Outings: Black Solidarity Reception

Black Solidarity Reception - Somewhere in Ann Arbor (7 May)

Dr. Lisa Cook, one of the most distinguished yet under-recognized professors in my department (James Madison College), invited all the black students of my department to her house this evening. Part reception to recognize graduating seniors such as my self. Part support group/strategy meeting to discuss our experiences and grievances with racism, discrimination, under-representation, disrespect, micro-aggressions, silencing, and a multitude of other racialized effed-up crap going on within our department and in the university more widely. Something is wrong y'all. And we're about to do something about it.

...But I shan't divulge our secrets. What happens in Jonas Salk's old house, stays in Jonas Salk's old house.

I will say, though, that I love black people. I love my people. I love us. Even when I'm not so sure that I fit in amongst them or have anything to offer them,  I am consistently awed and inspired by my people. We are phenomenal,  we matter, and we all we got. Looking back, I wished I would've taken more opportunities to reach out and engage with the black student community in my department. Had I known that I could've had such support, I might not have isolated myself so much. 

But enough about me. As I said,we're about to share our voices. Something is about to happen, and it won't be pretty. And it shouldn't be. Stay woke, y'all.

(5 down, 3 to go...)

Outings: President's Reception

President's Reception for Graduates - Cowles House (29 April)

This evening I spent an hour and some change hobnobbing at Cowles House, a secret house and garden on my campus. It's not actually secret─students pass by it all the time, everyday─but hardly anyone enters it unless invited. And a bunch of us soon-to-be graduates had been invited there today for the annual President's Reception for Graduates.

First we registered and got name tags that had ribbons attached to them according to whichever college(s) we were graduating from. I was a so-called "ribbon collector", with three. Then, before entering the house we all waited in line for our turn to take a photo with President Lou Anna K. Simon, brandishing said ribbons.

Then it was just free-food, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the house's distinguished interior (I mean really, a freaking tree growing out of the sitting room??!), chilling in the backyard, sitting through a couple speeches and MSU hoo-rahs, walking around, and taking pictures with people we happened to know there. Speaking of which, I was so excited and relieved when my friends Jo, Christen, Jessica and Josh showed up. 'Twas gossip, laughs, graduation talk, future plans, and photo ops galore. Everybody received a goodie bag on the way out, which included a free alumni license plate. Now that I think about it, it all went by pretty quickly, which is more than fine with me because I'd been hesitant about attending this event.

While hobnobbing is still an awkward thing for me, I was glad to have had this time set aside to chat leisurely with a few of my friends. And to contemplate how many dynamic, beautiful, brilliant, just plain awesome people with whom I've become acquainted over the past four years. They're like shooting stars, with each one going their separate way after next week. For me, it's an honor to have been in the company of such wonders as these young individuals. Oh lord, here I am already waxing nostalgic. It's going to be a looong week and a half, I tell you.

Graduation season events and ceremonies: 2 down, 6 to go...

Outings: The Avenue

Open Mic Night - The Avenue Cafe (9 April)

After the Parade of Honors, I picked up Hilena and we made our way to open mic night at The Avenue, a bar that calls itself a cafe. We had our friend Marlee come along as camerawoman. So originally, it was only supposed to be the three of us, and we hadn't thought of inviting anybody to come support.

But then I mentioned it in passing to one friend, who apparently told another, who then told another. And all of them decided amongst themselves that they were coming! So even though we technically didn't invite anyone to come, we ended up with a crew of six altogether. Isn't it awesome when friends show up even when you haven't asked or expected them to?

The event started at 9. The first three of us got there around 10, and we signed up for the next available slot, #11, to give the rest of the crew time to get there. They arrived at about 11. Once everyone was there, we passed the time talking, joking, listening to and commenting on all the acts, and drinking just a lil bit. We also made a new friend in a local poet named Erin Gray. She was friendly but tipsy, and was a little too obvious when flirting with my friend Esse (far left in the group photo). The woman plopped herself next to Esse and actually wrote a poem about Esse's beauty on her phone unbeknownst to us, and then went up and performed it when it was her turn. While Esse cringed with embarrassment, the rest of us died laughing!

The only downside was that we didn't know we'd be there so long. Folks who were in with the host kept getting moved ahead of us on the list, and so we actually ended up being second-to-last of the night and didn't get on stage until 12:30am. But Hilena and I were glad just to have a chance to perform at a real live music venue for the first time, so we waited patiently. We performed two songs, the videos for which are below. I'll admit, it's a little hard to hear us (plug in your earphones!). A mixture of an inattentive crowd and us not projecting enough, I think. But we sounded great in person! I'm incredibly proud of us for trying something new and performing at a legit open mic for the first time. And our friends seemed to really enjoy it, so we were glad to have repaid them for their patience through song.

