The Jain Empire

Dear Followers, I am eight feet away from a scene which threatens to rupture the space-time continuum. Seated around a single wooden dinner table are 11 full grown members of the Jain Empire. Not even my second-rate headphones cranked up to the highest volume level can crowd out this orchestral sound. Every few seconds my Thai Ji and Bua erupt with laughter only to be overtaken by my Thou Ji’s deep chuckles. Mama’s rhythmic jokes always reach the punch line right on cue while his hand movements conduct the crowd. My Didi and Bhai are busy playing with the dogs in the backyard while Chachu Ji drinks an ice cold beer. Indian honorifics are a mess. I prefer just using the classic “Auntie” and “Uncle.” Yesterday was the first time in my life that somebody had referred to me as a member of the...

APYC And Me

Dear Followers, The first day of camp remains crystal clear in my mind. I woke up at 10:30 after a night of relishing my old world. My world of being in the same room in my friends and saying nothing verbally for hours, my world of narrowly focusing on only my own problems every day, my world of drifting between identities like outfits. The harsh awakening I received when I was pushed onto my back and deprived of my comforter was only a foreshadow of what was to come. Sluggishly shoving down some quick breakfast noodles, I put on my white tennis shoes and shuffled into Kaleen's minivan. Why did I sign up for the retreat? I definitely didn't want to learn how to be a leader. Those glossy bureaucratic words and phrases had lost effect on me when I was in elementary school. There was no parental...

When I Was A Kid, I Smoked A Lot Of Weed

Dear Followers, While my mentor is making his daily run to Starbucks coffee to chat up the transvestite who works the register, purchase his Grande Cappuccino and Raspberry Chocolate Cake, and work his magic with University of Minnesota females (I usually picture the lemur from "Madagascar"), I guess I will spend my time catching up on anime and blogging while he is gone. Marathoning "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" was confusing. And a slap in the face. Behind me, Matt is rocking out to 89.3 The Current on his laptop. God Matt, you are so damn Indie. To my left, Robyn is watching a mouse consume species while answering Jaqui questions regarding which primers to use for her double digest reaction. Even though they are a room away, I can hear the Japanese interns going crazy over koi shopping. Meanwhile,...

You're More Likely To Get Shot By A Fat Cop If You Run

Dear Followers, I find it ironic how citizens fear the police as an agent of law enforcement. The police department is an institution designed to foster a safer environment for citizens. Yet, when we spot an officer in blue patrolling, we do not feel safe. We are afraid. We are afraid that we will be misjudged as criminals. We are afraid that we will unnecessarily fined. The police department has fallen from an institution of respect in the public eye to one of mere bureaucratic annoyance. How could the police department change so drastically from a symbol of safety and morality to the definition of inherent inefficiency? There are no doubt epistemological reasons for this metamorphosis which are undoubtedly linked to our national culture. From my point of view, the answer to this question...

Counting Stars

Dear Followers, May 25. Seems like years have passed since then. In the moments between the last time I posted and today, I have finished AP Exams and SAT II Subject Tests, said goodbye to some good friends who I only met this year, and accumulated nearly an hour of miscellaneous footage of candid high schoolers. I even got Mr. Skerbitz to admit that he loved me. Looks like I can cross off a life goal now. As the clock is ticking down and Minnesota heats up to a whopping 100 degrees (Fahrenheit) many of us are just itching to bust out of school tomorrow to begin a well deserved 3 months of summer vacation. I’m not. For me, the excitement of summer is simply the feeling of the last few weeks of school filled with anticipation for the adventures to come. My mouth waters with the thought of...

Chemistry Is Bad When You Make Crack With It

Dear Followers, For everyone who has yet to experience the joy of the Chemistry X Final, the note card I crafted is now available under the "Notes" section of this webpage. I basically synthesized all of my note cards from throughout the semester when I made this last year. Good luck! Please use note cards responsibly. Here is the periodic table of elements which I referred to often when doing my chemistry homework. If you know more than 30 of the characters, hats off to you. Chemistry Is Good When You Make Love With It,N...