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HELLO AND WELCOME TO ON ASSIGNMENT, AND OUR FINAL EPISODE FOR 2013. I'M ALEX VILLAREAL,
HERE AS USUAL, WITH MY CO-HOST, IMRAN SIDDIQUI.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ALEX. STARTING THE SHOW, A LOOK BACK AT THE YEAR IN EAST AFRICA AS
COVERED BY OUR NAIROBI CORRESPONDENT, GABE JOSELOW.
A SMALL HOSPICE IN PAKISTAN LED BY IRISH NUNS HAS CARED MAINLY FOR MUSLIM PATIENTS FOR FIFTY
YEARS, BUT IS NOW BEING FORCED TO CLOSE. WE'LL HAVE THE STORY.
LATER, THE GHOSTS OF WAR. SEEKING THE DEPARTED OF LONG AGO, WE'LL EXPLAIN.
AND IT'S LIGHTS, CAMERA, MUSIC. WE GO BACKSTAGE AT A LIVE VOA MUSIC SHOW.
ON ASSIGNMENT IS NEXT, LET'S RAISE THE CURTAIN.
2013 WAS AN EVENTFUL YEAR IN EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA. VOA CORRESPONDENT GABE JOSELOW WAS
THERE COVERING MAJOR EVENTS IN THE REGION, AND YOU'VE SEEN HIM A LOT ON OUR SHOW, SHARING
HIS INSIGHTS FROM THE GROUND.
FROM RENEWED FIGHTING IN SUDAN'S DARFUR REGION AND THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, AND THE
DEADLY MALL SHOOTING IN NAIROBI, GABE HAS BEEN A REPORTER ON THE MOVE.
I CAUGHT UP WITH GABE WHILE HE WAS IN WASHINGTON TO REFLECT ON SOME OF THESE STORIES, AND HIS
MORE THAN TWO YEARS AS A CORRESPONDENT IN AFRICA. HERE'S WHAT HE TOLD ME.
GABE, YOU'VE BEEN IN AFRICA REPORTING FOR VOA AS A CORRESPONDENT NOW FOR TWO YEARS.
WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU AS THE MOST PERSONALLY IMPACTFUL STORY THAT YOU'VE COVERED?
I'D SAY FOR SURE THAT STORY HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER IN KENYA WHEN THE WESTAGE SHOPPING MALL WAS
ATTACKED IN NAIROBI. THIS WAS A STORY THAT WAS JUST THE MOST PERSONAL AND SOMETHING THAT
WAS, A MALL THAT I HAD BEEN TO MANY TIMES.
OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR DAYS, KENYAN FORCES BATTLED AL-SHABAB TERRORIST WHO TURNED AN
UPSCALE SHOPPING CENTER INTO A SCENE OF HORROR. THE GUNS HAVE BEEN SILENCED NOW, BUT FOR SOME
VICTIMS, THE TRAUMA IS STILL ALL TOO REAL. CHARLES OSWAGO, A MECHANIC IN NAIROBI, WAS
INSIDE THE MALL THAT DAY, GETTING A NEW LINE FOR HIS CELL PHONE. CORNERED IN A SUPERMARKET,
THE GUNMEN TOLD HIM TO LIE ON THE FLOOR. HE BARELY ESACPED WITH HIS LIFE.
"WE CRAWLED AWAY TO HIDE, BUT THEY SHOT AT ME AND THE BULLET JUST MISSED."
OSWAGO SAYS SINCE HIS EXPERIENCE, HE HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME.
"FROM THAT TIME I HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED, LIVING IN FEAR, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY BUT I
HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO COME TO WORK."
IT WAS AN ATTACK THAT PEOPLE KNEW WAS COMING, IN A WAY. BECAUSE WE HAD HAD SECURITY WARNINGS.
THE GROUP RESPONSIBLE, AL-SHABAB, HAD SPECIFICALLY THREATENED THAT THEY WOULD ATTACK NAIROBI
FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, AND THAT MALL WAS TOP OF THE LIST. BUT WE SPENT JUST DAYS AND
DAYS OUTSIDE THIS MALL IMAGINING WHAT SORT OF ATROCITIES COULD BE TAKING PLACE INSIDE.
