I loved Disney channel as a kid. The awesomeness of Disney Channel Original Movies was probably one of the highlights of growing up in the late 90s/early 2000s. I recently found Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century on Amazon Instant for only $5.99 (yes, to purchase the whole movie). Sold. I hadn't watched this movie since I was around 14-15, but I remembered a lot of it. Still, watching it from the perspective of a 29-year-old woman on January 1, 2017, I had a lot of random thoughts, as I watched the movie:
1. So she records like an hour-long video wake-up message every night before bed?? Who has time for that? And who wants to wake up to their own voice and face?
2. Ugh on how all the outfits are like cheapo plasticky halloween costumes from Walmart. Synthetic fibers like polyester, spandex, and lycra must be all that's left in 2049.
3. Did Facetime become a thing before or after this movie?
4. It's cute and sad how Zenon accuses her friend of being "cynical" for speculating that Mr. Wyndom is all about money. That's just fact, dudes. No one should be surprised by that.
5. Ahh. I remember the days when people thought CDs would get smaller. Instead, they just disappeared altogether. Adorable.
6. She's a rude little 13-year-old. Why does she think that Mr. Lutz couldn't possibly have any reason to be around the data banks? Could it possibly be that he, like, works for the president of the company OPERATING the space station?? Of course, because it's a movie, she has to be right, but this feels like a major plot hole from my grownup perspective.
7. Wow, she's a REALLY rude 13-year-old. The president of the company that employs her parents and pays for her place to live just kindly gave her a ride down to Earth but she has the nerve to snark at him when he goes to help her up, then after he politely shows her where to meet her aunt, she has the nerve to tell him he's a shady mofo? to his face?? Frickin 13-year-olds. They never change. I probably acted just like that at 13, but now at my age, I'd have slapped her.
8. Mr. Lutz is a creeper. And why does he automatically know that her earring is his missing doomsday virus disc? Like, aren't there millions of discs lying around, looking exactly like that one??
9. I think Margie is a rude girl too and doesn't have much of a leg to stand on in making fun of Zenon's outfit. But I think the Earth society as a whole probably has a right to make fun of her el cheapo polyester crap. It's not the style, it's the quality that bugs me the most. But. Gotta love the 90s.
10. Aunt Judy should probably seek therapy for her whole fear-of-doing-anything deal. It was kind of a knife to my own heart though when Zenon bluntly asked why she's never gotten married or had kids. Geez. Ouch major. However, minus the little rude girl attitude, I could see how Zenon's take-action personality is a good influence sometimes.
11. MAN Zenon is rude. That guy that likes her for some weird reason has been nothing but kind to her and she rips his head off every chance she gets. I'd have pushed her in the pool too.
12. Why are all the kids computer geniuses, but the adults apparently seem to be technologically deficient? Especially considering most of the computers are like mid-90s vintage? Also, the old-school MS Paint graphics are pretty sad.
13. Where does her Aunt Judy live anyway? They see an ocean on the horseback ride, but her Aunt also said that this wasn't one of the "big cities" like New York or LA. None of the surroundings look very East Coast anyway. And the architecture looks suspiciously familiar. If I had to guess, I'd say this is Pacific Northwest, like Seattle, which would make sense as it IS a tech hub with Microsoft and all.(doo doo doo *pause video) Okay, so according to Google, it was filmed in Vancouver, BC, though none of the plot summaries specifically say where the setting is supposed to be. Plus, given that they were teaching in the beginning of the movie about "President Chelsea Clinton," it seems like this is still supposed to be in the United States. Even if Vancouver is the setting, it's still part of the Pacific Northwest, so I'm considering my guess a win.
14. Geez. Why is she ordering so much food? And she didn't offer to pay her half, even after he specifically commented on how expensive she is?
15. You know, this movie did a decent job of hitting the diversity goals. There's not just one, but multiple black kids with speaking roles and computer genius characters. Not bad, 1999 Disney.
16. Mr. Lutz is SUCH a creeper. Nice suit. And putting the agreement in writing? How cute.
17. So the blocking chip on her datapad was like, a legit, physical chip?? What are we, cavemen?
18. Raven Symone has the greatest facial expressions and reactions. She was hilariously underappreciated on this movie.
19. Again, why does it take a 13-year-old to fix the whole space station? What about the entire cadre of scientists onboard??
20. Greg's shirts are classic 90s oversized, loudly-patterned polyester button-ups. Scary.
21. By the way, how do all of these 13-year-olds know how to drive? And WHY ARE THERE NO SELF-DRIVING CARS???? Guess Elon Musk didn't exist in this timeline.
22. I forgot how hot Proto Zoa is. He can even pull off the 90s bleach job. The nerdy weird dance just before boarding kind of killed it though.
23. "Cheeky little scamp, isn't she?" -Proto Zoa, on Zenon. I'd say that about sums up the whole movie.
24. I'm just loving all the cardboardy computer panels and stations.
25. So this whole thing is just an insurance fraud scam? What kind of insurance policy can you possibly buy for a whole SPACE STATION?? And wouldn't the space station falling out of the sky tank his company's reputation and stock prices??
26. Nice how she arrogantly turns around to take a bow at the saving the space station thing. I can't even see past her enormous head. And everyone fawning all over her is not going to motivate her to be less of a cocky rude girl in the future.
27. Omg. The lyrics on this song are horrific and awful. And nice cheesy electronic drum track. Hmm. He is not that great of a singer. The whole performance has tarnished my memory of this song.
Aside from the negative takeaways, this movie was fun to watch again. Mainly because I remembered so much of the main plot points and conversations, but forgot all of the details, which are the most fun to see. It did make me realize though how growing up takes away a bit of the fun of these movies. Now I react to risky stuff as a mom type, not a kid type. Sigh.
Monday, January 2, 2017
Friday, April 29, 2016
Finding health in good nutrition
I am passionate about ensuring that Native American children have access to fresh foods for good nutrition. Food insecurity is a real and pervasive problem on reservations, with 25% of Native Americans considered to be food insecure, or having inconsistent access to foods needed for good nutrition. Food Insecurity leads to significant health problems like diabetes or obesity, and it hampers a child's future chances for success in life. Many reservations are food deserts, meaning they are devoid of fresh foods, and contributing to the high numbers of food-insecure residents. Many common diets on reservations consist of packaged, fried, frozen, and processed foods, because that is simply all that's available.
I am at the Gathering of Nations Powwow this weekend and I have two reflections:
First, there is a ton of greasy, sugary foods for sale here. It also saddens me how so many people swarm to the frybread stands. Frybread was created as a necessity when we were first ripped from our ancestral lands and confined to reservations. We had no way of obtaining traditional foods, so the government gave us food packages of flour, lard, and other goods common in European diets but completely incompatible with our traditional lean diets. Frybread is a symbol of the oppression we experience(d) and continues to be a contributor of our obesity problem today. It does not represent our heritage, but instead the devastating colonization of our peoples.
Second, despite the spread of extremely unhealthy foods throughout the powwow, I kept seeing little signs of hope. Two little boys happily munching on slices of an orange. A big guy biting into an apple. Even a food stand offering apple slices. They came drizzled with caramel, but still, it has to be healthier than the nachos and cotton candy at other booths. If people can just be given the option of fresh foods, I have hope they will choose to be healthy.
