walking through walls
Monday, October 16, 2006
Rachel and I would like to introduce you to our new family member:
Colonel Mustard!
after finding out that a dog we fell in love with was already adopted on saturday, we were pretty upset. Of course we're happy he found a good home, but we really wanted him.
Just our luck that on sunday was a huge Pet adoption fair at the La Brea tar pits.
This is where we found this guy. He was so quiet and calm, and very shy. Apparently he had just been picked up by animal services 5 days ago. I could imagine how traumatized he was. After filling out the paperwork, he was reluctant to move from his spot under the table on the grass where he lied. It took an employee to help him into the car.
THe first few minutes were tense for him, but he soon warmed up, rachel was sitting in the back comforting him.
When we went home, we led him into our living room. At first, he looked scared and timid. Then all of a sudden he looked around. It looked like he realized that our home was his home now, and he got so happy, licking us and exploring our apartment.
that afternoon he mostly slept on his new bed. it was as if he had not gotten decent sleep in ages.
leaving him this morning was tough, and when rachel came to visit him at lunch he was scared, in the corner.
i can't imagine what cruelty he experienced, but we both promise to love this dog so much. colonel mustard deserves it!
¶ 10/16/2006 05:15:00 PM 2 comments
Monday, October 02, 2006
taken from myspace blog, because i'm too lazy to write anything else right now.
enjoy
Walking home from a local restaurant, Rachel and I stop in front of the store window of a local panaderia. as we admired the huge cakes and donuts, from the corner of my eye, three young latino kids said to us as they walked past "gentrification".
hmm. its so interesting. the way we were standing, rachel (who happens to be of german/swiss descent), was first in the line of sight of the boys. I wonder if anything would have been said if it was my face they saw first. of course, in my fashionably dark banana republic(an) jeans and oh-so-cool western shirt and green nikes, I may have not fared any better.
at first, I was kind of amused. here I am, I am part of the complex issue of gentrification. I halfway though of saying "thank you", instead of getting all pissed off. instead, it just made me think.
living in echo park, and teaching in the neighboring community is something I never really thought I would do. After my three years in watts, I always enjoyed the separation of my home and work. now, I can see my students in the park across the street from my house on weekends. I acknowledge that my neighbors know I didn't come from here. the know I am a teacher, and it somehow brings me more respect that say other twenty-something professionals in the area. is it because I am teaching their kids? or that my girlfriend works in the hospital just a bit down the street?
in what context am I seen as a good member of this community, and when am I seen as another foreign invader, out to disrupt the lives of long-time residents?
hearing the word gentrification, I was pleased that the kids even knew the word. two weeks ago I introduced the concept to my advisory class. most of the kids didn't know the term, but they knew what gentrification looks like. i chuckled when i told rachel "they probably learned that word from their white liberal high-school teacher!"
i realize that just as i have been subjected to racial slurs, I had to realize that these people know nothing about me. I cannot let myself get angry or defensive, because I am who I am.
We walked away, silently except for the occasional sigh and a furtive glance around. Earlier today, I decided to smile and say hello to every person on my way home. We pass by a couple, sitting on their front lawn. We make eye contact, for a brief moment it was silent, their conversation stopped as eyes were on us. I smile and say hello, they smile back and say hello. we go into our apartment, , and sit down.
for now, this place is home. I know I am part of the gentrification machine, and I feel slightly uncomfortable. at the same time, I am proud of who I am and what I do. I will embrace this community, it has somewhat embraced me. i know they have no obligation to embrace me. many of these so called "immigrants", can lay claim to this land, way before pizzaro and columbus. I thank those kids for constantly reminding me what a different time I'm living in, and that I need to be progressively working to make good.
in other news, rachel and I saw "jesus camp" its amazing. about evangelical kids camps. the funny thing is , a majority of it was filmed in missouri. lee's summit to be specific. really brought me back to missour for a while.
the bent is obviously left, but I does so without insulting the kids who go to the camp. it tries to show both perspectives. see it if you get a chance. ¶ 10/02/2006 01:20:00 PM 0 comments
enjoy
Walking home from a local restaurant, Rachel and I stop in front of the store window of a local panaderia. as we admired the huge cakes and donuts, from the corner of my eye, three young latino kids said to us as they walked past "gentrification".
hmm. its so interesting. the way we were standing, rachel (who happens to be of german/swiss descent), was first in the line of sight of the boys. I wonder if anything would have been said if it was my face they saw first. of course, in my fashionably dark banana republic(an) jeans and oh-so-cool western shirt and green nikes, I may have not fared any better.
at first, I was kind of amused. here I am, I am part of the complex issue of gentrification. I halfway though of saying "thank you", instead of getting all pissed off. instead, it just made me think.
living in echo park, and teaching in the neighboring community is something I never really thought I would do. After my three years in watts, I always enjoyed the separation of my home and work. now, I can see my students in the park across the street from my house on weekends. I acknowledge that my neighbors know I didn't come from here. the know I am a teacher, and it somehow brings me more respect that say other twenty-something professionals in the area. is it because I am teaching their kids? or that my girlfriend works in the hospital just a bit down the street?
in what context am I seen as a good member of this community, and when am I seen as another foreign invader, out to disrupt the lives of long-time residents?
hearing the word gentrification, I was pleased that the kids even knew the word. two weeks ago I introduced the concept to my advisory class. most of the kids didn't know the term, but they knew what gentrification looks like. i chuckled when i told rachel "they probably learned that word from their white liberal high-school teacher!"
i realize that just as i have been subjected to racial slurs, I had to realize that these people know nothing about me. I cannot let myself get angry or defensive, because I am who I am.
We walked away, silently except for the occasional sigh and a furtive glance around. Earlier today, I decided to smile and say hello to every person on my way home. We pass by a couple, sitting on their front lawn. We make eye contact, for a brief moment it was silent, their conversation stopped as eyes were on us. I smile and say hello, they smile back and say hello. we go into our apartment, , and sit down.
for now, this place is home. I know I am part of the gentrification machine, and I feel slightly uncomfortable. at the same time, I am proud of who I am and what I do. I will embrace this community, it has somewhat embraced me. i know they have no obligation to embrace me. many of these so called "immigrants", can lay claim to this land, way before pizzaro and columbus. I thank those kids for constantly reminding me what a different time I'm living in, and that I need to be progressively working to make good.
in other news, rachel and I saw "jesus camp" its amazing. about evangelical kids camps. the funny thing is , a majority of it was filmed in missouri. lee's summit to be specific. really brought me back to missour for a while.
the bent is obviously left, but I does so without insulting the kids who go to the camp. it tries to show both perspectives. see it if you get a chance. ¶ 10/02/2006 01:20:00 PM 0 comments
