reading down sampsonia way.

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Danish by the lovely Angelica
Writing this blog from my first ever Stitch and Bitch, not much Stitching is taking place, no Bitching either really.  I demand a refund!  Though on second thought, there are plenty of puppy kisses and homemade maple danishes so perhaps I rescind that statement.

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 At work we have teamed up with a local school, training students in an eleventh grade English class how to create a short documentary.  Today I was asked to join one of the groups as they ventured over to City of Asylum for their preliminary meeting with Israel Centeno. 

City of Asylum is located on the North Side, they offer long-term residency for exiled writers, allowing them a safe space to transition into their exile while continuing their work.  Previous writers have included, Huang Xiang, Horacio Castellanos Moya, and Khet Mar.  Mr. Centeno has been with City of Asylum since 2010 when he was exiled from Venezuela.  He was exiled for his novel "El Complot", written in 1998.  Though it is a work of fiction, Centeno was accused of encouraging the assassination of Hugo Chavez.  If you would like to learn more about Centeno's exile, this blog post is recommended reading.





You know you have arrived at City of Asylum as the unassuming houses on Sampsonia Way give to brightly colored homes painted in foreign tongues and beautiful scenes.  Centeno lives in a jazz themed home created by jazz musician, Oliver Lake and artist, Than Htay Maung   Upon pressing the doorbell, jazz music is emitted from a saxophone inside the house.  The unique sound really amused the students.

The first thing you notice when you enter Centeno's home is the shear amount of books.  Bookshelves line most the walls, books on darkroom photography, Peter Pan, Arabian Nights, HP Lovecraft, and Centeno's own personal work.  Centeno claims the one constant between his home in Venezuela and his new home in Pittsburgh is the books, every room has them.  Centeno began the visit by reading the introduction of Don Quixote in his native tongue.  It was magnificent.

Centeno spoke of many things, of his favorite books, of his garden, of adjusting to the weather in Pittsburgh.  Venezuela isn't known for it's snow, it can only be found in the Andes Mountains.  I was surprised to hear Centeno finds life in Pittsburgh to be a slower pace than life in his home country and that to some degree, he found it easier to return DVDs in his hometown even though he had to ride a subway whereas in Pittsburgh he simply walks a few blocks. 

As we drove back to the school the students were bubbling over with excitement, they still have one more meeting with Centeno in which they will conduct the actual interview.  I can't wait to see their finished product.



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