In the past week, I've visited France, Switzerland, the Med, the Middle East and even Ukraine, in mind, soul and belly at least - all without leaving the borders of East Sussex! No forms to fill in, no tests, no pre-travel panic, just here. A fabulous walking tour with Jenny Flood, as part of 'Walk This Way', discovering 'Hidden Newhaven' and learning about various comings and goings between France and Newhaven over the years and the presence of a once rather grandiose 'London Paris Hotel' on the quay there; a visit enfin to Mamoosh at the far end of Beach Road in Newhaven to sample its notoriously good Middle-Eastern patisserie, soft, fluffy pita breads and the smoothest hummus ever; visits to Seaford & Tide Mills beaches, where the sea has returned to a state of gently-lapping, almost-turquoise waters and where under blue skies and sparkling sunlight, with occasional boats barely bobbing on the waters further out, you could (almost) feel like you were 1000 miles South; and perhaps the most 'transportative' of all, the fundraiser screening of 2021 film 'Olga' at Lewes Depot, about a young gymnast, Olga, who is exiled in Switzerland after the Maiden uprising in Ukraine in 2013 - in which her mother is embroiled as an outspoken journalist - and how she tries to adapt to her new homeland, speaking only a little French, all the time torn as she learns ever more about what is really happening back in her motherland. Respect to Lewes Depot for donating all the proceeds from the last Sunday's screening of 'Olga' to help Ukraine, ditto the proceeds of all the upcoming screenings of 'Olga' (at least once daily) over the coming week. (Uckfield Picture House are also screening 'Olga' as a fundraiser this coming week).
As an adult, 'Olga' was incredibly powerful and moving and I couldn't recommend it more highly and I would also urge you to encourage teens (it's a '15' certificate) to go and see it and put themselves in the shoes of a teenager in exile from Ukraine, experience a taste of the courage of the Ukrainian people standing up for their rights when facing adversity and attack and also understand why knowing even a little bit of another language can help so much and even transform an experience, relationships, opportunities and so much more when visiting another country. I wonder how many people are trying to learn even just a few words of Ukrainian to welcome, as hosts, helpers or just as fellow citizens, the refugees who are starting to arrive in the UK, some of whom will be hosted by kind residents of Lewes, Newhaven, Uckfield, Seaford and many surrounding villages and the wider East Sussex area? Duolingo have had a surge in interest in learning Ukrainian on their app and it's a good idea. Otherwise, you can find all sorts of basic phrases on the Internet, or learn 14 basic phrases here - complete with audio, thank goodness- from hello! (dobryj den'), how are you? (Jak spravy) through to bye! (pa-pa).
And so to the coming week of places, initiatives, activities, products, services and events with an international flavour going on in our area. The intention is always to keep this as succinct of possible, but also to suggest and share a good variety, to appeal to many (including a new section specifically for kids), hence it's still a work in progress and feedback and contributions are always welcome, by email to allabroadbus@gmail.com or DM/PM on social media @allabroadbus.D'akudju (thank you)!
All Abroad! Bus local round-up #7:::
For KIDS
Every weekend for a while, Lewes Depot has been showing English-language versions of some of the beautiful animated Japanese U/PG films made by Studio Ghibli. This weekend is no exception with the screening of the quirky "Pom Poko", in which "a magical group of shapeshifting tanuki (Japanese racoon-dogs) band together to save their forest homeland from the bulldozers of greedy land developers." Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th at 11 am, with 'relaxed' and 'autism-friendly' screenings at 11.15am on Saturday and Sunday respectively. More info and tickets here.
As well as seeing "Olga" (mentioned above), older kids/teens 15+, especially those learning French, may be also interested in "La Mif", A Kino Collective screening on Thursday 31/3 at 6pm only, of an award-winning "bristling, contemporary drama set in a teenage girls’ residential care home in Geneva". Perfect for the 'family' topic - for any other French teachers out there!
From the comfort of your own home...
