Today is check-out for the Teach For America corps members. It's a somewhat sad time, but for those of us on the operations team, it's also a joyous one. We can finally take a minute to breathe (before jumping into taking things down), and know that we can work without interruption.
I'll probably have more down time after this next week, when we are completely finished with the 2004 Teach For America New York summer institute. If my brain isn't too fried, then I maybe I can try to summarize what transpired this last month and a half. Until then...
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Saturday, July 24, 2004
The Common Ties
The beautiful thing about iTunes is that if you're on the same network, you can see other people's playlists. As I'm still at my summer job (which requires me to live on campus at Fordham University), there are many iTunes playlists available.
I've noticed that there are some songs that seem to be on everyone's playlist - regardless of gender or race. One of these is "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot (and though sad, I just realized the play on words in "Sir Mix-A-Lot").
I think there's just something about a juicy double that keeps people coming back for more, if you're black, white, brown, or Asian.
I've noticed that there are some songs that seem to be on everyone's playlist - regardless of gender or race. One of these is "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot (and though sad, I just realized the play on words in "Sir Mix-A-Lot").
I think there's just something about a juicy double that keeps people coming back for more, if you're black, white, brown, or Asian.
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Microcosms
I was at a hip-hop club last weekend and this particular time was fascinating. Sometimes, it's interesting to just sit back and watch what happens at a club. First, it's very obvious who's there for what reason. Some people are just out dancing with their friends (although I tend to think that there's always some level of ulterior motive). Others are there to listen to music. And then there are those who are there to make their move. Watching this latter group is the most interesting, and at a hip-hop club, almost anything goes. It's not a problem to find a girl (or guy) who's perfectly willing to freak with a total stranger. It's strange to be able to make that superficial connection for a song or two, and then break it off and soon, disappear, possibly forever (if you don't get their number).
One thing I have noticed at clubs is that it seems more difficult for the Asian men to get in on the action. Black men have no difficulty at all. Women of all sorts have luck also. Do Asian men just have too much stacked against them? Is it a function of race/appearance or personality?
One thing I have noticed at clubs is that it seems more difficult for the Asian men to get in on the action. Black men have no difficulty at all. Women of all sorts have luck also. Do Asian men just have too much stacked against them? Is it a function of race/appearance or personality?
Sunday, July 11, 2004
First Date
I just had my first date. Well, first date that was setup through an online dating service. Yes, you read that correctly: online dating service. (The online dating service referenced throughout this post will remain anonymous for no good reason)
I'm thinking that right now, about half of you are laughing and thinking, "How desperate are you to use an online dating service?" and the other half are thinking, "Hmmm... how can I try this out without anyone finding out?"
Well, suffice it to say, it's tough in NYC to meet people. As per my previous entry and Hayeun's post on attracting trolls, it's hard to be assertive without looking like a total stalker. So you just go about your business, looking straight ahead, hoping you don't give off a stalker vibe and at the same time thinking about all the lost opportunities.
In any case, my date with a girl from one of the well-known online dating services went reasonably well. It wasn't fireworks, and it wasn't a horror story. While she's a nice enough girl, I just don't feel any sort of chemistry whatsoever. Even though my online dating service claimed to match people based on key personality traits and other "Ph.D research based factors", I didn't feel like this date was much more than a blind date.
Which makes me wonder why there isn't something in the U.S. that people do to indicate their status, besides a wedding ring (which indicates if you're married, but not if you're single and taken). Hawaii has that flower thing - why doesn't the continental U.S. have something? I'm thinking something like an armband. Or are there secret signals girls send when they're available? I'm guessing most girls wouldn't want to send an overt signal anyway to avoid trolls.
I'm thinking that right now, about half of you are laughing and thinking, "How desperate are you to use an online dating service?" and the other half are thinking, "Hmmm... how can I try this out without anyone finding out?"
Well, suffice it to say, it's tough in NYC to meet people. As per my previous entry and Hayeun's post on attracting trolls, it's hard to be assertive without looking like a total stalker. So you just go about your business, looking straight ahead, hoping you don't give off a stalker vibe and at the same time thinking about all the lost opportunities.
In any case, my date with a girl from one of the well-known online dating services went reasonably well. It wasn't fireworks, and it wasn't a horror story. While she's a nice enough girl, I just don't feel any sort of chemistry whatsoever. Even though my online dating service claimed to match people based on key personality traits and other "Ph.D research based factors", I didn't feel like this date was much more than a blind date.
Which makes me wonder why there isn't something in the U.S. that people do to indicate their status, besides a wedding ring (which indicates if you're married, but not if you're single and taken). Hawaii has that flower thing - why doesn't the continental U.S. have something? I'm thinking something like an armband. Or are there secret signals girls send when they're available? I'm guessing most girls wouldn't want to send an overt signal anyway to avoid trolls.
