Anna: Invisible Children = SUCESS!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQIFeSrnbbc


Invisible Children was a huge success last night, thanks to the combined efforts of the Northwest Invisible Children team and my amazing MUNers, who not only showed up in support but also took the time to help advertise the event beforehand.

Words cannot describe how ECSTATIC I was to see such a great turnout and to meet such inspiring people as Robert and James. But I suppose I should start at the beginning, huh?

Taylor Swift (not the singer), the leader of the Northwest Team called me at 5:30 to tell me that they were on their way and the ball started rolling. After jumping a minor hurlde with scheduling, I waited in the rain outside of Smith Memorial Student Union until I saw the vans turn onto the street. I knew immediately it was them because I couldn't think of anyone else who would drive around in vans with the words "Invisible Children" proudly displayed on the sides.

I met the team: Stewie, Taylor, and Megan, who are all volunteer roadies. Stewie is actually a university student from Georgia, studying international studies and politics just like me. Righteous. I also met the two men from Uganda, James Okema and Robert Anywar, who were to give their personal testimonies later.

We started setting up, I set out the free coffee, and we got started. Stewie gave a brief background of the conflict in Uganda and then sent us right into the documentary. GO details the experiences of three American high school students who won a trip to northern Uganda for raising money for the Invisible Children effort. Although the Lord's Resistance Army has been driven out of Uganda, millions of children and their families are still living in Internally Displaced Persons Camps.

After the documentary, James and Robert gave their personal testimonies. James graduated high school before coming on this tour, and he is going back to Uganda to start University next year. Robert is his mentor and also shared his experience growing up in Uganda during the war. I was blown away when he said he was priviledged. A man who's father had been killed, who had seen men, women, and children mutilated, raped, and murdered, considered himself lucky to be alive and have the opportunity to share his story. It kind of really drives home how spoiled we all are in the U.S.

Anyway, afterwards there was a short Q&A session and then a massive rush to the merchandise table in the back. Over half of everyone who came went and bought something, I'm sure of it. There was a table for the Legacy Scholarship Fund to provide Ugandan children with secondary education opportunities. All the other merchandise (the T-shirts, the bags, the bracelets, the documentaries) were all being sold to fund Invisible Children's projects in Uganda.

And then MUN, in true Portland fashion, took them out to Voodoo Donuts.

I was impressed not only by how friendly and easygoing the entire team was, but also by how gentle and sincere Robert and James were. They didn't play themselves off as tragic heros or victims. They were very humble and genuinely happy to be here and meet us. They are going back to Uganda soon and even I, after knowing them for a colossal three hours, felt a little sad when I hugged them goodbye. They are amazing people to leave such a powerful impression as that. Their strength and resilience is astounding.

I'm happy that my first event worked out and I can't wait until another opportunity comes to bring these people back.

AJ: One Day of Highs and Lows

Saturday: I was conscious for fifteen hours this Saturday, November 14th, 2010 and this is how my day played out.

It started out 9:00, as my groggy, semi-conscious self got up and ready for a hiking trip up to Tilden Park. Nine wushuers, a 15 minute bus ride, a distraction of some cows, ducks, and bunnies, and then an hour hike with some detours led us to a rock plateau picnic spot with a beautiful scenery. There was a photography session, a napping session, and a dog petting session and of course lunch. Coming down was much faster it included a failed game of contact, several fun successful games of telephone, and follow the leader - because when you're hiking in a single file line, what's more tempting than follow the leader?
Take a nap on the bus, some gelatto, and then I was good to go brave the trip to S.F. for another gospel choir concert. That was-- if I didn't get lost.

Originally, I'd made plans to go with a friend, hoping, he would perhaps know the way more than I? Only, he came to be even more neurotic than I. I received 20 calls from him between Friday and Saturday. You must know I am horrible with directions myself-

4:30PM
- Should I go to the concert?
- Come with me to do a solo!
- What should I wear?
- Should I go as casual? or very professional?
- Should I wear sandals? Or dress shoes?
- What if these shoes hurt?
- Which Bart should I take?
- Why didn't you wait for me? ( Our class was scheduled to meet at the train at 5:20. The train did indeed arrival that that time, at which I then boarded. He however, was across campus waiting for the bus at said time.
- Which train do I take? ( There's a train schedule at every other billboard, plenty of bystanders, and an email stating the complete directions to the performance)
- Where is the bus stop?
- Which bus do I take?
- Is the bus fare $2?
- How do I get a transfer ticket?
- When do I ask for a transfer ticket?
- Which way is the church? (Read the streets signs dammit!)
- Do I enter from the front or back door? ( Please just come in and ask for directions to the concert hall..)
- Where are the stairs?
- Where are you guys?
- Am I very late?
- Can you leave with me early if the concert runs later than 10? I have to leave by 10.
Coming back from the concert---

- How about we eat at the Asian Ghetto, close to where I live?
- We should hang out some more!

