I'm just a soul whose intentions are good

New job, new country, new adventures

2008-01-03T08:29:00.000-06:00

I will be spending a hopefully wonderful year teaching English as a foreign language in the province of Gyeongbuk in the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Keep checking back for updates on my reflections, frustrations, excitements, and other experiences during my time in this small, yet beautiful country.

So for the meantime, please check out my blog about my time in South Korea: Amy in South Korea

Day 2

2007-12-12T21:40:00.001-06:00

6:45am - Waking up was hard. Not because I was tired but because I remembered how hungry I am and that I will feel this way for another 4 days.

8:45am - Jose is baffled at how I could be doing such a thing, despite my constant reassurances that it's healthy and beneficial for me. And plus, I've never done anything like this before and I am proud of myself for pushing through it successfully (so far). I tell him I have bonded with my jug so he tells me to decorate it. He's signing and drawing and writing something as I type. I decide to let everyone do the same.

11:07am - I just noticed I started biting my finger. Oral fixation? No. Just hungry.

12:45pm - Gilbert tells me we will have to go to BW3s when I am done. I love him.

1:09pm - I just came back from "lunch" with everyone. Surprisingly it wasn't that bad. I just drank my 2 cups and let everyone gravel at my self-discipline and strong will. GO ME! I have a million signatures with sayings on my jug--I love it! What motivation!

1:16pm - Connie just told me that the Learning Center is having a big fiesta tomorrow for the students. No food for me :(

2:05pm - I am peeing a hella lot.

2:34pm - I am tired! Not eating makes me soooo sleepy. I've been getting 8 hours too! Yawn.

4:45pm - Nayith invited me to a potluck tomorrow.

5:00pm - I am sitting at Frida's with all my co-workers. They are all plunging into the chips and salsa, margaritas, pina coladas, tacos, etc...and I am LOVING IT. It's nice how every single one of them just HAD to ask me what I was ordering. "NO PUEDO COMER CHICOS!!!"

9:24pm - Meh, this is easy. Lost 4 lbs since I started! My jug looks so nice with everyone's wonderful inspiring words, especially the one saying "Hi Amy, BW3s 4ever. Keep it real."

9:30pm - I've decided this journal is ridiculous. Shut up, Amy. There are starving kids in Africa and I'm being such a baby.

Lemon Juice Detox Diet

2007-12-12T08:47:00.000-06:00

My sister-in-law, Khuyer, has been doing this lemon juice detox diet for a few months now. It is time that I FINALLY do it. I decided to keep a journal account of my daily thoughts and frustrations with this. It's pretty intense!

Day 1: 12/11/07

7:40am - I tell Khuyer I am not even close to hungry yet. Woohoo this is going to be fun and easy!

8:24am- I just text messaged Khuyer saying "I'm starving already!"

10:27am – First pee of the work morning. Ran into Maria—talked about how hungry I am and if I will be able to sit at lunch with everyone. It will be a true test of my strong will. Day 1 sucks. All I think about is food because I know I won't get any of it!!!!!

10:59am - I am getting antsy. Jose and Gilbert just tried it. Gilbert thought it to be interesting. Jose loved it.

1:00pm - MATC is now closed due to inclement weather. On our way home, Linda cannot wait to eat so she stops by Burger King. I am sitting in the passenger seat and she keeps throwing her bag at me to hold, thus exposing all the delicious smelling fumes right into my nostrils. Damn her!

1:30pm - Maria is waiting for her husband to pick her up at our house. She warms up her lunch--a delicious smelling potatoey soup. She's nice enough to hide her soup behind her lunch box so that I cannot see it. Little does she know that I have more than one sense...and it's called smelling. I pour into a cup and start chugging.

1:45pm - Savannah comes to the table and grabs my cup out of my hand, thinking it's juice. She takes a big gulp and MAN that face was priceless.

2:30pm - Mom is baking EIGHT yes EIGHT delicious cinnamony fresh smelling friendship bread. AHHHHHH I WANT TO RIP MY NOSE OFF!

3:00pm - Mmm I'm starting to get the hang of it.

7:30pm - Mom is remaking curry. The smell of it literally lures me into the kitchen. She also made beef stroganoff Hamburger Helper for the kids. I stare and watch them. I am partially satisfied (not really) vicariously through them. I go to my room and chug, only the cayan peppers are starting to overtake and it buuuuurns!

8:30pm - Khuyer and I proceed to make more of this delicious delicacy! WHILE EVERYONE IS MUNCHING AWAY. I'm okay with that.Or am I?

9:00pm - I tell Khuyer that I should have just started with a relaxed detox, eating one meal a day. But then I know that if I start eating, I will PIG OUT. So I stick with it. I am TOUGH! I weighed myself--lost 2 lbs!

10:30pm - I am dyyyyying. I decide to go to bed super early. Is it just me or is every damn show on television showing everyone eating food at every second of the show?

11:00pm - Just brushed my teeth. I admit, mouthwash tastes pretty damn good right now.

'Twas a brave moment in time

2007-08-09T17:53:00.001-05:00

I was looking for luggage in the basement for my Puerto Rico trip next week...and I found a little memoir. I think it had to be written in the final days of my elementary youth. I will share with you all my favorite part.

Special Memories of Texas

"Some special memories of Texas are imporant, special events that have happened throughout my lifetime. The most special and memorial event that has happened throughout my life was being born. Being born was very special because that gave me a chance to have a life. Thanks to my parents I can do many things with my soul."

Now if that isn't my life calling...I don't know what is. Time to go, I have a lot of offering to the world to do!!

Tag, you're it

2007-06-04T12:04:00.000-05:00

I did it because Claire did it. And if she did it, it’s got to be worth doing. So do it.

Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. When I was younger, I gave my little brother stitches…twice. We were really into martial arts then. One day we were play fighting and I found my dad’s mini barbell and decided to use it as a weapon. I told my brother I would spin around and he should duck. So I spun around and sure enough, he failed to duck (had it been a real fight I surely would have been victorious). Stitch #2 came along when we indeed had a real fight and I pushed him and his head ran into the corner of a couch. Both times I succeeded in cutting open his forehead/eyebrow area.

