100!

I've hit the 100 mark for job applications sent. And I feel like I've become a professional job applier. Beyond that, you've got me. I haven't heard anything back but a few rejections, but I'll keep on. There's got to be one out there somewhere. It almost feels like a game now!

Today, I volunteered with a local organization that helps resettle refugees to the Kansas City area. We were setting up an apartment for a family of three from Burma. The family was not present, but there were four of us working on it, moving furniture in and everything else a family would need to get settled in a completely new environment. Coming from a refugee camp, most people have little more than the clothes they are wearing. Nearly all of the things we moved in were donations, everything from a kitchen table and chairs, down to a jar of maraschino cherries that apparently comes with every truckload. It's all stored in a warehouse and sorted into sets for each move. There were plenty of toys for the daughter, pictures for the wall, and bath products as well.

The other volunteer and I had a bit of a laugh while setting the table, something the organization does for each home. We had a green vinyl tablecloth, some Christmas poinsettia placemats, floral & ruffle napkins, and blue striped plates. It was quite the mis-match, as was the rest of the apartment, but it still managed to look homey. I can only imagine it will be much more comfortable than what they are coming from.

While we worked, were discussing our jobs, how I hadn't heard back from any I had applied to, and I was glad to find I was not the only one with so much trouble. One other guy told me about his two master's degrees in the economics field, then got a disgruntled look on his face and said, "and now I'm moving furniture!" There may be less unemployment these days, but there seems to be a lot more underemployment. Even a recent blog post by the Center for the Future of Museums was titled "No Future", after the Field Museum cut $5 million dollars from its budget this year, most of it from its science department. For such a powerful and successful museum, that's like seeing a grown up cry for the first time, and you know something's really wrong. But, eventually, things will get better.

lunar new years

The museum celebrated Chinese New Year this past Friday with plenty of events in the evening, in addition to the opening of a new Chinese landscape exhibit. Everything was free, and therefore over three thousand people showed up. Kansas City is truly fortunate to have a museum that creates events such as that for all to enjoy. We, as officers, got the rare opportunity to wear something other than our uniform as long as it was Chinese-style. Some were chosen to dress up in Chinese costumes the museum curator had brought back from one of his trips to China. I didn't bring back anything from China besides some bulky Tibetan outfits, so I skipped out on that part. One of my Meetup groups was at the event, and since I was working, I only got to join them for a moment or two while on my break, but I was at least posted in a gallery adjacent to some musicians and was able to enjoy that.

Along with the exhibit, I get to wear this.

Yes, you can ask me. But not just yet. Someone had an issue with the copy machine and only copied off the first page of the six pages we were supposed to read to be informed of exactly what we are supposed to know when we are asked.

Both the Chinese calendar and the Tibetan calendar go by the moon, but they each count the "extra" days differently, so this year the Tibetan New Year (Losar) was today, the day after Chinese New Year. By request of the Tibetan leader, it was supposed to be a day of prayer much like last year, for the Tibetan self-immolations and continuing situation. I decided to make my favorite Tibetan bread, a very simple recipe of fried dough, ever so slightly sweet. Normally I don't like fried things, but these are not greasy, and it's fun to make the shapes!

out & about

For my work with international students, we sometimes take them for activities outside the classroom, or what we refer to as Out & About. Yesterday, two students and I visited the Lawrence Arts Center. One of them brought her young son along-- his English was so good he was translating for us some of the time.

Not even I had been to the arts center, even though it is just downtown. Unfortunately, they were in the process of changing out their gallery spaces, so our trip was shorter than planned, but we toured all of the workshops. We still got to see some enormous horoscope symbols made from only cardboard and zip ties hanging in the entrance. I loved the fish, of course:

some ceramics

 This is a giant mosaic in the stairwell. I've always wanted to do one of these!

 

the reception desk

There were other studios of stained glass making, classes of little girls doing ballet -too cute!- and also drawing and jewelry making. Winter is my creative season of painting and drawing, when it's too cold and/or dark  to be outside. I'm sort of looking forward to it now.

First Fridays

I always get "Final Fridays" and "First Fridays" mixed up, since one is KC and one is Lawrence, so I just generally think of end of the month and beginning of another. Tonight was FIRST Fridays in Kansas City, and my FIRST time to go. I've been wanting to go for about a year, and I figured today was the day, before it gets too cold and before I have too much work to even enjoy some free time.

Thanks to Kansas construction which resulted in one lane on the Interstate during holiday weekend, rush hour traffic, it took me twice as long as usual to get downtown. I wasn't even sure exactly where I was going. I really should have checked beforehand because I never got to where I was supposed to be, with all the art galleries. I did find two, plus a Friday Night Farmer's Market, and lots of hot dog stands.

The first building I went to had an empty first floor, some abstract paintings, and this really cool old... elevator? It was just pushed into a corner with a bunch of construction stuff, but it was more interesting than the actual art on display, in my opinion.

Also in the first building was part of the Drepung Gomang Tour which is currently in Kansas City. The visiting monks played music (I love those long horns) and taught kids how to make sand mandalas, mold flowers, and paint rocks. It was very entertaining to watch.

Sure it was "for kids", but I wish I could have tried...

At the farmer's market, I found some Thai basil. When my mom and I ate Vietnamese in San Diego, we had some on a plate, but couldn't tell what it was. But now I know, and now I'm going to make some Vietnamese food. I bet it will go quite well with my cari chay. It's probably not so different from regular basil, but I do think it's prettier.

Several people I walked by commented on how nicely it smelled too!

Finally, I made a stop on my way home to check out the new Trader Joe's. It's huge! And like always, they had the goat brie and chile mango popsicles I love so much.

the art museum toilet

by Matt Nolen

Special Exhibitions: the John Michaeol Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI