Sally Langford, Author at The Localist

Spain – Sophie Standen

8 December 2015

Sophie Standen studied social anthropology and really loves to explore the subtle differences in culture when meeting new people and seeing new things.

I was born in….Cardiff, Wales. I have spent most of my life in….Cardiff, but I have also lived in Northern Ireland and Guatemala, and now currently live in Tarragona, Spain. My favourite local films are….from Spain, “Mar Adentro” and I really like Almodóvar’s take on things. From Wales, I love the film “Pride”. My favourite books from places I call home are….as a child I loved books by the Dianna Wynne Jones and particularly was a fan of “Howl’s Moving Castle”. I also love the world created by the Carl Ruiz Zafon in “The Shadow of the Wind”. I think he writes beautifully and his words really bring the Barcelonan streets to life. When I need a reminder of home, I listen to…..I can’t ever imagine not living close to the sea, and love to talk walks along the coast here to listen to the waves. My favourite time of year is.….definitely the autumn. My favourite local phrase is…..I often hear people say here “poco a poco” (little by little). I don’t think that the phrase is particularly local, however I like the sentiment behind it. What I love most about Tarragona is.…how the streets are alive. I love the fact that life is mostly lived outside here and that you can find children running around at 1 am with their families on a Friday night. I love the proximity of Barcelona, the Catalan culture, the tranquillity of Tarragona, the sea, the mountains, and of course the cheap beer!

USA / Australia – Talia Friedman

11 July 2015

Talia Friedman has moved around a lot her whole life and doesn’t really feel like she has a home country. She’s also travelled extensively; she’s up to 65 countries and counting.

I was born in….Johannesburg, South Africa. My parents moved us to Canada when I was 9. I lived in four different cities in Canada, put in a stint as a New Yorker, and am now living the beach life in Bondi, Australia. I’d say I live in Bondi most, New York second, and Toronto third.

My favourite local films (films from my country) are…. From South Africa: District 9. It’s fun as an action film, but has a much deeper meaning as a parable. It is partly based on events in District 6, Cape Town during Apartheid and also on real interviews conducted by Neill Blomkamp during which he asked South Africans their opinions on refugees from Zimbabwe. Excerpts of these interviews were used to make his 2006 short film Alive in Joburg. From Canada, David Cronenberg’s films are seriously creepy. From Australia I love director Baz Luhrmann’s surreal films, particularly his modernised Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, which is my all time favourite interpretation of this classic.

My favourite novel/book from my country is...I wish Game of Thrones had ties to any of my countries, but since it doesn’t… Guy Gavriel Kay is a great Canadian fantasy writer. The Fionavar Tapestry is his best work. J.R.R. Tolkien, author of Lord of the Rings, was born in South Africa. Some say Mordor is based on his childhood memories of the Free State Province. Everyone should read The Power of One, a beautiful, inspiring story (not fantasy!) set in South Africa and written by Australian Bryce Courtenay.

When I need a reminder of home, I listen to… Having moved around so much and having no home, I don’t get homesick, but from South Africa I enjoy semi-joke band Die Antwoord and folksy Johnny Clegg, and from Canada, Arcade Fire.

My favourite time of the year is….Summer. I’ve always loved hot weather. I’ve often moved between my “homes” to stay in summer.

My all time local hero is….. I’m not one for heroes.

My favourite local phrase is… I love how everyone in Cape Town, South Africa uses hectic. If someone describes their night as “hectic” it could mean anything from getting mugged to meeting the love of their life. I also think its funny that the quintessential Canadian clothing brand is called Roots (they always outfit the Olympic team for example), which translates to ‘sex’ in Aussie slang.

My favourite words of wisdom/words to live by are….They aren’t words of wisdom, but there was this old movie I saw as a kid with Billy Crystal/Meryl Streep called Defending Your Life. It wasn’t a particularly good movie, but the theme of the whole point of this life being to overcome fear really stuck with me.

What I love most about my home in Bondi is.….the beach. I don’t think I can ever live away from the ocean again. I love it in all weather, obviously when the sun is shining, but its also so beautiful and awe inspiring in a storm. I love to surf, to dive, to swim.

Greece | Maria Athanasopoulou

21 June 2015

Maria Athanasopoulou loves travelling and writing about the places she visits. Taking photos is her hobby, and sharing her photos with others gives her great pleasure.

I was born in…..Tripoli, and I have spent most of my life in….Greece. Now I live in….Thessaloniki, the capital of Northern Greece. My favorite local film is….The children of Pireaus, starring the famous actress Melina Merkouri (Ta pedia tou Pirea). My favourite book by a writer from my country is….Odyssey by Homer. When I need a reminder of home, I listen to songs by….the composer Mikis Theodorakis. My favourite time of the year is….Summer. My all time local hero is….Theodoros Kolokotronis. My favourite local phrase is…..Take it or leave it. My favourite words to live by are….Life is beautiful when you are able to see its beauty. What I love most about my home country is.…its ancient culture.

