tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313955142012-01-06T12:00:53.188+11:00Rosebud's life in three cities, all 34 degrees south: Cape Town, Sydney and Buenos AiresRosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.comBlogger431100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-4009968713951655822011-12-26T18:02:00.000+11:002012-01-06T12:00:53.199+11:00

There's a whole lot to be said about living in the inner-west in Sydney. It's an incredible melting pot of cultures, and with that, opportunities. Every cuisine imaginable, every kind of music, clubs and social groups of many nationalities and neighbourhoods offering the opportunity to meet people from every corner of the globe. Francis and I have made it our business to immerse ourselves in

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-69846263814085774312010-07-11T17:02:00.002+10:002010-07-11T17:04:23.676+10:00

Lynne Thackeray's "Adderley Street" during the FIFA World Cup in in South Africa, 2010 It has been the wierdest thing being in Sydney while South Africa shows off her true colours. I just love what people have seen - I love what has happened there. Far from the predicted massacres of international tourists, thousands upon thousands of people have been bouyed by the joyousness of a country

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-20526083526277446142010-07-05T12:29:00.001+10:002010-07-05T12:29:32.847+10:00

As Marianne Thamm points out in her article "The feelgood factor need not be confined to soccer", South Africa is in a very proud place - filled with joy, celebration and excitement. I hear it from all my friends over the phone, on twitter, on facebook. I see it on television. And for me, after more than 15 years of working in crime prevention in South Africa, I am absolutely thrilled that it is,

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-86263746086762419612010-06-11T18:49:00.001+10:002010-06-11T18:51:24.622+10:00

Photo in Hermanus, South Africa. Francis and Jethro in the run-up to the World Cup 2010 Tonight I am truly proud to be South African. Almost as proud as I was the day Nelson Mandela was released from prison, or the day he was sworn in as the first President of the new Democratic South Africa. Or the day I got to meet him. Tonight I am truly proud to be South African because all the things I

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-59592578386595641092010-02-11T23:31:00.002+11:002010-02-11T23:41:17.911+11:00

Meeting Mr Mandela at Broederstroom in 1994, at our Juvenile Justice for South Africa conference In 1994 I had the wonderful privilege of meeting Mr Nelson Mandela. It's a story worth telling. But today I am remembering the day Nelson Mandela was released from Pollsmoor. It was the 11 February 1990, exactly twenty years ago. I was cooking at a camp for kids from my old Cape Town school,

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-66599262950535099772010-02-06T23:08:00.004+11:002010-02-06T23:11:12.470+11:00

Just north of Sydney, an hour from my door by foot and train, is the incredible Hawkesbury River. There the thickly forested islands and peninsulas rise out of the water and are a haven of indigenous flora and fauna. The area is somewhat reminiscent of Asia, and it is there that I can find the greenery and bluery I miss so much living in Ashfield. Transport costs just $13.60 at peak hour for a

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-27412953331610488932009-10-09T15:34:00.008+11:002009-10-09T16:00:15.422+11:00

One Passover, many moons ago, I arrived at the Shapiro family home in Rondebosch, Cape Town. Can you imagine my surprise and delight to find Mr Mandela at the seder table? My brother Jonno, aka Zapiro, had reserved a seat for him with our family for the night.And here he is - the first of the prototypes of the puppets launched this week at ZA News. This is one my most treasured old photos: Madiba

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-31129459281436948092009-10-07T14:33:00.010+11:002009-10-07T15:28:44.124+11:00

Jonno's book launch, 2004. One of the last Zapiro events I was able to be at in Cape Town. That's what happens when siblings move to other countries!I love the entrepreneurial spirit in South Africa. The resourcefulness, the innovation, the excitement that accompanies great ideas. For nearly 10 years now, the puppets created by Zapiro for ZA News have not been aired - TV stations have gone

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-43948963533447371752009-09-23T07:10:00.010+10:002009-09-23T08:31:13.641+10:00

We just woke to the brightest orange light through the gap in our curtains. I thought I was imagining the colour. It just didn't seem possible. The view out the back and front of our house was unprecedented. The TV news tells us that it's a dust-storm that is very widespread, but it is thickest over Sydney. It has come from central New South Wales.Medical advisors say don't work outside, don't

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-54171894514529198322009-09-09T11:45:00.002+10:002009-09-09T17:54:17.391+10:00

The Spring Dance Festival - no performances over $25

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-42971199363565780022009-09-09T11:41:00.001+10:002009-09-09T11:41:20.899+10:00

Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week on the Steps of the Opera House

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-29924323936299241352009-09-09T11:22:00.006+10:002009-09-09T12:02:18.403+10:00

Iconic Sydney Ferries at Circular Quay, passing the Sydney Opera HouseThe other day a cousin visited from London. When his holiday came to an end he admitted feeling quite down, and I heard myself say: "That's understandable - you're leaving the Serotonin City".And Sydney is just that. It gives one a dose of "up".So many people comment on the quality of the light - there is something special in

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-44746702518816797562009-08-11T16:58:00.019+10:002009-08-25T11:16:52.682+10:00

Starting off, heading north. We were all packed and ready to go. Early. We'd got ourselves organised so the last day or two could be to complete work. On the Thursday before our planned Saturday departure I went to my obstetrician for a routine check-up. She'd given me the go-ahead to travel. However, things had changed since I last saw her, and the H1N1 threat had worsened. A locked cabin for a

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-2814318725534334432009-08-11T15:47:00.004+10:002009-08-11T16:03:25.042+10:00

Last year in October I wrote about women earning less than men in Australia. I just came across an update at Women's Forum where Robert Tanton of the University of Canberra writes that women are catching up but the progress is slow.I am amazed by the anecdotal evidence I see around me every day. Of all the women I know, almost none earn more than their men. That's a simple fact, and one that

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-20608971689490463942009-07-23T15:57:00.007+10:002009-07-23T21:59:12.357+10:00

Picture at Sonasaili resort, Fiji, 2007 Honeymoon.I passed my Citizenship test. First time. 100%. Boy, do I feel proud of that. One thing to remember is that the head of government is the Prime Minister and the head of State, yes it's true, is the Queen. Queen Elizabeth, that is. Luckily the guy who escorted me up in the lift at the Department of Immigration quizzed me on that one, just to play

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-14677370636350932372009-07-14T12:58:00.010+10:002009-07-15T18:05:09.038+10:00

I took this photo at the Blacktown Festival. Love the Australian Flag turban!I just discovered I am free to apply for Australian Citizenship. I thought that was still a few months off, but in fact it is now. There was even an appointment available this Saturday to sit my Australian Citizenship test. So I took it.I have been pretty anti the Citizenship test. I have had dire doubts as to whether

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-48035497311994567452009-07-08T16:12:00.005+10:002009-07-08T16:48:28.668+10:00

Midnight at a Tango Salon in Buenos Aires, March 2004It's ten years, to the week, since I took part in my first intensive Tango experience. There is nothing quite like the International Week held at Tango El Corte, in Nijmegen, Holland. Some weeks before, in May, I had attended a few tango lessons by the incredible tango maestro, Eric Jorissen, in Cape Town which had been arranged by Rodney,

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-77867526164892205582009-06-26T10:41:00.005+10:002009-06-26T10:58:56.504+10:00

What a strange, strange day the 25 June 2009 was. Michael Jackson (50) died in Los Angeles. Farah Fawcett (50) died in Santa Monica, California. However, Jeff Goldblum did NOT die in New Zealand as some online hoaxes claimed. Twitter, Facebook, blogs and online fora get news out fast, but this is not always an advantage.Why would anyone put out a hoax that someone is dead when that person

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-90374379373366125162009-05-27T11:39:00.007+10:002009-06-01T16:55:20.482+10:00

One of the most wonderful things about living in Sydney is the incredible diversity of music, song and dance (and food, but that goes without saying) from a multitude of nationalities. Francis and I feel privileged to be included in Chilean and Bolivian events, to be able to eat out and listen to local music at the Cyprus club, to try to count the complex beats of Greek music at Steki in Newtown,

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-34207529968614635062009-01-27T16:40:00.010+11:002009-01-27T21:25:34.360+11:00

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Australian of the Year Prof Mick Dodson and Adam Gilchrist. Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January 2009.Australia has entered a new era of debate. Not always comfortably, but certainly noticeably. One of Kevin Rudd's first projects after becoming Prime Minister was to call the 20/20 summit. His plan was to discuss the important issues affecting Australia with ordinary people

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-45459528851214970312009-01-20T13:24:00.019+11:002009-01-20T20:51:10.305+11:00

Taken in Guguletu, not long before I moved to Sydney. I constantly hear of organisations in other countries, specially in Africa, that can do with our support. That is, the support of those of us who live relatively comfortable lives in the developed world. One of my favourites at the moment is the African Scholars' Fund. For around $100 AUS one can support one young person through school for a

