Takin' it back, waaay back

One of the things I love is hearing a dope sample on a song, then finding that original song. This is something that I find unique to Hip Hop. A lot of times people will look at Hip Hop and say that it's not creative and that it's stealing from old music. I think that it's this ability though, to draw and build off of other forms of music, particularly soul and jazz, that makes Hip Hop beautiful. For me, Hip Hop, jazz, soul, blues, and reggae is music that YOU CAN FEEL IN YOUR SOUL, while other forms of music just don't do this for me (: / nothin against them).

I heard this song a week ago(@ Sushi House in Durant Food Court. Suprisingly, they play dope music, soul and funk). You probably recognize this song from the sample on Kanye and Twista's Overnight Celebrity.

TELL ME YOU CAN'T FEEL THIS SHIT IN YOUR SOUL!!!!

Hearing good soul music (whether in a sample or original form) for me is a reminder that you always carry your past experiences and memories with you and that you grow off of them. This is something that I try to remember as I enter my first week of senior year. I haven't really been thinking about how this is going to be my last year here at Berkeley. I'm just looking to enjoy it, and to be open to everything as I was Freshman year. You could say I'm a seasoned vet, but I'm just looking to take in as much as possible this year.

I got on the MUNI a few weeks ago. For the first time, I wasn't able to pass for youth fare (17 & Under). I'm getting older, and I guess I'm looking older too now. Oh well, I've never been one to be scared of getting older. I've always believed that youth is something that you carry with you. At least working with FEC helps take me back to when I was a kid.

I hope to keep this youthful openness and ability to just enjoy everything this year. Anyway, here is a video I can't stop watching. It makes you wonder why people fight over these things, but in the end you just can't help but laugh it off.

%^&$@ ALWAYS TRYIN TO EAT SOMEBODY'S BURGERS!

This year is definitely going to be a journey. I hope ya'll are with me, cause this year we're gonna take it back. Waaaaay back. I hope all the folks I've met and become family with here @ Berkeley through the years are able to enjoy this year together with me. Maybe its idealistic, but I know ya'll are ready to enjoy this year like I am, so for us folks, let's do it and make this a year to never forget : ) Peace!

Sidenote: The Milk Bar is the ish. Classic soul on the one's and two's. Chill atmosphere. Good times with friends. Couldn't ask for more. And shout out to ading-thru-forceful-adoption Kaegy for his 20th Bday, and Albert and Brendan on their 22nd Bday. It's good to be alive.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

It's been almost two weeks since I've arrived back home from the PI. I miss it, but I'm also glad to be home. I've just been chillin with friends and fam, going back from Foster City to Berkeley. I've been hanging out, watching movies, and shark week : ) I've got to say that I've met some of the coolest and most welcoming people over there, but at times I couldn't help but feel like an outsider no matter how hard I tried. I didn't have a hard time adjusting to things like a lack of the luxuries and privileges that are present here in the states, but rather the feeling that I didn't belong at times. However, over the course of my trip I was able to feel at home and connect with all the cool friends and family I met, whom I will continue to be close with. If there is one thing that I've taken back here that I've learned, is that the people over there know how to enjoy things. Over here in the states, we're definitely always rushed and stressing about something. They may not have the same things that folks over here do, but they truly know how to enjoy and appreciate what's really important.

So with that, I've come up with some immediate goals for the upcoming school year.

1. Come home more often
2. Learn to cook Filipino food.
3. Get a Public Health internship
4. Prepare for grad school/work
5. ENJOY THE TIME AND THE FRIENDS I HAVE AT CAL.

I'm looking forward to this year, even though I'm scared and excited about all the things ahead of me. I look to take things as they come though and continue to work hard.

As I was leaving Bacolod, Kuya Bhuboy and I were listening to "Don't worry, be happy." I think that pretty much sums up what I've gotten from the PI that I hope to take through this year. I hope ya'll are there to enjoy this year with me too, so don't worry, be happy, and let's make this a great year ya'll : ) In the meantime, stay cool like this shark.