India – Priya Thomas

24 April 2015

Priya Thomas is the first contributor to represent India on The Localist.

I was born in….Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, and have spent most of my life here. My favourite time of the year is…August-September. It is the season of my birthday and of Onam, a festival of regional importance. Another best time of the year is June-July; I admire the beauty of the monsoons! What I love most about my home (country)….are a few of the amazing facts about her. It’s a challenge for me to describe India in 200 words, but I’ll give it a go. India’s culture is among the world’s oldest. She never invaded any country in her history, though she has a long list of invaders. Her attitude towards all nations is of peace and harmony. India has six seasons or six ritus, though not all parts of India experience all seasons. She is diverse geographically and culturally. India speaks the largest number of languages, and now has the largest population of English speakers in the world. India is on her way to becoming the most populous country in the world. Because of this huge population, India always tops the list of world’s biggest gatherings, especially religious. Every major world religion is represented in India. A majority of the Indian festivals have mythologies and stories behind them. Being a land that loves stories, India is the world’s biggest movie market. Ayurveda, a way of life and food towards health, has its origins in India. India has a varied food culture; she has the largest number of vegetarians in the world even while a large majority consumes non-veg. In Indianness, there exists a love for colours, celebrations and family. Most Indians would love spices, cotton clothes and a cup of hot tea!

Nepal | Anil Chaudhary

3 April 2015

Anil Chaudhary enjoys travelling to new places, capturing nature, meeting people and learning about new cultures. He also works in the development sector.

I was born in….Saptari district of Nepal, I have spent most of my life in Kathmandu and now I live in Kathmandu itself. My favourite films from my country are…..Balidan, Kabaddi, and Caravan. My favourite novels from my country are….Seto Dharti by Amar Neupane, Jhola by Krishna Dharabasi, and Palpasa Cafe by Narayan Wagle. When I need a reminder of home, I listen to….favourite old song. My favourite time of the year is….September-October. My all time local hero is….Rajesh Hamal. My favourite local phrase is….“Aja nagare kahile garne, hamile nagare kasle kale”- which means “if not today then when to do, if not us who will do”. My favourite words of wisdom/words to live by are….those spoken by mom, dad and some close friends. What I love most about my home country is…..its natural beauty and cultural diversity.

Pakistan – Palwasha Khan

28 August 2014

Palwasha Khan was born in Cantonment Military Hospital Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, formerly known as the NWFP. She is the second last child of her family, and has four sisters and no brothers. Her father served as Major in Pakistan Armed Forces and was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz “Star of Excellence”. She has completed a Bachelors of Arts, MSC in Political Studies, she’s a Law graduate and she has just completed Master in Human Rights and Democratisation at Sydney University Australia. If that’s not enough, she also loves travelling and good food – and was also awarded “Best Female Human Rights Lawyer in 2009” from the Ministry of Human Rights Pakistan.

I was born in….the city of Peshawar, Pakistan, I have spent most of my life in….Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, and now I live in…..Islamabad. My favourite local films (films from my country) are….Khuda Kay Liye (2007), which means “In the name of God” and Waar, a Pakistani film. My favourite writer from my country is…. “Ashfaq-ahmad” and his book “Zavia”. When I need a reminder of home, I listen to….Pushto language songs, my mother tongue songs. My favourite day was…. 13th June 2014 – when I graduated from Sydney University. My all-time local hero is…the sports man and politician of Pakistan, Imran Khan. My favourite local phrase is…..”With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve” by Quaid-e-Azam. My favourite words of wisdom/words to live by are…”My father said there were two kinds of people in the world: givers and takers. The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better”, by Marlo Thomas. What I love most about my home (country) is….We are a Muslim country and believe in the one God concept. Quran is the last religious book and Muhammad (PBUH) is last prophet.

USA – Chelsie Corbett

26 August 2014

Chelsie Corbett was born under the open New Mexico sky, but has spent most of her life being dragged around the US in her mother’s minivan. Growing up, she spent time running around in the woods in Wyoming, on the mesas in New Mexico, and in the rolling hills of a Pennsylvania river valley. Now she lives just a few miles from the beach in Los Angeles, California.

