So I've been studying for my Econ test the past 3 hours, and a few things are compelling me to write.
1) How happy I am that my friends are happy! -- Being pleasantly surprised at the strength and duration of something that the past had once proven fleeting and disappointing (ie, love); celebrating amazing birthday parties with all the wonderful people that count (and making "mistakes" you always meant to make!); and more moments that the internet will gladly reveal to me but I'm unaware of, seeing as I only read a couple of blogs. I love when people write about being happy; it's so refreshing, and it reminds me that even in the worst of times there are reasons to smile (even if those reasons aren't my own).
2) Things I've been wanting to say but haven't made the time to write about!
- Okay so another embarrassing moment on my part. Surprise, surprise. At least this time I learned something: NEVER ABSTAIN. The PPA (Penn Philippine Association) had its Executive Board elections, and we were choosing a president. One choice was your typical outgoing, enthusiastic, talented girl; the other was more reserved, equally talented, but probably more experienced and reliable -- a situation which reminded me a lot of an election back home. I wanted to vote for the former, but for personal reasons, I didn't want to give that sort of "negative point/vote" to the latter. Anyway, after the vote was cast, we needed to do a re-vote because the scores were exactly tied and one "abstain" (MINE) kept it from being a decisive election. And everyone knew it was mine, because I asked beforehand if we were allowed to explain. If that weren't bad enough, when the winner was announced it was obvious who I voted for -- and I felt embarrassed in front of the other girl's biggest supporters. Okay it might not be all that bad, but I felt so bad about it at the time! Haha.
- What would you do for a free key chain? I practiced putting a condom on a banana :| It was for this event promoting awareness about sexual diseases, okay! Dude it was so funny because that was the first time I'd ever touched a condom, and the lubricant got all over my hands so I started panicking (ever so slightly!) and asking the guy at the booth if it was safe. Lol.
- This one's not embarrassing. (Are you disappointed?) Some weeks ago, I had my first client meeting with NSP (National Student Partnerships)! I'd never "shadowed" any meetings before, so I was kind of going in blind (which I didn't have to do but did...why nga did I do that? Stupid haha anyway). I was a bit shaky at first, but I basically helped this guy draft a cover letter for his job applications, and together we sent out 9 of them! It was awesome, and he was so grateful -- it was heartwarming. It felt so good helping someone out in such a direct, concrete manner. :)
- In other news... I've been elected ISC (International Student Council)'s new Vice President for External Affairs! I'm the only freshman in the Exec Board, so there's a bit of pressure on me, but I'm so excited -- I think there's a lot I can do in the position. :)
Okay my break's lasted too long already. What can I end with? I'm going home in SEVENTEEN DAYSSSS! :D
Friday, December 5
Tuesday, November 18
Tuesday, November 4
The wonders of volunteerism :)
From 3:00 - 5:00 I skipped Psychology (sorry mom!) to volunteer for the Penn Democrats. There were lots of different duties, and mine was to raise the hype. Thus, for nearly two hours I was standing on a street corner, holding up a sign that said "Honk for Obama!" It was SO MUCH FUN. :) All these people driving by, honking and smiling at me; me raising the sign, fist in the air, wide smile plastered on my face, and going, "yeahhhh that's right!" whenever people responded well; Republicans driving by and rolling down their windows to say, "boo" or "go home;" me having to apologize to someone in a nearby dorm because I was getting so many people to honk that she couldn't study; sticking it out even if it started raining (because I was enjoying myself hahaha); that random guy walking over to me and striking up such a nice conversation (will elaborate later); that other guy telling me to watch my back (haha will elaborate later too); and just the whole university atmosphere! Twas amazing. :)
Okay so I'll give you guys a paraphrased version of the conversation with the old guy. I'm standing on this little island at the intersection of 38th and Spruce, and this guy shouts from across the street, "Anyone can honk, but we need the votes! Have you voted?" And of course I shout back, "No, I'm not American!"
"What?"
"I'm not American!"
At this point, he runs across the street and joins me on my little island as I'm doing my campaign duty.
"Why're you doing this if you're not American?"
"I dunno. Obama's a guy I really believe in."
*nods thoughtfully* "What're you studying?"
"Economics. Maybe Urban Studies and International Relations, too."
"Ah, you're going into politics, huh?"
"Mayyybe. I do love my country."
*blah blah blah stuff about me being from the Philippines and being Catholic (he is, too)*
"So how old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Seventeen!? You're a baby!"
"Haha yup, I'm pretty young."
*nods* "You're gonna go places, though. I can see it."