AND KNOWING THAT MALL, AND KNOWING THE SCENE AND KNOWING THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SOME CASES
-- KNOWING FRIENDS OF FRIENDS WHO WERE INSIDE THERE -- SO THAT ONE WAS JUST PERSONALLY DIFFICULT
TO COVER. IT WAS ALSO DIFFICULT FROM A REPORTING STANDPOINT BECAUSE WE WEREN'T GETTING A LOT
OF INFORMATION. SO FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, REALLY FRUSTRATING, REALLY DIFFICULT, AND
SOMETHING THAT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET OVER. I'M NOT SURE IF I'VE REALLY HAVE GOTTEN OVER
IT, OR IF A LOT OF THE JOURNALISTS WORKING IN NAIROBI HAVE. BECAUSE IT WAS QUITE TRAUMATIC
AND IT SORT OF CHANGES YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE CITY.
YOUR COVERAGE HAS NOT JUST BEEN LIMITED, AS YOU MENTIONED, TO NAIRBOI, TO KENYA. YOU'VE
ALSO BEEN A NUMBER OF PLACES ON REPORTING ASSIGNMENTS. I WANTED TO GO THROUGH SOME OF
THOSE PLACES AND HAVE YOU DESCRIBE TO US MAYBE ONE WORD OR A FEW WORDS THAT COME TO MIND
FROM YOUR EXPERIENCES THERE. SO LETS START WITH SOMALIA.
SOMALIA. SOMALIA IS COMPLICATED. SOMALIA IS A COUNTRY THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF HOPE THERE,
SINCE THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND THEY'VE GOTTEN RID OF THE MAJORITY OF
THE TERRORIST ELEMENT THAT WAS SEIZING THE CITY OF MOGADISHU FOR SO LONG, AND ARE MAKING
MILITARY VICTORIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY; THERE'S A LOT OF HOPE. AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S
STILL THE SCENE OF A LOT OF VIOLENCE, A LOT OF CONFLICT, A LOT OF CAR BOMBINGS, IT'S UNPREDICTABLE.
THE PIRACY STILL GOING ON...
PIRACY IS CERTAINLY STILL A PROBLEM SO I'D SAY UNPREDICTABLE IS ANOTHER WORD I'D USE
TO DESCRIBE IT. YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THERE NEXT. IT'S SOMETHING
TO WATCH OUT FOR.
RIGHT. NOW MOVING ON TO THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
UNDER REPORTED. THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC IS A PLACE I THINK NEEDS A LOT MORE ATTENTION.
IT'S A COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN RIVEN BY VIOLENCE SINCE IT DECLARED INDEPENDENCE IN 1960. RIGHT
NOW, THE CURRENT REBELLION AND THE CURRENT TENSION HAS BEEN MUCH WORSE THAN THEY'VE EXPERIENCED
IN A LONG, LONG TIME. AND THERE'S MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY IT, AND DISPLACED, HUNGRY,
MISSING...LACKING MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EVERYTHING. AND YET IT DOESN'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF ATTENTION.
RIGHT. NOW I WANT TO DO ONE MORE, ANOTHER PLACE WHERE YOU'VE SPENT TIME: SOUTH SUDAN.
SOUTH SUDAN. YOU KNOW, I STILL THINK OF IT, JUST THINK OF INDEPENDENCE. I MEAN, THAT WAS
THE FIRST STORY THAT I COVERED WHEN I TOOK THIS ASSIGNMENT, BACK IN 2011, WAS SOUTH SUDAN
DECLARING INDEPENDENCE. AND IT WAS AN AMAZING TIME, BECAUSE THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH HOPE
AND SO MUCH GOOD WILL GOING TOWARDS THAT NATION. NOW IT'S BEEN A COUPLE YEARS SINCE THEN AND
THERE'S BEEN SOME STUMBLING; THE GOVERNMENT CERTAINLY HASN'T PUT ITSELF TOGETHER THE WAY
PEOPLE HOPED IT WOULD. THERE'S STILL LINGERING CONFLICT AND TENSION WITH NORTH SUDAN AND
ECONOMIC ISSUES. SO IT'S NOT CLEAR. IT'S TAKEN ITS VERY SHAKY FIRST STEPS; STILL IT MAY BE
TOO EARLY TO SAY IF IT WILL EVER BE ABLE TO RIGHT ITSELF OR WHAT DIRECTION IT'S GOING.
