On discussions of sorts

There have been quite a few discussions in my life that have challenged me in some form or another to really think about what I believe about certain things, including animal rights, safe spaces, and immigration.

All three are very complicated issues and have people with very strong views one way or the other. Yes, I support animal rights, yes I support safe spaces, and yes I support immigration reform. The reasons for all of these are really very interrelated in my mind and having them randomly appear in my life in less than a week has made me think about them all together.

I think, for me at least, there's just a basic respect for life in general and equality. These basic beliefs extend to treating animals humanely, and equally. Not necessarily equal to us, because we are different, but across species. All humans should be treated equal, as should all dogs or pigs or cows or llamas or whatever. I don't understand why it's seen as ok for some animals to be given the star treatment while others are bred and led to the slaughter. It's one of the reasons I turned vegetarian 3 years ago.

Safe spaces have always been a difficult thing to discuss in my life, and I think a large part of that is because I'm mixed race. Though I do naturally feel more comfortable among people of color I've never felt entirely comfortable in any space where race is apparent. As a person who identifies as a person of color, majority white spaces make me feel slightly awkward and off guard, but majority non-white spaces make me feel slightly awkward because for people who don't know me I appear to be white. I do get defensive when people attack that space because it's really helped me as a person though I've always found it difficult to explain to some people. Life should not always be comfortable, but we should have places to go to be comfortable and relax so we can recoop and be ready for another day of uncomfortableness.

And last, immigration. I think our current immigration process is pretty screwy. It's so difficult to come to this country simply because you want to make a better life for yourself. You have to have some reason for coming, a job already, school, spouse, tourism, but wanting to make a better life doesn't count. And with the amount we charge for a visa, it's really only the priviledged who are able to come. There isn't really an avenue for the low income brackets to come and seek work with the exception of coming undocumented. And when a child was raised here undocumented we thank them by deporting them to a country they have never known.

I know there are other sides to each battle and I've heard all of them this week, it was just nice to get my thoughts out.

Here's to procrastination and senioritis.

A bad co-op day

I don't even really want to elaborate on it that much, there were just multiple factors that made me slightly unhappy with my co-op today. Just a few things to consider when eating a co-op.

1. If you have issues with people in positions, bring them up, early, and often, if necessary.

2. Please follow procedure, it drives virgos like me crazy.

3. Take into consideration the purpose of specialty co-ops within OSCA and within the Oberlin community before making claims.

On a happier note, most of the budget is done and the savings are even greater for next year and we donated $6000.00 to Oberlin Community Services.

Bikes and nothing but bikes

This past week was a rather exciting one.

My bike finally came in! My beautiful blacktacular surly crosscheck arrived at the bike co-op and it is mostly put together. I just have to get the fork cut, and buy a U-lock so I can start taking it out without fear of someone cutting my other pathetic lock.

It's so nice though. I've riden it a little and it's so smooth and comfortable. The shifting is quick and the brakes work well and it's just, well, pretty.

Next on the list of things to buy: racks, panniers, pedals, water bottle clips.

So excited. Now for lots of bike rides with Margaret.

Rooting for the visiting team/underdog

I recently went to my first NBA game ever, and a playoff at that. It was definitely an experience, and made even more memorable by the fact that myself and my 3 fellow Obies were routing for the Chicago Bulls and not the Cleveland Cavaliers. I'm not from Chicago, but I have no ties to Cleveland and since I was sitting with 3 friends from Chicago, I thought why not? They are the underdog anyway.

Well, Cleveland fans didn't take too well to us being in their stadium (hmm I wonder why) and so we got some trash talking on the way to the game. For the most part though, the fans were pretty quiet during the game. A friend of mine made the biggest poster in the stadium and people gave us dirty looks, but that was about it. This friend also made a lot of comments during the game that I'm surprised no one responded too. Thankfully the people directly in front of us were from Detroit, not really rooting for anyone, and didn't really care.

I think part of the reason they weren't saying anything was because for the first 3 quarters they had nothing to say. It was a close game until the fourth quarter and so they couldn't rub in our faces, but as soon as they put the game in Lebron's hands and built their lead, we got all the shit talking we could handle. Some of it was dumb (the girls in front of us made a sign that read "Check the score Chicago" purposely held to face us instead of at any possible cameras like most people), others creepy (another guy stared at us while holding his Cleveland shirt) and others just plain obnoxious (said t-shirt guy was a little too Cleveland proud, also wearing an Indians hat). In the end, he said he was allowed to wear said hat cause he's from Cleveland followed by something dumb to which I responded, I'm from LA, and guess who won the championship last year?

The Bulls will probably lose the series and Cleveland will either make it to the finals or get beat by the Celtics (I hope), but my first NBA game was definitely much more enjoyable as someone rooting for the other team. And hey, now I'm an honorary Chicagoan, so take that Cleveland.

Springgggy spring spring springgggy

Spring has been a long time coming and I'm glad it's almost finally here. Life has been pretty eventful actually. I've decided to make a top 10 of sorts, though this is list is not ranked, because Patrick's post made me want to make a top 10.

1. I went to DC to march for immigration reform. That was pretty awesome, and gained a little respect for Cardinal Mahoney (from my home archdiocese of Los Angeles). In a whirlwind 27 hour trip, we drove to and from DC and did a LOT of walking. Needless to say, we were all real tired afterwards.

2. Krieg's reopened. This amazing frozen custard place about 10 minutes from Oberlin changes it's custard flavor weekly from very berry to black rasberry. Yes I have a frequent buyer card and yes in the span of 7 days I brought 7 new people there.

3. The weather. It starts to warm up, though hasn't entirely just yet and the sun shines and makes Oberlin so much more pleasant. And I can hopefully return to my less pale natural color and maybe even get a tan!

4. It's green. I love it when green and color start to show up all over, making my travel to and from places so much more enjoyable.

5. All Roads Lead to Oberlin. Working in Admissions this is possibly one of the busiest times and has filled most of my free time with extra things, but it's still enjoyable to talk to admitted students and get paid that much more for all the hard work!

6. At the same time, applying to jobs sucks. And having to think about life past Oberlin is rather daunting.

7. But I am biking through Europe. And my bike has been ordered and should come soon. And then I'll have to put it together and bike everywhere on it!

8. Concerts and events galore. This past weekend alone, in order, I went to the Cleveland Orchestra, Spring Back, Swing dancing, Rocky Horror Picture Show, American Brass Quintet. And this week has the Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra performing, plus Sunday in the Park with George.

9. Commencement. Yeah, I'm graduating in May, which means I have to get ready for that, and tell my parents what events to go to and when to get here and how to most cheaply fly them here. It's a lot of phone call with my mother that I don't usually make. On the plus side, she has sent me like 20 oranges in the past 2 weeks!

10. My last special meal for the my beloved Third World Co-op is this Saturday and planning it is a little hectic. I'll be making sangria, which is quite an adventure in itself, but I also have to decide how to best fit all my friends into our tiny co-op one last time.

Oh yeah, and that homework that I've been neglecting while writing this, but that doesn't really count.

Can't wait for more sun and Oberlin love as I finish up my last 6 weeks of life here. WHOA.