Sunday, July 04, 2004
It's a fine line
I've worked all my life to be a more assertive person. I have worked on this ever since I was a child, at Walt Disney World, when I witnessed my father stand his ground.
It was a tranquil evening and as far as I can remember, I was having the time of my life. Nothing beats Disney World when you're 7 years old. We were gathered at this fence in front of the Disney castle thing, waiting to see evening fireworks. We got there two or three hours in advance to make sure we got a spot where we could see.
About an hour or less before the show was about to start, a Disney employee came and ased us to move. He said that the spot where we were standing was reserved for persons in wheelchairs. My father almost lost it, since we had been standing there for two hours and there was no sign indicating that this was a reserved area.
In the end, we shared the space with the people in wheelchairs, and it worked out, but not before a heated exchange between my father and the Disney employee. It took an elderly woman in a wheelchair to calm the savage beasts and say, "Why don't we just share?"
So back to my point. Being assertive is crucial (so I hear) in dating. You want show that you are confident and you must take chances. But in my reflection on this, I realized that it's a very, very fine line between being assertive, and being creepy. And it seems for the most part, men are most vulnerable to the trap of being creepy, even though most of us aren't.
It was a tranquil evening and as far as I can remember, I was having the time of my life. Nothing beats Disney World when you're 7 years old. We were gathered at this fence in front of the Disney castle thing, waiting to see evening fireworks. We got there two or three hours in advance to make sure we got a spot where we could see.
About an hour or less before the show was about to start, a Disney employee came and ased us to move. He said that the spot where we were standing was reserved for persons in wheelchairs. My father almost lost it, since we had been standing there for two hours and there was no sign indicating that this was a reserved area.
In the end, we shared the space with the people in wheelchairs, and it worked out, but not before a heated exchange between my father and the Disney employee. It took an elderly woman in a wheelchair to calm the savage beasts and say, "Why don't we just share?"
So back to my point. Being assertive is crucial (so I hear) in dating. You want show that you are confident and you must take chances. But in my reflection on this, I realized that it's a very, very fine line between being assertive, and being creepy. And it seems for the most part, men are most vulnerable to the trap of being creepy, even though most of us aren't.
Cognito... at least for now
First - the post immediately prior to this one was one I wrote a while ago, I just forgot to publish it. I think.
Second, I feel like I've been gone for a long time, since everyone has added three or more entries to their blogs. The truth is, my job this summer is extremely demanding and intense. This last week I got an average of 4-5 hours of sleep, and worked nearly all the other ones. Setting up systems, creating documentation and solving logistical problems can be very, very taxing. Last night was the first night in a week that I got more than 5 hours.
(note: I'm so tired that I didn't realize that I had already posted about being tired.)
Eddy's blog about cheering when his sister's name was called at her commencement reminded me of my own sister's commencement not too long ago (June 1). My brother and sister both go by their first initial(s) and last name as nicknames at times, so my brother becomes "swu" and my sister becomes "shwu". Their names are Steven and Shirley, respectively.
My brother and I decided we would try to outdo all the other students' extended families of twenty or more when our sister's name was read at her commencement (which took place in a quaint, but tiny church on a hill in Providence). We both yelled "SHWU!!!!" at the top of our lungs when she was called. The rest of the families were eerily silent and looked at us strangely. Later, we found out that our yelling "SHWU!!!" to the untrained ear sounds like we were booing her. Poor shwu.
Second, I feel like I've been gone for a long time, since everyone has added three or more entries to their blogs. The truth is, my job this summer is extremely demanding and intense. This last week I got an average of 4-5 hours of sleep, and worked nearly all the other ones. Setting up systems, creating documentation and solving logistical problems can be very, very taxing. Last night was the first night in a week that I got more than 5 hours.
(note: I'm so tired that I didn't realize that I had already posted about being tired.)
Eddy's blog about cheering when his sister's name was called at her commencement reminded me of my own sister's commencement not too long ago (June 1). My brother and sister both go by their first initial(s) and last name as nicknames at times, so my brother becomes "swu" and my sister becomes "shwu". Their names are Steven and Shirley, respectively.
My brother and I decided we would try to outdo all the other students' extended families of twenty or more when our sister's name was read at her commencement (which took place in a quaint, but tiny church on a hill in Providence). We both yelled "SHWU!!!!" at the top of our lungs when she was called. The rest of the families were eerily silent and looked at us strangely. Later, we found out that our yelling "SHWU!!!" to the untrained ear sounds like we were booing her. Poor shwu.
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