BUT IT'S A COUNTRY I FEEL VERY ATTACHED TO FOR THAT REASON; LIKE WHEN I FIRST CAME TO
AFRICA IT WAS FIRST BECOMING A COUNTRY. AND SO, I THINK I'LL ALWAYS BE INTERESTED IN WATCHING
IT DEVELOP.
AND OUR THANKS, AS ALWAYS, TO VOA CORRESPONDENT GABE JOSELOW. WE EXPECT TO BE TALKING WITH
GABE MANY MORE TIMES IN 2014 AS HE CONTINUES TO FOLLOW EVENTS FOR US IN EAST AFRICA.
WE GO NOW ACROSS THE GLOBE TO THE CROWDED, WINDING STREETS OF THE PAKISTANI CITY RAWALPINDI,
WHERE A SMALL CHRISTIAN HOSPICE LED BY IRISH NUNS HAS TAKEN CARE OF THE DESTITUTE AND DISABLED
FOR 50 YEARS.
BUT THE HOSPICE THAT CATERS MAINLY TO MUSLIM PATIENTS IS NOW BEING FORCED TO CLOSE BECAUSE
OF FALLING DONATIONS AND RISING COSTS. VOA'S SHARON BEHN HAS THE STORY.
AISHA GULREHMAN HAS CEREBRAL PALSY. AT 12, SHE WAS HIT BY A BULLET OUTSIDE HER HOME IN
PAKISTAN'S POOR NORTHWEST. THIS CHRISTIAN HOSPICE HAS BEEN HER HOME FOR TEN YEARS.
"WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. NOW, I CAN EAT BY MYSELF AND I CAN WRITE.
EVERYBODY HERE LOVES ME AND TAKES CARE OF ME. I WASN'T LOOKED AFTER LIKE THIS IN MY
OWN HOME.
LIKE AISHA, ALL FOURTY PATIENTS HERE ARE DESTITUTE. SOME OF THE PARAPLEGICS AND QUADREPLEGICS
HAVE BEEN ABANDONED. SISTER MARGARET WALSH AND A TEAM OF PAKISTANI AND INTERNATIONAL
VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP ST. JOSEPH'S RUNNING. BUT AFTER FIFTY YEARS, DONATIONS
ARE DRYING UP. AND BOOKKEEPER NAVEED INDERYAS SAYS FUEL, ELECTRICITY AND MEDICAL COSTS ARE
RISING.
"YES, ACCORDING TO THE BANK BALANCES, WE CAN SURVIVE ONLY FOR FIVE MONTHS."
ALTHOUGH IT CARES FOR PEOPLE OF MANY RELIGIONS, MANY THINK THAT AS A CHRISTIAN INSTITUTION,
CHRISTIANS SHOULD RAISE THE MONEY. BUT SECTARIAN VIOLENCE HAS PUSHED MANY OF PAKISTAN'S WEALTHIER
CHRISTIANS TO DEPART, LEAVING FEW DONORS. WHILE THERE ARE MANY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
IN PAKISTAN, ST. JOSEPH'S IS UNIQUE, SAYS DR. MUNAWAR SHER KHAN, A MUSLIM WHO HAS BEEN
INVOLVED WITH THE HOSPICE FOR FORTY YEARS.
"THERE IS NO PLACE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THAT WOULD, THAT HELPS THE DISABLED, THE CHRONICALLY
ILL, THE REJECTED FROM OTHER HOSPITALS...THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO GO HOSPITALS. THEY CAN'T AFFORD
EXPENSIVE TREATMENT."
