway theme song, so it’s frequently listened to on my iPod on walks to and from class. In fact, I had a conversation with a kid I met one night in a pub and we got talking about Hudson Taylor, and surprisingly enough he told me that he was there the day Hudson Taylor filmed this video. Apparently, he was asked to spot Harry and Alfie when they jump in the water at the end of the video. He could have been making it all up, of course, but part of me wants to believe it. Even if it isn’t true, it makes a good story, so I’m sticking to it.

I didn’t want the concert to end, but the guys did mention that they would be going to the Roisin Dubh pub afterwards if any of us wanted to meet them there. After singing, dancing, and cheering for hours, my voice was all but gone by the time the concert ended. I booked it out of the theatre with my friends in tow so that we could stop by the merchandise stand and then get to the Roisin. Luckily, I was already familiar with the Roisin and how to get there quickly, so Kaity, Kelly, and I made it there in record time.

The pub was packed when we arrived, as expected. It took us 35 minutes just to weave through the crowds to get up to the bar. After we all ordered drinks, we found a seat with a good view of the entrance so we could see if Alfie and Harry showed up. After the better part of an hour, a lot of people started leaving, probably because they were impatient and didn’t think the guys were coming after all. However, I was determined, so we enjoyed our drinks and our conversation, gleefully aware that the thinning crowd worked to our advantage.

Soon enough, I saw the band walk in the front door, so I assumed Alfie and Harry weren’t too far behind. But then, I thought it would make sense for Alfie and Harry to come through a back door if their band came in the front, so I told Kaity to hold our seats at the bar while I checked the upstairs area for Alfie and Harry. As soon as I reached the top of the stairs I ran into Harry, who was surrounded by girls… which made me cringe at the thought of being associated with fan girls, so I turned the corner instead and saw Alfie talking to a group of guys. But I ended up catching Harry and having a conversation with him before a group of guys came over and asked me to take their photo with Harry. I did and since I had asked Harry previously if I could get a photo with him, I thought one of the guys would take my photo for me. Unfortunately, though, one of them dropped their glass and it shattered on the floor, so Harry was ushered to another location before I could catch him for a photo.

Though I was disappointed about that, later in the night I ended up standing next to Harry and talking to the drummer from Southern, Eoghan. He was really nice and was also glad that I was having a Guinness, so we drank to that and to Southern’s successful performance that evening. I still didn’t manage to get a picture with Harry – soon after, he left the Roisin, but I was glad I got to talk to him.

Meeting Alfie was my favorite part, though. I just went up to him and said “Hi Alfie!” and we started talking. He was really friendly; he gave me a hug when he found out I was from America and had been wanting to see them for such a long time. He asked me my name and when I told him, he said that Maddison was a “lovely, beautiful name,” which, of course, made me melt! Alfie seemed really genuine – he even introduced himself to me and shook my hand (as if I didn’t already know who he was) and he kept using my name in conversation, which made me feel like I was having a chat with a friend. He also got a little bit emotional when I told him I wished that their show would never end. Similarly, he was humbled by the fact that I was American; it must have been amazing to realize that his music has a wider reach than expected. After a quick photo and one more hug, we said goodbye, though I didn’t want to!

Alfie and me hanging out at the Roisin Dubh

All in all, it was a great night that I will never forget. My friends and I might be going to see Hudson Taylor again in early May, but this time we’ll take more friends along with us. I’m sad that the concert is over, but I’m thankful I had the opportunity to see Hudson Taylor from the front row and meet them at a pub afterwards. Only in Ireland!

Until next time,

Maddison

Location: Galway, Ireland

Loquacious, Literary, and Loving Every Second

Now that I’m back in Galway, I have been drinking up the abundance of literary culture faster than the pints I’ve been partaking in. I really lucked out in choosing to study in a place where music, art, history, and literature dominate the city; around every turn, there is something new and wonderful to stumble upon.