We do not eat well in Indian Country. That is accepted by all. But little by little, we are starting to get more exposure to fresh foods, and we are starting to make better choices. It's a hard road to reverse a hundred years of colonized diets, but there is hope.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Lessons from a canine foster mom
I am a foster mom for a local dog rescue. I chose to do this because I desperately needed a dog around the house but I couldn't commit to a dog longterm. As it turns out anyway, I love being a dog foster mom. I only take one dog at a time, as per my lease agreement, and they are generally under 20 pounds. I have been doing it for about a year and a half, and I've fostered 5 dogs so far, each for a couple of months at a time until they get adopted. I view my house as a refuge of sorts. Most of the other foster homes with the rescue have a lot of dogs, a lot of kids, and a lot of chaos. A lot of dogs thrive in this and love being part of a pack. But some others are not so fond of it. So I tend to take dogs that are brand new to the rescue, usually still traumatized from the loss of their owners, and/or not suitable to be around kids or other dogs, or maybe need special medications or vet treatment (such as spay/neuter). Here is a snapshot of what I have learned, seen, and laughed about:
1) I used to have a dog that I adopted from a rescue, his name was Hiro. He was 10 when I adopted him and he passed away at 14, due to age. He was my best buddy and I miss him a lot. My foster dogs though are good substitutes. I actually treat all of them just like I did him and you know what? They all start to respond and act in similar fashion. I click my tongue like I did with Hiro and they respond. I call out "buddy," because that's what I generally called Hiro, and they respond. I'm probably teaching them bad things because I love when they get all excited and jump up on me as I walk in the door. Since these are little dogs, it's not like I get knocked over or anything. I also love having slobberfests, where I set my stuff down after walking in, and I go lie down on my bed. They of course follow me and proceed to lick attack me and jump all over. It's my favorite time of the day because it tickles and I'm giggling the whole time. It's nice to have a reason to laugh.
2);//////////////-= Those symbols are from my foster dog, who placed his paws on the keyboard to distract me. Most of my foster dogs are velcro dogs. Probably because they know I'll indulge them. Probably another bad habit, but again, I view my house as a refuge, not a place to chastise them.
3. One difference between Hiro and my foster dogs is that Hiro had a stomach like a trash compacter. One of his favorite experiences was when I would order a pizza and he would get the crusts. That dog could pack it away. I don't feed my foster dogs human food or scraps though. Their stomachs are often delicate from the upheavals and moving around, so it's just good practice to stick to their high-quality dog food (provided by the rescue, which is good because it's expensive, corn-free, filler-free stuff).
4. I buy a stuffed animal or dog toy for each of my foster dogs. I send it with them when they go to their new home. I started this when my second dog developed a very "intimate" relationship with a tennis ball....I sure didn't want to keep that thing, so I included it with him. It's one of the cutest things when a dog gets adopted and I get to see them carry their beloved toy around as they check out their new home. It's a nice reassurance for both of us.
5. My current dog is a year old, the youngest one I've ever had, and he is very, very active. I frankly think he would be best in one of the crazy, chaotic homes because he's always full of energy. But I do what I can to entertain him. Besides taking him on walks every night, I've made it a mission to find his ideal chew toy. All of my dogs have different tastes in chew sticks. My last one loved the himalayan chew sticks, but my current one doesn't. The one before that liked chewable nylabones, but those got expensive. My current one is a simple one, he likes plain old rawhide. The others needed various forms of flavorful, long-lasting ones. It's a process each time, but it's fun when I sit down to do homework and I watch them wander over and pick up their chew stick to chomp. I like seeing them have their little lives, simple as they are.
6. It always takes my dogs a few days to settle in. They are usually either hyper, jumpy, or standoffish until then. The best sign is when they fall asleep on their back for the first time. That's how I know they're starting to trust me and feel safe.
1) I used to have a dog that I adopted from a rescue, his name was Hiro. He was 10 when I adopted him and he passed away at 14, due to age. He was my best buddy and I miss him a lot. My foster dogs though are good substitutes. I actually treat all of them just like I did him and you know what? They all start to respond and act in similar fashion. I click my tongue like I did with Hiro and they respond. I call out "buddy," because that's what I generally called Hiro, and they respond. I'm probably teaching them bad things because I love when they get all excited and jump up on me as I walk in the door. Since these are little dogs, it's not like I get knocked over or anything. I also love having slobberfests, where I set my stuff down after walking in, and I go lie down on my bed. They of course follow me and proceed to lick attack me and jump all over. It's my favorite time of the day because it tickles and I'm giggling the whole time. It's nice to have a reason to laugh.
2);//////////////-= Those symbols are from my foster dog, who placed his paws on the keyboard to distract me. Most of my foster dogs are velcro dogs. Probably because they know I'll indulge them. Probably another bad habit, but again, I view my house as a refuge, not a place to chastise them.
3. One difference between Hiro and my foster dogs is that Hiro had a stomach like a trash compacter. One of his favorite experiences was when I would order a pizza and he would get the crusts. That dog could pack it away. I don't feed my foster dogs human food or scraps though. Their stomachs are often delicate from the upheavals and moving around, so it's just good practice to stick to their high-quality dog food (provided by the rescue, which is good because it's expensive, corn-free, filler-free stuff).
4. I buy a stuffed animal or dog toy for each of my foster dogs. I send it with them when they go to their new home. I started this when my second dog developed a very "intimate" relationship with a tennis ball....I sure didn't want to keep that thing, so I included it with him. It's one of the cutest things when a dog gets adopted and I get to see them carry their beloved toy around as they check out their new home. It's a nice reassurance for both of us.
5. My current dog is a year old, the youngest one I've ever had, and he is very, very active. I frankly think he would be best in one of the crazy, chaotic homes because he's always full of energy. But I do what I can to entertain him. Besides taking him on walks every night, I've made it a mission to find his ideal chew toy. All of my dogs have different tastes in chew sticks. My last one loved the himalayan chew sticks, but my current one doesn't. The one before that liked chewable nylabones, but those got expensive. My current one is a simple one, he likes plain old rawhide. The others needed various forms of flavorful, long-lasting ones. It's a process each time, but it's fun when I sit down to do homework and I watch them wander over and pick up their chew stick to chomp. I like seeing them have their little lives, simple as they are.
6. It always takes my dogs a few days to settle in. They are usually either hyper, jumpy, or standoffish until then. The best sign is when they fall asleep on their back for the first time. That's how I know they're starting to trust me and feel safe.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Service Recommendations in the Phoenix Area
I have lived in the Phoenix, AZ area for the past 2 years, and in that time, I have developed a fairly reliable list of people and businesses that I return to for services like auto repair, haircuts, etc. I found a lot of them through my own searches and filtering through Yelp reviews and the like, and a few others were found through Groupon. I have only listed those businesses that I personally have visited, liked, and would recommend to a friend. Please enjoy this list below, and if you decide to visit them, feel free to drop my name! Note that I will occasionally add new services to the list, so check back once in a while, and let me know if these suggestions help!
1. Hair Stylist
Monika Hernandez, Ruffled Feathers Salon - Chandler, AZ
480-466-6518
www.ruffledfeathersstudio.webs.com
I went through several hairdressers before finding Monika, so I paid my dues. She is very skilled and always seems to know exactly what I want and makes it happen. Plus, her prices are reasonable enough that I can afford to visit her regularly! She does book up about 3 weeks in advance though, so you have to plan ahead. She occasionally has Groupon deals, but really, her prices are reasonable enough without it. She may even honor the Groupon price upon request.
2. Nail care
teres - a nail bar
https://teresnailbar.com/
I liked my old nail salon just fine, but the last time I went there, they hurried me more than I wanted. I don't have time to get my nails done all the time, so when I do, I want to relax and have a leisurely experience. Plus, I've been getting tired of miming all of my questions. So I searched for a long time and finally stumbled upon teres. When I walked in for the first time, I was delighted to see that it wasn't like a typical nail salon with standard massage chairs and magazines. It has a rustic chic feel that is very classy (apparently the owner's mother is an interior decorator and it shows) The thing that drew me initially was the a la carte style of services. I started with a standard pedicure and then added an extra 5-minute massage (in addition to the one already included), a masque, whipped shea butter treatment, and an herbal detox addition to my soaking water of green tea and rosemary. I had a lovely conversation with my nail technician and she ended up spending an entire hour with me, which was a lot better than my last pedicure! I'll be back for sure.