2. I have a very sensitive collar bone area. I cannot stand the way the shoulder strap part of a seat belt clings onto my collar bone area. A lot of the time I have to hold it down lower or if I am not driving I will stick that shoulder strap part under my arm pit.

3. In all my life, I have attended 13 different schools. Because of this, 1) I can remember probably only about 1% of my teachers’ names, 2) I remember only faces of my fellow classmates (memory of names often refreshed through Facebook), 3) if I do remember people, I can’t remember what school it was from, 4) I am socially awkward and have issues with attachment, 5) I do not remember a lot of what I learned in school because I was too preoccupied with adjusting to a new environment and making friends, 6) I will be forever traumatized.

4. I cannot sleep with the closet open because my sister told me a story that when she was younger, she thought she saw me in her closet and was trying to talk to me, but then she went into my room and saw me sleeping in my own bed and so it freaked her out. I am taking every precaution necessary to not see a ghost in my closet in the middle of the night.

5. As a kid, I was a die hard baseball fanatic. Present day, I pretty much don’t give a shit about the sport. As a kid, I hated soccer because I was always being dribbled around. Present day, I pretty much consider it to be a personal religion.

6. I was lost in the woods for a few hours with my cousin and little brother when I was about 8. We thought we heard voices on the other side of a stack of wood, so upon our journey of finding them, we got lost. My cousin suggested we ask the nearby houses for help and I declined because I feared they would cook us for dinner. I also contemplated leaving my little brother crying on the ground (he was about 4) because I got tired of dragging him. The coolest part of this story was that I got to ride in the back of a dirt bike once we were found.

7. This movie was my first memory of a sex scene. The two main characters at one point were making out sort of naked, quite possibly leading to sex. I don’t remember the details because I haven’t seen it since, but I remember that it may have been the first time I was ever aroused.

8. Pretty much every day I have to take my morning shit before I leave the house, mostly out of fear and embarrassment that I may have to go later at work/school/in public. I also need to pee before and after everything I do so that I do not have to pee in the middle of whatever I am doing. This phobia stems from my shy and reserved nature that prevented me from telling the teacher I had to pee during class as a child, thus resulting in peeing in my pants in the middle of class and further creating a psychological peeing phobia for the rest of my damn life.

I tag Jamie, Uyen, Dan, Perry, Evie, Angela, Lynn, Nue. You’re all I pretty much read anyway. Do it if you want, I don’t mind reading.

Birthday extravaganza

2007-05-11T17:09:00.000-05:00

I am happy to say that in 23 years, I have FINALLY gotten completely trashed and wasted for my birthday. I've done extremely well in achieving that state of mind on others' birthdays but never on my own. Pat on the back!

Party Van: Mission Waffle House

2007-04-14T11:46:00.001-05:00

Back in Texas, I used to live down the street from a Waffle House. For all my years living there, I never once stepped foot in one (I was also a child so it's not like I had a choice). A few friends of mine took a trip to FL this Spring Break and fell in love with the Waffle House. In an effort to satisfy their Waffle House yearnings (after being back in Madison for 1 week), we decided to take a mini road trip to the closest Waffle House...which is basically in the St. Louis area, 5-6 hr drive.

But due to work related circumstances as of last night (they left this morning), I am stuck at home calling restaurants and making flyers (and typing this post) while everyone else is in the Party Van listening to 2 tracks over and over and getting to go to 8 Waffle Houses.

I am bummed. So bummed.

1st of April

2007-04-01T21:00:00.000-05:00

In Hmong tradition, there's this (what I find weird) custom where if a boy and a girl are "caught" together (sexual or non-sexual), they are pretty much forced to get married.

So I forgot today was April Fools Day. I am home alone and my older brother, Joe, calls me to tell me to call my mom (who is in Kentucky right now) and play a joke on her. Either tell her I am pregnant or tell her my younger brother, Robin, was caught with a girl and has to marry her. I decided to go with what I thought to be the lesser of the two evils, especially considering I currently do not have a boyfriend and it'd be weird to tell her over the phone. We did it 3-way so they could listen in on the conversation:

Me: "Mom, Khu Yer [my sis-in-law] just called and told me Robin got caught with a girl." Mom: "WHAAAAAAT?"
Me: "They're in Manitowoc discussing it right now."
Mom: "What girl?"
Me: "I don't know! He's always talking to a million of them."
Mom: "How come nobody call me???"
Me: "I would've thought they would have already! Khu Yer just told me now."
Mom: "No, nobody call me!"
Me: "Well, Joe and Khu Yer said...APRIL FOOOOOLS!!!"

Silence.

Laughter from Joe and Khu Yer.

So then my mom freaks out and says it almost killed her, and I told her it was Joe's idea. So Joe tells her I was going to tell her that or else that I was pregnant. THEN my mom proceeded to say that telling her I was pregnant would have been BETTER and less likely to not kill her. WTF? So I said I'll keep that in mind if I ever do suddenly get pregnant. My mom wasn't too happy. She said she didn't like being scared like that because it's the one thing she fears most right now. So I guess I chose the good one.

Any other fun April Fools tales? Do share. Have a good one!

Overheard in the Classroom

2007-03-26T11:09:00.000-05:00

I have these 4 Hmong boys (1st-2nd) in my reading club that I just find so hilarious and fun-loving. They cannot speak English very well so when they do I find it absolutely adorable. One day they were all lined up getting ready to be dismissed from clubs and all four of them were in the front. Granted, I do have a belly, but I was standing in a very unflattering manner and my gut was sticking out.

P: Amy looks fat.
T: Miss Amy, P just called you fat!
Me: P! My feelings are hurt. That’s not a nice thing to say.
P: I’m sorry a thousand times!
T: Yea, she’s not fat. Amy, you look good!
L: Yea, Amy very pretty girl.

Just hearing it from these little boys fabricated the best compliments of my life. It’s a lot cuter if you know the boys and how they talk. I’ll reenact it for you sometime if you ask.

Also, the one that said I look good, I’ve sat down with him and explained his need to walk to the bus because he would always take off running. So this day he came up to me and said “Amy, I’m going to pretend like my leg is broken so I’ll walk” as he limped away to the bus.

