#The Ku-Ku Burger

[williammarksommer]

The Ku-Ku Burger

66 series 

Hasselblad 500c/m

Kodak Ektar 100iso

[agvhell]

based on this post. idk man i couldn’t get this idea out of my head had to draw it

[deancasbigbang]

Title: Till It Shines

Author: kleptomalfoy

Artist: LeafZelindor

Rating: Mature

Pairings: Dean Winchester/Castiel Novak, Castiel Novak/OMC, minor Dean Winchester/Lisa Braeden, minor Dean Winchester/Aaron Bass, minor Sam Winchester/Eileen Leahy

Length: 31000

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence References to past sex work and child abuse

Tags: alternate universe, law professor Castiel, mechanic Dean, hunter Dean, housemates to lovers

Posting Date: October 9, 2024

Summary: Castiel Novak moves halfway across the country from California to Kansas to become the youngest chair of KU’s law department. On the recommendation of his friend and former TA Sam Winchester, he moves in with Sam’s older brother Dean.  Dean earns his living as a car mechanic and spends his downtime as a hunter and vanquisher of the supernatural, following in the family tradition.  Hijinks ensue, Dean introduces Cas to “the life”, they fall in love, the end. 

Excerpt: He explores Dean’s house, cataloging the things he sees. Records in the den, stacks of DVDs and old VHS tapes under and behind a large screened TV. There’s a record player with a cracked lid next to the couch, a blue La-Z-Boy angled just so between the couch and the TV. The curtains in the den are a dark blue, the carpet a tired beige.  The hallway wall and up the stairs is crammed with pictures, of Sam and Dean when they were younger with someone who must be their father, a bearded man in flannel wearing a baseball cap. A picture in a tarnished frame of a blond woman with her arms around a small boy. Castiel figures that this must be Dean and his mother, they have similar smiles, similar eyes. Then there’s a picture of Sam at his high school graduation, looking tall and happy; and another picture of Sam, now in college with a blond girl whom Castiel vaguely remembers as being dead. There’s a group picture further up the stairs, of Dean with a bearded man in a hat, a young woman sandwiched in between them, everyone smiling.  The kitchen has a long shelf filled with cookbooks and cooking magazines, but there’s hardly ever any fresh food in the fridge. Dean seems to subsist on burgers and beer, something Santi mentions with something akin to wonder, because, so he asks, how do you eat like that and look like Dean.  The upstairs hallway is varnished wood, off-white wallpaper with faded flowers, the stairs worn down in the middle. The door to Dean’s room is always closed. The doorframe to Castiel’s study, formerly Sam’s bedroom, has pencil and sharpie marks, alternating between Sam’s and Dean’s names, documenting the year and their height until it’s only Sam’s, continuing on. The markings end in the year 2000, with Sam’s name and 6’4’’ in blue pen and a sticker of a moose next to it.  By all accounts, Castiel thinks, it should be a comfortable house, lived in, but it strikes him as oddly functional instead, a space used more as a hideout than an actual home. From what Sam has told him, Castiel wonders why Dean has never moved. 

DCBB 2024 Posting Schedule

[auxiliarydetective]

Straw Hat Fun Facts - Evie's OCs Edition

A while ago, I posted these character bulding questions on my resources blog. And now, in the light of my lingering obsession with One Piece, my growing number of OCs for the fandom AND my recent milestone, I've decided that now is as good a time as any to finally answer them for my own OCs! Not all of them are, in fact, Straw Hats, but I'll still answer the questions for them because I can.

Featured are Aurelia, Cora, Inari, Lily, Luna and Lux AND the two still undeveloped ones, for now code-named Betta Fish and Flying Squirrel because... well, that's what they're based on.

Have fun!

Note: I wrote this post over a week ago, told myself I'd proofread it and never did... And then I proofread it last night at about 11pm, so... Yeah, you'll find no braincells here, just pure vibes and the braincells that were already there a week ago. That being said, I'm particularly proud of the "As a Family" section

Animal Resemblances

Aurelia: Peacock

Cora: Mouse

Inari: Red fox

Lily: Fennec fox (obviously)

Luna: Swan

Lux: Lynx (once again, obviously)

Betta Fish: Well.... a betta fish! Also known as Siamese flying fish!

Flying Squirrel: I actually get to say some more here, it's specifically a Japanese giant flying squirrel.

Specific Numbers

Aurelia: 107 (do-na)

Cora: 6/5 (sixth Straw Hat to join if you count Luffy, fifth if you don't, i.e. fifth recruited), 96 (ko-ra), 25510 (a-ka-i-to), 19 (ichi-ku)

Inari: 8/7 (eighth Straw Hat to join, seventh recruited), 176/576 (i-na-ri), 53 (ka-mi)

Lily: 5/4 (fifth Straw Hat to join, fourth recruited), 66 (ri-ri -> Lily)

Luna: 8/7 (eighth Straw Hat to join, seventh recruited)

Lux: 106 (ji-rou), 693 (ru-kku-su -> Lux) 080 (ou-ya-ma; short for ouyamaneko = lynx)

Betta Fish: to be determined

Flying Squirrel: 6331 (mu-sa-sa-bi = Japanese giant flying squirrel)

Specific Colors

Aurelia: black, gold

Cora: a very dark fuchsia/dark red

Inari: pastel orange/pink mixture

Lily: pastel purple/pink mixture

Luna: (soft) icy blue

Lux: beige, white

Betta Fish: Cobalt blue, rainbow

Flying Squirrel: Dark cyan/blue

Specific Smells

Aurelia: violets, a hint of sandalwood, expensive perfume

Cora: cherries, cinnamon

Inari: strawberries, birthday cake

Lily: sea salt (the smell gets caught in her fur), water lilies, usually a hint of cigarette smoke because she's been around Sanji for a while

Luna: almond milk and honey

Lux: cheap cologne; grease or oil if he hasn't showered since last working on the Tang

Betta Fish: salt water, lavender

Flying Squirrel: Incense, wax, fireworks

Favourite Type of Island and Season

Aurelia: Previously spring on a summer island, now spring on an autumn island

Cora: Spring on a spring island

Inari: Any season on Totto Land; summer on a spring island

Lily: Summer on a spring island

Luna: Winter on a spring island

Lux: Winter on a winter island

Betta fish: Autumn on any island with a forest

Flying Squirrel: only knows Wano seasons

Favourite Food

Aurelia: Spaghetti carbonara, most likely

Cora: Honestly? Fish and chips. I don't know why. But not the cheap kind. High-end fish and chips, freshly made by Sanji. Fish that is fresh out of the sea, with a crispy crust, and the chips aren't your typical burger fries but more like fried potatoes. I feel like she'd also enjoy sweet potato fries

Inari: Inarizushi, which is a pouch of fried tofu filled with sushi rice. She loves it because it has the same name as her and because it has little fox ears. Sanji usually decorates it with a fox face to match

Lily: Omelette. Why? Because fennec foxes love eggs. Generally, preparing her an egg is good enough, whether you cook it or fry it, she loves eggs, but she especially adores omelettes because they look cool and because of the way Sanji makes them

Luna: Yoghurt, preferably with honey. She also loves elderberries, or yoghurt with elderberry jam

Lux: I feel like he'd like turkey hen? Generally, some sort of poultry. Also chicken (which is a poultry, I know)

Betta fish: Oysters, seaweed

Flying Squirrel: Daifuku (the food, not the character), udon

Least Favourite Food

Aurelia: Chips as in crisps, specifically she doesn't like salted ones. ESPECIALLY not salt and vinegar ones

Cora: I feel like she's not a fan of bitter foods in general and she hates it when food gets burned and she has to eat that charred black stuff. Luckily, that doesn't happen to Sanji. For somewhat obvious reasons, I feel like she also doesn't like oregano

Inari: Funnily enough, she doesn't like fried tofu. Her favourite food is inarizushi but she doesn't like fried tofu. That's because it takes the correct tofu, the proper frying technique and enough rice for her to like inarizushi. She doesn't like the taste of just fried tofu on its own