3. Auto Care
We-Fix-It Auto Repair - Scottsdale, AZ
480-990-7729
www.wefixitautorepair.com
I found this place by sifting through tons and tons of online reviews. The proprietor, Andreas, is great, and he works hard to keep up customer satisfaction and loyalty. I get my oil changes here and while they only do oil changes in the mornings, the lobby is clean, bright, and has a Keurig. Note that if you get any larger repairs done there, they mark up the parts double the retail price. But they are okay with you buying the part on your own and bringing it in. I don't think they like it, but that's what I did. Their labor costs are just fine and they are very honest with the condition of various parts and whether or not they need to be replaced.
4. Teeth Whitening
Radiant Smile - Tempe, AZ
480-848-8044
www.radiantsmileaz.com
This place offers groupons, but they will honor the groupon price either way. It's in a nice little office complex with plenty of space inside, though I was the only one there at the time. I was able to get an appointment the same day, which was a major bonus. The guy who helped me was great, he was very friendly and explained how everything was going to go. It was a relaxing 30 minutes, and you have an option either before or after to upgrade to the next whitening level. They also sell whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. Compared to other teeth whitening places on Groupon, this one might be a smidge more expensive...but it's worth it.
5. Esthetician (Waxing)
Berry Berry Beauty
602-628-2633
www.berryberrybeauty.com
Another place I found on Groupon, she is a great esthetician with that rare touch to remove everything with minimal pain. She also honored my Groupon price for the second visit, which was awesome. I really enjoy visiting with her as well, and the salon, which is within Sachi Salon Spa, is very comfortable.
6. Walmart - Scottsdale, AZ
4915 N. Pima Road
The best Walmart in the Phoenix area is the one on Chaparral and Pima in Scottsdale. I regularly drive 20 minutes out of my way to go to this one instead of the ones closer to me. It is always empty, plenty of check stands open, fully stocked, has baskets instead of just carts, and all of the employees are friendly. None of those qualities are found in the Walmarts near me. Note that this one is located geographically on the Salt River Reservation, so it does not carry alcohol. Possibly a reason why it's such a fantastic Walmart.
7. Water Delivery
Ready Refresh (formerly known as Arrowhead Water Delivery)
www.readyrefresh.com
So anyone who has lived in the Phoenix area for a day knows that the tap water does not taste great. For me, coming from the Pacific Northwest, land of crisp mountain spring water, Phoenix water just tastes awful. So my first order of business when I moved here was securing a regular water delivery service. There are a lot of options in the Phoenix area, but most of them simply offer distilled tap water. I can practically get the same thing with a Brita. Ready Refresh offers Arrowhead Spring Water, which tastes much better to me. They usually offer substantial discounts and freebies for the first order, and they offer a water cooler for a monthly rental fee. The delivery guys are really nice, and every time I call customer service, it's a good experience. Can't ask for much more from my water delivery service.
8. Car Detailing
Shine Works Detailing and Wash
480-588-7072
www.shineworksaz.com
I chose this place because they offered mobile detailing at the same pricing as other detailing places, and I wasn't disappointed. The mobile detail is incredibly convenient as they can come to my house, and appointments within a week are easy to obtain. The two men who operate the business are nice, courteous guys, and they take a lot of pride in their business. My car was spotless and they managed to get out a large stain that I thought would never get removed! On their next visit, I got a mini-detail but it seemed just as good as a full detail. I highly recommend them.
9. Massage
Sonoran Serenity Spa - Tempe, AZ
480-772-3297
www.sonoranserenityspa.com
I found this place through Groupon and really enjoyed my massage. Kiera was my massage therapist, and she did a great job. This spa has two massage therapists, so you have the choice of a really deep massage from the male LMT, or a relaxing, lighter touch from Kiera. They are moving to a newer, better location, so I can't review the location, but everything else was great.
10. Chiropractic Care
The Joint - Tempe, AZ
480-448-1206
www.thejoint.com
I am terrible with appointments. Making them, keeping them, being on time for them, you name it. I also don't have insurance that includes chiropractic care. So imagine my relief when I discovered a chiropractor that accepts walk-ins at a reasonable price. Actually, The Joint ONLY accepts walk-ins. They don't schedule appointments, which is great because most adjustments only take like 10 minutes anyway. So even if there are other people who arrived before you, I think the maximum I've ever waited was like 15 minutes. The Joint has multiple locations across the Valley and you can either pay individually for a single adjustment (usually the first one is discounted), or you can buy monthly packages where you get a certain number of adjustments for a monthly fee that ends up being about half price per adjustment. They have good hours and multiple chiropractors, and the receptionists are all very efficient and friendly. If you need regular adjustments but don't have insurance, The Joint is a great option.
1. Hair Stylist
Monika Hernandez, Ruffled Feathers Salon - Chandler, AZ
480-466-6518
www.ruffledfeathersstudio.webs.com
I went through several hairdressers before finding Monika, so I paid my dues. She is very skilled and always seems to know exactly what I want and makes it happen. Plus, her prices are reasonable enough that I can afford to visit her regularly! She does book up about 3 weeks in advance though, so you have to plan ahead. She occasionally has Groupon deals, but really, her prices are reasonable enough without it. She may even honor the Groupon price upon request.
2. Nail care
teres - a nail bar
https://teresnailbar.com/
I liked my old nail salon just fine, but the last time I went there, they hurried me more than I wanted. I don't have time to get my nails done all the time, so when I do, I want to relax and have a leisurely experience. Plus, I've been getting tired of miming all of my questions. So I searched for a long time and finally stumbled upon teres. When I walked in for the first time, I was delighted to see that it wasn't like a typical nail salon with standard massage chairs and magazines. It has a rustic chic feel that is very classy (apparently the owner's mother is an interior decorator and it shows) The thing that drew me initially was the a la carte style of services. I started with a standard pedicure and then added an extra 5-minute massage (in addition to the one already included), a masque, whipped shea butter treatment, and an herbal detox addition to my soaking water of green tea and rosemary. I had a lovely conversation with my nail technician and she ended up spending an entire hour with me, which was a lot better than my last pedicure! I'll be back for sure.
3. Auto Care
We-Fix-It Auto Repair - Scottsdale, AZ
480-990-7729
www.wefixitautorepair.com
I found this place by sifting through tons and tons of online reviews. The proprietor, Andreas, is great, and he works hard to keep up customer satisfaction and loyalty. I get my oil changes here and while they only do oil changes in the mornings, the lobby is clean, bright, and has a Keurig. Note that if you get any larger repairs done there, they mark up the parts double the retail price. But they are okay with you buying the part on your own and bringing it in. I don't think they like it, but that's what I did. Their labor costs are just fine and they are very honest with the condition of various parts and whether or not they need to be replaced.
4. Teeth Whitening
Radiant Smile - Tempe, AZ
480-848-8044
www.radiantsmileaz.com
This place offers groupons, but they will honor the groupon price either way. It's in a nice little office complex with plenty of space inside, though I was the only one there at the time. I was able to get an appointment the same day, which was a major bonus. The guy who helped me was great, he was very friendly and explained how everything was going to go. It was a relaxing 30 minutes, and you have an option either before or after to upgrade to the next whitening level. They also sell whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. Compared to other teeth whitening places on Groupon, this one might be a smidge more expensive...but it's worth it.
5. Esthetician (Waxing)
Berry Berry Beauty
602-628-2633
www.berryberrybeauty.com
Another place I found on Groupon, she is a great esthetician with that rare touch to remove everything with minimal pain. She also honored my Groupon price for the second visit, which was awesome. I really enjoy visiting with her as well, and the salon, which is within Sachi Salon Spa, is very comfortable.
6. Walmart - Scottsdale, AZ
4915 N. Pima Road
The best Walmart in the Phoenix area is the one on Chaparral and Pima in Scottsdale. I regularly drive 20 minutes out of my way to go to this one instead of the ones closer to me. It is always empty, plenty of check stands open, fully stocked, has baskets instead of just carts, and all of the employees are friendly. None of those qualities are found in the Walmarts near me. Note that this one is located geographically on the Salt River Reservation, so it does not carry alcohol. Possibly a reason why it's such a fantastic Walmart.
