So yesterday I went to church to attend a meeting for discipleship partners.  We were just chatting around the table when I saw a dark blob out of the corner of my eye.  Turns out, it was a turkey.  Even more amazing though, there were at least a dozen turkeys wandering around on the church lawn.

So being the immature boys that we are, Martin and I decide to attack the turkeys.  And then we learned a secret - they can fly!  Who knew huh?

Can you notice the similarity between a group of children frolicking in the playground and a crowd of anxious investors shouting on Wall Street? The answer is that they are all playing a game, whether tag or stocks.

They say that games help people to learn. This is an absolutely true statement. Especially at younger ages, play is the main exercise that a mind has. Games help take adult situations and simplify them into a form that is both informative and entertaining to children.

Any type of game, whether a board game or a video game teaches a lesson to the children by challenging them to complete an objective which is not always easily reached. I will list some games and the objectives of the games, followed by the lessons that children must learn in in order to succeed:

• Tag: Tag is the quintissential playground game. The objective is simple - don’t be it. Because this game is oriented towards those who have been physically blessed, the game teaches about heirarchy and competition in society. In the game, those who are the fastest will naturally have an advantage. However, those who were less fortunate, like the “fat kid” or the “nerdy kid” must find an alternative strategy or forever languish on the bottom of playground society.
• Monopoly: Everyone’s favorite board game. The goal of monopoly is rooted in capitalism - earn as much money as possible through competition and rule the world. Monopoly teaches important business and negotiation skills at a young age. For example, although young ones may be attracted to Boardwalk early, they soon come to realize that an unmonopolized property becomes less profitable than a monopolized one. As children continue to play the game, they’ll learn negotiation skills as they try to trade for cards with others. They may even eventually take out loans, banking that future profits will cover their earlier investments. Young Bill Gates anyone?
• Pokemon: Yes, even the ubiquitous game of Pokemon has lessons for children. The objective of the game is to “catch’em all”, becoming the best trainer that “no one ever was”. Children learn that sacrifice is necessary for success (ex. trade glasses for a chance at battling that rare legendary pokemon!). Children also learn that they must use their strengths in order to cover their weaknesses. So Misty uses all water pokemon huh? Well, evolve a few grass-type pokemon and her chances of winning just got watered down.

Over the past week, I have personally learned some very important lessons from a certain class of children’s games. I will classify these games simply as “logic games”, although the logic behind them is often extremely simply and grossly construed. In any case, games in this category include: Pogo, Green Glass Mirror, Umbrella, Black Magic, Johnny Whoops, BANG, Scissors, Crossed or Uncrossed, Blue Moon, etc.

All of these games have a single, often extremely subtle, rule that governs these games. Yet it often drives one crazy trying to figure out these rules. I literally spent 2 days thinking about Pogo with no success, until I finally wanted to beat the nearest person to me.

But once you figure out one of these games, you’re prepared with the right mindset to figure out the rest. The reason these games are so interesting is that they promote a completely alternative way of thinking. We (especially asians), are so used to analytical thinking that we often forget the importance of observation. We would rather group ideas than open our minds to collect the ideas in the first place. But these games are all about observation. That’s what made them so hard for me. The games often tried to throw you off by encouraging you to search for word patterns - but that doesn’t always work.

In any case, I have now learned that observation is just as important, if not more important, than analytical thinking. All this from a children’s game huh?

On another note - here’s a video of the game “Umbrella”, played by Daniel Herring and Johnny Chen at Gospel Camp.  I am the ultimate decider.

Can you figure out the rule?

About a week ago, I was reminded of God’s power in an unexpected and pleasant way. I have thought much about it since, that amazing hand that holds us and supports us when we need it most. It really is quite hard to describe, but here in this blog post I will try my best to share it with you all in the form of a poem.

It had rained lightly all day

a very docile rain

secretive and calm.

I stared out my window

Watching the colored leaves fall gently from the trees.

Fluttering as they spun through the cool, damp air.

Now it was well into the night.

Rain clouds smothered the light from the moon and stars.

I stepped outside.

Hoping to clear my mind with fresh air

I wandered to the woods.

