I think I wrote in my last post that I served penance in May for all the work I did not do during April. The light at the end of the tunnel shines a little brighter each day. Papers are due and events are over. I have been working on an event for the Ohio State University Alumni Association that happened last night The point of the event was to recognize graduating students who have contributed to the university philanthropically or through exemplary student service and leadership. I spent a lot of time in May worrying about the event until last week when a feeling of contentedness came over me.
The event went very well though. Turnout did not meet the original expectations but the whole event went off seamlessly. To top it all off I got my picture with Archie Griffin (Ohio State legend and icon) and will hopefully get it autographed when I finish my internship at the Alumni Association office on Monday. Thinking about this is a strange revelation. After the event ended was one of the first times that I had felt glad to be at Ohio State. It may be because students enjoyed the event, or maybe it was because I was glad to have finished the 10 week programming process. I spoke with Squeezy Wheezy last night about how I'm excited to have a piece of memorabilia from my 2 years at Ohio State.
We had two alumni speakers who delivered speeches about personal connections and endeavors within the university, and embodying pride that OSU students and alumni feel. Both speakers seem to have rubbed off on me. The event conveyed a sense of pride and poignant memories and reminded me of my time at Seattle University and everything that I accomplished while I was there. Fittingly enough, after working in the alumni association I have finally drank the Kool Aid.
Though really, I should drink the Kool Aid. Being at Ohio State University has allowed me the opportunity to travel to China and to write a thesis under the tutelage of some of the field's premiere scholars. Ohio State also has contains a personal connection for me since my mentor/advisor Doctor Murphaczynski is an alumnus of this program and recommended it to me at a time when I poo-pooed Ohio State altogether.
Whether I like it or not I'll be in Columbus for another year before I move on. I might as well get to like it rather than fight it and have the same tough fall and winter quarters I did this year. Plus I'm buying football tickets next year, so that will be fun!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
And then it was May
First off let me apologize for neglecting to write anything since the end of March. I wish I could say that I was preoccupied with my studies and my thesis. Honestly I was goofing off and preparing myself to have a difficult month of May by not preparing for the month of May. That being said, I am currently in a Columbus coffee shop taking a break from working on my thesis. With that in mind here is a quick and dirty summary of the last month.
Since April I've been working on an event for the Ohio State Alumni Association to recognize graduating seniors who have donated money to the university at some point in their undergraduate careers. At the same time I was allegedly working on my literature review for my thesis. At the same time I was taking three classes. Though, really, it was more like two. One professor has been incapacitated and the corresponding class is now being taught by an administrator from OSU who is also a graduate of the doctoral program at OSU. Long story short, that class is completely FUBAR and no one in the program really knows what to expect. Although Tall Bear may know since he works with the new professor.
I mentioned that I spent April goofing off. I developed tendinitis in my elbows from climbing too much so I took some rest and took up Salsa dancing instead. I've gone to Salsa dancing twice with Tokyo Hip Hop and once with Mister Mundo. Mister Mundo really took to the dancing, telling me it reminded him of his childhood and home culture. One of the best parts of being with Mister Mundo is that he always has a good time, and Salsa dancing is no exception. I myself enjoy the dancing a lot. We pay $10 for a two hour lesson and then the dance floor is open until two am. So far I am 1 for 1. The first time I felt confident but the second time I couldn't quite hold the beat, resulting in several dejected partners (one of whom told me I looked like I was pouting because I was so irritated with myself). But I'm still going again. Redemption.
I got to return home for my father's surprise birthday party at the end of April. I really needed to return home as I spent my Spring Break working in Columbus where the weather couldn't decide whether to rain, shine, or be murky. Boise, thankfully, knew to shine heartily the whole time I was home! Being home was wonderful. I haven't seen my family since December and even though I've gone for far longer stretches of time without seeing them, I think that the physical distance (and the fact that I loath Ohio) made the visit much more poignant. My father's siblings and parents were also in Boise and I got to see them after nearly two years. Spending time with them was a warm reminder of where I have come from and the tradition I am a part of. I don't say this because my father's family is regal, but because it is beginning to dawn on me how much of myself I derive from being around my family and seeing how they have evolved from generation to generation.