But to get to those places, sometimes it helps to ask questions along the way. Before I arrived in Galway I was determined to find the residence of Nora Barnacle, who was James Joyce’s wife. She was born and raised in Galway before she met Joyce, and now her old home has been turned into a museum (even though the house is tiny!). When my friend Mary and I ventured into town, we stopped by the Galway tours office and I asked the man working how to get to Nora Barnacle’s house. Jokingly, he said “She’s dead, she doesn’t live there anymore.” After a bit of laughter, he did give us directions, and after two failed attempts, Mary and I finally made it to the small house nestled inside a side alleyway. We happened to arrive at it at the same time as an Australian couple, so we all helped each other out by taking one another’s photos.

Mary and I standing in front of Nora Barnacle's House.

Mary and I outside Nora Barnacle’s house

It’s still difficult for me to fathom that I’m so close to the history of my favorite authors. Every time I go into the center of town, I pass a statue of Oscar Wilde, who is one of my all-time favorites. I’m loving being surrounded by a prominent literary culture here – it’s such a change from what life is like back in State College.

Oscar Wilde statue in Galway City

A few days after our Nora Barnacle adventure, my friends and I chatted with a local shop owner and got directions to Charlie Byrne’s Book Shop, which stole my heart as soon as I entered. I could have spent hours looking around, but we had to get to class so we only had about an hour to browse. It was time well spent, though!

Me reading a book in Charlie Byrne's book shop

Me enjoying a book in Charlie Byrne’s

There are so many book shops in Galway – I seem to notice a new one each time I walk down Shop Street. It’s definitely a dream come true for me… all of it is. There is something inherently magical about Galway, as cheesy as that sounds. The constant music that’s played in the streets, in the pubs… everywhere, really… seems like a soundtrack to life. I don’t think I’ve gone a day without singing here – it’s impossible not to. And yes, my friends and housemates do call me out on how I’m always singing. Galway makes it so easy to live my passions, though.

And Galway always seems to point me in the right direction, too!

Me pointing at a sign for Diagon Alley in the book shop

Diagon Alley and Galway feel like the same place to me!

Looking forward to sharing more of my adventures with you!

-Maddison

Location: Galway City, Galway, Ireland

Lesson Learned

Sometimes I’m less hardcore than I’d hope. Did I say “sometimes?” Because I mean all the time. But hey, I have my cool moments. At last night’s Girl Talk concert, for example, I rapped along to things. I screamed, “Yeah Pennsylvania!” when he gave a shout-out to our home state. And at the end, I said, “This was good, but I liked him in Baltimore better.” I was clearly the coolest fan in the audience.

Here’s a pic:

But then there was lightning. Night lightning. Big, scary bolts flashing across the sky. And as much as I wanted to ~~impress the cute Canadian guys around me~~ make the most of my study abroad experience, I got out of there. I chose the safety of my dorm room over the Black Keys concert, and so far, I haven’t looked back. My friend felt the same way, and we spent the walk home discussing how logical it was that we would have died had we stayed. If there were one adjective to describe us, it would be “hardcore.” Although “really cool” works too.

I know; it’s a pathetic story. But that’s what travel does; it presents my issues to me, nearly PowerPoint style. Suddenly I know what I need to work on. (Item number one: always assuming I’m about to die. Apparently no one got struck by lightning last night. Weird.) But the great thing about study abroad is that it’s long term; I have four more weeks to soak up Quebec. And so far, I’ve been doing a good job–eating poutine at Chez Ashton, walking through old town at night, and making new friends. Besides, there’s another concert tomorrow night. Let’s just hope it doesn’t storm.

Location: Plaines d'Abraham, Quebec, QC

Happy birthday to me!

I’m extroverted, yet shy. It’s a combination destined for misery, but somehow I ended up surrounded by ten new friends at a Canadian bar on my very own birthday. And that was only my first day here.

When our professor first suggested we go to a bo�te � chanson, the aforementioned drinking hole, my classmates and I were skeptical. A “song box?” She explained that it was tr�s Qu�b�cois, and that all the locals go to buy drinks and sing along to popular songs. It sounded cheesy, but I didn’t want to spend the night in my dorm room alone, especially on my birthday. So I tagged along.