Finally choosing a dry log to sit on

I crossed my legs and set my hands on my knees.

Closing my eyes

I listened to the wind

Making the leaves chatter

A quiet song

Like that of the ocean

The clouds began to drift

Moonlight shone down

Illuminating the sanctuary in which I sat.

My eyes eased open.

I looked upwards

And my breath was stolen from me.

I stood up and turned a full circle

Discovering that I was not alone.

I had stumbled into a refuge

of sleeping monarch butterflies.

Dozens, maybe hundreds, lined the trees

They slept huddled together on the maple leaves

Some of them were waken by the moonlight

but they dozed off again almost instantly.

Realization struck home.

The falling leaves I had watched in the day were not leaves at all.

They were butterflies.

Awestruck, I slowly sat back down.

It was a scene of pure beauty.

I closed my eyes again, and began to pray.

When I was done, I began to head slowly for home.

I allowed myself a slight smile.

The butterflies would be gone tomorrow

headed off again on their thousand mile migration.

But in the short time I had spent with them under the stars

I was very blessed.

I am thankful Lord.

Once again

You have brought to me…

…A small measure of peace.

-Jonathan Shih

9/8/07

Abstract: This article is meant to examine the cultural and sociological reasons behind the recent wave of conversions to Christianity among Chinese immigrants and the subsequent growth in the number of Chinese Christian Churches. This article argues that history and modernity are the main “push” factors in bringing Chinese immigrants towards Christianity.

Take a drive down Jackson Road in Penfield, New York. The posted speed limit is 35 mile per hour, yet smoothly winding road encourages drivers to drive much faster. But don’t drive too fast. Otherwise you will miss a glimpse of a unique phenomenon in the United States. As you head left around a gentle bend, you will notice brick red Chinese characters on a grey stone backing.

Now, if you are passing by on a typical Sunday morning, you will be sure to see a full parking lot, mostly filled with Japanese-manufactured cars. An usher, dressed in conservative grey colors, politely nods and holds the door open for you. You walk through the doors.

You have now entered Rochester Chinese Christian Church, a medium-sized, non-denominational church located in the heart of the Penfield suburbs. The church started out as a small Bible study group, composed of a dozen or so Chinese Christians. Over time, it has grown and has added new structures, like a Family Life Center and fully-integrated sound system. The attendance of the church has also grown over time, now leveling in at a stable attendance of approximately 300 people every Sunday.

The church holds two services on Sunday morning - one in English and one in Mandarin Chinese. It also conducts Sunday School for all ages and has a Youth Group that meets on Fridays. The church engages in the Holy Communion once a month. It also encourages members of the congregation to be baptized. One can notice a difference between the English and Chinese services. The English services are generally more contemporary and upbeat, as the median age of the attendees is much younger. For example, on any given day, the English worship team may have a guitar, bass, or even a drum-set on stage. On the other hand, the Chinese service, in all practicality, only uses a piano, and often sings its songs from the hymnbook. The Chinese service also generally devotes a longer time to preaching. But that is besides the point.

What I have hoped to do was to paint a picture of my Chinese Christian Church and then to point out that it is not alone. There are many Chinese Christian Churches (CCCs) across America and more churches are sprouting up everyday. In general, the beliefs of these Chinese Churches are very much grounded in traditional Christianity.

And in a time when the attendance of mainstream churches is dropping off, the Chinese Church, in particular, has shown exceptional growth. It is now estimated that approximately 32% of Chinese in America are Christian, which is very much disproportionally higher than percentage of Chinese Christians within the Chinese population at any other time in history. In addition, the number of Chinese converts to Christianity in America has grown exponentially, prompting me to wonder, “What are the cultural reasons behind such an expansion?” And with that single question as the framework, I start my journey with a simple quote.

“Chinese build restaurants, Koreans build churches.” This semi-humorous quote is from a blog that I read once comparing the different merits of Chinese and Koreans. Now I’m not going to cast an opinion about which ethnicity is better, but rather examine the implications of the statement. Surprisingly, this statement actually contains some truth, especially on the Korean side. In the past century, the church has become a main social, spiritual, and educational center for Korean immigrants - for many of the same reasons as Chinese.

