Obamanos

First of all . . . thank goodness, thank Obama, thank you America for looking the problem in the eye and doing something about it.  I feel a bit hipacticritical saying this because I was a dummy and didn't get my absentee ballot in time.  Anyways . . . I'm glad.  I know he's not going to 'change' things drastically, immediately, and I'm not sure how much change will actually happen.  I mean this with the upmost optimism but I'm just trying to be realistic.  He does not walk on water but his presidency is sure to bring America out of the tailspin its been traveling on for the last 8 years.  

The BBC online coverage was far superior to the NyTimes sadly enough.  So I got to see the events through the eyes of the Britons.  Man they didn't hide the fact that they were all for Obama at all.  It was very interesting and comedic at times.  Some reporters were at McCain rallies talking to folks.  One specific interview went something like this:

Reporter: How do you feel about the prospected results?

Farmer:  Well its sad to see and I'm quite scared of what might happen.

R: How do you feel about the state of the economy now, America is borrowing money from China and other countries to stay afloat, and facing increasing unemployment rate.  Aren't you worried about the condition of America and your job?  Do you feel at all it might be a time for some change?

F: No.

Wow very biased indeed.  Some of the analysts they interviewed were great as well.  Some of them were even comparing him to Kennedy.  No holding back in British tv.  I would have hated watching it though if I batted for the other team.  Ok so that last statement about 'batting for the other team.'  I hope Obama is right.  I hope he can bring this country together.  I feel this damn place has been run by a bunch of uber right wing nutties for too long.  I have nothing against republicans, nothing at all.  They have different views on things just as much as the next guy, or my current Korean bretheren.  I just want to say this that I'm not a fan of uber left wing politics either.  Living in Eugene for those 4 years and taking an environmental science class at PCC Cascade definately opened up my eyes to some off the wall lefty theories.  I just want to be proud of my country again.  I'm sick and tired of feeling like I should have bought a Canadian flag every time I leave the country.  I refuse to 'cause I am proud to be an American.  I do like the 'American Dream'.  Being in other countries where the very essence of that dream could be nothing more than that . . . a dream.  It is possible to get ahead.  It is possible pick yourself up from the bootsrtaps, work hard, and attain prosperity.  Its not going to be easy.  If you want easy enter in a basketball game with a bunch of Korean middle school kids.  Barack HUSSIEN Obama congradulations for being the first African American president.  

For a second I got a little teary eyed watching his speech.  But it could have been the great package of love I recieved from Vieve today as well.  Talk about goodies.   Coffee, peanuts, peanut M&M's, magazines, cards, don't forget the love, and much more.  Thanks Vieve I just wanted to give you a public shout out.  Woot woot!

On a much different note:

Imagine a scene out of any mad scientist movie . . . I'm thinking of Young Frankenstein.  Gene Wilder running about the lab with his crazy eyes, frazzled hair, and test tubes of god knows what bubbling.  The scene is dark, dreary, and filled with mist or smoke or what ever that is . . . Ok so those test tubes with the bubbling . . . now imagine those are inside your stomach.  You can feel large 'bubbles' moving this way and that in your tummy.  OOhh my stomach shouldn't feel like this but it does.  The bell rings and now I have to teach.  Oh man I have no idea what I ate but this business has got to end.  I've been illin for three days now.  Here is a bit of comedy that likes to shine on my life in all ways that are embarrasing yet kinda funny, in hind sight.  So I share them with the masses:

I swallow my pride and tell one of the co-teachers that I'm not feeling well towards the end of the day yesterday.  

She says to me, "Whats wrong?"  

"Um I'm kind of embarrassed to say really."

"Are you suffering from diarrhea?"

"Yeah, kinda."

"Oh would you like some medicine?"

"Oh we have some at the school?"

"Yes, let me get you some."

"Okay, yeah that'd be great."

I go to my office to do a few things and then head to the main teachers' office.  To my suprise I see two school girls giving a set of pills to Ms.  Yoon, my helpful teacher.  

"Oh Jason, here are the pills.  Please give those to Jason."  

I couldn't believe she sent students to get diarrhea medicine for me.  The girls give them to me wearing Mona Lisa's smile.  They were surely holding back laughter.  ''Thank you." I say to the girls.  They quickly ran away and began giggling before they left the office.  

"Thank you." I said to Mrs. Yoon.  By now she too had a smile on her face.  Yes thank you for making me feel all the better for revealing this embarrasing situation to you.  Next time I'm keeping it to myself.  Its just a matter of time before my students will  extend their sentences with the following:

"Oh teacher, bery handsome diarrhea man."  Can't wait.  At least they're learning something.

Today I went to school only to teach one class and then get a costly taxi home.  I've spent the day watching election coverage and Lost In Translation.  This movie BTW has taken on a whole new level of meaning for me.  Its based in Tokyo but I swear it looks just like Korea.  During some of the street shots I kept waiting to see something I recognized . . . "oooh, oooh, that's my favorite bookstore!"  But the emotion of feeling like you have no idea whats going on in a place where so much is happening is captured in this movie to the "T".  For those of you who haven't seen it before DO IT!  There is this beautiful scene where Scarlet Johanson takes a train to Kyoto and stumbles upon a traditional Japanese wedding in progress.  There is no talking the whole sequence, just the music from one of my favorite bands, "Air."  The title of that track is aptly named, "Alone, in Kyoto."    

Nighty night folks.   

Oh and I learned that only 28% (BBC coverage) of US adults have college degrees.  HOLY MOLY!  I thought there were way more.  Education is a good thing.  Too bad so few of us actually get one.