ABLER PATIENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO STAY ACTIVE. MOHAMMAD SOHAIL WAS A YOUNG MAN WHEN HE DOVE
INTO A LAKE AND CRACKED HIS HEAD ON A ROCK, PARALYZING HIM FROM THE NECK DOWN.
"I HAVE NO WORDS TO TELL YOU WHAT THESE PEOPLE AT THIS HOSPICE...THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH
ME. DRESSING, FOOD, A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, SPECIAL NEEDS FOR PATIENTS THEY PROVIDE US.
AND SLOWLY, STARTING THAT DAY, I DID MOVE MY NECK, MY HAND, MY FINGER, AND NOW I AM
LIKE A BIG MAN."
UNFORTUNATELY, SUCH SUCCESS STORIES COULD SOON BE A THING OF THE PAST, WITHOUT DONATED
FUNDS TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN. MUNAWAR STILL CANNOT BELIEVE THAT IT MAY COME TO PASS.
WHY ARE WE CLOSING? INSUFFICIENT FUNDS? PEOPLE DON'T CARE ANYMORE? I CARE...THAT'S IT."
SISTER MARGARET WALSH SAYS SHE WILL FIGHT TO KEEP THE HOSTPICE OPEN. CLOSING SEEMS TOO
PAINFUL AN OPTION. SHARON BEHN, VOA NEWS, RAWALPINDI.
AND AGAIN THAT WAS VOA ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT SHARON BEHN. SHARON DID A LOT OF IMPORTANT
REPORTING FOR US IN THE LAST YEAR, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING HER ON AGAIN IN 2014.
WHEN WE COME BACK WE GO TO A PLACE THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK IS STILL HAUNTED BY THE GHOSTS
OF WAR. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS. YOU'RE WATCHING ON ASSIGNMENT.
IN 2013, AMERICANS MARKED THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT ABE LINCOLN'S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS.
THE LEGENDARY SPEECH WAS DELIVERED AFTER THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, THE BLOODIEST BATTLE
EVER ON U.S. SOIL.
TODAY THE TOWN OF GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA IS A MAGNET NOT ONLY FOR THOSE INTERESTED
IN THE CIVIL WAR, BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN GHOSTS.
AS VOA'S JEROME SOCOLOVSKY REPORTS, GHOST HUNTING HAS BECOME A BUSINESS IN GETTYSBURG.
ON ASSIGNMENT'S REBECCA WARD CAUGHT UP WITH JEROME TO GET THE WHOLE GHOST STORY.
IF GHOSTS EXIST ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. GETTYSBURG IS PERHAPS THE RIGHT PLACE TO LOOK FOR THEM.
LOCALS SAY THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED AND RECENTLY A GROUP OF PEOPLE ON A GHOST HUNTERS TOUR
VENTURED INSIDE WITH RATHER SOPHISTICATED GADGETS.
I DID NOT SEE A GHOST OR THE PRESENCE OF A GHOST. I TRIED AND WENT AROUND WITH ONE OF
THESE LASOR POINTER MATRIX FLASHLIGHTS AND DIDN'T SEE ANYWHERE.
BUT DID ANYBODY ELSE ON THE TOUR OR ON THE -- ANY OF THE OTHER VISITORS OR EVEN THE GUIDE
SAY HERE'S SOMETHING.
RIGHT. SO, THERE WERE ABOUT A DOZEN PEOPLE ON THE TOUR A AND QUITE A FEW OF THEM SAID
THEY FELT THE PRESENCE.
CHARLIE SAUTERS THINKS HE HEARD A GHOST.
"CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YEAR IT IS?"
A STUDY BY BAYLOR UNIVERSITY IN TEXAS ESTIMATES THAT 68 PERCENT OF AMERICANS BELIEVE IN THE
PARANORMAL.
NOBODY ACTUALLY, AS FAR AS I COULD TELL, SAW A GHOST, AN APPARITION, BUT IN ONE ROOM AND
I WAS THERE THEY SAW A CHANDELIER SWAYING. ME BEING THE RATIONAL PERSON -- I WOULD EXPLAIN
THAT FROM HAVING A DOZEN PEOPLE WALKING ON A ONE OF THE UPPER FLOORS OF AN OLD HOUSE.
