Learning Another Language

"Quand on prend un risque, on peut perdre, quand on ne prend pas risque, on peut toujours perdre." —Joueuse, Film

You use both sides of your brain to learn a language. I find that knowing another language makes you a better writer. When you're first starting, you're struggling, and translating from your mother tongue to a new language, but as you get better, you will begin to think, and put sentences together, not in your mother's tongue, but rather in the new language.

So, why is this important? Because you're using your brain in a brand-new way. You're learning how people from a different culture think, and view the world. This makes writers multidimensional. 

For example, when I first moved to the U.S, I used to think in Farsi, and translate my thoughts to English. But after awhile, I began to think in English, and have a better understanding of the English speaking world. And the same thing with French. I no longer translate in my head from English to French. I simply think in French. 

I was on a tour once, when I was carrying a conversation with people from three different cultures, switching back and forth in my thoughts. These types of experiences allow my writing, and voice as a writer to be more unique. I am now able to put together my sentences, and use expressions that are different.

As you immerse yourself in various cultures, you add a new layer, a new depth in comprehending the world around you. People who only speak their mother tongue should experience this on their own to understand what I'm talking about. Once you do this, you'll find a new door to a new way of thinking. And if you took a language class in high school, that's even better because you have a base from where you can start.

Image by Rachael Presky

I used to speak French long ago as a student living abroad, but my French is super rusty because I have no one to practice it with. So this year, I set some new goals, and one of them was to take a French conversation class at Alliance Française de Los Angeles on Santa Monica Blvd. If you live in L.A, and are interested in learning French, give it a try. I think that they may let you audit one class. 

The class that I'm taking is advanced French which starts Wednesday for nine weeks in person from 2-3:30 p.m. What I like about their program is that sometimes they have access to events like a cultural exchange, a show or a movie screening. They also have online classes, and other levels. Since this is my first time in years, I'm not sure how difficult the advance class will be, but they told me that if it's too hard, I can switch to an intermediate class. 

FYI: I do not get paid to promote this school. There are other ones around, including community colleges. Choose what works for you, and your schedule.

Side note: I watch French movies, once with subtitles on, and repeatedly with subtitles off. I also listen to French Radio stations, and read French books when my time allows. My dad, who spoke five languages, taught me that these are some of the best methods to immerse yourself in another language. 

I don't speak like a native in English, Farsi, or French. I know this is unusual, but I have come to terms with the fact that I will never be able to speak like a native in any language, including my mother tongue. But I have no problem communicating with people, and that's what matters. 

 

The Marshes of Playa Vista

For decades, these marshes which were the habitat for various species, were damaged by developers. According to this article, the worse damage was done when they were building Marina Del Rey. 

Years later, developers and environmentalists butt heads over this area before apartment complexes, and businesses moved in what is today called Playa Vista. But the compromise was not an easy path. They even stabbed the city council member Ruth Galanter in her home, for wanting to protect the marshes.

Home to fishes, and wild life, this is an important birding area. On a day when the sun is out, and you're passing by, put away your cellphones, and you will hear the incredible voices of nature. 

Various bee species buzz around, and when there are too many, they put a yellow ribbon around a section, asking the public to be careful, especially if they're allergic to them. 

When I wear a yellow shirt, sometimes the bees land on my shoulder, and just sit there. Other times, they roam around my hair, smelling my conditioner. I keep telling them that I'm not a flower, but they don't listen 😄 

And on cool evenings, frogs and night creatures take over, making their voices heard. Unfortunately, there is not much left of these marshes, but I'm grateful for what is there and for the environmentalists who protect it. Now on to things built around the marshes...

I bumped into this pink trumpet tree, and had to take a picture. So, pretty.

4 p.m. Lunch at HomeState with a relaxed atmosphere, decent food, and good service. First time there. I got a potato Taco and mango green ice tea. 👍 Will try something else next time.

Coffee at Blue Bottle Coffee. When it comes to mixing espresso with almond milk, this place is the bomb. They have other locations, but I like this one. Rarely, a café or a restaurant gets this right, but this place knows exactly what they're doing. Will go back.

