Whiptails!

We are initiating a 22-person cookie class tonight! TWENTY-TWO NEW TEAM MEMBERS...which brings our total team count for the semester to about 50. Meaning when the ladies who are abroad come back, that'll be about 60. HOLY CRAP.

And so it goes

My senior year at Wellesley College has begun! It's been absolutely amazing seeing my friends again, getting back into the swing of things with the ultimate team, and getting back to my studies.

It was kicked off by a procession in traditional black robes and splashes of purple, for our class color...I unfortunately had to miss the speeches because I wanted to be there for our very first practice of the season. I am captaining the Whiptails with two great friends and teammates of mine, Geetha and Gantor

, and am having a blast! I love ultimate frisbee and am so excited to help others learn to love it as much as I do. I have to say that one of the reasons why I enjoy it, as well, is that I have the opportunity to change how a few things are done and implement little ideas I have had in my head these past few years, such as instilling a sense of commitment and positive intensity from the get-go rather than waiting and shocking new players later with the expectations that we have of team members. Even little things, like having players bring their water to the sideline instead of going back to their bags, even those tiny little things are exciting to put to use :)

This semester, I am taking Development Economics, Myth and Memory in Modern France (in French), Spanish 101, and Urban Politics, which all combine to make a very interesting and diverse collection of subjects to study throughout the week. It's going very well, and I have to say that I am incredibly excited to finally be starting a new language!

Buenos días, me llamo Min. Yo soy de New Jersey. Acabo de leer un libro por mi clase de francés.

In exactly two weeks, I'll be landing in California for a weekend to visit Angus at Stanford and meet with an amazing woman who owns her own political consulting firm based in San Francisco to whom I have been referred by the director of CAWP. I'm really excited just to hear what her experience has been like...I must admit, I'm a little nervous, too. Just another step in gathering information and finding out what kind of opportunities lie out there for me once I leave Wellesley's beautiful campus.

Well, back to my homework!

Wake-Up Call

It seems that I have forgotten that I am spoiled. Raised in a family with parents who emphasize the importance of morals, fairness, responsibility, hard work, health, and humanity, I was led to believe that most, if not all, people had these same ideals and acted upon them. These rose-colored glasses remained in front of my eyes when I came to Wellesley College, surrounded by the thoughtful, hilarious, knowledge-thirsty, complex women that come here to learn. I forget that these people that I have grown up with, lived with, and loved, my family and friends, are not like the rest of the world.

This is not to say that I have gone the years believing that every country is as wealthy as the United States (speaking in statistics here, like GDP/capita and average household income, I'm aware of the poverty that exists here, as well). This is not to say that I am unaware of the injustices that are brought upon millions of people around the world as we speak. But I was unaware of the fact that individuals with access to the same resources, ideas, knowledge, and people as myself would so easily throw aside the responsibility that I believe we all have to make or hope for the world to become a better place.

Development economics, specifically with respect to women around the world has been brought to the attention of the eyes of Americans thanks to the NYTimes magazine centered around Kristof's new book about the role of women in the global hope for development, growth, and the betterment of living standards.

However, it seems that some fail to understand the connection between helping half of the world's population and helping all of it. I don't think I'm able to talk about the specifics of the even that triggered this post, but I'll just say that I was thoroughly disappointed and shocked, and even hurt, frankly, by the rejection and belittlement of the significance of women's equality and development as an urgent global issue.

I don't care what part of the political spectrum you come from, what your social policy agenda is like...humanity is something that we must all seek to uphold.

Life is precious.

She sat next to him, as elegant as ever, in the warm sunlight and under blue skies overhead. She held his hand warmly, running the other hand across the spotted skin on his arm as he sat in his chair, slightly hunched, unable, quite, to respond verbally to the conversation that we had around him, at him, almost. But behind his pale, suddenly aged skin we saw him. My mother, father, and I, with our playful banter, and my father's delightful sarcastic humor, we saw his eyes crinkle, his body shake ever so slightly in silent laughter, and his dry lips part to reveal a yellowed smile. But he looked wonderful. 