OR JUST OPENING THE DOOR.
NOW ONE WOMAN SAID SHE HAD NEVER SEEN THAT CHANDELIER SWAY.
I HAVE BEEN HERE MAYBE ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES AND IT'S NEVER EVER MOVED.
WELL, WHY DON'T YOU DESCRIBE TO US WHERE YOU WERE AND KIND OF TAKES US ON THE TOUR, HOW
IT BEGAN, HOW IT ENDED.
SURE. THE TOUR BEGINS DOWNTOWN. I WOULD CALL IT A GHOST TOUR ROW WHERE THEY HAVE SEVERAL
BUSINESSES THAT OFFER THESE TOURS. THIS ONE WAS CALLED AN EXTREME GHOST HUNT WHERE THEY
GO WITH ALL OF THE, THEY HAVE THEIR PARAPHERNALIA, THEIR EQUIPMENT, AND THEY GO LATE AT NIGHT
UP TO MIDNIGHT TO SEVERAL LOCATIONS AROUND GETTYSBURG. OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A BIG BATTLE,
SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE DIED, 11 THOUSAND MISSING AND TENS OF THOUSANDS WOUNDED SO THERE ARE
A LOT OF HAUNTED PLACES IN THE AREA. WE WENT TO A PLACE CALLED THE HOFFMAN MANSION WHICH
WE WERE TOLD WAS A CASUALTY COLLECTION CENTER, A PLACE WHERE THEY BROUGHT THE WOUNDED. THEY
COULDN'T DO MUCH WITH THEM SO A 80 PERCENT OF THEM DIED AND THEREFORE THAT WOULD BE A
PLACE TO LOOK FOR GHOSTS.
AND, OF COURSE BEFORE THEY DIED SOME PRETTY HORRIFIC MEDICINE BACK IN THE CIVIL WAR ERA.
SAWING OFF LEGS WITHOUT ANY ANESTHESIA AND YEA, I COULD IMAGINE. IF THERE ARE GHOSTS
THEY COULD BE THERE.
AND FOR AMERICA AS A COUNTRY THAT BATTLE WAS THE BLOODIEST BATTLE ON AMERICAN SOIL. A LOT
OF THE BODIES WERE LYING OUT ON THE FIELD FOR A LONG TIME. THERE WERE QUICK BURIALS
SO PEOPLE WEREN'T VERY DEEP IN THE GROUND AND BONES WOULD SURFACE AFTERWARD, FOR YEARS
AFTERWARD APPARENTLY.
SO YOU MUST HAVE MET SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE ON THIS TOUR.
SO WE MET A PSYCHIC MEDIUM WHO TOOK US OUT TO A FIELD AND WAS HAVING ELABORATE CONVERSATIONS
WITH PEOPLE SHE SAID SHE SAW VIVIDLY OUT THERE.
"JAMES AND BARTHOLOMEW AND BILL AND ALL THE REST OF YOU I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE ABOUT 14
OF YOU, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW...
AUTHOR AND PSYCHIC LAINE CROSBY CLAIMS SHE'S TALKING WITH DEAD SOLDIERS AND SAYS SHE DOESN'T
NEED SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT TO DO SO.
"THEY'RE JUST LIKE US. THEY JUST DON'T HAVE BODIES ANYMORE. (INAUDIBLE) DO YOU HEAR THAT?"
"SO PEOPLE ARE IN A QUEST FOR A KIND OF CERTAINTY AND THE MORE SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNOLOGICAL IT
SEEMS, THE BETTER."
WHAT DID THE THEOLOGIAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE TYPE OF PERSONALITIES. I KNOW YOU KIND OF
TOUCHED ON IT BUT THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE IN GHOSTS OR THE POSSIBILITY OF GHOSTS.