7. Water Delivery
Ready Refresh (formerly known as Arrowhead Water Delivery)
www.readyrefresh.com
So anyone who has lived in the Phoenix area for a day knows that the tap water does not taste great. For me, coming from the Pacific Northwest, land of crisp mountain spring water, Phoenix water just tastes awful. So my first order of business when I moved here was securing a regular water delivery service. There are a lot of options in the Phoenix area, but most of them simply offer distilled tap water. I can practically get the same thing with a Brita. Ready Refresh offers Arrowhead Spring Water, which tastes much better to me. They usually offer substantial discounts and freebies for the first order, and they offer a water cooler for a monthly rental fee. The delivery guys are really nice, and every time I call customer service, it's a good experience. Can't ask for much more from my water delivery service.
8. Car Detailing
Shine Works Detailing and Wash
480-588-7072
www.shineworksaz.com
I chose this place because they offered mobile detailing at the same pricing as other detailing places, and I wasn't disappointed. The mobile detail is incredibly convenient as they can come to my house, and appointments within a week are easy to obtain. The two men who operate the business are nice, courteous guys, and they take a lot of pride in their business. My car was spotless and they managed to get out a large stain that I thought would never get removed! On their next visit, I got a mini-detail but it seemed just as good as a full detail. I highly recommend them.
9. Massage
Sonoran Serenity Spa - Tempe, AZ
480-772-3297
www.sonoranserenityspa.com
I found this place through Groupon and really enjoyed my massage. Kiera was my massage therapist, and she did a great job. This spa has two massage therapists, so you have the choice of a really deep massage from the male LMT, or a relaxing, lighter touch from Kiera. They are moving to a newer, better location, so I can't review the location, but everything else was great.
10. Chiropractic Care
The Joint - Tempe, AZ
480-448-1206
www.thejoint.com
I am terrible with appointments. Making them, keeping them, being on time for them, you name it. I also don't have insurance that includes chiropractic care. So imagine my relief when I discovered a chiropractor that accepts walk-ins at a reasonable price. Actually, The Joint ONLY accepts walk-ins. They don't schedule appointments, which is great because most adjustments only take like 10 minutes anyway. So even if there are other people who arrived before you, I think the maximum I've ever waited was like 15 minutes. The Joint has multiple locations across the Valley and you can either pay individually for a single adjustment (usually the first one is discounted), or you can buy monthly packages where you get a certain number of adjustments for a monthly fee that ends up being about half price per adjustment. They have good hours and multiple chiropractors, and the receptionists are all very efficient and friendly. If you need regular adjustments but don't have insurance, The Joint is a great option.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Law School and the Disordered Student
I recently started my third year of law school and I wanted to share a few insights from my perspective of being a law student with Generalized Anxiety Disorder ("anxiety"), social anxiety, and depression. This is a very long post and describes my history with the disorders, then my first two years of law school, and finally, some general tips for those suffering from anxiety or depression. Feel free to skip to the third section if you'd like.
I have probably had depression since high school. It runs in my family and it's hard at this point in my life to even separate out what my "true" personality might be as compared to my "depressed" personality. I developed anxiety during my second semester of my first year of college. I wound up dropping out a few weeks after classes began that semester after getting overwhelmed with the workload in my classes and having what I now recognize as a panic attack. I started school at a different college the next year and was fine for a year, but halfway through my second year, I became extremely depressed and found it hard to even leave my house. This of course significantly impacted my attendance, and then I began having panic attacks if I was at Walmart or other crowded or chaotic places. I spent a lot of time at the campus health center trying to get on proper medications, then finally dropped out near the end of the semester, earning a grade mix of Ws and Fs. I spent the next few years working and making halfhearted attempts to overcome my depression and anxiety, but it took 5 years before I was able to get it under control enough to go back to school. I was able to complete my AA degree in short order from a community college, then I completed the remaining 4 semesters in 15 months, earning my bachelor's degree in psychology. During this time, I was finally on the right combination of medications and personal growth to feel as though my anxiety and depression were in control, so I felt that law school might actually be a possibility for me. I applied and was admitted to Arizona State University College of Law. My application statement was based in large part on my struggle to live with my disorders, so many members of the administration were aware of my history before I entered.
If you have anxiety and/or depression and are interested in going to law school, I am here to tell you it CAN be done. I won't tell you it's easy, or even if it's worth it, because that is entirely up to you. It will be hard. It may be the hardest thing you have ever done. But it can BE done.
My first semester of law school was difficult because I was starting from a very basic level. My parents are not lawyers, I did not have any friends that had already gone through law school, and because I was finishing my undergrad degree until 3 weeks before law school started, I was unable to take any pre-law courses or summer prep programs. Thus, when I walked into my first class, I was unclear even on how to write a case brief. This sense of having to play catch-up triggered my anxiety, and attending classes only became worse over the semester as I dreaded looking like an idiot in front of my teachers or classmates.
I did not know anyone before starting law school, and I have never been a very quick friend maker, preferring historically to develop and cultivate a few close friendships. I was extremely self-conscious when school started too. Many of my female law classmates were thin and beautiful, whereas I had gained a lot of weight in my final year of undergrad while struggling to complete large courseloads. This combination of not knowing anyone or feeling "safe" around anyone, and feeling insecure about my looks led me to avoid many social events. I do note the irony that attending these events would have probably helped me to make new friends, but I never said my disorders are logical. I had never really had problems with social events before, but since starting law school, I have certainly developed a pervading case of social anxiety disorder.
My depression was triggered significantly by my anxiety and this new social anxiety, as well as my lack of close friends in the area. I also felt like I wasn't worthy of even being around my other, much smarter and most-likely-to-succeed classmates (later diagnosed during my counseling as Imposter Syndrome). Thus, I had to work very hard to not only prepare for classes and try to figure out which way was up, but also to overcome my complete lack of energy and motivation, which was a symptom of my depression. I formed a study group with several other classmates, but it was difficult for me to feel like I could acknowledge to anyone my shortcomings and areas where I needed help, so instead, I continued to feel as though I didn't belong and was behind everyone else.
My grades that semester weren't fabulous, but I spent my winter break bolstering myself up, reevaluating my prior approaches and studying up on how to do things differently the next semester. When that first day of the next semester came, I was up early and actually excited for school and my elective class of Legislation. My first class was at 10:30am. I checked my email at 8:30am, and was blindsided by an email from a school administrator informing me that I was on academic probation and would need to drop my elective to take an academic skills course, plus, multiple semesters on academic probation could lead to my being kicked out of school. I felt quite literally like I had had the wind knocked out of me. I sent a terse response (paraphrase here) that as I had already purchased my textbook and as it was the first effing day of school already, this was unacceptable and we would need to find another solution. Nevertheless, my first day of school was a blur as I sought to keep from crying in the middle of class. I didn't speak to anyone I sat by, for fear of breaking down or being revealed as a failure, and I was terrified of the teacher calling on me, because I knew I would have to walk out. Luckily, I kept my resolve, but the entire first week, I was unable to focus on anything except putting one foot in front of the other, barely maintaining physical presence in my classes, and getting home before I crashed my car. I didn't study at all, and I barely ate. This is what depression looks like. This is a prime example of a major depression episode. I met with multiple school administrators to fight this, because I had linked this to my depression episode, and I felt that if I were able to remove the trigger, my depression episode would be over. I was ultimately unable to get an exemption from attending the probation class, but luckily was able to recognize that I was in the middle of a depression spiral, and sought counseling help. Nevertheless, I had already felt like I was less than my other classmates, and now this was a confirmation of sorts that it was true. I am not sure now how I made it through that semester. I had poor attendance in my classes, attending few social events, rarely studied, and just zoned out at home. But I DID make it through my classes. I wanted to drop out, but too much was riding on my law school career. I didn't want to disappoint my family by failing out of yet another school, and what's more, is I enjoyed the actual content of my law classes. I may have hated going to class and dreaded being called on, but I really did enjoy what my professors were teaching. Cause I'm a freak. That was the semester I understood the true love-hate nature of my relationship with law school.
