Blog 10

“Lose thirty pounds and you’ll get an A for the semester.”

            “Deal.”

            Being a stubborn and strong-willed athlete, Aes Ferrer never liked to lose, and is always up for challenging and bettering himself.  In his senior year of high school he participated in football and judo.  As a 205-pound middle linebacker, he was a heavy muscular beast, benching 275 pounds easily in the weight room.  Once football season was through, he started training for judo.  During this transition between seasons, he was also in a weight training class.  His coach proposed a deal that if he lost thirty pounds for judo, he would receive an A for the semester.  On top of that, he only had three weeks to do it.  Determined and motivated as he always is, he cut his diet, completed strenuous workouts, and lost thirty pounds in just three weeks.

            “Wow.  You inspire me,” said his coach, and he actually started to lift weights with the team after seeing what Aes was able to accomplish.  Not only is Aes determined and hardworking, he is also very close to his family and credits all his morals and values to them.

Random UC Conversation

It's about 4:30pm and there is a group of three students in the UC studying for an exam. Their papers were spread out all over two tables pushed together. There is a girl with long hair in a brown leather jacket (1), a guy in a blue sweater with a beard (2), and a blonde guy in a gray t-shirt (3). I'm not sure what class exactly they were studying for, but it was something scientific. At times it was difficult to hear what they were saying, because I didn't want to be really creepy and sit right next to them, so I sat a table away.  Even then, the UC is a pretty loud place. I did my best!

2: Tissue thrombo plastid.

3: I’m just glad I got my 10 hours of sleep last night. I’m not in terrible position. On a scale of one to shit I think I’m ok.

1: Hemophilia. I feel like that's a

2: None of that's even…

1: What’s that smell. Smells like corned beef.

3: You know what would be so good tonight? Grilled corn with some spices and butter.

2: Wow is that almost, pretty much it?

3: No.

2: Fuck off.

All laughs.

1: OK what is…let’s go over this really quick.

2: This is uh,

3: You know, I’ve honestly never considered cheating on a test before. Because to be honest, I know how to do it too. My friend. He wears shorts and writes on his leg.

1: I know people that cheat using their phones. For anatomy.

1: I did so good on those lab exams.

2: Yeah they’re all memorization.

1: Yeah I would get, I would get ok grades on my in class exams.

3: Jesus Christ Mike you’re eating like a damn pig!

2: Haha yeah.

3: Their tots are amazing. I like them better than McMinnamins.

2: Alright what are we on to. Let’s focus dude.

1: So much stuff…

2: What did you get on the first one? 88.

3: That’s all im aiming for.

1: Me too

2: I just have to do good on this one so I don’t have to stress about the final.

1: You said respiratory?

3: Yeah.

2: Cystic fibrosis is definitely gonna be on there.

3: Mucuociliary escalator.

2: Cystic fibrosis is just really thick mucus…where those ions go, water will follow.

1: Can you explain that to me.

2: I think it’s sodium.

3: If its over here its gonna wanna stay over there.

Musical Connections

     The sun beat down on my face as she looked out over the field.  My teammates are stretching and warming up before our big game.  With our bats and gloves lined up on the fence, we all joined together in song. Beyonce's "Check On It" starts to play, and we all know the exact words and moves to the song and start shaking our hips and laughing with each other.  The upbeat melody and the flirtatious lyrics get us hyped up and ready for the game, sort of like a pre-game ritual. Having fun dancing and singing together as a team helps us to bond and come together before every game starts.

     I was at lu'au practice, since I really haven't had much time to do anything else since the end of spring break, and that was my only chance to ask my question. At lu'au practices, I know a very good majority of the people there. There was a girl that I did not recognize, so I asked her to be my "stranger". She was a pretty girl with long brown hair and a big smile. She had a red shirt and athletic short on, and seemed friendly enough. I found out her name is Kayla Costales and she is here visiting friends and to see our lu'au. She is from Hilo, Hawai'i on the Big Island and it turns out she knows some of my cousins from Hilo (It's true. Somehow everyone knows everyone in Hawai'i). She shared with me that she loves volleyball and softball, and she has a younger brother. The question I decided to ask her was, "Do you have a favorite song/artist?"

     Surrounded by the smell of freshly barbecued teriyaki chicken and homemade beef and vegetable curry, I head down to the beach.  My whole family always barbecues together during the summer when we all don't have school.  All my mom, dad, younger brother, aunties, uncles, and cousins come down to the beach on Sundays and bring their favorite dish that they have perfected and made famous in the family.  When day turns to night, we all sit in a circle with full bellies and sun-kissed skin and sing the traditional Hawaiian song "Holei" by Cody Pueo Pata.  It's the perfect way to end a beautiful summer day.  To sit back with family and enjoy the time we can spend with each other in kanikapila style.  Holei will always bring me back to this wonderful feeling and remind me of home.