We talk a bit more, then he bids me goodbye and shouts "God bless you" as he runs back across the street. What a sweetheart :)
A little while after that conversation, this guy, after honking, rolls down his window to talk to me. You have to imagine it with a very gangstah West Philly accent.
"Hey honey, you be careful with that ayt? [referring to my efforts to rally support for Obama] Some people do crazy things, you never know what can happen. Watch what you eat, and don't go off walkin' alone."
(At this point I'm kind of laughing) "Yeah, did you see that guy that just passed me? He was shouting like anything, but it's alright. Whatever."
"No, I'm serious. You take care, ayt?"
"Ayt, I'll do that."
"I love you. You know that."
*nods and makes a yeah-i-know face and does the "peace out" fist to the chest thing*
HAHA what a day! :))
Okay so I'll give you guys a paraphrased version of the conversation with the old guy. I'm standing on this little island at the intersection of 38th and Spruce, and this guy shouts from across the street, "Anyone can honk, but we need the votes! Have you voted?" And of course I shout back, "No, I'm not American!"
"What?"
"I'm not American!"
At this point, he runs across the street and joins me on my little island as I'm doing my campaign duty.
"Why're you doing this if you're not American?"
"I dunno. Obama's a guy I really believe in."
*nods thoughtfully* "What're you studying?"
"Economics. Maybe Urban Studies and International Relations, too."
"Ah, you're going into politics, huh?"
"Mayyybe. I do love my country."
*blah blah blah stuff about me being from the Philippines and being Catholic (he is, too)*
"So how old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Seventeen!? You're a baby!"
"Haha yup, I'm pretty young."
*nods* "You're gonna go places, though. I can see it."
We talk a bit more, then he bids me goodbye and shouts "God bless you" as he runs back across the street. What a sweetheart :)
A little while after that conversation, this guy, after honking, rolls down his window to talk to me. You have to imagine it with a very gangstah West Philly accent.
"Hey honey, you be careful with that ayt? [referring to my efforts to rally support for Obama] Some people do crazy things, you never know what can happen. Watch what you eat, and don't go off walkin' alone."
(At this point I'm kind of laughing) "Yeah, did you see that guy that just passed me? He was shouting like anything, but it's alright. Whatever."
"No, I'm serious. You take care, ayt?"
"Ayt, I'll do that."
"I love you. You know that."
*nods and makes a yeah-i-know face and does the "peace out" fist to the chest thing*
HAHA what a day! :))
What else can I say? It's Election Day!
Today is the day I almost wish I could renounce my Filipino citizenship to be American and make history. Today, the world will see a people come together in hope and in brotherhood, for the sake of change they can believe in, and make their voices heard. Today is the epitomy of democracy. Of people power. Of YOUTH power! Today will show us the best of our humanity, the peak and purpose of our existence -- to think, to be, and to make be.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOBAMA!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOBAMA!
Monday, October 20
Two months and settling in
So I think I've finally filtered through my commitments, enough to know which ones I'll pull out of and which ones I'll keep -- and among those, which ones I'll be active in and which ones I'm only joining for cool resources like speaker events.
Membership: General Interest
1. Penn International Business Volunteers (PIBV) -- I would've joined, but I was tamad to fill in the application. It's very interesting though haha. I might tie in with them for a project involving GK.
2. Penn for UNICEF (P4U) -- they have some really cool talks with UN representatives
3. Communitech (CTech) -- I was supposed to teach elementary school kids basic computer skills once a week, but I decided I'd do something else. I'm still attending their Tech Talks though :)
Membership: Participation
1. Microfinance Club (MFC) -- I'm doing research for the launch of a new microfinance institution, possibly in India and these two other countries I can't remember
2. UA -- Community and Civic Engagement Committee (CCEC) -- I have 3 main projects for the year: a) Massive service event for the freshmen during next year's New Student Orientation, b) "Garage sale" of people's unwanted items when everyone moves out at the end of the year, c) Recreation in West Philly (a depressed and kind of shady area) so that Penn students feel more at home and one with their neighbors in the city
3. Ivy Council (IVC) -- implementing the ideas from IPC regarding intellectual property
4. Venus Ultimate Frisbee -- this is too fun to let go of, plus it's my only form of exercise!
5. Penn Philippine Association (PPA) -- just because Pennoys are cool
Membership: Leadership
1. ISC Admissions Committee (Ad-Com) -- I'm Chair haha I have to keep this. It can really help the next batches of incoming freshmen, I think. I'm pretty sure I won't be in this committee again next year, though.