At one point Marlee turned to me and said, "Thanks for inviting me. I feel like a young person! You know, out here, doing what young people do." (She's younger than both Hilena and I, mind you.) But I understand what she means, as I normally don't have that much of a life either, haha. I'm glad that all of us were able to come together and have a good time. Thanks to Marlee for recording, and to Christen,  Jo, and Salem for coming to show support! We appreciate you with all of our hearts!

First song is "Spotless Mind" by Jhené Aiko. Enjoy!

 

Second song is an original by us (written by me, arranged by the both of us), entitled "Please Keep Me Company". Enjoy x2!

Outings: JMC Parade of Honors

James Madison College Parade of Honors - Kellogg Center (9 April)

 

My college/department's annual awards ceremony. They gave you a carnation for each award you were recognized for. Mine?  Phi Beta Kappa and "Graduating with High Honors" (3.9 GPA or higher).

Was a nice ceremony, but a little too long. Kinda wished I'd invited Ma to come. Overall,  for an event I hadn't wanted to go to in the first place, it wasn't bad.

And of course, you know we JMC Brown Beauties had to get a photo together. There aren't many of us in Madison (and even fewer were in attendance at the ceremony), so we have to stick together and support each other! Need #BlackExcellence ? Look no further than us. Black people go to school too!

Ahhh... the deluge of year-end award ceremonies has begun. 1 down, 7 to go. Exactly one month left until graduation. Oh joy...

Outings: HopCat

HopCat - East Lansing (2 April)

That one time after rehearsal last night when Hilena talked me into going to chill at a bar. She ordered Lindeman's Framboise and I ordered Positive Contact, but we ended up switching. The Framboise was like a spiked fruity fizzy pop. Easy to drink but bordering on too sweet. Then we had conversation over Hopcat's famous "Crack Fries". We started with our dream lives and ended with kiddie leashes. How, you ask?

See if you can follow:

If you could be anything in life what would you be→would you ever want to change your race→the amazingly beautiful honor that is being black→what would you say to mixed kids→what I would say to my Blorean kids if I were to marry and have babies with David So→how Hilena would be my wingwoman if we were to ever meet David So→what dating culture is like today→asking people "What's your favorite color?" as a more interesting and effective convo-starter than the typical where are you from/what do you study/what do you do→if we'd be friends with someone we're interested in→can't imagine ourselves in relationships→can't imagine ourselves as moms→would we use those ridiculous kiddie leashes

And this is a normal conversation for us! Ha!

Outings: World Languages Day

World Languages Day - MSU Business Complex building (28 March)

That one time last Friday when I volunteered 9am-5pm at a world language event for high school students. My last session of the day was French napkin folding led by, coincidentally, my current French linguistics professor. Burgundy candle (bougie), green croissant/frog (grenouille), red maple leaf (feuille d'érable).... all a success. Failed yellow butterfly (papillon) not pictured. 

Outings: TEDxMSU!

TEDxMSU - Wharton Center (4 March)

• x = independently organized TED event
• theme: The Will. "The idea of willpower and the mental and physical processes by which brilliant ideas make it out of brain-space and mere musings... and into the real world."
•  Had to drop out of the organizing team last semester, but I still managed to find the free way in─volunteering as an usher! I was way up top on the "tier" floor assisting guests and watching the show from a spectacular view!
• Sooo many thought-provoking talks from creative, passionate, and candid people:

• Shannon Cason- "It's Okay to Be the Bad Guy" (owning your stuff/your truth and being an honest storyteller)
• Emily Weigel- "Hot or Not, Just Go for It" (patterns of sexual attraction and selection; what women want; behavior matters most)
• John Nowak from the band Desmond Jones- "The Power of Music" (music therapy enhancing social skills for kids with special needs; the necessity/gift of the arts and music in human life)
• TED@NYC video: Clint Smith - "The Danger of Silence"
• Austin Martin- "Connection and Compassion in the Age of Mass Incarceration" (marginalization and precarious conditions that formerly-imprisoned people face; rehabilitation and re-entry navigation)
• Sariah Metcalfe- "Land of the Free" (spoken word; my country is not mine; the US has yet to live up to its values; revolution, fighting to heal the world and clean up the mess)
• Can (Aiden) Wang - "Chinese Hot Cars: A Stretched Family Bond (negative misconception of Chinese international students on MSU's campus as spoiled flashy rich kids; money as a means for Chinese families to maintain connection with their children)
• TEDxToronto video: Dave Meslin- "The Antidote to Apathy"
• Apryl Pooley- "The Human Element of Recovery from Mental Illness and Addiction" (PTSD as response to rape and other traumas; create healing and combat shame and guilt through social support, humanity, sharing one's story)
• Young Yi- "The Problem of the Death Bed" (beating leukemia; regrets on the death bed; urgency, patience, and perseverance as key virtues to living a fulfilled life)