(NO- I live on the opposite side of campus and --curse you-- if I'm staying with you for another hour and end up walking by myself at 12am in the morning across campus in Berkeley- in a dress, in heels, in the winter-... *Fume*)

12:09 AM

And yes, this was the rest of my afternoon. I did come back Sue and Jen who graciously let me rant, fed me chocolate and dinner. Then Ryan came downstairs with a hug and some cookies. (And Zach, despite the short video msg - it made me very happy to see your face. And your hair. And you eating a panda- but don't eat too many, you'll get fat! ^-^) They don't know how happy they'd made me after that whole ordeal.

I guess I could say I came back feeling pretty empty, depressed, and used, but I love my friends here, and I really really miss you all.

Heaven: Whatever, a Title, by Me.

So here I am

Its labor day and I'm doing my best not to use punctuation in this post just for the hell of it I'm in Riverside for only 31 more days THANK GOD because I am very disappointed with the life that I lead here and I need a change SO I am transferring to CSU Stanislaus as all of you know in January WHICH I am very thankful for OH GOD I did that typical November I AM THANKFUL FOR BLABLABLA statement BUT I believe that if it had been any other month I still may have used the word thankful WHO KNOWS I might have said grateful

ANYWAY yes

I have been writing lots and lots of poetry but ever since I took those creative writing classes my short stories have been shot to hell BUT I have been working on one that I like very much since July of this year which I am hoping to finish soon as I now know how I would like to finish it AND I think you guys might like it BECAUSE it has a feel of what my old writing used to be like not that crap that I called writing from my fiction class STUPID STUPID STUPID

I have an entomology class this quarter and an asian religions class and those are my best classes although my history class is fun because i have a slew of friends in that class BUT I am most likely going to fail my economics class unless my professor WHO IS FROM ISRAEL AND HAS A BOMB ACCENT curves the class by twenty points which I think is highly unlikely BUT who gives a FUCK not me BECAUSE that is the one thing that has been my biggest downfall all my days MATHEMATICS graphs and tables and NUMBERS IN GENERAL curse them all to hell

have a slipped yet

I am kinda in the same boat as Zach only recently have I been able to do anything with my friends I spend most of my time alone at the gym or my apartment ALL DAY LONG I make friendship bracelets and watch netflix and do homework AND THAT IS ALL I used to go for walks but now it is dark outside early and it is cold and it is HELLA scary walking around at night WEIRD PEOPLE are out and not that good kinda weird that CREEPY GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME kinda weird SO that is another big reason that I am getting the hell out of here I KNOW what I want to do THE WAY IS CLEAR the door is open AND I AM GOING

I quit partying

and it has made all the difference

and I am in love

and I miss you guys more than I can properly describe

so I won't

just know it is so

Zach: What has been happening... or hasn't happened.

So we are nearing the end of first semester of my sophomore year and it still hasn't really hit me. I mean. I realize that I am a sophomore in college. This semester is almost done, even though I just got here the other day.

Classes are going okay I guess. I'm not one to care for grades as you guys should know. I wrote two six page essays in three hours and that turned out okay. I got an 88 on one and then a C- on the other. Which I am okay with. I mean obviously a higher grade would be nicer, but basically in college I figure I just have to pass all of my classes. If I get above a 2 point I automatically get into the graduate school I want to go to so it doesn't really matter as well as I get the credits right? And my scholarships I just have to have either a 2 or a 2.5, so not that hard to keep, especially since I get three automatic A's a semester with my ensembles.

I've already chosen my classes for next semester basically. I just need to sign up when registration comes around. I should be taking 8 to 9 music courses and if I take 8 I will take either one philosophy class for a GE or an English class for my minor. If I take 9 music courses I think I am also going to take an exercise science class like aikido or tai-chi or a dance class. Just to have a total of 5 credits. (Which is basically 20 of everyone else's credits I think).

Ummm... That is what is going on in my life I guess.

Edit: Okay. So I want to rant. I am tired of a lot of my friends right now. I basically only like Sam and Lauren anymore. You guys don't know who I am talking about really, well except a little. But basically everyone else has been really inconsiderate and self-centered this year, and no one wants to do anything anymore. All they do it sit around and watch movies. And I mean watching movies can be fun and stuff, but that is all they do. They will sometimes watch two or three movies in a row, basically every day they watch a movie. I am tired of them being inconsiderate and them not doing anymore. Hopefully things get better but if they keep on going at this rate I don't know how much I am gonna hang out with them. I will hopefully be able to still spend time with Sam and Lauren. (I know that Sam feels the same about this, although I think Lauren wants to stick around for longer) Hopefully it all works out well.

Hope to hear from you guys soon.