Texts from Mom

I have moved thousands of miles away from my home town of Hayward, California. The distance as well as the latest technology advances have really changed the way in which I communicate with my friends and family from back home. Here is a google map to represent my move. A picture really does represent 100 words.

3, 175 miles from Hayward,Ca to Cambridge, Ma

Despite the distance, my family and I have taken to communicate through the use of technology, specifically FaceTime (Apple Plug here). My brother and I both have the latest iPhones and my father, who is pretty tech-savy, knows how to skype and email with us. But the real star of this trans national family love story is my mother.

One major benefit that has come out of this distance is my mother's interest in technology. She has never used a computer. She is a dental assistant and spends her days conversing and aiding patients or using dental instruments. It's safe to say that technology is a pretty recent phenomenon for her. So, this post is dedicated to my mom, with love and respect to her growing interest around technology as it is growing her communication with her kids. My mom is now writing emails, has her very own iPad and has learned to text (hilarious mom texts to come at the end of the this post).

This is how I found out my mother had an Ipad:

Hi mija how can I che

Your blog.? I like my new I pod,,

Sent from my iPad

*Note her signature states "sent from my iPad"

My mom has even begun to text me while I am in class. Most of the texts say hello or good morning. One challenge about this latest burst in technology use is that when I get out of class, I now have two missed calls, a voice mail, an email and a text message. With so many outlets, my first response is to think there must be an emergency. No, they are all to say hello. She is incredibly persistent.

Another challenge is the cell phone/email auto-correct function. It's definitely having fun in our conversations as well. Another layer is that fact that my mother and I are bilingual and often speak Spanglish to one another. So texts often get misinterpreted...And by often, I mean OFTEN.

Here is me asking my mother if she will be attending my cousin Isaac's birthday party:

Here is a text conversation about what we are having for dinner: "Begged" means veggies.

 I too fall victim to cell phone's autocorrect:

 Here is my mother sending me information about my student health insurance coverage that was sent to Hayward instead of Cambridge the week school started.

And yes, I understand exactly what she means despite the grammar and auto-corrects. We now have a new way of communicating and it makes the distance feel not as distant.

My favorite conversations take place Saturday mornings. My parents wake up and FaceTime with me from their bedroom as I converse back over breakfast or lunch from my living room couch. Yesterday, I was FaceTiming with them and Edgar, my younger brother who is also away for college, called my parents home telephone and joined our conversation over speaker. His FaceTime appointment was after mine.

We are becoming a 21st century family. And the distance doesn't really seem that far. Here is to hoping you get to connect with a loved one today.

Happy December!

Food for thought today

My friend has the image below posted on her facebook profile picture. I saved the poster to my desktop some time ago and open it from time to time... I am much more aware of myself and the privileges I have after reading this. This poster below has me thinking about the power of words. The power words have to bring us into awareness. The shift of perspective we held just moments ago... to what we feel/think/believe after seeing or reading something.

Words are powerful... And its a gift that we have found a way to communicate with one another despite distance, language and time. Like the last saying states, "If you can read this...you are more fortunate that 3 billion people in the world who cannot read at all."

Fall Is Here

I know that its been awhile since I last wrote, so this entry will be a bit longer to make up for the past couple of weeks that I haven't posted. I'll talk about my chilly walks to school, how I love getting care packages and the incredible housewarming party I threw myself the same week my apt was broken into... Fall is here and I am experiencing the abundance of Harvest time that comes with it!

I dont think I have ever experienced a FALL season before. In California, the tempature pretty much stays above 50 degrees and it is either gloomy or sunny and what I really mean is that it is mostly sunny. The leaves stay green and sometimes you see variations of yellow or brown leaves, but nothing like the trees I am seeing here: Bright RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, PURPLE...

The images here are breathtaking-- and come at a chilly price. I walk or ride my bike to school in 30 degree weather. By the time I enter a classroom I recognize that I have lost feeling in my face, hands and feet...

I think I am really enjoying the Fall season around here because its nice enough to go for walks outside, but is chilly enough to appreciate being indoors. Speaking about indoors-- my parents sent me an awesome care package with rugs, WINE, desserts, candles...etc.  THANKS mom and dad!

I used some of the goodies to host a housewarming party in my new apt. So now a housing update. I recently moved into a new apartment in October. My old place didnt work out and with optimistic energy and prayer, I found a new place that is a better fit for me. Now I have two new housemates who work full time and are around my age.We all really like each other and have similar interests: like traveling, research, love of dessert and wine. So we move in and decide to sign a year lease within 24 hours of meeting one another (are we crazy? impulsive? desperate? Probably all of the above, which makes us all the better match for one another!)

Within a week of living together we get broken into. The door was literally ripped off the hinges. We are all okay. Some things were taken, like laptops, jewelry and video cameras, but no one was home and no one was harmed. Our landlord has since added more locks.


I have really grown to love my new roomates and am so grateful they are in my life. Here are some pictures of us with our friends at our Housewarming party from last weekend.

