i'm on the home stretch of my master's inquiry-research. just need to finalize some major sections. =p just to let y'all know, i might have a graduation party. ooh~ janet? host a party? and for those who can make it, i will be walking on sat. june 19 at 5:30pm, under the graduate school of education and information studies, UCLA wilson plaza. i should make invitations soon. but before i get too optimistic, i need to work on my master's presentation for this thursday. and this saturday is apsa grad banquet! aww~ how i miss the young'uns. they're getting older... *sigh* venturing off into the real world. can't wait to see u guys soon... well. time to get back at it. UCLA, i'ma be DONE with you!

i've decided on the classes to take while at University of Hawai'i- Manoa!

Asian American Studies 120B: Asian Pacific American Communities in Hawai'i: Field Studies
Instructors: Erin K. Wright & Roderick N. Labrador

This course combines the conceptual study of multiculturalism in Hawai'i with practical fieldwork and experience. Students in this course will learn about multiculturalism in Hawai'i and how it relates to representations of Hawai'i and Native Hawaiian history, society, and sovereignty. In class, students will present research on some aspect of multiculturalism in Hawai'i and conduct fieldwork outside of class that serves as the data for group projects.

Choose one of the following:
Asian American Studies 120A: Asian Pacific Communities in Hawai'i: Critical Issues Past and Present
Instructor: Jonathan Y. Okamura

This course is concerned with the continuing construction, expression and persistence of ethnic identity in various cultural forms and social contexts throughout the contemporary world. Recent examples abound including in the Middle East, the Philippines, and here in Hawai'i. In addition, the course examines individual and group problems of identity, identity conflict, cultural conflict, and inter-ethnic relations

expectations? i expect to learn a lot more about pacific-islander history and culture, and understand more about social relations, multiculturalism, and how they play out in ways i hadn't realized before. summer is fast approaching... my paper is soon due. i need to get on it. i'm on the verge of actually feeling stressed by UCLA coursework!! O_O

so y'all want news? here's a whopper of new news:

1. i don't have my car any more. goodbye accord...
2. my accord belongs to my mom now.
3. i got a new car. mixed feelings.
4. i finally own an SUV (and it's not the gas guzzling kind!)
5. it's under my name!
6. i've decided to go on the university of hawai'i program through the ucla asian american studiees dept. (jul 3 - aug 14)
7. it costs a lot of money (u can ask)
8. i was afraid this might be the first summer in 5 years that i wouldn't be a part of a summer program for students...
9. but it looks like i still might be able to do it! just got this email:
UCLA GEAR-UP (the pgm that i taught math for last summer), Geometry Teacher
Starting Tuesday, August 17 through Thursday, August 26, 2004, from 9:30 - 4:30p.m. (There will be a 1.5 hour lunch break). Actual classroom time per day 5 hours, prep/curriculum planning time 1 hour, therefore 6 hours per day for 8 days. Friday, August 27, will be their graduation date
10. somehow this fits in perfectly after i arrive back from hawai'i. it would give me a chance to earn some bucks and work with high school youth. =) i think i'll apply for the position.
11. my master's paper is due in 2 days!!! ahhh!!!! i don't know i've come to a writer's block that hasn't gone away for a month!! help.

happy International Worker's Day!aka the real Labor day. yesterday was a very important date in history, unfortunately our country has done a damn good job of trying to erase it. the chinatown collective had our workshop yesterday, and we taught our students (from watts and chinatown) about rallies and marches, and the importance of them. then, we took them out to be a part of the real thing. all 30 of them or so marched for justice, and they were so excited leading chants and being together. =) our students also got a lot of attention precisely because they were students. =) yay! gotta politicize em' early...

in the evening we attended the Labor/Community Strategy Center banquet. lotsa good folks there doing awesome work. inspiring and motivating. good to know there are real people out there doing real work for the people. at the end of the banquet, we listened and danced to Quetzal, a conscious musical group who kicks ass. good stuff... however. this is the second banquet this month that benji and i showed up way too underdressed for! the first was for AATP (asian american tutorial project), which i guess wasn't too bad. he was there to be recognized and i was his guest. and this was the second one, but at least we were with a crowd that doesn't care too much about how u look/dress. still.. ya know. oh well =) i'll juse make sure i dress up rather than down for any upcoming banquets.

this morning we played soccer for 3+ hours with all the organizing folks. oh dear it was so hot that a number of times i really thought i was close to passing out. even when i was out there burning up and sweating, i began to get chills. not a good sign. i'm sure i got darker. i don't feel so good from all that heat... but it was a good game!!