Another overheard funny quote:

A was saying how he plays soccer but at recess he’s not as good because the kids he plays with are older and bigger. So a classroom volunteer explained that the older you get, the bigger you get each grade. K replied by saying: “Yea, that is true because last year in Kindergarten I was 6 feet tall and now I am 7 feet.”

Which way to the gun show?

2007-03-14T10:09:00.000-05:00

After clubs one of the student’s dad’s car was driving down the exit of the parking lot when the car died. It wouldn’t start up again and there was a whole line of cars waiting behind it. So I decided to help and push the car into the street and off to the side to get out of everyone else’s way. All the kids waiting to get on the bus watched me do this and kept shouting “Daaaaaaaaaang, look at Miss Amy! She’s pushing the car all by herself! She’s the strongest woman alive!!” Of course I just grinned and flexed my guns. Why bother telling them about Neutral when I could soak in all that glory? Muahahahaha.

Yesterday was nearly 70 degrees and I was very very happy. Of course, all the super quickly melted snow should be a major indication of global warming but hell it felt too good to care about for the moment. (Sorry Earth).

But it's rainy today. I can still live with that.

The letter "E" has both short and long vowel sounds

2007-02-18T15:42:00.001-06:00

It is Sunday. I was doing my daily read of "Post Secret" and had typed in its web address just as my 8 year old nephew walked in asking me to help him unbutton his pants. So I turn to help him and he reads what's on my screen (the 1st postcard posted today): "I've never seen a penis in real life." Only he reads it as "peh-nis" [that rhymes with tennis].

Brandon: "'I've never seen a peh-nis in real life'. What's a peh-nis?"
[I look up, confused.]
Me: "Uh...I'll tell you when you're older."

Random, but funny.

2-14

2007-02-14T08:46:00.001-06:00

So today is February 14th. Meaning? That it's February 14th.

Typically this is a "depressing" day of the year for stupid obvious reasons. But this year I don't give a fuck. I have 200 little valentines all over the school and I've received a few vday love letters already. Take that HALLMARK!

Funny thing that happened and I never wrote about. There are two 4th grade girls in after school who were friends. One day one wrote a card to the other saying:

"Dear ____, I don't think we should be friends anymore because I am trying to get into a college program [remember, they're only in 4th grade] and you make me do things that get me into trouble. These college programs are very important so I would appreciate it if we stopped being friends."

or something like that. It was funny. But they're friends again. Oh the drama.

Happy February 14th everyone! 2 days my niece turns 3! woo.

An article: “conscious” rappers and homophobia

2007-02-09T09:49:00.000-06:00

This was an article a friend posted regarding the homophobia that continues to exist in the hip-hop world. It's very long but well worth reading. It shows a little more insight into not only the hip-hop world but the rest of society as well in terms of how homophobia is defined and manifested and how little we realize it affects the way we think and behave. Check it out. The man is an incredible artist if you haven't seen him perform. He's a super sweet, quiet guy who instantly transforms into a passionate "conscious" rapper, alias: El Guante.

Overheard in Madison

2007-02-03T11:09:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I was drinking tea at Fair Trade when I overheard 2 guys deliberating across the room over Battlestar Galactica. After a while it went something like this:

Geek #1: "It is the MOST realistic science fiction show on TV. It's a BRILLIANT show."
Geek #2: "Yea, I never watched the originals. I guess that's my fault."
Geek #1: "Yea this IS your fault. It's the best show on TV."
Geek #2: "What about The Office?"
Geek #1: "Ok, well, best drama."

etc...I stopped listening after that. At least they thought The Office is a great show (which it is, by the way).

And last night I went to dinner with some co-workers and we were talking about foreign food and how I loooooooooove loooove love love Brazilian food:

Me: "Yea, it was like orgasms in my mouth. [voice raising] Oh my god, I had SO many orgasms when I was in Chile...well outside of Chile"
Woman at the table next to us looks my way and gives a strange stare and my friends start laughing.
Me: "FOR FOOD! FOOD! FOOD!" *turns red*

I often use orgasms and oral sex to express how delicious a food item is that I don't even remember what those terms really refer to. Oops.

knowing your ABCs

2007-01-24T11:12:00.001-06:00

We just had a school Spelling Bee. It was intense. The remaining 2 battled it out for the championship about 25 rounds! The kids in the audience were freaking out and when it was all over (thanks to "tenement") kids screamed and ran up to give hugs. Pretty wicked.

Who says "wicked" anymore?

Owned by OGs and other irks

2007-01-09T11:11:00.000-06:00

A bunch of my dad's cousins from Michigan came down this weekend for a funeral...and WOW CAN THOSE OG's DRINK!!! They bought about $500 worth of Corona's at the bar/club. They're all my parents' age and they were making my sister, sister-in-law, and I chug like crazy...and even I couldn't keep up. They are representing my future right there...I can only hope to be that good by the time I'm 40-50. It's funny because it was OG WOMEN who were chugging. It makes sense that the only time I remember seeing my dad puking from drinking was when we were visiting relatives in Detroit some odd number of years ago.

Oh, another irk of mine. My grandpa's brother's funeral was this weekend. Him and his family are big Christians, and that's fine with me. But when the pastor starts preaching "If you don't accept Jesus Christ in your heart, you will never see your grandpa again. So if you don't accept Christ, you have to say your goodbyes right now. Only those who take Christ to heart will go to Heaven and see your grandpa again," ARGH THAT JUST IRKS ME ON SO MANY LEVELS. In the whole 15 min that he was talking, not once did he mention ANYTHING about the man my grandpa's brother was or the things he did for this country (as a veteran). I was there to pay my respects to a good man, not listen to a Christian preach about my sins as a non-Christian. That's what irks me about religion--when people can't respect other people's beliefs and focus on the issue at hand. Argh.

"Irk" has become a big part of my vocabulary lately.

6 years and counting...

2006-12-19T11:39:00.001-06:00

I feel it's almost customary to write a little something on this day. It's been an incredible 6 years of ups and downs. It didn't hit me too hard this year...not sure why. I was a little sad that it didn't. But then again, maybe I'm enjoying myself as much as possible and not letting it hit me because it's not necessary for me to be sad during this time. I think it was just really hard up till the 5 year mark. This year I've come to terms with my life and the path it's going and I'm perfectly content. Of course, there are aspects that could never be changed that I despise, but I am holding on to the best of it all. Shits and glory, it's life. I used to constantly wonder what my life would be like had he not passed away, but now that seems utterly irrelevant and I'm okay with that.

