Google Voice

So I’ve switched phone numbers and I now use Google Voice for all my calls. It’s pretty neat, especially since the program translates voicemails for you, and then emails it to your gmail. Yeah. Quite dope. SOMETIMES though…the translations are a bit off:

“Hey Scott, It’s Mike, I just letting you know if you can actually not a big fan of country near therestrooms where that bronze statue is. Hope the track in few minutes. Bye.”

In actuality, the message was:

“Hey Scott, it’s Veronica. I’m just letting you know Leticia and I are not near the tennis courts. We near the restrooms where that bronze statue is. Close to the track. See you soon. Bye.”

Close enough maybe?

Identity

Conversation with Co-worker:

Ryan: yo

me: sup

Ryan: are you the JACL civil rights caucus chair for the Pacific Southwest District?

me: yep, what’s up?

Ryan: what…how did you pull that one off?

me: rose through the ranks? betrayed my own people i guess. shoulda done oca. hahah. why? you need something from the JA’s?

Ryan: haha, nah. i’m archiving the media hits and saw your name on that hate crimes article

me: hahaha, everyone thinks i’m half japanese

Ryan: i don’t see it, poser

—

Sometimes I wonder why I’ve been involved in the Japanese American Citizens League for so long. I joined this org over the one I “should have joined” (Org of Chinese Americans) because I believed that JACL has more cred at doing civil rights work; it doesn’t matter to me what ethnic group the org was for…civil rights is civil rights.

2 years in, and I’ve been on the district board, and I still chair the civil rights caucus. While I see the JACL staff working hard on civil rights education, I am continually frustrated with how civil rights does not emanate from every part of this organization (board and chapter leaders, and membership). For an organization that is built of civil rights, you would think local chapters would have a stronger focus in that area. No, most are just around for the social and the cultural aspects. (How else can you maintain membership right?)

I’m questioning what to do when the one thing I’m there for, isn’t the priority of the entire organization. I’ve tried many different approaches, but have met with little success. I brought my issues before the board this past weekend, and basically said that if there isn’t some kind of change, or at least promise for change, I will leave the organization.

It was tough to bring up, but I’ve held it in for a while. As much as I know I’ll be labeled a quitter, I just don’t see what else I can possibly do. I’ve tried my best to enact change, but it takes much more than just hand full of people.

The Language Divide

Phone Call:

Mom: Hey, I need your work email address so we can try to get a discount for our new cell phone service.

Me: Ok, do you have a pen?

Mom: Yes, go ahead.

Me: S, like Scott. Chan, then the @ sign.

Mom: What? What’s the @ sign?

Me: What? You know, the sign that looks like an A, with something around it.

Mom: What?

Me: Uhmmm are you calling the phone guy? You can just say “at” and he should know.

Mom: No, we’re going in tomorrow to talk to him. Ok anyways, what’s after @?

Me: A, P, A, L, C dot

Mom: What’s dot?

Me: Huh? You know, dot, period.

Mom: Huh?

Me: Just take your pen, and poke the ink end to the paper…

Mom: Oh…ok..I think I got it.

Me: Ok, dot O, R, G.

Mom: Can you just email your brother and have him show me?

Me: Yes.

Brotherly Conversation

Slowing Down

I was reading in the most recent GOOD magazine about the need to just…SLOW DOWN. We’re so caught up in getting things done fast, that we often don’t take the time to appreciate what’s going on around us. One specific article was talking about how our thirst for speed in technology, has left the art of writing letters to one another, an ancient practice. There is so much that comes with writing and receiving letters. The time and energy that goes in to writing, and then the nebulous wait for when a letter might actually come (or if it’ll even come)…that’s what we need more of today.

SO, I’ve taken it upon myself to write letters to my friends. I think it will help me connect with people in a different way, and it’ll be a fun experiment to see how slowing down can affect my overall lifestyle.

Conveniently, I accidentally bought 100 stamps today at the post office. I asked for a roll and paid with my credit card without really thinking twice. (For some reason I thought stamps came in rolls of 24) It wasn’t until I was back in the office that I realized I had been charged $44!

$44 is a lot of money, but if I can invest it in this little fun experiment of mine, I think I’ve gotten myself quite the deal.

If you want a letter, I shall consider writing you one. Email me your address

What’s for dinner?

There was also bell peppers cooked with some tofu, but this looked more fun in a picture. (and this is really two meals here)