Juniper’s Jolly Jives

Thaaaaaaaannnnkkkssssss

2013-11-22T08:55:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is approaching and although the cause for celebration behind it does not really resonate with me, (the pilgrim hijack), I will honor the more modernized tradition which is being thankful for everything that brings us joy, health, love and overall happiness.

I am thankful Koreans do not have a black frid--er-- week. Nothing about waiting in line in the freezing cold while still digesting my turkey or fighting off the tryptophan sounds appealing. I don’t care if there is a 90" TV for $200. Who needs a 90" TV anyway? Yeeesh!

I am thankful for the subway because it's a buck and I love when Koreans stare at me. I’ve become a pro at the quick wink. It creeps them out.

I am thankful for all the different types of coffee and my floor heating, the 24 hour Korean fast food restaurant on my building’s first floor, their-cheaper-than-Indy cabs, the food stands on the streets, ButterFinger Pancake restaurant, my mother for taking care of while profusely worrying about me, my family's health and Laura...

Laura, I am thankful for you. How in the Holy Good God of this wondrous world and everything that is sacred and true, have I not met you sooner (I blame Matt and Scott)? Sure it would have been nice to have "someone" here to help me go through the pesky things such as getting a Korean phone (btw my US number is no longer in service), a Korean bank account, navigate the subway stations... but this girl, THIS GIRL, is the bomb, people. We share the same values and friendship policies (we have no patience for "friends" who do not have the time for us. We live across the world and WE still make time for you, regardless of the time difference, hemisphere, continent, job, diet, shoe size, eye color, bra size...). I'd do anything for a friend or family member and I hope they would too. Laura, thanks for always laughing at everything I say (I am pretty funny) and being obsessed with eggs.

I’ve been here for well over a month and the days and weeks go by fairly quickly (except today...today suuuucckkkkssss), I get along with the kiddies to everyone's surprise but now... NOW... now that I've settled in, I'm about to go ape shit on some of them. In fact I have already made 3 kids cry and they hate me now and since job security is based on whether the kids like you, I make sure to play games before teaching as to reinstate my stature as Queen Jen Teacher. They bow to me (legit). Ah, young minds; so easily altered...Mwahaha

Please focus your attention on this short video and notice how obedient they are:

Also guys, thanks for raising my hopes up about losing "so much weight over there!" because Igained ten pounds, bitches*. How am I supposed to have a photo-shoot worthy of a Sports Illustrated magazine frolicking on the beach in Thailand? Or take pics with tigers and elephants that are so good as to have them submitted to NatGeo? The elephant will never forget my weight! Anyway, I don’t really care..I said I'd be on the beach for New Year’s last year and I will be. So I’m eating pizza tonight.

I'd like to comment on pictures flooding my Facebook of dead animals. For those peoples’information, hunting is not a "sport". It certainly does not make you admirable or distinguished. In fact it makes you merit a good lecture:

hunting disrupts migration and hibernation patterns and destroys families. For animals such as wolves, who mate for life and live in close-knit family units, hunting can devastate entire communities. The stress that hunted animals suffer, severely compromises their eating habits, making it hard for them to store the fat and energy they need in order to survive the winter (peta.org).

You can educate yourself more by simply Googling: "negative effects of hunting on ecosystems". Nature takes care of its own, so if your argument is " well...I'm controlling animal population" you're an idiot and you should be controlled.

In addition, and this is important, I would like to bring up what happened in North Korea on November 3rd. I won’t go into too much detail as to what my thoughts are since I might just combust but I would just like to make you aware of all the injustice and cruelty that exists in this world. There are horrible occurrences, unspeakable hatred and terror and it would benefit our kind so much if we knew what happened outside our own bubbles. Please read the news and inform yourself, know that the world does not revolve around you.

This year I am mostly thankful for my right to vote, my freedom of speech and my liberty. I know how good I have it, do you?

As Arturo Sandoval said (he was just awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom):

"What I like the most is the last part of the medal — freedom -- because I always say that ‘no freedom, no life."

Happy Thanksgiving and holidays.

With love,

Jen

* this is a grossly exaggerated estimate

BedRock

2013-11-12T04:01:00.005-05:00

I would just like to comment on the HEINOUS beds here: they are awful (just like the drivers). The mattress is hard and the springs can be felt throughout the night digging into you. There are no memory foam or mattress pads anywhere. They use blankets to "soften" the rock mattresses. Thank GAWD for that otherwise I'd still be having back pains (spoiler alert: they don't do jack shit!). Being the spoiled princess that I am, and being accustomed to a life of luxury, I ordered a mattress pad online and got it the next day. How pretentious am I?

Don't care. Tonight, I'm sleeping like a queen and here's Enzo bean because I incessantly miss him.

Seoulite in Progress

2013-11-03T23:13:00.001-05:00

i feel like death. I have been sick for the past week. Apparently it is inevitable for one to become sick the first month regardless of the thousands of mg of vitamins you take. It's like a rite passage. "Have you been sick since your arrival? No. Then you haven't really lived in Seoul yet"

Well here I am sick as a dog and not ready to take on the day with the culprits: the slimy balls of snotty children. The word "etiquette" is more foreign to them than I am. People cough and sneeze in your face, slam into you, push you for a seat on the train, and cut you in line. I went to a stand up comedy last week, and one of the comedians said it best "they don't bless you after you sneeze because they hope you die and take your train seat".

I am the art teacher at school, so my work life has never been this easy. This job is easier than working the cash register at Bed bath and beyond. I just walk into the class and ask the kids what the material is for the day or tell them to draw a bridge with cars and voila! The kids are so weird and smart and crazy (the adults are too). This kid in one of my classes always looks out the window because he thinks North Korea will attack us. I wonder what home life is like at his house....

After they've done their class work, I check it by drawing an image they like. This girl is obsessed with poop. I call her PoopGirl.

