GO SHAWTY, IT'S MY BIRTHDAY...
Being 20 isn't sounding so bad after all, thanks to all my wonderful friends and their birthday wishes. Ben kidnapped me early this afternoon and took me to the Super DC. It was nice "spending every waking moment" with him... gosh, haven't done that in AGES! (Thanks for lunch, Ben!) A special thanks to Jerry for letting us crash at his place. Hurray for video games and Mondo Gelato! Planet Rock the Block was also super cool tonight.
My roomies are the BEST! Zairel gave Caroline a heart attack and surprised me with balloons and a lifetime's supply of my favorite chapstick in the world! I probably also have a lifetime's supply of meat stashed in the fridge from Caroline, Gabs and Caleb. (Okay, in Jamie-terms, the stash will probably only last me for a couple of days...) Yay for beautiful flowers, Zachary's pizza and the most beautiful cake I have ever seen. Plus, I treated myself to an even greater selection of Kobe pictures for my screen-saver. Being 20 is good. Having good friends makes it even better.
To Allie Mac: Though every year, you steal my special day, I just wanted to also wish you a very happy birthday! You poor Leap Year Baby, just know that you're a wonderful person and someone that I'm so proud to call my friend. I'm glad to be sharing my special day with you. Love you and miss you much. Happy birthday! (Don't worry, you'll have an actual birthday next year!)
Friday, February 28, 2003
Thursday, February 27, 2003
On the eve of my transition from "teenagedom" to "adulthood" you would think that after being around for 19 years, geez, I oughta know a thing or two about my identity... where I'm from and where I'm going. Huh, funny thing is, I think I'm facing identity issues. In my favorite Poli Sci class today, our guest speaker was the Honorable John Chiang of the State Board of Equalization. He's such an amazing speaker with great stories to tell. He told stories about his Chinese parents and their wishes for each child to grow up and become a doctor. Ironic that 3 out of the 4 children all majored in Poli Sci. He also told stories of discrimination when they first immigrated over and lived in a predominantly black community. How their apartment window was the target of rocks thrown by rowdy teenagers that lived nearby. How when all the other school kids had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, he had rice with eel on it. How the bathrooms of his elementary school was such a terror for him, for fear of being the center of mockery among the big bullies that hung out in there. How his parents worked so hard to give them a better life…
Listening to these stories, I realized I am him! I went through the same time… the fear of going to the bathrooms cuz the girls would always pull open the door right when my pants would be around my ankles (darn those doors that never locked!), how my little Hawthorne apartment windows were always bombarded with eggs, how I was considered the strange Chinese girl with strange lunches each day. These memories… I’ve carried them with me forever, yet why is it that I needed somebody to retell these stories to me for me to remember them? I think whether intentionally or unintentionally, I have blocked out these horrible memories. I no longer physically SEE myself any different from other people. I think I’m normal… and I think sometimes I even consider myself “white” or “Mexican.”
If there was one thing I got out of class today, it’s to make a statement by being me and being proud of who I am. Though I may not be able to change society and the way we are subconsciously segregated because of different support groups, I can make something out of the life that I was given. That means, while being proud of my own culture, we need to also be aware of other cultures and celebrate those cultures. I can make a difference based on the actions I take, but more importantly, I need to recognize the effects that my actions have on others.
Dinner was at Fu Lin’s tonight (I really should be the poster-child for Fu Lin!). I learned that Elaine (the co-owner) is from Hong Kong and she also speaks Mandarin. We spoke for quite awhile and she confided in me that sometimes she doesn’t know why she came to the States. She left a life of luxury to scrub floors and serve a bunch of Berkeley students. Why, I asked. She answered, “For rights. You don’t get rights in Hong Kong… but life here is hard. I make very little.”
Growing up in the United States, I think I have taken for advantage the rights that we have, cuz I haven’t experienced it any other way. But maybe it’s time that I start using my privileges to uplift others. I can’t mask the fact that I’m Chinese, but I can exist and make a statement with my living.
Listening to these stories, I realized I am him! I went through the same time… the fear of going to the bathrooms cuz the girls would always pull open the door right when my pants would be around my ankles (darn those doors that never locked!), how my little Hawthorne apartment windows were always bombarded with eggs, how I was considered the strange Chinese girl with strange lunches each day. These memories… I’ve carried them with me forever, yet why is it that I needed somebody to retell these stories to me for me to remember them? I think whether intentionally or unintentionally, I have blocked out these horrible memories. I no longer physically SEE myself any different from other people. I think I’m normal… and I think sometimes I even consider myself “white” or “Mexican.”