Lily: I'd say she doesn't like dried, salted fish. It's a common preserve on sea travels and she probably had to eat it a few too many times. Poor girl. She may also be slightly allergic against high amounts of salt

Luna: I don't know. Honestly, she might not be a fan of alcohol? Or at least drinks where you can taste the alcohol, so anything spiked probably isn't for her. There's this dish called Herrencreme in Germany - she wouldn't like it

Lux: Lux isn't exactly a picky eater, but I feel like he has a personal vendetta against cooked meat, especially if it's overcooked

Betta fish: Easy, mermaids don't eat meat and they don't eat fish. A certain group of people tricked her into eating fish at some point and, when she learned what she ate, she immediately had to throw up and felt bad about it for years after

Flying squirrel: I feel like she wouldn't like typical American™ fast food. Too greasy and weird

As a Family

Aurelia is normally the mother but, in the case of the Straw Hats, she might as well be the rich aunt

Cora has middle child vibes (says I, the person with no siblings). She's younger than Nami, vibes-wise. Then again, she's Sanji and Zoro's boyfriend, so... She's the girlfriend that's already part of the family

Inari: The youngest daughter, but only because her and Lily don't exist in the same universe. Technically, she'd be a cousin though? Or a half-sister? Yeah, she's a half-sister!

Lily: Well, you got me there. Youngest daughter, but she's also Sanji's daughter, which would mess up all the generations, so let's say she's the baby daughter that Sanji mainly takes care of

Luna: She's the oldest sister, or, because she's Sanji's girlfriend, she's the girlfriend who the parents like more than their actual child because she's so responsible

Lux: Technically not a Straw Hat, so let's say he's either a cousin or the kid living next door who's always playing soccer with the Straw Hat kids and comes over so often that he practically already lives with them

Betta fish: I can't give too much away without spoilers, but she's the other mother. She's the dad's girlfriend. We're doing a patchwork family here, people. Two moms, two dads.

Flying Squirrel: Neighbour kid who helped the Straw Hats get their ball out of a tree that one time and now they love her. Her and dad no. 1 bond over woodworking

Real-World Nationalities

Aurelia is Mexican, no doubt about it

Cora is English

See, this is where "nationality" becomes the deciding factor because, nationality-wise, Inari is English. As for her heritage, she's probably not just white. I see her as being part Japanese

Lily doesn't really have a nationality because she grew up on a ship, but she eventually moved in with Kaya, who is English

Lux, I'd say, is Russian

Betta fish lady is Thai, because betta fish are also known as Siamese fighting fish and Siam is the historical name of Thailand

Flying Squirrel person is Japanese and of Chinese and Japanese descent

Inner Brain

Aurelia: It depends! Her inner brain is either fully on danger mode or fawning over Mihawk 24/7

Cora: Mostly sewing-related. The other half belongs to her boys <3

Inari: Sweets and chaos.

Lily: There's no way to pin it down. Her mind is 100% childlike whimy and chaos

Lux: Is Zoro around? If so, he's 100% in love. Otherwise, he's honestly either about training or repairing the Tang - or a no thoughts head empty sort of person. He loves his naps

Betta fish lady I honestly don't know too much about yet. Further in the story, she's thinking about her partners for sure (and trying to babysit the Straw Hats, probably), but before that...? I dunno. Let's say she's thinking about tea.

Flying squirrel person is thinking about archery, revenge, stealing, honor and the occasional woodworking project

Suited Flower

Aurelia: Aster flower

Cora: Somehow, I'd say it's a poppy. Because poppies make you fall asleep, which is something that Cora is notoriously bad at lol - and it's red!

Inari: Snapdragon

Lily: Water lily

Lux: Zinnia

Betta fish lady: Hyacinth

Flying squirrel person: Hydrangea

I think I'll leave it at these for now? Maybe you'll find some interesting fun facts here <3

Taglist: @starcrossedjedis @oneirataxia-girl @daughter-of-melpomene @bravelittleflower - let me know if you’d like to be added or removed!