Ironically after all of that, my first semester grades WOULD have been acceptable, except in my Civil Procedure exam, I addressed the wrong type of jurisdiction (I had misread it initially in the fact pattern) on a high-points question, and subsequently earned zero credit for that question. Had the question been on the type of jurisdiction I addressed, I would have done fine, but my low grade on that exam and in my class caused me to be placed on academic probation.
My second year was hard as well, and I dealt with numerous social conflicts that almost caused me to drop out of law school by the end of it. I had grown extremely unhappy with how law school forces you to be selfish, but my nature is to be selfless and empathetic. I have always been heavily influenced by other people's emotions, and at ASU law, being surrounded primarily by Type A, aggressive, and often contentious personalities weighed heavily on me. I knew I did not have the fortitude to risk being inadequate in an internship position, so I opted instead to take summer courses at another law school, to see once and for all if all law students and lawyers were from this same personality mold. If so, I couldn't see myself being trapped in a profession for the rest of my career with these types. Thankfully, my experience at University of Hawaii law school was incredible, and being surrounded by warm and helpful classmates, professors, and even friends, gave me the confidence to continue school.
What lessons can I impart from my law school experience? In no particular order:
1. Go to the doctor, a psychiatrist, or a nurse psychiatrist (cheaper). Get on a good regimen of medication. Preferably at least a few months before you start school so you have time to get the kinks worked out. Law school is probably going to be harder than anything you've experienced before, so don't be afraid of getting extra help. Mental disorders are a chemical imbalance, so don't feel like you're a failure if you need chemical assistance.
2. Be open with your disorder(s) in and out of school. You never know who else is also suffering from it and could be a friend or ally. Ideally, choose a school near friends or family that are supportive of you and are willing to help you and build you up when you're struggling. This is also important because they may see that your disorder is getting worse before you realize it, so they can get you help sooner.
3. Get to know your teachers and get to know them early. I was too intimidated to go to office hours, and I missed out on learning to candidly talk with my law school superiors. Also, talk to your teachers if you have a fear of being called on in classes. Even in your first year, many of them will understand and try to give you a heads up before or find some other way of mitigating it.
4. If you have Imposter Syndrome, others will try to help by telling you that you got into law school so you must be worthy of being there. It's a nice try, but what you need to internalize is that as a human being, you have the ABILITY to do well in law school, regardless of whether or not you are on the same level as everyone else. This ability has nothing to do with others. Your grade may be impacted by others, but your ability to do well is 100% dependent on how hard you work.
5. Choose a school with a good counseling program. Ideally, choose a school that has counselors available within the law school and a positive, noncompetitive atmosphere that focuses more on helping all students to understand the material, instead of make it into the top 10%. Or, if you are set on attending something like a T-14 school, make sure you have a powerful, large support system outside of school also.
6. Attend classes. If you have to hire a car and driver to physically take you from your home to the law school every day, do it. Missing classes because of depression and/or anxiety will only increase both of those disorders, especially come finals time.
7. Yes, it matters what your classmates think. Yes, it sucks to be the person called on who looks like an idiot. Yes, you will survive if it happens. Yes, you will be able to come back from it.
8. Get a dog, some type of animal, plant, or something that requires your care. People with anxiety tend to have a higher level of empathy, and people with depression can find a way out by helping others and getting out of their own head for a while. For me, I didn't feel like I could take on the longterm responsibility of a dog, so instead I became a foster mom for a dog rescue. I take care of one dog at a time, usually an older, trained dog that belonged to a senior citizen or something, and the rescue pays for all food, supplies, vet visits, etc. In turn, I treat my foster dog like I would my own. We go on daily walks, which helps that depression by providing exercise, I take them to scheduled adoption events, which helps that social anxiety by getting me out of the house, and I get to be surrounded by a perpetually cheerful little creature, which never fails to boost my endorphins. Additionally, it is wonderful to feel like I am appreciated and am doing good.
9. Find a member of the administration or faculty that you can trust and talk candidly to periodically over the course of law school. Pray that they don't leave their position anytime soon (this has happened to me 3 times so far in law school, so I can't promise prayer will work).
10. Finally: find something outside of law school that you enjoy. In addition to being a dog foster mom, I do a lot of art projects such as beadwork, painting, sewing, etc. I also operate a handmade soap company. Some people may be able to work 100% on law school all the time, but I am not one of them. My disorders don't allow it anyway. So instead, I find creative outlets. They keep my sanity. Other options could be physical activity like intramural sports, yoga, running, etc., or taking lessons in something random like cooking, piano, a language, etc. Just something that makes you step away from law school, even for an hour a week.
Just realize you are not alone and that having a mental disorder does not mean you can't do something like law school, graduate school, medical school, or any other challenging life path. You just have to be mindful.
I have probably had depression since high school. It runs in my family and it's hard at this point in my life to even separate out what my "true" personality might be as compared to my "depressed" personality. I developed anxiety during my second semester of my first year of college. I wound up dropping out a few weeks after classes began that semester after getting overwhelmed with the workload in my classes and having what I now recognize as a panic attack. I started school at a different college the next year and was fine for a year, but halfway through my second year, I became extremely depressed and found it hard to even leave my house. This of course significantly impacted my attendance, and then I began having panic attacks if I was at Walmart or other crowded or chaotic places. I spent a lot of time at the campus health center trying to get on proper medications, then finally dropped out near the end of the semester, earning a grade mix of Ws and Fs. I spent the next few years working and making halfhearted attempts to overcome my depression and anxiety, but it took 5 years before I was able to get it under control enough to go back to school. I was able to complete my AA degree in short order from a community college, then I completed the remaining 4 semesters in 15 months, earning my bachelor's degree in psychology. During this time, I was finally on the right combination of medications and personal growth to feel as though my anxiety and depression were in control, so I felt that law school might actually be a possibility for me. I applied and was admitted to Arizona State University College of Law. My application statement was based in large part on my struggle to live with my disorders, so many members of the administration were aware of my history before I entered.
If you have anxiety and/or depression and are interested in going to law school, I am here to tell you it CAN be done. I won't tell you it's easy, or even if it's worth it, because that is entirely up to you. It will be hard. It may be the hardest thing you have ever done. But it can BE done.
My first semester of law school was difficult because I was starting from a very basic level. My parents are not lawyers, I did not have any friends that had already gone through law school, and because I was finishing my undergrad degree until 3 weeks before law school started, I was unable to take any pre-law courses or summer prep programs. Thus, when I walked into my first class, I was unclear even on how to write a case brief. This sense of having to play catch-up triggered my anxiety, and attending classes only became worse over the semester as I dreaded looking like an idiot in front of my teachers or classmates.
I did not know anyone before starting law school, and I have never been a very quick friend maker, preferring historically to develop and cultivate a few close friendships. I was extremely self-conscious when school started too. Many of my female law classmates were thin and beautiful, whereas I had gained a lot of weight in my final year of undergrad while struggling to complete large courseloads. This combination of not knowing anyone or feeling "safe" around anyone, and feeling insecure about my looks led me to avoid many social events. I do note the irony that attending these events would have probably helped me to make new friends, but I never said my disorders are logical. I had never really had problems with social events before, but since starting law school, I have certainly developed a pervading case of social anxiety disorder.
My depression was triggered significantly by my anxiety and this new social anxiety, as well as my lack of close friends in the area. I also felt like I wasn't worthy of even being around my other, much smarter and most-likely-to-succeed classmates (later diagnosed during my counseling as Imposter Syndrome). Thus, I had to work very hard to not only prepare for classes and try to figure out which way was up, but also to overcome my complete lack of energy and motivation, which was a symptom of my depression. I formed a study group with several other classmates, but it was difficult for me to feel like I could acknowledge to anyone my shortcomings and areas where I needed help, so instead, I continued to feel as though I didn't belong and was behind everyone else.
