Frostbite

Well, I'm in Indiana and it isn't nearly as cold as it could be. It is still cold though. My body went into shock only hours after arriving in Sacramento. I woke up the next morning with peeling skin on my suddenly frozen hands. It has been fun here in Indy. I ended up absconding with my grandmother and she's out here with us. We are trying to get her to rethink the direction of her life and take care of herself. We truly are so so worried about her. We'll see. She's damn stubborn.

I was shocked to go grocery shopping today and discover that everything was so cheap. It would be like if Safeway in Hawaii had a 50% off everything sale. Crazy! Lots of fun times to be had still yet. And only a day and a half to have them! ...

Guess who needs glasses?

If you are going to see me over break, you should ask to see my new glasses. I had my first ever eye doctor appt today and found out that I'm a bit nearsighted and so now I have my very first pair of eyeglasses. How strange is that? Mat in glasses. Not that I'll wear them that often, but oh well. It is in my blood to wear glasses. I hope my eyes don't get as bad as my sister's and I have to wear those thick bifocals. Noooooo!!!

If these numbers mean anything to you, you can judge how bad my eyesight is (not too bad, I think), and then explain to me what the numbers mean:
Right: -075 sphere -025 cylinder 135 axis
Left: -100 sphere DS cylinder

Winter Plannings

So I was thinking we should have a Mat Movie Night sometime when I get back. I have a few movies I'd love to watch/share. The main one is Sex with Love (the Chilean comedy that I adore), but also Lilo and Stitch among others. So yeah. Maybe I'll even cook some enchiladas and Spanish rice (now that I'm an expert) and/or apple crisp. :) What else?? I don't know. But if you think of other things we can do together over break, let me know. :)

Holiday SLS Fun

If you are bored and want to learn what the life of an SLS student is like, check this video out from our holiday cooler where we performed the christmas carol The 12 Days of SLS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEotU6JDSCU

Here are the verses:

On the first day of classes my department said to me...We're the very best in the country.
On the second day of classes HATESL said to me...Pay your yearly fees.
On the third day of classes the seniors said to me...Drink some beer.
On the fourth day of classes my landlord said to me...No shoes inside.
On the fifth day of classes my advisor said to me... FIVE CORE CLASSES.
On the sixth day of classes a decision came to me...SP or thesis?
On the seventh day of classes somebody said to me...Read TESOL Quarterly.
On the eighth day of classes my best friend said to me...How is Hawaii?
On the ninth day of classes my classmate said to me...Moore Hall is freezing.
On the tenth day of classes a thought occurred to me...I can't drop classes.
On the eleventh day of classes my research needs of me...IRB's approval
On the twelfth day of classes my professors said to me...What were you thinking?!

Last Day of the First Semester of Class in Hawaii

Well it is actually getting a bit chilly. As girls are prone to do, a few of my friends felt cold tonight while we were checking out all the holiday displays downtown. And why shouldn't they be? After all, it has dipped into the brisk winter temperatures of 70 degrees and with the wind chill it feels like 69 at least.

Oh...I'm going to die when I get to Indiana! Well, I'll be there rather soon. I can't believe it. I still have to finish this big term paper (which now has a topic), but I'm looking forward to it all being over. Today was the last day of class and it is tradition to present leis to our professors. I like that tradition. Actually, I really like the tradition of giving leis for special occasions in general. I think I'll adopt that if I can actually find inexpensive [real] leis in Sacramento or wherever I end up. Anyways, I took my only final exam for my linguistics class and now I am off to work on my paper.

By the way, I'm really really REALLY excited about the prospect of spending time with all sorts of my favorite people whom I haven't seen in far too long. It will rock! I think my break will be beautifully hectic. Bring it on. Although, I was also thinking today that I feel so lucky to have made some great friends here in Hawaii already. I remember it took a long long time when I first arrived in Nashville before I felt like I really had made any real friendships. I am also really looking forward to next semester. Here is a preview:
-Besides teaching 2 writing classes...
-Bilingual Education (an undergrad class which I hope will be easy and fun and interesting)
-Second Language Acquisition (should be a lot of reading and a big project, but also useful/interesting and its with my favorite professor, Lourdes)
-Language, Literacy, and Culture
-Beginning Volleyball (cool?)
-Poetry in English after 1900 (should be fun! hardly any writing or homework, most of grade is based on showing up and talking about poetry...perfect! i won't have time for extra homework)

Sound crazy??? YUP, IT IS!! At least that's what everyone is telling me. But you all know that this is comparable to must of the situations I work myself into and I'll find a way to manage and enjoy myself. I can't wait!!

Two weeks ago...

Wow. I'll be home in less than two weeks. Hard to believe. Harder to believe: I will finish my 600 lit review paper in less than two weeks. I should get started sometime soon. Oh well. I'm not going to let it get in the way of my fun, family, and friends (the 3 f's). It has been a while since I wrote (2 weeks to be exact), here's what's happened:

• I finished the play! Retrieved a life, but have managed to spend more time with friends so it doesn't seem like I have a ton more down time.
• Birthday parties for Leejin and Jin.
• Thanksgiving was very yummy and I was surrounded by my new adopted family here with Ellie and Pam. Unfortunately, my friends were having a dinner party and wimped out by 8pm so I never got to see them. Still, a few of them came over to my house for some of my yummy apple crisp. Mmm!
• I've observed some of the ELI classes and I'm so ready to teach next semester!

Still to come:

1. Tonight I'm celebrating December by going out with some friends. They have the First Friday (not Second Saturday) art gallery showcase tonight which we might visit.
2. Saturday is Salsa Fiesta Day!! Ay ay ay!! I just went shopping and it should be yummy.
3. Monday I register for classes for next semester.
   
4. Next week is the last week of class. Thursday I have a final in my linguistics class and then I'll be done with 2 of my 3 classes.
   
5. Next Friday we have a Christmas party for our department. I think I might also invite some friends over to do some baking and maybe do a gift exchange and watch my favorite Chilean movie (Sex with Love). You will have to watch it with me some time. I'm bringing the movie home with me.
6. That Saturday I will need to get serious about this paper.
7. Then I will do some Xmas shopping.
8. Then I will get ready to come home on the 13th.
9. Hopefully I will turn my paper in by the 14th.
10. And on the 15th I fly to Indiana to spend some quality time with my sister and her family. And to lose my tan in the blisteringly cold Indiana winter.
11. I'll return to Sacramento on the 19th and try to visit lots of people (hopefully some of them will feed me) and also try and read some of the textbooks I'll be using with my writing class. Writing textbooks...what fun!
12. Then I have a class reunion on Dec. 23, I'll try and track down Lissie when she comes up to SF, and holiday parties with families. Plus, it wouldn't be New Year's if I wasn't spending it with Joey.
13. Things will calm down just as I leave on January 6th and start school on January 8th.

Whew!! Wish me luck. :)

And love. :)

Night Oils Burning

Going to classes, working at Punahou, doing the play, and trying to maintain a social life has made Mat a tired boy. I have been pretty busy this week, but a lot of that has been using my free time to hang out with people or, more appropriately, forcing other people to hang out with me. :) So things are all that bad, just a bit overwhelming. Monday will bring some peace back to my life with the end of the play and all. So, that will be good. The play is going so well and everyone seems to like it a lot. Yesterday, after my scene where I'm a darling little boy and get kissed, I received the only applause in the middle of the scene. Cool, eh? I was being a bit of a ham, but they liked it so who cares? Tennessee Williams? Well, he drunk himself to death so he'll just have to "live" with it.

Here is a review from The Honolulu Advertiser:

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Nov/15/en/FP611150361.html

I play the ghost of Allen Gray, a young collector, and the medical orderly.

I want a car...

It is hard to have a social life without a car. It makes being social and visiting friends and exploring the city so inconvenient, especially when it means staying out late and theBus stops running and you have to walk back or spend $10 on a cab. It sucks! On top of it all, few of my friends have places that lend themselves to just hanging out and chilling till late. And a lot of things close up pretty early in this wanna-be big city. So, you need efficiency and a car would help. It makes me stay home and not explore so much more often, especially when you keep a pretty tight schedule like I do. So, that's my thought. My Bank of Hawaii statement that I received yesterday precludes me from ameliorating the current circumstances, but perhaps in 2007 I will have the car that all the locals in Hawaii say you need in order to survive here. I'm beginning to agree.

The Show Is Officially Open

OPENING NIGHT ROCKED!!

Actually, it started with a cool Preview night on Thursday. Things went pretty well and I had a posse of 8 people cheering for me. They really seemed to like it which was really nice. And! The best part was four of them had written a letter on their bellies that when combined spelled out "M-A-T-!" which was super cool. :) And I got my second lei and chocolates and pretty flowers and hugs and it was a really great way to start the run. It would have been a great Kodak moment, but I totally forgot to take pictures. I'm sorry!