• Nearly 2,000 attendees at this, the second TEDxMSU event! There were only a hundred-something people at the first one three years ago. What an awesome turnout!
• Ran into friends Hilena and Marlee on my way out; photo op + food + long-overdue girl talk at a nearby caf

Congratulations to my friend boss-lady-coordinator-extraordinaire Irene, everyone in TEDxMSU (website / FB), and all the speakers for putting this fantastic event together. Y'all put a ton of hard work in over the past year, and I'm grateful to y'all for giving me the chance to experience a TED talk for the first time. Along with everyone else in attendance, I left feeling incredibly inspired. Thank you and well done to you all!

Outings: Dice & Ice

This is my first outing ( going out and doing something fun on purpose) of the year! And it was pretty tame as far as nights out go. Ended February with more of a thud than a bang, but it's all good!

Dice & Ice - Munn Ice Arena (28 February)

• Ate dinner at a different caf than usual and they had sausage bread! Sausage bread was a favorite Christmas treat of mine during high school and I hadn't had it in years; delicious and nostalgic!
• Caught a glimpse of a poster promoting the "Love Yourself" campaign that's been going on throughout the month of February
• First time visiting Munn Ice Arena: check.
• Dice & Ice, aka Casino Night, aka Bingo Night for me since I don't play cards! Getting my grandma on, woop woop!
• Speaking of which, a group of girls actually brought their grandma with them. This lady sat right up front, and she was killin' the game and having a ball!
• Circa 1954 bingo cards 
• Ahh, bingo is practically the simplest game ever, but people get so into it and it's hilarious when they do: "Talk louder!" and "Dang where my numbers at?? Can I get some numbers?!" and "N42! Call one more! I need N42!" 
• At one point while I was playing one of the student planners of the event came up to me and said, "I know this is probably super creepy but I always love when you sing at open mic night. Keep doing it!" Shoutout to Danielle F. for the encouragement!
• Pita Pit turkey + blt
• Sparty making his rounds
• Forgot how raffle tickets work (you turn in one half and keep the other), so I wasted the first two tickets I won; won four more and put them all in for a $30 Target gift card, but tonight wasn't my lucky night
• DJ set highlights: "One Last Time" by Ariana Grande, "Dirty Little Secret" by All-American Rejects, "7/11" by Beyonce, "You Know, You Know" by Drake, and "24 Hours" by TeeFLii
• My wares: 1) a plastic "gold coin" that I might've turned in for tickets but didn't wan to be greedy 2) a t-shirt promoting safe sex; not a particularly pertinent message for an abstinent virgin like myself, but hey! It was free, it's not in a hideous color, and it's got a duck on it, so why not?

Outings: Go Cards!

Louisville (30 December)

• University of Louisville Cardinals v. Long Beach State 49ers (...who??)
• Wasn't gung-ho about going to a basketball game,  but glad I did!
• First Louisville game and first time at the Yum! Center            
• Got a late start and trying to find parking was a nightmare; made it to the game halfway through first half
• Aunt Fay got us great seats! Not too high up, and just a couple dozen rows above the band!
• Some kids were occupying our seats when we got there. They moved reluctantly but without argument
• Not as big as the Palace (Deee-troit Basket-baaal!), but the Yum! Center is impressive!  It feels a little intimate almost
• Appearance from Stephen Van Treese (player on the 2013 NCAA Championship team); he's playing pro in Japan right now (Albirex Niigata)!
• Band playing "Still Fly" by the Big Tymers, out of nowhere!  I lived!
• Aunt Fay told me that Cardinal fans have a bad habit of leaving games early. She wasn't lying; 4:19 left on the clock and the place was half-empty
• Especially today, which also featured a UofL football game; as one man muttered on his way out, "Welp, it's football time"
• 63-48 victory!
• Had to drive the car around to get everybody; first time starting a car by pressing a button
• Through downtown, back to my cousin's house for another round of sitting around the TV, all of us in our Cardinal gear, eating bad food while enjoying a good game
• UofL v. UGA; Shoutout to #7  QB Reggie Bonnafon! His family's been going to church with ours for the longest
• Aunt Fay and Aunt T discussing a wayward young girl they know who keeps running away from home;  how to set these kids straight; preventative programing; how to engage parents in a potential support group
• The basketball game wasn't worth watching on TV because it was too easy, Long Beach State didn't have a chance; conversely, the football game wasn't worth watching because UGA came ready to play and we just couldn't get it together
• Left good n' full n' sleepy though! It was a great evening!