I’ve been fortunate enough to participate in three of the University of New Orleans Low-Res MFA Summer Programs – two in Madrid and the most recent in San Miguel de Allende.

There is so much good to say about the program and the workshops – but I’ll leave that to the students. (Hopefully, even a few of my students.) But I wanted to say a few words about living in a foreign city for the full month, which is a part of the experience that I truly value.

Most tourists are lucky to spend three days in a new city, or maybe a week if time allows, but the full month experience is a wonderful opportunity. Yes, as part of that month, you will see the tourist sites and eat at the usual restaurants that are listed in the usual guidebooks, but for me the simple pleasures of going grocery shopping in an unfamiliar culture, of cooking my own meals, of getting to know the people who sell you fruit, of trying unknown vegetables and cheeses and wines, of seeing the city wake up, go to bed, move through the day-to-day transitions of work and weekend and weather, of negotiating laundry and haircuts and other personal needs, is what becomes the most fascinating.

You don’t know a city until you live in that city, and though a month is not like moving abroad for a full year or two, it certainly shows you a lot more than you might see if you breezed through over three days. Because you live there – you don’t just take pictures.

I call it immersion, and it fascinates me each time.

Dinty W. Moore

Excerpt from Emily Lupita Plum’s blog she kept while in San Miguel: http://starmountainview.blogspot.com/

Last night I read for the first time from my recently completed childhood memoir, Growing Mexican Plums. And…I sang because one of the sections I read was called “Song” and is about the songs I used to listen to as a kid. I sang lines from Supertramp’s The Logical Song and had the audience join me in a few lines from Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2). I also sang a lullaby my mom used to sing when I was little, in Spanish.

It was the first time I’ve ever sang during a reading, and I found it powerful. The audience was wonderful…gracious and generous. I felt a surge of energy when I was reading & just afterward. It helped me to remember why I’ve “chosen” the life of a writer, anyhow.

We had two guest speakers at our writing group this week and they were both fantastic. They talked about their path to becoming successful writers and gave us suggestions…imparted wisdom.

Dinty W. Moore said that writers need to pay attention to three things: karma, responsibility, and opportunity. (For more…see Dinty’s journal, Brevity).

When asked what advice she would give to writers beginning their career, Amanda Boyden said, “If you can imagine yourself doing anything else with your life and being happy, don’t be a writer…do that other thing. But if you cannot imagine yourself doing anything else, then be writer.”

Good words from both. I am learning exponentially.

Don’t drink the tap water.  I repeat - DON’T DRINK THE TAP WATER.  Perhaps you thought this was a traveler’s myth.  Its is not.  You should not drink the tap water, nor should you brush your teeth in it, or use it to clean contacts, or anything else.  You can shower in it.  Period.  Bottled water is widely available.  Buy it.  Drink it often.  Some will be provided for you in your rooms as well at most housing locations.

As far as foods go, you should ask if fruits and vegetables have been washed with purified water.  You should also be wary of drinks with ice.  Ask if the ice is made from purified water.  If it isn’t, don’t drink it….  Thats aid, I have gone to Mexico a couple of times now, and have not suffered from any stomach upset yet.  So as long as you are careful, you should be fine!

For more info on the water in Mexico, and Montezuma’s Revenge, click here.

In the $7-$11 range there are two options that are both excellent.

1) “Altitude Adjustment” by Sun Country 1-800-722-8420
This is a great one to take pro-actively.  They are in capsule form and
you can start taking them on the plane with a lot of water.  I have used
these and found them very effective.  The last time I came back to Taos
after being away for seven months the altitude hit me.  I used these for
about five days.

2) “ChlorOxygen” Chlorophyll Concentrate by Herbs etc.  www.herbsetc.com
This comes in liquid form, which is great because liquid always works
faster.  It helps to build red blood cells quickly, which is what counters
altitude sickness.

The last one is expensive, but powerful.  It will run $25-$30

3) “Cell Food” by Luminia Health Products 1-800-749-9196
It is a liquid once again and combines taking care of altitude sickness
side effects and building red blood cells quickly.

The most important thing of course, is for people to drink water before
they feel thirsty.  When you are nauseated carbonated beverages make you
feel better but they also continue to dehydrate you.  If you can find it
good old Gatorade can work wonders.

Passport(!)

If you haven’t applied for your passport yet, do it today! You will not need a visa for our program. Also bring 2 or 3 photocopies of your passport. Once you get settled, you should carry a photocopy of your passport and leave the actual document in your room except when traveling out of the area.

Clothing

The weather in San Miguel in June and July will normally be quite warm in the middle of the day, cooling off, sometimes dramatically so, at night. It is a very high-and-dry, with low humidity.  We will, however, be there during the rainy season, so you may want to pack a small umbrella or other rain gear. You may find use for a light jacket or sweater at night.

Be sure to bring some good hiking or walking shoes and socks. The streets in San Miguel are all rough, uneven cobblestones, and they are very narrow.  Unfortunately ladies, I think heels are impossible!  So pack those cute flats and flops.  Also, some of our field trips and perhaps your own explorations may involve a good bit of walking in hilly areas and/or mountain trails, or on old cobblestone streets in Venice. A blister on your foot can be a major distraction from the experience.