If there was one thing I got out of class today, it’s to make a statement by being me and being proud of who I am. Though I may not be able to change society and the way we are subconsciously segregated because of different support groups, I can make something out of the life that I was given. That means, while being proud of my own culture, we need to also be aware of other cultures and celebrate those cultures. I can make a difference based on the actions I take, but more importantly, I need to recognize the effects that my actions have on others.
Dinner was at Fu Lin’s tonight (I really should be the poster-child for Fu Lin!). I learned that Elaine (the co-owner) is from Hong Kong and she also speaks Mandarin. We spoke for quite awhile and she confided in me that sometimes she doesn’t know why she came to the States. She left a life of luxury to scrub floors and serve a bunch of Berkeley students. Why, I asked. She answered, “For rights. You don’t get rights in Hong Kong… but life here is hard. I make very little.”
Growing up in the United States, I think I have taken for advantage the rights that we have, cuz I haven’t experienced it any other way. But maybe it’s time that I start using my privileges to uplift others. I can’t mask the fact that I’m Chinese, but I can exist and make a statement with my living.
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
DATE WITH KOBE
Whoo hoo, I am now the proud owner of Lakers-Warriors tickets!!!! April 16th... countdown to my very FIRST time ever seeing Kobe live! A semi-dream come true. As big of a fan I am of him, I have never been able to see him play in person. Which is odd, because I've been a huge Kobe-fan since Day 1. I liked him so much that I named my cutie-patootie of a puppy after him.
So fiasco to purchasing tickets... darn Ticketmaster would not accept on-line purchases last night. So I call Mr. Ticketmaster man this afternoon. After much transferring between departments, they finally connected me to the right person... Ben something or other. Nice guy. Caroline and I, in order to get the much-desired Lakers tickets, had to buy a package of 3 games. By the end of April, I'm sure the two of us will be very familiar with the whole Warriors team, along with the Arena in Oakland. We are now the ticket-holders of Warriors games against the Utah Jazz (down with Malone!!!!), the Los Angeles Clippers (yay Andre Miller, Q and "Magget"!!!!!!) and the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers!!!!! A very nice early birthday present to myself, indeed!!!!!
Whoo hoo, I am now the proud owner of Lakers-Warriors tickets!!!! April 16th... countdown to my very FIRST time ever seeing Kobe live! A semi-dream come true. As big of a fan I am of him, I have never been able to see him play in person. Which is odd, because I've been a huge Kobe-fan since Day 1. I liked him so much that I named my cutie-patootie of a puppy after him.
So fiasco to purchasing tickets... darn Ticketmaster would not accept on-line purchases last night. So I call Mr. Ticketmaster man this afternoon. After much transferring between departments, they finally connected me to the right person... Ben something or other. Nice guy. Caroline and I, in order to get the much-desired Lakers tickets, had to buy a package of 3 games. By the end of April, I'm sure the two of us will be very familiar with the whole Warriors team, along with the Arena in Oakland. We are now the ticket-holders of Warriors games against the Utah Jazz (down with Malone!!!!), the Los Angeles Clippers (yay Andre Miller, Q and "Magget"!!!!!!) and the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers!!!!! A very nice early birthday present to myself, indeed!!!!!
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
SPEECH MAN WANTED
You can always tell when a person was a product of high school speech and debate. Case in point #1: Patrick from Leland. Case in point #2: Yelda from Logan. I'm still not sure what it is that makes it so distinguishing... maybe it's the way they carry themselves? the way they speak? the way they act? the way they scream professionalism? the way they can persuade you about anything and everything? the way they think? Um... I choose all of the above. *dreaming about a speech man of my own*
You can always tell when a person was a product of high school speech and debate. Case in point #1: Patrick from Leland. Case in point #2: Yelda from Logan. I'm still not sure what it is that makes it so distinguishing... maybe it's the way they carry themselves? the way they speak? the way they act? the way they scream professionalism? the way they can persuade you about anything and everything? the way they think? Um... I choose all of the above. *dreaming about a speech man of my own*
Sunday, February 23, 2003
Every night, before I slip into bed, I feel as if I've been run over 10 times with a bulldozer (given my past, that's a very likely possibility). I go to bed with a heavy heart and toss and turn all night long. My mind races with all the things I need to do, or should be doing, that a good night's rest is never achieved. Hence, why I haven't blogged in ages. You may ask why I torture myself so... even I've found myself asking that for the past couple of weeks.
