I don't know... Funny things happen to me all the time.. i don't know why... but right now I'm not much in the storytelling mood... maybe some other time.

wow... I'm really boring... eh.. whatever.

So... right... Requirements suck! I don't think I like compiling them at all... blech... especially not when I still have ot write my app. BUT BUT BUT!! on the bright side.. it's now all done! =D kinda... hehe.. I think I'm not gonna give wendy the actives in good standing until monday... I don;t think I could finish it all tonight... so.. sorry whaha! I love you! ok.. now then... to work! ::sigh:: work... blah...

Benihana's is YUMMY! today was kinda surprising... I didn't really know that I was going to be going to Benihana's... Jessie kinda IM's me and says... Gary's gonna go pick you up soon! You better be dressed nice! =P And I was all... what? Either way.. it was nice to hang out with my littles... dude... 4 generations of little sibs...

Shelley -> Linda -> Jessie -> Sabrina and Merril... aww.. tinies! Aww.....

awww.. littles... awww... I love my family! it's one of nature's masterpieces! =P

After that... we had a long postponed G fellowship. Some good G was passed around. however, no studying was accomplished... but that's to be understood as it has been a good month or so since the last one...

oh dear... i need to finish this application...

We had "the GSI" again today... but amazingly, she was REALLY nice... linda's calling me too... and I'm kinda worried... why would she be CALLING me? no reason to... unless the prof disclosed my name.. but he said he didn't! GAH!!! ah wells... that's life... full of confusion.

Went to school and class and stuff today! whee!! what FUN! Chapter meeting, In-N-Out... funny.. I went, and got a grilled cheese... but it was SOOO good... specially since I wasn't REALLY hungry.. you know? ... and other stuff.. so tired.. time for bed!

I decided to skip the Californians meeting today to go to the Mu Zeta Chapter meeting. MUCH more entertaining... it was fun to see Voltaire and Aris and Ken and Matt and Arianne and all of them... PLUS! so like... the president of the junior branch of Californians sends out this email... asking for volunteers... so... logically, being a member of Alpha Phi Omega, I figure... hey, I'll send it to the Service VP! maybe we could help! So I send it.. and then she (the pres) sends this out (check it out... it's AMUSING... and SO highly frustrating!) :

Hi Everyone!

I hope your having a good weekend. I just wanted to clear up something about the DGC volunteers. Since this is a Californians event, Californians are given first priority to volunteer at the event. This is done for two reasons. First many of the 1st and 2nd year members will be planning this event next year and they need to see what previous events have looked like. Second, the event is good for the Seniors so that they can get a rough idea of what May Commencement will look like.

I have received a number of emails from individuals who would like to volunteer who are not members of the Californians. Because this event is a Californians' event, these individuals are given a lower priority. Therefore out of courtesy to these other individuals, I would request that all of you refrain from extending the offer of volunteering at the event to nonmembers. At this time we appear to have enough volunteers and if we do need more, J---- and I will determine whether we should extend this invitation to nonmembers.

It is always great to hear that individuals outside of the organization would like to volunteer, but members who will need to experience the event for whatever reason should be given the first priority. But if the need arises, J---- and I would be happy to ask individuals outside of the Californians.

This email is meant for Junior Branch officers only, so please do not forward this to anyone else. I hate to say no to anyone, but it is necessary to look out for the interests of the members of the Californians before those of anyone else. I hope that you can understand this decision.

Thanks a lot guys and best wishes!

oh... my GOSH! is it just me? or does that ring like... really COCKY and STUCK up to anyone else? It's like... dude... I have people FALLING all over each other to volunteer! I need to send out acceptance letters... "I hate to say no to anyone" man.. I really don't understand her... she's got a BIG complex about like trying to make herself look better than everyone else... "Hey you guys, *I* want the junior branch to look REALLY professional because it's like MY branch, it'd be a disgrace to me if you showed up in jeans and a T-shirt" DUDE... WHATEVER! It's like she's afraid that other people will get a leg up while they're VOLUNTEERING. I need to "look out for the interests of the members of the Californians before those of anyone else." WHAT interests?! stupid. stupid. stupid. I mean... she probably MEANS well... er no... I take that back... I don't think she does... in her head, she means well... but I think it's kind of a screwed up "well-meaning." Like.. I'm gonna take care of my own and THAT'S IT!!! It's stuff that makes sense in the head, until it comes out on paper. "I don't care about anyone/anything as long as it doesn't affect me." and that's basically the mentality I'm objecting to. I mean.. it happens, people take care of their own... but things like this is just STUPID. What happened to love of all people? and stuff like that? It really frustrates me too see people like that... and even if she WANTED to reject our help... she could just tell qhaha that she had enough volunteers... stupid. stupid. stupid. and she acts like it's a PRIVILEGE to do manual labor for her... I hate it when service projects are like that too! Like at glide memorial sometimes, it's like... dang... I'm here to HELP! not to be treated like I'm LUCKY to make your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!...ah well... whatever.