You are dearly missed, but never forgotten. R.I.P. I love you, Dad.

Love it

2006-12-13T09:37:00.000-06:00

Fun day at work.

One of the teachers had a box of cheese and marinara filled pretzels in the freezer as her "lunch back up" for a few weeks. Yesterday she anticipated eating them all day, and when she went to the freezer, she found an EMPTY box. So she got pissed and wrote a great note for all staff: "Hope whoever enjoyed these! Feel free to reimburse me! -[name]" and then went to her room and ate her fruits and vegetables and pouted. She's still pretty upset about it. I'm pretty sure the culprit won't admit it now. Love it.

My office is in a classroom and one of the teacher's students bought me and her each a wonderful gift set: fluffy soft robe, 8 shower gel set with matching sponges, a bag of chocolate dipped pretzels, and a beautiful card (pics on facebook--too lazy to post here). So the teacher and I put on our fancy new robes and strutted our lavish gifts to everyone around the school. Love it.

And I'm totally digging this whole "12 days before the holidays" thing where staff bring in super delicious treats everyday.

LOVE IT.

I have a date tonight that I didn't know about

2006-12-08T13:45:00.001-06:00

Scenario: a bunch of drunk people sitting in one's living room, talking and sharing stories. The enginerd winter formal comes up in conversation. One boy, Stephan, talks about having to get his ticket still. Something happens and someone shouts "Stephan, you and Amy should go together!" I'm thinking "uhh...enginerds? No thanks." Stephan turns and says "Can we hook up later?" That sparks my interest. hahaha. Anyway we're like "yay let's go" blah blah blah...all in good fun and plain ole kidding around. JUST JOKING!

Turns out...it wasn't a joke. 1:30pm day of formal, I receive a call. My friend tells me Stephan bought me a ticket...for tonight's formal! I have NO dress. I have NO time. I stuffed myself silly at my work holiday potluck. I drank so much beer last night my beer belly doubled in size. I am STILL hungover and tired from lack of sleep from LAST NIGHT. And I have to work for a few hours yet! Ahhhhh

Funny story, so I can't say no, especially to the most lovable German in the world. Being a woman and all of sudden deciding to go to a formal is NOT easy.

FUCK. Wish me luck!

Harold and Kumar reinvented

2006-11-20T11:08:00.001-06:00

Good weekend. Why? I'll tell you why.

Friday I made new friends. I love new friends.

Saturday Badgers kickeeeeed ass!

Saturday night I had a nice date with a nice fellow and we had a nice FREE MELTING POT DINNER with free drinks (refer to pics via Facebook). Not only was it the best oral sex of my life, but my fellow and I mirrored the final scene of Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle where they are stuffing themselves with those beautiful burgers they got for free. Only we didn't get to meet Doogie. The fellow and I got teary eyed and I think everyone in the restaurant knew just how happy we were. The best part was when I choked on some pound cake and threw up in my handkerchief, his handkerchief, a few thin napkins, and the bathroom sink. This was gross but I made more room for the rest of the chocolate fondue! And my date generously paid the tip.

So not only did I have an orgasm in my mouth, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and its crazy light show creamed my pants. Especially during the first half after Kelly and I had shared an entire bottle of wine.

I love good weekends.

Melting Pot

2006-11-14T23:22:00.001-06:00

I'm so excited. A friend of mine recently got a job at the new Melting Pot opening in Madison (FONDUE!!!) and this weekend she gets to invite 2 people to come and order anything from the menu absolutely FREE...and I get to go! A date with a hot German and free delicious food, score! I'm not eating anything the entire day and ordering one of everything. *lips smack* muahahahaha

...and Trans-Siberian Orchestra Sunday!!! woooohoooo

Can I have my cake and eat it too?

2006-10-25T22:07:00.000-05:00

I just saw The Prestige--pretty good. Still working out the kinks and details in my head. Christian Bale is genius.

Today was 2 kids' birthdays in the class my office is in. One we passed out cupcakes earlier in the day and he kindly offered me one. The second one had a cake passed out at the end of the day. I was busy setting up for clubs and there was one waiting for me on my desk. I figured the teacher had decided to leave me one (she's very thoughtful) so I went to thank the child for the cake. He was confused--unaware that I had one. I told him I saw it on my desk. I went to speak to some volunteers out in the hall. When the dismissal bell rang, he flew by me and yelled "Amy, I took the piece of cake back! Bye!!" and off he ran with my piece back in his cake pan. :-( Luckily I had stolen a piece earlier in the day when they were at recess.

He's a nice kid and usually likes me, but I think he likes cake more.

Week 1 accomplished

2006-10-24T23:30:00.000-05:00

I think I should update on my program. Last week was my very first week of Reading Buddies. I scrambled all over the place a lot because I was still trying to get a feel for things. Overall not too shabby. My kids are adorable. A pretty good mix. I have like half Hmong kids who tend to speak Hmong a lot. I told them it wasn't fair for everyone else who couldn't speak Hmong. I still think it's cute when they do speak in Hmong, though. Since these are only 1st-3rd graders, they still listen pretty well and don't think they're the boss of me. I like that.

Highlight of day two:

As I was in the middle of my very first read aloud, over the speaker I hear "would the owner of license plate ______ please report to the office IMMEDIATELY." In the middle of Ira Sleeps Over I look at a volunteer and mouth that's my car!. Of course, a call like that can only mean bad news. Try knowing that and acting all peachy and Pleasantville-like while reading. Second announcement sounded more urgent and I sent a volunteer to check it out. That was a rough rest of the reading. Turns out a parent backed up into my car and broke off the license plate. No dents, just a bunch of scratches, thankfully. And they stayed and waited for me too! The parents were Hmong, and they brought a Hmong teacher to translate...which 5 minutes into our conversation they find out I am Hmong as well. Ahhhh kinda funny because every teacher I told was like "OH THAT WAS YOUR CAR?!?" and all I could do was laugh. heh.