[moonlightjudgement]

‼️DONT EAT THE MUGEN BURGER AT 3:00 AM GUYS‼️

‼️WORST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE‼️

he didnt want the mugen burger

[na-uvi-nuu]

Ta Niku'u Mayu/When Mother Got Sick

Mom tells me about the first time she came to the United States. "Ñuuyo titsi ra vatsi/I carried you in my womb and came," she begins. She remembers sitting at a Burger King in Nogales, Arizona to barely disguise having crossed, "That's what the coyotes told us." From there, she and Dad were picked up by strangers who took them to Santa Maria, California. Uncle Enrique and Tía Gisela had crossed with them, but both went to separate places. She remembers her early days working in the fields picking strawberries and tasting food she had never eaten, "It was very hard to work in the fields. I couldn't stand it. Nikuniyu ntanchiko/I wanted to go back. I didn't know anything about pizzas or burgers. I had to get used to that." She didn't know how to cross the streets because there are no traffic lights in her hometown. Her first time in an elevator and escalator was in the Santa María shopping center where the ups and downs were very scary. "Yu'u nchu'a/I was very afraid," she repeats as she tells her story. 

A few months after crossing she began to feel itching all over her body that out of fear and because she did not speak Spanish she did not mention her symptoms to the doctors during her delivery. "In yoo ta nikakú ra ntukuaan ntuchinuu/One month since you were born, my eyes turned yellow. Yu'u nchu'a ku'unyu nu to'o stata tsa ña ntsiniyu a kutunininayu/I was very afraid to go to the doctor because I didn't know if they would understand me. Kue ni tsituniniyu ña ka'anna ta nikakuku/I didn't understand what they were talking about when you were born," she tells me as a lump forms in my throat. Dad says something that makes the lump bigger, "Nikaan maku ña ku nkui/Your mom thought she was going to die. 'Kotova'a se'eko,' kacha/'Take care of our son,' she said. Ntsiníkue nchi ku saakue/We didn't know what we were going to do." Dad lost his sense of hearing on his left side as a child which made it difficult for him to learn and understand Spanish. Both attended elementary school in their respective hometowns, but because they had to work or help take care of their families' animals, they did not complete all their studies. In my ini, my inner being where we Na Ñuu Savi/People of the Place of Rain keep our thoughts and emotions, I feel anger and sadness when I think about the few resources my parents had when they arrived North from Oaxaca, Mexico where they felt that they had to leave to survive poverty. Since my childhood I have seen how migrants from the municipality of San Juan Mixtepec share with each other advice, suggestions, and resources to be able to overcome their difficulties due to the linguistic and cultural barriers they face outside their place of origin. 

That network gave them lodging and that's how they came to live with a cousin of Dad's. It was from that Indigenous migrant support network that Mom finally went to the doctor. Auntie, seeing Mom's eyes, said, "Yu'u nchu'a nchee ntuchinuuku/I'm so scared seeing your eyes. Kutsi nchi ntuu/Who knows what's wrong with you. Tsiniñuu ko'on nu doctor/We need to go to the doctor. ‘Comezon’ ku ña ‘kata’ ra na ntantuko nixika kacho takua na kuncheenayo/’Comezon/Itching’ is the same as ‘kata’ and let's see what else we can say so that they see you." They went to a clinic where – between Mom, Auntie, and a nurse who speaks Spanish – they managed to make the English-speaking doctor understand that they should do an ultrasound on Mom. "I just remember they said something was wrong with my liver. I needed to go to a hospital. They asked me if I knew anyone with a car to go immediately. The nurse who helped me communicate with the doctor took me to the hospital after telling me that we as women are the first caregivers of our children and that I needed to get better to take care of you. Ntsintuñá tsiu ncha ta nikee ra ntasiañáyu ve'e/She sat with you until I left the hospital and took me home," she tells me. They advised her not to breastfeed and prescribed medication to take for seven to eight months. 

