Diversity: Do we really appreciate our differences?

Today is "diversity day" at my work. There were many cultures and employee groups hosting information booths in the cafeteria. It was crowded with employees finding out more about each other. There were more than 10+ booths in that cafeteria and people were lining up to find out more on the clubs, associations, societies, etc and of course, free morsels of food such as chicken wings, little snack-sized burritos, cupcakes, egg rolls, grapes, cheese, etc.

The 1.5 hour lunch break is supposed to help us as employees to celebrate our diverse culture in the company. Enlighten each other with our differences and encourage others to find out more about your co-workers, friends, cube neighbors, etc.

Celebrating Diversity Around Us

• Indian lady placing a "bindi" on an African-American lady.
• Polynesian cultural dance performed by the local TOFA community.
• Shotokan Karate demonstration with a Samurai uniform.
• Middle-eastern solo performance and guitar playing.
• Salsa-style dancing.
• and many many more activities.

It was great to see the many talents and culture of our co-workers. They had the courage and guts to shed an outer professional layer to shine some insights into their personal lives. The general crowd just loved it and applauses were given liberally!

Discouraging Act

However, there is a big discouraging act that I experienced today. Sad to say that I always notice the "crappy" thing in a beatiful event. As I was near the front of the "stage" to watch the Polynesian cultural dance, a lady rudely comes up and stand in front of my friend. So we scooted over and she "apologized". However, the worst thing is that, she was talking loudly and laughing hysterically when the Polynesians were dancing. "How the heck would you like it if we laughed at your culture?" Worse yet, her comments were so ridiculously rude and unculturalized that it shocked the hell out of me to know that these people actually still exists!

The Polynesian group sang in their native language, all the while, the lady kept making remarks such as "that guy looks like .... hahahaha...bet you would lose a lot of pounds doing that...hahaha..whoa, they're kind of big people...hahaha." Afterwards, the rude lady laughed and said "Now, what did they say again?! hahahaha". Look around yourselves, the stereotypical "Americans" are the minorities in this world! So open your eyes and look what other cultures have to bring to you and respect it. You don't have to like it, just respect it. The food you eat, the clothing you wear, the fashion styles, etc are all brought to you by different cultures.

Maybe she didn't mean it to be rude, but nevertheless, it came across that way to me. Maybe I am being too sensitive...but why the hell shouldn't I be? I've grown up being Asian-American...I've had to deal with 2 cultures all through my life. I married a man grown up being "Chinese-Bhutanese-Indian-American", consistently dealing with 4 cultures in his daily life. Why the hell should I give these "uncultured" & "unworldly" nincompoops any excuses for being rude and disrespectful?!

No Taste Day

I'm a big luna bar fan. I'm trying to get myself and my family (mainly Chhimi) to eat healty food and lead an active lifestyle. Since we're both nerds and sit around the PC all day, this has been a big challenge for both of us.

Anyhow, today, as I munch on my usual yummy mid-morning snack (1/2 a bar of Luna's orange bliss) to keep my day going. That flavor is usually one of the more yummy ones that I like. However, today with my clogged nose...OMG! I can't taste a damn thing!

I can't taste whether the bar is sweet, sour, salty, bitter, whatever! Nada! Zip! It sucks! I am here munching my very delicious bar...and it tastes like sawdust on drugs. Then I thought maybe something is wrong this bar so I drank my coffee. Great! Another type of sawdust but in liquid form. My sweet @ss aromatic coffee has now turned into blah.

So for today, I deem it as "No Taste Day" for everybody! Why should I be the only one to pay the price of not tasting delicious morsels when my nose is clogged. So during your lunch and dinner for today, remember to sprinkle some sawdust on your meal to remind yourselves of poor me.

Kudos to my hubby, Chhimi, for having to put up with "sawdust" taste due to his nasal polyps. Now I'd understand why he always craved for the "stinkiest" ingredients you can find (e.g. fish sauce)...but somehow, I don't think fish sauce and a Luna bar will be a good match.

Sick As A Puppy In Mid-Summer

Why me? Gawd, why me? Well, I've been coughing and hacking for the past 5 - 6 weeks now. ...I went to the doctor 2 weeks back and she said I might have had a mild bronchitis and it should clear up by the 8th week. ...so took some cough medicine and other prescribed drugs...but really didn't help.

Now, my nose is stuffed up to its max. I sound horrible and have a constant dull-aching headache. What's worse is that because of this "sickness", I haven't been able to work out properly and just feeling like BLAH throughout the day.

But, being the "self-knowledge" me, I dragged my butt and Chhimi's too to the gym last night and did a little lap swimming. It helped a bit...even though I was sooo short of breath. I then sat in the steam room a little to open up my nasal passages. Didn't work. I was breathing steam through my mouth...not a fun thing to do.

So now, my nose is still clogged and the headache is still here....in the middle of summer. What the heck is going on with me? One of my coworkers said it could have been induced through stress. I just got rolled off of one really bad bad project that required over 14+ hour days for the past few months....and my coworker just basically said that the mental and physical stress is just catching up and your body is reacting. That could be it?! or it could be a virus that's going around!! Either way...not fun.

howdy doody

1st night of school. Taking OBE 202 at the new Napa Hall part of the CSU Sacramento's Continuing Education Center...wow! That hall is awesome. The main campus needs a remodel.

SF: Is it worth it?

Chhimi and I spent the weekend in the Bay. As we were strolling down Union Square, Chhimi mentioned his interest in taking additional multimedia classes at the SFSU center. I'm a big fan of education and further studies so he definitely has my support. As we wondered about the classes and what would his schedule be like....then we've realized that maybe investing in a small Studio in they city may be worth it?

Could it be our lil' home away from home? So when we got back, we started browsing the MLS to see what's available in the city and in what area. However, a 400 sq. ft size studio is definitely not considered cheap or "affordable". So....is the city really worth all that investment? What is there? Isn't just another city with its crowdiness, pan-handlers, dirty streets, higher crime rates, bad parking, etc? Similar to NYC that Chhimi and I did not like at all?! Or is it a special city where the liberals can breathe and express their opinions without a care in the world? Where city dwellers know there place and are happy just to be there...hanging out, working, enjoying its breezy bay weather?

Still deciding.

Finding Myself

I read somewhere in my personality that I am a self-knowing person. Meaning, I know who I am already and stand by my own strengths and weaknesses. Is this really true? or does that just mean I am stubborn and unwilling to change?

I'm having one of those weekends where many many thoughts come through my mind and I'm not positive if I want to push these questions out of my mind or actually ponder on them a little bit.

This weekend, I went to the beach. I normally do not like the beach upfront and personally. I like the view while standing on some concrete....but this weekend, not sure what came over me but I actually got onto the sandy beach without a care in the world. I strapped on my sandals, rolled up my linen pants, and off I went. I even played in the freezing cold ocean water with my feet...and it felt wonderful! It wasn't freezing to me...it was magnificent, just to be out there feeling the ocean, the wind, the water, the sand....ahhh. Of course, I did have moments of "What the &#@! was that, that just passed through my legs?!" ...they were some washed up seaweeds ( I think! ) but it didn't matter...it was still very nice to be out there. So, am I a crab that's coming out of her shell?! Don't know but I'm going to keep trekking on to see what life's going to be like as a 'self-knowing' person.