Ummmmmmmmm kids love prizes...makes them behave. Kids say funny stuff too. One kid in my bowling club asked me what the warmest part of his body is (pointing to the upper half). Then he said it was his armpits because when his hands are cold and he sticks them under his arms they warm up. His buddy then said that the armpits get warmer too (like his were) and that's why you get sweat stains. Kids are geniuses.

Oh yea, went to Purdue this weekend. Had an amazingly drunk and fun weekend. Drank 9pm Friday straight through 4am Sunday. Have not drank that much since...I can't even remember (I'm so old these days). And Wisconsin won 24-3 woo!

lots more funny kid stories. will keep you all in suspense. ta ta

Reading Buddies week 1

2006-10-15T18:03:00.000-05:00

My Reading Buddies program begins this week. I am a nervous wreck! But my hopes are that the kids' reactions to progress parallel something of this sort:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFLkIcwveA8

Wish me luck!

Daily doses of amusement

2006-10-02T15:42:00.000-05:00

2 doses of amusement at my daily job:

1) A majority of my volunteers are white. So I find it amusing when, during their tutor screening/interview, I ask them (as an obvious Asian person) “So what are your experiences working with diverse populations?” and their eyes look down and this happens:

Interviewee: “um…none really. Wait, what do you mean by diverse? Like…race?”
Me: “Race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, whatever you consider diverse.”
Interviewee: “Well, I’m from a small town made up most mostly…well…white people, so I didn’t have much exposure. But I think there was one Mexican family. And uh, I worked with…a lot of different types of people. That’s it, I guess.”

Okay, not all of them do this, but a few did! I’m not the least bit offended. In fact, I assured them that’d they’d be able to work with a good mix of people because we pull from all different neighborhoods. But I was secretly amused yet proud that they’d be honest about their experiences.

2) The kids in the classroom were working on stuff and some kids start calling my name. It went like this:

Kid #1: MISS AMY!!
Kid #2: He’s just calling you because he liiiiiikes you!
Kid #1: NO I DON’T!
Kid #1: Uh huh! Amy and **** sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-Y-AND-Z

Well I guess it’s a good thing I’m running a program to help kids learn how to read and spell so they can make fun of their classmates appropriately!

Charter Miscommunications

2006-09-27T23:12:00.000-05:00

So way back in August I went to return all of my equipment to Charter and asked the lady to give me the complete and full amount I owed so that I would be done with my account. I paid it and thought I was done...until I received a bill in the mail for $0.01!! A PENNY.

I ignored it and received a second bill. So I called in Charter and explained how ridonkeylous it was that I had one cent to pay (he was shocked that it was one cent). So he tells me I can use my credit card to pay for it, but there'd be a $1.99 charge. I tell him that's crazy because it's not my fault the lady miscalculated. When I told him I went to the Charter office to pay last time, he suggested I go back and give her the penny (he was serious). So I yelled back and said that was RIDICULOUS for me to take my time + gas + missing work (all worth more than $0.01) to give her A PENNY, and after putting me on hold 5 times, he finally told me "ok, you don't have to pay anymore, it's all taken care of." No shit, Einstein.

Thank you Charter for being so understanding.

Survival of the angry and uncooperative

2006-09-22T10:01:00.000-05:00

As AmeriCorps members, we have to recruit volunteers to work for us, like 20 each. And we're also competing with all other schools in the district as well as AmeriCorps VISTA members (whose main job seems to be volunteer recruitment). My little group of 4 has been trying to share sources, but it got a little ugly. It kind of sucks that we've resorted to engaging in this whole predatoriness. But one guy stepped up and wants to organize a whole system of being honest and cooperative with each other about this, and I couldn't have been more pleased with the decision. It's ugly out there for all us volunteer recruiters!!

Since my desk is in a classroom, the kids in that class have been introduced to me. Today one kid (who always says hi to me) tried to give me a hug this morning. It made me smile, because he already opened up to me without even knowing me, even though I technically couldn't hug him because of physical touching policies. Reminds me of "NO TOUCHING! NO TOUCHING!!" (NAME THAT SOURCE!!! hint: best show ever) I gave him a "side hug." I remember recently my older bro and sis told me how they would get their asses beat in elementary school, like the "paddling." Then again, this WAS in Texas, the most liberal and human rights-friendly state. *snicker*

Anyway, I'm sick of sitting in the computer lab and having to bring all my work with me when I have a laptop to use!!! I need internet installed at my desk ASAP.

It's Friday! Woo!

Actually, that means nothing now that I'm old and "responsible."

Food for thought

2006-09-20T22:17:00.000-05:00

I'm into my 2nd week at the school and I'm loving it. Although things are a little slow in terms of service (but with so much to do, it's understandable). For example, I JUST moved into my own personal space in the corner of the new teacher's classroom. But she's a sweetheart and I couldn't have been paired with anyone better. And it's nice we're both transitioning into the school together.

But I feel awful because we kicked out the music teacher since there was an overcapacity of students. She had tons of musical instruments and equipment and now has to share her space among the hallway, computer lab, library, and art room. I realized just how hard it must be for her when I was given a desk with tons of stuff in it. So the new teacher told me the music teacher had been done cleaning out her stuff, so I put it all in a box and brought it to her to see if she wanted it. She turned and looked at me and asked "oh, they gave you my desk? You can just put it in the hall and I'll get to it" and forced a smile. God I felt awful.

The computers at the school are quite primitive: Windows 98, no USB port, just old skool. I guess I took all the fancy ass computers at UW for granted. Elementary schools are the last in line to receive hand me downs, which I think is ridiculous because these are critical years in academic development in young children.

There are some new district policies that are...not very pleasing. They've started this new "wellness policy" in which staff are no longer allowed to offer food as a reward for children (that includes candy). This will make finding incentives extremely hard since children are suckers for candy. I guess the district wants kids to have "healthier diets," calculating %s of fat. Snacks must be given by the district and parents are encouraged to NOT give junk food to their children for lunch. Children who bring in snacks for the whole class must either follow these % guidelines or else get the food from the district. It's a good thing in the long run....but I have to change a lot of things about my program now because I can't give candy and I can't have my end of the program pizza party. Bummer.

