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| I'm in Galveston, TX for work. Its relating to a marine protected area about 70 miles southeast of here. I'll probably write again tomorrow night, but just wanted to say that this is the first time I actually would rather have not traveled. I mean, traveling is kinda fun for me since I don't do it all too often, but this week, I've got a grip of work. So, in addition to going to these workshops/meetings during the day, I need to get back to my smelly hotel room (this one is mildew-y... the first smelled like a frat party on a sunday afternoon when all the partying from friday and saturday are done and the barf has started to just hang in every nook and cranny) and work on my other stuff  Hopefully, I'll be able to go running on the seawall tomorrow afternoon, or maybe just on the beach. I still get a kick out of being next to the Gulf of Mexico and not the Pacific. Anyways, at some point I'll also chill on that beach and do a quiet time with my homey Jesus. Man. I could ramble on about a zillion topics, but we're keepin things light tonight. | | |
| And I have some extra time to post something. Liz, you got lucky with your timing. Unfortunately I have nothing off the top of my head thats all funny about Texas. Instead, I'll just update people on what I've been doing. Uhh, in March I was busy with moving into a new apartment. First week of April? Went to the homeland. THATS RIGHT. To the N-I, to the H-O, to the N! Went with the ne-chan to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima where the Tousan was born. In short, the trip was cool. However, it didn't give me the fulfillment (I guess) or connection that I was expecting from visiting Japan. I guess its because we don't have any even relatively close family members who we saw. Nor did we go with our parents. It subtly reminded me that I am an American, not a Japanese. Still, it was awesome, but just awesome on the level of all the other foreign countries I've been to. I was sorta expecting it to stand out, but it didn't. Kinda disappointing after visiting Hiroshima and knowing my family's history there.... After that it was a time of adjusting and reevaluating what I was doing in Austin. I was no longer new, but not quite established yet. Still doing some of that thinking in terms of where I'm volunteering my time, etc. I think I went to Galveston for a work meeting. And hung out with Denise from Cal out there. Although she has a boyfriend, she totally took me to a date place similar to the Santa Monica pier. We walked along the boardwalk and held hands and...haha, ok so we didn't do that, but I was thinking I should totally take a girl out there at somepoint. May. Went to Vancouver for work. THAT is a long story. From talking to fishermen, to observing a catch offload to taking the fairy to Vancouver Island to looking down at the Vancouver skyline from Grouse Mountain, the trip was riDONculously awesome. Note to the guys: if you ever need int'l date ideas, take your girl up to that mountain and on that ferry ride. Seriously, that mountain: total wedding proposal site. June. Went to West Virginia for the all-staff retreat. Was fun, but it was still work. Had fun, but not nearly as much as if it was with people who were my friends by choice. Not to down my coworkers, but its just...different. BUT, I took that opportunity to visit xiao wugui in washington dc! THAT was fun and chill. Good times reminiscing over Beijing. Just what I needed after crazy office parties of free booze and wine. No worries though, I was a good boy  . Now. Umm, not gonna travel for at least a few weeks. Have some "extracurricular interests" going on. The funniest is probably that I'm taking a hip hop dance class at UT. Kinda like a decal, cept you pay, and you (obviously) don't need to be a student. Its ok. My first and second classes gave me different impressions. But I will say that the demographics of the class are astounding. I'd say 80% of the class is white female. As of the second class, there were two guys including me. Not to be homophobic, but to point out the guy-girl ratio that counts, basically that means there are like FORTY girls and me (again...the other guy, well, in this case, doesn't count cuz, well, he doesn't like girls). Oh, and the instructor is a guy- the only black dude. And given the way some of the girls socialize, about TEN must be in the same sorority. I'm just pointing out the facts here. ALL my coworkers give me a hard time about this. Especially cuz at the W. VA retreat I was like the one of a few people who knew how to dance (cmon, my coworkers are all PhD scientists, economicsts, lawyers, policy analysts, etc!). My friends give me a hard time too. Interestingly, according to the blondest of them all (...she probably won't mind me saying that ), white girls have this underlying urge to want to move like black people do. Maybe that explains it. Alright my peeps. Keep it real. Peace out. | | |