The official opening night was on Friday and totally rocked. The energy was there and the lead actress, Guen playing Blanche, was so on top of it. She was amazing. I had a lot of fun. And the house was HUGE! Over 300 people. I've never played to that many people before and they were really vocal and laughed and applauded and seemed to really enjoy it all. Afterwards, the director, Lurana, took us all out to late-night ice cream (her treat) in the old Leatherby's tradition. The place was called Bubbie's and was much more raunchy than Leatherby's, featuring tasty things like "Eat My Balls" and "Multiple Orgasm" and plenty of other things. It was a lot of fun. I have a weekend packed with two more shows...then a couple of well deserved days off.

Wednesday marathoning

work---eat---blog---rehearsal--------------------------------------------
-------home----sleep--WAKE UP!

I finally worked at Punahou today. I taught 7th grade English and actually had a lot of fun. I'm booked to teach 5th grade on Wednesday. I didn't have a lesson plan, so I made one up in about 15 minutes. The teacher will be surprised to find out that I gave them homework! Luckily the students were reading a play (perfect right?) and it was Iphegenia, a play that I actually worked on at Vanderbilt. So it was easier to invent a lesson for. I felt good cuz I was really teaching, not "subbing" (i.e. baby-sitting) which it can be many times.

The play is currently running near 3 hours long. Be prepared if you are coming to see it! It is good though. I just wonder if the technical elements will come together. I have a bunch of friends coming to see me act tomorrow, so I hope they figure it out soon.

I had a meeting with the director of the ELI (English Language Institute), the department I'll be teaching in next semester. It's pretty certain that I'll be teaching writing. There are three writing classes:
-ELI 73: Writing for foreign students
-ELI 83: Advanced writing for foreign grad students
-ELI 100: Expository writing (equivalent to the Freshman Comp class in the English dept)

I really wanted to teach the 100 class, but they want someone to teach 83. I told them I would be scared of grad students. The director said I had a fantastic interview and was the first person to be hired, so that was a great complement. It is always nice to know that people were fighting over you. And now I just need to figure out how to adapt my teaching methods and adopt new ones to meet college students. How exciting! I'm an English teacher officially. I never thought I would be teaching academic expository writing to adults, but here I am. I hated essay writing in high school. Actually I didn't like it much in college either (at least not in the literary analysis sense), but don't tell anyone that. I am much more comfortable with the kinds of research in our field though and enjoy that style of writing, so go me. I will be studying MLA format over break.

Hawaiian Fall for Halloween?

A few days ago I actually wore a long-sleeved shirt. Actually, I started off in a T-shirt and got soaked by some heavy rains and then really cold that I went back home and changed. I think it was the first day since I've been here that the majority of people were wearing long sleeves! Of course, later that afternoon the rain let up and it was a little warm for the long sleeves and it has been warm ever since. Still, a brief moment of fall was nice.

Yesterday I walked home from the supermarket with almost 40lbs of groceries (I weighed them!) and survived to tell the tale. Man, hitting the hills was soooo rough! What was I thinking?! I was desperate for some food I suppose. It was torture and I decided that I hate not having access to a car.

Oh! And Halloween. In case you haven't already heard, I dressed up for the first time in many years, although it was quite tame. I was a cowboy. I had a big wolf belt-buckle and a hat and a collared shirt and a wife-beater (that's the technical term, isn't it?), but no boots. I wore my hat (a really nice hat that I bought and makes me happy!) all day and (thanks to a dare) gave a presentation in one of my classes with my hat on (I know you shouldn't wear it indoors, but it was a dare) and I used a southern accent. I switched modes after class and really hicked it up by adding a tatoo on my arm (a longhorn steer with the phrase "Betsy Forever") and a blue plaid shirt with the sleeves ripped off. Classy.

I had rehearsal that night and then went down to Waikiki where they have this huge Halloween parade/party in the streets a la San Francisco. By the time I got there, though, almost all my friends had left, so I didn't get to see them dressed up, which is totally unfair because they all saw me. Leejin had waited for me so we walked around a bit and I was able to get a taste of the craziness. It wasn't all that exciting; I mean, you'd have to have more of a plan because just walking around could getting boring after a while. And everyone was so tired because we had that presentation to give (grrrr) and most of my friends also had this huge term paper due that day too (I didn't have one, but I was editing Leejin's late the night before). The best costume (in my opinion): a potted plant with pot and table. Not too practical for walking around crowded streets though. :)

It didn't feel too much like Halloween though. Maybe because not too many people decorated and it wasn't very fall-like. I also really missed carving pumpkins, baking pumpkin seeds, watching semi-scary/Halloweeny movies, trick-or-treaters, etc. But, oh well. Next year will rock even harder!

Professor Espinosa

Some good news:

THE BIG NEWS!! I got offered a graduate assistantship (highly competitive) to teach at the university next semester! Not only will it mean earning some skrilla, but also it will mean I get to be a real instructor, listed in the official course schedule, and with the authority to assign grades that will go on people's college transcripts. How scary is that? (for them, I mean). I will be teaching 2 courses (I don't know what yet) at the English Language Institute (ELI) which offers courses in academic reading, speaking/listening, and writing for international students enrolled at UH.

PLUS! Today I got my second exam in my linguistics class and I got a PERFECT score (105%) and it was supposed to be hard. I'm kicking ass this semester. :)


HERE'S MY CONCERN: Knowing me, despite the fact that I will be teaching 2 classes (a 20+ hour committment, including prep and office hours, per week), I'm sure I will add to my plate a bunch of other things too. The GAship grants you full-tuition waivers for as many credits as you want to take, while the department waiver only gives you up to 12 credit hours. That tempts me into taking advantage and signing up for more than 12 hours. I'm thinking I might take one of the more demanding core courses (I was planning on taking two) and then maybe 2 other less demanding elective courses. Then I could also sign up for a "for-me" class which could be a language class or maybe ballroom dancing or who knows?! I better not do a play too... ;)

Stage Kissing

Continuing on the notion of stage kisses from the last post...

Ever since I joined the noble art of acting, I longed for a role where I was kissed. If you are familiar with my acting history (my oeuvre, so to speak), then you know that those roles were not easy to come by. Instead I played a handful of "character" roles that often involved some sort of service to others (i.e. gardener, waiter, butler, orderly, etc.). I played them quite well, but didn't get any "play" out of them (if you know what I mean). These last two shows I've done, both Under a Western Sky and A Streetcar Named Desire have landed me (literally) a kiss. I often get from those not involved in theater comments like, "Ooo, are you practicing your kiss scene. So lucky!" I usually play it up like it is a big deal, but I suppose it is time to admit that it is not. While the kisses in both plays were real kisses, not just pecks on the cheek (although not tongue kisses either), they really aren't as exciting as they seem. I was thinking about this the other day, and I'm destined to be kissed again tonight, but it really doesn't have any impact on me whatsoever. Besides perhaps the soft sensation on my lips, I'm too busy thinking of how I should play up this moment for the audience and I have my eyes closed and by the time it's over I don't feel changed at all. I guess that is a big difference. I think a real kiss should penetrate you to your heart and leave you changed somehow afterwards (usually happier). And in the last play when I kissed her she bit my lip. That could be exciting the first couple of times, but after that it just hurts! ;-)

I Was a Sk8er Boi

I tried wearing a beanie today, all skater-boy and stuff, and I got ridiculed. I bought it this weekend at the Oakley store in the mall and thought I was so cool (with that and my new shark’s tooth necklace). Everyone asked if I was cold, informed me that it wasn’t winter, and proceeded to demand I take off the hat to show everyone my bad haircut. Why else would you where such a thing if you didn’t have a bad haircut?! Even my solitary friend who praised my appearance mistakenly called me “ghettofabulous” not recognizing that I was going for the “skater” not “ghetto” look. There goes my statement for the day. Although I did get a kiss out of it. Oh wait, it was a rehearsed kiss for the play. Still, a kiss is a kiss!

Shyness

So, people have been pressuring me to pick a costume for Halloween. Although, I’m not even sure what the plan is for partying. Still, I’m sure there will be cause for wearing the costume, even though I have rehearsal that night. I am actually really nervous about a Halloween party. Lots of drinking and costumes and people scare me a lot. So I’ve been telling people that I don’t know if I want to wear a costume and that I’m really shy and nervous about it. Their response: they laugh. They can’t believe that I could be shy. They all think of me as so outgoing and public-speaking (and attention-seeking?). In my “I am” poem I wrote:

“

I am shy and sometimes antisocial, but some people don’t know that.