I received my first batch of potential volunteers today. I'm so excited!! People are desperate for volunteer opportunities. In my program, we're having 3 stations within the 1.5 hours:

1) One-on-one tutoring
2) Reading and literacy games
3) LeapPads (new product we're piloting this year)

I had more to write about, but I'm too tired/lazy/forgetful.

Right now it's a lot of training, emailing, and adjusting. Sometimes I wonder how I even got the job (desperation?). I know I can get the job done, but I can't help but feel like something's holding me back. I see everyone around me with so many more experiences than myself and it's hard not to compare myself to them. A lot of what I wanted to accomplish during my starting weeks, I haven't quite pushed myself to those points. But I'm thankful for the opportunity and I just have to prove that I can do it. But everyone is so nice and welcoming and I can't help but love it.

Life of the giftless

2006-09-15T14:43:00.000-05:00

You know what? I wish I was one of those people who have natural charisma and can get away with winking at people. Although I am an adorable and charming person, me trying to wink at someone (you know, like in the middle of a conversation and not to be flirty) really just projects a muscle spasm image. I just don't qualify as a charismatic winker. Sad.

Best name for a town EVER

2006-09-12T22:20:00.000-05:00

This happened about 1.5wks ago, but I needed to share my joy with the world.

I was driving with my mom from Manitowoc to Osh Kosh after visiting my grandma. A little while outside Manitowoc I'm bobbing my head to great music when I turn my head and see a sign that says "WHITELAW, POPULATION XXXX" (can't remember how many people). I did a quadruple take. And each time it did indeed say WHITELAW.

WHITELAW!!!!!!!!!

IN WISCONSIN!

I screamed and my mom thought I was crazy, but then she realized what I screamed about and started laughing herself, mentioning how WHITE everything was (houses, buildings, cars, etc...). And everything was Catholic...Catholic Church, Catholic Radio, Catholic Shop. I saw a gas station with gas price $2.79/gal. (going rate was $2.86ish in Madison) and wanted to stop for cheaper gas but I told my mom I was afraid of the White Law so we sped through. I stared straight ahead and tried not to make any eye contact with the White people.

I know there exist a million funny ass town names, but this one just had to top it all, especially being in such a white law state like Wisconsin.

By the way, when I got back to Madison, gas was going for $2.76/gal.

Introduction to my new position

2006-09-11T22:27:00.000-05:00

***Nothing I write about reflects AmeriCorps or the U.S. government but is merely a reflection of my personal thoughts, observations, and perspectives. My entries about work may be boring and uneventful, but I am using this blog for my own personal memory and you are all more than welcome to indulge**

I began my first day at the elementary school I'll be working at for the year. My supervisor is great and seems really cool, so it should be a pleasure to work under her. She showed me around the school and I got to meet most of the staff, all of whom I can probably remember 1% of the names.

It's a 2 floor building, K-3 first floor, 4th and 5th in lower level. Because the school is wayyyy over capacity this year, space is incredibly limited. For example, they are now turning the music room into another first grade classroom. And this is where my new "desk space" will be located. I am given a corner of this new classroom, and whether or not I get an actual desk is questionable. I may have to settle for a counter. Oh, and while this transition is taking place, I am sitting in a corner of the staff lounge next to the printer, using counter space underneathe the mailboxes and next to the lunch table. Oh, did I mention the staff lounge is a former gym locker? So yes, the staff lounge is neighbor to the gymnasium/cafeteria. I will begin bringing ear plugs to work, or else blast my Ipod so loud I will become deaf, which in turn will allow me to be immune to the loudness.

MSCR has been working at this school for 5 years already, so I am glad that there has already been a relationship established. This means (theoretically) that I am well accepted as part of the school district and there (hopefully) will not be any animosity between the 2 organizations.

I also have to say I love the school's surroundings. It's located in a quiet neighborhood and is surrounded by a plethora of greenness and trees, making it more in tune with a nature and more pleasurable for viewing.

Anyway, in case you're wondering what I'll be doing exactly, I'll be running an afterschool literacy/tutoring program called "Reading Buddies" for K-3 students with low proficiency in reading. I'll be recruiting volunteers (anyone interested apply within!!!!! desperately needed) to tutor and help run these activities. I'll also be tutoring ~8 students one-to-one throughout the week, helping with other club activities, planning service-learning projects, and helping with family literacy nights. Busy but hopefully rewarding and good learning experience for me, the school, and the children.

Oh yea, I met a Hmong art teacher who 1) knows my older brother 2) met my mom 3) lives in my neighborhood along with my supervisor 4) is from Sheboygan, and most importantly 5) created a program for the new refugee kids to help them intergrate into American way of life (how to answer a teacher's question, go to the bathroom, pull out tissue from a tissue box, etc...). Pretty good program, I think.

Today's highlight/lowlight:
+: yummy (but rich) chocolate delicacies at the staff meeting
-: my can of cherry coke from the vending machine was busted and leaking

My boobies are a treasure chest

2006-08-10T11:37:00.000-05:00

It's an adventure everytime I look down my cleavage and into the mysterious space that exists between my two breasts. Most of the time I find webs (1. hair 2. no visitors since before Christ). It's always amazing when I find missing crumbs, leaves, dirt, bugs, hair ties, gold, pearls, islands, yachts, celebrities, or dropped items that disappeared. And when I take off my bra it's like a goody bag within my goodies.

Survival of the Fittest

2006-08-02T11:21:00.000-05:00

I have a nephew (Brandon, 7) and a niece (Savannah, 2). It's really amazing these days to observe personality tendencies in young infants and children. My niece Savannah, Nana for short, has already exposed quite a big personality--loud, snobby, manipulative, sneaky, and best of all, competitive. This is how we know:

At dinner time, we tried to get Nana to eat vegetables (some sort of bitter leaves). She started biting into them just because everyone else was. At one point she stopped, to which my sister said "Nana, eat your vegetables if you want to go outside" even though it was 9pm. So she tries again, and stops once more with a disgusted look on her face and says "I no like it mommy" and places them way in front of her.

So we tell her to look at Brandon eating the vegetables (he actually eats them) and said "oooh, Nana! Look at Brandon eating all his vegetables!" So immediately she grabs the veggies and stuffs them in her mouth, gagging and continuing to make that face. But then we praise her and she feels like she's beaten Brandon in the veggie-eating contest that really wasn't a contest.

