Monday, December 30, 2013
Interesting? Or Nah?
Anyways, my experience in Riverside is a HARD one. After 3 months there, I'm STILL trying to get used to it. Riverside already had a stigma before I even thought of going there..I hated Riverside. And it was one hell of a job to talk myself into moving there. LOL! The air is bad for me and my allergies have never been so bad until I got there. The water is rated SECOND most intoxicated water in the nation, about 15 chemicals above the national limit of what is considered healthy. *gags* Gosh, aaaaand then, everything is driving distance away. I can't walk to any store at my convenience. It doesn't help that it is hilly (hence, why we're called HIGH-land-ers :/). But where am I going with this? That no one cares and I have to get used to it in order to love where I'm going to stay for the next TWO YEARS! LOL. I'm slowly pinning out the good things in Riverside that'll help me, wellllll, not complain as much. LOL. I come from LA where EVERYTHING is at your convenience. I've lived my whole life with a 7-11 or liquor store at the end of my block.
Well one good thing about me in Riverside is that I finally got over my fear of cockroaches LOL! Not too significant, but that saved me a whole lot of time from having to call someone to do the dirty work for me ;) As for UCR as an institution, I love it! UC's have soooo much more resources than a community college. Everyone is helpful and are more than willing to help. We are also ranked #2 in the nation for public service-this is my forte :) I've made awesome friends who like to TURN UP but are geeky and like random little facts like I do. LOL..was that hella corny? Oh wells. LOL.
Since school has started, I have nothing else to really update about. My hair has finally reached my lower back. LOL.. Ok, focusssss, lol. Well it's safe to say I will make it a goal to write in here more often. I kind of have to. You see, I'm a political science-law and society- major and we do a SHITLOAD of reading and writing. Why not enhance my writing skills with some leisure writing? I'll just come here and release all my ideas I've had bottled in my head, and eventually see how my writing has progressed. Sound like a plan? YESSUHHH!! I look back at my posts from years ago and I turn red...it's so fob! LOL! But what can improve my writing other than a little more practice? Soooo if you, the reader, have anything to say about my writings or my fobness, don't hesitate to let me know. Comment below...if you down wit da get down! haha.. *kevin harts voice* SAY IT WIT CHO CHEST LIL NIGGA! haha! Ok, I'll be back soon. Until then, take care my loves!
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Phone Banking
As lucky as I am, I was assigned to call the TONGAN people of Los Angeles. Gahleeeee, you know we all know each other! If not, we know someone who knows someone else. I had a list of 65 Tongans to call, which was a speck of powder compared to the thousands of Asians my colleagues had on their call list. But anyways, I worked with what I had. I only had a handful of people who answered their phone and majority of the phones were cut. A good 5 people hung up on me, copped attitude, and straight lied to me (laughing that I'm calling). I just have a few things to say about my first experience. It was FUN! And to my surprise, I was never discouraged and embarrassed to call and talk to my Tongan people in a professional manner...even the fobs! ;) Just a few things had me thinking today:
(1) My TONGAN people! Please pay your phone bills! I forreal memorized the woman operator's voice memo *dial-up tone* THE NUMBER YOU DIALED HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. ahaha..Nah, just jokes. But this was one repeating factor. Noone's phone was connected!
(2) I took on this assignment because I miss outreaching for voting! But I also did it because Tongans are not only underrepresented, but the very few of us who are representatives, we don't take callers seriously because they're palangi! I thought as a Tongan young woman, I'd be able to reach out to my people, talk a little fob, and connect them to political issues in the way Tongan people appeal to it! I was sad for people (and I remember yall names haha) who rudely refused to talk to me about voting. We (as outreachers) are not selling you anything! We are doing a public service to give our people a better understanding, and more knowledge about voting and how it affects you. If you don't know what I'm saying, but would like to, HOLLA AT ME! I'll get you to phone bank, and see how it goes. I have never appreciated survey people who call until I was calling around doing the same thing and I LEARNED A LOT! And I bet you would too :)
(3) Thank you to my home girl AMELIA SILI for taking time out of her day to answer my phone (she was on my calling list) call and willingly answering my questions. You rock! And I'm so happy to have you as a committed voter and CARING about issues that you are concerned about- education, healthcare, and immigration! Right on sister! And one inspiring man made my day. 65 year old Tongan elder from the valley. [cannot disclose his name] But I call him and tell him the whole getdown of who I am and what organization I'm calling on behalf of and to my surprise, he tells me he's got his sample ballot, knows where his polling place is, and is going to vote on TUESDAY! *tears of joy* Then our conversation goes on as I asked him more questions and he answered with what his policy concerns are and why he votes. He's not even a vote-by-mail! He said he likes going to polls. Now see, this was all I needed to hear to make me feel like my time phone banking was well worth it. Even though he is an elder, I respect him for being ENGAGED in his duties as an American citizen! I hope I get to meet this man one day so I can get to know more about him...we need more Tongan men proactive like him!
(4) I noticed something different in me today. I have no idea where it came from, or if this is just my first time noticing it, but I was very open to interacting with other people. I'm so Polynesian-oriented that I tend to isolate myself from mingling with other races. Atleast until today. I was talking with everyone in the room, made some new friends, and landed some new opportunities to further work with immigration reform projects! SCORE! I'm so proud of myself (not to toot my own horn) but honestly, my heart has opened up to new experiences and helping out my community.
I know this was a long ass blog. But I promise I only did this to vent because I don't have much friends...haha. JK! I'm super excited for what else YOUR VOTE MATTERS campaign has coming up. Shoutout to APALC for the great hospitality and new learning experience! If you ever get a call from a phone banker, please don't ignore them...it just might be me ;) lol
Saturday, April 13, 2013
2013
Heyyyy! I know I've strayed away from blogging for a while, but for a good reason! Because I've stopped my "FOFREE" ways and am only doing it when necessary...like right now. Life has been a bit....busy. But I'm grateful for breathing and living another day! I'm still going to school, El Camino to be exact, and I'm finishing up before I transfer to a 4-year university. Ahhh, yes, the butterflies have yet to come. Right now I'm feeling a bit cautious. I feel stuck at where I'm at. I was accepted to one university so far, but I have yet to hear from that ONE school where my heart is really set at. And I hope and pray I make it there. God knows how much I need to go to school there. Of course, it's away from home. I need to BREATHE! But I say I feel stuck because if I don't make it there, I don't know how I will do if I do end up going to another school (closer to home). I have very bad habits I need to break and I feel I can break that once I break away from home. Anyways, that's my philosophy of self-improvement ever since my trip to Washington, DC last summer. I'm cautious because ANYTHING can happen. I may get denied, or not be able to afford school. But with the grace of God, I am gaining patience and understanding for anything that COULD happen. Anyways, other than my sob stories, I'm currently employed at a ghetto fabulous hotel. I would say the name but I don't want any of yall poppin' up over there asking for discounts and/or a free room. I'm getting my ish together, tryna make that PAYPAH. Nahhh, I'm just tryna keep myself busy while paying for my own fofree stuff. Soooooooo, what yall think about the Obama Administration pushing another 4-years? I know I'm late with the election last November, but I see Obama being a lot more proactive in his legislation and presidency. Or atleast since I've been paying attention. I hope you're reading this and saying you voted, team Obama or team Romney, as long as you voted. :) Other than that, I have yet to put up the juicy news in the upcoming weeks. PRAY FOR ME, YALL! Much Love and Respect!!