A few other suggestions…
You will need a good strong sunblock.  While you can always buy more there, you will probably want this right away, and particularly if you want a certain brand, bring it with you!  I am allergic to most sunblocks, so I always pack the one kind I know I can wear with me.  Also, hats and sunglasses are a very good idea, but also available there if you’d rather wait an purchase them there.
You may want to pack one or two nicer outfits.  I’m not talking tails and evening gowns, but we do have our opening and closing banquets, and we tend to spruce up a little for these events.  Think “I’m going out for a nice dinner” wear, rather than I’m going to the ball.
Always pack a change of clothes and immediate essentials, such as prescription drugs and minimal toiletries, in your carry-on bag. Please check with your airline, though, to determine new carry-on and checked bag requirements, as well as the latest security requirements.  They seem to be changing daily lately!

You may also want to bring a small bag (or use your carry-on) for day and overnight trips.

Linens

Residents of Bosque, the Hacienda de Las Flores, and the Casita
Linens, blankets and pillows will be provided to everyone who is not staying at the hostel, so there is no need to bring along any of these items. However, when traveling it is always a good idea to carry your own towel, washcloth and soap since these are not always provided with economy lodgings. We recommend bringing a large bath or beach towel, and a smaller hand towel or washcloth.  Preferably something you can leave behind and make more room for all those souvenirs you are going to buy!
Residents of the Hostel, and Other Places on Your Own:
While basic bed lien will be provided at the hostel, you may want to pack or purchase your own.  Also, items like towels, washcloths, etc will not be provided at the hostel, so you will need to pack or buy your own.  I always recommend bringing your own towel, though, and then leaving it behind when you go, so that you have more room to bring back souvenirs.

Laundry

Laundry facilities and detergent are available in San Miguel de Allende.

Electrical Items

The voltage in Mexico is the same as in the United States.  I do, however, recommend that you bring three prong adapters and a surge protector for your computer, if you choose to bring it.

Computers

Should you bring a notebook computer? It’s up to you. If you do bring a computer on which to compose and store your work, you may also want to bring a portable printer, thought there are a number of places in San Miguel where you can print cheaply and easily.  There is only one printer available at the school, and it will be for emergencies only.  Internet is widely available in San Miguel, though, and is available at all of our housing locations, and I think if you have a laptop, and you are taking classes or planning on writing, you will be much happier with your own computer than having to budget free time to visit an internet café….

Health Insurance

We provide health insurance for all students through TW Lord and Associates. The coverage for the Writing Workshops in San Miguel de Allende program will begin June 23 and end July 18. You can purchase additional time or get further information by contacting TW Lord directly:
T.W. Lord & Associates
Emergency Center: 1-800-633-2360
Claims Processing Center:
T.W. Lord & Associates
Marietta, GA 30061
Phone 1-800-633-2360

Money

The easiest way to change your dollars into Pesos is with your ATM card, in which case you pay no exchange fees, only the standard ATM charges. You can also use your credit card to make purchases, in which case you also pay no exchange fees. Many businesses will require cash, however, so you will want to be careful with your budgeting when you decide how much cash to get out at one time.  You never want to carry too much cash, however, you don’t want to be stuck with a bill you can’t pay at the end of a meal or some such….

Prices in the region are slightly less than what you would encounter in a normal American city. You should probably plan on spending between 500 and 1,000 USD while you are there, though it is possible to spend much less (and, of course, much more).

Other Questions

Feel free to email any questions or concerns.

And finally, you can minimize those bank charges by being careful with your planning. You don’t want to have to get money out every day. But you also don’t want to be carrying tons of cash on you as you explore foreign grounds. Think carefully about how much you legitimately need for the next 4 or 5 days, add a little to it, and get that much. And never, ever, carry all your cards, cash, and id on you at once!

Ok, I hope all this was helpful. I just think its best to plan for the worst, and hope for the best!

I very much look forward to meeting (or re-meeting) each of you in Munich or Italy, and to working with you on Ezra Pound and poetry writing at Brunnenburg in a few weeks. I hope your travel preparations are proceeding well. If you haven’t yet, please complete the travel information soon, so I will know what flight to expect you on in Munich, if you are arriving there on 19 June.

I myself will be leaving the U.S. for Europe on 26 May, so if you have any last-minute questions or concerns you wish me to address, please let me know by email or telephone (504) 482-3944 this week. I should have some email contact between 26 May and 19 June, but it may not be entirely dependable.

A couple of other reminders:

1. Please read my letter of acceptance carefully, to be sure that you will have with you the required texts (especially Pound’s Personae, The Cantos of Ezra Pound, and Ridl’s 250 Poems, as these are for daily use), as well as enough (12-15) copies of at least three of your own poems for class distribution, a notebook, etc. Check the Brunnenburg website ( http://lowres.uno.edu/brunnenburg/whattobring.htm ) and Jennifer Stewart’s blog site (http://unopress.org/blog/2008/03/18/what-to-expect-at-brunnenburg-from-the-coordinator/ ) for proper dress for the castle and Italy. Bring adaptable clothing, but remember that it can be quite cool at Brunnenburg at night, so bring at least 1-2 outer garments or layeres of clothing, in case you need them. I also recommend good walking shoes, both for Dorf Tirol and for Venice, and at least one “dressier” change of clothes for special occasions (concerts, formal dinners).