SHE DESCRIBED IT AS A, AS A KIND OF SUBCULTURE WITH ITS OWN GADGETS THAT WITH THE MORE SCIENTIFIC
THE BETTER. WITH ITS OWN DRESS. PEOPLE SEEMED TO DRESS DARK AND HATS PULLED DOWN...
GHOSTBUSTERS.
"HEY, ANYONE SEEN GHOSTS?"
"THIS IS FOR CAPTURING SHOTS FIGURES, IF SOMETHING CROSSES IN FRONT YOU SEE THE SHADOW FIGURE.
YOU SEE WHAT'S CREATING THE FIGURE. IT'S AN INTERESTING LITTLE TOOL AS WELL."
THEY EVEN HAVE A CODE OF ETHICS WHICH I FOUND TO BE INTERESTING THAT WHEN THEY PREPARED
PEOPLE TO GO INTO THESE HOUSES THEY SAID IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO BEHAVE IN A WAY SO AS
NOT TO DISTURB THE SPIRITS, NOT TO BE SHOUTING OR, AND NOT TO DISTURB THE LOCATIONS. SO,
THEY EVEN HAVE THEIR OWN COSMOLOGY AND THIS IDEA OF THE AFTERLIFE, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
THEN.
JEROME SOCOLOVSKY IS VOA'S RELIGION REPORTER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING JEROME.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK RIGHT NOW. COMING UP, WE GO BACKSTAGE AT A POPULAR
WASHINGTON VENUE TO SEE HOW ONE OF OUR VOA MUSIC SHOWS IS MADE. YOU'RE WATCHING ON ASSIGNMENT.
IN 2013, VOA DEBUTED A TELEVISION PROGRAM SHOWCASING SOME OF THE BEST OF AMERICAN MUSIC.
THE SHOW IS CALLED "HAMILTON LIVE", AND IT TAKES AUDIENCES INSIDE A STATE-OF-THE-ART
WASHINGTON DC MUSIC CLUB FOR INTIMATE PERFORMANCES WITH MUSICIANS FROM EVERY GENRE.
VOA EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JERRY BROWN LAUNCHED "HAMILTON LIVE" AND ON ASSIGNMENT'S LISA VOHRA
WENT BEHIND THE SCENES WITH JERRY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SHOW AND HOW IT'S MADE.
HAMILTON LIVE IS LIVE CONCERT VENUE PROGRAM THAT WE DO. WE WERE LOOKING FOR A VENUE THAT
WOULD ALLOW US TO SHOWCASE MULTI GENRE MUSIC AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT VENUES AROUND
TOWN AND THE OWNERS AT THE HAMILTON SAID...WELL TELL YOU WHAT, JERRY, DO ALL YOUR SHOWS HERE.
THE HAMILTON HAS A LIVE AUDIENCE. YOU HAVE NOT ONLY THE PERFORMANCE AND A STATE OF THE
ART VENUE, BUT YOU HAVE THE ENERGY AND ELECTRICITY OF THAT LIVE AUDIENCE IN THE CLUB. IN THE
VENUE AND IT REALLY ADDS TO THE ELECTRICITY, YOU KNOW, OF THE SHOW.
"GREAT SHOW TONIGHT. REBIRTH BRASS BAND OUT OF NEW ORLEANS. IT'S GOING TO BE A ROCKING
SHOW, YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY THAT ALSO."
TELL ME ABOUT WHAT THAT'S LIKE? YOU'RE DIRECTING, YOU'RE THERE, YOU'VE GOT A LIVE AUDIENCE?