I tried to explain to them that I can be really comfortable in some situations and that fools people into thinking I’m really confident and outgoing. I feel really scared at “parties” though, despite Sarah’s party last week which wasn’t so scary. I guess I realized that I’ve grown a lot over the past few years. I remember how socially awkward and shy I was the first few years in high school. I get it from my mom. I think between being involved in drama, making my first real friends, moving out of my sister’s house, and doing better in school, I became a little more confident. Then going to Vanderbilt, getting involved in my majors and enjoying classes, teaching, traveling, making more real friends, and (of course) *Summerbridge* taught me a lot more about being social, taking leadership, and confidence. I honestly should thank Stephanie too because she did a real number on me when I felt really small this past year, trying to get me to stand up tall, take charge, and get on with it. I am a lot more confident than I used to be. I sometimes like being the center of attention (I get that from my dad). I do feel a little shy sometimes, but maybe it isn’t as appropriate of a description as it used to be.

So, I decided what I’m going to be for Halloween. I’m going shopping tomorrow. But you can’t find out until Halloween like everyone else! ;)

Star Student/Writer

I was excited because I got my first grade in my L2 writing class and i got the following response from the professor:

Mat,

Your reflections every week were rich, exploratory, innovative, and attentive to the texts, the spirit of the texts, and also attuned to your own knowledge and lived experiences. Because of the high quality of what you wrote, the responses you got from peers were also of great caliber. You get an A+ in the reflections assignment and an A+ in the Taking Stock assignment too. I look forward to your workshop on “writer’s workshop”!

Lourdes

and...

"I agree with her, you are a very good writer. And you have a very personable voice that makes others/readers feel included but doesn’t fall into trite or superficial concessions to readers :)"

Not bad, eh?

Giving Thanks to Kegs and Kaua'i

My friend Sarah, the one who so graciously took me into her home and gave me shelter in my time of need, had a birthday party Friday. It was actually a lot of fun. I just realized talking to Stasia that it was my first keg party which was really exciting. It really wasn’t very crazy or anything, and I still haven’t gotten drunk, but a good experience nonetheless. Far better than stupid frat parties, for sure. The best part was that I got a chance to finally talk in length to some of the second and third years in our program (yes, it isn’t a two-year program as advertised…most people take three years) since Sarah is in her third year. I felt like I bonded. One girl, who happens to be the president of our student organization HATESL (Hawaii Association of Teachers of English as a Second Language), got so excited about doing a flash mob (which unfortunately I discovered does not involve flashing, but instead getting a mob of people to gather in a public place doing something strange and then just leave after a few minutes as if nothing happened). It sounds pretty awesome and I think she wants to do a flash tag game which sounds like chaos of the best kind. Also, I was invited on a trip to Kauai over Thanksgiving break to go camping and hiking. Kaua’i is the oldest of all the Hawaiian isles and is known as the Garden Isle due to its lushness. It sounds fun, but I kinda wanted to be home for Thanksgiving so I could spend it with Ellie’s family. This will be my first Thanksgiving without my family…ever…and it would be nice to have a big dinner and all the fixings and family. I’d rather not spend it in some cabin with some people I don’t know that well and eating canned beans. Ya know? Maybe I can go the day after. Anyways, we’ll see where I end up. Hopefully somewhere exciting!

The Earth Is Alive!!

EARTHQUAKE!! BIG ONE!!!

Actually, while it was about the fifth that I can remember experiencing, I think it was the strongest. Thanks for all your concern. I actually can’t believe that it was such big global news (I got emails from Hong Kong!). It felt like King Kong was shaking the house. My canine instincts made me wake up way earlier than I should have (i.e. 6:30am) and the earthquakes happened at 7:07 and 7:14am. Shortly thereafter the power went out for THE WHOLE STATE!! That was the worst thing. Our power didn’t come back until 11pm and no power makes for a long day. It was kinda cool to see the city at night so dark and quiet. Everything was closed so most people stayed in and putzed around. It is funny how people around the world knew better what happened than we did. They are still discovering more and more structural damage around the state, but there weren’t any major injuries. Like you said, just another things to say I survived: The Great Hawaii Quake of 2006.

Mira Loma Strikes Back!

Mira Loma High School is a public high school located in Sacramento, California. It is a part of the San Juan Unified School District with a student body of approximately 1800 students.

Academics

Mira Loma is most noted for being an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme school. In addition to the IB program, Mira Loma offers the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program for freshmen and sophomores, the International Studies Program for less academically oriented students, and the International Passport Program for students who speak English as a second language. The school also possesses one of the largest special education programs in the San Juan Unified School District.

The Mira Loma science department is especially strong and school teams regularly win the regional Science Olympiad and Science Bowl competitions. Mira Loma also sends several students each year to the International Science and Engineering Fair, the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and the semi-finalist level of the Intel Science Talent Search. Recently in 2006, Mira Loma students gained recognition for the history department for their achievement in National History Day - they placed 3rd in the nationals.

[edit]

Culture

As the variety of academic programs listed above indicates, Mira Loma is a school noted for its diversity. In early April Mira Loma celebrates its annual International Night, in which students from various ethnic backgrounds set up booths about their culture (typically offering some traditional food as well) and sometimes give performances of traditional dance or music.

Another Mira Loma tradition is the annual Sports-A-Rama in which the four classes compete against each other in a variety of games to win the competition. Games begin with Penny Wars several weeks in advance of the event itself and culminate in the event known as the statue wherein around fifty students perform a choreographed dance routine on the subject of the class's theme.

[edit]

Day of Silence Controversy

Mira Loma has a large Gay-Straight Alliance club on campus that attracted local media attention during the 2006 Day of Silence. On April 26 around 30 Mira Loma students, along with an estimated 450,000 students nation-wide, voluntarily remained silent for the day to protest discrimination against the LGBT community. A group of students, organized by a local Slavic church, launched a counter-protest that day, handing out brouchures that argued that support for the Day of Silence undermined freedom of religion. Several students handing out fliers were subsequently suspended from school on grounds that they were spreading hate messages. Three after-school protests organized by the Slavic church were then held in front of the school from April 26 to April 28. Over one hundred demonstraters participated. Advocates for the Day of Silence quickly organized their own, albeit smaller, demonstration and later printed t-shirts in support of gay rights and condemning the actions taken by the protesters.

[edit]

External links

• Official website
• Information about MLHS on the San Juan website
• Mira Loma IB resources
• Information about Parent Organizations

About Punahou

Courtesy of Wikipedia:

Punahou School, formerly known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, non-sectarian college preparatory school located in Honolulu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. With a student body that averages 3,700 students annually in kindergarten through the twelfth grade, Punahou School is the largest independent school in the United States. Also, with tuition set at about $15,000 a year, per student, this school recieves an incredible amount of income.

Founded in 1841, Punahou School was originally a school for the children of Congregationalist missionaries serving throughout the Pacific region. It was known as Oahu College from 1859 to 1934.

The land on which Punahou School sits was a gift of Queen Kaʻahumanu to the Rev. Hiram Bingham, the first Christian missionary in Hawaii. The first class was held on July 11, 1842 and consisted of only fifteen students.

Punahou is considered to be one of the top schools nationwide because of its rich tradition in academic and athletic excellence. The school is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Along with academics and athletics, Punahou is home to strong visual and performing arts programs. Students have access to a jewelry studio, photography darkroom, and glass-blowing facilities. Its drama, dance, and music programs are recognized nationally. The Punahou marching band marches in the Rose Bowl Parade once every four years, and the student yearbook, The Oahuan, has won national awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the American Press Association.

The Punahou athletics program is the most successful in the state and one of the most successful in the nation, having won more state championships (322) than any other high school in the nation.[1] In 2005, it was named the #4 U.S. high school athletics program by Sports Illustrated.[2] Top-notch facilities include a heated Olympic-sized swimming pool and an 8-lane Mondo track surface.

Punahou students have the opportunity to compete in 22 sports, including air riflery, baseball, basketball. bowling, canoe paddling, cross country, cheerleading, football, golf, gymnastics, judo, kayaking, riflery, sailing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.

Punahou also has a tradition of sending athletes to the Olympic Games.

Voggy Days

The "dreaded Kona weather" has arrived. What is that? Well, it is when the tradewinds transform into light breezes, humidity rises, it feels hotter, and it doesn't rain so much. The humidity was at 90% yesterday afternoon. It also means the vog settles into the city. It looks like smog, only it is sulfurs and is called vog because it is created by Volcano Kilauea on the big island (Hawaii) and due to the change in winds, drifts all the way past Maui and through O'ahu. Yay for us. It makes some people sick and maybe it has been part of the reason I've been so low energy the past few days. But, just another weather type to say I've lived through. Now I've experienced everything from the typical snow, rain, fog, hail, and sun to earthquakes, typhoons, graupel, red cloud storms, snizzle, and smog thick enough to turn your nose black.

The Salsa of Love, Loss, Work, and Play

I didn't get called to sub again today. While I like lounging and having more time to do homework, I really would like to work a bit and make some money. I'm worried that maybe since I've probably been added to the bottom of the list and no one knows me so they won't request me, that I won't get called much. If I don't get a job at all this week, then I will have to go bother these people again.