PoopGirl loves poop

She cracked up laughing at her drawing.

The best part of my day is lunch. The food is soooo good. You all thought I'd lose weight here, well you were wrong, I can't stop eating! As far as I know I haven't eaten anything weird yet or if I did, I don't know. Ignorance is bliss. They also provide dinner so i don't even have to go grocery shopping, not that i'd know what to get anyway since everything is in Korean. The brands I do recognize are three times the price than back at home and I don't miss home that much. (Update: I had what I thought was a delicious sweet ramen looking plant, turns out it was DRIED UP SQUID).

DRIED SQUID ewwww (I liked it)

Last weekend I went on the "Halloween Boat Cruise" as Catwoman, I never was hit on by so many lesbians. I met Jack Sparrow and was a celebrity for a night. I'd get stopped in the streets and asked to take pictures with "Johnny Depp" (they actually thought it was him) and was revered for my curves... "I want to be you" the girls would tell me. Women have such low self esteem, every time I meet a Korean woman I complement her and make sure she knows she is a pretty woman and to never look down on herself. Two girls I teach were actually arguing about who was uglier. There are shops that sell skin whitening, large colored contacts that make your iris larger and have eye lid stickers to pull back their eyelids to give them that crease, and glasses without lenses that pull the eye lid back. Awful.
Anyway here I am in all my bootyliciousness. Meow.

This decision to want to come out here was the best idea I have had this year for myself. This is exactly what I needed, what I ordered and expected. I have not felt stressed or anxious, I have not felt sad or depressed. The only time I felt sympathy for someone was while watching Sandra Bullock spiraling out of control in space. I mean, who wouldn't?! You can't NOT not think about your insignificance when you watch anything that has to do with space (don't worry I do not teach grammar in my classes...was that a triple negative?)

I have not had any culture shock, or encountered anything alarmingly strange. I just embrace it and think of it as weirdly awesome. I love that there are coffee shops at every corner. the coffee is amazing, the fashion is so funky, classy and fun. I have not seen anyone looking disheveled yet, if they are then it is on purpose. This kid was probably 13 years old, had the Bieber hair cut and would check himself out every 30 seconds in the train window and his camera phone. He would whip his hair so many times, I had a headache just looking at him. The shopping is great, I am pretty sure that by the end of the year, my transformation into a Korean will be completed. At the moment, I am a Seoulite in progress and embracing all the weirdness. Seoul: Stay Weird.

Summary of fisrt 3 days in SOKO! Kamsamnida!

2013-10-14T09:50:00.004-04:00

This is a video of my first day in Seoul. I just got home from my first school day and am so exhausted I may not make any sense.

When I got in Friday night, Laura took me around her neighborhood, we got some Korean beers and called it a night. The next day, we went to get tickets for the Korea vs. Brazil game since Laura is a huge soccer fan and begged me to go ha. We waited in line for two hours but alas, the tickets were sold out. So we found a scalper. They are so sketchy, they signal us with their head and take us in the back of the trees to negotiate, as shady as they seemed though, they were so trustworthy, he gave us the tickets and let us deliberate while trying to sell other tickets to people hundreds of yards from us. Also, people leave their cars open, they are helpful and eager to practice English with you. They eat and talk with their mouth open, and also have conversations on their phone while you are at dinner with them. Very attractive, especially when food falls out of their mouths. Koreans also do not know the word "excuse me" and have no notion of personal space. I'm not even bothered by it. I was the only white person on the train today and I loved it! Speaking of the subway, they are spotless and inexpensive and so convenient.

After the game we met up with some other expats and we went to Hongdae, which is broad ripple on steroids times ten. It is where practically all the expats go to have a good time, and a good time we had!

On Sunday Laura and I went for brunch in Gangnam which is one of the richer cities. Very posh. Lots of stores and shopping and TACO BELL. It's basically the Manhattan of Seoul. So after brunch...at 4pm we went home to change, locate my school, go to dinner and hike. I passed out at 6pm.

So, today I met my co-foreign teachers, we are 5, all from the US but one who is Irish. I met the vice principle of the school who just told me how pretty I was (apparently Koreans are very blunt, she actually told one of the teachers she was ugly. That teacher is leaving in 3 weeks). Anyway, I basically am Miss America to these Korean co-teachers and children which means they all love me because of my looks. Hey... I ain't complaining!

This week I will be shadowing the teacher I am replacing. She gave me the low down on the teachers and foreign teachers and et me know to watch what I divulge since Koreans are huge gossipers and all goes back to the VP. In any case, the longest class is 45 minutes and the shortest is 20 minutes long and consists of vocabulary terms, going over homework, arts and crafts.

Here are my thoughts on the children, you need to sit down because this may shock you: they are the CUTEST little humans beings, so smart, and engaging and just adorable. They just all flocked to me and ogled me with "ooohs" and "aaahs"and "Jen Teacher! Jen Teacher! Where are you from? Do you have a boyfriend? Are you married? When do you leave?" I also got my hand kissed a couple of times. Why didn't I do this sooner?!

After school, I went to see my apartment I will move into this Saturday and is a decent size as opposed to Laura's apartment closet (hehe) and now finishing typing this up so I can go to sleep! I am pooped and already can't wait for the weekend.

Good night!

Off to Tokyo!

2013-10-10T14:53:00.002-04:00

As of now I am still in Chicago. On the plane. They are trying to fix the heating and A/C.

This airline SSSUUUCCKKSSS. 45 minutes late and counting. People are getting off the plane to get food. Shame on you UNITED AIRLINES and your baggage fees and rude employees. Typing from my phone sorry about the format and since I'm complaining ill just add that there isn't a USB port to charge my phone or laptop. Oh wait! It's been solved! Mazel.

SK Update!

2013-09-25T20:18:00.000-04:00

My move to South Korea is 100% official. My visa arrived today. I am one step closer to living in the future (SK is 13 hours ahead).