| Ok, so while here in Texas, I've heard some funny things. Although, some people back in or from California have their share too. Here are some of the ones I remember: Talking to a Texas friend, while showing her around LA- 1)Her: "...so my parents and I have been seen a little bit of LA so far, the beach....and that famous street with all the expensive shops yknow? Rodeo [she pronounced it ro-DEE-o] Drive? I think that's what its name was." Me: "Its pronouned ro-DAY-o drive [trying NOT to laugh, and NOT bring up that Mighty Ducks 2 movie we all watched when we were kids, and well, NOT trying to say alot of things]. That was classic. But even better was this one. Me talking to my mom on the phone about what we'll be doing this weekend when my family comes to visit- Me: "I'm thinking of taking you guys to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo on Sunday ok?" 2)My mom (bless her heart): "Ok, we can go to the Rodeo [and she pronounced it ro-DAY-o] on Sunday." Me: (thinking: OH MY G... My mom grew up in Hawaii. That's GOTTA be the reason) "MOM! Its rodeo! Ro-DEE-o!" I still crack up when I think of these two things... Also, kids still say the darndest things out here- 3) Joel (one of the latino kids I teach/play with every other saturday): "Do you live in Chinese?" I thought this was too funny, and was seriously trying to figure out what exactly he was asking at the time till my friend told him that I was Japanese. Then he ran off. Joel is the homey though, so its cool. He's 6 years old btw. Work conversations can get kinda weird too like when we were talking about the Walton (ppl who own Wal-Mart) people hold their more recreational outings and casual dinners in their Betonville, Arkansas headquarters- Barbara (one of my coworkers): "Yeah, you'll have to eat rabbit when you're out there with them in Arkansas!" Me: "Mmm, tastes just like chicken." 4)My team-mate who's actually from Arkansas: "No it doesn't. It's more like... goat." I'm still wondering if he was serious, or just joking like me. If you saw him, and heard is accent, you'd think this was even more funny, and that he probably was speaking the truth. And finally the Californians, well, ok, just Kevin Me: Why is it that every girl in Texas has been kissed? Kevin and Tinwin: (basically) "Umm, we don't know. Why?" Me: "Cuz it takes 'em too long to say 'Queeeeyit'". Tinwin: "Hahahahaha" 5)Kevin: "Wait... I don't get it" BUT! I can't rag on Kev too badly now. He and Tin DID mail me a dvd player. Ok, as an encore, this is Dave, in his uncensored glory [note: I actually feel pretty dirty posting this, but he said this pretty dang loud in a public place with lots of girls around, so I think my version is a little bit better with this affixed warning, so yeah, DON'T read this if you want to keep a clean image of what guys are like] when we're in Whole Foods sitting and eating with the guys, and (obviously) having guy talk- Eric: "...yeah after that I seriously thought that's what put hair on your chest till I was like 15 years old." 6)Dave: "...yknow I don't have that much hair on my chest... Like I look down, and I've got plenty of hair on my balls, but none on my chest. (paraphrase) Like thats kinda confusing to me, especially at first." Oh, and one note. When people say "Y'all" around me, its sorta weird, but I'm getting used to it. 7) Its only when people say "Y'all's"... THATS when I'm like, "What the heck was that???" I seriously have to look around and see who said it, because I half expect them to have a wry sarcastic smile on their face, as if they're poking fun at the word, but they don't see anything wrong with it! Don't really know how to explain it other than when you're a socal-er and hear someone say 8) "Hella" for the first time. You're just like, I know what that means, but.... its SO WEIRD! Why do you have to say that!?!? Come on. You southern californians, you feel me on this one right? | | |
| Soo, I've been pretty busy lately, so I'll try to give a quick update for you ADD folks out there, in reverse chronological order: Tuesday (1/30): Legislative Breakfast at the capital. People from my office presented our position on a number of statewide environmental concerns to an room full of legislative staffers and 3 Texas legislators themselves. One sat at the table next to me! All I thought was: "Don't say ANYTHING stupid, in fact, just don't say ANYTHING. Don't do ANYTHING either." Even with all that I felt like I was eating my breakfast tacos at the big kids' table. Also, Kev and Tinwin left Austin. Oh yeah, my first 11 hour work day actually went pretty well in retrospect. Monday (1/29): Shopping and San Antonio. Took Kevin and Tinwin to the San Marcos outlets. For any of you metro- guys and shopaholic girls... this outlet is frighteningly huge. Its probably THE epitomy of "Everything's bigger in Texas" so far (for me at least). Anyways, think of nearly any high end retailer and many normal ones, and they've got it. Half are the outlet version. A chunk of European stores too. Sorry, didn't see any Chinese ones (sorry Samuel and Kevin, MetersBonwe, etc.). San Antonio was cool. Saw the Alamo and riverwalk again. Although, my highlights were the Pantos (a Mexican pastry... kinda like an empanada, but with sweet fruit or creme filling) from Mi Tierra and the Starbucks cafe/music listening place we chilled at. OH. And the suggestion for Pantos at Mi Tierra? The mayor's daughter told me. Yes