Nonetheless, today was a good day to not be working. I had an eventful, busy, emotional, sleep-lacking weekend and didn't do much homework either. So, it is good that I had a day off to recuperate. I still have a bunch to do, but at least I got to sleep in a bit and I'm not exhausted from working all day.

I had a practice salsa fiesta Saturday. It went so well!! I was thinking it would be super simple, but then Pam got involved and wanted to add some dishes and make it more authentic (which was cool) and then Ellie invited a bunch of her family, on top of the friends I invited, and soon we had 2o people. The more the merrier! I had a blast! Pam and my friends helped with all the cooking (actually I did minimal amounts of cooking, I mostly directed and facilitated the cooking). We made chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, refried beans, Mexican salad (i.e. salad with lots of lime juice), chorizo and eggs, and had some canned tamales and fresh salsa and chips for pupus (appetizers in Hawaiian) and some Coronas and wine and cinnamon caramel cashew ice cream with fresh strawberries for dessert. Delicious! And it is so much fun to cook with friends. :) You'll have to check out the photos on my flickr site.

The emotional part of the weekend was that I've been thinking a lot about my parents recently. It is mostly just missing and reflecting on the changes of my life and how that impacts my future. Also, how it makes going back home for the holidays this year different than in the past. I've been thinking about it more because of it coming up in conversation with people here. I guess I'm usually pretty upfront about it, like it is just another important event in my life that I don't want to hide away, but I also don't want people to feel really bad for me or feel like I'm mentioning it just to get attention or sympathy. That's not what I'm looking for. I just think it helps to understand who I am. But with these other interpretations, you start worrying about censoring yourself. And I don't want to.

So, besides love, loss, work, school, and play, I don't know if I can cover much more in this entry. This was an all-encompassing blog entry. I'll try to come up with comparable ones later this week. :)

Smiles for everyone!!

It is HOT!!!

Last night I had a dream that combined elements of Vanderbilt, Hawaii, and had a bunch of the staff from Hong Kong present. Well, I woke up (way earlier than I wanted to, mind you) and I found myself in Hong Kong. There has been an inescapable humid, sweaty heat here all day. It's definitely the worst since I arrived. Totally hongkongy. I'm sitting here, shirtless, with the fan pointing right on me, wondering how people could be having fall weather in other places.

The bright spot is that I'm officially hired at Punahou School! I turned in all my paperwork today and I'm ready to work. I don't know when I'll start, but any day now. Here's a link if you want to check out this chic prep school.

http://www.punahou.edu

Cool enough to have it's own .edu site. And Jack Johnson was just playing a concert there a few weeks ago.

Getting LOST

The glitz of tinsel town made its way to Waikiki this weekend and I was there to watch the stars walk the red carpet! It was the premier of LOST season 3 and the cast came out to support the showing of the first episode to be aired this week. I hadn't watched a single episode of this show before, but I was in touch with pop culture enough to know that it was huge and lots of people love it. Still, I had to be explained who I was cheering for as the stars passed by. It was a lot of fun though! There were probably about 10,000 people out on the beach around dusk watching the show on a big projection screen. Matthew Fox and Sawyer the Hobbit were like right there! And I even got to talk to/within the reach of Kate and John Locke and, having just learned how to say "I love you" in Korean the day before, I shouted it to the Korean actress in the show and she turned and smiled at me. How cool is that? I hope she realizes that I don't really love her or even know who she is. Still lots of fun. One friend had his Japanese wife with him and he kept yelling to the stars that she came all the way from Japan to see them and it worked a few times! So she has some pictures with the stars. Unfair, I should have come up with a gimmick like that.

Okay, so her is my review of episode one (remember this is the first episode I've ever seen):

WARNING!! MAY BE SPOILER (but I wouldn't know)

The opening scene apparently is shocking. I didn't realize this because I hadn't seen the show, but apparently you find out something really interesting about "The Others."

The rest of it looked a lot like a knock-off of Prison Break (of course, I haven't seen that show either). But most of it was of people in cages trying to figure out how to break out and why the hell they are there and who these crazy people are that put them in there. Basically it looks like it is some wierd science experiment. Sponsored by the government? Who knows what's going on on this island? I guess that is the fun of the show. I enjoyed it; I'll have to watch more. One friend here has the first season DVDs so I'll try and watch those.

Okay, let me know what you think if you watch it on real time.

People Go to Hawaii to Study???

I thought I'd briefly describe the classes I'm taking and how they're going.

First, remember my MA program is Second Language Studies (SLS) which does NOT mean learning a second language, but refers to the field of applied linguistics which incorporates areas like:
-Language teaching/pedagogy
-Language use (in various contexts)
-Multilingualism
-Language testing, assessment, program evaluation/development
-Literacy acquisitition (reading/writing in second languages)
-Language planning and politics
-Second Language Acquisition (psycholinguistics)

Also remember the term we use for second language is L2...first language is L1 for short. Notice a pattern?

I'm taking three classes:

Language Concepts for SLS:

• This is more or less a foundational linguistics class. We talk about the major areas of linguistic grammar: phonetics (sounds), phonology (rules behind sound combinations), morphology (words), syntax (sentences), and semantics (meaning). This class is taken by some undergraduates as well and so we have quizzes and homework exercise problems and tests. I actually really like the subject though and so sometimes I read the test for fun and I participate a lot in class. We have three tests and I got a 102% on my first test (thanks to a few extra credit points)!
• We also have to do an analysis of the grammar of a language we don't know. That should be fun...
  
• I got a bunch of the quotes that I used in previous entries from this class. You should really check out the book The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker if you can.

Introduction to SLS:

• This class is an introduction to the field. We begin by talking about the program at UH and the resources available and defining the field of applied linguistics (distinguishing it from linguistics). We then did some analysis of different university SLS programs and some of the main issues of SLS research and controversy. We had to do a presentation on a subfield of applied linguistics to practice research skills and familiarize ourselves with journals, professional organizations, and conferences in the field.
• Exciting topics still to come: types of research and research methods and exploration of the four major domains of SLS (L2 learning, L2 use, L2 analysis, and L2 pedagogy).
• We also have to do a research article critique and a position paper with a literature review which will probably be the most involved writing task this semester.
• The professor has some interesting anecdotes, but the class is mostly free-form small group discussion.

Second Language Writing:

• This is my favorite class. It is really interesting (probably because it isn't an introductory class) and I participate a lot in this class too (although I'm trying to shut myself up). People think (based on my comments) that I have a lot more experience than I do (and also that I'm a lot older than I am). But I'm okay with people thinking I'm smart. As long as my comments are appreciated, I guess I shouldn't feel to bad about giving them.
• We talk about all sorts of interesting topics: how to give feedback, peer review, use of technology in writing, comparing rhetorics across cultures, cultural impact on L2 writing, how the L1 influences L2 writing, what is "good writing," writing for audiences, plagiarism, politics of L2 writing, etc.
• The second half of the class we decide as a class what we will do. We will decide what topics to address, types of activities to do, or whether we want to read more articles.
• Everyone gets an A as long as they complete the assignments!
• We write a short, free-response paper to the readings once a week and get peer and teacher feedback on our writing (focusing on content) which kinda puts into use the concepts we talk about.
• Fun Fun Fun!
  

Reasons for Taking TheBus

After another bus adventure, I came up with three good reasons for taking TheBus in O'ahu:

1. It is very enjoyable to see grown people, dressed in suits (or at least as suit-like as you can get in Hawai'i) or dresses (or mumus) or street clothes, sprinting across the street and down the sidewalk as they desperately try to catch the bus (Hawaiians are often running late after all). They look so silly and then so relieved when they finally get on the bus.
2. TheBus drivers are so nice! They will often ask how you're doing, help you when you're lost, and give you a mahalo as you leave. I love those people!
3. It is called TheBus (http://www.thebus.org) which is almost as good as my mom's cousin Sheryl's pizza place called A Pizza Place.

I took the bus to go downtown and get a Hawaiian ID card. Yay for ID so I don't have to carry around my passport!! I decided that in Hawaii I will be 6'0'' (i.e. six feet tall) and that is kind of a lie, but I've always wanted to say I was six foot (not 5'11") this was my chance. Maybe I should be admitting to such a crime in a public space, but why not! I'm proud to finally be six feet tall!

Anniversary

I understand a month does not make an anniversary, but I've been in Hawaii for over a month now. My classes are over 1/4 done! And I'm so happy. I've found a home...finally. I've even adopted calling this new home Hawai'i instead of Hawaii. (I know, you're thinking "WHAT?")

I miss people for sure. I miss Shahla's hugs. I miss making fun of Shirley. I miss my grandma doting on me. I wish I could share this wonderful island with everyone. Things have changed a lot from my perspective when I first arrived here. But when I think about how much has changed since a year ago, it scares me.