I don’t even know what to say at this point. I am probably still in denial, I am, however, starting to feel angst, maybe a bout of sadness, but mostly anguish, torment, anxiety, sorrow, worry and fear. I watch a lot of movies and have a vivid imagination; my dreams are borderline real and foreboding I can pretty much write M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie. It’s that bad (pun intended, he ruined The Last Airbender movie).

Thankfully, you do not die in your dreams, Inception 101.

The worry came on after my father’s heart attack last weekend. It scared me to think something could happen to anyone while I am away. After all, shootings and bombings seem to always be in season, unfortunately, and are uncontrollable and unpredictable. Diet and stress can be controlled so I hope this was a wakeup call for him. No Camembert, Roquefort, steak or foie gras is worth shaving years off your life to your children’s detriment. Take care of yourself, papa. Who else will I eat baby octopus or chicken embryos with when you come visit? (Just kidding, I’m never touching that).

As far as today’s news goes, I do not know my Seoul’s address nor have a Korean phone number. My plan is to suspend my contract here and use my unlocked IPhone over there by switching SIM cards. Is that a good idea? Input appreciated.

And as I wait for my recruiter to respond to my 3,456,287 question e-mail, I will indulge myself and look for flights.

Najung-e dangsin-ege beullogeu

(blog to you later)

P.S.: I should not have watched The Final Destination.

Update: South Korea

2013-09-12T12:52:00.000-04:00

Got school offer. Signed contract. Waiting for visa. Boom.

Update: South Korea--Short lived excitement

2013-09-02T11:17:00.000-04:00

I was offered a teaching position last week with the second school I interviewed with. The school looked great, had a handful of other foreign teachers who all lived in the same building. I had great hours and was to teach up to elementary school. I was set, I just had to wait on their contract to be sent and signed. So I waited...and waited...(okay just 2 days but still, it was KILLING ME!) My recruiter kept apologizing for the delay since the school was in meetings and my contract needed to be looked over by the principle. Alas, it was too good to be true, my recruiter let me know that they had pushed back the starting date from end of September to November!

Back to square one.

Apparently this is common and happens often but I am still frustrated and upset. I will just take this in stride and as part of the experience. I reached out to multiple other recruiters. Hopefully my inbox will be filled tonight. GGGAAAAAHHHHH!!!! I WILL be there this month!

Blog with you soon homies.

Before My First Skype Interview with a Korean School!

2013-08-22T21:54:00.002-04:00

Eeeeeeeeek!!!!

Update: South Korea

2013-08-21T14:32:00.000-04:00

After two and a half months of filling out forms, mailing, requesting, and becoming #1 customer with Fedex, I finally got all my papers, documents and passport ready. I am starting to interview with schools and getting a better grasp of what my life will be like.

I would have never thought of doing this. Like, ever. It is, in a sense, somewhat out of character for me to just pick up and leave, but on the other hand, not that much…I've always been spontaneous and strange or unexpected. The excitement of it all keeps me going and fills me with new found hope and stimulates me to a point of exhilaration.

However, if I had known how long and frustrating this process was going to be, I proooooobably would have had second thoughts. Usually, if something is too much work and I do not see an end result or know what the outcome will be, I give up. But I had this feeling. I knew that no matter how difficult and discouraging this is, I would make it happen for myself. When my recruiter was doing less than a stellar job at communicating and keeping me informed, I took matters into my own hands, otherwise I’d be here until December. No, thank you.

You can’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream, you have to get out there and make it happen for yourself. You have the ability to choose which way you want to go. You have to believe great things are going to happen in your life. Do everything you can – prepare and achieve. South Korea has one of the most beautiful fall seasons and I will be there to see it.

New beginnings

2013-06-11T17:13:00.002-04:00

I have an announcement.

I have something to look forward to. Something frightening and nerve wracking enough that I might not even have nail beds by the time the date rolls around. This experience will broaden my views and sense of self. This may be my right of passage! Maybe I am glorifying it all and will end up hating it. After all, I am not a big fan of children, but what do I know? I've escaped any room that contained more than two children at a time by simply glancing into it. They are exuberant, loud, and intense but I may get some gems: preferably shy and laid back ones. Regardless of their personality or characteristics all children have the pure joy of a light heart and the open space of a clear mind. To be a kid again would be so liberating to me! I still think I carry certain characteristics: I'm curious and have genuine interest of the world around me and I am taking a big risk, a leap of faith. Life isn’t perfect - and some risks are worth taking.

At this time, I have decided to leave everything that is comforting and familiar behind and have chosen to move to Asia for a year and teach English as a second language.

Being accepted into this program means more than only teaching; for it also allows me the greatest opportunity to see the world. I will be forever grateful to have met children, who can put their trust in me - To view and hear language the way I have, and, for them to teach me as well just how they perceive life around them. Ultimately, my desire is to become enriched in this program to expand my own cultural awareness while also making a heavy impact. While I do not have a degree in teaching…or children, my interests lay in adventure. I have lived on two different continents and hold three nationalities. I’ve wanted to continue to grasp unique cultures across the world. Give me a mountain and I’ll climb it; a new country and I’ll explore it; a new food...eeeehhh, maybe not. Whether or not the year turns out to be an achievement or a disappointment, it will still be a great exploit and I will come out of it with more self-satisfaction, self-sufficiency, contentment and confidence.

Hopefully some travelling plans are in your futures!

I will update as I get more details!

The Happiness Project

2013-05-03T15:30:00.000-04:00

Lately, I've wondered: am I happy?

Fundamentally speaking, I am considered to be 75% wealthier than the world population: I keep my food in a fridge, my clothes in a closet, have a bed to sleep in and a roof over my head. Add to that a healthy family and group of friends who love me, a relatively well-paid job with benefits, a car, and Enzo's unconditional love and affection. I'd say I'm at 100% satisfaction, yet I still feel I can't get any. So I took a happiness test (you can take it here).