There's still time to get your kids travelling around the world of language and culture with stamps! StampIT (the Association of Scottish Philatelic Societies) offers a youth programme where children can discover a world of stamps through interactive games and activities, plus they are running a competition for kids aged 5-15 to create a written or video presentation linked to postage stamps, in which kids should also show off a bit of writing in a second language to their own: "Around the world with stamps 2022". Deadline for entries 8th April. More info here.
>>BOOK NOW, DO SOON...
There are still a few places left for our All Abroad! Bus Easter holiday clubs, 11th-14th April, in which we 'transport' children and young people abroad to French-, German- and Spanish-language countries and cultures across the world, through the languages, tastes, cultures and celebrations of food - all from the lovely indoor/outdoor location that is Glynde Reading Room, just minutes away from Glynde station. As well as fun and games, participants will enjoy preparing, cooking and feasting on snacks and lunches inspired by recipes from abroad and immerse themselves in arts, crafts and music in workshops collaborations with local artists Emily Warren @thestealthyrabbit, Clare O'Leary @clareolearyart and local multilingual musician Pam Hewitt of Pam and de Femmes. More info and bookings here. Fully-funded places available for children eligible for benefits-related free school meals and/or who meet a few other criteria. Email allabroadbus@gmail.com for details.
...DO..
It's the last weekend of the 'Walk this way' programme. There are very few tickets left, but you could always turn up in case of 'no-shows'?
Chat in Spanish on Wednesdays at (from) 5pm at The Dorset c/o Luis Diamante, with his free weekly drop-in conversation group. Luis has lived in East Sussex for many years, moving here from La Coruña in Spain, although he is originally from Argentina. Don't worry, he speaks Spanish with a regular Spanish accent in the group! He used to teach Spanish, but now he prefers the informal arrangement of people just turning up to chat, some to really learn and improve, but anyone with any level is free to come along. There may well be a grammar point to focus on, or something to read beforehand, so get in touch in advance, or just turn up and try it out some time. Todos bienvenidos.¡Gracias Luis!
Abyss Booty Camp by Twerk4Fitness is on again this Saturday 26thth March 10-11am - a booty-shaking body-sculpting twerkout sessions with a South African-born Twerk instructor whose speciality is in South African style dance music, ‘Amapiano’ and ‘Gqom’ although the classes will include more well-known genres of dance music too. More info, what to bring and tickets here.
Do something more to help Ukraine.
££ Donations: Red Cross, DEC, UNCHR etc or via supermarkets such as Tesco, Morrisons etc, also to fuel initiatives such as Sussex Removals & Sussex Aid driving weekly vans to Poland to aid Ukranian refugees;
Donations of essential items - keep your eye on local news pages, Facebook groups etc for details of these.
Support local fundraisers: for example, a jumble sale at The Hillcrest Centre, Newhaven, on Saturday 26/3, from 10am-12.30 in aid of DEC; a fundraising concert on Sunday 27/3 at 3pm, at St. Mary's Church, Eastbourne (£5 entry or £5 worth of various key goods such as toiletries, blankets, toys etc - more info and flyer here); a fully Ukrainian-inspired supper club at Bodega in Eastbourne on Friday 25/3 at 7pm more info here will donate £10 of every £30 paid as part of the #cookforukraine campaign to raise funds for the families and children facing crisis in Ukraine; there will also be collections for Ukraine at Lewes News school on the following dates (see flyer below).
Please share any future fundraising events by email to @allabroadbus@gmail.com. Дякую!
UPCOMING FESTIVALS - OPEN FOR BOOKINGS
Brighton festival, Brighton fringe, Charleston festival. *Watch this space for some more specific international-flavoured tips for these festivals over the coming weeks!*
...WATCH...
