I had a great weekend of cultural diversity. I saw the new musical Band In Berlin on Saturday. It was a moving experience. It made you feel what it was like to live in Berlin - and Germany when Hitler was there. It brought tears to my eyes.

On Sunday, I enjoyed the celebration of Chinese New Year at the Vernon School. Phyllis Chen was one of two MCs. She spoke in English and Chinese. It was a delightful experience that I will share with you next week.

Over the two days, I heard songs sung in French, German, Chinese and English.

Sunday night my husband Walter and I caught up on our favorite show Nippon-America. There is a science section called Megaten which explained why the Chinese use the wok, the Europeans like copper pots and the Japanese like earthenware vessels.

It has to do with where the country is located in the hemisphere. Do people need a regular heat source that is always available for cooking or is it warm and you want food to cook quickly because it's warm out.

I am sitting at my desk, tapping out the last words for this week's newspaper drinking Poland Springs Green Tea!

I watched The Sopranos on Sunday night, a story about an Italian family in the Casa Nostra. The most interesting part is the struggle Tony Soprano is having with dealing with his own involvement in being a gangster and his hopes and aspirations for his children as an American. He's in therapy with an Italian-American psychologist - a woman.

I had Greek food on Saturday night and chili on Sunday night.

My finger nails were done on Sunday night by a lovely girl from Korea at Angel Wings in East Norwich.

I learned how to say Happy New Year in Chinese from three students from Great Neck South: Gong Xi Fa Chi. I tried to learn it in Korean, but I needed to write it down on paper to remember it. It sounded lovely, but my nails were wet.

I just stayed at home - relatively speaking - and the world came out to meet me! Wonderful!

- DFK