My Strengths:
I feel loved and supported by my social network. I am not a cynical individual (this one must be erroneous)

My Potential Strengths:
I fall in the mid-range of optimism and pessimism. My outlook on life is fairly hopeful. I possess adequate coping skills

My Limitations:
I have none!

I don't think this gave me anything substantial. I'd have to pay $5 to get a full report....how cheap of me.

Here is my problem: I have high expectations and constantly look for things and people to make me happy, yet I'm always disappointed (I blame Hollywood and our culture).

There is this notion that "the secret to happiness is low expectations" (see Pessimist post). It may work in theory, but it does not hold true when tested practically. Should I lower my life's expectations? I most certainly hella won't!

I am willing to wait for those expectations to happen. Why should I lower my standards to fit the mold of society's average level of happiness? No. I will get the career I want, the house I want. I will have an adoring, fun-loving and smart husband who I will marry on a tropical island and celebrate to Latino music. We will have a great healthy and successful life and adopt babies. If not, I always have my coping skills...

Having high expectations about the future apparently makes us happier in the present. Expecting something good to happen results in anticipatory pleasure. I also think that happiness has to do with your surroundings. I’m not particularly fond of my city. To me, there is not much to do. I've been to all the museums, the zoo, the bars, there are not many activities or social cultural events I'm interested in attending. I'd love to wake up with a beach front view, put my scuba gear on and go for morning dives. Live the island life...Truth is I probably wouldn't even be happy in a different state after the rush faded. I wouldn't know anyone; I'd be far from my parents and brothers. It's the change in scenery that makes it exciting. I don't know what makes me happy. Thinking of losing my health, my job, my parents could put things in perspective but I can't even grasp and pretend how that could become a reality.

What do you think? What makes you happy? What is your definition of happiness? Or should I schedule an appointment with my shrink?

26.

2013-04-29T17:29:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I was ranked in karate, was 41 feet in the air crossing 452 feet of trees, and squeezed in 4 hours of work in order to celebrate orbiting around the Sun for 26 years.

I was up at 6:30am for Kyu testing, which is the opportunity to be ranked at kyu: white and brown belt ranking. The rankings are as followed:
White belt: 8th kyu, 7th kyu, 6th kyu, 5th kyu, 4th kyu
Brown belt: 3rd kyu, 2nd kyu, 1st kyu
Black belt: 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree, 4th degree, 5th degree (highest degree).

As of saturday I was not yet ranked since starting again in February. Obviously my goal is to become a black belt but we were reminded Saturday morning that it was not a Pass/Fail test and it is not as important what rank you are but how strong your mentality and spirit are. You are your own opponent.

Shotokan founder Gichin Funakoshi has said that:

[...]mind and technique become one in true karate. We strive to make our physical techniques pure expressions of our mind’s intention, and to improve our mind’s focus by understanding the essence of the physical techniques. By polishing our karate practice we are polishing our own spirit or our own mentality. For example, eliminating weak and indecisive movements in our karate helps to eliminate weakness and indecision in our minds

Now, everyone who knows me, KNOWS how indecisive I am! A trait I wish I never had. I am now a 7th kyu white belt. I realize I have many years to go but am committed to it. Not pursuing karate when I moved here in 2003 was a mistake. I took advantage of the move to adjust to my new life in the states and used it as an excuse. That is weakness!

After testing, went to work for a few hours and then finally, my day began! My best friend Maddie drove 6 hours to spend the weekend. We met up with 2 other friends and went zip lining at Eagle Creek Park. Eagle Creek is big, bold and beautiful. The course is surrounded by copious amounts of activities such as sailing and boat rentals, 22 miles of hiking trails, 2 nature centers, a swimming beach, state nature preserves, cross-country skiing paths, waterfowl sanctuary and even a shooting range. I was in JenDome! We only zip lined. There were 5 individual sections within the zip lining course, each section took us higher into the forest canopy and finishing with a zip line higher and longer than the previous one.

After the park, went back home to prepare for dinner and a night out on the town. Went to Mesh restaurant in downtown Indianapolis and had the best filet mignon ever. We went to a few bars afterwards, had a condiment contest with Madeline (the video is on my Facebook) but running around since 6:30am and having one too many drinks.... I was out by 12:30am. I am such a loser.

Here's to being 26!

Cheers

Memphis Jiyu Kumite Clinic & Tournament

2013-04-15T19:47:00.000-04:00

I got picked up at 3am for our drive down to Memphis. Tournament day had begun!

Five of us in a car for seven and a half hours would be the first testament to how much our bodies could handle in the next couple of days.
I slept most of the ride over, although very uncomfortably, but it was not bad and what better way than to get close with my fellow karatekas than by being stuck with them for more than 36 hours?

We get there 5 minutes before practice begins. Just enough time to change into our kimonos (or guis) and for me to wrap up pretty much all of my toes to prevent blisters from emerging again (let me know if youd like to see those) aaaaand I’m ready!

We were close to 40 people. Some came all the way from Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota and Georgia. The day was broken down into 4 parts:

10 am - 12 pm: practice drills, three time sparring, closing in on an opponent, counter attacks.

After a quick warm up, the leader of the practice demonstrated three different kinds of attacks which included one lunge punch, a reverse punch followed by a front kick; one lunge punch, a reverse punch followed by a round kick; and one lunge punch, a reverse punch followed by side thrust kick. Then we all paired up and practiced the three time sparring, distance and timing between opponents and counter attacks rotating many times so we were able to face everyone else in the group.

12 pm - 2 pm: Lunch break at CiCi’s Pizza! Finally got to meet some of the fellow SKA members, it was awkward to practice punches and kicks without even knowing their names. We talked about our karate history and had a prep talk about the imminent tournament.

