posh bagel talk-stories

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a great thing about a new project is meeting with folks and hearing stories related to the bangka. in this particular sunny but cool, crisp california day, i met a fellow at posh bagel, steven. upon noticing the mini-bangka model (see photo below), he shared a story of growing up in a bangka in cambodia at the time of the khmer rouge rule. his family was forced to live out of a ‘bangka’ for two years. he smiles widely as he talked of memories of a five year old learning how to swim by being pushed out into the waters of a large lake and of swimming races with siblings across the lake to pass the time. we laughed together, we dreamed together. bangka journey’s future plan includes mini-model bangka building and mini-paddle carving gatherings with youth kids of all ages incorporating inter-generational multi-cultural talk-stories sessions. posh bagel steven shared his growing excitement as he said, “let’s build and launch at lake merritt!” 🙂

bangka stories @ posh bagel

bangka stories @ posh bagel

 

 

love is blind, love your body and all of its parts

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quite a mishap using a spray cleaning agent while cleaning a bathroom stall, eye injury not related to bangka/paddle carving resulted with almost worn out lining of the epithelial cells close to exposing the nerves. OUCH! a good reminder from lolo after he saw my eyepatch and how i got it, baby girl (he calls me), bE CAREFUL IN THIS INDUSTRIAL WORLD WHEREVER YOU GO. tHOSE PEOPLE MAKING TOXINS THAT EVENTUALLY GET INTO AND MURDER OUR WATER ARE OUR STAUNCH ADVERSARIES. yes, lolo, i understand and now a lucky me experience as my vision is still intact despite the excruciating pain of the toxic chemical reaction. my eye weeps and weeps, i feel as mother earth weeps and weeps for the toxic wastes in her system. if only people will see and clean up after themselves. i will no longer use spray bottles with toxins for cleaning; back to basics – sponge, non toxic soapy water.

thankful for the vision

thankful for intact vision

this mishap reminded me about a difficult summer spent in the Philippines conducting a research project on nursing student’s knowledge, attitudes and behavior about organ donation and transplantation with HOPE related to kidney donation. below are some stats on quick facts in about organ transplantation issues in the US.

Quick Facts

i am one lucky bangka girl. i am ever so grateful and thankful for the wonderful gift of a vision intact, a gift of seeing. yes, love is blind and yes, i cut my long curly hair to donate to children with cancer for a wig but it is not easy to donate an eye or any body part. a chumash-pinay elder shared her thoughts upon hearing about my summer project: “that is quite disturbing to hear as indigenous peoples’ belief is that our body is sacred and all parts of the body is sacred. i cannot even comprehend the idea of organ transplantation.”