Roomate #1 Gabby is the tall blond on the left.

Roomate #2 Shivani is the one on the right leaning against the door.

My and some of my friends from school. The running joke here is that the Harvard Ed School ratio is 8 women to 1 man.

So, grateful for the friendships, encounters and laughs I've shared thus far with new friends. I am also grateful for the friendships that have come before and  the ones that will come along someday in the near future. What are you grateful for?

Food for thought.. some inspiration this week

By far, one of the most powerful poems of our time...

 

Our worst fear

Is not that we are inadequate;

Our deepest fear is that we are 

Powerful beyond measure.

It is our light,

Not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves,

"Who am I to be talented and fabulous?"

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God;

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about

Shrinking so that other people

Won't feel secure around you.

We were born to make manifest

The glory of God within us.

It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

We unconsciously give other people 

Permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.

Nelson Mandela

 

 

HGSE's Multicultural Festival

Last Friday was HGSE's Multicultural Festival. The night consisted of cultural food, music, friends, and performances. 

Our campus is somewhat diverse, particularly because of the many international students. It was beautiful to see so many different cultures represented in one place on one evening. The event was held in the floor level of our department library. 

Standiing in line: Platanos fritos, fresh guacamole, chow main,  samosas...
were some of the highlights of my dinner that night

So many people. This is the table I sat at with my new CULTURAL friends

The Colombian Table!

My friend Hethal, making henna tattoos at the
 South Asian Student Association Table

Capoeira Performance- I actually want to join the club now 

HGSE A Capella Choir performing songs around the world

Traditional Chinese Dance "Little Peacock"

Harvard Banghra performing

The rest of the evening was open floor dancing. 

I think the last photo captures the evening well. We made a big circle and danced to different music. Here is an image of my friend Mayte (in her Bolivian Folklore Outfit) dancing with a little girl getting photographed by an international student from India in the center of a giant dance circle.

Fun Times.

Till next time.

xoxo

Today is the one day that is gifted to you

I have been struggling to stay mindful these past few weeks. And by mindful, I mean present, calm, relaxed, remembering to eat, sleep, laugh and socialize. LIVE. (hence the title of my blog-- a Zen Life).

I knew graduate school was not going to be easy and I came to Cambridge determined to continue living a life of tranquility that the coastal town of Santa Cruz, California (and many of my friends) taught me.

At Harvard, it is easy to get wrapped in the daily tasks of work, school, reading, homework...etc. It is a never ending cycle that can continue if you dont stop and smell the roses, as one would say. Literally, my days begin at 7am and I don't return home until 11pm. My days are long and often times, they are spent inside classrooms, libraries or coffee shops.

Below are images of study places I have attempted this past month:

Out on the grass, California style

On some benches outside of my department

Darwin's Cafe, a block away from my campus
(Stays open until midnight)

Widner Library, Harvard's most famous library
For more info click here

My good ol' room
(not much work gets done here)

Today, a friend of mine sent me a video and I remembered! Each day is a gift that you can never get back. So make it a good one. Watch this video it will change your day completely. It brought me back to the mindfulness I was craving. Enjoy:)

Book Signing with Nicholas Sparks

I found out a few days ago that Nicholas Sparks, novelist and screenwriter, was going to be signing books at the Harvard Bookstore and I was stoked! I wrote it in my planner well in advance and set my alarm early to wake up in time to go stand in line to meet this fabulous man.

When I was 13, I read my first romance novel: A Walk to Remember. I remember reading it in less than 3 days and crying out loud, but wiping the tears out of my eyes as fast as I could so that I could continue reading how the story ends. I was obsessed with the movie when it came out. I still own the book, the dvd and soundtrack to this day. And yet, I am not embarrassed to admit these things as my fanaticism paid off today.

Other famous novels of his turned movies include The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John...etc.

Um, I have to say that after putting these movie posters side by side, Hollywood seriously needs a new movie poster manager... The look alike: tight heterosexual embraces...

Today, more than a decade after reading his first book, I got to meet Nicholas Sparks in person! He was a cool guy, dressed in jeans and a baby blue polo shirt. He was sitting on a table talking to fans and taking pictures with us. Here is some of the madness I endured to get my 30 seconds with him.

The long line that wrapped around the bookstore

Not only did this lady cut the line,
but then went on to talk with him for like 5 minutes! 

Finally, got my moment!

Sports Overload This Week

07. Go to a Red Sox game

and

13. Go to a Harvard football game

This week has been rough. School is in full action and I papers were in every single class with plenty of readings to go along with them. It was also my first week at my internship, meaning, I have been quite the busy bee. I still found time, however, to socialize and continue my urge for the East Coast experience.