Ah... sunday... the last day of this wonderful break... darn... so I went out and hung out with little Eddie this weekend, only to be told by my little brother to come back in 1.5 hours. hehe... did I listen to him? Nope. =) GO me! (hehe... usually I just do what he tells me cuz it's easier)

So... last tuesday... I don't remember if I mentioned that my GSI walked out on us. But dude.. it was not nice of her at all. However, after I thought about it for awhile, I thought I'd write my professor about it. so here's the letter and his response...

Dear Professor,

I've been debating whether or not to send you this letter. However, I felt the need to inform you of what happened in our section. I'm not too sure what could or should be done, if anything at all.

I am a third year student taking your anthropology class in Section 111, which meets on Tuesdays at 12:00 pm. Usually L**** is our GSI, however due to her sickness, K****** M****** has taken over.

I don't know whether or not I speak for the entire section but this is my perception of what occurred. Since I will be fairly straight forward, I would appreciate it if you did not mention my name to the GSIs involved. The 13th of November was the first time Kathryn Mathers taught our section. She asked us what we had prepared for section, and we told her we had brought in some art as Linda had instructed us to. As we went around talking about our art, she seemed to become increasingly exasperated with us. We weren't too sure what she was expecting from us as her questions seemed vague. Whenever we tried to contribute anything to the discussion, she made us feel incompetent. As a result, the class stopped contributing, and she became even more frustrated.

This past Tuesday, the 20th, she walked out on our section about five minutes into section. She asked who had done the reading for the class, and there were about 5 of the 15 of us there who had finished the reading for the week. I realize that this is a good reason for a GSI to be upset but no one expected that type of a response.

We have a pretty good group, we participate a lot and we usually get a stimulating discussion going. However, in defense of my section, as college students we are taking multiple classes and have many other responsibilities as well. I'm sure you realize that we prioritize reading based on what's due. We had a paper due two weeks ago, thus we did all the reading up to that point, for the paper. Consequently, that sets us back in other classes. If we have a midterm in another class the following week, we start reading to the exclusion of all else until that midterm is over. I know that it's not the best way to do things. However, realistically, that's what happens. Usually our section is very good about doing most, if not all, of the reading.

In any case, I feel that even if we didn't finish the reading because we were out partying or were just plain lazy, we still have the right to be able to go to section and learn in a less than hostile learning environment. We are students, we do read most of the time, and we do want to learn. I feel that just showing up to section proves this point. If we really didn't care or didn't want to learn, we would have just stayed home.

I always thought the role of the GSI was to help us learn. They're supposed to promote a good learning environment, facilitate discussion and help clear up any confusion we might have about the material. Not only did she not do this, ultimately she intimidated us and pushed us away from the subject matter. It is really difficult to learn when your GSI walks out of section, not to mention upsetting. It makes us feel like bad students. As though we'e not good enough to go to class because ¡§[she] do[esn]'t want to teach a section that's unprepared!¡¨

I was always told that even if you didn't have time to do all you were supposed to do, you should go to class anyway because you'll still learn something. Sometimes things happen that are beyond our control that keep us from being fully prepared but I believe that there is still value in attending classes. L**** always made us feel welcome and encouraged our class to excel. I fear that this nurturing environment is being jeopardized.

Anyhow, I just felt the need to tell someone what happened. Again I ask you to maintain my confidentiality. Thank you for your time, and I hope you have had a good Thanksgiving break

Sincerely,
Shelley Chang

and his response:

Dear Shelley Chang,

Thank you very much for your long letter and your detailed and straightforward account of your section. I have considered it in detail and discussed it, perfectly anonymously with another GSI and an experienced authority. The particular section and your name have been held in confidence.

It is a complex problem. I have had a number of GSI's in this course and in previous versions tell me that they have walked out of a section or that they have only talked with those that seemed prepared. I have usually been sympathetic but I have also hoped that it never occurred more than once. I have never heard the students side of such happening, so I am glad you wrote and I think you put the case very well. You write well. What are you (intending to) major(ing) in? I think you have talent.

This is a particularly complex case because, for one, K****** is not your usual GSI, and she didn't know and probably had no chance to know what L**** was expecting of you that time or in general. Furthermore she doesn't know any of you. As you say, she had a style which made you feel incompetent and not enthusiastic about the anthropological materials. It is possible that some of this is a matter of "style" rather than intent. I don't know whether you ever read Mitford's book "Noblesse Oblige" which describes how some people of British background speak very directly and disarmingly, without beating around the bush and making allowances. Some people have said that of me in my interactions with students in a lecture [Wat do you think?] and other have said, Oh his bark is worse than his bite! And I'm sure that this contrasts with the more encouraging approach of American L**** C***. However, K****** should be aware of this, especially for students she doesn't know.

There is also the matter of responsibility on both sides. It is supposed to be a discussion section, so if the students haven't read and can't discuss, what is the GSI supposed to do. As one experienced GSI said "Well, it really puts the GSI on the spot; they have to perform, or give a lecture, if the students won't" And they are supposed to facilitate and moderate discussions with students. Another GSI pointed out that if some students have done the work and discuss, and the others haven't and don't, they are parasites - learning without doing the work, so the section should be limited to those who've done the work. But as you pointed out, it varies from week to week depending on the other commitments, which students are active and which are not - L**** knows this and K****** does not.