My grades that semester weren't fabulous, but I spent my winter break bolstering myself up, reevaluating my prior approaches and studying up on how to do things differently the next semester. When that first day of the next semester came, I was up early and actually excited for school and my elective class of Legislation. My first class was at 10:30am. I checked my email at 8:30am, and was blindsided by an email from a school administrator informing me that I was on academic probation and would need to drop my elective to take an academic skills course, plus, multiple semesters on academic probation could lead to my being kicked out of school. I felt quite literally like I had had the wind knocked out of me. I sent a terse response (paraphrase here) that as I had already purchased my textbook and as it was the first effing day of school already, this was unacceptable and we would need to find another solution. Nevertheless, my first day of school was a blur as I sought to keep from crying in the middle of class. I didn't speak to anyone I sat by, for fear of breaking down or being revealed as a failure, and I was terrified of the teacher calling on me, because I knew I would have to walk out. Luckily, I kept my resolve, but the entire first week, I was unable to focus on anything except putting one foot in front of the other, barely maintaining physical presence in my classes, and getting home before I crashed my car. I didn't study at all, and I barely ate. This is what depression looks like. This is a prime example of a major depression episode. I met with multiple school administrators to fight this, because I had linked this to my depression episode, and I felt that if I were able to remove the trigger, my depression episode would be over. I was ultimately unable to get an exemption from attending the probation class, but luckily was able to recognize that I was in the middle of a depression spiral, and sought counseling help. Nevertheless, I had already felt like I was less than my other classmates, and now this was a confirmation of sorts that it was true. I am not sure now how I made it through that semester. I had poor attendance in my classes, attending few social events, rarely studied, and just zoned out at home. But I DID make it through my classes. I wanted to drop out, but too much was riding on my law school career. I didn't want to disappoint my family by failing out of yet another school, and what's more, is I enjoyed the actual content of my law classes. I may have hated going to class and dreaded being called on, but I really did enjoy what my professors were teaching. Cause I'm a freak. That was the semester I understood the true love-hate nature of my relationship with law school.
Ironically after all of that, my first semester grades WOULD have been acceptable, except in my Civil Procedure exam, I addressed the wrong type of jurisdiction (I had misread it initially in the fact pattern) on a high-points question, and subsequently earned zero credit for that question. Had the question been on the type of jurisdiction I addressed, I would have done fine, but my low grade on that exam and in my class caused me to be placed on academic probation.
My second year was hard as well, and I dealt with numerous social conflicts that almost caused me to drop out of law school by the end of it. I had grown extremely unhappy with how law school forces you to be selfish, but my nature is to be selfless and empathetic. I have always been heavily influenced by other people's emotions, and at ASU law, being surrounded primarily by Type A, aggressive, and often contentious personalities weighed heavily on me. I knew I did not have the fortitude to risk being inadequate in an internship position, so I opted instead to take summer courses at another law school, to see once and for all if all law students and lawyers were from this same personality mold. If so, I couldn't see myself being trapped in a profession for the rest of my career with these types. Thankfully, my experience at University of Hawaii law school was incredible, and being surrounded by warm and helpful classmates, professors, and even friends, gave me the confidence to continue school.
What lessons can I impart from my law school experience? In no particular order:
1. Go to the doctor, a psychiatrist, or a nurse psychiatrist (cheaper). Get on a good regimen of medication. Preferably at least a few months before you start school so you have time to get the kinks worked out. Law school is probably going to be harder than anything you've experienced before, so don't be afraid of getting extra help. Mental disorders are a chemical imbalance, so don't feel like you're a failure if you need chemical assistance.
2. Be open with your disorder(s) in and out of school. You never know who else is also suffering from it and could be a friend or ally. Ideally, choose a school near friends or family that are supportive of you and are willing to help you and build you up when you're struggling. This is also important because they may see that your disorder is getting worse before you realize it, so they can get you help sooner.
3. Get to know your teachers and get to know them early. I was too intimidated to go to office hours, and I missed out on learning to candidly talk with my law school superiors. Also, talk to your teachers if you have a fear of being called on in classes. Even in your first year, many of them will understand and try to give you a heads up before or find some other way of mitigating it.
4. If you have Imposter Syndrome, others will try to help by telling you that you got into law school so you must be worthy of being there. It's a nice try, but what you need to internalize is that as a human being, you have the ABILITY to do well in law school, regardless of whether or not you are on the same level as everyone else. This ability has nothing to do with others. Your grade may be impacted by others, but your ability to do well is 100% dependent on how hard you work.
5. Choose a school with a good counseling program. Ideally, choose a school that has counselors available within the law school and a positive, noncompetitive atmosphere that focuses more on helping all students to understand the material, instead of make it into the top 10%. Or, if you are set on attending something like a T-14 school, make sure you have a powerful, large support system outside of school also.
6. Attend classes. If you have to hire a car and driver to physically take you from your home to the law school every day, do it. Missing classes because of depression and/or anxiety will only increase both of those disorders, especially come finals time.
7. Yes, it matters what your classmates think. Yes, it sucks to be the person called on who looks like an idiot. Yes, you will survive if it happens. Yes, you will be able to come back from it.
8. Get a dog, some type of animal, plant, or something that requires your care. People with anxiety tend to have a higher level of empathy, and people with depression can find a way out by helping others and getting out of their own head for a while. For me, I didn't feel like I could take on the longterm responsibility of a dog, so instead I became a foster mom for a dog rescue. I take care of one dog at a time, usually an older, trained dog that belonged to a senior citizen or something, and the rescue pays for all food, supplies, vet visits, etc. In turn, I treat my foster dog like I would my own. We go on daily walks, which helps that depression by providing exercise, I take them to scheduled adoption events, which helps that social anxiety by getting me out of the house, and I get to be surrounded by a perpetually cheerful little creature, which never fails to boost my endorphins. Additionally, it is wonderful to feel like I am appreciated and am doing good.
9. Find a member of the administration or faculty that you can trust and talk candidly to periodically over the course of law school. Pray that they don't leave their position anytime soon (this has happened to me 3 times so far in law school, so I can't promise prayer will work).
10. Finally: find something outside of law school that you enjoy. In addition to being a dog foster mom, I do a lot of art projects such as beadwork, painting, sewing, etc. I also operate a handmade soap company. Some people may be able to work 100% on law school all the time, but I am not one of them. My disorders don't allow it anyway. So instead, I find creative outlets. They keep my sanity. Other options could be physical activity like intramural sports, yoga, running, etc., or taking lessons in something random like cooking, piano, a language, etc. Just something that makes you step away from law school, even for an hour a week.
Just realize you are not alone and that having a mental disorder does not mean you can't do something like law school, graduate school, medical school, or any other challenging life path. You just have to be mindful.
Monday, July 6, 2015
It's like a different country...
So I am in Hawaii this summer taking law classes at University of Hawaii law school. I may write more on that later, but I want to share notes from an experience I had this weekend. I was invited along with several classmates to participate in a beach cleanup crew at Kahana Bay Beach Park, organized and run by locals. It was an amazing experience because I got to see the "real" side of Hawaii. On Oahu, people tend to be divided up in two main groups: "locals," and "haoles." I am probably considered a haole as I don't really "live" here (just visiting for 2 months), but as it refers generally to white people, I try to distance myself from that term by emphasizing my Native American heritage. This weekend was ALL about locals. Hawaiian culture is very similar to Native culture, in that you have to know someone to get an "in" with the local population, but once you do, you're part of the group, no questions asked. We of course knew the fellow law student who invited us, and she then introduced us to the organizer, who was also a UH Law alumni. Once we got to know them, we kind of just blended into the crowd and became part of the crew. I don't really want to detail the entire day (we spent 7 hours out there!), so I'll just highlight specific experiences and impressions:
1. Picking up trash was interesting, depressing, and mildly infuriating. The most common things I picked up were cigarette butts, plastic pop bottle tops, and bits of fishing netting. And plastic. So much plastic. Plastic of all sorts of colors, sizes, shapes, and wear. Many of the plastic pieces had washed up on the beach after swirling around the ocean for a while, so they were worn and broken down in to palm-sized, unidentifiable pieces. I grabbed everything I could see, because I knew that once it washed back into the ocean and became the size of a grain of sand, it would be too late to get rid of it. (note: feel free to search for "plastic beaches.") I was angry about the cigarette butts though. I don't understand why, just because a beach as sand in it, people treat it as a gigantic ash tray. People (and children and dogs) walk all over the beaches every day! I wouldn't throw a cigarette butt on someone's living room carpet, so why is it okay to throw one down on the beach? The fishing netting was also interesting, because while many locals fish, these nets were likely from commercial fishermen that are detrimental to the area because they take too much fish. Back when Hawaii was still relatively untouched, people only took what they needed from the ocean, and left the rest for others or for another day. The ocean was like their "icebox." But then commercial fishing began to rise, and suddenly, people's iceboxes were being robbed and emptied. Now, to add insult to injury, all of those fishing nets have begun to rip apart over the years and wash up on the beach in bits and pieces of bright green plastic netting. Terrific for birds to choke on. I can't think of many better ways to show people the dangers of our plastic, consumer culture than cleaning up a beach. And this was one of the cleaner beaches in the area!