IT'S FUNNY DOING THAT BECAUSE, ONE OF THE THINGS IN DIRECTING A MUSICAL PROGRAM, I GUESS
ANY PROGRAM IS YOUR CONCENTRATION AND FOCUS. AND WHEN THE MUSIC STARTS CRANKING UP AND
THE CROWD IS DANCING AND CHEERING, IT'S SOMETHING A CHALLENGE TO FOCUS ON THE SHOW BECAUSE YOU
WANT TO START CLAPPING YOUR HANDS AND GETTING INVOLVED IN THE MUSIC AND YOU REALIZE..OH,
I MISSED THAT SHOT. SO IT'S A CHALLENGE FOCUSING ON IT BUT IT'S COMPLETELY FUN BECAUSE YOU
FEEL PART OF IT. BECAUSE YOU FEEL PART OF IT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU SHOW THE PROGRAM TO THE
TELEVISION AUDIENCE, YOU'RE THE EYES FOR THEM TO CATCH THE ACTION AND THE MUSIC AND FLOW
OF THE SHOW.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT WAS REALLY COOL, I WAS WITH YOU THAT DAY, I SAW YOU IN ACTION,
I SAW THE SHOW. THE COOLEST THING IS YOU GUYS HAVE THIS THING, LIKE, CONTROL ROOM ON-THE-GO.
YOU TAKE EVERYTHING WITH YOU TO HAMILTON LIVE SO THAT YOU RECORD THIS LIVE TO TAPE. HOW
DID THAT COME ABOUT?
IT'S A PROCESS THAT DEVELOPED.
IT WAS YOUR IDEA?
IT WAS, BUT ONCE THE IDEA WAS LAUNCHED, EVERYONE HAD CREATIVE INPUT ON IT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE HAVE A SMALL PORTABLE SWITCHER AND OUR CAMERAMEN, OUR MINI CAM CREW RUN LINES. WE
TRY TO BE AS UNOBVIOUS TO THE AUDIENCE WHO'S PAYING FOR THE TICKETS AT THE SHOW.
WE CAN PLAY MUSIC THROUGH A ROOM AND THAT'S ONE THING...
NOW YOU ALSO INTERVIEW THE ARTIST THAT COMES, TELL ME ABOUT HOW ALL THAT WORKS WITH THE
SHOW. YOU DO A LIVE SHOW AND AN INTERVIEW, HOW DOES IT ALL COME TOGETHER?
THE SHOWS USUALLY 90 MINUTES LONG AND OUR PROGRAM IS 30 MINUTES LONG. SO WE BRIDGE EACH
OF THE SONGS WITH SOUND BITES FROM THE MUSICIANS TO GET A FEEL FOR WHAT DRIVES THEM, THEIR
BACKGROUND, THEIR MOTIVATION, THEIR LOVE FOR THE MUSIC.
THE PATRIOT SONGS THAT I GREW UP LOVING TO SING...
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE IS THAT, THE MUSIC ALLEY PROGRAMS,
THE MUSIC THAT WE DO, IS MORE THAN JUST AN EXPRESSION OF OUR MUSIC, IT'S A REFLECTION
OF WORLD MUSIC. REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE ON THIS PLANET WHICH WE ALL SHARE, IF YOU
LISTEN CLOSELY ENOUGH, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE YOURSELF IN AMERICAN MUSIC.
DEFINITELY, MUSIC BRINGS PEOPLE..YOU CONNECT WITH MUSIC, THAT'S ONE WAY TO BRING PEOPLE
TOGETHER.
BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER, IT BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER. ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL JERRY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT WAS REALLY
HARD TO GET YOU HERE.
IT WAS ACTUALLY A PLEASURE BEING WITH YOU, APPRECIATE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MORE
TOGETHER. COOL.
ALL RIGHT.
AND OUR THANKS AGAIN TO VOA EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JERRY BROWN. NOW IMRAN YOU ARE, OF COURSE,
A MUSIC LOVER AS YOU'VE SHARED WITH US. HAVE YOU BEEN TO CHECK OUT THE HAMILTON YET?
I HAVEN'T CHECKED OUT HAMILTON BUT I'VE SEEN 9:30 CLUB. AND PLUS, WASHINGTON, DOWNTOWN
DC IS SUCH A GOOD PLACE FOR CLUBS AND THERE ARE SO MANY CLUBS
OF COURSE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER BUT WE WENT INTO BLUES ALLEY TO TALK WITH
ERIC FELTON ABOUT HIS PROGRAM "BEYOND CATEGORY." SO, A LOT OF GOOD MUSIC HERE IN DC.
AMAZING MUSIC IN DC.