And if you don't know it already, I love, love, love sport cars, especially if they're stick shift, which I don't think this one is. My brother tells me to "grow up," you've past that age. He also tells me that I'm a woman, and not a man, and a Corvette is a "man's" car. But you know, I can't help it. This Corvette parked on the street, belonging to I don't know who, was hot hot hot, and I just had to take a photo. I cannot afford one, but I can always window shop. Right? 

Lunar Year 2026

For Chinese New Year, I decided to mozie on down to L.A's Chinatown. I asked my Chinese friend to help me out in navigating around all the closed streets and in explaining some of the traditions. 

This Lunar year is the year of "fire horse," and lasts for 16 days (Feb 17-March 3) until the Lantern Festival. Each Chinese zodiac sign comes with an animal sign, and each animal has five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water For example, a "fire horse" may have a different personality than the "earth horse".

After going round and round behind cars that were also looking for parking, we finally landed somewhere far, and headed downhill to the festivities. The crowds were considerate, and gave way to each other. The sound of drums, cymbals, and gongs drowned the voices of the crowd except for this crazy guy who wanted attention by yelling nonsense in our ears. The above video is the Lion Dance, supposed to bring good fortune, and ward off evil. Apologies for my hand in the video. The lion in front of me was waving their hand, and I was waving back.

The Golden Dragon is part of the Chinese mythology. It represents power, strength, prosperity and good fortune.

The lion dance with two performers is taxing on the body, especially if you're the end. This reminded me of a funny Lucy and Ethel Episode when they try on an Old Horse Costume, but neither one is willing to be the horse's end. 

Some people put money in Hongbao (Mandarin pronunciation) or Lai See (Cantonese pronunciation) which is a red envelope, to give to the lion. My Cantonese friend told me that sometimes the person holds the Lai See high, and the dancing lion jumps up and captures it, passing on good luck to the giver.

Happy Lunar Year!

We walked north, away from the parade. The food stalls, quite good, are there only during the celebrations. They have everything from barbecue to Thai to falafel and so on...

Incidentally, I have no connection to the people showing up in my pictures or videos, and I don't focus on anyone specific in any of my pictures, ever. I'm more interested in the vibe when I video or take photos. So, unless I identify someone specifically, or write about them to explain, I have no idea who they are, just like this tall dude who was passing by in my video.

I got a crème brûlée Boba. Both the service and the drink were excellent. You have to mix it or the top part will taste flat.

We continued walking and ended up in a permanent section of Chinatown with shops, bakeries, and places to grab a bite.

Here, I was asking my friend how to say Happy New Year, but I did not fair well. I was able to say it correctly after I ended the video. I now know how to say, Happy New Year, and thank you in Cantonese. You could say that I'm now fluent in Chinese 😝

Jinju Silk Lanterns

My friend and I decided to check out Lights of Korea: Jinju silk lanterns exhibit at the Korean Cultural center. I was intrigued to see what it was all about.

What surprised me was the cultural oasis I was about to unveil. In all the years living in L.A, I had no idea this place existed, and I know so little about the Korean culture. I didn't know how rich their culture was as I went through another exhibit, before even getting to the lanterns.

The Seonbi principal shapes Koreans through five values: Discipline, Courage, inclusion, wisdom, and honor. Their belief is instead of elitism, "live for the benefit of all humanity," and that diverse cultures, and values coexist. Seonbi embraces empathy, harmony, and balance ⚖️. The first photo is about how Seonbi present themselves in public by wearing traditional clothes, and hat—"Proper behavior starts with proper dress code." The second pix is about what walking teaches you about life, staying on the path, and opening your mind to new ideas.

The above is the work of Hyungwon Kang, photojournalist, and visual story teller with decades of experience working for organizations such as the L.A Times, AP, and Reuters.

Chusa Kim Jeonghui, an artist and a scholar lived in exile because of his political views. The above is a picture of the letter he wrote to his wife, followed by a translation. He did not know that his wife had already passed away.

The hats, worn between late 1300s and early 1900s, and other items are made of horsehair. The hats called Gat, represented a satus symbol, mostly worn by aristocrats, noblemen, and scholars.

Heo Hyeong's folding screen "depicting plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo, symbolizes the four seasons.