September 10 was the anniversary of my mom's passing. Before that I had two parents, a girlfriend, a somewhat sheltered outlook on life, and a lot of innocence. I've lost, I've struggled, and I've grown since. I'm stronger now. I'm happier now. I bring with me the wisdom gained from loss and suffering, the perspective of facing death, and the eyes of an adult. I've bounced around a lot, from home to home, job to job, country to country, but I've landed. I've landed on both feet. I stand tall again.

A month later, I can appreciate life again. I can wake up every morning, thankful to be alive and have another day ahead of me.

I appreciate it now.

Happiness

I know I should be doing homework right now, but I am just overwhelmed with happiness! I am practically giddy for no reason in particular other than the fact that I love it here and I haven't encountered any more big spiders or centipedes.

I love the people- I've met so many amazing people and made friends and that makes me happy.

I love the program- I love my program and classes and now I know why it is so well-respected!

I love Hawai'i- It is so beautiful and friendly and the weather is perfect (at least for me, some people actually think it is too hot)

I'm really happy. The prospects for things getting better are also high, so yay!

Adapting: Okay, so two things Hawaii is lacking that could make me sad (besides the aforementioned sidewalks) are donut shops and country music stations. I love going to a donut shop, especially a 24 hour shop late at night after saving my coins for a month. Adaptation: I've discovered a malasada (i.e. Portuguese donut) shop that makes yummy malasadas (i.e. lump of fried dough with sugar sprinkled on top) that satisfies, although lacks the diversity of choices that the typical donut shop has. And it is run by people from Macau! How perfect is that. And then my country music needs are quenched by my discovery of the Yahoo! country radio station and the fact they play country songs on the local soft rock/mix96 type station, which means I hear it when I go into the grocery stores and stuff. Plus, they have TWO Hawaiian music stations to make up for it. I love that stuff.

Now I just need to find a luau!!

Ukes and Toshibas

This weekend I really got to be a tourist! I went into the touristy part of Waikiki and saw all the fancy hotels and strip malls and people taking pictures and sunbathing. It was fun. I went with Ellie's daughter and her daughter's husband and 3 year-old son. We watched the Duke's Ukes festival for a while where different people competed for best 'ukulele player at all levels, including these elementary school kids, and they also had some 'ukulele building fun and lots of cool Hawaiian music. Then we strolled along the beach. I wasn't prepared to swim, but her husband and son were. After they were swimming in the ocean for a while she realized that they had forgot the son's floaties and she couldn't get their attention. I was coerced into sacrificing my shorts for the good of the cause and jump in. It was so SALTY! The cool thing was that the beach was in a cove and after you swim out a bit from the shore you reach another huge pile of sand created by all these waves coming at you from every direction. They crash into each other and the sand just piles up as if there is a second beach out in the middle of the cove.

The other excitement for the weekend was that my computer died. Just started going really slow until finally it wouldn't go at all. So, I bought a new computer. It is really cool and I got a good deal on it at CompUSA. It is a Toshiba Satellite and I'm really happy with it and the price (even though I was not in the market for spending that kind of money). I guess I really do need to find myself a job!

Auditioning for Streetcar

On Sunday, September 3rd, I had a callback audition for a play being done at UH, A Streetcar Named Desire. I was called back in the final group reading for the main roles and I could tell right away that the director had some favorites that she knew and were in the theater program at the school. She didn't know me and I realized "Who am I to waltz in out of nowhere, without a really strong resume, and try to steal a lead role in one of the most anticipated shows done here in years?" Well, I wasn't surprised that I didn't get one of the two lead roles, but I was excited that I got cast!! I debated for a while whether I should accept or not, given the small role and time commitment, but I finally decided it would be a great experience. Now I found it that it really is some big production. There is a website devoted to it and apparently there are teacher materials created for the production, promotional readings being performed out in the public, and pre-show chats. Definitely much different than the smaller scale, intimate theater I'm used to. Well, see how it goes. Here are the links:

http://www.hawaii.edu/theatre/stage/pagetostage/Directory%20Page.html

A Sweet Retreat

From September 2-3:

This weekend I was whisked away to frolic and mingle with students and faculty in the Second Language Studies (SLS) program at a secluded hideaway on the other side of the island. It was the furthest I've ventured on O'ahu since I arrived. I guess I should start by explaing what SLS means because people ask me about it all the time. It is really another name for applied linguistics that focuses in on second language (L2) learning instead of first language (L1) learning. This field covers a range of interdisciplinary concepts such as second language acquisition, second language (L2) teaching/learning/pedagogy, L2 program/curriculum development, L2 testing and research, social and political concerns of language learning, foriegn language (language not used in host country) vs. second language (language of host country), bilingualism/multilingualism, and I'm sure there are other things. So, when I say my program is in SLS, "Oh, what language are you studying?" would not be an appropriate response.

That said, the retreat is so much fun. I think I've learned a lot by being in Summerbridge about how to conduct myself in situations such as this. I tried to be friendly and talk to most of the people there (I think nearly everyone knows who I am) and I also tried to participate in everything and help out whenever I could. Basically, just like in Summerbridge, there wasn't an idle moment (or when there was, I felt bad- like there is someone I should be helping or talking to). It was really nice to hang out with all these people and I can tell there are a whole bunch of cool people I'd like to spend more time with. Plus, spending more time with all the Korean and Japanese girls helped me to be able to distinguish them a little better!

Although most of the time was unstructured hang out time, there were a lot of activities as well. I played ultimate frisbee for the first time and found out that there really is an emphasis on the ultimate part. I remember frisbee being a really chill thing to do in a park on a nice day, but this game is brutal and competitive and I don't know if I'm sold on it. I also played some basketball and successfully completed my first ally-oop (wow! what a fun word to attempt to spell!). I was guarding one of our professors (a rather short and aged man) and shutting him down until he, dripping with sweat, gained the advantage by taking off his shirt street-style which made give him a lot more space. Fun! I also got to teach some of the Korean and Japanese the art of S'more making. A couple of girls had never seen a marshmallow before and were mesmorized by its texture.

The highlight, though, was this auction we had. I've never been to an auction, but even if I had, I'm sure this would have been my favorite auction ever. The selling point was the auctioneer who was hysterical and he had to where this bright yellow and orange mumu the entire time! Many of the auction items were services like I'll teach you how to surf or I'll serenade someone for you with my cello, but others were themed parties or trips. I bought two things: a hike to Manoa Falls with a baguette and wine picnic at the top ($15) and a Chinese New Year Festival party with food of all sorts, games, traditions, and more! ($47). The crazy thing is that I also offered a party. I will be hosting a Salsa Fiesta where I teach the guests how to make some Mexican dishes (like enchiladas, Mexican rice, salsa, I don't know), teach them a few Spanish phrases, and also teach them to salsa dance. I don't know what I'm doing. Feel free to send me some recipes. I guess I should also learn to dance too. The party is for six, tickets went for $27, and 2 professors (including one from Spain!) will be attending. I don't even have a place to host it yet. Luckily, these can all be worked out later.

Anyways, the trip was fun and I posted some pictures on Flickr from it. Enjoy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matespi

Paradise and Drinking

Tonight I attempted my first bar outing since I've been here. I also realized another drawback for having lost my wallet. I went all the way down to Waikiki to the Ala Moana Center and didn't have any ID!! I don't have a driver's license now and who the hell carries around a passport everywhere? Well, I think I need to get some form of Hawaiian ID for security reasons and because carrying around my passport is just plain inconvenient and losing that would be tragic. So, we had to go back to my house and ended up a bar close by. I witnessed a few wacky incidents. First of all, this huge Samoan guy came up to one of my friend's German boyfriend and unbuttoned his shirt because he said he looked too uptight for Hawaii. I wish I could get hit on like that. Then there was a fight on the street outside the bar that involved people getting out of a car, punching and kicking this other group (the way real men were meant to fight) and a lot of hollering. It ended with the guys getting back into the car, reversing to try and run over this other guy, and then the other guy trying to kick the car only to fall on his booty. Because the bar is not enclosed and everyone is out on the patio, there was a running commentary throughout the fight and everyone there (and there were a lot of people) was cheering them one and there was a lot of whistling and whooping as the fight came to a conclusion. Finally, on my way this moped drives by and then suddenly the muffler drops off. Crazy.

By the way, Hawaii is beautiful. I don't know if there are many who would disagree. Still, when I walk to school and see the ocean and the mountains and the city and the beautiful flowers, it really is invigorating. I really like the mountains here; they look different, much more tropical than the mountains on the mainland. I told someone that I feel like I'm in Jurassic Park when I look at the mountains (just what I needed, right? to be scared of dinosaurs on top of all the bugs) and then, randomly, I was reading a travel article on Hawaii and found out Jurassic Park was filmed here! How appropriate my simile. I do miss sidewalks though. While I'm hiking up my hill to get home, there is always the threat of being run over. Most people just walk on people's lawn, but I haven't morally brought myself to do that (unless the lawn is ugly) and sometimes that isn't even an option. Besides nearly dying everyday, I really like living here. It is paradise after all! I would really like to get a car and explore it more. Hmmm....

