So I’m sitting around pretty much doin’ nothing so why not blog?
Summer 2009: Instead of kickin’ it, I was cajoled by TJ and LD to teach at Upward Bound. At the KBA end of the year staff party, someone summed it up pretty well: “Cherng, you know you’re gonna do it, so stop bitching.” Done. All in all, a great experience and a solid way of ending my immediate teaching career. It allowed me to consider the “what ifs” with my former 8th graders; the UB kids were products of public education and were pretty math smart. So why did they fail algebra 2? Sadly rhetorical in this system.
But the kids were awesome. But definitely not surprise there.
The UB kids <-- HIlarious
July 25: Made the move back to Maryland. Spent the week craigslisting like mad for a decent place in Philly. Got plumper, hung out with the parents, and played with lonely ferret. Also made a trip up to Boston to hang with AM and other friends. Got to connect with an old student…that was dope.
August 1: Made my first trip to Philly with dad to look at apartments. We scoped out 6 places. Note to self: you do not need to budget 1 hour for every viewing…more like 15 minutes. Most places were decent enough but I really like the one with the open kitchen. Luckily I’m typing this blog from said apartment. The neighborhood is interesting: lots of African American (I use the term because it’s a good discriptor, not because it’s “politically correct”) and white, but also a large Muslim African/Eastern African community. Which means I’ll be happily eating Ethiopian these next few years!
August 8: Spent the previous week CLing it for all sorts of furniture. I drove up in the morning and scoped out the furniture…my brother drove up from Baltimore after diving and we hung out with his friends at Morimoto. A bit sad / humbling / amazing / privileged that my first meal in Philly will likely be one of the best. The only downside was the parking ticket. And I say this with as much respect I can muster for police authority: FUCK YOU Philly Transit Authority. But best not to dwell…and I’m sure Drake meant meter officers too.
August 9: Rented a Uhaul and picked up all the furniture in my place, minus the coffee table/chest. Really, I still can’t believe my brother and I survived the day. If I had a first born, I’d offer it up to my bro for helping me. He can have my second born too. But sweet, sweet Jesus, the day killed us. The more memorable moments were kickin’ it on our stoop eating super cheap ass Chinese food from the corner and waking up my brother at 2 am so he could drive back to Maryland to catch an early morning flight. And finally being able to sleep on a bed.
Really, this desk to is too cool for me.
And wait, how could I forget, the corner Chinese food store. When I went there to buy stuff for lunch, there were 3 late-teenagers kickin’ it and buying snacks. At one point, one of the guys says to the owner’s wife, who just walked into the kitchen, “Hey Betty, where my wings?!” She immediately snaps back, “You wait, mothafucka! I just woke up! Shit!”. It was straight out of Rush Hour. For contrast, this is the same woman who later in the evening was excited that I was in the area and could tutor her son in math.
August 10 – 17: Went back to Maryland for the week to help out mom with her dental practice…her front desk admin was in Alaska for the week. My responsibilities were pretty much to answer the phone, prep people’s files when they came in, schedule appointments, and in general be pleasant. All in Chinese. Now that’s a new skill I’ve mastered…need to put it on my resume under “sKiLlz”. Oh, also went to cousins’ place for a BBQ. Good times…especially when we played poker and I remembered random probabilities but not what a button was.
August 17-19: Drove back to Philly to well, live my life here. I have grand plans of exploring all sorts of places in Philly…but I wonder if the 95F heat will deter my AC-lovin’ ass. So far I’ve ventured as far as 2 blocks from my place…but hey, lotsa stories! On Tuesday, I signed up for the gym that’s 3 doors down from my place: it’s huge but not well AC-ed. The sign that says “If something is broke, we know. And yes, it’s hot, we know. It’s good to sweat.” makes it a little bit better. Afterwards, I nursed a sweating cup of ice coffee at the cafe one door away from my place for a good 2 hours while freely typing away. I had intentions of reviewing stats. Again, intentions. Then I actually went to the gym, ran, and on my way back home (all 30 feet), I stopped by the small Chinese shop 2 doors down from my place. Spent an hour in there chatting with the owner (Chao zhou ren), the woman who owns the Chinese food corner place, and a Pinai and her son. They grilled me about my rent and was horrified to find how expensive it was (I even padded it down a little, in good Chinese habits). They said that I could have easily found a place for $300 / month. Ok. Then I somehow almost got set up on a marriage (not even a date) with the Pinai’s sister – she tried to butter me up first with a nutter butter – and a few minutes later the owner of the store’s almost divorced eldest daughter who has a kid. His version of buttering me up was telling me not to buy half of the canned goods in the store because they were hella expired. And for that nugget, I’d be willing to let him think I may move to Jersey to father his grandson.
Other than that, the woman who owned the antique shop from whom I bought stuff texted me and asked if I was okay. She then offered for me to hang out with her this Saturday the shop. I’ve also planned two lunches with current Penn Ed Policy students and will go Dragon Boat-practicing tonight with VC (and likely karaoking and all sorts of fun during the weekend). So for those who are worried I might be lonely (which I think is prolly no one)…
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You are too popular for your own good. What is that, 3 propositions in 10 minutes? Not bad, sir. I’d go for the last one – sounds like she could hook you up with more tables that are too cool for you (that is an awesome piece of furniture). Oh, and I can’t see how you’d know what your Chinese mother would say to you about poor housekeeping skills, because your excessive neatness would preclude you ever hearing such criticism. (Nice apartment pics by the way – your tidiness puts me to so much shame I can hardly contain it.) More blogging!
what would i have done in a weaverville motel without being able to read this delightful blog?? i would have cried myself to sleep while listening to rednecks yell at each other about whose high school football team sucks worse, that’s what.
p.s. that picture looks just like you.