Inspired by Sin Yunbok's art, "Portrait of a Beauty," the silk lanterns imitate these traditional dresses, Hanbok, which were made up of layers of clothing with vibrant colors. The lanterns were used in the 1300s as indoor/outdoor lighting and in ceremonies.

During the Japanese invasion of Korea in the late 1500s, people living in Jinju began lighting up the river with lights to stop the Japanese from crossing the river. These lanterns would also have writings on them for the residents to communicate with each other across the river, checking in on their families.

There were two big screens, displaying photographs about Korea, and their food culture. I was trying to film it, and talk to my friend who wanted to know where we should have dinner.

From there we went to BCD Tofu House. It has several locations. We went to the one on Wilshire in Koreatown. It was an authentic experience as most of the customers were Korean.

Korean restaurants usually serve complimentary warm Boricha—toasted barley tea with a nutty flavor, and small side dishes. To me, this tea tasted bland, and I gave the fishes to my friend. The small plate sitting next to the Cass beer was also a fish dish. My friend said that they were both really good and did not taste fishy.

I had the tofu bibimbap in a hot clay pot, and my friend, had the same with beef. Mine was yum. My friend said that the beef was a bit too chewy, but other than that, she enjoyed it. The Cass beer was excellent, and they gave us chilled glasses! Service was great. Do recommend, and I'll probably will go back and try something else the next time.

  

A perfect Day

One of my favorite places is Manhattan Beach because it has a small town vibe with a real sense of community. I used to come here often until tar balls—black goo from oil spills—covered the wet sand, sticking to my feet, making it difficult, and frustrating to get them off.

After a long absence, I went back to Manhattan Beach this week, and to my surprise, the water was clean, and there were no goo or crowds. In fact, there was hardly anyone there. Just miles and miles of walking path with a few people scattered here and there, spread across a long stretch of sand, a jogger or two passing by, and one person in a wet suit. It felt good to be there.

A picture is worth a thousand words. 

I felt a silent turbulence within me just like the waves in the ocean. I'm flying solo these days. No drama. No one to disappoint me, and no one that I could disappoint. Just me, myself, and I wrapped in my thoughts, trying to figure things out. I find that if I allow it, life will disappoint. It's best not to expect anything. 

"Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair." —Dhar Mann

It's difficult to find authenticity these days, both in life, and online. I have a handful of real friends, people that I have met in person, and have known for a long time, people who are worthy of my friendship, and who consider me worthy of theirs. Nowadays, I'm cautious about trusting people because people will tell you what you want to hear. It's best to watch someone's actions than to listen to what they say.

When I saw this Laughing Gull, it reminded me of me. Just staring out, meditating, and then flying away. Except that I can't fly away. It must be a great feeling to be able to fly away like that. 

Someone once told me that she learns most about herself when she is in a relationship. I'm the exact opposite. I learn most about myself, others, the world, and the universe by spending time alone. If you haven't already, try spending quality time with yourself, doing nothing. The revelation is incredible. So, yes. It was a perfect day, spending time alone. I know that it will take time for me to heal, to feel whole, to trust again, and to allow people into my life.  

Trust lost is a haunting specter, 

An empty space where love once dwelled.

How can one regain what is forever altered?

How can one heal when trust is felled?

                   —Unknown

2025, A Shit Year

On Sunday, December 28, 2025, the writer, Homa Pourasgari, collapsed and died while taking a hip hop class. Her family wanted her to stick to crocheting, but she wouldn't have it. Always too adventurous for her own good, she lived a life outside the norm. When all her family and friends were planning their wedding from a young age, she travelled everywhere, living in different countries as often as possible, and meeting people from all walks of life. 

She enjoyed watching the movie, Charmed, with her teenage cousins instead of sitting around in a room full of pretentious family members. She would go on rides all day in Disneyland with her young nieces while sitting in the front row, and getting soaked from head to toe. A kid at heart, Homa got along well with children, and young adults. Her friends would say that she was stubborn to a fault, always wanting to do things her way, even if it meant making as many mistakes as possible. Her motto was, life was meant to be lived, and the future was too far away. 