2. We saw their fish pond, which was a shallow area of the bay blocked off by rocks. Its purpose is to raise fish and protect them as they grow to full size, so as to provide food for the many locals who depend on catching fish to supplement their diet. The rocks also provide a home for things like crabs and other small creatures. The woman in charge had been working on it in some form or another since she was 9 years old, and took on the project recently, as it had been suffering from some damage and neglect. Additionally, many uncles have provided insight on how it used to be and locals are providing labor during monthly work days to shore up the rock wall and make it bigger. This is oral history in action, and it's amazing to see how valuable it is.
3. Hawaiian children being raised in this local culture have the best lives in the world. There was a whole gaggle of kids there today, many of them related, though many more simply neighbors or close friends. All of them were deeply tanned and even the little toddlers swam like fish, flinging themselves into the water and leaping off the pier into the water. Talk about a free amusement park. Even the boats became diving boards. They played on for the entire time we were there, with kids trooping in occasionally to grab a hot dog or help walk along the beach to pick up trash and plastic. The kids trusted all the adults in the group, and everyone was "auntie" or "uncle," regardless of actual relation. This applied to us visitors as well, and we too also were introduced to many uncles and aunties throughout the day, all of whom were vital to passing on this tradition of Hawaiian life. While some of the kids may have been poor in money, I guarantee you not one of them thought today that they wish they had a Playstation 4 or a big screen TV. Talk about learning life's real values. There's more to life than just making money, and growing up in the ocean that money can't buy is priceless education.
4. We went out on a boat with an uncle (the father of the UH Law alumni organizer) later in the day to snorkel around the reef. This uncle was straight up local and old school, with references to people "in town" (Honolulu/Waikiki) and "country people" (like him, people up north, etc), and us girls as "sista" and the guys as "bruddah." He had an intimate knowledge of the area, the reef, the rock formations, the sea life, and the people; a knowledge that can only come from a lifetime of experience and learning. But what struck me most about the ride were the two kids who had hopped on with us (both of them climbed all around the boat like monkeys, even when we were in choppy waters): a little girl and a preteen boy, both his grandkids, and they called him "Papa." He took great care to continually teach them lessons during the whole ride. While the boy was driving the boat at one point, uncle commented, "That's the only way they learn." True words of wisdom. The little girl also drove the boat at one point, and it was clear that she was proud to be trusted with such responsibility. The boy was, even at his young age, extremely knowledgeable about everything. It's hard to pinpoint how these kids learn it, because passing on knowledge is so important for everyone in this culture. One thing I loved was seeing their almost innate reverence for the sea. At one point, the little girl told me about a time when a baby sea turtle (honu) accidentally swam into a net she was holding in the water, and she began to panic, trying to figure out how to get him out without hurting him. I don't know too many little kids on the mainland who automatically respect nature like that. They both recognized that they were only a small part of this world. They were both obedient, smart, capable kids, and I don't think it's just because of genetics. I think a lot of it is because they are given the autonomy to become smart kids. So many American kids are carefully dragged through life without being allowed to make their own choices and yes, their own mistakes.
5. We were present on their one-year anniversary of their beach cleanup crew's inception, so we got to participate in a group photo. Afterwards, I was speaking to the organizer about the impact this program has had. Throughout the day, we had been told stories about "before," with trash everywhere and boats and jet skis roaring through the bay and scaring away fish. Those were obvious problems that had changed since this group began educating people on the laws and picking up trash. But another change that nobody anticipated was how this was bringing the community together. Various families from the area, people who had never really met or gotten to know each other were becoming close friends. Families that had never spent much time in the ocean, despite living up the street from it, were now spending all weekend at the beach. This group of somewhat random neighbors in an isolated area of the island were becoming ohana. And everyone was beginning to take personal responsibility for "their" beach. Kids began to respect and take care of the ocean. Even the littlest ones have been learning about the fish pond and the older ones are starting to teach visitors about the importance of fish in this area. Today, a mom, whose son a few months ago wished she would get in the water, went for a swim. If it seems I am waxing poetic about it, it's because this impact cannot be understated. This sense of community and belonging is what keeps kids on a good path. It's what makes people look out for their elders, honor them, and turn to them for knowledge. It's the support system to keep single mothers and poor families from falling through the cracks. It's what motivates people to go off to college and law school and then still return to the island. This is what saves our cities and our people.
6. I learned something fascinating that seems to be something only locals learn. There's a beautiful indigenous plant here called naupaka, which is commonly seen lining beaches and is quite important in preventing beach erosion. It has a flower that looks like it was cut in half, and there is a Hawaiian legend explaining it. But the most interesting thing about naupaka is that, if you take the leaves and wet them, then rub them on the inside and outside of a snorkel mask, it prevents it from fogging up as you snorkel. Makes you wonder how that was discovered.
7. Also, dogs and beaches go together like Americans and apple pie. I've never seen so many joyous, happy dogs. All racing around in the water with their owners, barking happily, playing fetch, and then plopping down in the surf to rest and cool off. If you have a dog and you live near the beach, take him there. Now.
1. Picking up trash was interesting, depressing, and mildly infuriating. The most common things I picked up were cigarette butts, plastic pop bottle tops, and bits of fishing netting. And plastic. So much plastic. Plastic of all sorts of colors, sizes, shapes, and wear. Many of the plastic pieces had washed up on the beach after swirling around the ocean for a while, so they were worn and broken down in to palm-sized, unidentifiable pieces. I grabbed everything I could see, because I knew that once it washed back into the ocean and became the size of a grain of sand, it would be too late to get rid of it. (note: feel free to search for "plastic beaches.") I was angry about the cigarette butts though. I don't understand why, just because a beach as sand in it, people treat it as a gigantic ash tray. People (and children and dogs) walk all over the beaches every day! I wouldn't throw a cigarette butt on someone's living room carpet, so why is it okay to throw one down on the beach? The fishing netting was also interesting, because while many locals fish, these nets were likely from commercial fishermen that are detrimental to the area because they take too much fish. Back when Hawaii was still relatively untouched, people only took what they needed from the ocean, and left the rest for others or for another day. The ocean was like their "icebox." But then commercial fishing began to rise, and suddenly, people's iceboxes were being robbed and emptied. Now, to add insult to injury, all of those fishing nets have begun to rip apart over the years and wash up on the beach in bits and pieces of bright green plastic netting. Terrific for birds to choke on. I can't think of many better ways to show people the dangers of our plastic, consumer culture than cleaning up a beach. And this was one of the cleaner beaches in the area!
