Memoirs of a Geisha

So they finally showed this film here so I finally got to see it. It was great. I really enjoyed it. It was definitely a different movie and it gave you an insight into the Japanese culture. I know that they are full of tradition and value their culture. This movie really allowed people to see a little bit of it. There is more to being a Geisha than what people think or even know. Their also not like a prostitute. There is a lot more to it.

I just can't believe how could they walk in those shoes and kimonos. I also think Ken Watanabe is very charismatic and hot. Who wouldn't want to be with him?

Charlie didn't really like the movie. He said he didn't really get it. Oh well I did.

Survey

So I got a survey on Friday to fill out. It is from 3 students that emotion that they are making a research project on Hispanic immigration in Wood River valley. The questions are:

1. On average, how many Hispanic students do you teach every class period?
(Circle one)
0-5 6-10 11-15 16+

2. To what degree do Hispanic students interact with you?
1(not very interactive) 2 3 4 5(Very interactive)

3. Are you aware of the laws that obligate you to teach illegal immigrant students?
Yes No Somewhat

4. Do Hispanic students make you teaching process more difficult?
Yes No Somewhat

5. How d Hispanic students interact with others in your classroom?
They are open to working with all others
They work with some other students
They work only with Hispanic students.

Now when I read the first 2 questions it was ok because it seemed like they were interested in finding out about how the community has grown with respect to the Hispanic population but then the last questions caught me off guard. What do they have to do with immigration? Maybe because I came from a state where Hispanics were the majority and we have gone through a lot of the laws that deal with illegal immigrants that I did not think much about it. I feel like these are old issues that have already been dealt with. But apparently they haven't here. Then again I do believe I am the first Hispanic teacher they have had. I believe the assistant principal had Hispanic students but that is about it. The Hispanic population is slowly growing here but did they really believe that it was going to stay mainly white forever. Aren't they aware of the issues happening in the rest of the world? I really do wonder because many issues that we discuss have already been discussed in California. I am actually a bit surprised.

Also when I read the survey I felt a bit insulted. It kinda borders on being racist. I hope I am not being too extreme because I hate when people use the racist card for simple things. Yet it kinda does feel like it. It's as if Hispanic students are causing problems and nobody else is. That is usually not the case. I truly feel that students that have recently immigrated to the United States are more willing to work hard and do anything to succeed. It is those students that have assimilated to this country that begin to defy authority. Though the students in this school are more willing to work, study, as for help, and are more concerned about their education than the students in California. Their parents here still have a lot of control over them and are more willing to participate in their education and that is good. That's not to say that parents over there didn't, they just didn't know how and it wasn't part of the culture. With Hispanics the parents give teachers the up most respect and see them as people that will guide and help raise their children. The teachers will teach them what the parents do not know. It is just differences that people need to learn.

It was also a bit weird on Friday that one of my students said that he was going to wear a shirt with the state of California with a circle around it and a slash across it to show his dislike for the state. But then he said he wasn't going to because there are many Hispanic students in the school. He said he didn't like the state. I just sat there thinking what does that have anything to do with Hispanic students. If you don't like the state then so be it but that doesn't mean you dislike Hispanics. Then again the way he said it gave me the impression that he did but then again I am Hispanic. I don't know what to think. He is respectful and he listens to me and seems like a good student. It was just a little weird. I didn't say anything because I didn't quite know how to respond. It caught me of guard.

All I know is that there are many things for me to learn. I am always learning something new. Which is probably why I like my job.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and other things

Happy new year to everyone. I know it is 5 days later but it is better late than never. I am not very good about posting and writing. I am not as good as fadedgirl but I do try. One of my goals for the new year is to start a journal and lose weight. It is unbelievable how much weight I have gained. I want to go back to the way I looked about 3 years ago. It is not easy here with the snow and cold and cooking my sister does but I have to tough it up and get to it especially if I plan on going to my 10 year reunion. You know you want to look good when you show up to those kind of things. Which also brings me to a change I have made. I have cut my hair the shortest it has been since I was small and my mom forced me to cut my haircut. Here is a picture of my new look.

My students liked my haircut and one of them said that it makes me look younger. I don't think it's possible to look younger than I already do even though fadedgirl said that I am starting to show my age. I don't buy it though this is the first year that I did not get carded at Jackpot but I did get suspicious looks. See my family goes to Jackpot every year to celebrate the new year. It is the closest we are going to get to Vegas. Jackpot has some casinos and is only 1 hour and a half from Hailey. They always serve champagne with the meal and they serve champagne 10 min before the new year. I will admit that I got a little buzz. My family also likes it because they have a live band. This year though the band moved to a mini club and they had a dance floor in order to boogie down. The band was very good and fun. I really enjoyed it. Charlie wasn't very happy at first but then he got into the mood with the band.

This was the second new year that we spent together. Last year we spent it with his family because I had to return to LA on the 31st. otherwise my flight would have been very expensive if I would have returned after the new year. This is the first year he spent away from his family. Eventhough who knows if he would have spent it with his family because they went to New York 2 days after they left from here. This is one thing that we need to try. We need to got to New York to celebrate the new year. Needless to say they celebrated the new year 2 hours before we did. Here are a couple of pictures of us enjoying the new year.















I don't really like the picture with the singer of the band because it really shows how fat I am. I really do miss going to the gym. Even though I am tired I still miss it because it made me feel good about myself. I had gotten into such good shape and now I have let myself go but I will get back.

There are also many pictures of Christmas but Charlie's brother took the pictures with his camera and we didn't upload them to my laptop before they left. I am going to have to get him to e-mail me the pictures.

Also on the 31 st it was one year since me and Charlie moved in together. Though technically we moved into our new apartment on the 16th of December of 2004. I say it was on the 31st because on the 16th I flew out to Idaho in the afternoon and had to work in the morning. Charlie and his friend moved everything from my old apartment in Santa Ana to our new apartment in Garden Grove. So I didn't spend any time there until the 31st when I flew back in. Then again as soon as he picked me up from the airport we just dropped of my luggage and then we went to his mom's house. We'll see what the new year brings for us.

On a side note my brother got accepted to Penn State. They were quick about making their decision. Now we just have to wait to hear from the other schools he has applied to. I am excited.