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-68693000031091297282009-01-16T10:27:00.008+11:002009-01-16T10:51:31.633+11:00

photo by Janis KrumsThe plane crash into the Hudson River in New York has caused such interest that one website, at least, went down as a result of too many people trying to pass the photo on simultaneously (read full article about Twitpic here).I, for one, am really pleased that I don't have to rely solely on official news sources and that I can choose to expose myself to the diversity of news

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-1675036834197131682009-01-13T22:54:00.010+11:002009-01-13T23:40:03.921+11:00

Thank goodness some sense prevails in South Africa. The South African Appeals Court has overturned a high court ruling dismissing corruption charges against Jacob Zuma, the president of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). In effect this means that charges against Zuma can, and might well, go ahead.Ironically, in a rally last week Zuma announced that his party would clamp down on

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-2201677517739569412008-12-23T14:38:00.004+11:002008-12-23T14:54:39.738+11:00

Now Sydney has its own dance! It's called "The Sydney".The theme for the Sydney Festival this year is Sydney Dances. At the Sydney Festival First Night the aim is to get 250,000 people to dance "The Sydney" en masse.I'm gonna be there. With about 249,999 others.So get out those dancing togs, watch and practice. Get to it!THE SYDNEY from Sydney Festival on Vimeo.

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-36095916628123469472008-12-11T17:33:00.008+11:002008-12-12T16:48:28.570+11:00

This image from a magnificent freeze on the vivacity website.As New Years Eve approaches, there's a discernible buzz in Sydney. I might not have lived here for long, but I have a certain patriotic pride about the Fireworks (something to do with latent pyromaniac tendencies?). I haven't decided about, nor have I really explored, the ecological cost. The fireworks are just awesome. Period.Imagine,

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-78695731418299617452008-11-11T11:15:00.006+11:002008-11-11T11:50:30.509+11:00

Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba, has died at 76. To our family she was an icon. We learnt the Click song as children, struggling with the challenges of the clicks, and trying to imitate as closely as possible the complex sounds.There was a picture of an African lady that hung facing our front door was, in my young eyes, Miriam Makeba. It wasn't her, but when I heard the Click Song I would imagine

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-65672305441152604252008-11-05T23:35:00.011+11:002008-11-07T17:09:05.348+11:00

Well, well, well. It's no wonder that Buenos Aires, Sydney and Cape Town have each been voted Best City on their continent in the 2008 Conde Naste's Best City ratings.Three of my favourite things about each:BUENOS AIRES:1. The tango - specially in the outskirts of the city in small, local salons2. The tango - OK, OK, it really is the best thing about BA, but my second vote goes to Sunday

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-84834980899578296202008-11-05T22:30:00.006+11:002008-11-05T22:47:50.497+11:00

He's young.He's Black.He's a democrat.And man! He's a dancer!!! Congratulations, Mr President of the USA.Now please bring the boys home so they can wash the dishes.

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-18739814850051774802008-11-04T10:24:00.008+11:002008-11-04T10:58:41.371+11:00

This morning I was in Barack Obama's home. I was there with him and his whole family and Francis and I had eaten breakfast with them. It was a bit chaotic, what with the elections today n'all, but it was cornflakes all round and a lot of excited calling to one another.In the kitchen Barack Obama was washing up in a huge sink of warm soapy water. He turned to me, announcing that it was really

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-17573054768564371502008-10-31T14:28:00.010+11:002008-11-05T23:14:08.531+11:00

Tonight is the Reclaim the Night March in Sydney. 6.30pm at Town Hall.After a week of contact with Peace movements (the Ministry for Peace, the Elders programme) it seems like a great time to take to the streets once again. I remember the first Take Back the Night marches I went on in South Africa. I remember the Rape Crisis Cape Town women wearing "Strong Women in Africa" t-shirts. I loved that

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-42472290962701008222008-10-30T16:07:00.009+11:002008-11-05T23:14:49.380+11:00

[Left: Stella Cornelius and Faith Bandler receive awards at the Sydney Peace Foundation from Nelson Mandela] There are some stunning ideas out there. And the more simple, the more extraordinary.The idea of a Ministry for Peace, for instance. It's a complete no-brainer. We have Ministries of Defence and wonder why we're always at war. As my friend Claire Jankelson says, it would be fabulous if

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-28287757429479884102008-10-23T17:01:00.013+11:002008-11-05T23:15:41.089+11:00