My favorite local films are…. Greece, Pretty Woman, Pulp Fiction, Clueless, The Big Lebowski….I give up, I can’t choose. Living in Los Angeles, I certainly have my pick. I got to watch the batmobile chase scene from one of the Batman movies. I inhaled a fake snowflake, but it was worth it. My favorite novel/book from my country / by a writer from my country is…… Nature, by Ralph Waldo Emerson. If you’ve never sat outside and read it, cancel your weekend plans and do that instead. You are welcome. When I need a reminder of home, I listen to…..my family! They are always only a phone call away. My favorite time of the year is……Los Angeles doesn’t really have seasons, except for in June when the marine layer sets in and the city is chilly and cloudy. Everyone digs out their sweaters, boots and scarves and spends their time complaining about how freezing they are in the 60 degree weather and how their wetsuits aren’t thick enough. I (not so) secretly love June Gloom and any chance to wear scarves and not get out of my cozy bed all day. My all time local hero is…..Iron Man? Or maybe Mel Gibson or Tom Cruise. Does Tom Cruise count? My favorite local phrase is…..“Cowabunga, dude!” Nobody actually says that, but I like the notion of diving headlong into something with no hesitation. My favorite words of wisdom/words to live by are…. Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. – Max Ehrmann. What I love most about my home country is…. soft breezes, crashing waves, breathtaking sunsets, bonfires, stars, road trips, catching fireflies in jars, extreme freedom of thought, the notion that I can completely define my own circumstances and, of course, coffee & donut shops.

Sri Lanka – Kaushalya Kathireson

15 July 2014

Meet Kaushalya Kathireson from Colombo, Sri Lanka. She once had a pet goat. She’s also constantly confused (perhaps this will be evident as you read on…..). She can be bribed with chocolates. And she loves people who can make her laugh.

I was born in……Kandy but grew up in Colombo. I spent a year in Malaysia and then a couple more in India in my pursuit of knowledge (well technically for my A/Ls and then my Undergrad). My favourite novels from my country are…..Chinaman by Shehan Karunatilaka and The Sweet & Simple Kind by Yasmine Gooneratne. When I need a reminder of home, I listen to.….any Sri Lankan radio station I can find online. My favourite time of the year is…..that day when you wake up happy for no reason. My favourite local phrase is…..a toss between Bokeng and Full Aathal. The first literally means ‘from your gut’ and is also used as a phrase to say you’re giving it everything you have, while the second is more like mojo. My favourite words of wisdom/words to live by are…..‘One day your life will flash before your eyes, make sure it’s worth watching’ is something I’m still trying to live by this saying, haven’t got there yet though…‘Nothing is not better or worse than anything’ and ‘This too shall pass’ are my reassuring quotes. ‘I’m like a peacock, you gotta let me fly’ – I like this one coz … well I just do. And the word ‘Sonder’. It’s soooo deep.What I love most about my home (country) is…..the Poya Days!!! I mean who doesn’t? And of course the diverse landscape, and the cricket.

Myanmar – Phoo Pwint Kyaw

3 March 2014

Phoo Pwint Kyaw (or, if that’s proving to be a mouthful, you can call her Rosie like some of her friends do) is studying mechanical systems at the University of Melbourne. She also happens to enjoy writing.

I was born and raised in…..Yangon, Myanmar, I spent a few years in the United Kingdom for college and now I’m in Melbourne, Australia for university. My favourite films from my country are….the old Myanmar (Burmese) films from the 1950s. One of my favorite activities to pass the time is to watch these nostalgic old films. When I need a reminder of home, I listen to…..the voices of my parents and best friends. Since I spend a great deal of time abroad for school, I do miss home, especially during the holidays. When I do, I talk to my parents or best friends back home. Being able to interact with them soothes me. My favourite time of the year is……amongst 3 seasons in Myanmar(Burma), spring time is my absolute favorite. It’s the time when the mornings are relatively cool but the afternoons are hot. And it’s also the time when a lot of delicious fruits are in season too! My all time local hero is…..Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, after my parents. The respect I have for my parents goes without saying; their energy, their care and their determination are qualities I will be in awe of all my life. Aunty Suu is someone I look up to. I love her stubbornness for something she believes in and her ability to speak and write precisely and clearly. My favourite local phrase is….. “Nay kaung lar?”. It is a phrase used to greet other people, and it shows that you care about them. It’s a great ice breaker if you are meeting someone! My favourite words of wisdom/words to live by are…. “be the best version of yourself”, “treat others like how you want to be treated” and “be happy”. What I love most about my home (country) is….the food, the people and their warmth, the places, the history, everything! You have to see it in order to fall in love with the land I was born and raised in.

USA / Hong Kong – Lucy Cheah

2 March 2014

Lucy Cheah is a personal trainer, an educator, and a surface and pattern designs artist. She also has a PhD.

I was born in…..Hong Kong, I have spent most of my life in….Hong Kong, London, Rome and New York, and now I live in….New York. My favourite films so far are... The Hours, A Single Man, The Godfather. When I need a reminder of home I listen to….鄧麗君 Teresa Teng, Faye Wong (HK), and singers from the 80s-90s. When I miss Rome I listen to Fellini’s Jazz and Ennio Morricone. My favourite time of the year is….Autumn. My favourite words of wisdom/words to live by are…. Good fences build good neighbours. What I love most about places are… Long walk in summer nights, cobblestones streets, gardens, cycling on quiet days, and of course people.