2. We saw their fish pond, which was a shallow area of the bay blocked off by rocks. Its purpose is to raise fish and protect them as they grow to full size, so as to provide food for the many locals who depend on catching fish to supplement their diet. The rocks also provide a home for things like crabs and other small creatures. The woman in charge had been working on it in some form or another since she was 9 years old, and took on the project recently, as it had been suffering from some damage and neglect. Additionally, many uncles have provided insight on how it used to be and locals are providing labor during monthly work days to shore up the rock wall and make it bigger. This is oral history in action, and it's amazing to see how valuable it is.
3. Hawaiian children being raised in this local culture have the best lives in the world. There was a whole gaggle of kids there today, many of them related, though many more simply neighbors or close friends. All of them were deeply tanned and even the little toddlers swam like fish, flinging themselves into the water and leaping off the pier into the water. Talk about a free amusement park. Even the boats became diving boards. They played on for the entire time we were there, with kids trooping in occasionally to grab a hot dog or help walk along the beach to pick up trash and plastic. The kids trusted all the adults in the group, and everyone was "auntie" or "uncle," regardless of actual relation. This applied to us visitors as well, and we too also were introduced to many uncles and aunties throughout the day, all of whom were vital to passing on this tradition of Hawaiian life. While some of the kids may have been poor in money, I guarantee you not one of them thought today that they wish they had a Playstation 4 or a big screen TV. Talk about learning life's real values. There's more to life than just making money, and growing up in the ocean that money can't buy is priceless education.
4. We went out on a boat with an uncle (the father of the UH Law alumni organizer) later in the day to snorkel around the reef. This uncle was straight up local and old school, with references to people "in town" (Honolulu/Waikiki) and "country people" (like him, people up north, etc), and us girls as "sista" and the guys as "bruddah." He had an intimate knowledge of the area, the reef, the rock formations, the sea life, and the people; a knowledge that can only come from a lifetime of experience and learning. But what struck me most about the ride were the two kids who had hopped on with us (both of them climbed all around the boat like monkeys, even when we were in choppy waters): a little girl and a preteen boy, both his grandkids, and they called him "Papa." He took great care to continually teach them lessons during the whole ride. While the boy was driving the boat at one point, uncle commented, "That's the only way they learn." True words of wisdom. The little girl also drove the boat at one point, and it was clear that she was proud to be trusted with such responsibility. The boy was, even at his young age, extremely knowledgeable about everything. It's hard to pinpoint how these kids learn it, because passing on knowledge is so important for everyone in this culture. One thing I loved was seeing their almost innate reverence for the sea. At one point, the little girl told me about a time when a baby sea turtle (honu) accidentally swam into a net she was holding in the water, and she began to panic, trying to figure out how to get him out without hurting him. I don't know too many little kids on the mainland who automatically respect nature like that. They both recognized that they were only a small part of this world. They were both obedient, smart, capable kids, and I don't think it's just because of genetics. I think a lot of it is because they are given the autonomy to become smart kids. So many American kids are carefully dragged through life without being allowed to make their own choices and yes, their own mistakes.
5. We were present on their one-year anniversary of their beach cleanup crew's inception, so we got to participate in a group photo. Afterwards, I was speaking to the organizer about the impact this program has had. Throughout the day, we had been told stories about "before," with trash everywhere and boats and jet skis roaring through the bay and scaring away fish. Those were obvious problems that had changed since this group began educating people on the laws and picking up trash. But another change that nobody anticipated was how this was bringing the community together. Various families from the area, people who had never really met or gotten to know each other were becoming close friends. Families that had never spent much time in the ocean, despite living up the street from it, were now spending all weekend at the beach. This group of somewhat random neighbors in an isolated area of the island were becoming ohana. And everyone was beginning to take personal responsibility for "their" beach. Kids began to respect and take care of the ocean. Even the littlest ones have been learning about the fish pond and the older ones are starting to teach visitors about the importance of fish in this area. Today, a mom, whose son a few months ago wished she would get in the water, went for a swim. If it seems I am waxing poetic about it, it's because this impact cannot be understated. This sense of community and belonging is what keeps kids on a good path. It's what makes people look out for their elders, honor them, and turn to them for knowledge. It's the support system to keep single mothers and poor families from falling through the cracks. It's what motivates people to go off to college and law school and then still return to the island. This is what saves our cities and our people.
6. I learned something fascinating that seems to be something only locals learn. There's a beautiful indigenous plant here called naupaka, which is commonly seen lining beaches and is quite important in preventing beach erosion. It has a flower that looks like it was cut in half, and there is a Hawaiian legend explaining it. But the most interesting thing about naupaka is that, if you take the leaves and wet them, then rub them on the inside and outside of a snorkel mask, it prevents it from fogging up as you snorkel. Makes you wonder how that was discovered.
7. Also, dogs and beaches go together like Americans and apple pie. I've never seen so many joyous, happy dogs. All racing around in the water with their owners, barking happily, playing fetch, and then plopping down in the surf to rest and cool off. If you have a dog and you live near the beach, take him there. Now.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Redefining productivity in the technology era
(note that I will be posting more of these types of random analyses in coming weeks, probably someone inconsistently, but law school has been a good source of brainstorming and ideas, so I'm looking forward to sharing what I've come up with. Unless otherwise stated, these discourses are based on Western culture, specifically in America.)
With the advent of today’s
technology generation, blue-collar jobs are no longer valued as highly, nor are human workers able to perform as efficiently as technology that is evolving at exponential rates. It makes sense then, that these jobs are most in danger of getting replaced by robots or automated systems. A recent report claims that 50% of current American occupations will be
eliminated by 2025, but is this really a bad thing? As humans, we enjoy
being "productive" and accomplishing things. As a whole, most Americans don't enjoy being unemployed, and the negative psychological effects
of being unemployed have been studied extensively, as early as 1985. But this may be a result of our need to be productive and participate positively in a consumption-based society, which society teaches us is best achieved by getting a job and spending the money earned from that. As society changes though, we have the opportunity to revise our definitions of work and productivity, instead
of worrying about the conversion of productivity from humans to machines.
It is posited by many analysts (1) that people will be able to engage in higher level thinking as lower level jobs
are eliminated. The blue-collar work culture of punching a timecard or moving
widgets from production to boxes stifles creativity and encourages diligent,
consistent, and uniform work. All of this can be replaced by machines that
will eliminate any human error, and indeed they are being replaced at a rapid
pace, because it is easy to see that a machine can work faster, more
accurately, more efficiently, which we thus consider to be “better” job
performance.
The definition of productivity in
today’s society is the quantified rate of performance, having completed x
projects or having driven y number of miles in z amount of time. But I would suggest qualitative, creative, higher-level work
should become the true measure of a job well done. For that to happen though, we need to
start viewing qualitative, subjectively-evaluated work as a positive thing, instead of
something to be feared. We fear it now because subjectivity generally means that
there is a high chance of inequality and unfair treatment. Why is this bad?
Because we want to be treated “fairly,” which we have been trained to equate
with “equal.” This is particularly poignant in today’s post-civil rights era,
where many groups are still fighting to establish “equality.” We have thus been
conditioned all of our lives to value diligent, uniform, and consistent work in
exchange for stability and a regular paycheck, and to think that inequality is
bad, not good.
Changing what we
consider to be “productive” will begin as we embrace inequality
as a higher level of humanity, encouraging higher-level thinking. Take the concept
of a "starving artist." We all recognize that the phrase comes about because the
artist is not engaging in the socially-accepted steady, consistent work for
which a paycheck would be awarded. We tell him, “get a job,” or “get your head
out of the clouds.” And sure, he might be lazy. There are lazy people in every culture. But then again, maybe he simply defines productivity differently. Maybe he has found that the most fulfilling life is be embracing qualitative productivity, instead of quantitative "widget" productivity. Make no mistake, a new
society will not simply be full of dreamers and artists. But it is today’s
creative thinkers that will dream up entirely new industries for employment that we cannot
today imagine.
1. Numerous books discuss this, including Average is Over by Tyler Cowen; The Second Machine Age by Andrew McAfee; and A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink, though I don't subscribe to his idea that "right-brainers will rule the future," rather I believe that everyone will begin using their "right side" as it is needed.
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