2 pm - 4 pm: The seniors prepared the tournament brackets and offered contestants paper slips to draw for their opponents. The goal is to win two half-points in order to proceed to the next round.

There were four divisions:

Children's Division

Womens' Division

Men's White and Brown belts Division

Black belts Division

Children's Division

There were four kids taking part in the tournament: Three girls and a boy, all white belts. The girl who ultimately won first place was amazing. She was fierce and captured that spirit the seniors always talk about having. I am sure she will become even better in the future...will have to watch out for that one.

Women's Division

There were five women participating. They will be named by their home state:

Minnesota (brown belt), Indianapolis (brown belt), Atlanta (brown belt), Nebraska (black belt) and me(white belt)!

At this point, I am starting to panic a little and the restrooms become my best friend. After picking my paper slip, it said I was to go second against Minnesota. I was relieved not to go first so as to get a feel of how the first two girls fought and what techniques they used: more offensive techniques vs. defensive.

Atlanta was definitely more on the offense, she was going for it! I got to talk to her right before lunch and she is the sweetest person, she was very friendly and welcoming and encouraging too! She would joke around and was just a pleasure. It goes to show that appearances can be deceiving. In this first round however, Nebraska took the full point, making her the victor.

Now it is my turn, as I bow into the ring I look at Minnesota’s determined and stern face. Oooohh man, she wants a piece of me. As the round begins, I keep calm, and do not pay attention to anything outside of the blue scotch tape enclosing us. I remember to keep eye contact, but I don’t remember if she or I attack first and I do not remember who got the first half point. I do remember however, making a full contact punch to her face which I think I got a half point for and felt bad about. I win second round.

Third round is fellow Indy girl against Nebraska. I was rooting for Indy since I did not particularly want to go up against a black belt… I love how Indy is always so focused and will not ever drop her guard down. You are her prey and her eyes are locked onto you at all times. Not to mention how powerful her kiai is and how it fills up the room. Alas, this round went to Nebraska again. Although I have to say Nebraska looked very intimidating. She used feet hooks to destabilize her Atlanta opponent, was quick on her attacks and counter attacks and did I mention she’s a black belt? I did not pay too much attention to the match since I was still shaken up with nerves from mine. But as Nebraska claimed that one, I thought scoring a half a point would be challenging, I felt my adrenaline pump through my body and got excited and terrified at the same time. Let’s just get this over with!

Next round was for 3^rd place. It was against Indy and Minnesota. Indy won the full point, making her 3^rd.

Final women’s match -- going for 1^st and 2^nd place. I thought “I’m so happy I’m second no matter what! Haven’t done this in over 10 years and I’m second!? I could just forfeit and leave!” Anyway, the yelling of the word “ HAJIME!” (Begin!) made me realize I had not forfeited. I lock eyes with her, and I’d think of ways of striking without giving her too many opening for an effective counter attack. Meanwhile while I’m thinking about it, she hasn’t attacked either! We are both waiting on one of us to attack first. She more than likely studied me just like I studied her a few minutes ago. Oh boy. So she ends up attacking me and I counter attack. She scores half a point, and then I do. The winning point I believe was awarded after I did a side kick to prevent her from attacking. As we both bow out, I’m thinking nothing of it. Then it hit me. I had won and proceeded doing a happy dance in my head. It looked like this.

yikes

Indy vs. Minnesota

Men’s white and brown belt division

Through the same process, the men fight.

The youngest one was 14 years old, a white belt. He’s tall and slender and has legs and arms that probably are 2 and 5 feet long respectively. He full on went in your face making his opponent step out of the ring. I was not sure if that was a good method of attack, as just flailing your arms around and running straight at soemone looked like you were inexperienced but then again other white belts did that too. So I guess it is inexperience and possibly lack of control.

Black belt Division

This was exciting! Again, I do not have all the media but will post when they are available.

Here are a few videos of Brad (part of Indy Shotokan Karate) and his opponent:

The 1st place winner for black belts was very impressive. His first match was won with a kick to his opponents head. The end. It lasted 3 seconds.

At the end of the tournament every one lined up and the name of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place from each division were called to be given medals. The victors then turned around to face the SKA members and bow to each other. I felt like a champion.

Once it was all over, everyone was invited for BBQ at the tournament’s leader’s house. We all feasted and gathered around each other, talked, laughed and praised one another. I had never met these people before but it felt like we’d known each other for years. I was surrounded by kind-hearted people full of enthusiasm and authenticity. I was complimented countless times to a point of bashfulness. As exhausted and drained as I was, I attempted to stay up as late as my body allowed me to, to stay with such great company.

I am now on a karate high and cannot wait for future events, future tournaments, special trainings, exchange practices. Anything that would bring us back together with SKA members. I found my second family!

Jiyu Kumite

2013-04-05T15:41:00.000-04:00

After going back to practicing karate for two months, I decided to do something terrifying. Something I despised as a child: KARATE TOURNAMENTS!

The thing is, tournaments are scary! Everybody has opponents they don’t like facing for fear of getting their ass whopped! I'm thinking the more I do it, the more I will get used to facing and controlling this fear which is basically what karate teaches you. Karate instills ethical principles and can have spiritual significance. It is also practiced for self-perfection, for cultural reasons, self-defense and as a sport (side note: In 2009, in the 121th International Olympic Committee voting, karate did not receive the necessary two-thirds majority vote to become an Olympic sport (see: IOC factsheet). That would be amazing to watch! Also, did you know there are 50 million karate practitioners worldwide?)

The type of tournament I'm taking part of is called Jiyu Kumite which tranlates to "free sparring", unchoreographed free fighting. Here is a video of the Shotokan Karate of America (SKA) tournament that occured last June in California.

The tournament will be in Memphis, TN April 12-14th. Wish me luck!

