You say Shambhala, I say Shamballa – who’s right Jay-Z?

OK, I know I’m getting on a bit, and I occasionally miss the “next big thing” but I have to admit that this one completely passed me by.

I come into school today and Year 8 / 9 seem to be a mass of these gaudy coloured bracelets.

Me:  ”What’s that?”

Kasi: “derrr it’s a Jay-Z bracelet”

Me: (vaguely aware of who Jay-Z is) “Oh yea – nice”

Later in the day to another student:

Me:  ”Nice Jay-Z bracket Emily”

Emily:” It’s Shamballa ‘init” (not often I hear ‘init? but I did today!)

Me:”What’s that then?”

Emily: “It’s wot Jay-Z wears”

 

Just like when my wife was pregnant and everyone around me was suddenly expecting, I turn round and every Year 8 / 9 I bump into has one of these things on.  Off to Google me thinks:

 

Shambhala or Shamballa seems to be the same word, with some corruption.  The first one talks about Buddhist mysticism and the second seems to be the commercial corruption (linked to stars and the wearing of bracelets), as is now apparently worn by a range of stars from the afore mentioned Jay-Z to Jennifer Aniston.

 

I don’t know if this bothers me or not – but I do like to know WHY things are being worn — I wonder if my Year 8 /9 are aware of Buddhist mysticism?

The last round of all things mystic was Madonna and the Kabbalah and whilst again I have no feelings either way about Jewish mysticism, I did find the stars of David that ended up drawn on exercise books somewhat irksome.

 

So, now I am faced with the decision about getting our learners to remove them – thanks Jay-Z