August 2016
My friend got married recently.
Her wedding reception was held in her church gym.
With the help of friends and family members, she decorated the gym with strings of paper hearts. They cut the hearts from an old math textbook, she giggled to me, simultaneously proud of her craftiness and amused at the unexpected ending to her old schoolbook. After the hearts were done, she and her family spent hours crafting paper flowers to decorate the doorways and tables and photo backdrop.
Luckily she had an entourage of adoring little cousins to also help with the monstrous task.
There had been a buffet of delicious Burmese dishes—everything was gobbled up quickly, not a single scrap of meat left to take home, she later told me, quite pleased. It’s strange, but when hosting an event, you really can’t help but to feel satisfied when your guests are able to eat well and eat completely.
It’s a great thing to eat delicious food with people you love.
Because in the end, aren't those the two things that make for a happy life?
These days, I can’t help but to think about how cyclical life has been.
I go somewhere, weak and foolish, running away with my tail tucked tightly between my legs.
Then half a year, a full year, even later—I come back, just a little bit better.
Would the me from two years ago be proud of the me today? What about the me from ten years ago?
Could she have ever imagined where I'd end up?
I like to think she's proud of me.
I like to think she thinks I'm fucking awesome.
Right: Bottomless Topless, 10a chimney at Snowshed. An ultra classic.
I work in education.
I’ve worked in education for most of my adult life.
I tried to not work in education at one point but I hated it.
My job isn’t terribly exciting because—surprise, surprise!—education is 20 years behind in technology, so sometimes it involves some pretty manual and boring work.
But I can’t quit because I can’t imagine any other way for me to spend my time.
Every day, we’re trying so hard to do right by these kids.
Every single one of them.
We work with a 100% commitment to serving every child in our community— this means no expulsions, no turning a blind eye to ‘problem’ children. This means spending countless precious hours working 1-on-1 with a student, trying to connect with her even if or especially if it's painful.
It’s an amazing thing to see people love so much and so hard even through frustrations and trials.
Our teachers take the time to explain to Kindergarten students that each child gets to choose which bathroom he or she wants to use. They explain that no one else can ever make that choice for you.
And we teach them how to recycle and compost.
Some 90% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and some 60% of our students are English learners. Over 95% are children of color.
They’re not the sort of children you imagine composting or asking questions about gender, but we’re raising them to become exactly those types of children.
Children who break the chain of expectations placed upon them.
Children who are resilient despite bad situations and bad intentions.
Children who are able to love their their world and love their selves.
Touristing about in Los Angeles with great people!
Living in a foreign place, it's easy to stay curious but when it comes to 'home', it's easy to sink into the routine and to become desensitized to your surroundings.
It was really nice travelling about Los Angeles with friends, exploring places new and old.
Sometimes I think back to the me who lived in Korea-- she was so energetic and adventurous!
I will try hard to regain that sense of wonder.
But on the other hand, I am still learning and pushing myself, just in different ways.
Being back in the states with a proper apartment and the proper materials, I've been trying to bake and cook lots more. I try to bake once a week, though some weeks I don't make the time to.
My cooking isn't so great, but I've reached a point where I feel pretty comfortable improvising and modifying baking recipes!
This one is a banana bread. I often increase the amount of banana, reduce sugar, add walnuts + chia seed + ground flax seed. I usually substitute white flour for whole wheat as well. Sometimes I throw in chocolate chips.
I often make banana bread because the market near my home often sells bags of 15+ overripe bananas for a dollar, and the frugal starving child in me can never pass up a deal!
The other item is a new one I've been working on-- a walnut + coconut bar with chia + flax seed topped with semi-sweet salted chocolate! I'm debating trying it again with a thin layer of caramel.
I love adorable things and I love baskets and I love baskets filled with adorable things.