8th Street

On a chilly Monday morning, I walk down to Eight Street. As the traffic light turns red, I stop on the edge of the sidewalk. The sudden cold breeze alerts my consciousness of my surroundings. A few steps away from mine, I spot an elderly Asian woman, who bends down her body, searching for something inside of a trash bin. I stand next to her motionlessly, on a corner of Eight Street.

She looks fairly old, has a wrinkled face, stooped shoulders, and skinny body, which makes her look fragile and weak. She reaches her tiny hand inside of the trash bin, searching, looking, and hoping to find something – something that is inside of the trash bin. As she continues to dig inside of the trash, I smell the unpleasant aroma coming from her surroundings. The smell of coffee, Teriyaki Sauce, Coke, mashed potatoes, and even smell of fresh peppers, anything that you can think of, I smell from her surroundings.

She finally picks something: the empty bottles and cans. She picks them up as if it’s precious jewels, and she dumps them into her trash bags. She continues to dig inside to find the empty bottles and cans until her trash bag gets full. The time has passed by, but her trash bag is still empty. The elderly Asian woman is desperately looks for more, searching, looking and hoping to find empty bottles and cans. With a sense of desperation, she dives into trash bin, swimming and searching for bottles and cans. She stops as she realizes that she can’t find it anymore. She then migrates to other trash bin, right across from Eight Street.

The traffic light turns green, but I don’t move. I mean I can’t move. I watch her migrate as I stand still alone, on a corner of the Eight Street.

To everyone else, she is invisible.

Meet my friend, Miguel

One of my good friends from Cal State East Bay, Miguel P, hosted an event that he has first organized to promote the DREAM Act. For couple of days, Miguel was looking for a student who is willing to share a testimony with him. Miguel generously asked me to see if I’m willing to share my testimony or not. Without any hesitation, I told him I would do it.

I first met Miguel at the San Jose “Mock Graduation,” of event that promoted awareness about the reform of immigration in America. Students from Bay Area gathered together in one place, wore cap and gowns, shared testimonies and expressed concerns about our current broken immigration system that lies in this country. The purpose of mock graduation ceremony was to bring sense of urgency to pass the DREAM Act and the Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The research suggested that 65,000 undocumented students graduating from high school every year, with fine academic performance and serve in thousands of hours in the community, yet they are ineligible to attend college due to the immigration status. One of the Mock Graduation students was holding a sign up high, which it spotted many of us to see clearly. It said, “What now?” with a huge black font. The sign, “what now?” clearly indicates the oppression and limitation of undocumented student’s future despite of their education.

Miguel is fairly short compare to average men’s height, brown skin, slightly chubby I’d say, but has a charming face. Compare to his age, he looks very mature and friendly. He is firmed and serious. Most of the time, he is quiet and thoughtful.

Miguel and I exchanged conversation after the mock graduation, with couple of other DREAM activists. I do not recall what we talked about, but I remember he wanted to get more involved and do something in his college. Shortly after the mock graduation event, he has organized his first event in his campus.

It was on January 7th, 2010, I took a bus and Bart down to Cal State East Bay to participate in Miguel’s event, hosted by MECHA club (Miguel is a secretary of MECHA club). When I arrived to the campus, my heart rate began to increase. I was excited to see Miguel and anticipation of the outcome of his event.

Miguel welcomed me in the Union University room, which is supposedly food court area. When I saw Miguel, I could tell he was glad to see me again. We exchanged few conversations, and then we rushed down to the Diversity Center where the event was held.

The room was filled with students and professors, anticipating something to learn. The event started off with a short film called a “don’t stop me now,” produced by Educator for Fair Consideration foundation. The short film concentrates on stories of four undocumented youth struggling to get ahead in life. Although the film was 30 minute length, but it was a powerful, and clearly educated the spectators about our broken immigration system. In the end of the film, the crowd shed in tears.

The emotional stage elevated as Miguel and I shared our personal journey as an undocumented immigrant. Just like other undocumented students, Miguel had a similar struggle story. Miguel came to this country with his family when he was young and graduated with high school with outstanding grades, and had dreams of becoming someone valuable to this country. By means someone who can contribute and give back to the society. However, he was marginalized its own dream due to the immigration status. One of the pieces of story that he shared really struck my heart. Miguel has worked as a janitor since he was in high school. I cannot imagine a young educated person mops floor and picks up trashes around schools, while other students moving onto next towards life.

The people were moved by Miguel’s story and they wanted to help his cause to change the broken immigration system.

I firmly believe that my duty as a DREAMer, as an educator, as an activist, is to spread stories just like Miguel, to educate other people and inspire them to mobilize and take action to make changes in this country. And I know that one day, stories like Miguel, will change this country.

탈무드 – 가문 자랑

옛날에 가문이 좋은 여우와 천한 집안에 태어난 여우가 길에서 만났다. 가문이 좋은 여우와 천한 태생의 여우가 어디 있냐고 의아하게 생각해서는 안 된다. 정말로 핏줄이 좋은 인간이나 나쁜 인간이라는 것도 있을 턱이 없으니까.
아무튼 전통 있는 가문의 여우 도령은 또 한 마리의 여우에게 자기 집안을 자랑하였다.
그러자 또 한 마이의 여우가 대답했다.
“너의 집안은 너 하나로 끝이 나지만, 우리집안은 나로부터 시작된다네. 나는 살아가는 방법이 중요한다는 걸 알고 있기 깨문일세.”

탈무드 – 진정한 가난

This is one of the short stories of Talmud that I want to share with you because it has a valuable meaning that you can take away something from this story. Enjoy!

진정한 가난

두 사람이 랍비에게 상담하고자 찾아갔다. 한 사람은 그 고장에서 제일 가는 부자이며, 또 한 사람은 가난한 사람이었다.

두 사람은 대기실에서 기다리고 있었다. 더 일찍 온 부자가 먼저 랍비의 방으로 들어갔다. 그리고 한 시간이 지나서 방에서 나왔다.

다음에 가난한 사람이 방으로 들어갔다. 그와의 면담은 5분으로 끝났다. 가난한 사람은 언짢은 생각이 들어 랍비에게 항의했다.

“부자와의 면담은 한 시간이나 걸렸습니다. 그런데 저는 단 5분이 걸렸을 뿐립니다. 이것이 공평한 건가요?”

“진정하세요. 당신은 자신의 가난함을 알고 있었지만 부자는 자신의 마음이 가난하다는 것을 알기까지 한 시간이나 걸렸답니다.”