FENWAY:

On Wednesday night, the Boston Red Sox played the Baltimore Orioles. Friends from class invited me to go along with them as they had an extra ticket. It was my first visit to Fenway Park- A Must See! Walking into that stadium felt like magic. I could feel the love of the fans and saw that everyseat in the place was taken (it was a Wednesday night)! Also, this may not apply to many of you, but the vendors around the stadium sold veggie hot dogs and veggie burgers. That made the experience all the more memorable. (And yes, I am wearing a Redsox baseball cap) Photos below:

With some new friends

Doing my homework

Harvard Football Game:

On Friday night, Harvard played Brown University. The stadium is classic and reminds me of the coliseum in Rome, Italy. It's completely concrete and is shaped like a semi circle. It is also quite the walk to get there as it is over the Charles River (What separates Cambridge from Boston).

Aerial View

The Coliseum resemblance

The Graduate School Council (The student officers you could say, that represent all of the graduate schools) hosted a pre-game party for us. There was a large tent set up, where students from all the graduate schools squeezed into under the rain for free food, alcohol, a DJ hosted dance party and free prizes. I even won a free Harvard t-shirt for dancing. There were other tailgating parties too.

People tailgating in the rain

The pre-game tent party for grad students

The game was fun. It started pouring rain so I left in the third quarter-- I was drenched. But it was an experience I had been wanting. They say the game of the year is Harvard vs Yale as they are known as ultimate rivals. It is known at the Harvard-Yale weekend and people around campus treat it as a holiday weekend. All work stops. I am looking forward to it! And hopefully on that day it doesn't rain.

Getting ready to take our seats

Stadium View from the endline

Till next time...

Harvard Orientation Week

Alright, I have to admit that I have been holding back details about my experiences at Harvard. This will be the first of hopefully many more blogs to come, about what school is like for me as a Grad Student. Also, they are big on abbreviations here, so when I type HGSE, it means Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Harvard’s Orientation Week

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! It was a week and a half long and there are plenty of highlights that would probably go one for about a chapter of a book. So I will try and be brief:

The HGSE BBQ: Catered food, open bar, dance floor, DJ and faculty and staff including the DEAN of our Graduate School getting down to the Black Eyed Peas’, “I Gotta Feelin” as well as Elvis Crespo’s “Suavemente”.

Open Bar at HGSE Welcome BBQ

Tent angle of HGSE BBQ

Free Swag: Orientation typically consisted of day long events. We recieved bagged lunches… and not the typical brown bags we would get in elementary school, but shimmery paper totes adorned with tissue paper that fed us gourmet “wraps” instead of sandwiches. Also, I got a canvas bag, nalgene bottle and name tags… Okay, not that much free stuff, but still, Harvard Swag. I’ll take it!

Bagged Lunch

My Cohort enjoying lunch in the Rose Garden

Harvard swag overflowing my purse

Course Shopping: On Thursday and Friday of orientation, we were able to “shop” for classes. All of the faculty at Harvard’s School of Ed. conducted 40 minute mini lectures to give students a taste of their teaching styles and introduction to their fall courses. Many professors here are famous: whether they’ve invented something, written books, or studied under Piaget himself…this is a chance to see them in action--even if you choose to not take their course.

Meeting My Advisor: Katherine Masyn. She’s cool (in the sense that she has piercing and tattoos and actually wants to hear about you). She taught at UC Davis before coming here and has gone through three PhD programs. She received her PhD in Advanced Quantitative Methods in Social Research. HUH? Yeah that was my reaction too! But then I read this: Masyn Interview, which made me feel less intimidated. I met with her to plan out my yearlong goals, get career advice and plan my fall semester courses. I even decided to take her Statistics Course: Intro to Data Analysis (the hardest intro to statistics course offered here). I figured that if I have to learn this stuff, I might as well learn from the best right?

Internship Fair: The last day of orientation consisted of walking around a conference center with tables full of various organizations and employers for an afternoon. These organizations were there to offer HSGE students internships and plant some seeds about job opportunities for when we graduate. They asked us to dress professionally and to bring plenty of copies of our resume as odds were we would be hired on the spot. YES on the spot! Never had I imagined they could make this process so easy. So I put on a dress, brought a folder of about 8 resumes (granted at this point I did not want a job or an internship) and I attended. I was offered 4 paid internships! Yes, 4! (Sigma shout out here). As I walked around, employers or recruiters asked me about myself and my past work experience. I actually caught myself saying, “I’m sorry, this is not what I am interested in,” – a couple of times. Yes, I turned down some job offers. Each visit at a table was like a quick 10 minute interview. If they liked me, they asked for my resume and contact info. And, if we werent a match, we would part ways amicably. There were well over 100 other tables in the room anyway. Being a researcher in training, I had to ask people in my cohort whether their experience was similar to mine. And YES it was--except for that fact that a couple of them got internship offers and even exchanged work schedules!

The opportunities are abundant here. That is what people keep saying. My advisor even told me that in essence, this is what I am really paying for-- some class access and education, but really it comes down to the networking and connections HGSE can offer you.

Stay tune to read about which job I pursued…

Mom and I on HGSE campus last month