I don't remember much from junior high, but one of the most useful things I learned there was the acronym "S.P.I.E.S." It stands for the different aspects of health we need for overall well-being:
Social
Physical
Intellectual
Emotional
Spiritual
It has become a great tool for self-assessment all these years. I've been pretty good at working on my social, physical, emotional, and spiritual health the last few weeks but I really felt the need to work on my
Intellectual health this week. I felt my brain screaming at me (a really strange feeling) "What about me?! Feed me too!" All through school, I was one of those stereotypical studious, teacher's pet Asians who always had my nose in a book. I've come out of my shell since high school and have been catching up on the social skills I want to develop.
But I was reminded this week that I was not brought to the
most educated city in America just to play. Only a year ago, I was set on getting my Ph.D. in American Studies or African American Studies to be a professor. I wanted to be a SCHOLAR. But through much agonizing deliberation and prayer, I decided that I would have a very hard time balancing career and family if I went that route because of the demands and temptations of research and teaching. Thus, my current career path of Higher Education Administration, because I still want to work with college students.
But I really missed American Studies this week...learning about the
humanities and challenging the observational and analytical parts of my brain. I started by watching this fascinating documentary. It triggered alot of strong feelings and opinions in me. You can read about it in
my other blog.
Read more of
Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League, a novel (based on a true story) set in the rougher southeast area of DC. I've never been in a book club but I thought this was a good book to start with (apparently, it's been very critically acclaimed). It was chosen by the director of my grad program; we'll start discussing it in a week.
Listened to a couple of podcasts about the
War of 1812 and
national monuments from the
American History Guys. I know. Nerd Alert. But life (especially in DC) is so much more interesting when we learn about the history of places, people, and events.
Then this weekend, I wanted to go exploring with friends as usual, but I felt a really strong prompting to
be alone and
ponder. It was a very unusual inner conflict. Normally, I feel like I need to put myself out there and be more social, but this weekend was the exact opposite.
So I set out on Saturday with an itinerary...alone. It started with a volunteer orientation for the
Smithsonian Folklife Festival. I signed up to volunteer for 3 days (the festival is 10 days total). Apparently they had the most volunteers sign up ever this year - 620ish - but I think only half or so showed up :( I'm excited to serve my community and learn. You can read all about it next week :)
Then I wandered around Georgetown til I found this "Thai Village in Georgetown" festival next to the Thai Embassy. It turned out to be
another event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Bangkok and DC. Thailand seems to really cherish this relationship.
There were alot of local Thai restaurants that set up little huts to sell food. Super cute.
This was my favorite stand name haha
There was a stage for performances, which were all really good. Who knew jazz was so big in Thailand? This is the 2nd Thai jazz band I've seen in the last month. She sang "Halo" and "Route 66".
Then of course, there was the food. I was really careful to pick things that weren't spicy. I started with these little crab/pork dumplings. It made me miss Chinese
dim sum.
I got some baby coconut juice, which flavor went really well with the crab
Finished off with this delicious curry noodle dish. Yummm
These dancers did a routine that mixed traditional Thai with modern dance styles. They were really skilled and entertaining. It's so interesting to see the contrast with other dances like ballet and ballroom - their hands and feet were always flexed and never pointed.
Wandered around a cute little bookstore in Georgetown and saw this. What bothered me was the section this book was placed in. And how do you write a biography of a book of scripture?!
I found some great bargains though ($3 and $3.50!). These seemed like some staples an American Studies major should have in her library :)
I went on to a real library in Foggy Bottom, a beautiful part of the neighborhood
...because there was a free tango class on the top floor. What the random?! It was a beginner lesson taught by an elderly European man. It felt so good to take a dance class again, though it soon got boring with the basic choreography. One day, I will go back for the books.
As I made my way to the American History Museum, I came upon this extremely talented man on the sidewalk. There were dozens of people who stopped and watched him. Man got rhythm! I hope he gets the chance to perform in front of a bigger audience someday and maybe even support himself doing it.
Have I mentioned that I love fountains? And dancing.
I made it there in time for the live
1960 Greensboro sit-in exhibit. I honor and admire all the courageous people (not just blacks) who risked everything to fight in the
Civil Rights Movement.
Then I went to the "Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello: Paradox of Liberty" exhibit, which topic always bothered me
It was especially poignant after picking up this book again and reading it all day on the Metro (thanks Tim). Ignore my shiny face, it was h-o-t.
Wandered to another exhibit with various items from American history. It was cooler than I thought it would be to stand right in front of a piece of history (as opposed to just seeing a picture of it), like this one.
Abolitionists were so creative and witty.
I loved this. As a fledgling democracy, early Americans thought it was crucial to have a literate populace so the people could read the Bible and understand the laws for themselves. Sometimes this was all they had to practice reading. I'm so grateful for my educational opportunities.
First Apple computer from the 1980s. I am grateful for how much it has evolved!
One of the original sunstones from the
Nauvoo temple!!
A model of
Eli Whitney's cotton gin, invented in 1793. One of the most significant inventions in American history because it made processing cotton exponentially more efficient and spurred the need for an increase in slave labor 15 years before the Constitution outlawed the importation of slaves, so there was plenty of time to bring in more Africans. It's one of those things that makes you wonder how history would be different if it was never invented...
Crazy statue of George Washington. It was powerful seeing this in person after reading about its unpopularity in textbooks. Thank goodness this statue of George Washington never became famous, but definitely infamous!
Another exhibit: history of a reconstructed 200-year-old house - These people were so brave to stand up against slavery. It became a way of life insomuch that they indoctrinated freedom and racial equality in their children. I wonder if I would have been as bold and dedicated.
Illustrating the 9 steps of doing laundry back then. I am SO GRATEFUL I didn't live in these times! Wow, I will never complain about doing my laundry again. They BOILED their clothes! And didn't have rubber gloves to protect their hands from the harsh soap! I hand wash some of my clothes but spend probably only 30 minutes doing it each week...
I think I would faint from fright if I ran into one of these huge things on the plains.
Apparently, managers didn't always exist...until the
Industrial Revolution, when small shops and independent merchants gradually gave way to huge industries and factories that sometimes had gates to better control their masses of underpaid and overworked laborers.
I'm grateful to the generations of feminists and labor protestors who make it possible for me to work in a healthy environment with 8-hour (not 14) workdays, a decent salary, and insurance and vacation benefits.
So grateful that I was able to get many of the benefits of being a first generation immigrant (greater educational, career, religious, recreational, and cultural opportunities) without many of its disadvantages (poverty, persecution, alienation, etc.).
I'm extra grateful I was not born a slave. God must have extra rewards for them in heaven.
I only spent 2 hours there before it closed, and only got through 1 floor. Guess I'll have to find another 4 hours to see the rest of it...
Left craving pizza really bad but Costco was already closed :( No $2 pizza for me. So I tried out this place in my neighborhood.
The gelato (pistachio) and sorbeto (watermelon) was delicious but awfully overpriced
Was excited to bring my capreze pizza home and watch a good ol' musical
The musical was better than I remembered. My gal
Doris Day in
The Pajamas Game (1957) - uproarious and clever songs, creative choreography, snappy dialogue - I highly recommend it. The pizza...sucked. By the time it got home, it was dried out AND waterlogged (?!) and pretty tasteless.
What did I learn this week? That there are plenty of opportunities to educate myself (especially in DC :)) even if I am not able to pursue a Masters degree in the humanities right now.
Also, that
I am a people person and I can't wait to work on my social health next week!