"I can't believe you left me with a stranger," I say jokingly. Mom laughs and replies, "Well, yes. I had no other choice. Va'a nchu'a iniñá/Her inner being was very good. I never knew what happened to me. I didn't understand what the doctors said and I didn't ask any more, although it still happened to me when your siblings were born. What am I going to ask? What am I going to say? How am I going to respond? These were things that I was thinking about and I didn't say anything." She recalls the long road she has faced since arriving to the United States, "Now I can communicate. Now I'm used to farmwork. I treat it like a sport. I run, I lift, that's how I make my boxes." Mama's story is not unique and although it has been 30 years since she arrived in the United States with fear of not being understood, the situation in hospitals has improved, but there is still a lot of work to be done. How many other people have gone through and continue to go through the same or worse because of the lack of interpretation? Because of the fear of not receiving support in the language they understand best? How many have been able to count on  similar support that the nurse at the clinic gave Mom? Having worked in an organization that advocates for the linguistic rights of Indigenous communities (Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo) my hope is that institutions will seek out the leaders of these communities to come to understand us and our needs better so that one day we all receive the support that we deserve as human beings. 

[vanilachocolate]

Baru minum obat tepat jam 12 malem. Haha. Bener-bener kunci suksesnya kencan malam adalah, aku menunda minum obat.

Karena keputusan nunda minum obat itu akhirnya bisa malem mingguan. Berangkat dari abis magrib mentok sampe tengah malem. Senang sekaliii ...

Makan burger di got beef. Random aja milih di google maps dan ternyata enak. Walau kata mas ukurannya agak kecil dibanding burger di tempat X, tapi aku tetep kekenyangan. Jadi last bite burger (yg padahal itu adalah gigitan yg enak yaa terakhir tuh), aku kasih mas aja. Hehehe. Terus ada kentang gorengnya. Enak jugaa. Lemon teanya tuh agak asem diaku. Terus minta gula lagi hehehe. Asemnya berkurang, tapi after taste tehnya nempel beberapa saat di lidah. Tapi, lagi-lagi mas doyan modelan minum yg kaya begitu.

Abis makan, random aja minta photobox. Ke BIP aja karena deket. Minta photobox karena aku merasa sedang tjakep aja hehe, padahal lagi datang bulan. Tumbenan banget, biasanya kalau datang bulan berasa buluk mulu tapi kali ini berasa cakep.

Dari Got beef ke BIP ternyata deket. Tapi macet banget ya allah. Bandung bener-bener yaa kalau wiken🫠. Masuk BIP, terus nyuruh mas isyaan dulu biar enak aja. Abis mas sholat nyamperin photobox yg baru buka yg harganya start from 15k. Tapi karena rame, mas ngajak ketempat lain. Akhirnya mampir ke photomatic. Ngga jadi photobox tapi kita milih self photo studio. Bener-bener random hahaha. Tapi senang sama hasilnya. Photonya tuh kaya kita lagi selfie gitu. Ngga kaya difotoin di studio foto yg mana mukaku pasti aneh dan ngeflip. Tapi yang ini tuh nggaaak. Hoho. Senang aku sama hasilnya. Bahkan saking senangnya, ku random tanpa sadar joget-joget sambil duduk pas download foto.

Ya allah, cute banget bojo aku mukanyaaa ☺️���

Abis dari BIP tuh malah laper lagi hehehe. Yaa, kan burgernya dibakar sambil jalan-jalan ngelilingin BIP soalnya. Hohoho sungguh alasan. Niat awalnya mau jajan lagi ke lengkong. Tapi tidak jadi. Ku berubah pikiran. Karena :

"Aku tuh sukanya kalau motoran dari atas , pas turunan deket de Casa itu lho ... blablabla"

"Yaudah , mau motoran ke ledeng apa?"

"Boleh. Lengkongnya batal aja."

Tapi ya allah, itu keluar parkiran BIP aja tuh macet. Udab bayar parkir tetep macet lagii.

Pas udah sampe luar malah baru mengeluh kehausan. Terus mampir ke indomaret. Sayangnya itu indomaret kok geraaah. Kulkas 3 pintunya ngga dingin airnyaaa. Ah elaaaah.

