Profile ideas

3 people I am thinking about are David Moreno- a friend struggling ADD and separation of parents his story. Another is Miranda Moore- in charge of KUSF the radio station at USF first her journey then the loss of the station on air.  Lastly a janitor not sure which, but to talk about benefits she has and her family does.

3 stories I have are for David, I want to follow is "the help" the disabilities center has for students with ADD or handicapped like the blind and deaf USF students. Another story is the radio station who runs it and how do they feel about loosing the station and the transition to online streaming. My last story is talking to a janitor about the benefits (school free for children?) and how does it effect other family members financially.

"Felice Anniversario" (restaurant review) 2/10/14

                        Friday February 7^th was exactly one year and four months that my boyfriend and I had shared our anniversary. One would say Olive Garden is quite cheap for an anniversary, but since I have only been here once it was perfect for me. Plus we had a $50 gift card we both received for Christmas from his parents. The food there is exquisite and big portioned, but my favorite part is the atmosphere. The pictures dangle off the walls as if they were 3D, and lions that stick out of the wall as if roaring toward the audience ready to feed on their prey.

Upon arrival things moved on smoothly, we were greeted nicely, but felt scurried; they were all in a rush to seat others who were also waiting. It took 30 minutes for a table, because there seemed to be many birthday parties going on that evening. The birthday cheers roaring so loud as if Tarzan was in the room banging on his chest. The restaurant had reservations, but we were such in a hurry to arrive that we just showed up. Once the women called out that she was ready for us, we then were escorted to our seats. She walked ahead of us as if she had ants in her pants, while we trying to keep up. Once we finally got to sit down the server in charge of drinks came by to tell us that someone else was going to take over once he had giving us our drinks. We both chose water, because wine was not in our budget tonight.

The waiters were nice, but there were so many different men arriving at our table, I could not even keep track of their names. Looking frantically at the menu for what to eat, we decided to get an appetizer, soup, entrée, and desert. During our meal, the nice surprise my partner and I liked was when the manager and the assistant manger came to great us in how our meal was going. I started out with the Lasagna Fritta’s for the appetizer and my partner went for the new spicy Calamari. Next was the soup we both had the Chicken & Gnocchi. Sitting there eating our dinner, we chose to speak about how stressful work is and how my first day of internship had gone. We were enjoying ourselves as we move on to the main course, I had chosen the Tour of Italy and my partner chose the Chicken & Shrimp Carbonara, both excellent and delicious meals. The one memorable thing that happened, was that one of waiters was carrying many dishes for the next table behind us, and when I turned to ask about dessert he had farted in our direction. The moment it happened he did not do anything but act professional and I held in my laugh until he had left, then I hunched to my boyfriends ear and told him what had happened we both busted out laughing. Then our dessert came, I had gotten Strawberry &White Chocolate Cake Dolcini, and it was like heaven in your mouth. My partner and I were so stuffed we took the meals to go. The meals are not expensive but you could imagine how much can collect from an appetizer, a soup, an entrée and a desert. The bill was exactly $50, including tips, the exact amount of our gift cards. Upon leaving the restaurant, I told myself I was coming here again, not sure when but hopefully very soon. My favorite part of my meal was the soup; I swear it is the best soup I have ever tasted. Overall I ranked this restaurant from one to five: 1/2 being awful L 3 is so-so :-/ and 4/5 being perfect J. I would say this one was a 4 not great, but not awful either.

Address: 3251 20th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132

Phone:(415) 661-6770

              

"A Struggle for Knowledge: Refugee and his Freedom" (refugee and immigrant story) 2/3/14