But the other half of the quote assumes that “Chinese build restaurants.” By juxtaposing that statement with the statement about “Koreans building churches”, the line itself is implying that Chinese people do not show interest in building churches. Which leads to the question - why would the Chinese want to attend church when they could be doing other, more economically productive, things like cooking your chow mein? Some may say that Chinese attend church in order to integrate into American society more. They say that Christianity is a part of the American identity, so Chinese who want to assmilate into American culture would also attend church. I challenge this statement on the premise that attending a Chinese Church does not encourage assimilation, but rather discourages it.

Why would a Chinese immigrant attend a Chinese church when there are so many better opportunities if his main goal is to assimilate? For one thing, secularism is now popular and accepted among professionals in the working world. If a Chinese person really wants to excel in the professional world (and many do), it would be better for him or her to embrace secularism instead. For example, religious expression is discouraged in many high-tech or government companies in which a large number of Chinese immigrants work. Also, if a Chinese person really wanted to assimilate into American society, it would make more sense for them to attend a non-ethnic church, where they could interact more frequently with Americans. Yet, what we see is not an increase in the number of Chinese attending mainstream churches, but rather a dramatic increase in the number of Chinese-affiliated churches.

Some people have placed the argument that a feeling of ethnic belonging is the foremost reason that Chinese immigrants are attracted to Chinese Churches. But this reason is also not the primary reason why Chinese are so attracted to Christianity. While the church has been the most well-established institution for Korean immigrants, Chinese immigrants have always had many more options other than churches for gaining a feeling of ethnic acceptance. Especially in big cities, Chinese immigrants can choose from dozens of old Chinatown organizations, like clan-based assoications, or tang (secret societies). The Chinese can associate themselves with dozens of province-based groups or even groups based on attending the same Chinese Alma Mater. For educational purposes, there are always multiple Chinese schools in any medium-sized town. Across America, there are also numerous religious centers that tend to their old faiths (like Buddhist temples). To find some ethnic group to join is not hard for new Chinese immigrants. They do not have to go to a church simply for the purpose of meeting their ethnic needs.

Of course, Chinese churches have some structures and institutions that other ethnic Chinese organizations and associations simply don’t have. For example, RCCC has set up fellowship groups, which encourage immigrants to find social belonging. Furthermore, since the church meets on a weekly (or even daily) basis, which allows for immigrants to find friends and compatriots in America. The teachings of the church promote the creation of harmonious community of love and protection, which Chinese immigrants (who often come to the country alone) are attracted to. Finally, Chinese Churches run many programs that are targeted at rearing the youth in values consistent with traditional Chinese ones. However, ethnic bonding can hardly occur in a church without religious conversion.

So then, just what are the reasons that make Christianity so appealing to the Chinese? Now we have reached the crux of this essay. I believe that two main factors are at play: history and modernity. I will explain both of my arguments in detail.

In modern history, China has been in a constant state of both social and political turmoil. Chinese cultural traditions have repeatedly been under attack by officials and by intellectuals, outside influences and modernization. Understanding the social and cultural context of Chinese history may offer insight as to why Chinese are so responsive to Christianity.

Chinese society has undergone great turmoil in rapid succession. This has largely been in part to aggression by advanced Western countries that were also colonial and imperial powers. It started with the humiliation of the Chinese by the British during the Opium Wars. This was followed by domestic disorders and foreign invasion. All of these factors have forced China to modernize to the point where it is today - but it has been neither a peaceful nor bloodless trail.

In the last century, the Chinese people have experienced untold sufferings that have destroyed much of their identity. Western imperialism, the Taiping Rebellion, the struggle between the warlords, the Japanese Invasion, the Communist struggle and takeover, and the misguided policies of the PRC have all led to anger and bitterness among the Chinese people. The fact that so many catastrophic events occurred in such a short amount of time has redefined the outlook of many Chinese people. Shared identity was instead replaced with individual bitterness, fear, anger, frustration, rootlessness, and alienation.

It is known that turmoil often comes before conversion. God often has a plan of bringing people low so that they would turn to him and be lifted high. Any one life-threatening event can cause people to change and look to God. And contemporary Chinese immigrants have had far more than the average amount of disorder and trauma in their lives.

Furthermore, contemporary Chinese immigrants have also experienced “chain migration” - that is, the necessity of settling in one place after another just to escape danger or persecution. Many came to the United States where they felt even more lonely and hopeless, a stranger in a strange land. This migration only affirmed their need for something solid, something real and everlasting, to sustain them against the precarious nature of their lives.

Perhaps that is why Christianity seems to be so attractive to Chinese immigrants. In it, they can find peace and tranquility in the everlasting words of the Bible, and they are promised a home in heaven for all eternity. These Christian beliefs help ameliorate feelings of homelessness and instability that many modern Chinese immigrants have. They were perhaps also attracted to the teachings of Jesus, who called out, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” On the other hand, conversion did not come suddenly, but as a result of a cumulative process for many Chinese immigrants. As these immigrants joined Chinese Churches, they felt their old wounds and scars being healed by the love of Jesus evident in the lives and charity of other believers around them. They, in turn, feel a burden to evangelize to other Chinese immigrants who were in the same situation they were in. Since the 1980’s, more and more evangelistic missions have sprung up that target China as an evagelistic mission field. Furthermore, many prominent evangelists have pointed to China as the next “Nation of Christians”, a field ripe for sowing and harvesting.

While the struggles of the past have pushed Chinese immigrants towards Christianity as a solid and unyielding truth, the other factor is the uncertainty of the future. Or, perhaps more specifically, the uncertainty of the future caused by modernization.

The second force that pushes Chinese immigrants towards Christianity is the universal challenge of modernization in America. By modernization I mean the cultural, economic, and technological currents that are the eminate from a progressive society like America. From a cultural standpoint, an example of modernization could be the recent desires of children to seek independence from their parents at a much younger age. From a technological standpoint, an example of modernization could be the invention of video games, which sap away valuable family time. However, many effects of modernization are, in fact, non-compatible with traditional Chinese values.

The Chinese are a deeply traditional people. Children of some of the greatest and longest-lasting kingdoms and dynasties that ever existed, the Chinese believe in tradition and the past as a way of guiding the future. Many Chinese who immigrate to the United States first move to cities, where they are instantly overwhelmed by fast-changing, pluralistic American society.

So they turn to conservative religions to help combat the effects of modernization. It is said that fundamentalism often appears at the junction between tradition and modernity. This appears to be true in the case of Chinese immigrants. Chinese immigrants, who revere tradition, are strongly attracted to the absolute truth that can only be found in the Bible.

The attractiveness of Christianity to Chinese immigrants is also due to its perceived compatibility with Confucian principles. Be mindful that I am not talking about the spiritual aspect of Confucianism (i.e. the worship of spirits), but rather the strict moral behaviors that it promotes. Confucian principles stress families and moral integrity, but they were perceived as outdated by the Communists as well as various intellectual groups. Nevertheless, Confucian principles seem to be ingrained in the minds of Chinese immigrants. The authority of Confucianism in the past came from the rule of a dynastic state, or the clan or extended family, and traditionalism. However, it is nearly impossible for a Chinese immigrant to establish the authority of Confucianism in a foreign country. Furthermore, these immigrants want to pass selected Confucian principles - like family values and respect - to their children, but find the authority behind Confucianism lacking in the United States.

Yet Christianity offers an authority, derived from its truth, that provides an absolute foundation and moral truths in a shifting, pluralistic society. Therefore, immigrants, who wish to embrace their traditional Confucian values and instill those values into their children are much more likely to accept Christianity based on its values. That is not to say that they have experienced conversion - for that consists of asking Jesus into their life - but it at least provides them with a starting point to explore the faith. The stability of Christianity, attested by its ability to survive over many millenia, further appeals to the Chinese immigrant’s desire for stability.