Niatnya sampe Ledeng doang, tapi nyatanya malah baru turun setelah sampe Lembang. Benar-benar kelakuaaaan 😆

Terus karena laper, jadi yaudah mikir mau apa. Terus akhirnya memutuskan ke K3 mart yg di setiabudi. Woow, first time ke k3 mart. Dan akhirnya udah ngga penasaran.

Balik dari K3 mart udah jam 11an. Terus bukannya langsung pulang, tapi bablas dikit ke deket perumahan diatas deket rumah. Buat liat city light bentaran doang.

Hehe. Random malam minggu yang seruuuu. Terus to do list kita hari ini kekerjain semua juga. Senaaang.

[gerudospiriit]

People I'd like to know better!

Last song: He Is - Ghost

Favourite colour: Green! But I'm also fond of red, black, and purple

Last book: The last book I finished? Dracula by Bram Stoker (Or maybe it was Page by Tamora Pierce? I can't remember if I read that before or after I decided I wanted to read Dracula). I'm currently reading Squire by Tamora Pierce

Last movie: Uuuuh...Nosferatu, I think.

Last tv show: Bob's Burgers

Sweet/spicy/savoury: Spicy

Last thing I searched for online: Uh I think KU's basketball record.

Current obsession: Baldur's Gate 😂😂

Tagged by: Stole it from @backedagainstthewall

Tagging: u

[soelvfisk]

Bestilte mad. Tog en bid og knækkede mig i en skål i køkkenet fordi jeg ikke nåede længere. Havde håbet på skraldespand eller toilet. Første og sidste bid af en burger, med hvad der føltes som (og smagte af) en kæmpe goop af en snotklat i midten. At tygge i den og mærke at alt vikler sig ind i klatten. At lade maden ligge på tungen. Med goop klistret fast i ganen. Hvis ikke det er insant bræk-alarm, så ved jeg ikke. Klam som jeg er, rørte jeg ved goopen i skålen. Da jeg havde knækket mig. Fordi jeg ville vide hvad fuck det var. Fandt den nemt. Og det er så klamt, at jeg nærmest håber det er snot, for vil ik vide hvad det ellers ku være. Ad. AD. Sådan en ordentlig klar klat menneske-slim i min mad!? AD. Fear confirmed. Er det karma efter at have sagt fra overfor naboens kylling? Og ikke åbnet døren? Vil helst selv lave min mad eller have at min mad er én uigennemtrængelig ingrediens. Det var som meget fast rå æggehvide… men salt og ligesom mere ujævnt og elastisk. Ad. Ad ad ad.

[ffcrazy15]

Seems like AO3 is down, so if anyone's interested, here's my fanfiction.net account. Most of the stories are cross-posted from AO3 and updated as well (alas not Meet the Parents yet).

Fandoms:

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Ghosts (2021)

Kung Fu Panda

Ducktales (2017)

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Bob's Burgers

Inuyasha

Frozen

Discworld

Harry Potter

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

[asrisgratitudejournal]

Menulis (2?)

Ku lagi random banget di Cohen Quad sebetulnya lagi ada acara nonton bareng PPI Oxford menonton Jatuh Cinta Seperti di Film-film yang kata orang-orang bagus itu, tapi karena ku datengnya telat udah kehilangan plot awal, dan lagi gak pengen nonton juga (seharian udah nonton banyak banget), akhirnya ku memutuskan untuk ke depan PC dan ngetik ini.

Hari Sabtu! Yang sudah dikerjakan dan mau disyukuri: (karena balik lagi judul tumblr ini kan adalah Asri’s gratitude journal)

Berhasil tidur lumayan banyak(?) – nggak ngitung berapa durasi jam totalnya sih, tapi semalam akutu tidur cepet kayanya jam setengah 10 deh ketiduran karena saking kecapeannya seharian berdiri di lab dan kehujanan dan main pingpong sejam. Terus tapi kebangun jam 2 buat solat Isya terus gabisa tidur lagi sampai jam 5 HHHHHH. Tapi habis dari jam 5 baru kebangun lagi jam 9 sih buat prep kelas online jam 10…

Berhasil kelas pagi! Walaupun agak pusing kayanya kelasnya, tapi ku seneng banget dapat pertanyaan korelasi terus UDAH LAMA BANGET nggak ngerjain korelasi jadi ku sangat bacot tadi pasti. Habis itu bahas gelombang mayan pusing, tapi InsyaAllah bisa diterima.

