Ate a lavish steamboat diner with Kelly and her uncle today. As usual, leeching off the man's generosity.
This time we were joined by two people, Andrew, a young Malaysian who grew up in the east side of the States and his caucasian wife. Once again, I felt like I was intruding, and that I really shouldn't be there, but they asked me enough questions to make me feel welcomed.
Also saw a double rainbow.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
17th May 2018
A week before, I signed up to volunteer for a young Indian woman running for councilperson in Cupertino for the upcoming November elections. I reached Tara's house and she welcomed me with a big smile, then introduced me to the two other volunteers that day, Sayako and Christine.
Her house was huge, and really, really, well designed interiorly.
She handed us some papers and clipboards and began briefing us on our work. "Okay so picking up where we left off, since now we have Rachael, Christine you could probably handle this alone since you've done this last week right? So Sayako and Rachael could do it together in a team. Now we are going to practice what we say to the people. So...Christine, pretend you are a resident, and Sayako, pretend to ring on her doorbell..."
This is where I realized.
Oh.
Oh.
This is what we are doing.
I couldn't back out now, so taking this as a learning experience, as an opportunity to work on my self improvement and productivity like I had told myself I had to do, I stuck through it. Tara gave us some stickers identifying ourselves and our cause, clipboards with addresses and people's names, ages, phone numbers and political affiliation, some snacks and water, and brochures before sending us on our way. We went door to door promoting Tara's cause by taking turns ringing doorbells and speaking to the residents.
"You're really good at this." Christine said to me. I had no choice but to be fearless. It was a self-defining moment for me. I understood why even when I'm a naturally shy and reserved person, I was able to bypass that trait to do what I had to do. I had to do it if I wanted to grow.
But most importantly, I could do it, because I felt that would make me different.
Sayako was too shy to speak to anyone initially but we encouraged her by providing backup. I could see some confidence blooming from within her after each turn she took. It was great to witness that change with my own eyes, because I know I would've been just like that had I not pick myself up form the very beginning.
We ended our task at 6.30pm, and it was time to go home. The three of us talked about our lives, with Sayako even talking about her boyfriend problems, and we parted ways back at college.
Her house was huge, and really, really, well designed interiorly.
She handed us some papers and clipboards and began briefing us on our work. "Okay so picking up where we left off, since now we have Rachael, Christine you could probably handle this alone since you've done this last week right? So Sayako and Rachael could do it together in a team. Now we are going to practice what we say to the people. So...Christine, pretend you are a resident, and Sayako, pretend to ring on her doorbell..."
This is where I realized.
Oh.
Oh.
This is what we are doing.
I couldn't back out now, so taking this as a learning experience, as an opportunity to work on my self improvement and productivity like I had told myself I had to do, I stuck through it. Tara gave us some stickers identifying ourselves and our cause, clipboards with addresses and people's names, ages, phone numbers and political affiliation, some snacks and water, and brochures before sending us on our way. We went door to door promoting Tara's cause by taking turns ringing doorbells and speaking to the residents.
"You're really good at this." Christine said to me. I had no choice but to be fearless. It was a self-defining moment for me. I understood why even when I'm a naturally shy and reserved person, I was able to bypass that trait to do what I had to do. I had to do it if I wanted to grow.
But most importantly, I could do it, because I felt that would make me different.
Sayako was too shy to speak to anyone initially but we encouraged her by providing backup. I could see some confidence blooming from within her after each turn she took. It was great to witness that change with my own eyes, because I know I would've been just like that had I not pick myself up form the very beginning.
We ended our task at 6.30pm, and it was time to go home. The three of us talked about our lives, with Sayako even talking about her boyfriend problems, and we parted ways back at college.
14th May 2018
Mother's Day Sunday.
My landlady's daughter, Brenda, came back from Boston for Mother's day, and the four of us (including my housemate Joanna) just decided to have Korean BBQ for a Mother's day lunch. My landlady is very obviously not my mother but she very well should just be. She gives me food she cooks, lets me use her kitchen appliances, asks me how my day has been, chauffeurs me if I need it...at this point she probably even thinks of me as her adopted daughter when her own biological one isn't around. She's more of a foster mom than a landlady.
Which is why, if possible, I'm never moving out. Forever and ever and ever.
Later in the evening, she asked if I wanted to go to Aunt Shauna's for another homemade BBQ dinner (the same people from last year's mooncake festival celebration at a park). Since Aunt Sming and Uncle Alex were going to be there too, I thought why not, when really I should feel bad for always leeching off people's food supply.
But I kinda don't.
I got to have red wine. Aunt Shauna's son Dai Dai was impressed when I downed the whole thing. Their daughter, who was back from the UK, performed some songs on the guzheng for all the other moms. So it was a couch with Aunt Shauna, my landlady, Aunt Sming and another mom with their smartphones out recording all 15 minutes of the "performance", gushing over how a half-white-half-chinese 23 year old woman can play the Chinese instrument so well.
If that's not the most mom thing ever, I don't know what is.