What sounded like a drag was actually a cozy, cavernous bar filled with French Canadian 20-somethings. I’ve always been envious of glamorous city-dwelling, bar-hopping 27-year-olds (who isn’t?), and here I was celebrating my birthday among them.

What made this a “song box,” though, and not a bar, was the man who entertained us in the middle of the room. He sang and played classic songs on his guitar with enthusiasm; it was impossible to ignore the thumping of his happy, familiar tunes. The audience sang and bounced along the entire time. It was lovely. And did I mention that the entertainer told the audience it was my birthday and dedicated “Brown Eyed Girl” to me? Lovely.

My only picture is blurry, but hopefully you can tell how intimate and cozy this place was:

Most of the songs were in French, and created by the great chansonniers of Quebec–the region’s classic song makers. These songs have become the region’s musical prize, and they form a style of classic, perky folk songs unique to Quebec. The audience’s enthusiasm for these songs was infectious, and at some point, I realized my friends and I were the only non-locals in the room.

The atmosphere was festive as the Qu�b�cois celebrated their identity. And I celebrated it with them. I can’t imagine that any club, no matter how loud the pop songs and how bright the neon lights, could ever top the joy and camaraderie at Voutes Napoleon last night. But I guess I’ll have to see about that.

Location: 680A Grande Allée Est, Quebec, QC, Canada

Trip to Galway

Yesterday, a group of my friends and I traveled to Galway for the day. This will be an entire photo blog. Enjoy.

Starting off with some photos from Friday night, which we spent at Stables:

^Jennie and myself about to go out.

^How much one Irish person drinks in a week.

^Katie’s first Guinness.

^Friends

Our trip to Galway:

^On the way to the bus station at 8AM. Moon still out :]

^We made it!

^Friars River

^More River

^Me

^Meagan and Danielle on the River

^Katie and me being goofy.

^Pretty cool tree.

^Leaf imprinted on the sidewalk.

^Cute sign.

^Found on a trashcan. hah.

^Human Statue.

^Spanish Arch.

^Spanish Quarters.

^Street shot.

^Excellent.

^Broken clock.

^COOKIES!

^Pretzel from a street vendor.

^Some things we found in the shops were just wonderful.

^Bike with flowers :]

^If there are musicians…I will find them.

^Band called Keywest. Incredible. Here is a video of them.

^Real Irish Music (we had no idea he was behind us).

^They were fun!

^SO MUCH GOOD MUSIC.

^Excellent, right? Right. Right, right, right.

^Buildings.

^Cathedral from a distance.

^Cathedral up close.

^HUUUUGE Cathedral.
^Organ inside the Cathedral.

^Candle inside the Cathedral.

A LOT OF PHOTOS, I KNOW. Gonna look for a better way to do this (put a slideshow in? eh?).

Cheers,
Melanie

Location: Galway, Ireland

A Night at the Opera

A couple months ago, I was looking through my grandparents’ old house. While shuffling through dusty piles of letters, papers, and family photographs, I came across an envelope full of little pictures. They were photographs my grandfather took during World War II when he was stationed as a soldier in France and sent home to my grandmother. On the back of each, he wrote dates, names of people and locations, and often a comment. He wrote on the back of a picture of the Palais Garnier, where the Op�ra National de Paris shares its home with the legendary Phantom, that he would have loved to see a performance there, if he ever came back. He was a musician himself and he loved classical music and opera; it would have meant a lot to him. He never got that chance, so I decided that I would go instead.

Last night there was a salon of classical music – a string quartet played Schumann and a string/woodwind octet performed pieces by Hindemith, a more contemporary composer. While the music was good and the musicians extremely talented, I enjoyed seeing the Palais Garnier more than anything. The ornate decorations, the balconies, rich red curtains, and paintings on the ceiling made it feel like stepping back a hundred years or so. The building is immense, too; you enter through two grand halls before even coming to the theatre. Of course, I came in through the backdoor with the rest of the poor students buying last-call tickets ten minutes before the show. But still, it was cool (and worth the 10 euros).

And although my imagination was working hard and wishing for it, the Phantom didn’t show up. Maybe he only makes an appearance for actual operas.

Palais Garnier

Location: Place de L'Opéra, Paris, France

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