working on a friday sucks ass! i actually worked diligently today... hauling heavy loaded files as thick as dictionaries and scheduled tons of immigrant fingerprinting appointments. whew!

The fun class: so far, im enjoying my t.e.p. class. the professor's laid back yet caring, entertaining yet calm. she's unique in every aspect and possesses lovable character traits. i highly recommend this class to all undergrads at ucsd searching for a significant writing credit. however, i could be wrong... my first impressions are all positive remarks, but time will tell whether she's true to her lovable character throughout the quarter. i guess i'll see. i hope i didn't jinx it....

mentoring: im afraid to admit, but im actually beginning to love math and kids. BUT, i still LOVE puppies more than babies! tutoring kids in the same environment i grew up in during high school, probably not precisely similar but quasi-close, has ensued reminiscent memories about the good times i've had... when everything was much more simpler and less complex. when academics was rarely emphasized and bliss overruled all aspects. these kids don't know how easy they've got it and i don't think they believe me when i remind them of it. what i don't understand is how lazy they are with math. i agree, it's the most discouraging subject in school and a party pooper with homework. but what puzzles me is these kids don't even allow themselves to understand it. it's like stereotyping -- making all these negative assumptions before they even get to know the person. the problem i formulated about these kids was that they lack confidence in themselves and have low expectations. they refuse to work on something difficult and later learn that all the hardwork they've accomplished wasn't good enough for them to succeed. there's this one girl, rebellious and rude in every single way... hates everything about her life, disrespects the teacher, vulgar mouth, and has persuaded herself that the learning center might be her sanction as a scapegoat to the drudgeries of high school. yah i hated high school too... only because i was forced to wake up so early. well, it's just so frustrating and disappointing to actually experience what teachers mean about wasted youth. i truly care for them even though they haven't grown to know me or like me yet. on thursday, i helped out a boy who refused to do his problem sets because he couldn't see the board. so i kindly asked him if he wanted to move closer up to the classroom... but he just glumly said that it wouldn't help. i asked him why... and he answered, "because my parents can't afford to buy me glasses." i was speechless. what do you say to that? what advice is there to offer? it's so disheartening to hear about these type of things im not accustomed to hearing. hoping to improve the situation, i made a compromise with him. i would copy down the problems for him as long as he tried to work on them. this job has easily been an eye-opener for me. i never knew how disconnected i was from the real world. i may not belong to a humanitarian group or any charity group, but i believe that these kids are going to teach me and completely change me.

film class made me smile: i think i have a new favorite movie. besides the boring silent films my film professor's been exposing us to, i finally saw one film i instantly fell in love with, sherlock jr., starring the infamous "stone face," buster keaton. keaton acted, directed, and produced this film in 1924... but it's surprisingly amazing! jay and i couldn't stop lol-ing. everything about it is impressive... the creative camera angles, plot, acting, turn of events, and stunts. he's a man way ahead of his time.

misfortune: total costs of car accident repairs ~$659. now im stuck lugging the benzo around. coincidentally, gas prices just skyrocketed! what great timing.... gad!

columbus day weekend: ok, to a more uplifting upcoming event.... tonight, i'll be heading off to visit my friends in ucla. happy belated 21st ronty! gotta get some of that grey goose, 'naw mean?! ya you know how we get down... ronty, you'll have a blast tonight, i promise you! yay, i get to see my busy-body friends and swim in their bean-shaped pool. OH, time to get crunked!