No Such Thing as Bad English

The general concept is that any language spoken has a set of built-in rules that aren't broken by it's speakers and give structure to the language. Even so-called "dialects" of English have rules that govern the language of its speakers. There is a trade-off with any dialect or language, while some aspects may seem less efficient or clear or sensible compared to Standard American English (SAE), other aspects are actually more efficient or descriptive. Often they are accomplishing the same thing, just in a different way. Here are some examples:

From Black English Vernacular (BEV):

"Where SAE uses there as a meaningless dummy subject for the copula, BEV uses it as a meaningless dummy subject for the copula (compare SAE's There's really a God with Larry's It's really a God). Larry's negative concord (You ain't goin' to no heaven) is seen in many languages, such as French (ne ... pas)."

"BEV allows its speakers the option of deleting copulas (If you bad); this is not random laziness but a systematicv rule that is virtually identical to the contraction rule in SAE that reduces He is
to He's..."

Still no SAE speaker would try changing Yes he is! to Yes he's! and no BEV speaker would change Yes he is! to Yes he!

"BEV speakers use the full forms of certain auxiliaries (I have seen), whereas SAE speakers usually contract them (I've seen) ... He be working means that he generally works, perhaps that he has a regular job; He working means only that he is working at the moment that the sentence is uttered. In SAE, He is working fails to make that distinction."

From the South:

"The same bumpkins who are derided for dropping g's in Nothin' doin' are likely to enunciate vowels in pó-lice and accidént that pointy-headed intellectuals reduce to a neutral "uh" sound."

From Boston:

"Bostonians who pahk their cah in Hahvahd Yahd name their daughters Sheiler and Linder. In 1992 an ordinance was proposed that would have banned the hiring of any immigrant teacher who "speaks with an accent" in - I am not making this up - Westfield, Massachusetts. An incredulous woman wrote to the Boston Globe recalling how her native New England teacher defined "homonym" [two words with different meanings that sound the same] using the example orphan and often. Another amused reader remembered incurring the teacher's wrath when spelled "cuh-rée-uh" as Korea and "cuh-rée-ur" as career and not vice versa as intended by the teacher."

Linguistics for Dummies

I've been reading this great book written for laymen (like you!) about language called The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker. It has some really interesting examples that I thought I'd share for your general edification.

"Most educated people already have opinions about language. They know that it is man's most important cultural invention, the quitessential example of his capacity to use symbols, and a biologically unprecedented event irrevocably separating him from other animals. They know that language pervades thought, with different languages causing their speakers to construe reality in different ways. They know that children learn to talk from role models and caregivers. They know that grammatical sophistication used to be nurtured in the schools, but sagging educational standards and the debasements of popular culture have led to a frightening decline in the ability of the average person to construct a grammatical sentence. They also know that English is a zany, logic-defying tongue, in which one drives on a parkway and parks in a driveway, plays at a recital and recites at a play. They know that English spelling takes such wackiness to even greater heights- George Bernard Shaw complained that fish could just as sensibly be spelled ghoti (gh as in tough, o as in women, ti as in nation)- and that only institutional inertia prevents the adoption of a more rational, spell-it-like-it-sounds system."

If you believe these, get annoyed by people speaking "Bad English," and could not understand the Ebonics use in Oakland schools not long ago, perhaps I can help to change your perspective on language and its use.

Creature Feature

I found a centipede in the shower today. I've also killed a large cockroach a day for the past four days. As long as I don't find any more big spiders or find anything in my bed, I think I'll be okay. I enter tentatively into the bathroom and thoroughly examine everywhere I walk in my room, carefully shaking out my shoes before putting them on.

More Cultural Insights

Apparently, I will just have to live with the bugs. Actually, I can live with the bugs, it is the spiders that concern me. Last night I killed a cockroach and a few other nondescript bugs. Then I found a gecko which I didn't kill, but it ran out into the hallway when I tried to take a picture of him. After I turned out the lights, I was kept awake by the sounds of a symphony of crickets in my room. I killed the symphony and went back to bed.

Cultural Notes: I got my first pair of $5 flip-flops from the flip-flop aisle at Longs Drugstore today. In Hawaii they call them "slippers" and I hear that slippers are called "slipah." But I'm planning on sticking with flip-flops because neither slippers or thongs seem appropriate. Also, bananas aren't just bananas I found out at the grocery store today. There are yellow bananas, red bananas, and a few other kinds, but I ended up with apple bananas which supposedly are sweeter (and cheaper). Yesterday I went to my first UH sporting event. I saw my first volleyball game and it was a big deal. The women's volleyball team is called the UH Manoa Rainbow Wahine and volleyball in Hawaii is front page, televised news. They are HUGE fans and there were over 7,000 fans attending this exhibition game against Pepperdine. I went with the old lady I'm renting from and two of her grandkids. I'm starting to meet her family and they are all so nice and it will be nice to make friends with her grandkids that are around my age and know people outside of school. Anyways, in a thrilling five-game match, we won. Go Bows!

Arachniphobia

I spent my first night in my new room yesterday. All was going well until this morning when I went to take a shower and notice two twigs hanging over the ledge of the shower wall. Then I saw them move. SPIDER!! Run run run. See Mat run. Okay. Calm yourself. It can't be that bad. I return and stand on the toilet to get a better look at this thing. It doesn't look too big. I can handle this mother' given the proper equipment. Oh no, it sees me. AHHHHHH!!!!!! It scurries up the wall to reveal its true self. It is HUGE!! RUNRUNRUNRUN...

OMG!! No one is home. What should I do??? Call Grams. Big help (not). Ok. I am bigger than she is (I assume female spiders are bigger than males and this must be the biggest of the species---I hope) and I will kill her. Hoku (the dog I live with) will be my partner. I brief him on the situation and try to prepare him for his role which involves attacking and killing/eating the spider if I knock it down and it is still alive. Ok. I can go in there...

I CAN'T FIND THE SPIDER....could be anywhere. Could be in my bed in my clothes in my shoes. No shower. Need to leave. Carefully and quickly step into the bathroom to grab deoderant and hair gel. I shake out some clothes, no spiders. I don't know what I would have done had a spider flown out of the shirt. OK leaving.

I called one of the other guys who lives here and asked him to check out my room and see if he can find and kill the spider. He does. I feel better. A little. Pictures of house and neighborhood coming soon. Hopefully, no pictures of big tropical spiders.

The End

Eccentricity and Ohana

One objective met: I have a place to stay. I will move in Thursday to a small room in a large (for Hawai`i) house where lives an eccentric, but kind older lady. Her name is Eleanor Nordyke and she is apparently a noteworthy American author who has lived in Hawaii for many years. She is renting the room more for company than money and she is offering me more than a place to stay, she offers ohana (as Stitch would say, "Ohana means family"). Besides the room (furnished by the way), I will also have a private bathroom, a private entrance, washer/dryer, Internet access, but the real seller was her dog. So cute! I love dogs so so much!! I will have kitchen access as well, but the main thing is that she is surrounded by a lot of great people and I will become part of that community and be able to rely on them for some support in a strange land. I will not be so alone. Plus, I have Leo and Sarah and Elise who I am already friends with and all the other friends I am bound to make given my friendly personality. :) Just today I was eating in the campus Food Court and a group of three girls from Taiwan joined me for lunch; obviously they sensed my likeability and wanted to share in that much like Lan and Ashley did many moons ago. ;)

Getting back on track, there is a married couple in their 40s living just down the hall from me and this really nice lady who is a friend of Eleanor's and helps take care of her in the evenings and sometimes stays the night in the guest room. There is also a fourth room which has been turned into an aviary for some birds she rescued 16 years ago that haven't died yet. She sleeps in the living room, which is humongous and has a stunningly spectacular view of UH, the mountains, Waikiki, and the ocean. The house sits up on a hill in this really safe, wealthy, old-fashioned, intellectual neighborhood near campus where people have been living there so long that they know everyone and Eleanor is one of the most popular on the street. Also on the street are 3 of 5 children with grandchildren who are around my age. She has lots of interesting visitors and is working on projects and books as we speak. The living arrangement is relaxed and comfortable and I think it will all work out well. The biggest negative is that the room is very small (it was made for the maid), but really all I need is a place to rest and study. So yeah, one load off my back and I'm already smiling more.