My mother clung to his hand, the wonderful husband next-door that was always home when she was home for a moment between the obstacle course and race that made up each day when all four of us were home. We talked about the weather, their grandchildren, me at school, memories, my siblings...when his wife stood, his hand would linger in the air as he reached for her to remain close to him. 

After what felt to be far too short a time, we had to go. I have to tell you that it is an awkward, difficult, sensitive thing, to say goodbye preemptively. None of the three of us said "goodbye". We refused to do so. My mother said, "We'll see you again soon" and hugged him warmly, kissing his cheek and caressing his hand. My father, uncomfortable with the sudden wave of emotion that overcame him, fought a couple rare tears and held onto his hands and said "Take care, we'll be back in a couple weeks. See you then!" And I hugged him warmly, closely, and I felt his hands slowly, slowly rest on my back like the hands of the grandfather that I always felt he kind of was to us, and I heard him say as loud as he could, barely above a whisper "Good luck at school." I thanked him and assured him that I would wear the wool socks he gave me as a college going-away present 3 years ago this coming winter. He laughed silently again and I held his hands for a moment longer before my parents and I crossed back to our yard. 

My parents lingered in the driveway, speaking to a kind man who had been hired to care for our neighbor, but I couldn't find the strength to make small talk.

I passed quickly but discretely through the back door of our home and hurried upstairs to my room where I sat down. She was watching him disappear a little more each day, and it was empathy for what one must feel going through that experience and this painful manifestation of time and the delicate nature of life and humanity that left me sobbing that afternoon. 

Conclusions

It's official. 

Everyone needs to see "Iron-Jawed Angels" whether you consider a feminist or not (we won't get into that whole discussion right now, maybe another day when it's not 1:26 am and i don't have a meeting in 7.5 hours with the director of the Center for American Women and Politics about my future). 

And my mom makes EXCELLENT mojitos. Yum. 

That is all!

Workout post:

Nothing to report. Sorry. I spent most of the day packing. 

It feels like autumn...

...and the nerves start to settle in.

I am captaining the Whiptails this Fall with Geetha and Gabrielle, two of my good friends from the team, and while I'm excited to be back on campus and to have the opportunity to have a leadership role on the field with a game that I've been playing for about 7 1/2 years now, I have to say that I'm really nervous. 

We've already been having team members doubt our decision-making and I really just want to do a good job, and make sure the team is happy...which is probably the most difficult task of all. We don't all have to be happy, but I know what it feels like to be on a team where the only reason you're still on it is because you love the game but the people on it make you want to run away screaming. I don't want that to happen. I guess I'll just have to work together with my co-captains and make the decisions we feel are best, take a deep breath, and keep going.  

On the other hand, I'm excited about my classes! I'm taking Development Economics, Myth and Memory in Modern France (in French), Elementary Spanish I, and Urban Politics (but this one's tentative, I'm also looking at two other classes for my multicultural requirement which look interesting, Korean-American Literature and Culture in the American studies department and Native America in the history department). Should be a great semester academically!

My mom and I did a little shopping today, for groceries, things we need at the house, and then a pair of shoes for work/interviews for me, and then a pair of leather clogs. Weird, I know, but I have to say that I love them. My style seems to be changing. Well, believe it or not, but we got 3 PAIRS OF SHOES FOR $7.50!!! I got a pair of brown Aerosoles pumps, a pair of leather Clark's clogs, and my mom got a pair of nice brown heeled loafers. Yeah. I think at regular price the whole thing all together would have cost at least $200. NICE. Best thing ever: my mom tried to tip the sales girl because she felt kind of bad for getting such nice shoes for such a low price, hehe, but she couldn't accept it. I love my mother, she's so kind. I hope I'm just like her some day. 

Well, now I'm off to meet my good friend Malissa (from CAWP) for dinner, one last time before I head back up to Wellesley!

...and packing duties remain on hold. Yikes. 

Workout post:

2-mile run (a little sore today)