A foodie, she would joke with her friends that she would not die of diseases, but rather from eating herself to death. Although she enjoyed exercising, she did everything late in life. At 18 when she had just learned how to ride a bicycle, she rode around a swimming pool on a dare, and ended up at the bottom of the pool with her new bicycle. 

When she was 23, she ran a famous franchise retail store even though she had no experience, and all her father's friends in France, and Iran said that there was no way that a franchise would let her open a business under their name. At 35, she left an accounting career, took anatomy classes, got licensed, taught indoor cycling, cardio kickboxing, and weight trained male clients, working alongside her twenty-something year old colleagues. 

At 40, she decided to change paths, and write novels. People around her told her that she was crazy, and that she couldn't do it, but she went ahead, and did it anyway. When people told her that she couldn't do something, she became determined to go, and do it. A conventional life bored her, and conservative people and her didn't mesh. Never trying to fit in, she did what she wanted when she wanted. 

She asked to be cremated, and set free in the sea. She never liked funeral flowers, and preferred lot's of color. Homa said that before she died, she didn't want to have any regrets about how she missed an opportunity to do what she wanted. She asked that after her death, instead of crying, to dance and celebrate her.

Anyway, this is the obituary that I wrote about myself. I wanted to do this because 2025 was a shit year for me. I had to let go of too many people because they hurt me both mentally, and emotionally. My family and friends are always surprised at how often I let hurtful things slide. I think it's because the people I care about are an important part of my life. Even so, I do have a boiling point. When people cross that line, I move on, because I can no longer trust them, nor forget or forgive what they did. 

With that said, I'm announcing 2025 to be the year that I died. I like hot pink roses. So, only if you fancy, when you pass by the sea, throw one in the water in my memory.

 

Charles Dickens and Tam O'Shanter

Every Christmas, I try to do something festive, and this time I ended up at the Tam O'Shanter. This place has been around for more than 100 years. There is a ton of history behind it which I will not get into here, but if you're interested, you can find more info at Discover Los Angeles. They used to have a neon Christmas sign, but for some odd reason, they have taken it down, and so, it's easy to miss this place as you drive or walk on by.

The story behind the lightening bolt is based on a Scottish poem by Robert Burns, titled Tam O'Shanter. This poem is about the dangers of overdrinking. Tam was a Scottish farmer who would go out with his friends, and get drunk. One night on his way home, he runs into witches and warlocks dancing around the fire. He watches them from a distance, but when they spot him, they come after him. As he tries to run away with his horse,

 

"The lightening flash from pole to pole, 

Near and more near the thunders roll,"

 

And so, several years after the restaurant was established, the owner added the lightening bolt logo.

The décor of this place creates a warm ambience for the patrons who want to hangout for hours, but I think that they only give you an hour and-a-half table time during the holidays, We had no problem because we got in two hours before closing, and were able to sit for a longer period.

Walt Disney and his staff were regulars here, and they usually sat at table 31 by the fire.

There is a cozy bar area where people have meals at lunchtime. Someone told me that the sandwiches are tasty.

They get busy this time of year, but even so, the service is great, the tea is perfectly hot, just the way I like it, and the crème brûlée is pretty good.

The quartet of Dickens Carolers (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass), take a request of your favorite Christmas song when they come to your table. They have a hat where you can drop in your tip. I asked them if it was okay to film them, and they said yes. They asked if I would give them credit for their singing, and handed me their card. There were two different websites on the card: Voices of Christmas, and Wonderelles Music. Apparently you can book them for various events.

They have outside seating as well. I'm not sure if the carolers come outside to sing. So, before you reserve a table, call ahead to find out. Below are more pix. It's a nice place, and puts you in a holiday mood. I wanted to come here last year, but the inside was completely booked. If you plan to go during the holidays, reserve your table at least two months ahead.

Cleaning House

"Keep only things that speak to your heart. Then, take the plunge, and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life."—Marie Konmari 

It's time to eliminate some things from my life. A few days ago, or so, I put together donation boxes. I still have more to go. The above picture of my stuff is a small sample. These are things that make me hold on to the past. Things that no longer give me joy. Things that are now meaningless to me. 