2. National Student Partnerships (NSP) -- this is a student-led organization that provides various consulting and referral services to people in depressed neighborhoods. I'm with the West Philly branch, and we help people find jobs by providing them training in basic skills, helping them build a resume, showing them how to do job searches and applications online, etc. NSP also does legal and financial consulting, but whenever something comes up that's beyond our expertise, we refer them to partner institutions. It's so cool because we deal with real problems, and I think it's a great introduction to the world of consulting and social responsibility -- which is exactly where I want to head. I might become the head of the Educational Resource team, so I'd be in charge of finding more organizations that can provide skills training for our clients at low or even no cost. Not sure yet if I'll get the position, but they'll let me know soon.
On top of that, all this community engagement work I've been doing so far has given me another possible combination for my major: BS Economics and BA Urban Studies -- that's like social entrepreneurship right there! I don't know yet, I have to look deeper into it, but so far I like the idea. :)
Anyway it's late HAHA don't kill me, mom. I can't sleep eh. But I will now. Gooood night. :)
Membership: General Interest
1. Penn International Business Volunteers (PIBV) -- I would've joined, but I was tamad to fill in the application. It's very interesting though haha. I might tie in with them for a project involving GK.
2. Penn for UNICEF (P4U) -- they have some really cool talks with UN representatives
3. Communitech (CTech) -- I was supposed to teach elementary school kids basic computer skills once a week, but I decided I'd do something else. I'm still attending their Tech Talks though :)
Membership: Participation
1. Microfinance Club (MFC) -- I'm doing research for the launch of a new microfinance institution, possibly in India and these two other countries I can't remember
2. UA -- Community and Civic Engagement Committee (CCEC) -- I have 3 main projects for the year: a) Massive service event for the freshmen during next year's New Student Orientation, b) "Garage sale" of people's unwanted items when everyone moves out at the end of the year, c) Recreation in West Philly (a depressed and kind of shady area) so that Penn students feel more at home and one with their neighbors in the city
3. Ivy Council (IVC) -- implementing the ideas from IPC regarding intellectual property
4. Venus Ultimate Frisbee -- this is too fun to let go of, plus it's my only form of exercise!
5. Penn Philippine Association (PPA) -- just because Pennoys are cool
Membership: Leadership
1. ISC Admissions Committee (Ad-Com) -- I'm Chair haha I have to keep this. It can really help the next batches of incoming freshmen, I think. I'm pretty sure I won't be in this committee again next year, though.
2. National Student Partnerships (NSP) -- this is a student-led organization that provides various consulting and referral services to people in depressed neighborhoods. I'm with the West Philly branch, and we help people find jobs by providing them training in basic skills, helping them build a resume, showing them how to do job searches and applications online, etc. NSP also does legal and financial consulting, but whenever something comes up that's beyond our expertise, we refer them to partner institutions. It's so cool because we deal with real problems, and I think it's a great introduction to the world of consulting and social responsibility -- which is exactly where I want to head. I might become the head of the Educational Resource team, so I'd be in charge of finding more organizations that can provide skills training for our clients at low or even no cost. Not sure yet if I'll get the position, but they'll let me know soon.
On top of that, all this community engagement work I've been doing so far has given me another possible combination for my major: BS Economics and BA Urban Studies -- that's like social entrepreneurship right there! I don't know yet, I have to look deeper into it, but so far I like the idea. :)
Anyway it's late HAHA don't kill me, mom. I can't sleep eh. But I will now. Gooood night. :)
Wednesday, October 1
i see a pattern
Updates!
I am quickly becoming a very busy person hahaha. I have Venus (Ultimate Frisbee) practice every Tuesday and Thursday, with tournaments on some weekends. ISC Steering Committee meetings every week, Ad-Com meetings every other week, might be a tutor for Communitech (Technology-focused community service group. Mom, I might get them to build an iGK office! They've built computer centers in Ghana.) AND I think I'm getting a job. That last one excites me because 1. I'll have more spending money, 2. Less pressure on mom and dad to take care of me (tuition na lang, hindi ko pa kaya eh hahaha) and 3. it's not so demanding! I'll be at the Ware College House Help Desk, so I can actually do my homework when people aren't coming in with questions. Whoopee :)
So that's the first pattern. Second is all these weird random things keep happening to me. I have these "oh Anj Poe" moments that Ms. Pat would totally laugh at and not be surprised about at all.
1. I accidentally threw my keys out with my garbage, as in, INTO the trash compactor, so i couldn't get them back and had to pay for a lock-change and new sets of keys.