Competitive spirit, no? Oooh I'm gonna turn her into a great soccer player. Wooha.

Brush that dirt off yo shoulder

2006-07-30T23:54:00.000-05:00

Unimportant people and concerns in your life are like pieces of dirt clinging on your shoulder. They're really like fleas or lice, living on your shoulders (literally and metaphorically) and you just can't get rid of it because you think things will fix themselves.

But sometimes, all you really have to do is brush. that. dirt off yo shoulderz.

And your life becomes 10xs better.

*brushes dirt off shoulders*

*two fingers*

Just not my hour, is it?

2006-07-27T17:14:00.000-05:00

So today I woke up thinking it was going to be a fine day. I suppose I should've realized it wasn't going to because on my way to my apartment (from the house), the sun was not shining.

Between the time 11:30am to 12:30pm, I endured a lot of pain:

11:30am: Mad shits

11:35am: Left ankle starts throbbing (due to injury during soccer yesterday)

11:50am: A huge, smelly woman sat down next to me on the bus (yes, this is indeed painful)

11:58am: Stepped off the bus and got DRENCHED in what would be a normal 15 sec walk from the bus stop to the door entrace of my work building

11:59am: Glasses are fogged up from the rain, so when I slip at the entrance, I missed the door handle and almost fell on my ass

12:01pm: My soaked paper bag lunch explodes and all of its contents go flying all over the floor right as I walk off the elevator

12:05pm: Trying to blowdry myself off in the bathroom, and in doing so, burn my skin because hand dryer was too hot

12:08pm: Trying to turn the airhole more downward, I burn my finger because well, that thing gets hot after blowing hot air for a while

12:15pm: While carrying a stack of papers to another room, one of the papers cuts me nice and deep on my left arm

12:25pm: As I open the door, I scrape the top of my right hand on the bolt

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I NEED TO LIKE...NOT MOVE RIGHT NOW. MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, I'LL BE SAFE.

And watch, an anvil will fall on my head.

X-Men has women too

2006-07-25T23:53:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I went camping with a fun bunch in Upper Iowa. We decided to go on a 4 hour canoe trip (which, by our slow and lazy standards, was a rough 5 hours at least). Before the canoeing, I got bit in the arm by some weird flying bug (not really a mosquito--though I could be wrong). My arm started tingling and the bitten spot turned red. I acted like a hypochondriac and automatically assumed it was something as deadly as malaria, but then I decided I had been looking forward too much to the canoe trip, so I ignored it and moved on with my life.

During the canoe ride, my friend Kelly and I decided to get drunk. After 4 beers, neither of us had felt anything. About 2.5 minutes later, we were paddling at record speed and passed everyone ahead of us while engaging in a serious conversation about racism (she's my white-on-the-outside-yellow-in-the-inside friend), totally unaware of all of the above. So my buzz hits pretty damn hard as we flounder through the beautiful rainfall and such, and I am paddling in the back with so much force and consistency that I thought back to my Pucon, Chile days when I did that straight 10 mile bike ride without stopping once, thinking I was Lance Armstrong with testicular and all that other cancer.

Anyway, later that evening, my awesome paddling caught up to me as my arms fell limp and I could barely put any muscle in them. I ended up knocking out earlier than everyone else after my dear friend MaiVue massaged them tenderly. But the pain was absolutely unbearable. Women--imagine the worst menstrual cramps ever--then imagine that on BOTH of your arms. I was tossing and turning all night. Good thing it was just Kelly and I in a huge 6 person tent (ahhh so comfy).

Anyway, I think what happened to me was some sort of weird mutation. I thought maybe it came from that weird little bug that bit me earlier in the day. Because you know how when Peter Parker got bit, he fainted and such before he woke up a Spiderman? Maybe that's what happened to me--that I was going through so much pain because my body had to learn to deal with the mutation process. I woke up the next morning feeling fine and dandy, just a very very very minute soreness in the shoulder area. I think my triceps bulged out a bit more now. I think I'm like...Canoe Paddling Weird Bug Woman now. My special powers haven't quite exposed themselves yet, but I am excited to see what develops. Aren't you all glad you now know a really cool mutant? God my arms are gonna like...be awesome.

Plasticity

2006-07-16T20:26:00.000-05:00

Who knew hitting around a plastic cup in a group could be so much fun? Seriously. Try it.

I think I am finally a little tan. Being out in the sun all day does that. So instead of being completely albino, I have upgraded to just being Caucasian.

Saying goodbye is never easy

2006-07-10T10:39:00.000-05:00

Sometimes one of the worst feelings in the world is that you feel when you're sitting in the car, bus, train, airplane, etc...on your way home from a long happy weekend elsewhere. It's that sort of feeling where, even if the goodbye is just temporary, you look up at the sun setting through the white grey clouds and all you feel is a part of your heart sinking lower and lower into the depths of your soul. Even though you're on your way home, you're going to miss the place you just left. I get this feeling a lot, and it makes me really sad. I felt it on the way back from MN where I reunited with childhood friends, I felt it on the way back from a happy rainy picnic with the family, and I most certainly felt it a year ago when I left South America. That hit hard.

The family also finally met our long-lost cousin after 15 years. He's a cool kid. It's so great that he fit in with the family so quick and easily.

Anyway, on a lighter note, ITALY WON! :-D

I watched it with my entire mom's side of the family (a huge family of soccer players). We have 2 cousins from France and a few other France fans, and the other half Italy fans. So we were pretty divided and it made the championship game just 10xs more fun. TAKE THAT FRANCE! muahahahaha

Alls I gotsa says is...gotta be the best way to be remembered Zidane...way to end your career in styleeeee. Probably gonna get shot now.

I myself am the chaplain

2006-07-06T10:22:00.000-05:00

"The late-August morning sun was hot and steamy, and there was no breeze on the balcony. The chaplain moved slowly. He was downcast and burdened with self-reproach when he stepped without noise from the colonel’s office on his rubber-soled and rubber-heeled brown shoes. He hated himself for what he construed to be his own cowardice. He had intended to take a much stronger stand with Colonel Cathcart on the matter of the sixty missions, to speak out with courage, logic and eloquence on a subject about which he had begun to feel very deeply. Instead he had failed miserably, had choked up once again in the face of opposition from a stronger personality. It was a familiar, ignominious experience, and his opinion of himself was low." ~ Catch-22

Meet my psychologist, Dr. Joseph Heller.