I was able to see one of my oldest friends G-Off as well and got to hear about his graduate school visits and plans. He will be obtaining his Masters in Teaching in Colorado and couldn't be more excited. He'll be living in the desert where the primary forms of recreation are mountain biking and rock climbing. He couldn't be more disappointed. G-Off was who accompanied me on my drive across (most of) America to set up shop in Columbus. I'm very excited for him to begin a new adventure, and I am also jealous of where he will be spending the next year or two.
I did a spot of bouldering as well and was reminded just how much more difficult outdoor sandstone is than indoor plastic. Fittingly, after getting tendinitis, resting, climbing in Boise, and feeling fit I have decided to stop climbing for a time until I get my thesis under control. At which point I will likely be leaving for Wuhan so it won't really matter. That just means that I have the fall to look forward too.
It is back to the literary coal mine for me.
~AJ Yasuda
Since April I've been working on an event for the Ohio State Alumni Association to recognize graduating seniors who have donated money to the university at some point in their undergraduate careers. At the same time I was allegedly working on my literature review for my thesis. At the same time I was taking three classes. Though, really, it was more like two. One professor has been incapacitated and the corresponding class is now being taught by an administrator from OSU who is also a graduate of the doctoral program at OSU. Long story short, that class is completely FUBAR and no one in the program really knows what to expect. Although Tall Bear may know since he works with the new professor.
I mentioned that I spent April goofing off. I developed tendinitis in my elbows from climbing too much so I took some rest and took up Salsa dancing instead. I've gone to Salsa dancing twice with Tokyo Hip Hop and once with Mister Mundo. Mister Mundo really took to the dancing, telling me it reminded him of his childhood and home culture. One of the best parts of being with Mister Mundo is that he always has a good time, and Salsa dancing is no exception. I myself enjoy the dancing a lot. We pay $10 for a two hour lesson and then the dance floor is open until two am. So far I am 1 for 1. The first time I felt confident but the second time I couldn't quite hold the beat, resulting in several dejected partners (one of whom told me I looked like I was pouting because I was so irritated with myself). But I'm still going again. Redemption.
I got to return home for my father's surprise birthday party at the end of April. I really needed to return home as I spent my Spring Break working in Columbus where the weather couldn't decide whether to rain, shine, or be murky. Boise, thankfully, knew to shine heartily the whole time I was home! Being home was wonderful. I haven't seen my family since December and even though I've gone for far longer stretches of time without seeing them, I think that the physical distance (and the fact that I loath Ohio) made the visit much more poignant. My father's siblings and parents were also in Boise and I got to see them after nearly two years. Spending time with them was a warm reminder of where I have come from and the tradition I am a part of. I don't say this because my father's family is regal, but because it is beginning to dawn on me how much of myself I derive from being around my family and seeing how they have evolved from generation to generation.
I was able to see one of my oldest friends G-Off as well and got to hear about his graduate school visits and plans. He will be obtaining his Masters in Teaching in Colorado and couldn't be more excited. He'll be living in the desert where the primary forms of recreation are mountain biking and rock climbing. He couldn't be more disappointed. G-Off was who accompanied me on my drive across (most of) America to set up shop in Columbus. I'm very excited for him to begin a new adventure, and I am also jealous of where he will be spending the next year or two.
I did a spot of bouldering as well and was reminded just how much more difficult outdoor sandstone is than indoor plastic. Fittingly, after getting tendinitis, resting, climbing in Boise, and feeling fit I have decided to stop climbing for a time until I get my thesis under control. At which point I will likely be leaving for Wuhan so it won't really matter. That just means that I have the fall to look forward too.
It is back to the literary coal mine for me.
~AJ Yasuda
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