However, last night has renewed the spark and excitement. I now understand why I do it... it's for the cause. People have sacrificed so much for me, it's my turn to do the sacrificing. My college experience has not been heightened by the classes I attend or the lectures I miss, but rather by the people I meet... and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
However, last night has renewed the spark and excitement. I now understand why I do it... it's for the cause. People have sacrificed so much for me, it's my turn to do the sacrificing. My college experience has not been heightened by the classes I attend or the lectures I miss, but rather by the people I meet... and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
Thursday, February 13, 2003
I'm a girl... I'm not Superman. I'm not made of steel. Ryan Knowles always taught me not to show weakness. (Dayum, that man is AMAZING!) However, this is the one time that my weaknesses are starting to show. I forget that I can't do it all, nobody can. Ironic that I need to be doing 10 things at once in order to be happy... something is horribly wrong with me.
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
NICE PEOPLE ROCK!
I don't know about the monsters that Gabs and Zairel have encountered on the 65, but ALL my morning Route 65 bus drivers have been so gosh-darn NICE!!! Today's bus driver really shines above them all. She had the sweetest smile and greeted every passenger that boarded with a "Good morning, how are you doing?" Upon reaching destination, she wished each us all "a wonderful day." Man, if only more people were nice like her...
I don't know about the monsters that Gabs and Zairel have encountered on the 65, but ALL my morning Route 65 bus drivers have been so gosh-darn NICE!!! Today's bus driver really shines above them all. She had the sweetest smile and greeted every passenger that boarded with a "Good morning, how are you doing?" Upon reaching destination, she wished each us all "a wonderful day." Man, if only more people were nice like her...
Wednesday, February 05, 2003
NO MORE 8AM CLASSES!!!
I have NEVER been in winds so strong before... in all my traveling, from the mountains of Taiwan, to the harbors of Maine and even the ice boxes the Colorado Rockies, I have never seen winds so strong to the point where I can't even walk straight anymore. I literally thought that all 110 of me was gonna go flying off. While passing by Hearst Annex, I saw a guy struggle and fight to get to his classroom... only to walk drunkenly into a lamp post. (And no, I'm sure it wasn't because he was drunk.) I just don't understand Berkeley weather. The sun is freakin' out!!!! So why were winds as high as 35 mph this morning?! My hair is currently incredibly huge, and I didn't even style it that way today on purpose!
I have NEVER been in winds so strong before... in all my traveling, from the mountains of Taiwan, to the harbors of Maine and even the ice boxes the Colorado Rockies, I have never seen winds so strong to the point where I can't even walk straight anymore. I literally thought that all 110 of me was gonna go flying off. While passing by Hearst Annex, I saw a guy struggle and fight to get to his classroom... only to walk drunkenly into a lamp post. (And no, I'm sure it wasn't because he was drunk.) I just don't understand Berkeley weather. The sun is freakin' out!!!! So why were winds as high as 35 mph this morning?! My hair is currently incredibly huge, and I didn't even style it that way today on purpose!
Monday, February 03, 2003
EXCUSE ME FOR BEING BOLD...
Okay, so, rant: I'm SO SICK of these so-called "AZN THUGS"!!!!! Once again, another "On the way to class..." stories. So, I'm walking to LeConte this time and this typical Monterey-Park-looking-squatting-chain-smoker-Rice-Rocket boy gives me the once-over and then proceeds to start staring me down. Okay... hold up, what is the deal with that??!?! Yeah, I see you lookin' at me. You think staring me down is gonna get me to smile at you and hand over my telephone number?! Uh, sorry buddy, doesn't work that way. I gave Mr. AZN a dirty look while he continued to stare at me over his shoulder. Okay, not that there was all that much to be staring at in the first place... but geez, buddy, try a different approach next time. Drop the "Gotta look hard," act!!!!
Same thing happened on the way back from campus while I was walking down Shattuck. Same situation, different guy. I thought I turned down UCI to get away from all this...
Okay, so, rant: I'm SO SICK of these so-called "AZN THUGS"!!!!! Once again, another "On the way to class..." stories. So, I'm walking to LeConte this time and this typical Monterey-Park-looking-squatting-chain-smoker-Rice-Rocket boy gives me the once-over and then proceeds to start staring me down. Okay... hold up, what is the deal with that??!?! Yeah, I see you lookin' at me. You think staring me down is gonna get me to smile at you and hand over my telephone number?! Uh, sorry buddy, doesn't work that way. I gave Mr. AZN a dirty look while he continued to stare at me over his shoulder. Okay, not that there was all that much to be staring at in the first place... but geez, buddy, try a different approach next time. Drop the "Gotta look hard," act!!!!
Same thing happened on the way back from campus while I was walking down Shattuck. Same situation, different guy. I thought I turned down UCI to get away from all this...
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