It's such a great idea: each government should have a Ministry for Peace. Simple as that.Stella Cornelius believes this to be so. The Ministry for Peace website says of Stella:Founder and Director of the Conflict Resolution Network (CRN) she is a peacemaker and a peace builder, a mother, grandmother and octogenarian.Well known and highly respected on a global level for her work in the CRN and for

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-87694068240085030332008-10-20T09:33:00.001+11:002008-10-20T09:35:25.680+11:00

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-86926815499919859872008-10-19T16:49:00.013+11:002008-10-30T18:52:30.543+11:00

MALPLAAS. Near Botrivier, Western Cape... Now THIS is what I call an inviting establishment. I've not been there, I've just seen it for the first time on the internet today. I intend to make it a priority to get there the next time I am back in Cape Town.There's something about the innovation of people in South Africa, the resourcefulness, the love of life that I love. My experience of South

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-24384525574318777262008-10-17T18:33:00.003+11:002008-10-17T18:43:36.945+11:00

I am astounded how often I come across the idea that women in Australia (or perhaps I should say in Sydney) are merely earning to add some extra pocket money to their husband's huge wages. It is not uncommon for someone to say to me when I suggest that a particular position does not have the salary that I would expect on offer "but you're not exactly running out of money are you"? Now I fail to

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-65600047525394019442008-09-29T15:46:00.001+10:002008-09-29T15:47:02.443+10:00

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-27683099270425478582008-05-27T00:41:00.008+10:002008-11-05T23:17:31.856+11:00

I feel sick to my stomach. Not since the deepest, darkest days of Apartheid have I felt the churning I now feel in my belly. Foreigners from other African nations have been hacked to death and burnt by ordinary South Africans in a xenophobic frenzy. Thousands of people are fleeing for their lives. They are displaced, terrified, and like so many who watch, are horrified. Families are being

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-78407843271144751072008-04-24T09:23:00.005+10:002008-11-05T23:19:49.008+11:00

I write this as the Olympic flame, the symbol of harmony, makes it way through Canberra. The television is on in the other room. The place is swarming with police and most of the media is focusing on whether the torch is interrupted or not. Some careful, reserved commentators are speaking about the flame and the pro-Tibetan protesters.It strikes me that the level of debate does not do justice to

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-40670486082290783032008-04-21T19:04:00.003+10:002008-04-21T19:10:27.574+10:00

Today I paid Height Tax.Every time I buy a pair of pants I have to add $10 to the cost. I was not blessed with height, so I have to scoot down to the patient Chinese tailor on my route home from Ashfield station. I try on each pair, and he kneels next to my big feet squashed into the slip-on shoes kindly left out (one with high heels, one with low heels) for measurement. They are not intended for

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-28499029526353288212008-04-07T16:12:00.002+10:002008-04-07T16:15:05.948+10:00

Some in Sydney bridge the divide between Jews and Palestinians. Donna Jacobs Sife is one such person. Here she writes of a small peace march in Parramatta. If we were all to listen to others' stories there may, indeed, be more peace and understanding. All round.

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-76373791013403193102008-02-18T18:10:00.005+11:002008-02-18T19:04:42.685+11:00

Today I was privileged to be at the launch of the paper-turned-book of Dr Michael Fullilove, the director of the global issues programme at the Lowy Institute for International Policy here in Sydney. As a new emmigrant his book "World Wide Webs: The Diaspora and International Systems" covered issues close to my heart while providing a fresh new take and some excellent mind-food. For those who

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-1153388534449282672007-10-19T09:41:00.001+10:002008-11-05T23:16:48.853+11:00

For a South African visiting Sydney, here is an idea of costs. The rand is between R5,80 and R6 per Aussie dollar.coffee $3 (if you're lucky $2,80 but can go up to $4,40 for the shmancy ones)train from inner west into city, after 9am, return $4.40meal in a food court $6 to $11, without drink usuallymeal in a cafe $12 to $19breakfast with all the bits in a cafe about $10 - 12ferry tickets - best

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31395514.post-1153388271498344302006-07-20T19:35:00.001+10:002008-11-05T23:18:59.236+11:00

Cape Town, Buenos Aires, Sydney: three cities, one Southern address. Once visited, they never leave you. I was born in Cape Town, and have lived there 40 years. Both Buenos Aires and Sydney now occupy a special place in my life - they say life begins at 40, and for me it did - all over again. I visited Buenos Aires, at 34 degrees South, soon after my 40th birthday to pursue my passion for tango,

Rosemary Shapiro-Liuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088435410084783659noreply@blogger.com0