2. I keep TRIPPING on Locust Walk in front of so many people. Sorry, mom, I haven't stopped shuffling my feet.
3. I almost fractured my toe the other day. (Mom you're going to get a $35 charge for x-ray services lol) I got out of bed in a hurry (woke up late, figures) without realizing that my right leg was asleep. I put my whole body weight on it as i was trying to stand up and ended up crumbling on top of myself. I was on the floor, writhing in pain (imagine 100+ pounds concentrated on top of your little toe!) and laughing at the same time because i was thinking: what the hell just happened that was so stupid! haha it just hurt a bit on the first day, but by the second day the right half of my right foot had turned purple. i was limping around school. so yeah i went to student health services who in turn had me get an x-ray at the hospital, but no worries -- no fracture. the bruising has started to subside, so it's all good now. i can run again :P
4. on my way to student health services, i saw the weirdest thing! apparently it's common here in philly, but that was my first encounter with it so i was shocked and frankly quite afraid: there was, like, a whole SCHOOL of kids (African American, mostly. ok not mostly. they were all African American) running towards one end of the street. i asked some guy what was going on and he said: "those dang teenagers! another street fight." dude there were COPS, and that whole thing was happening in exactly the direction i was walking towards. the guy could see i was scared and he said: "oh don't worry honey, just walk right past em. they're fighting on the other end of the street." haha so i rushed past about a hundred excited high schoolers and maybe 5 upset cops to get to my check-up appointment. lol
5. not as exciting, but still noteworthy: i saw a dead pidgeon by the Franklin building. as in, it looked like a hobo asleep on the sidewalk...except it was a dead pidgeon. :(
more to come! :P
I am quickly becoming a very busy person hahaha. I have Venus (Ultimate Frisbee) practice every Tuesday and Thursday, with tournaments on some weekends. ISC Steering Committee meetings every week, Ad-Com meetings every other week, might be a tutor for Communitech (Technology-focused community service group. Mom, I might get them to build an iGK office! They've built computer centers in Ghana.) AND I think I'm getting a job. That last one excites me because 1. I'll have more spending money, 2. Less pressure on mom and dad to take care of me (tuition na lang, hindi ko pa kaya eh hahaha) and 3. it's not so demanding! I'll be at the Ware College House Help Desk, so I can actually do my homework when people aren't coming in with questions. Whoopee :)
So that's the first pattern. Second is all these weird random things keep happening to me. I have these "oh Anj Poe" moments that Ms. Pat would totally laugh at and not be surprised about at all.
1. I accidentally threw my keys out with my garbage, as in, INTO the trash compactor, so i couldn't get them back and had to pay for a lock-change and new sets of keys.
2. I keep TRIPPING on Locust Walk in front of so many people. Sorry, mom, I haven't stopped shuffling my feet.
3. I almost fractured my toe the other day. (Mom you're going to get a $35 charge for x-ray services lol) I got out of bed in a hurry (woke up late, figures) without realizing that my right leg was asleep. I put my whole body weight on it as i was trying to stand up and ended up crumbling on top of myself. I was on the floor, writhing in pain (imagine 100+ pounds concentrated on top of your little toe!) and laughing at the same time because i was thinking: what the hell just happened that was so stupid! haha it just hurt a bit on the first day, but by the second day the right half of my right foot had turned purple. i was limping around school. so yeah i went to student health services who in turn had me get an x-ray at the hospital, but no worries -- no fracture. the bruising has started to subside, so it's all good now. i can run again :P
4. on my way to student health services, i saw the weirdest thing! apparently it's common here in philly, but that was my first encounter with it so i was shocked and frankly quite afraid: there was, like, a whole SCHOOL of kids (African American, mostly. ok not mostly. they were all African American) running towards one end of the street. i asked some guy what was going on and he said: "those dang teenagers! another street fight." dude there were COPS, and that whole thing was happening in exactly the direction i was walking towards. the guy could see i was scared and he said: "oh don't worry honey, just walk right past em. they're fighting on the other end of the street." haha so i rushed past about a hundred excited high schoolers and maybe 5 upset cops to get to my check-up appointment. lol
5. not as exciting, but still noteworthy: i saw a dead pidgeon by the Franklin building. as in, it looked like a hobo asleep on the sidewalk...except it was a dead pidgeon. :(
more to come! :P
Sunday, September 28
a -nods head in approval- kind of idea
http://www.onedayu.com/
It's nice that the opportunity to learn from some of the best professors in the world has been extended to a wider scope of people. If people are willing to pay Php 10,000 to see the Vienna Boys Choir or some other cultural show, they should see this!
It's nice that the opportunity to learn from some of the best professors in the world has been extended to a wider scope of people. If people are willing to pay Php 10,000 to see the Vienna Boys Choir or some other cultural show, they should see this!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)