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June 25, 2017 by tomdalzell

Asia in (Quirky) Berkeley

 

oh-wow1

Asia Colombo spent the 2016-2017 school year as a foreign exchange student at Berkeley High.  She is from Italy. Her name is not pronounced as we pronounce the name of the continent, but as “Ah-zia.”  She was a part of my family for the year.

She took a strong interest in all things Berkeley, all things California, all things America (except soda and all the sugar we eat and red meat and butter).  She got the most out of her time here.  And she took a strong interest in quirky things.

Even when she first arrived, she had mastered some colloquial English.  Each time I pulled over at a quirky manifestation, she said “Oh Wow!”

Her father visited in the winter.  We spent a day visiting quirky things, and he appears in many of the photos.

Asia goes back to Italy tomorrow, June 25th.  May she always treasure her time in Berkeley – and may she come back soon.

Angle Dog bench

Crying angel, singing dog on Walnut

Bulwinkle house

Mark Bulwinkle’s home, Oakland

Bullfighting

Stan Huncilman’s Bullfighting Academy, 5th Street

BRAZIL

Brazilian Cultural Center, San Pablo at Hearst

Bear

Bear, California Memorial Stadium

Blank bench

Sharing a bench with Les Blank, Summer Street

Les Blank's camera mailbox, Summer Street

Les Blank’s camera mailbox, Summer Street

Caboose, 5th Street

Caboose, 5th Street

Hippie bus, on the road

Hippie bus, on the road

Bunny topiary, Ward Street

Bunny topiary, Ward Street

With Clayton Bailey, Crockett

With Clayton Bailey, Crockett

Dragon on Parker Street

Dragon on Parker Street

Dwight and MLK

Dwight and MLK

Dwight and MLK

Dwight and MLK

Cedar and Scenic, elephant

Cedar and Scenic, elephant

Eternal house, Cedar at 4th

Eternal house, Cedar at 4th

Eugene Tssui fish (tardigrade) house, Mathew Street

Eugene Tssui fish (tardigrade) house, Mathew Street

Toot Sweet mural, Gilman Street

Toot Sweet mural, Gilman Street

Doug Heine's sculpture, Page Street

Doug Heine’s sculpture, Page Street

Horse topiary,Sacramento

Horse topiary,Sacramento

Hundertwasser, Scenic and Cedar

Hundertwasser, Scenic and Cedar

Ledge Liquors, University at Acton

Ledge Liquors, University at Acton

Keeyla Meadows front yard, Albany

Keeyla Meadows front yard, Albany

Mural over fence

Mural over fence

Doug Heine's OH OH, Page Street

Doug Heine’s OH OH, Page Street

Mark Olivier beach trash art, Colusa

Mark Olivier beach trash art, Colusa

A People's History of Telegraph Avenue, Haste above Telegraph

A People’s History of Telegraph Avenue, Haste above Telegraph

People's Park

People’s Park

Peace pole

Peace pole

Peace flag, MathewsStreet

Peace flag, Mathews Street

Plane crashing into Doug Heine's home, Page Street

Plane crashing into Doug Heine’s home, Page Street

Clayton Bailey museum, Crockett

Clayton Bailey museum, Crockett

Rocks falling up, 5th Street

Rocks falling up, 5th Street

Solano Stroll

Solano Stroll

Mural at Trader Joe's, from photograph by R. Misrach

Mural at Trader Joe’s, from photograph by R. Misrach

Stan Huncillman's house, 5th Street

Stan Huncillman’s house, 5th Street

Willard School, old mural

Willard School, old mural

Willard School, new mural

Willard School, new mural

Really good one, Willard School , Telegraph Avenue

Really good one, Willard School , Telegraph Avenue

WOnder woman

Wonder woman, alley just east of Doug Heine’s studio, Page Street

X's and O's from stain's research.  Page Street

X’s and O’s from Doug Heine’s studio. Page Street

Zebra car,  Ada Street

Zebra car, Ada Street

Zebra mural

Zebra garage doors, Ada Street

Hippie van

Hippie van

Eduardo Pineda mural, University at 9th

Eduardo Pineda mural, University at 9th

Juana Alicia mural, Emerson at Adeline

Juana Alicia mural, Emerson at Adeline

Double V on Vassar

Double V on Vassar

McKinley Street

McKinley Street

Doggie Diner head, Harper Street

Doggie Diner head, Harper Street

Patrick Amiot mailbox, Vassar

Patrick Amiot mailbox, Vassar

Bird house, 6th Street

Bird house, 6th Street

Buldan Seka's sculptures, Spruce Street

Buldan Seka’s sculptures, Spruce Street

La Pena

La Pena

Frederic Fierstein's Buddhist altar, Arch Street

Frederic Fierstein’s Buddhist altar, Arch Street

La Pena

La Pena

Starry Plough

Starry Plough

Jumpin' Java

Jumpin’ Java

Giraffe topiary, Berryman

Giraffe topiary, Berryman

Oh Wow.  What a great bunch of quirk.

Asia saw all with the eyes of a beginner.  I wish that I had that chance, to see Berkeley and California for the first time.  She reminds of just what a special place Berkeley is – the natural beauty, the culture, and the creativity and individualism that we embrace and that is manifested in our material culture.  Berkeley is oh wow and may it be so forever.

I asked my friend what he had to say about all these photos of Asia in Berkeley.  He said: “In primo logo, voglio dire quanta sia bello avere Asia qui.  Vorrei che lei viaggia sicura a casa e spero che tornera presto.”  WOW – who knew??????

I asked about the post, thinking that he might say “Che viaggio!”  He didn’t.  For that, he stuck to English.

Quirky Berkeley 05-12-16

 

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