ALRIGHT. WELL IT IS SUMMER NOW IN HALF THE WORLD, BUT NO MATTER WHAT YOUR THERMOMETER
SHOWS, THIS NEXT STORY IS SURE TO KEEP YOU COOL. FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY A HUGE ATTRACTION
AT THE MARRIOTT *** RESORT AND HOTEL NEAR WASHINGTON IS MADE ENTIRELY OF ICE.
MORE THAN NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND KILOGRAMS OF ICE TO BE EXACT. AND THE ARTWORK IS DONE
ENTIRELY BY CHINESE ICE CARVERS. VOA'S CAROLYN PRESUTTI WENT TO CHECK IT OUT.
THE TENT IS MASSIVE AND NOISY.
THE TEMPERATURE IS A BRISK MINUS 12 DEGREES CELSIUS....
COLD ENOUGH TO PRESERVE 6,000 BLOCKS OF ICE --- AND PERFECT FOR CHIPPING A HOLIDAY DISPLAY.
THE CARVERS ARE FROM CHINA.
"WE LEARNED IT SINCE WE WERE REALLY YOUNG."
SINCE AGE 9 FOR XU RUI HE LIVES IN HARBIN, CHINA, KNOWN AS THE ICE
CAPITAL OF THE WORLD BECAUSE OF ITS ANNUAL FESTIVAL. THIS IS HIS 11TH EXHIBIT IN THE
UNITED STATES AND, HE SAYS, THE BEST BECAUSE OF ITS HEIGHT - NEARLY SEVEN METERS TALL.
THESE ICE ARCHITECTS FOLLOW BLUEPRINTS. BUT THEY BUILD THE SCULPTURE WITHOUT KNOWING HOW
IT SHOULD LOOK FINISHED BECAUSE -- WELL - THEY HAVEN'T HEARD 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
AN AMERICAN CLASSIC READ ALOUD ON THE CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY.
"NOW THE STORY IS UH...SORRY... I CAN'T RECALL."
IT'S SO COLD IN HERE, EVEN A QUARTER STICKS TO THE ICE IN SECONDS, WITH HEAT ACTING AS
THE GLUE.
"LET ME GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW COLD IT IS IN HERE. WATCH HOW QUICKLY THIS QUARTER STICKS
TO THE ICE. THE HEAT FROM MY THUMB PENETRATES THE COIN AND WITHIN A SECOND, A PERMANENT
SEAL IS MADE."
FOR THE CARVERS, WATER AND SHAVED ICE ACT AS THE GLUE BETWEEN THE BLOCKS. WHEN THE CHIPPING
IS OVER AND THE CARVERS FINISHED, XU RUI SAYS THEY LOVE TO SEE VISITORS' FACES.
IN A MERE MONTH, THE BARE BLOCKS HAVE BECOME REINDEER.
PLAIN SLABS, AN EXQUISITE NATIVITY, THE RELIGIOUS CENTERPIECE OF CHRISTMAS.
"WHEN YOU WALK IN HERE AND YOU LOOK AROUND, IT'S EYE POPPING."
"THE WHOLE PLACE IS SO BEAUTIFUL."
THE CAR, NOW A NEW YORK CITY TAXI, WITH REAL LEATHER SEATS FOR A PERFECT PHOTO.
THE SLANTED PLANK ... NOW AN ICE SLIDE, THE HIGHLIGHT FOR CHILDREN.
THE DISPLAY, SIMPLY CALLED "ICE!" IS A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR WASHINGTON DC. WRAPPED IN 900,000
KILOGRAMS OF ICE ... FROM 34 EXPERT CARVERS FROM CHINA.
WELL WE'VE CARVED OUT ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR YOU TODAY. AND AS WE SAY GOODBYE, WE LOOK
FORWARD TO ANOTHER FANTASTIC YEAR HERE AT ON ASSIGNMENT IN 2014.
CHECK OUT ALL OUR PAST EPISODES ANYTIME AT VOANEWS.COM, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE.
HERE IS TO THE NEW YEAR.
GOODBYE FOR NOW, SEE YOU IN 2014.