I also think I've sorted out my class situation after the sudden passing of my professor. It looks as though I will only have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That means I will have to manage my time well so that I am productive on Mondays, Wednesdays, and weekends in order to not be overwhelmed by having a day full of classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I also picked up audition info so that I can audition for a play here at UH for the fall, A Streetcar Named Desire in case you've heard of it. ;) A job! That's what I need. Feel free to fill me in if you have any leads.

for Dr. Chaudron

"Life has a way of throwing you curveballs."

It was raining this morning. Actually, it has rained everyday so far, so if you like the rain and rainy climates you have yet another reason to move to Hawaii. It usually doesn't rain very heavily, but this morning it was raining pretty hard. Hard enough to make me stop to buy an umbrella on my way to my first day of class.

I was really excited about this class. Not only was it my first and only class today, it also was an upper level class taught by Dr. Chaudron who was also the graduate adviser and recommended I take it. It was called Early Childhood ESL and Bilingual Education. How much cooler can you get than that? Studying how to teach language minority immigrants at the preschool to early elementary level.

When I arrived to class, knowing I would be the only first year and male in the class and determined to be cool and collected, I found a different professor in the classroom and had to ask if I was in the right class. When I found out it was, I jokingly asked the other professor if he was our substitute for the day. He told me Dr. Chaudron died that morning.

I, of course, didn' t believe him at first. When I saw the tears welling up in his eyes, I changed my mind. Like that, I no longer had a class or an adviser and the only professor on campus that knew me was gone and the man who impressed me with how promptly he replied to all the emails I sent him and showed me such great compassion could no longer reply. He had two young children. I last saw him on Thursday.

No matter how crazy and stressful and busy your life can get, there are events that stop time, momentarily. I had one of those moments this morning. That is how I started my graduate career here at UH.

Hawaiian Wear

Believe it or not...

There are quite a few people in Hawai`i that wear Aloha/Hawaiian shirts. I see them all over and I don't think they are tourists. I also see women who look local wearing flowers in their hair. It actually looks really cute. So, they aren't merely stereotypes. It is a valid style in Hawai`i. Also, I bought my new wallet at Quicksilver and it was a good move because that is a hugely popular brand here as well. I think I'm going to like the style. The only question is, "Should I grow out my hair???"

Breakthrough Expansion

Okay, so being part of the admin team here I find myself thinking on occassion about whether I would be able to or interested in directing a Summerbridge program somewhere. Especially because Shirley is in desperate search for someone to replace her. Usually the answer is no because I'm more interested in the teaching aspect of the program than all the administrative business. But occassionally I entertain the idea, provided I had the right partner to work with me. I was thinking about Breakthrough Nashville. I'd prefer Breakthrough San Diego or Hawai`i. But today I had a different thought. How about starting a site in Puerto Rico based on the system of English language learning in Hong Kong. Wouldn't that be cool? And at least I speak Spanish. So, if the prospect of co-directing a site in any of these cities in about two years excites you, be sure and let me know. :)

Hair Crisis

So I was totally set on finding somewhere to get a haircut today because it is getting a little long and hard to manage. Then yesterday I went to this club and saw a blues band and the bassist had long hair. It made me so jealous, I mean it was really rockin and looked so cool. I'm talking Japanese style long hair not HK style (which translates to a spiky mullet). So, now I'm in a crisis and don't know how willing I am to committ myself to growing my hair out. It did look really cool on this guy and I think he acheived a style I wished for, but never quite reached when my hair was long. I was showing some pictures from last summer to some of the staff and much like all the other people I surveyed, there was no consensus on long vs. short. Some liked the long and some liked the short and usually they had a strong preference for one or the other. I figure if I grow it out and meet the right girl and she likes long hair, great! If she likes short hair, cut it! It wouldn't work as easily starting with short hair. :)

International Swimming

This past week I was surrounded by people from all over southeast Asia. There were guys from Sri Lanka and Brunei on our hall and we were passing people from all sorts of other countries including Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and some cute girls from the Philippines. It was handy that they were typically wearing their swim gear with their country prominently displayed making identifying their ethnicity much easier. When I came home on Sunday I must have timed it perfectly with the end of the International Swim Competition that Hong Kong seems to be hosting because their was a flood of people all around me with their countries flying and all trying to get into the dorms at once. That led to quite the back-up and allowed some extra time to chat with them. Now I can add living next door to a guy from Brunei to my list of things I've accomplished.

Follow-up to Cold Flashes

I had a conversation with Shirley on the topic of being easily cold. She said something that made a lot of sense that I never thought of before. She said that she thinks she has a weak heart and that it has a hard time pumping blood to her extremities. Bad blood flow and she says sometimes she can actually feel her heart having problems. She also said that she doesn't get enough heat energy and chi because she doesn't eat and sleep well enough to build those up. She said that she had health problems when she was younger and that effected her system and the hot/cold balance regulating her body. Interesting, eh? So how is your chi? I'm still sleeping in my sweats and sweatshirt with the AC on to find my hot/cold balance.

Off to bed!!

My "I am..." Poem

Who I Am

I am a young, male elementary school teacher.
I am committed to education.
I am a big fan of a good movie, dark chocolate, and baseball.
I am as simple and down to earth as I can be.
I am a slow reader, but I love buying books.
I am an actor who loves art and music, but has no talent in either.

I am the first in my family to go to college.
I am mixed-up both racially and emotionally.
I am a bilingual, open-minded, world traveler.
I am shy and sometimes antisocial, but some people don’t know that.
I am surprised when people remember me or compliment me.
I am kind-hearted, but sometimes I get stepped on and my heart gets broken.

I am tall, but not too tall,
Smart, but not too smart,
And handsome, but not too handsome.
I am a brother, an uncle, a mentor, and a role-model and I take that job seriously.
I am a part of a family that forms my foundation.
I am part of a network of friends that gives me support.
I am a believer in humanity’s capacity for good and the power of happy thoughts.
I am working on my smile wrinkles.

I am 22, but sometimes I feel much older
And sometimes I feel much younger.
I am convinced that I will have a daughter named Mina Xochi Espinosa.
I am hoping I will marry someone who can cook healthy food that tastes good.
I am easy-going and would rather avoid drama and stressful situations.
I am open and expressive when it comes to feelings and dreams.
I am resilient, but have a sensitive soul.

I am proud of my accomplishments, but I carry secrets and pain too.
I am happy with my life, but there are many choices I wish I could change.
I am single and often alone, but
I am lucky to be loved by so many special people.
I am confused about my place in this world and worried about the future.
I am learning more about myself and the world everyday.

I am going through a period of transition.
I am becoming an adult whether I want to or not.
I am recovering from the most challenging year of my life.
I am tired of feeling sad.
I am a motherless child.
I am a fatherless child too.

I am Mathew O’Ryan Espinosa.
I am also Mat, Mathew, Mateo, Matty, Uncle Mat, Monsieur Mat, Vandy Man, Espi,
Mr. Espinosa, Mr. E., and Single T.
I used to be Son and Little Pill.

Reassurance

Okay, so I have my doubts sometimes when I think about going to Hawaii for grad school. I keep thinking, "Why did I turn down Stanford?" I remember what it was like going to public school (i.e. CSU Sacramento) and how beaurocratic and huge and impersonal it was and how unhappy it made me. I think about my experience in private school and how great I thought it was that there were so many opportunities, everything was more accessible and personal, and the campus was so beautiful. I hear from Leo about how less-than-impressed he was with his UH experience. And I really wonder. BUT then I read something about how the department of second language studies (i.e. the field I'm entering) is ranked first in the nation. And I was talking to Eve, the other Dean of Faculty for the other site, who studied Applied Linguistics (i.e. the field I'm entering) and recommended the program at UH before I even mentioned the fact that I was going there. She's been teaching English for the past few years in mainland China at a university and she's moving to Mexico City for a job where she's coordinating some ESL programs. After seeing me work she's trying to confince me to come work with her. Mexico? Anyways, she's got a lot of good contacts in the field and it will be handy knowing her. Plus she's a pretty great person.

As much as I like Hong Kong and the people at Summerbridge, there are times I just want this summer to be over with. I will be able to let go of so much baggage and finally feel grounded and relaxed once I get to Hawaii (and actually move into some for of housing). I really want to move on to that stage in my life and leave the past year behind me and I feel like I'm still in a transitory phase (adjustment disorder) and it makes me feel a little anxious- not exactly homesick, but something similar. I miss being able to talk to people on the phone. But I don't really feel the need to get back to Sacramento. I want to get to Hawaii. Only five more weeks here. I can't believe I've been living in Hong Kong for a month now. I am so thankful that I met some of the people I've met here because I couldn't have met them anywhere else. Crazy.

p.s. In reference to my trip to temple in Chinatown in May, it has been difficult waiting for the plum tree to blossom. It has brought upon me more stress and discomfort than I would like. Still, I hold out that the blossom will come, hopefully sooner than later. Exactly five weeks from now is all I have left here.