My landlady's daughter, Brenda, came back from Boston for Mother's day, and the four of us (including my housemate Joanna) just decided to have Korean BBQ for a Mother's day lunch. My landlady is very obviously not my mother but she very well should just be. She gives me food she cooks, lets me use her kitchen appliances, asks me how my day has been, chauffeurs me if I need it...at this point she probably even thinks of me as her adopted daughter when her own biological one isn't around. She's more of a foster mom than a landlady.
Which is why, if possible, I'm never moving out. Forever and ever and ever.
Later in the evening, she asked if I wanted to go to Aunt Shauna's for another homemade BBQ dinner (the same people from last year's mooncake festival celebration at a park). Since Aunt Sming and Uncle Alex were going to be there too, I thought why not, when really I should feel bad for always leeching off people's food supply.
But I kinda don't.
I got to have red wine. Aunt Shauna's son Dai Dai was impressed when I downed the whole thing. Their daughter, who was back from the UK, performed some songs on the guzheng for all the other moms. So it was a couch with Aunt Shauna, my landlady, Aunt Sming and another mom with their smartphones out recording all 15 minutes of the "performance", gushing over how a half-white-half-chinese 23 year old woman can play the Chinese instrument so well.
If that's not the most mom thing ever, I don't know what is.
7th May 2018
Sunday.
Joanna took me to Main Street Cupertino for milk tea. Very aesthetically pleasing place and she couldn't stop gushing over the architect of the place. We walked around to explore the place for a bit. Great relaxing night, if only I didn't have a Physics quiz the next day :)
Joanna took me to Main Street Cupertino for milk tea. Very aesthetically pleasing place and she couldn't stop gushing over the architect of the place. We walked around to explore the place for a bit. Great relaxing night, if only I didn't have a Physics quiz the next day :)
6th May 2018
Today I began my first day of teaching Alex to play the piano.
He's a great student. He is truly passionate about learning the piano, actually practices pieces he really loves, begs me to teach him certain songs, and pretty much squeals like a rabid fangirl when I play the piano while Snapchatting my whole performance.
He's just great.
Now that he is permanently living with Habreen and her roommates, he has some control over the food in their kitchen. "Do you want any food?" he would enthusiastically offer, as if he owes me all his life could offer. "We have some leftover rice, some spaghetti and meatballs, a bunch of Maggi instant noodles- oh! The brand is from your country right? You must be dying to eat some of that food."
"Are these even yours?" I asked. There was no way all of that food could be his.
"Don't worry just take ANYTHING. All the food here is ours, just choose! Oh! Do you want an egg? Sunny-side up? Omelette? Hard boiled?" Before I could respond, he grabbed an egg from the fridge (which I am sure was also bought with their roommate funds). "Do you want TWO eggs?"
"No no no, one is enough." I told him.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I am VERY sure."
He cooked me fried rice with garlic and black pepper, as well as some soup instant noodles. Nothing says love and warmth like someone cooking a meal for you.
As far as I know, there were now six people living in that tiny two bedroom apartment. One from Africa, two from Singapore, one from India, one Korean-American, and one Hispanic American who is too damn eager to give me the best damn hospitality an unkempt, crowded apartment decorated with anime posters (courtesy of Alex and the Korean-American) can offer. Everyone greets each other firstly by "Bitch," and then their normal conversation as if it was more of a term of endearment and proof of unwavering friendships.
It would be both heaven and hell to be living in that place, a place I would't mind dropping by every Friday for the next few weeks.
He's a great student. He is truly passionate about learning the piano, actually practices pieces he really loves, begs me to teach him certain songs, and pretty much squeals like a rabid fangirl when I play the piano while Snapchatting my whole performance.
He's just great.
Now that he is permanently living with Habreen and her roommates, he has some control over the food in their kitchen. "Do you want any food?" he would enthusiastically offer, as if he owes me all his life could offer. "We have some leftover rice, some spaghetti and meatballs, a bunch of Maggi instant noodles- oh! The brand is from your country right? You must be dying to eat some of that food."
"Are these even yours?" I asked. There was no way all of that food could be his.
"Don't worry just take ANYTHING. All the food here is ours, just choose! Oh! Do you want an egg? Sunny-side up? Omelette? Hard boiled?" Before I could respond, he grabbed an egg from the fridge (which I am sure was also bought with their roommate funds). "Do you want TWO eggs?"
"No no no, one is enough." I told him.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I am VERY sure."
He cooked me fried rice with garlic and black pepper, as well as some soup instant noodles. Nothing says love and warmth like someone cooking a meal for you.
As far as I know, there were now six people living in that tiny two bedroom apartment. One from Africa, two from Singapore, one from India, one Korean-American, and one Hispanic American who is too damn eager to give me the best damn hospitality an unkempt, crowded apartment decorated with anime posters (courtesy of Alex and the Korean-American) can offer. Everyone greets each other firstly by "Bitch," and then their normal conversation as if it was more of a term of endearment and proof of unwavering friendships.
It would be both heaven and hell to be living in that place, a place I would't mind dropping by every Friday for the next few weeks.
5th May 2018
Played basketball with the Malaysians and a few other international students today. Played like a noob. I promised myself to never play with them again. Not that they weren't great to play with, I guess I find less joy playing with people out of my league.
It was more fun when everyone kinda sucked.
It was more fun when everyone kinda sucked.
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