Note to readers -- This is a very long blog, so please have all snacks on hand!

Dang, it's been a long time since I've written here, huh? I know you all were waiting on edge to hear more about mi vida loca, which by next week will be mi vida broke-a (LOL!). Darn bills! Why don't they just pay themselves? Is that asking too much? Anywho, the past couple of days have been pretty neutral. Nothing to dance and sing about. However, last night was the most fun I've had in a long time! Yesterday, BSP had their 10th Anniversary party at Hs Lordships in Berkeley. That place is absolutely beautiful! You can see the Bay all around you, and there was a full moon out, which made it all the more pleasant. Also, you can see the City pretty well too! Absolutely breathtaking! Needless to say, this was a classy event, so after work, I had to rush home to get myself lookin' halfway decent. The invite said dress to impress, so I did my best (didn't know I had the rhyming skillz, did ya?!?!). My friend Lan agreed to go with me, so just in case I didn't see any of my homies, I could have someone to talk to. Thanks for having my back Dinh! Plus, she had no plans that evening, so it would be fun to kick it together. That woman is so funny! During the ride from her place to the party, she was teaching me how to curse and just all around insult people in Hindi, French, and Vietnamese. Don't worry, I'll be extra careful with this new information.

O.k., back to the party. The room was packed and it was so refreshing to see familiar faces and meet such pleasant people! I was so happy to see Dr. John Matsui, my "Cal Dad", and Prof. Caroline Kane, my "Cal Mom", both the directors of BSP. I cannot put into words how wonderful and amazing they are! I have learned so much from them, not just academically, but personally as well. I learned that despite how difficult your journey may be, it's o.k. to ask for help along the way. I learned to value the entire person, and not just bits and pieces (at trait that UCB has the ability of having us do from time to time). BSP is just an absolutely beautiful program, and I am so glad to still be affiliated with it. But again, back to the party! (How do I keep getting sidetracked?). The speakers were absolutely wonderful! They selected three guest speakers, all representing the diversity and uniqueness of the program. There was a BSPer who was in the program when it began in 1992, a current BSPer, and a recent graduate who came to UCB as a transfer student. Something that one of the speakers said that was so brilliant is that we should be like chameleons. He was not saying that we should blend into our surroundings, becoming totally lost. He said that chameleons are the only animals that can move their eyes independently, with one eye facing forward, and the other looking back. He said that we should always keep one eye on the future, but never forget what was done in the past. That's as deep as da ocean! All the speakers were so eloquent, and truly spoke from the heart. Absolutely powerful! Later in the evening, John and Caroline were presented with scrapbooks that all the BSPers present at the event signed. I have never seen those two at a loss for words, but I could tell they were truly touched by what they were given, as well as truly proud of how the program has grown and the accomplishments of the students.

The theme for the evening was "I am BSP," which is totally true. BSP is everything that we, the students and Alumni, make it. John and Caroline are only our guides, but it is up to us to continue with and pass on what was taught to us. At each table, there were centerpieces with a phrases placed in them. Words like "personal," "family," and "giving," just to name a few. All words that students and alumni felt were phrases to express what BSP means to them. From the ceiling, even more phrases! "BSP is Diversity," "BSP made Cal MY school," etc. All is so true! After the gifts were presented, out came dessert (oh, dinner was wonderful! Damn, those steaks were huge! I don't see how Duc ate all of that!), which were cupcakes with a candle on top. The lights were dimmed, and we all lit our candles, and made a wish for BSP before we blew them out. Isn't that so cool? Whoever organized this event did a kick-ass job! Way to go! For the rest of the night, there was a DJ, who played some pretty good music, and we all danced until midnight (no luck with gettin' John and Caroline on the floor. Maybe next time, huh?). Even more of a testament to John and Caroline's kindheartedness, they had buses come by every fifteen minutes, to insure that everyone got home safely. Again, how cool is that?

It was so fun to see my homies! Mark Tandoc and his girlfriend Cynthia, Lina, Melissa, Sandy, just to name a few. I think that Lan even felt like a part of BSP as well! Such a poser! She even made a little name card for herself as well. What was funny is that it seemed like she knew more people at the party than I did. What was up with that? There will be pix on a website soon, and I'll pass the address along when I get it. Lan is in almost all of them. Literally, a poser! That event was so fun, and something that I needed at this time. I tell ya, BSP has the ability of being that ever-loyal guardian angel that is never too far away.