Chinese Musings

Walking around town, I can't help but feel like I'm in a Jackie Chan movie. Everywhere you look buildings are being renovated complete with bamboo scaffolding. I keep waiting for some bad guy to break through the different levels as they drop to the floor and I have a strong urge to grab one of the sticks, do some twirling kung-fu actions and then start knocking all the Chinese people out of my way. Damn streets are crowded here. I always have a strong urge to just barrel through people, but that is actually the opposite of what I typically do. I need more self-confidence! Use your elbows!

My new nickname here in order to deal with the fact that there is another Matt at our site is "single-T." I don't know how I feel about it. It is the first time I've ever been called that, which is kinda cool. And we make a pretty cool combination: single-T and double-T.

My Chinese:
hiyah-hiyah = yes!
m goi (sai) = thank you, excuse me, help, stop, over here, general get attention phrase...
ng hai = no
ling, yut, yi, saam, say, ng, luk, chut, baat, gau, sap = counting 1-10
jo sun = good morning
lay sik ng sik ying-man aa? = Do you speak English?
m goi, lawk che = please stop here
wai... = hello (on the phone)
lay hai jeng aa = you are beautiful
gay ho = fine
bye bye = good bye


and the pick-up lines:
lay ho-chi ngaw sik-dak gaw gaw yan = You look like someone I know.
lay tiu dak jan-hai ho = You're a fantastic dancer.
lay jung-ng jung-yi bay yan ngawn-mo aa? = Do you want a massage?
jan hai haw ngoy = What a babe!

I think I'll get along fine.

Hot & Cold Flashes

Having to deal with the contrasts between the super hot and muggy outside and the chilly, air-conditioned inside made me start to think about hot and cold people. I think most people identify with being naturally hot or cold (and I don't mean looks). I am naturally a warm person, I can handle hot weather better than cold and I can easily get too hot at night so I usually keep the fan on. I realized that it matches my personality too. I think I have a very warm personality and most of my qualities can be associated more closely with warmth than coldness. Of course, I also know many people who are bien friolenta and get cold very easily and have to bundle up at night to stay warm. Do you think that your body temperature is related to your personality? Are you more hot or cold?

Infected!

As you probably know if you've seen me in the past month, I've been at least slightly sickly for a while. As a matter of fact, ever since around the time of the wedding I've had this persistent cough that just won't go away. Symbolic? I went in to the doctor's before I came to HK (two weeks into the coughing), but I think I had a cold on top of everything and he just thought my cough was cold related. Well, I went to the doctor's yesterday (Sally made me go). It was very much like an interview and less like a conversation. The nurse was right alongside assisting him to tilt my head back and lift up my shirt and all. After a brief examination, he determined that I have a chest infection and gave me about 6 baggies of medicine to take in order to feel better. I've got things for the phlegm, nasal congestion, antibiotic, cough, clogged airway, and some eyedrops just in case. If I don't feel any better after 1 day I'm supposed to go back and change medications. If I do feel better I'm supposed to go back after 3 days and get a check-up.

Mat is in Asia

I arrived to the land of crowded streets that are full of people and cars and double-decker buses coming in the opposite direction than they should be. Absolutely vibrant city, but almost too vibrant and bustling. Actually, I have really enjoyed it so far and two days into my stay, I find myself just so excited and amazed that I’m really here. And they have those stoplights that go from red to yellow to green to yellow to red like in Argentina. I’m only just beginning to process this culture and my role in Summerbridge, but as I do I will update you more. Brian was also so kind as to purchase a Flickr account for me where I can post a ton of pictures and so long as I take a ton of pictures, I will upload them onto that site. I’ve got one up there so far. It’s of this awesome building called the Hopewell Centre that has lights around the building that change colors and send messages across the building. It also has one of those cool revolving restaurants on top like one of my favorite restaurants, the Equinox at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco.

Check out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/matespi

Weekends of weeks gone by...

I thought I would recap a few things from weekends past prior to leaving the country for the other side of the world. To begin with, three weeks ago I attended the much anticipated wedding of my good friend Nikole. It actually was my first wedding since I’ve been old enough to really appreciate anything. It was really beautiful and full of some many fascinating traditions! For example, there was this lasso that was put around the bride and groom by the padrinos del lasso to symbolize the unification of the two. There were these candles that had to be lit for some reason like eternal life. And there was a time during the reception where the bride and groom danced with anyone that would line up to dance with them and each person who came up would give the bride or groom some money. The funny thing was that, while the bride had a nice little bag to hold all her money, the groom had people tape the money together as he wore it. It turned into this headband that then draped down his back and wrapped around him a few times. It looked so silly! And the best thing was that the bride and groom seemed so happy and best of all not stressed out.

They gave the couple lots of advice like communicate even when it's hard, compromise, don’t worry about the small things, expect to argue, and forgive whenever possible, all things that seem much simpler than they really are, but also all things that I have come to appreciate more as important facets of a healthy relationship in recent months. These aspects played out in some of the drama that unfolded towards the end of the wedding which included some bitterness, yelling, lots of storming (not much norming), and was complete with one person marching off with haste, back-turned down the sidewalk and the other calling stupid stuff out of desperation down the street. Quite silly in retrospect and nothing I would have ever imagined myself engaging in, but there it was. To celebrate the craziness, the next day I purchased a brand new backpack (which has worked out very well so far) and a digital camera which I plan on putting to good use in Hong Kong (although planning for something doesn’t always equate to doing it). I don’t know why I have such a hard time taking pictures. I think I’m not used to having a camera for one, but also I’m a little shy and feel uncomfortable taking pictures sometimes. Plus I can be scatterbrained and when there’s a lot going on, taking pictures is often the last thing on my mind. I’ll try my best though because I know how important that is (especially since almost all of the people I know will probably never go to Hong Kong).

The following weekends were less dramatic, but equally occupied as I dealt with this stupid sickness I’ve had ever since the weekend of the wedding, prepping for my last weeks of class, and also preparing for my travels and saying goodbye to my family and friends. I got to visit San Francisco on a whim as I talked to Shahla and realized she was meeting Joey there and that would be my perfect chance to see both of them before I left. It was so relaxing and beautiful lounging in Golden Gate Park with them. And there were these awesome people having a roller dance party straight out of the 80s. They were line-dancing to funky 80s music on roller skates. It puts my line-dancing skills to shame. I got to see this super cute rock `n` roll fundraiser performance where fifth and sixth graders acted out this really cheesy story and in between sang and danced to some classic fifties rock `n` roll songs. I also went to Cindy’s daughter, Cristina’s 16th birthday party which reminded me of all the drama girls get involved in and high school (and beyond) that I try my best to not even touch with a ten-foot pole. Still, it was a fun way to avoid doing my report cards that probably ended up taking a combined total of around 10+ hours throughout the week including grading their science projects, organizing their portfolios, writing the course descriptions for math and science, sifting through each student’s (of the 41 I have) portfolio to get a handle on what grade to assign them, assigning them checkmarks ranging from outstanding to support required on various criteria in math, science, and social/work habits, writing a paragraph evaluation for each student in each area (i.e. 3 paragraphs per student), and finally double-checking to see that there are few typos and I didn’t embarrassingly cut and paste things that altered the gender of the student or, worse, had the wrong name. Managing to complete that dreadful task on Sunday morning, just a day before taking off to Hong Kong, I was finally able to focus on my trip! Crazy, I know. But such has been my life the past 12 months or so and I’m sure that will continue in Hong Kong.

Closing Ceremony

As the last day of school came to a close, I was left with an inspiring comment. Talking to one of the parents at the class party (out in Granite Bay) she told me something special. She said that her daughter, Carly, told her that she wished there could be just a little more school. When asked why she said that she was just getting to know Mr. Espinosa and she really likes him and wishes she could have one more month with him teaching. Isn't that sweet?! I don't care if it is a lie, I know I got to at least a few of these hooligans (and their parents).

p.s. I made arrangements with two of the parents to meet up when they go on vacation with their families to Oahu. They arrive around the same time I do. Maybe they can help show me around. :)

On Memorial Day

On Memorial Day

I celebrate my father. A veteran of the Vietam War, infantry man in the Big Red One brigade that went out so early in the war most didn't know who they were fighting or where Vietnam was located. The war changed his life and, I believe, led to his death. He died last year from esophogeal cancer. Some suspect the chemicals used in the war (agent orange, for example) are linked to cancer. I know for a fact that the war changed my dad's life and that he probably would have led a much healthier life without the war. He told me about how he didn't smoke, but cigarettes were provided for the soldiers and they would take smoking breaks where everyone who wanted to smoke could go smoke under the shade while everyone else had to stand in line in the sun until they were done. That's when he began to smoke. The war traumatized him, led him to make poor decisions, shy away from committment and responsibility, and become an alcoholic. So, despite the fact that my father's name will not be added to any war memorial, I will celebrate his life and remember his passing every memorial day. Thanks to war.