Transportation

Maneuvering around Los Angeles is no easy task! The Los Angeles transportation system aka the Metro is one of the most unpleasant designed public trans systems. Granted, I only have solid knowledge of Philadelphia's trans system and the random times that I've been to NY or DC to use theirs. In comparison, for such a prominent city in America, it is safe to say that LA got the short end of the stick. Everyone drives and if you don't you are left with one to two hours commute minimum. The locals do not like their trans system either so maybe one day their will be an inventive to change their public transportation system. Till then, I will read endless books on my commute to and from wherever I am going, I guess that is a plus!

Social Work

So I never in a million years envisioned myself doing social work and although it is not a end goal for me I acknowledge the importance it has in our workforce. A social worker/case management is one of the many "hats" that my job requires of me. I had heard that social work was hard but I paid no mind and never let that thought cross my mind. Now after being at my job for a few weeks, I'm realizing that social work is very challenging. What I am finding the most challenging is the emotional piece that I am subjected to being the case manager for 100+ clients.  I have to exude compassion because many of my clients are not in good circumstances but at the same time, I have to be composed.  It is really sad to see what life circumstances people have gone through in their life that were either in or out of their control and how those circumstances led them to the situation that they are in now. I can relate to that. I was fortunate to use some of the worst life circumstances that I've had to my advantage but for some people I see it only got worse. This emotionally draning to see and hear and wish that I could have all the answers to the issues that people have.

In addtion, some clients also see me as another obstacle in their way instead of trusting me and in the process of what the organization I work for requires of the clients. That is not the case for most clients but I do have a handful. So I am learning how to built trust with some of my clients and also learning how not to be taken advantage by other clients. When in doubt, I give anyone the benefit of the doubt until I am proven otherwise, that is something I am practicing strenuously.
This job is not easy, I was naive in thinking so and I have a mantra that I tell myself during work:

I am kind.
I am compassionate.
I am patient.
I am blessed.
I will help others.

This balance of being compassionate and yet not letting my client's stories consume me is what I am practicing. I think if anything it makes me want to be more of an advocate for the issues that they face.

Yuna

Yuna is her name. My current obsession. She is an artist. She has the sound of an old school r&b artist. She has the love/romance/soul feel. She's Malaysian but now lives in LA and is Muslim. Her music is for any age and you'll love to get groovy to her.

Your welcome!

Earthquake

In the back of my mind I always have this seed planted in my head from the first day that I arrived that at any given time I could experience an earthquake and what I should do if I do experience it. I guess coming from the East Coast and especially  an area that has no real big threats except snow storms, (but even those are given in an advanced warning) I never had to wonder well would this be the day that I experience this major force of destruction. I wouldn't say my land placement phobia is extreme but it is present. I commend those that live in California and would rather live with the idea of a possible earthquake than the weather threats of a four seasoned climate. I for one, don't know if I'd be able to permanently stay in California for my semi irrational fear of where I am living and it's risk of experiencing such a thing.

This is not to say that I don't things like this couldn't happen elsewhere but to me it's like why would I live somewhere where the chances are greater than other areas? -that's my final thought. 

The Truman Show

So recently I watched the Truman show with some of my housemates. Generally I am not into movies but I said, "why not?" and I was glad that I watched it. This movie has so many topics worth discussing with people afterwards. It reminded me of a flashback to my Law and Media class when our whole class was devoted to watching movies and picking at the undertones of things.

Spiritual:
So the adopter says at the end something along the lines of,"I've known you since you were born, I know what's in your best interest"

And as me and my housemate were watching it she said, "Wow, this has a very spiritual undertone behind it!" I was thinking the same thing and responded, "Yea, I know I was thinking of God"
To me, the message that his adopter/creator said sounded very similar to what God is and yet in the end Truman did not chose that reality for him. He wanted to make that choice on his own. Granted of course, he wanted to escape the lies and deceit but I am sure that some people turn away from the idea of God because they thing that the concept is false/intangible.

Having faith isn't easy but this movie made me more understandable as to why people would turn away from the idea of God because yes, it is a big leap of trust and I think the idea of God not something that you can just force someone to accept you have to let them make it on their own.

Corporate Power:
The idea of corporate power for a movie made at this time is So modern. All the loops, rights, and power corporations have nowadays because of our interdependence of them for the economy is unnoticeable. So the idea that a corporation can adopt/own a baby ..well that doesn't sound so bizarre at this time of the world does it? Just look at all the junk that's on tv now and the shows we watch that have people do crazy/unethical things for money. Just saying that we humans aren't as ethical as we think especially in regards to what we show on television or chose to watch.

The concept of reality:
This whole movie just made me think, "our reality is what we think it is until we find out otherwise." It's like when your growing up your reality goes from being just your house then your block then your town then your city and then your country and then the world. Our reality changes as we grow as our brain is able to take more information in and see a bigger picture of things. Truman's awareness is what brought him to see a picture bigger than just his everyday which I think is something that my awareness conscious guru friends would love to discuss haha but anyway it says a lot about what we can realize once we look outside of just our immediate bubble of reality.

If you haven't watched the movie, go watch this will make more sense! I don't even like movies that much and if I recommend it that says a lot :)