The Sustainability of The Pessimist

2013-03-01T14:04:00.000-05:00

I am bitter today. I should keep my chin up and take the high road. However that road is looking steep and my thighs are still sore from last night’s karate lesson so… this sour pickle I'm in needs to be converted into a sweet one with a side of silver lining!

I read an article about a study that found that pessimists live longer healthier lives because, to make the story short, they live by the saying “don’t worry, be happy”. Basically they don’t have high expectations, so they are happy with their lives. My saying took form of a Jewish mother who has a hypochondriac mind so that won’t work. Nevertheless, there are benefits to being optimistic. One of them is better emotional health, which is what my bff and I need. This can be achieved in 5 simple steps:

Step 1: Throw away these pickles
Step 2: Book a trip (done!), or two. Maybe three
Step 3: Lift your head high and stay strong
Step 5: Remember, what Karen Walker (Will & Grace) said: "I'm fabulous, okay? I'm an
incredible dresser, I'm a hoot and a half, and I've got a killer rack!"

Cheers.

Jen

"Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight"
-- Benjamin Franklin sounded pessimistic.

E-mails sent out about posts

2013-02-28T10:38:00.001-05:00

Apparently the post was sent out without my knowledge...sorry I forgot there was an option for that! For those who do not wish to be disturbed, I investigated and removed the setting. If you do want to be diverted however, just visit the blog or I can add your email and be your newsletter! I am newsworthy clearly since I think I am important enough to have blog in the first place! Yeesh, are people narcissitc or what?!

I don't like subject lines. (No Subject)

2013-02-28T10:11:00.000-05:00

Maybe I should start writing more...If not about sustainability, at least about something. Life. If not for the few people that might come across this blog, if any, at least for myself as I think I have been through a few obstacles. Not unsurmountable ones but I have come across some hurdles that impeded the course of my life which possibly resulted in me swerving in a different direction had they not occured.

I think people should be more open and honest about themselves and with the people they choose to have in their lives instead of being closed off for fear of judgement, losing face, and possibility of being ridiculed. Although, I consider myself to be an honest person, I have not been completely honest with myself and haven't voiced my sentiments and wishes because I thought I was being silly or asking for too much when in reality nothing can be accomplished without speaking up. If I want something I should let it be heard or go for it. The worse that could happen is...nothing. The best that could happen is a sense of relief because you've been heard and you've achieved what you've sought! Yay!

Anyway, someone influenced me to use this blog again. Forewarning: I am not the best writer, I have bad syntax and my sentences sometimes run on forever. So if someone reading is a writing snob, I envy your skills. Being schooled in two different languages (sometimes three) can throw you off. I also tend to ramble and spew out random thoughts. I'm weird when I think about it.

Toodles.

Jen

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

2012-06-09T13:23:00.003-04:00

www.plasticparadisemovie.com

Great documentary about the damage we do to our planet. People need to realize that whatever you discard and throw "away" does NOT "go away". As far as I know, we have not found another livable planet in the universe that we could inhabit once we are done rotting the still beautiful one we are living on.

Wake up people! Get out of your bubble! Our actions have a huge impact not only on our present and future human lives, but also on other species that we need and rely on and are beneficial to our very own survival.

Water Bodies

2010-12-02T22:58:00.000-05:00

This entry is a continuation of my October 12th entry “Water Bottles Are No Good”. The information below can be found in full in:

Bottled Water: How drinking tap water can help save you and the planet by Lucie Wanctin for Sustain: The Alliance for Better Food and Farming.

How much water should we drink?

The advice given is to drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the drinking quantity needed depends on your age, physical activity, your diet, health, and gender.

The recommended volume of water (which can also be absorbed though foods and other beverages) required for hydration, based on the WHO is:

Female Adult: 2.2 litres/day

Male Adult: 2.9 litres/day

Children: 1.0 litre/day

Manual labour in high temperature:

Female Adult: 4.5 litres/day

Male Adult: 4.5 litres/day

Children: 4.5 litres/day

Pregnancies/Lactation: 4.8 litres/day; 3.3 litres/day respectively

Where is water from and what is in it?

Our body is made up of 60% of water and while nearly 70 percent of the world is covered by it, only 2.5 percent is fresh, the rest is saline and ocean-based. Even then, just 1 percent of our freshwater is easily accessible, with much of it trapped in glaciers and snowfields. In essence, only 0.007 percent of the planet's water is available to fuel and feed its 6.8 billion people. Scary.

The reason why people buy water bottles is because they think that tap water does not taste good, that it has contaminants when in fact, it is tested repeatedly to make sure it is safe to drink. The water is not taken from polluted sources and the sunlight helps eliminates the pathogens present:

Chlorine is used to disinfect the water and get rid of the microbes.
There is 0.26 percent of lead in water. It has now been removed from the main distribution systems.
Endocrine disrupters are hormone-like chemicals, they could be harmful if taken in large quantities and alter or make it difficult to have healthy babies such as male infants developing female characteristics (these hormones are present in all plastic, also known as Bisphenol A or BPA! It has been banned in Canada. Watch The Disappearing Male).

Bottled water companies say that you can drink bottled water that has been bottled, up to two years ago. However, the water from the tap is fresher and came more recently from its original source.

Environmental benefits of tap water

By using tap water, there is no plastic bottles used, hence no plastic waste burned, buried or turned into other consumer goods that all require energy. In addition, there wouldn’t be any need for transportation, which means no fuel used and no emissions released into our atmosphere (aka the air we breathe), and less effects of climate change. Verdict: Tap water wins!

Alternatives

If tap water is still not for you, use filters that attach to your tap, or get BRITTA (just remember to change the cartridge regularly to prevent bacteria build-up).