Locally-showing international films, mostly not in the English language, from 25th March... as well as "Pom Poko" this weekend, "La Mif" on Thursday, and "Olga" all week at Lewes Depot (see above), French romantic drama "Paris, 13th District" (15) continues there too, whilst "Belfast" (12A) is still showing at Uckfield Picture House. One-offs this week include "Becoming Cousteau" (12A) about the famous French explorer at Hillcrest Centre Cinema on Saturday 26/3; "The Joy Luck Club" (15, 1993) is a special Mother's Day screening on Sunday 27/3 at Lewes Depot and explores "cultural conflict and the often-turbulent relationships between four first-generation Chinese-American women and their mothers" and "Frida Kahlo" (12A) about the famous Mexican artist will show again on 28/3, in case you missed the International Women's Day screening. In addition, if you'd just like to travel more for the scenery, Australian film "River" (PG), opening at Lewes Depot on 25/3, "takes its audience on a journey through space and time" and across six continents, as it explores the relationship between humans and rivers. Full local round-up of international films and screenings of live performances coming up this week and in the near future here.
...WATCH - AT HOME...
For a comprehensive and ever-evolving selection of French-language, German-language and Spanish-language films & TV series to watch at home, for adults as well as separate selections for children/family-friendly, on terrestrial channels as well as streaming and one-off rental services, browse here.
...LISTEN...
On Friday 25/3, Lewes Concert Orchestra are holding their March concert at Lewes Town Hall, 7.30pm, with soloist Iain Gibbs performing the works of the great European composers: Beethoven, Sibelius and Dvorak. Tickets in advance only.
A little further afield, but more than deserving of a mention, the marvellous Pam and de Femmes will be doing a special 3rd anniversary gig in Arundel on 26/3, once again performing great songs in various languages from 12.30-3.30pm and joined again by #GBBO baker-tromboner-BeakBrewerybeerinspiration Jürgen Krauss!
And on Saturday evening, East Sussex Community choir will be performing Dvořák Mass in D and Fauré Requiem, at 7.30pm, Lewes Town Hall.
...LISTEN AT HOME...
Don't forget to tune into Cerys Matthews on BBS Radio 6, on Sunday mornings from 10am, as she plays 3 hours of "eclectic global tunes", "from blues to beats with poetry and the best live music sessions". Gracias Sophie ;-)
>>BOOK NOW, LISTEN SOON...
On 9th April, classical meets folk in a recital of Spanish, French and English song, at Cliffe Hall, Lewes, with special guest artist Maria Josefina Baez (@autanaart), an internationally acclaimed Venezuelan artist currently residing in France.
In Glynde and around: Love Supreme 1-3/7; Glynde Place Concert Series 23/4, 14/5, 25/6; and the 2022 Glyndebourne opera season is open.
...TASTE...
Get down to Mamoosh (see intro) for your fix of Middle Eastern baked goods and dips - it's a game-changer! The really good news, you can easily combine it with a trip to Tide Mills beach by nipping over the bridge at the far end (off to the right heading West) to arrive at the industrial estate. They are also selling #cookforUkraine bakes.
It's the last weekend of March's Cameroonian takeaway & home delivery by The Feature Kitchen, Order in advance from the menu here for delivery Friday and Saturday, 6pm-8pm.
Freight in Lewes have the most gorgeous window display of boxed Italian Easter cakes for the fuller purse! Delicioso!
...BOOK NOW, TASTE LATER...
Battle of The Bubbles, a night of tasting and comparing 'fizz' from different countries at Robert's Bar in Lewes Depot on Thursday 7/4;
**We'll be compiling a directory of all the in-house, takeaway, delivery, pop-up, online and otherwise made and sold international cuisine in the area. If you'd like to be included or have someone/somewhere to recommend, please get in touch!**
GET IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE WORD!
You have received this newsletter because you are a student or the family of students/participants of All Abroad! Bus clubs, workshops and tutoring and/or you live in the local area and have shown an interest in the All Abroad! Bus project, or because we or someone else thought you would be interested!
If you have enjoyed it and if you know others who might also be interested in it, please share this link. The more we can connect with abroad from within our lovely rural area, the more colourful, interesting, exotic our local life can be and the more globally connected and empathetic we will feel!
If you would like to subscribe directly, please do so through the Home page.
If you have any feedback, ideas, questions, suggestions, contributions or if you would no longer like to receive this, please send an email to allabroadbus@gmail.com.
Thank you!
