Office Lady #11

Our company was making promotional videos and mobilized almost everybody at the office to be a part of the shoot. I didn't land a major role because apparently I didn't look enough like a factory girl.

But I did get recruited to act the part of office lady #11. While I was waiting to get filmed, I started chatting with my colleague, Elvis, who was supposed to act as the customer. That was when I found out that he was an ex-soldier, a catalougue model, and now a micro-credit salesman. I then shared a few stories of my own and started showing him photos on my computer of the time when I accidentally ate sheep @%&@^.

 "Cut!"

I looked up, startled. The crew had been filming us the whole time. And apparently the director loved me. Because I was such a natural. And he praised my little touches of pointing to the computer and smiling. All of a sudden, I was being added into scenes left and right. The marketing department even awarded me a company USB for contributing so much to the video.

So I just want to take this opportunity to thank my parents. And Kenji for constantly using me as a film object for his documentary classes. And the director for seeiing in me the potential to play office lady #11. And of course, for the support of my imaginary fans. I love you all.

Twirlr

A friend just sent me this and I gotta share (you'll see why!)



I feel like this should be Kenji's new theme song.

What Friendship Means to an Eleven Year Old

Have I ever bragged about my sister Jody before? She's eleven. Smart. Beautiful. Sassy. And she is an amazing writer.

She wrote this poem about friendship the other day:

A friend can be anyone,

Anyone who respects you.

A friend can be your next door neighbor,

A person who did a kind favor,

Or even your enemy.

Having a friend is like putting batteries into a clock,

Or sailing a boat in a dock.

Take this away and what do you have?

A clock that doesn’t work and an empty dock.

A person who doesn’t have a friend is like a book with no pages,

A sky with no sun,

 A pen with no ink,

Or having no blanket in a cold, windy night.

Give a good fight?

‘Tis is wrong.

-----

Essentially, a friend is "anyone who respects you," even your enemy.  

I've never thought of that before. That forces me to wonder --  am I a true friend? Am I patient with those around me when I am stressed? Do I listen to their ideas, and really think about them, even if I don't agree? Can I love my friends the way they are, without trying to mold them into somebody I think I might like better?

When an eleven year-old teaches you about life (beyond the fact that boys have infectious diseases), it's humbling. And reminds me of these wonderful people who somehow want to be my friends:

 We have fun being awkward together. 

I look up to these girls so much.

My best friends. I could not have made it through college without my siblings (+ JC).

I don't think they will ever know how much they mean to me.

 Kenji. Sticks with me during those stressful moments. 

He teaches me how to have fun (that does not involve econometrics).

I am still working on that.

 We love each other. Enough said.

 

Flash Mob for Japan

When the world was watching the earthquakes, tsunamis, and nuclear emergencies in Japan several weeks ago, a small group of Asians in BYU got together and started scheming.

We wanted people to remember their initial compassion and sympathy for Japan when the water recedes, when the news cameras leave, when Japan has to pick itself up and start again.

Our solution? Organize a flashmob where we raise awareness of Japan's sufferings and encourage people to buy "Made in Japan" because that is the best way to help Japan's long term recovery.

Around 200 Asians responded to the call. And this is what we did today at the wilk terrace:




Added bonus? Now the white people know that (some) Asians can dance.

Check this out if you're a little confused at the ching chong part in the middle.

Props to Kenji (for designing shirts and editing video), Ryan (for remixing the song), Jarom (master planner!), Shunta (choreographing), Amy, Rachel, Miranda (for being the most patient dance teachers), and many others!

Joshua Radin Concert

The first time I heard Joshua Radin was when Justin burnt me a CD with all his favorite songs.

But the first time I fell in love with Joshua Radin's songs was in the Paris Charles de Gaulles airport. I had ten minutes of free internet time. I sent off a paper, which I was frantically writing the whole time we were in Paris, checked facebook, and fed my OCD habit of checking my email.

Kenji had written me a long email. And sent me this song. And it's been one of my favorite ever since.




I really hope he plays it at his concert tomorrow night!