There are also re-usable bottles: if you get a bottle of water, once emptied, refill it with your filtered tap water instead of buying a new one. It will save you money and the environment (some companies say that their bottles are not meant to be re-used, most likely to get you to buy more, duh. However, there has not been independent studies showing any problems with refilling water bottles).

Some brands of bottles in the United Kingdom are investing in bio-degradable bottles that are made from corn starch, and are said to bio-degrade back into soil within ten weeks.

For more information, you can visit www.sustainweb.org . They have more facts, and tips on what you can do to reduce water usage.

Juniper

The End Of The Line

2010-11-11T16:22:00.000-05:00

In one of my classes, our instructor played a documentary called "THE END OF THE LINE". It explains the catastrophic consequences of over fishing. Let me point out some facts that caught my attention and raised my hatred towards fishermen, politicians, and the government. (WARNING: it’s a bit long, but don’t be discouraged! It’s really informative)

The documentary focuses on the imminent extinction of the Atlantic Blue fin tuna. The Blue fin Tuna is regarded as a highly prized food fish, and is hence victim of over fishing, even if it is now endangered. Companies are making millions of dollars by exterminating this wild species. It is already extinct in the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
In order for the tuna to avoid collapse, there needs to be no more than 15 000 tons collected, but scientists recommend to really only fish no more than 10 000 to be able to recover the population. However, fishing companies catch more than 61 000 tons! That equals a third of the entire tuna fish population. Several scientists were interviewed and commented on the situation, and one compared fishermen to businessmen. He said that if the fishermen were businessmen, they would be fired because they would have collapsed the economy, and our resources to make profits. You can't negotiate with biology. Extinction is forever, money comes and goes.

Fish has been caught since their discovery in the oceans. Today, 1.4 billion fish hooks, and fish nets are thrown into the ocean per year. To put it into perspective, these fish hooks can circle our planet (that is also deteriorating) more than 500 times; and the fish nets can fit 13 Boeings in them.

1.2 billion People rely on fish to survive. One of the fishermen from Senegal shown in the documentary makes $6 from fishing in which $4 is used to pay for the gas in his boat, and the $2 left is used to feed his family. Meanwhile, on the same shoreline, Europeans and companies like Mitsubishi (what? Mitsubishi? Explanation below) make millions with the help of the government and without it by illegal and unregulated fishing. This brings in $25 billion/year. So basically, all the fish on your plate is stolen and illegal.

In Tokyo, Mitsubishi Corporation (they also makes cars, that I will now, never own) controls 60% of the Tuna Trade production. They provided bigger boats to send out in the oceans, to get more tuna fish. The scientists state that once the Blue fin Tuna runs out, they will go to another species of tuna and so on. This is what International companies and consumer demand do to wild species. Wild species that are apex predators! This means that there will be an overabundance of their prey because their predators have disappeared. Yay for them but bad for the balance of the ecosystem, which in turn, affects us.

So not only are they ridding us of one of the most beautiful ecosystem but they aren’t even doing it properly! Fishing is the most wasteful activity/job: it wastes 7 million tons (1/10th of the oceans wildlife) of turtles, sharks, dolphins, birds, whales, and other fish, often already dead, that is thrown back into the ocean. Wow. How compassionate of the humans! We are an amazing race, really.

In Hong Kong restaurants, some exotic fish are taken from the coral triangle in the seas of Asia. At this rate, I am surprised we haven't tipped the balance of nature into chaos. The year 2048 will mark the collapse of the fish population. Fishermen may be revolted by the laws assigned to protect the fish,(yes, it’s their lifestyle), but in 2048 that lifestyle will disappear! They are dooming THEMSELVES! Hence, I could not care less if they are out of jobs, I don't care if they don't make money, and they can be angry at themselves for not only exterminating our oceans wildlife by not abiding by laws, that were put to protect not only the fish, but the fishermen as well! They were also put into power, so they could STILL have jobs in 10-15 years! HMARS (Arabic for stupid)!

In 2048 we will live in a world where our oceans will be reduced to a surplus of shrimp, jellyfish, algae and plankton and worms. Why? Because the top predators have been hunted to extinction, and there will be no balance within the ecosystem. At that point, it will be a road of no-return. What will happen to us when we won't have anything left? What will happen when all our resources will be exhausted? Hunt and eat each other? I wouldn't be surprised...Humans aren't perfect we know that. We figured it out ourselves, but if God was omnipresent and omnipotent...is this His/Her's (yes, God could be a women, people! although I doubt a female God would let her people do this) idea of us? If so, we need a new one, stat.

So. What should we do, to not reach the end of the line? Now that 90% of the fish is gone....where did it go, you ask? WE ATE IT TO EXTINCTION!

1) Ask where the fish is from

2) Where it was caught. For all you know or care, you are eating a fish that lived in polluted waters (also caused by us), or worse! It was retrieved from the stomach of a poor shark that was killed for its fins and thrown back into the ocean.

3) Make sure the fish you buy has a Northeast Seafood Coalition sticker on it (The NSC is "dedicated to working with government regulations and environmental concerns to preserve the long-term health of fishery resources, fishing communities and the fishing industry").

4) We need to change our habits

5) Abide by rules, because this is happening on our watch

Food for thought: In Peru, they convert fish to other fish meaning for example, 5 kilos of sardines are converted into 1 kilo of salmon! Ta-da!

As consumers we have the power to control if the fish is endangered or not. Fishing costs $30-50 billion a year whereas managing and enforcing laws to protect marine protected areas costs $12-14 billion and managing can create a million jobs worldwide. The Governments need to be pressured, if there are no more fish in 99.4% of the ocean, fishermen will move to the 0.6% that is protected.

Join campaigns for Marine Protected Areas and responsible fishing, and again, ask what you are buying. (I am reducing my consumption, if not eating all together)

A science report in January 2009 found that fish droppings help the ocean absorb carbon dioxide. It is the first link between over fishing and global warming.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

Clear HERE to find out what fish is sustainable to eat, and which is to avoid.