sir, knowing that girl and rubbing shoulders with the big wigs on Tuesday... I'm a veritable juggernaught in the world of Texas politics already. Sunday (1/28): Church, the Salt Lick, Cafe Mozart's, eating at home, 6th street. Man, that was one long day. Took Kevin and Tinwin to all those places. Highlight: The Salt Lick. Classic Texas barbeque. After my 2 month strike from Texas barbeque, to eat here at a defining "Texas" location, this was a real treat, especially for Tinwin. Think gravel parking lot, in the middle of nowhere, wood cabin structure, picnic bench seating, fire pit w/ sausage links hanging from the vent, and sides of chicken on the menu. Yes, in addition to traditional sides (I dont' think they had a salad option by the way), you could order a side of chicken. Very Texas indeed. 6th street (a pretty awesome bar street) actually had some foot traffic too at 10pm on a sunday. CRAZY. Saturday (1/27): Las Manitas, the capital, Whole Foods, UT, Mount Bonnell, eating at home and Spider House Cafe. Dang. That was a long day too. Highlights: Whole Foods' world headquarters. Its a Texas sized Whole Foods with unimaginable variety, hightened by the fact you are still (technically) in Texas. Foodies note: this is a MUST see/eat when in Austin. Friday (1/26): The Wangsta and Tinwin came to visit! Also, chilled with the Chinese and Korean foreign students through the English Rountable ministry. You basically help them practice their English (SO EASY!!). That was fun. Even better: when I found out a Korean girl was thinkin my English was so fluent, as in, without an accent! Take a moment to think what this would imply and have yourself a good chuckle. So that was baaasically my weekend plus monday off. Prior to that... I deal with snow in Austin. Heh heh, got out of work for 2 days too! Umm, other than that, have been hangin out with the Austin friends: cookin sukiyaki with John the chef, listenin to latin jazz w/ him and Mark the mid-east studies grad student, listenin to loads of indie music with JT the engineer, swing dancing with my small group (Basically me, Stephen and like 6 of the girls, yes, all of whom are taller than I am. Oh. Jeah. Ok, and seeing loads of people from my church), sucking at salsa dancing the week before (my confidence took a nose-dive after that one...), and doin a bunch of other stuff that was loads of fun, but not worth the typing. Thats that. Coming up? Maybe two stepping tomorrow at the Broken Spoke, more practicing English on friday...and maybe chillin w/ the Chinese and Singaporean on Sunday. I live in exciting times I tell ya, and it's all because of God's blessings for which I'll be forever thankful. Life is ridonculously good. Go live it up. | | |
| So I actually have nothing in particular to write about. So if you are reading for somethin crazily Texas in this post, I'm afraid I got nothing in mind. But currently, I'm in a cafe waiting for traffic to die down cuz the stupid highway by my apartment was jammed. Everyone is driving super slow because of the ice storm that passed through over the past 3 days. I could leave, but I've just finished my cup o' chai and am listening to my friend play classical guitar. Its some Spanish piece. I kinda lucked out in that I remembered he was performing here, tonight. He's from Mississippi. Apparently he has some Confederate soldier family background too. Pretty wild huh? Oh, and I'm google chatting to my old language exchange partner in Beijing. So, apparently my Beijing friend has seen the show "Friends", so he knows all about musicians in cafes, haha. God Bless technology. And pirated dvds. God, I love the mixture of cultures. Drinking "Indian" tea, listening to classical guitar and chatting to a Chinese person in Beijing. Oh, and every so often lookin at my Japan Lonely Planet cuz I'm traveling there in April. Been exploring lots of Austin lately too. Didn't see anything particularly earthshattering like the Golden Gate Bridge or the Sunset Strip, but I enjoyed some museums (saw a Gutenberg Bible, actually), found a new burger place, and saw some good ol' live music (rock, country, and then ballad-type stuff). DUDE! My friend is playing Spanish Dance #5 by Granados!!! Memorized too! Wow, he's the 'ish man. Ok, yeah, I'm a dork in that I know a classical guitar song when I hear it. I totally told homeboy that was like my favorite song a month ago. Man, this totally makes my day. HOLY SH......he's playing Malaguena now.... a Spanish flamenco song. Another one of my favorites. Dude, I played like the most watered down version when I learned classical guitar. I have so much respect for this guy as a musician, cuz this song is TOUGH. I guess as a former (relatively hard-core) musician I can appreciate this end product even more. This stuff takes YEARS of practice. Wow. And to think I coulda been sitting in traffic. Amazing. Well, my mind is a blur right now, so I've got nothin better to say, other than the moral of this post is: Put yourself in places where interesting things happen and you'll sometimes get something amazing. Even if it's as simple as going to a cafe to get out of traffic and hear your friend play. | | |
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