Volunteen's Last Day

So I discovered a new band last night: The Last Goodnight. They sound somewhat like a cross between Maroon 5 and Relient K. Check them out! Unless your name is Han.

My mom dropped me off at Egleston's this morning. I made a comment in the car about how you feel really lonely going places in America but not in China. I said this was because everyone here drives cars, so there aren't that many people walking around and biking as opposed to in China where almost everyone walks and bikes. My mom disagreed and said that it was more likely because people in China are all Chinese so they have a close cultural tie that makes them feel less lonely on the streets. She didn't think it had anything to do with how we got around from place to place. A bit of a stretch, I think. But what is interesting is how you can see this gap between what I think and what she thinks. She's more worried about who we are and I'm thinking about why people are literally isolated. I guess this reflects in how we feel about being in America too. Can you say Cultural Gap or what?

Today was my last day of volunteering since I have band camp next Tuesday during Volunteen. I read to a few kids today with my partner. That was probably my favorite part about the whole program. I read a book about Tiger Woods to a little boy who was recovering very well from a serious disease. It's so sad to know that these children who are less than half of our age have gone through trials that are harder than anything we've ever been exposed to. I mean, think about all the teenagers (including definitely me) who worry about college applications, finding jobs, and practicing instruments. We complain like mad about all of this when we should take this as a privilege - to be able to be healthy enough to go after our dreams and achieve our goals. Wouldn't our worlds fall apart if we all of the sudden got some sort of disease that will take away a few years of our lives? So no matter how tough life becomes this upcoming semester, we should all suck it up and take on the challenge and chase our dreams because there are those out there who don't have that immediate opportunity. Not saying that everyone at Egleston's is deathly ill. In fact, most of them are doing pretty well. I'm just saying we can all afford to be a little more gracious for what we have no matter what the obstacles are.

Volunteering was also really sad because it was the last day I could see my childhood friend Amulya every week. It is ridiculous how small the world is. I remember meeting her in 3rd grade, the year I moved away. The last time I saw her was at the playground when she was wearing a blue top and playing with a hula-hoop. I remember waving goodbye to her feeling a little sad knowing that I would probably never see her again, but here, 8 years later we somehow meet up at a children's hospital partnered up for volunteer work. Talking to her just makes me feel like I've put one of my childhood memories on pause only to review it again a few years later. It's as if everything about that past life for me has stopped. Looking back, I really do miss those old elementary school days when cliques didn't exist, everyone was friends, and playground drama stayed on the playground. It's funny to think that I created the Beanie Babies Club in 3rd grade and was President of it until I left. I think we had 5 members, haha! :D But that was fun. We just drew Beanie Babies and talked about them. Pretty simple considering we were all about 9 years old.

Self-centered as this is, I never thought how life goes on for the rest of the people when you move. Obviously this is the case. But do you ever stop to think about those things when you are 10? Well, I didn't. For me, the life of Briar Vista stopped 8 years ago, but it didn't for my friend. (Am I just rambling now? Possibly.) Catching up with Amulya and talking to her about 3rd grade and what happened afterwards to the school and the people was pretty intriguing. I must say many of the outcomes of my old peers and best friends have been surprising, but I guess people really do change a whole lot after they go into secondary education. Funny thing is, Amulya hasn't changed that much. She's still the nice, fun girl I knew in 3rd grade, and she said that I haven't changed that much either. We still get along really well. I guess by this whole changing I mean we haven't picked up drugs and become gangsters or anything. Haha, just kidding! I am really going to miss volunteering with her, and I am really happy fate put somehow put us in the same group and activity for this program.

On the schedule conflicts I was having: I talked to my band director and he was really sweet about me missing almost every bajillion thing (at least that's what I feel like I am missing) this week and next weekend. And on the other side, they were nice about letting me go late. I know most of you (whoever reads this, god knows... well, except Han and Timmy. Haha, I think I just tied up that competition score if you two are still going at it.) probably have no idea what I am talking about, but that's okay. I just want to say that everything is peachy and that it's all good. Except that I probably need to quit work soon since school is coming. Heh. :D

This week is going to be another crazy one, and I think they will continue to be so until school starts when they will get even crazier. Rookie Camp starts tomorrow, so I will be meeting the newest addition to the Parkview Panther Marching Band! I can't wait, I am so excited! I've already met 3 wonderful freshman, and I can't wait to meet the rest of the small but awesome 19 people! Yay.

--Emily