First in, first out. I began gathering what was sitting in front of me, and wondering why was I still hanging on to them—sweaters, jackets, T-shirts, sweatshirts, cuffs, rings, beads, and necklaces. Then I made a few calls to various charities to see if they were accepting donations. I know that it's strange to call up places, but many of them are full, and will turn you down when you show up at their door.

 

Anyway, I finally found a place, and drove there. The lady working at the donation desk kept all the jewelry to herself, especially the handmade ones. She couldn't believe why I would be giving them away. I told her that although they made me happy once, they no longer brought me happiness. I also said that I'm glad that she likes them because all that silver has now found a new home. Once I gave away these items, I felt free. Because sometimes in life, we hang on to things for too long. 

Note: I'm one of those people who folds things neatly before giving them away. If you're like me, this can be a bit frustrating, because when you give them to a charity, they will undo all of the clothes, and toss them into a bin. Yet, I continue to neatly fold the giveaways because that's my way of showing respect to them, and to the receiver, even if they will never know how much I cared about them at one point in time.  

Yanaka, Part II

Mari, my guide, gave me a map, told me to go and checkout a popular outdoor market, Yanaka Ginza, and then she had to leave. I began to explore the area with no definite plan in mind, and happened upon an interesting looking house. I was standing in front of Asakura Museum of Sculpture, the home of the famous sculptor, Fumio Asakura, turned into a museum at his request after his passing.

The front sign read: A sculptor's eye. I checked in my bag because they asked me to. A docent near the entrance, who wanted to practice his English, engaged me in a long conversation. I had a hard time getting away from him. And finally, when I was able to break loose, the museum was about to close, and I had to rush.

This museum is off the beaten path, and I do recommend it. You go up several staircases where you discover hidden spaces, sculptures, and tools. Fumio Asakura also held classes for his students in his house. The last climb up leads to a rooftop garden with views of what feels like the old Japan. Had the docent not pestered me, I could have easily spent an hour there, just taking in all the views, the mood, and the flavors it had to offer. More info here.

I continued with my stroll, and ran into shops that had handmade items. In the first one, there was a man with a sewing machine who made things, and sold them on his premises. I just thought that his business was different. It was disorderly, with a homey feeling. The guy working there was kind and friendly.

At the second store, I browsed around, and found a book cover which I bought. It is now covering one of my favorite books, The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. Feeling a bit lost when I stepped outside, I asked a couple of teenagers how to get to the open market. They pointed the way, and I left.

On my way, I saw this cute kid walking by himself afterschool, and I had to take a picture of him and his Randoseru—a style of backpack all Japanese students use.

It was getting dark by the time I got to the outdoor market. There were small shops and food stalls. I bought a gift—a small change purse that looked like a turtle, sesame seed soft served ice cream, and two small sweet potatoes to take back to my hotel. The elderly lady selling the potatoes spoke only Japanese. From her hand gesture, I understood that the potatoes came in pairs. So, I bought a pair, and tried to ask her for a take away box when she wagged her index finger at me, saying "Nein." Nein means no in German. I think she was used to dealing with European customers. Anyway, I said okay, and took my potatoes on a thin sheet of paper. She gestured to me to come back, perhaps because she felt sorry for me, and decided to give me a small plastic container to carry it in.

I ran into Zakuro lamp shop by accident. They teach students how to make Turkish mosaic lamp. It was enjoyable to spend a few minutes watching the students work. If I was staying in Tokyo for a longer period, I would have liked to have participated. Below are more pix, and a tip, in case you're interested in visiting the area.

Note: If you go to Yanaka, and decide to walk aimlessly like me, and get lost, make sure that you know how to get back. Phone maps don't always work, and Japanese subways (in comparison to the straight forward ones of Hong Kong, France, and Germany), are not the easiest to figure out. My hotel was a bit far from where I was, and because Yanaka is a local, non-tourist area, Japanese Taxi drivers who pass by with empty cars do not like to give rides to foreigners. They are uncomfortable with the people who do not speak the language. And Japanese pedestrians in this area also have trust issues with foreigners. So, it's not always easy to ask someone for help. I managed to get back to my hotel using the subway, but it took a bit of an effort.