On Being "American"

On a daily basis, I find myself having to argue with a Chinese local that I truly am an American.

"But you don't look like an American.  You look like us.  Like an Asian."

Pushing my heavy sighs aside, I try to explain that America is a diverse place where there are all sorts of different people.  "In fact," I remind them, "people of Asian, African, and Latin descent have been in American longer than you've been alive.  Not to mention the real native Americans.  So really, 'Americans' don't look any certain way."  Usually, they're confused because "Americans" are all supposed to look like Cameron Diaz or Julia Roberts or this young woman here:



and move on with their day convinced that I'm just nuts and all Americans still look like a moving Eddie Bauer advertisement.  On occasion, I'll meet someone who is truly perplexed by this whole idea that an entire country couldn't be populated by a bunch of people who share similar physical characteristics.  It takes a while to explain to them that most Americans don't live the way Ross and Rachel do on Friends, and that you can't depend on television or movies to determine what you believe about an entire country full of people.  (Same goes for the Americans who assume that all Chinese know kung fu.)

You can imagine how upsetting it is to see a video like this circulating the net when I spend hours explaining to my students that not all Americans are racist (though many still are), that somehow we manage to find a way to live together and respect- or even appreciate- our differences, and that things like being polite or non-confrontational aren't solely traits of Chinese culture.  It's not worth it to go into the many ways in which this young woman is misinformed in her thinking and in need of some serious diversity training.  I know we've still got a long way to go, but one hopes for something far greater from the educated youth of America, especially in a place as diverse as LA.

As a teacher, my goal is to broaden the scope of my students' understanding of an ever-shrinking world.  As an American, my goal is to break a stereotype about who I am and what I am not.  Both are difficult here, and it's so disheartening to see how it's still such an uphill battle back home.  With great hope, we shake it off and press on. 

C'mon America.  You're better than this.

Japan

Of course, the world is at a standstill today watching in horror at what has happened in Japan.  It is difficult to put into words a response that is appropriate for the magnitude of what so many people are facing in Japan.  Instead, I'll leave you with a few illustrations by Kate T. Williamson from her book, A Year in Japan, which is filled with beautiful images from her time in Japan.  We pray for restoration, healing, and redemption.

 

All images from Amazon.com, copyright by Kate T. Williamson

Hammin' it up

While I anxiously await my Mom's next birthday, another less personally significant birthday has just passed...

Jon Hamm's!  Ah, Jon Hamm.  I've suckered the Husband into watching Mad Men and I'm pretty certain that he just likes watching it with me because of how I'm always yelling Mom-like advice to Don Draper.  It still puzzles me that no matter how loudly I yell, Don (played by Jon) still doesn't listen to me, that naughty man.  He still sleeps with all the wrong women.

Jon Hamm photographed by Paul Jasmin for Interview Magazine

Still, Jon Hamm has always delivered, whether it be on Mad Men where you frustrate me as one of the most confusing and conflicted characters I've ever seen on television, or be it on SNL where you've shown what I like to believe is your more natural personality, poking fun at yourself and trying desperately to be an unattractive idiot.  Sorry, you do fail at that.

Happy Belated 40th, Mr. Hamm.  I had no idea who you were before you were Don Draper (or even before you were Dick Whitman), but oh, how you've stolen my heart.  Here is one of my favorite Hamm moments on SNL.  Enjoy.



Bonus: Pretty hilarious interview of Jon Hamm by fellow four-lettered-last-name-that-ends-in-two-consonants actor Paul Rudd

Our First Home

I've heard it's not really your own home until you move the furniture in.  I give you our first child: Ikea BEDDING sofa bed.

Beyond These Walls

Do you ever stop to think about what sort of amazing things your friends are doing with their lives, and then are blown away by the fact that you get to rub elbows with them?  No?  Maybe you need some cooler friends.  (Kidding!)

One such buddy of mine is David Gaulton.  He is an amazing worship leader, songwriter, and just an overall cool dude.  This past summer he released a new album, called Beyond These Walls, which I've been coming back to every few weeks and have been so blessed by.

photo courtesy of David Gaulton's Facebook Page

A few weeks before I was scheduled to come back to China, I found myself in my parents' kitchen, wrestling with the thought that I'd have to go back to a place that I, frankly, don't like.  As I looked out the window at the beautiful Oregon clear skies and open fields, I kept asking why I had been asked to leave my loving family, friends, and my home when so many have the luxury of doing the Father's work from the comforts of their homes.  As I silently fought with the calling that had been handed to me, David's song played...

"For we are called to be light into the world, and not conform to the patterns of the earth

For we are saved, we are free, we are redeemed...

This world is not our home, and we will not conform..."

From my experience, David's heart is not to perform (though he does perform well), but to generously spread the spirit of worship to the nations.  His songs hold interest melodically and rhythmically, but are simple enough to be accessible to the average kid in your church who just wants to sing.  While Christian music has changed drastically in the last twenty years, it is refreshing to see how David has reconciled contemporary sound with lyrics that retain their power in their directness and convicting honesty.  To add to his "overall cool dude" status, David also shares all his chord charts and other resources on his website for other worship leaders, so you don't have to sort through 15 different versions on ultimateguitar.com to find one that is actually correct.


I could go on and on about how each of his songs has been life-giving in different situations, but I will simply let you experience it for yourself.



Favorite Tracks:  Holy Nation, Beyond These Walls, Awake O Soul, With One Touch

Friends in High Places

I don't usually do much writing on music on my blog because it's often such a personal thing.  But sometimes, something so good comes along that you must share it.  This time, it's even more "so good" because the pianist/vocalist for this group is a friend of mine from my university days!

Aura was awesome back then, owning it in the world of Santa Cruz ethnic music, classical piano, and then singing her heart out to top all of it off.  Plus composing, and being generally a lovely person to be around and swap stories with.

She's now in a band called The Horde and the Harem.  I love their music.  I'm a huge sucker for harmonies, and they nail it-- balancing their female and male vocals delicately over upbeat, indie-rock instrumentals.  Their slower songs will melt your heart.

Lucky for all of you who reside in my native American West, they're on tour, as well!  Be sure to check 'em out if you live in Portland, San Francisco, or Los Angeles.



Thanks supermarioz for the video.

Stuff My Sister Finds, Part 2

Shortly after my undergrad days were over, I gave up my crazy bar-hopping-on-Tuesdays habit.  As far as I could see, it was fun for a few years, but got old quickly, not to mention the fact that my savings account had been spent on a few too many lackluster bars that lit up the humble downtown Santa Cruz strip.  My friends called me Grandma.  Some nights, I could hear the debauchery occurring outside my studio window while I was trying to focus on whatever movie I'd rented for the evening.  Yes, I am a boring person.

Mostly, I stopped drinking because I realized what drunk people look like to sober people.  And it ain't pretty.  And you know what?  It just gets worse as you get older.  Sloppy drunk kid on his twenty first birthday?  Might have its nostalgic charm.  Sloppy drunk people trying to relive their fraternity/sorority days in their mid-thirties?  Not so much.

So I bring you this amazing video clip found by my sister, who just finds the best stuff on the internet.  No one could make sloppy drunkenness look this adorable.  But the next time you think about picking up the bottle, ask yourself... will I look as cute as that baby on YouTube by the time I'm done with this?  Chances are, you probably won't.