Chinese churches also provide a safe haven for immigrants against the forces of modernism. Within the church, Chinese immigrants can find other immigrants, many of whom have shared the same experiences, and find support and guidance as they struggle to make a decent living in the United States. The regularity of church interaction and the idea of creating a harmonious society only further buffer the Chinese Church against the forces of modernity. Because Chinese immigrants tend to resist modernity, that is the reason why the majority of Chinese Christian Churches are conservative, like RCCC.

In light of the recent wave of Christian conversion among Chinese immigrants, I believe that two main visible factors, history and modernity, have played a substantial role. Yet, there is a third, and significantly more powerful force that I have not mentioned. If the faith that Chinese Christians believe in is indeed correct, then there must a Higher Force, or a God, that is actively drawing the Chinese Immigrant population towards Him. And although it is not a thing that can be measured quantitatively, I believe that the recent mass wave of conversion is a testament to the fact that His will is being done.

What does it mean to be stylish? According to the dictionary, the word “stylish” means: characterized by or conforming to style or the fashionable standard; fashionably elegant; smart or chic. Put simply, being stylish means that others like how you appear before them…right? Well, in my eye, being stylish means expressing yourself. Perhaps it is a display of your personality, or your beliefs and values. Sometimes, my definition doesn’t quite match up with the one in the dictionary.

The definition given in the dictionary basically states that, to be stylish, you have to be a follower. Big brand names will sell products that may not look that great, but people will buy them anyways because of the logo they carry. For example, those “PINK” purses and sweatpants from Victoria’s Secret that are actually yellow and green?

I mean, come on now…thats like open mockery on how well the consumers know their colors. But the fact that people actually do buy it is even worse. The biggest example in my opinion, is the extra-popular clothing company, Abercrombie. Now, I have no problem with people that wear it in moderation. But there are those people you all know, that have to wear it all day every day. But why? The money spent is for that little moose logo; not the quality of the fabric or the sense of being unique. Since when was the moose even a “cool” animal? When people ask “If you could be any animal, what would it be?”, how many people say “moose”? Well, these Abercromb-ites seem to think it elevates their status. It makes them better than everyone else, because to buy $125 jeans, you gotta be pretty darn cool. In fact, some of the shirts they sell openly mock others through stereotypes and nasty puns.

They’re all just following what the people at Abercrombie say is cool, and spend their money accordingly to get the outfit they see on the ads. Therefore, they are completely un-stylish because they just try to duplicate styles they see advertised. Yes, I agree that some of their clothes look pretty good, but if you’re one of those people wearing A&F 24/7, I’m sorry, but I really can’t tell the difference between what you wore yesterday and what you have on now.

So what about the other side? Gothic/punk/emo territory. It is true they are more expressive, to the point of being scary, but what are they actually expressing? Many that turn out this way were first rejected or ridiculed by the Abercrombie crowd. They are bluntly told that they don’t belong there, and so they turn to other people and ideas that focus on different values. Unfortunately, these “values” are usually not very good ones. A lot of them listen to violent, angry, music with vulgar language and disturbing topics. They wind up doing drugs, smoking, and/or drinking, and don’t really care if people know it or not. Some of them play mind games with themselves until it seems like they’ve been to hell and back, with the cuts on their arms to prove it. Umm…reality check? You didn’t actually have to slit your arm open and write hate mail because your boyfriend went to the mall with another girl. Strange and distracting hairstyles and colors, piercings, and dark makeup are supposed to be a testament to their “I don’t care what you think of me” mentality. But that doesn’t quite work. Why would someone go through so much trouble doing all of that if he didn’t care about his appearance? I don’t think it’s easy putting in 5 nose rings every morning and tuning a bright green mohawk, nor is it comfortable walking around in a leather trenchcoat and pants with chains when its 80 degrees outside. The fact is, they do care what people think. They want to stand out, and so they put on an image that they know our society is not comfortable with. Of course this doesn’t apply to all of them. I’m not trying to make enemies or anything. But my feeling is that, in general, this crowd is too expressive of negative influences, and therefore, not stylish because they are feared and rejected by others.