You've Got A Friend In Me

2010-11-02T15:58:00.000-04:00

Friendship is an in-depth relationship combining trust, support, communication, loyalty, understanding, empathy, and intimacy. But no one can form a friendship until they realize that the basis of being friends is meeting the needs of the other person. One must be a friend to have one.

Sure its harder to keep in touch once you graduate from college, change states, get a job, and live your life. But, is it hard to pick up a phone to say hello? or just text hello? I don't think so.

I may not have a fast paced life right now, I hope to, because this sedentary lifestyle is not cutting it for me (I need to stick to it till December only, fingers crossed).

Many people expect that their friends will always be there. They expect friendship to last forever, like...me.

However, as time goes by, so do friendships as I've been witnessing. The reasons being moving to another state/country, change of personality or lifestyle. Hence, the friendship slowly dissolves, taking the back burner, losing its importance.

I consider myself to be a good friend, I'm loyal, attentive. Wherever I happen to be, I'd like to think that I keep in touch with my closest girlfriends. Then again, it could be that I have this mental picture of how things should proceed, but end up taking a completely different turn. Damn those expectations!

My friends bring me relief, laughter, comfort, and happiness. I love being around them, hearing their voices, knowing that they are doing well. They are my extended family. No matter how busy I will be, I will make sure to make time for them.

xoxo

Story Of My Life

2010-11-02T14:05:00.002-04:00

I Love This Song, the lyrics, the melody, the instruments. Sounds like a 1960s song. Just Love it.

One Love

2010-11-01T15:38:00.000-04:00

In the light of recent (and old) silly family disputes: arguing and showing hate and spitefulness towards one another (you know who you are), this song should put you all in a state of mind and make you think of what you are doing to the people who love you.
Even though this song was meant for all the hardships, wars, and hatred humans have inflicted upon each other, all problems arise from one place: Our own home. If there is no love, there is no understanding, no comfort, no affection or support.
Love protects; preserves and hopes for the positive aspects of life. We need to understand each other and must always remember that no body is perfect. Be together, share your joy and sorrow, understand each other, provide space to each other, but always be there for each others need.

This entry is directed to particular people in my life, but everyone should take home a message.

Let someone special in your life know how much you love and appreciate them.

Peace, and unconditional love xoxo

J.

One U2 & Mary J. Blige

Is it getting better, or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you now?
You got someone to blame
You say...

One love, one life
When it's one need in the night
One love
We get to share it
Leaves you baby if you
Don't care for it

Did I disappoint you, or leave a bad taste in your mouth
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well it's...

Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One...
Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come to raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head

Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing, Now it's all I got
We're one, But we're not the same
Well we hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other

One...life

One

Water Bottles Are No Good

2010-10-12T19:22:00.001-04:00

This week I’d like to talk about:

o Bottled Water: How drinking tap water can help save you and the planet by Lucie Wanctin for Sustain: The Alliance for Better Food and Farming

I received an email from IU’s Department of Sustainability (I am on their list-serve, hence get informed when anything sustain-related occurs on campus). I was notified that there would be a class/discussion taking place about bottled water! Unfortunately, I could not attend because of schedule conflicts but I downloaded the lecture and the 28 paged booklet as a substitution and dove into it…

Let’s rewind.
How did bottled water arise? And how did it develop into a $4 billion/year market?

The trend started in the 16^th century FRANCE (of all places, of course) where “taking the cures”, aka bathing in spring and mineral waters was believed to have “curative” properties. This then, expanded to include drinking water which were drunk to supposedly provide medicinal or health properties and became known for being pure and cleansing.

The market for these has immensely grown across the world and has increased by 250% between 1994 and 2002 (500% in Asia and Australia).

But isn’t bottled water better for you?

What comes to your mind when you think of bottled water? Well, it's all a ploy.

o Marketing plays heavily on bottled water’s images of purity, peace, and nature— kind of like a remedy to our frantic lifestyles.

§ As society gets fatter wallets, people can afford to buy more bottled water, which has become very profitable in restaurants, and apparently has become a new must have accessory! So fetch!

§ Many people “simply” do not like the taste of tap water (aw, poor rich people :( as long as they are not part of the nearly billion people that lack access to safe drinking water!)

o Which brings me to health

§ Water companies draw our attention to any health benefits bottled water can provide, such as minerals and, ooh, electrolytes!

· (Side note: the World Health Organization states “Although certain mineral waters may be useful in providing essential micro-nutrients, such as calcium, WHO is unaware of any convincing evidence to support the beneficial effects of consuming such mineral waters”).

§ As a matter of fact, bottled waters have potential health risks to us…

· People are advised (by the French senate, nonetheless… (quel culot!)) to switch brands of bottled water regularly because of some minerals that may be harmful if consumed in high doses.

· Sodium levels are as high as 18 miligrams per litre in Fiji water (no more Fiji for the Gundermanns) when 6 grams is the highest recommended amount per day.

· Benzene, a carcinogen, was found in Perrier water in 1989 and in March 2004, bromate was in Dasani water…BROMATE!

· In addition to contaminants companies make us drink for their own benefit, the process of producing bottles (more information below) involve toxic chemicals that transfer into the whatever it is in contact with. Plastic can also absorb airborne chemicals. Yeesh!

§ …and to the environment:

· The processing, packaging, transportation, sale, and disposal of bottled water require a considerable amount of energy use and pollution.

o The chemicals used to make them, derive from crude oil (yummy), which takes several hundred gabillion years to disintegrate.

o Waste plastic is either incinerated, or buried in landfill sites

Landfill (google image)

This link is a picture of how bottles are made and a comparison between water bottles and tap water.

Next week, I will talk about Recycling and alternatives to drinking from bottles (the continuation of the article).

Until then, stay jolly, healthy, and plastic bottles free everybody!

J.