David Ayual Mayom is a refugee from south Sudan, Africa. Mayom waits for the day he graduates in order to go home and help his family. Mayom is a second year graduate student in the International and Development Economics Program. Currently 30 years old and living on a visa scholarship in order to complete his education. For four years he worked as the Program Advisor to the Sons of Sudan Foundation, an organization serving the Lost Boys of Sudan in Washington. “Since 1983, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Sudanese Government have been at war in southern Sudan” (Unicef). “More than 500,000 lives and displaced people were counted. Among these were at least 20,000 children, mostly boys, between 7 and 17 years of age who were separated from their families. These ‘lost boys’ of the Sudan trekked enormous distances over a vast unforgiving wilderness, seeking refuge from the fighting. Hungry, frightened and weakened by sleepless and disease, they crossed from Sudan into Ethiopia and back, with many dying along the way. The survivors are now in camps in Kenya, the Sudan, and Uganda” (Unicef). Mayom is a leader in the Sudanese refugee community, having arrived in the United States in 2001. He speaks Dinka and Kiswahili, and researches the impact of foreign direct investment on unemployment and economic growth. At 7 he was separated from his family living in poverty in an orphanage doing chores. Later at the age of 13 he was sent to fight in war. Serving for only a year he was taken out at the age of 14 and moved to Kenya’s camps (Kokoma). A United Nations program took refugee groups “Lost Boys in Sudan,” in order to give them an opportunity to escape war. Upon coming to the U.S. in 2001, he had to get accustomed to it, “Big Change,” he states. At first glance Mayom was really tall, and had a green strip shirt on and was very nice and sweet. He wanted us to be secluded for the interview so we moved to the couches near the bathroom on the third floor at K-Hall. As we sat down he was ready for answering every question. Mayom explained that, “during 2001 to 2007 he was working and going to community college in order to transfer to a university in Seattle Washington. In 2012 he graduated from Wazoo University in Washington and earned his Bachelors degree.” In August 2012 he had moved to San Francisco to attend the Masters Program at USF (graduating May 2015). I asked why he had moved here he explained, “that he had no choice the Sudan government was at war and he needed to escape. He moved to the U.S. with his younger Brother (did not want to mention a name) who stayed in Washington as he moved to San Francisco. In Kenya live his poor mother and 6 siblings, he said that, “Before, they would take the women from the families and sell them into slavery.” His family luckily was rescued and was taken to the camps in Kenya where they stay now. All alone here in San Francisco he turned to education to be his top priority, he does miss his family and his friends but he knows that if he gets his education he can help save other refugees in Sudan by working with the government. He visits Kenya once in a while and his family sometimes visits too, but struggles to pass the papers and ends up not being able to travel. The first time he tried to bring his family over, it was unsuccessful the government turned him down, stating that the claim was lost or was never made. For everything Mayom has gone through he still manages with a big smile on his face to say, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” and “I will work hard and will help my family.” He ended by thanking God and the United States for giving him the opportunity to make a difference. David Mayom’s final words “I was one of the smart students.” I giggled as I got up to give a hug as the conversation came to an end, and thank him for taking his time to talk to me. The last thing as I gather my belonging was that he asked me for my number, at first I was shocked but eventually I had to turn him down, because I had been already taken. He smiles and walks away disappointed as if hoping I was available.  

"Let's get Physical" (live performance) 1/27/14

I went to the gym yesterday afternoon, to workout and observe some people. The gym is a very interesting place, because many people whom workout have such character; they are either; stressed, relaxed, worried, motivated, determined, or just loathe working out. One particular woman I focused on was dressed in all black, with blonde hair, and blue eyes. Noticing her at first she looked as if she was maybe an athlete prepping for a game coming up soon. Or possibly determined to reach a certain goal, or just to be healthy. I also noticed she was working out with headphones, listening to music, possibly helps her relax or get motivated to work out. At the moment I saw her, she was about to lift the bar bell while standing up. She seemed strong lifting over eighty pounds in weight. While lifting her expression on her face seemed as if she was lifting more than she can handle 15, 16, 17… she kept murmuring until she got to 20, breathing heavily, turning red, and sweating like a behemoth. As soon as she finished 3 more sets, it seemed she was done for the day, and she put the bar away. Immediately after, she walked over to the water fountain and drank some water, and then she gathered her belonging and left the gym. Overall this woman seemed satisfied of her workout at the gym today and it is possible she will be back tomorrow for another good workout.

"30 Minutes in a Box" (elevator story) 1/22/14

          One warm Wednesday afternoon, I was on my way to K-Hall, to do an “elevator story.” I chose to take the main elevator; for thirty minutes, I went up and down observing my surroundings. At first it was very quiet, it seemed to me that not many people were using the elevator at this time. Silence enclosed on me, not even music played to pass the time, the only sound was the wind and the dinging from the buttons. Finally after a few moments of silence a boy came in with curly hair, he was very shy and quiet, I took the effort to say good afternoon, but he did not respond. As time went by a few more students and teachers rode the elevator. Some had things to say, and some were more engaged on their cell phones. The most significant detail that stuck in my mind was a teacher carrying a bicycle on the elevator and accidentally bumped into me without saying sorry as she gets off on the 3^rd floor.

          Towards the end less people rode, and I was alone on the elevator more than with company. I came to the conclusion, that possibly a class was in session or more people preferred to take the stairs. I simply did not enjoy the ride; it was lonely, boring, and quiet. Based on this experience I have learned that many people are anti-social, we are more focused on what is on our phones then having a simple conversation. For instance not one conversation came along from anyone whom I said good afternoon to. Not many people cared if I was going to get off or not, they always went out first, just goes to show you how involved we are with each other that not even a simple kind act, like asking what floor, or if I was getting off was said. I recommend others to this experiment to see what you notice next time you are stuck in an elevator for 30 minutes.