Where do I stand? I like to think that I have my own style. My clothing will usually represent my Asian heritage, my faith, sports, or my passion for the ocean that I gained when I was very young. If you looked in my wardrobe, you would find a lot of blue, black, and white. My “accessories” all represent things that matter to me, and are actually not “just for looks” like my mom seems to believe. My Team Ninja dog tags are a constant reminder of my brothers. Various hemp bracelets made for me represent people or ideals that I truly care about, and are encouraging to carry constantly. Now people always ask about my Nike wristband. This has more practical uses than the others. Firstly, my wrist has been injured several times in Tae Kwon Do, so it is there for support. Secondly, my first pair…the black ones, were a gift from my aunt in Taiwan…reminding me of all my family there. Lastly, it is great for storing small objects, such as a small blade or shuriken, and therefore very handy for a ninja such as myself. =P

I can also respect those who are more quiet about their style. Because even within that subtleness, they are in fact, stylish. I know quite a few people that are pretty casual about what they wear, and it reflects their easygoing personality. These people are very easy to get along with, and so it really doesn’t matter what they wear. In any case, be comfortable with who you are, and let your style come afterward. Anything else is just…not true. If you’re looking for advice on what to wear…I’m sure the new Youth Group shirt will look great on all of you =P

Hey everyone. Don’t worry. I’m not as scary as Alex suggests…as long as you’re on my good side that is =)

Anyways, Alex has graciously invited me to write in here periodically (Which is quite an honor) So I’ll start with a little poem/rant that is the product of expressing what I’ve been feeling lately. It really is a mess. But bear with me…maybe you can gain something from it.

I just want to encourage you guys not to take each other for granted. When you find that you can’t do so anymore…it’s a little too late. Draw close to your brothers and sisters in Christ and don’t ever let go. Cherish everything you can. Here goes nothing…

I lie awake these nights
Listening closely to the silence
There is chaos within
Memories return as the rain falls.

Once again
I’m lost in thought
Remembering my past
Pondering my future

Within these thoughts
I find sorrow and joy
Love and pride
Anger and shame
Fear and regret

I cannot help but wonder
What I am headed into.

I have aspirations of my own
But they conflict with those set before me
The path I walk is long
Narrow and obstructed
Yet I am pushed forward
Scared and unwilling.

I miss people
And I will miss them even more in the coming year
They mean more to me than I can express in words
And I only wish I could be a better friend.

Instead I am stuck
Waging my own wars
Locked in battle
I’m simply
Too preoccupied.
Much less able to share
the creation of joyful memories
or the burdens they carry.

I know they’re still with me
But loneliness is difficult to overcome
When the closest you can get
Is through a computer screen.

Please wait for me
I’ll be back.

And when I return
Expect someone
A little bit stronger
Than the person you knew
One year ago.

I will trust in the Lord
And I urge you to do the same

Because everyone deserves
Another reason to smile.

In love and loyalty,

- Furious Angel
8/28/07

Have you ever been flash-kicked in the head? Because that’s what it’s gonna feel like when you start to read the writing of the newest (and first) guest writer, Jonathan Shih!

But seriously, Jon’s a terrific writer, but more importantly, a great person. I’m glad I’ve gotten to know him better over the few short years, and I hope that you’ll get to know him better through his writings too.

But remember, there are certain things that you do not do when messing with a ninja.

1. Do not tickle a ninja. They will not find any enjoyment in it. Not the slightest bit. In fact, they will probably sever your fingers.
2. Do not wash a ninja’s robes with bleach.
3. Do not tailgate a ninja.
4. Do not engage in a foodfight with a ninja - at least put away the knives and forks.
5. Do not play “ghost-in-the-graveyard” with ninjas.
6. Do not say that all ninjas look alike.
7. Do not break up with a ninja’s sister.
8. Do not take an Eggo from a ninja.
9. Do not make “your mom” jokes about a ninja’s mother.
10. Do not say pirates are better than ninjas

That being said, respect the ninjas, and welcome Jon Shih to this blog!

Our society has always had certain rules that it has expected its citizens to follow. These rules are not laws, but rather unspoken, yet impactful, expectations that govern societal behavior. For example, one does not fart in a crowded elevator. One tries to avoid burping at the dinner table. You get the point.

But with the rate that the digitalization trend has swept the world, surely these rules of etiquette must also apply to things like Facebook, as these sites have virtually eradicated all meaningful face-to-face interaction (an irony in the name?). In any case, Yuning Liu now presents the Seven Iron Laws of Facebook Etiquette:

1. Thou shalt not maketh a post on the Wall of Another while under the Influence ofDrugs, Alcohol, or Annoying Friends.
2. Thou Shalt “Poke” with Caution and Moderation.
3. Thou Shalt Not overload your Page with Excessive Applications so that Thy Page does not Reek of Myspace.
4. Thou Shalt Not Use Facebook to Interact with those you Would Typically Not Interact With.
5. Thou Shalt Not become Friends with those you have absolutely no Connection With, for Fear of becoming a “Creep”.
6. Thou Shalt Not post on Your Own Wall (Very n00bish).
7. Thou Shalt Not Spend All of Yourtime on Facebook, Replacing true Social Interaction.

Do you guys have any Facebook etiquette tips?

Hundreds of songs have been written about the “good old days.” This is perhaps because the “good old days” bring back quick glimpses of blurry moments in our minds, sometimes of special moments, other times of repetitive, but calming, tasks.

The memories of the “good old days” can be triggered by different stimuli. Sometimes your memory will drift back to those days in times of trial or tribulation, because one doesn’t want to deal with the present situation at hand. Other times, memories of the “good old days” can be triggered through conversation with others, since conversation about the past is a wonderful way to connect with others. But very often, those memories are triggered by certain tangible stimuli; for example, one could rendezvous with a long-lost friend, or could have his or her memory jogged by the sight of an object or a certain fragrance.

I’m especially fond of the “good old times” that took place in the summer. The summer is a special time in childhood, and it is perhaps the anticipation of it that elevates the time to such an important place in our memories. Yet, as one grows up, their summer experience changes. I will try to chronicle mine, and then decide at the end which type of summer I liked best.

1. The “Grandparent” Summers: I believe that I spent my summers from age 5 to 7 with grandparents from both sides of my family. Those summers are not that distinct in my memory, partially due to the fact that they occurred so long ago, and because they were not that eventful. But perhaps the importance of those summers was not meant to be an immediate recognition. Years later, whenever I visit my grandparents, I am always reminded of those summer days where they took care of me in the house. I remember that they took me to the playground and tried in vain to get to me to learn Chinese. It is a shame that I was too young and naive to take interest in them, but their caring devotion for me during those summers will always be this picture-less, yet completely real joy that I will forever keep in my heart.
2. The “Video Game” Summers: After my grandparents left, I had my first experience with drugs. Really, I didn’t use drugs, but the video games might as well have come in tiny 1 ounce bags. They were so addicting. Our family had recently moved to a small apartment complex called Williamsburg on the Lake, where I had to go to the babysitter every afternoon. Unfortunately, my babysitter was a lady downstairs named Leah that was a heavy smoker and did nothing but watch soap operas all day. I still have vivid images of the heavy fog of smoke that hung around the ceilings, the yellow-ish walls, and Leah sitting on the couch, TV flickering, watching the drama play out with full intentness. Since she was so absorbed in her alternate universes, I basically spent all of my time with her hyperactive son, whose name was Scottie. Now Scottie had this room in the back of the house, and within that room was a true treasure: a Super Nintendo. I now truly believe that it was due to those few years that I am now horribly nearsighted. We must have spent all day playing video games…literally. We became masters at Mario Kart, dominators of Donkey Kong (all the versions), and amazing at Aladdin. I guess in those years, I traded any possible chance at sports or athletics for nearsightedness.
3. The “Endless” Summers: Eventually, my parents had earned enough money to move out of the apartments and into an all brick house at 318 Charity Circle. It was a beautiful neighborhood, with pristine lawns and streets with pavement as dark as night. I quickly became friends with the sons of the contractors who had built our house, Will and Josh Haas. Josh was my age, and Will was two years younger. Our families became good friends, and now I remember countless days spent playing at their house. I remember watching all of the Star Wars when they first came out, and getting my first taste of rap music. I remember having Roman Candle wars in the fields. And, across a small bridge in their backyard (yes, an actual bridge), my other set of friends, another group of brothers lived. Josh and Joey Jordan were adopted and asian too. Josh had only one functional arm, but he still managed to school all of us at video games, even games that required extreme coordination like Super Smash Brothers. Those summers did indeed seem endless. It was complete play from sunrise to sundown; it was as if we were drunken off the summer air. There we were, a tight set of friends, with bonds that surpassed any economic or racial barriers that might have bound other friends. We surpassed many challenges together; we gossiped about girls (I had a HUGE crush on this one blonde in the neighborhood); we planned elaborate plans that never worked out; we played capture the flag in the neighborhood at night; in short, we had pure, undiluted fun during those two summers. Those were months of pure joy that seemed to encapsulate all the joys of my childhood.