Australia – Kelly-Anne Smith

25 February 2014

Kelly-Anne Smith is an explorer of ideas and places. Based in Orange, NSW, Australia, she seeks out and soaks up experiences.

I was born in…..Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, I grew up in…..Orange, New South Wales, and I have spent most of my working life in…..Sydney, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I’ve now returned to Australia (hopefully permanently!) and have gone back to my roots, to the vineyards and rolling hills of Orange NSW. My favourite film from my country is….Romulus, My Father. A biographical memoir by Australian philosopher Raimond Gaita, detailing the life and struggles and heartbreak of his Romanian immigrant father in the outback of Australia in the 1950s. The film stars Eric Bana, it’s just gorgeous and it makes me cry every single time I watch it. Both the novel and film explore the concepts of place and belonging. My favourite novel by a writer from my country is……Dead Europe by Christos Tsiolkas. He’s knocked Tim Winton off the top spot of ‘favourite Australian author’ for me. Tsiolkas writes about the real Australia, now. He has an incredible insight into the national psyche, and about what people are really thinking and feeling in the suburbs even if it still bubbles just under the surface. His phenomenal perspective is informed by his immigrant background, which gives him a unique 360 degree view. As someone who has lived mainly overseas for the last two decades, I’m always astounded at how culturally insular Australians can be, and this guy gives me enormous hope that it’s possible to stir up the collective consciousness and move forwards into the 21st century. When I need a reminder of home, I listen to…..Under the Milkyway, by The Church. Still my quintessential Australian song, and kind of a life theme. “Wish I knew what you were looking for, might have known what you would find.” My favourite time of the year is……Spring or Autumn. I love it when the seasons start turning. My all time local hero is…..At the moment, I’m cheering for Kon Karapanagiotidis, Founder & CEO of The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) in Melbourne. Tireless and inspiring and a human being doing the right thing in a world full of shadows (@Kon_K @ASRC1). I’m also a big fan of Father Bob Maguire (@FatherBob). He takes the religion out of religion and puts back in the soul. My favourite local phrase is…..’Far out’. Only 12 year olds usually say this, but I started using it again when working in the UAE as a substitute swearword. And now it’s stuck. My favourite words of wisdom/words to live by are….Nothing is impossible. What I love most about my home (country) is….It’s big-sky land. The possibilities of the large, open space to bring in new paradigms of thinking and being in the 21st century. That’s my hope and dream.

Chile – Macarena Quezada

23 February 2014

Macarena Quezada enjoys travelling almost as much as she loves food. She moves around as often as she can. As a new mom, she’s now waiting for her baby to be old enough to travel by her side. And yes, it’s Macarena like the song, but no, she’s not named after the song. It’s the name of the virgin in the south of Spain.

I was born in…..Santiago, Chile. I have spent most of my life in….Santiago, and now I live in….Singapore. I have also lived in the US and Spain. My favourite local film is….Kiltro. It’s a very low budget action movie about street gangs in Santiago. There are a lot of references to Robert Rodriguez, and Asian films of the 80s where the hero follows a quest to find himself. Not a movie, but a must-see from Chile is Sábados Gigantes, the longest-running TV show in the world, according to the Guiness Book of Records. Don Francisco is the host and the variety show is still the same as it’s always been. I like watching a section where people form the public sing and there is a guy with a black ghost costume and a trumpet who decides whether the singer wins money or not. It’s been on the air since 1962. My favourite books or novels from my country are….Diamela Eltit has a very interesting voice and I enjoy her books very much. Everyone loves Pablo Neruda, but I must say I prefer Gabriela Mistral, a very strong woman, with bad luck in love, who also won the Nobel Prize and has very strong poems. “Death Sonnets” has always been my favorite poem, and it reminds me of my grandmother who used to recite her work during my bedtime. When I need a reminder of home, I listen to…..Juana Fe. Please google them. My favourite time of the year is….December. My birthday, my daughter’s birthday, Christmas, summertime, new year at the beach, pool parties and lots of barbeques. And Christmas cookies. My all time local hero is…..Condorito. You don’t get more Chilean than Condorito, a cartoon who has been in my life since I can remember. My favourite local word is…..“po”. Every phrase ends with this word, and it sounds so funny. For example: “Hello, po”, “how have you been, po”, “long time no see, po”, get the idea? You will always know someone is from Chile because of it… What I love most about Chile is….the geography (deserts, forests, mountains, beaches, fiords…) and the variety of the food. Seafood, pisco sour, wine, empanadas…Oh, so many things!