Tough Love

2006-06-28T10:55:00.000-05:00

People can say whatever they want to you. And really it is ultimately up to you to decide if you want to react to it. But when someone you love and care for deeply says these sorts of things, it messes with you and you can’t seem to let it go, regardless of whether or not it is true. And that is the worst burn of all.

It hits you where you can’t even find the spot so that you could heal.

It’s a shame that as human beings we tend to hurt the ones we love the most. Sometimes I don’t think it’d be so bad to be like…a bird or a polar bear or something. Hassle-free life in the world of nature and none of that psychology sociology I-had-a-rough-childhood-so-I'm-going-to-suppress-shit-and-project--other-shit-on-the-people-I-love bullshit.

I'm just a soul whose intentions are good. Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.

2 of 3 sad days of the year

2006-06-19T11:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was Father's Day. A week ago was my father's would-have-been-50th birthday. Although 5 1/2 years have passed, I treat these days with respect for the man that was my father. He who taught me about life and love and the will to do great things. Though his soul was once tainted, he was actually a beautiful soul. I miss him everyday and wish he was here to see how much I've grown. But I know he's watching down on me and I still am very thankful he can be with me at all times, even though I can't see or hear him. I speak to him and I know he listens.

You shine, Dad. Happy Birthday/Father's Day.

Losing my religion

2006-06-13T10:14:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I wish I was religious just so that I had a deep understanding about certain religion-based ideas and concepts (i.e. Christianity symbols and history, Jewish history, vocabulary, people, etc...). I could easily just study all of these things, but why would I care to if I didn't believe so much in it? If I were passionate about it, I wouldn't mind learning about it. But I think once I'm done reading my current reading (Catch-22 by Joseph Heller), I'm going to read the Bible first, just for shits 'n giggles.

El Futbol Es Vida

2006-06-09T01:43:00.000-05:00

*sniff sniff* Do you smell that? It smells like...

WORLD CUP TIME BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhh smells like a good month, kids.

Who's gonna take it? A ver.

Fuck, I wish I were anywhere but the USA. All they care about is lousy "football" and not even the real kind. Fucking Americans.

p.s. If you are a football (the real kind) fan and/or like watching games, please let me know and we can check out some games at the bar, with a more fun and wilder crowd than my couches.

Harry Potter's the name

2006-05-27T19:04:00.000-05:00

SCHWEEEEET!!

They only bug me sometimes

2006-05-25T13:00:00.000-05:00

Life's little annoyances, nothing too dramatic but sometimes they just piss the hell out of you:

-Fruit flies seriously...bugger off!
-When you can never get the straps of your backpack to be even
-An itch on your back on the only spot you cannot reach
-Gas (the farting sort)
-Little stickers on apples
-When the stem of a banana peel breaks off before you are able to peel the banana
-People who can't chew with their mouths closed
-Junk mail that sneaks past junk mail finder
-Increases in postage and having to put two .37 stamps for a .39 postage
-Telemarketers
-Spammers
-Hackers
-Never spilling food/drinks on your shirt until you wear a white one
-When English speakers say "turn left, right here"
-Used gum anywhere on you
-Having to pee in the middle of the night
-Papercuts
-Starbucks' size "tall" is the smallest sized cup
-Starbucks' size "grande" is the medium sized cup
-When your shoes turn green after mowing the lawn
-Giving tips why can't people just be genuinely nice, you kiss ass
-Plastic surgery
-Size of room on an airplane we should all get couches or beds
-When you forget to shake a ketchup bottle and all that gooey liquidy shit comes out
-Playing Minesweeper and hitting a mine on the first click
-Playing Minesweeper and almost winning but when down between 2 blocks, you hit the mine

Anything else? I know there are tons more.

I'd like a douche, with extra cheese

2006-05-21T23:26:00.000-05:00

Douche moment of the day:

At the carnival, it's always popular to get some chili cheese dogs. At least in my book. So I did. Upon shifting the chili cheese dog from my right to my left hand, it was a bit unstable and the hot dog was about to fly out of my hands. In a hasty rush to save my dog (I love chili cheese hot dogs), I placed my right palm on top of the dog to clasp it between both hands and was left with a right palm full of cheese.

It was messy. But nothing felt as good as finishing the rest of my chili cheese dog (which I almost puked back out on the Ring of Fire). Mmmm.

Sir Joseph Heller said so

2006-05-15T15:19:00.000-05:00

Catch-22 of the day:

Due to lack of sleep, delving into a large gulp of coffee while having to sneeze. I felt the sneeze coming on so I spit all my coffee in my mouth back into the cup but wasn't fast enough, cause then I turned my head to sneeze into my hand and the leftover coffee in my mouth came squirting into my hand and wherever else it deflected off my palm. Disgusting but kinda cool in a way.

Deuce Deuce, Dos Dos, Dois Dois, Two Two

2006-05-08T00:11:00.000-05:00

It is 12:11am. I am 22 years old now. I have a final exam tomorrow. So I think I will mini-celebrate with a Corona before bed.

La cerveza mas finnnnnaaaaa!!

Cheers!

150 years ago, a legend was born

2006-05-06T17:32:00.000-05:00

Today is my dear mother's birthday. She is 1 year shy of her golden 50th. Next year will be a blast.

Today also marks the 150th birthday of the would-be-150-had-he-not-died-from-smoking-so-damn-much-but-he'd-be-150-so-that'd-be-crazy-if-he-was-still-alive [perverted, as many like to think he was] Father of Psychoanalysis/Psychodynamics, Mr. Sigmund Freud.

A round of applause for these two wonderful creatures, please.

Thank you.

Post numero uno

2006-05-02T16:05:00.000-05:00

Hello Blogger.com,

Thank you for having me. I will be graduating from my undergraduate career and am excited to leave the asian domination world of Xanga to join your cult instead. I hope I am able to contribute to this godly world of blog usage in such a way that speaks volumes about my insecurities, doubts, humility, stupidity, and self-loathing loneliness.

I look forward to our life together.

Sincerely,
Amy