happy new year from tokyo, japan! missing everyone at home... this country is crazy (well, the big cities). lots to write about but no time.

for the love of futbol

thanks to a fellow futbolista for sharing this piece:
and the evening came
the curtain of night fell upon them
the full moon crept in its place
and from the futbol field
burst a yelping and a howling
out of mouths of Futbolistas,
overjoyed,
for a game well played

how much soccer has become a part of my life... and what it represents for me... hard to express. but it has become one of my loves!

i've decided venting is a good thing. venting publicly. so, i shall begin: i did not appreciate when u made me feel so guilty and shitty for having gotten my new car. u grew up middle-class, and u had (still have) middle class privileges. u made me cry over my car. u made me feel less than u. then shortly after, u asked to trade my stereo system with your your broken one. and not long after that, u asked to borrow my car so u can take out your own students. there was something inherently wrong with your demands, and i should not have accepted them. u are not more important, more righteous, nor more worthy than i.

i am janet. hear me *roar*

ONLY 2 days left until winter break. then heLLoOOoO~~ japan!

breed them while they're young

parent conference week. omar's mom, maria, and i are talking:
maria: so last week when omar sat down for thanksgiving dinner he said 'why are we celebrating a fake holiday?' then he went on to explain how the indigenous actually had their thanks taken, etc. etc.
me: no wayyy~!! [huge smile]
maria: yeah and his auntie came by last weekend and said she had to buy [something]. omar asked her where she was going to get it and she said wal-mart. he told her not to shop there because they exploit their workers, don't pay them fairly and stuff. AND he said that people who shop there are making his grandpa lose his store, because his grandpa owns a little store. so he told her if he loses his shop it's going to be because she shopped at wal-mart.
me: wow, omar really listens to the stuff i talk to them about!
maria: he does! then he told his auntie to take out her wal-mart card. he went and got scissors and handed it to her, telling her to cut it up. she looked over at me and asked if he was serious, and i just told her i don't know!
me: so did she cut it??
maria: yeah she did!
me: [unable to smile wider than i already was]

what a beautiful story!!!! definitely don't want to forget this one.

on another note: it's funny how many kids leave campus with tear-filled eyes after their parent-teacher conference. and the look of utter doom.

yesterday's UTLA rally was such a beautiful event as well! SOOO many teachers and supporters turned out for the action! the theme was to expose the district so people brought out their flashlights. utla straight up brought FLOODLIGHTS, or spotlights, whatever, and cast them on the LA unified headquarters building. tiiight~ the rally ended with a salsa group called Son de La Tierra, so we got to close it up with some salsa dancing! it was simply beautiful. =)

ha to corporations!

the highlight of my day yesterday: got free stuff from costco! they forgot to ring up my case of vitamin water and the half gallon of naked juice (green machine, really yummy!). that's about $20 worth of goodies. yay!!

Korean Resource Center fundraiser dinner plans are well on their way. had so many meetings trying to plan it. it happens this friday so i hope it all goes well. i've never been a stage manager before, don't know how good i'll be with the behind-the-scenes details.

after this week there is only one more week left of school. so soon! i got my holiday cards all printed out, but i didn't do ANY holiday gift shopping for the kiddies. =p in the past i would have already taken care of all that by this time. i'm slipping. and to think i'm actually considering returning back to school for my doctorate degree while simultaneously continuing teaching? i have much to consider.

lastly, why my personal life always seems to be drama-filled i know not why. *sigh* i can only be so strong...