Above all, something that I as professor have been worrying about - before you wrote - is the extra strain and stress put on those GSIs who are not sick, who have to increase their workload by 25 or 50% to take L****'s sections, without an extra pay, and they too have a full load of commitments outside of teaching sections. I think the strain is telling and its not fair to any of you. On Wednesday I tried to get hold of University officials to see if there is money to hire an extra GSI or for the present GSIs to be paid for the extra work, if L**** cannot come back immediately, but they'd all gone home early and no one could give me an answer. So I have to wait till Monday to get an answer to the question to see what I can do about it.

Shelley, I can't give you any definitive answers at the moment but as you can see the situation is a concern of mine, before you ever wrote. I shall talk (generally) to the GSI's about it at our weekly session on Tuesday, emphasizing that they should be extra understanding about their expectations of those students who were used ands and have been "abandoned" by L****, and we'll try to find out if an when L**** can come back. I know there are some GSIS who say that could never walk out of a section.But I know plenty of others who say that would and they have, and they shouldn't be expected to do extra work if the students don't - and now they are unionized, their duties and workload are spelled out in detail by the union agreement - for the first time this year.

I hope that writing to me helped you think about the situation and that my letter helps. Try to see what the other students are trying to do about getting the work done and trying to participate, and explain if you can, about their GSI being put on the spot too - as I quoted above.

Let me know what happens.

professor

Don't you like how we both incorporated quotes into the letters? mmm... I guess you DO use those "tuck-in" quotes that you learn about in highschool. hehe...

All I hope out of this letter is that we don't get Mathers again to teach us... dang.. that woman! ::shudder:: aiight... I need to leave now. Back too Berkeley soon! BYE!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!!

So yeah... now I'm in Cupertino, hanging out with my cousins. Whoo Hoo!!! my cousins! they're REALLY cool, and next semester Nancy is gonna pledge APO! yay! Whoever is her big sib better be a GOOD big sib! ::scowls menacingly at whoever wants to be a bad big sib:: hehe... anyway, We went and had dim sum today at this restaurant... it was really good! and let's see, we played poker last night, and big 2 this morning... and hmm... that's about it... it's been a pretty laaaazy day... hehe...

I think I'm getting sick though... ::cough cough:: I don't like being sick!
and sick just in time for vacation DOH!

hehe... but not like THAT'S gonna stop me from having a good time! =P

ah wells... that's 'nuff for now, back to playing with my cousins!

blah

Anyway, so yesterday... jennie didn't show up to pledge test. And we're still working on Tammi... ::sigh:: I hope vince got that last signature... you know that boy... he's really something. Don't quite know WHAT exactly... but he is something else. =P I'm really glad that he pledged this semester. And I'm really glad that I got to know him. And I'm also really glad that I can say that he is my friend. I don't know... I've found that in life... everybody has this outer facade that they show to everyone else in the world. For some it is a "happy" facade, for some it's a "cool" one, for some it's a "nice" one, or a "studious" one, or any number of things. And for vince... I'd have to say that he's just... vince. I don't know what facade he'd be presenting... because it doesn't seem like he has one. Everything he does is purely from the heart. And that... is something. it's either that...

or if you want to be pessimistic, he's just perfected the art of facades. and THAT is an accomplishment. To be able to hide yourself so well that none can see you for who you are, but only what you present. However, given time, the facade inevitably wears away, and only you remain. I wonder if that will happen to him... but I'm an optimist. I don't think that it's a facade. Vince is just a really great guy. =)

anyway... getting off of that topic.

Leslie is leaving tomorrow for Salinas. She's withdrawn from her classes. And she won't be back until next semester.=( And Leslie if you are reading this right now. STOP! Close your eyes and call me or something. Don't sit there and read! I swear, that girl is impossible! ::shakes head:: She doesn't know what's good for her... love you les. Ok.. that's all I'm going to say about you, so you can sign off now right? right. Good.

:;sigh:: I NEVER thought that I would lose a little. I never DREAMED that i would lose two... it would be EXTREMELY upsetting if I lost all three... and all in one semester... ::sigh:: dammit. we're good big sibs! ::sigh::

Wow... so what's happened? wells... ok... so wednesday, leslie got into an accident... thursday I just went around running errands... friday, I skipped class and went to SF in order to try and figure out my visa for Taiwan.. I was told that I can't do anything until I get a plane ticket and an itinerary... And i was all... oh man! I walk ALL this way... to find out... I need to go home and get an itinerary... thus I had to go to McDonalds and get some fries... otherwise I felt like I was leaving SF all empty-handed and stuff. By the time I got home, I couldn't make it to tutoring... good thing I got Irene to take my place... I love Irene you know?

and then I went to Joanns with jess to buy the stuff for big dance...

SOOOOOO cute! our little sarongs and halters... just wish tammi coulda gone.. ::sigh::

after that, turns out leslie's parents came up, so I went to active retreat instead of hanging with leslie as I had originally intended... hehe

watch big game, a meteor shower, Harry Potter, and then played games until 5:30, slept,. woke up, ate breakfast, went to the mystery spot, came home... whew!

what a PACKED weekend! =D