The Peremech Lounge

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Kobe - Chocolate Factory

We'd wondered what it was that our Grandfather, Arif was doing at this business in Kobe, Japan. We recently learned that this was a chocolate factory.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Russian Alphabet for English Speakers

Tatars in Tatarstan and other places in Russia use the Russian Alphabet. Tatars add an additional character or two, but the alphabet is essentially Russian. There were attempts made at adopting the Latin Alphabet, but those attempts were suppressed by Moscow. Most Tatars in diaspora communicate in the Tatar Language using Latin letters.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Louis Armstrong Очи Черные (Dark eyes)

Louis Armstrong - Очи Черные (Dark eyes) Ochi Chernyie

This is a Russian song, and a famous one. It is not a Tatar song, but every Tatar knows it.

This version is by jazz great Louis Armstrong, sung in English - Volga meets Mississippi River.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Volga River, Iowa, USA

The Volga River is an 80.7-mile-long (129.9 km)[1] river in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the major tributary of the Turkey River in the northeastern part of the state. The river runs through Fayette and Clayton counties before joining the Turkey River near Elkport. The Turkey River then runs into the Mississippi River near the town of Cassville, Wisconsin. The Volga River State Recreation Area is a state park along the river near Fayette.

Joan Davis - Olga From the Volga - 1937

We like Olga from the Volga but Joan Davis' character certainly isn't a Tatar Woman. First of all, a Tatar family would never give their daughter a Russian name. They would choose a Tatar name or a name from some other ethnicity other than Russian, as in Spanish or German. The Tatar people also refer to the Volga river as the "Idel".

National Geographic Museum - Muslim Civilization

As we explored Washington DC, hunting for tidbits of Tatar culture, we stumbled upon an exhibit at the National Geographic Society Museum concerning "The Golden Age of Muslim Civilization".

“1001 Inventions: Discover the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization” is a blockbuster traveling exhibition that highlights the enormous contribution to science and technology made by men and women of different faiths and cultures who lived in Muslim Civilization.

“Muslim civilization stretched from southern Spain as far as China,” explains Ahmed Salim, Producer and Director of 1001 Inventions. “For a thousand years, scholars built on the ancient knowledge of the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, making breakthroughs that helped pave the way for the Renaissance. The discoveries made by men and women of different cultures working in Muslim civilization — from automatic machines and medical marvels to astronomical observations and inspiring architecture — have left their mark on the way we live today.”

1001 Inventions is a global educational initiative that promotes awareness of scientific and cultural achievements from the ‘Golden Age’ of Muslim Civilisation and how those contributions helped build the foundations of our modern world. The 1001 Inventions exhibition was named the Best Touring Exhibition of the Year at the Museums and Heritage Excellence Awards in 2011. This highly interactive exhibition showcases the historic advancements in navigation, medicine, hydraulics, optics, mathematics and more.

"The mission of National Geographic is to spread knowledge of the world and its cultures — past and present," said Kathryn Keane, Vice President of Exhibitions at the National Geographic Society. "This exhibition is an opportunity to share the fascinating history of Muslim civilization with our audiences and to celebrate great scientific achievement and innovation."

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