Archive for August, 2008

The Democratic PARTY

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

Seriously, I never thought politics was supposed to be this much fun.

After a pretty rough week of work and dealing with multiple personalities, going to hear Obama’s speech at Invesco Field was a welcome break. (highlights of the crowd feeling are in the video below)

Although there was the “madness” of actually getting there and in, I felt like the night represented most things that politics aren’t but should be. It was fun. It was interesting. It was motivating. Oh, and there were nachos, too.

I really hope I get to hear McCain’s speech live next week.

But, somehow, I doubt that the patriotism shown at the RNC will have the same feel as that shown at Mile High Stadium. Or that there will be the wave. I could be wrong.

But if there are nachos, I’m there.

Posted in back home, government | No Comments »

Gratuitious-Jayna-Was-Here Photo #22

Friday, August 29th, 2008

Jayna at Invesco Field

Last night went to Invesco Field to hear Obama’s speech.

Deets and a video to follow…(wireless connection in Denver airport is a little too slow to upload a video!)

Posted in back home, government, gratuitous photo | 3 Comments »

It’s All White

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

party at DNC

Last night we headed out to an event that was celebrating youth doing great things in their communities. Apparently, only white people must be doing great things or be interested in people doing great things. Other than our NY contingent, I saw only two other people of color at the bar.

“Yeah…it’s pretty WASP-y…especially for a liberal event,” my colleague commented.

But that party wasn’t the only one like it. Driving/walking past other Democratic National Convention parties, I saw lots of white people…and few to no minorities.

Really, it’s pretty weird to be here where they’ll be naming an African-American man as the party’s nominee tomorrow night and seeing how un-integrated things still are.

Posted in back home, being Asian-American, government | 5 Comments »

Biggy Mart

Monday, August 25th, 2008

WalMart

Clearly New Yorkers haven’t been exposed to the glory that is a true Wal-Mart Supercenter that has the extra-wide aisles and whole-city-block area.

While here in Denver this morning, the conversation about electronic stuff went something like this…

New Yorker: “I don’t think they’d have that at Wal-Mart.”

Me: “They have everything at Wal-Mart.”

Posted in back home, goods | 4 Comments »

Oh-lympics

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008

You know what one of my favorite things about the Olympics was/is this year? The fact that our American athletes are pretty representative of who we are as a people.

Although while traveling, foreigners struggled to grasp the fact that not all Americans were white, I think just a quick glance at our Olympic contingent surely proves that we are a country of immigrants.

Seriously…take for instance that men’s gymnastics’ team…Artemev, Bhavsar, Estrada, Hagerty, Hamm, Horton, Tan. Even the names on that small team captures the diversity of our country.

If only we could have gotten the whole world to watch NBC these past two weeks…

Posted in away from America, back home, being Asian-American, sports | 2 Comments »

Hey, Teach

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

Jayna Rust's 2004 classroom

While traveling, it never failed that I had to really dig in to explain my two years in Teach For America. It always took a little more time to explain the educational setting in the U.S., the creation and donors for TFA, and the prestige of the program. Ultimately, I often wondered if I’d accurately portrayed the program without sounding like a martyr or a braggart.

But back in the U.S., there’s rarely any explaining necessary. Most people of my generation who went to a four-year university know someone who did TFA. And just having those three initials on my resume and website have opened many doors for me. Literally (any time I’ve been house-hunting in NYC, as soon as the person finds out I was a TFA corps member they automatically believe that I’m a good person and could care less to actually meet me and make sure) and figuratively.

As Teach For America now expands globally, I wonder, what kinds of people in Estonia will join there.

Whoever they are, I’m hoping it helps me explain my two-year experience to people in other countries later.

But just so you know, I’m probably not going to Estonia any time soon.

Posted in education | 7 Comments »

Middle Schoolers Are Great for Your Self-Esteem

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

Two comments I received this week:

Monday: “Jayna, are you pregnant?”
Today: “Jayna, how can you only be 27? You look so old. You look like you’re at least 40.”

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Bad-Food Nation (Part Dos)

Friday, August 8th, 2008

Since I’ve moved to NYC, I’ve become a bit of a food freak.

See, the good ol’ mayor here decided that restaurants should post calories of food on most menu boards. The first time I came across this here (in Chipotle, of course) I have to say, it immediately altered my ordering habits.

I never really knew how many calories I was eating each day (which is probably why I gained about 10 pounds upon my return to the U.S.). But, seeing it up in big block numbers, I now know. So, I no longer get the burritos at Chipotle. It’s burrito bowl only for me. Why? Well, there’s about a 300-calorie difference between the two, and I don’t think the tortilla is that important to me.

But, I’ve also realized that a 6-inch Veggie Delight Subway sandwich has more calories than a Dunkin’ Donuts goody. So, instead of getting the 12-inch sub, I have no qualms about getting only a 6-incher and a donut for desert.

The best finds were at the ball park last week, though. Who knew the nachos had less calories than a hot dog? Or that beer would be “better for me” than a soda? Seriously…

menu board at Mets game

Posted in back home, food/beverage, government | 5 Comments »

Bad-Food Nation (Part Uno)

Monday, August 4th, 2008

woman selling produce in Vietnam

One of the most difficult adjustments for me has been getting used to American food.

While on the road, I had gotten used to eating homemade meals and shopped a lot for fresh produce.

So, when I got back here, I was mortified by the food we eat. Still trying to be as healthy and fresh-food friendly as I’d been in the East, I walked to Whole Foods Market in St. Louis. Trying to buy the ingredients for a soup, I couldn’t find one normal-sized onion there. Each one was easily as big as both my fists. Same for the tomatoes. And they were all practically identical.

Even at this arguably healthier supermarket, nearly every vegetable I picked up was genetically modified. Nothing was real or really natural.

Call me crazy, but I just want to eat a tomato with spots or have an onion that isn’t going to last me for a month.

Word on the street is that some European countries require produce to be marked as genetically modified. I would LOVE if we did that in the states. I mean, if people don’t like to refer to KFC’s meat as real chicken, why should I have to refer to that crunchy white thing as a real onion?

Posted in back home, food/beverage | 3 Comments »