Eventually, I moved to Rochester - but that history is too recent. I still don’t consider my time in Rochester “the good old days”, although I know that I eventually will as I head off to college. But, in any case, it is really wonderful to have those memories, because they are permanent and cannot by removed by anything from this world. They are like a reservoir of childhood, the “fountain of youth” that the Count of Montecristo never good find - if only he looked a little closer to himself.

Hair hair, faithful readers! Ok, sorry about the bad pun. But the reason I chose to use it was because, today, I am going to write about a very important topic: hair. See, not all of my posts are protracted and esoteric essays about moral debates or special epiphanies.

But do not underestimate the importance of hair. You should pay attention to your hair - because everyone else will. Your hair is one of the first things that people notice, and it is also a way of revealing your identity to them. Hair does this for three reasons:

• Hair is a natural extension of your body
• Hair is malleable
• Hair is out in public for all to see

Due to these reasons, hair is an outward showing of identity. That is why European girls were socialized to wear their hair in special ways in accordance with their class. That is why, today, teengers use their hairstyles as a personal statement. That is why older men go to extreme ends to replace those rapidly falling follicles of which they were so fond.

And because hair is so malleable and easily altered, people have tried to use it to increase their positions in society. Here’s an interesting fact. Since Eisenhower, the presidential candidate with the most hair won. Don’t believe me? Check it out yourself:

Kennedy vs. Nixon, 1960

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Johnson vs. Goldwater, 1964

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Nixon vs. Humphrey, 1968

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Nixon vs. McGovern, 1972

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Carter vs. Ford, 1976

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It just goes on and on. Although a head full of hair probably wasn’t the single deciding factor in the presidential elections (otherwise, our political system is doomed), one can argue that it did indeed play a part. That is because presidential races are so tightly contested that every single detail counts - even the subconcious ones. One might decide to vote for one candidate over the other simply because they didn’t like the voice of the other - they want a president with a strong and forceful, yet compassionate voice, because they believe that is a sign of leadership qualities. In the same way, society associates a full head of hair with youth and energy, especially with men. And who doesn’t want a youthful and energetic president? We subconciously judge people by their hair - just as we do by their accents, clothes, etc. Perhaps, we do so even more with hair due to it’s importance. It is common to point out when someone gets a haircut - but how often do we point out when someone gets a new shirt or cuts their fingernails? Obviously, hair plays an important role in image.

With that part said, I’d like to talk about my hair. Sometimes I wish I had someone elses hair. My hair is a disobedient wreck. First of all, it stays glued in a permanent semi-rigid position, which it always seems to restore itself to, no matter how much hair gel I put on. Furthermore, any asian can attest to one of the flaws of having black hair. If you’re in the sun all day, your hair will absorb the sunlight like a sponge and hold it in there, frying the top of your head.

Oh, by the way, although this has nothing to do with my previous paragraphs, I started to use a new shampoo. It’s called Garnier Fructis, and I have to say, it is perhaps the best shampoo I have ever tried. I think it is perhaps all of the random ingredients within the shampoo that makes it so good. It really does provide a strong hold and also smooths the hair out noticeably. It also makes your hair shinier than Krillin’s head (ha!). Here’s my advertisement with it.

What’s your favorite shampoo?