2. Remember that we will all be guests of the de Rachewiltz family, living at their home which they have opened for us for the time we will be there. Our living conditions will be simple yet comfortable, and for the month, you may want to decide to leave certain kinds of typical American contraptions (hair dryers, electric shavers, etc.) at home. As we have just learned, there is now an Internet connection at the castle itself, so bring computers/printers if you intend to use them for your own writing on site. But it may be difficult to print texts, and computers are not absolutely necessary, if you would rather leave them at home. There are also Internet cafes in nearby Merano and in Venice, and at least one computer for use in Dorf Tirol, for those who want periodically to check email in the village; telephone calls can also be made in the village. Remember to tell your family and friends here that, except for emergencies, they should only call Brunnenburg directly during our lunch hour (1-2:30 pm, Brunnenburg time, which 7-8:30 am EST and 6-7:30 am CST in the U.S.). Otherwise, you may want to purchase a cell phone in Italy, if you think it is worth the cost.

3. Traditionally, visitors to Brunnenburg come bearing modest gifts and poems to show our appreciation of the de Rachewiltz family, so it would be VERY NICE if you can manage to bring something small with you for the family. Often Brunnenburgers bring something unique that represents their home region or city, for instance. Others prefer to bring a literary gift (or even to write and/or perform music for the occasion). You certainly need not bring anything elaborate or expensive. In early July, Mary de Rachewiltz, Ezra Pound’s daughter, will be celebrating her 83rd birthday, so it will be especially appropriate to bring something for Mary; we will find an opportunity to wish her a happy birthday during our stay.
In addition, Siegfried de Rachewiltz (Pound’s grandson, known as Sizzo) and Brigitte de Rachewiltz (Sizzo’s wife and our daily chef who is famous for her fabulous cooking) will be our hosts. Sizzo is curator of the Schloss Tirol, the major castle of the South Tirol, and if we ingratiate ourselves to him, he just might give us a tour of Brunnenburg and/or Schloss Tirol; he is the leading expert on the region where we will be living. Sizzo and Brigitte have two sons, Mickey and Nick, in the early twenties, who may also be in residence, so a small family gift might be nice. Finally, Mary’s other child, her daughter Patrizia, an artist and poet who now lives in Holland, may join us during our stay.

4. As soon as possible, do let Jennifer know your travel plans, if you haven’t already, so I will know to look for you at the Munich Airport, at the Cafe Treffpunkt, located directly next to the “Meeting Point” between Concourse B and Concourse C, between 8 am and 2 pm on Monday, June 6. I myself should arrive by noon.

Our objective at Brunnenburg is to work hard and to play hard, as well as to take advantage of the unique benefits of our location, unlike any other you will find. Again, let me know soon if you have concerns. Have a safe trip.

John

John R.O. Gery, Research Professor of English
& Director, Ezra Pound Center for Literature
Department of English
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA 70148-2315

eBags is a website I have been using for a number of years now, in my quest to find the best bag for long haul travel.  For me, I am personally a huge fan of one of eBags own designs, the Mother Lode.  I actually CAN pack a different outfit for 30 days in this bag, which is kind of bad, because then you are really tempted to do that.  Also, fully packed, it will be quite heavy, and right at the weight limit.  However, you won’t need another bag!  I like the rolling duffel because they go down train aisles and bus aisles really well, and if you pack them wisely, you can get so much in them.  And I love the split case feature of the bag, as you can pack shoes and books and such things in the bottom, and don’t have to worry about your shoes - or toiletries - mussing up your clothes.  So anyhow, I am not getting a kickback of any sort from eBags, but I am a fan of the bag (the 25 inch one and the smaller carry on one), so I thought I’d share….

Commenting on the news of the win, Joseph said, “I’m well on my way to becoming the Jerry Lewis of France.” To which Amanda said, “Or something like that.”

Joseph’s short story collection is also up for an award in France. His new novel is slated for publication this fall, and can be pre-ordered from Penguin Canada.

Here’s Penguin’s description of the book:

From internationally acclaimed author Joseph Boyden comes an astonishingly powerful novel of contemporary aboriginal life, full of the dangers and harsh beauty of both forest and city. When beautiful Suzanne Bird disappears, her sister Annie, a loner and hunter, is compelled to search for her, leaving behind their uncle Will, a man haunted by loss.While Annie travels from Toronto to New York, from modelling studios to A-list parties,Will encounters dire troubles at home. Both eventually come to painful discoveries about the inescapable ties of family. Through Black Spruce is an utterly unforgettable consideration of how we discover who we really are.

I for one can’t wait to read it! And congrats to Joseph on his big win!