Pretty

Looking pretty for Baby Lucas' baptism reception, May 2009. May our faces, and calves in particular, always look this good.

Brightness

In preparing for Micronesia, I've decided to take a break from the regular black and blue drab one can call my daily attire. I mean, how often is one going to get to spend a year on an island, thousands of miles clear of sight and sound from any high horsed fashion police? But then again, if I had cared about the fashion police at all during my time at home, I would have been behind bars a long time already. In the future, here's to hoping that my personal shopper will keep me jail free; you know, along with the personal chef who will make low cholesterol tasty meals and the chauffeur waiting outside. In the meantime(or reality), here's a preview of the tropical rainbow that will be me, or what is on me. Someday, bittersweetly, there will come a day for Chanel suits and Manolo heels. As for now, hypothetically owned nice suit and heels would mold after a week in Kosrae, so no. No, only flips flops and 100% thin cotton is allowed in this suitcase. After reviewing these, it is evident that I am destined to be in a Skittles commercial.

P.S- These were so ridiculous and silly, I knew they were "the ones" from like, 30 feet away. Goodbye, boring brown scratched and cracked old pair. Hello brightness!

and so it begins, again

Micronesia 2009 just became a little more real today, as the names and emails of the group going were just released. I think WorldTeach wants us to start communicating via email now to discuss the living situations (i.e who is bringing what), travel and lesson plans, etc.

So far it looks like there's going to be at least 7 people including myself. As I look at our new GoogleGroups/email list serve, I can't help but think: and so it begins, again. A new group for a new place, a new community and support network. Right now, it's 7 email addresses unfamiliar to each other; 7 people from all over the place, brought together by all electing to travel to the same remote island; 7 different life stories soon to be intertwined together for a brief while. Right now each person is equally unfamiliar; but I wonder by this time next year when we go our separate ways, how will we remember each other? It's pretty exciting.

Thinking about this (especially thinking about this at 5am) makes me think about the brevity and perceivable randomness of life's circumstances. We get thrown into situations- be it college, a new job, relocation post-college, re-relocation to a remote island- and while we can hypothesize outcomes of the situation, how it ends up playing out can be totally different. The people we get to meet along the way, who makes a lasting impression, and those who retreat back into the vast sea of memories- so much is not yet revealed.

tacos and sriracha sauce

America, and California to be specific, is a smorgasbord of ethnic enclaves, religions, lifestyles, historically significant crossroads, etc. While it's around us all the time, its commanding presence can at times fade, becoming the background music to the tune of our American lives. We wake up, get dressed, drive, go to work, eat, play, sleep. Set that on repeat. For this reason, it is an absolute delight when the background music makes a momentous comeback and however briefly, reminds us all of its powerful existence. Today, I was reminded of that through the channel of food.

It started with noticing an innocent article on sriracha sauce in the Times this morning. Fast forward to dinner this evening, where I decided to give this little rooster labeled red bottle (which has sat untouched at SO many impromptu pho noodle meals in the past) a try.

At first bite, I totally got the ratio of sauce per bite wrong. Read: I basically lit on fire and melted. But, after a short learning curve, it got better. A LOT better. My confidence (and liking) in this sauce grew to the point where it can be placed for serious consideration to be a part of my all-star sauce lineup: Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, honey mustard.

According to NYTimes, the maker/genius of this concoction pulled ingredients from all over to make this; not adhering strictly to one ethnic cuisine or another. And while primarily marketed for Asian communities, the bottle also says that it's tasty with hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, and pasta.

Its stated versatility that was praised by the Times was pretty cool, and I guess a decent example of food representing the melting pot of cultures. But what sealed the deal in this sauce's like-ability is that apparently, the famous (and still presently mysterious to me) Los Angeles Kogi taco truck uses Sriracha sauce as the ONLY complementing condiment to their Korean taco menu.

This popular traveling taco truck parks itself in various busy street corners around Los Angeles. For me, eating their Korean short-rib taco is a non-negotiable must do before a year of Spam and yams in the South Pacific.

I've decided that paying homage to the taco truck is vital to my education of Los Angeles. Yes, for the tasty tacos. But beneath its crunchy shell and a quick scroll down, these tacos were also able to elicit some heated comments, some which fiercely defended our fusion lifestyle that at times goes unnoticed, or is taken for granted. From a $2 taco, we can be reminded of who we are, who we live with in the greater community, our identities as Americans with ancestors from elsewhere, how far we've come, and however corny, the amazing stuff we've been able to accomplish through inspiring each other.- like a highly acclaimed taco truck that makes short rib tacos.

I love California, and I can't wait to try this place out!

Lists

In the spirit of making lists, here's an attempt to get over the procrastination hill for preparing next year:

List #1: Things that absolutely have to get done, and get done soon, or else I will be booted from the group
- Retrieve my physical form from Dr. Wang + send two copies to WT
- Get immunizations in line
- Ask for a letter from teaching supervisor + send that in

List #2: Things I probably should do so I won't be screwed when I get to the island
- Visit the dentist
- Visit the optometrist and get a fresh supply of contacts + glasses
- Read over health/travel/life insurance policies
- Get prescriptions filled + purchase some over the counter drugs & vitamins
- Purchase a mosquito net/repellent/tiger balm/whatever works
- Load up on supplies (ie sunscreen, chap stick, contact water, etc) that may be hard to come by on the island.
- Make a separate packing list to make sure nothing that is needed is forgotten
- Research phone/internet options on the island
- Get finances in order

List #3: Things I also should probably do to avoid being a cultural no-no
- Purchase clothing that covers my legs and shoulders
- Being that this island is one of the top surfing destinations, I should at least garner some idea on how to surf
- Learn some basic Kosrean phrases
- Read up on the history, society, and customs of the Micronesia region, specifically Kosrae island

List #4: Things I think I could do to reduce the stress of teaching in unforeseeable circumstances.
- Review subjects I may be assigned to teaching (most likely elementary English)
- Prepare general ideas on lesson plans
- Read over the WT volunteer teaching resources provided
- Sign up for online ESL resources and collect teaching resources that could help
- Prepare boxes of materials to be shipped over just in case
- Talk to returned volunteers for advice

List #5: Things I want to do because they are the most fun and easy of the bunch.
- Purchase a new camera (because if you've seen mine, you would know that it is over due time)
- Purchase a hard drive
- Set up Picasa or renew Flickr account to prepare for the expected increase in photo storage
- Plan my vacation to New Zealand/wherever after
- Seeing as I will soon be sans car, I should not be lazy now and exercise
- Write an email to alert friends/family that I will not be in the States for the year
- Think of goals I want to accomplish for next year and possible side projects to do aside from teaching

List #6: Things in the far future, but in near future I should start thinking about to avoid being in a quarter life crisis upon return from the island
- Job or school?
- If grad school: when, how, what, and where?
- Return destination: ties in closely with grad school and job, but nevertheless deserves its own bullet. Socal, norcal or neither? Home or own apartment?


After reading my own lists, I now proclaim to be in panic mode. ah!