in my Chicano class, i sit right behind Julie Horner. when i told her i couldn't go to the study session, she told me she'd type out her notes and email them to me. today when i told her about the personal statement i had to write, she told me she'd send me a copy of the guidelines that she used when she had to write hers. absolutely kind. i never even asked her to do these things for me. she always offered. Julie is also always on top of things. she finishes ALL of the reading in advance and is the first one in our group to send out her notes. i can't help but wonder if she's a Christian. whether or not she is, Julie is a great example of how Christians can be a great witness through their studies and acts of kindness. i am her "secret admirer."

from time to time, i have to use the downstairs bathroom at Commons. on the way to the bathroom, there's a glass window where you can see where several Muslims hang out. more often than not, you'll catch them all sitting in a row, praying and bowing their heads to the ground. a wave of emotions rush over me whenever i see this event. anger. pity. amazement. sadness. they are truly passionate in worshiping a false god.

i had one of those running-around-talking-to-your-counselors-and-professors days today. they are very stressful. i had to wait a whole HOUR before i got to speak with Dr. C. but within that hour, i got a chance to speak with Andrew, one of the Social Science faculty members or something. i was telling him about how i wanted to go into teaching and even shared about my involvement with Artesia Outreach. through subtle messages, i figured out that he was a christian too! but after that hour, i spoke with Dr. C. and she was more than happy to write me a letter of recommendation! in fact, she called me an "excellent student!" that's three exclamation points in a row! now that's four!
after speaking with the MAT (MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING) program director, she encouraged me that it looked like i was on the "right track", and that i was somewhat in luck because there is a great need for male math teachers. i just need to show some transcripts, speak with a few more counselors, and my master plan for spring and summer will be on its way.

between all of these jumbles, i skipped one of my classes because i was severely late and did not have a chance to bite my lunch. as i was eating my sandwich, i had unexpected, nostalgic childhood memories of Polly Ann's Ice Cream next to the Korean market in San Francisco. Jiwon's mom always took us there to buy Now & Laters, Pop Rocks, Sour Candy, and chocolate ice cream. it's amazing how candy was such a commodity when we were young. one used to be able to barter with that stuff! what a waste of money and teeth.

clusters went to BCD for our romantic Valentine's dinner. Chinese people don't eat Korean food correctly. it's kinda like when my cousins in Korea put ketchup on their pizza. you're just not supposed to do that, man!

shortly after getting back, the irvine FRESHMEN girls surprised us with chocolate strawberries! oh my! can you they get any sweeter? i mean, those chocolate strawberries were quite the delectables! and yeah, those irvine girls were pretty kind too.

Thought of the Day: Walker, Texas Ranger.
Song of the Day: Toploader-Dancing in the Moonlight