Makan siang pakai Five Guys sisa semalam makan gak habis sambil lanjut nonton Jung-Pal. Terus tidur-tiduran aja di sofa nyelesein series Earth-nya BBC yang sama Chris Packham terus secara random nonton Equator (docu BBC tahun 2006) yang episode Indonesia, eh malah jadi NAKSIR BANGET SAMA SIMON REEVE??? Dulu di 2006 ganteng banget ni orang, tapi di 2024 ya masih ganteng cuma jadi daddy-daddy aja.

Mita nelpon, ngobrol sejam sama Mita bahas dia habis LARI 10K(???) padahal dia lagi hamil(!). Terus bahas betapa chaosnya si pelaksana Half Marathon event ini: mereka gak NYEDIAIN AMBULANS!!! Terus ku jadi mikir juga si EO events kaya gini di Indo tuh gaada SNI/ISO atau third party buat make sure standar mereka udah OK??? Kayak… mereka masa nggak bikin semacam risk assessment document gitu sih supaya dapat ijin pelaksanaan acara??? Ak aja yang bikin acara se-level MOSAIC gitu di Oxford, si council minta risk assessment! Atau ya kalau aku karena kerja di lab basah ya pasti harus ada risk assessmentnya tiap masuk lab baru. Terus dari situ jadi bahas bedanya healthcare system di Indo vs di UK/EU in general, bahas gimana kualitas air di Indo beda banget dengan di sini, cerita juga gimana pengalaman orang-orang bayi tabung dan kenapa rate keberhasilannya di sini lebih tinggi daripada di Indo (balik lagi ke kualitas air). Terus Mita ngantuk lalu kami udahan.

Dari situ aku sebetulnya dah bingung mau ngapain lagi ya. Awalnya mau keluar agak earlier karena cuaca cerah banget dan mau jajan ibu korea tapi berhubung masih ada burger mikir sayang juga kalau ngeluarin uang buat jajan. Terus tapi mikir “AH KU HARUS JALAN dan menikmati matahari mumpung ada!” aku pun jalan keluar. Awalnya mau ke Radcam buat NGETIK INI. Tapi melipir dulu ke Crosstown buat grabbing matcha latte dan ada Fay!! Berujung ngobrol ngalor ngidul juga sama Fay dan dia cabs duluan buat ke acara di Cohen Quad ini. Aku mengecek Radcam ternyata udah tutup, kata Angga tutup jam 18 buset cepet bener. Terus yaudahdeh jadinya ke sini sekarang.

Kemarin salah satu twitku juga habis viral (lagi). Itu berujung dari kebangun jam 3 buat solat Isya dan lanjut Subuh terus ya mikirin hidup aja gaksih. Kepikiran sesungguhnya dengan titel PhD Oxford yang akan kumiliki kurang dari setahun lagi ini aja, betulan the sky is the limit. Aku mau kerja apapun orang bakal mau hire, credibility aku jelas banget, terus kepikiran “YAKIN Non mau balik lagi ke UI dan being underappreciated??”. Makanya lahirlah tweet itu. Terus ditinggal tidur malah blow up dan VIRAL (emoji nangis). Paling aneh (dan paling males) kalo tweetnya udah nyampe ke antah berantah dan orang gak paham konteks tweetnya. Itu tuh betul-betul tweet ngatain kegoblokan diri sendiri, betul-betul tidak ada niatan buat menyindir siapapun SELAIN DIRI SAYA SENDIRI: I am my biggest hater aja gitu kannn. EH MALAH ada aja orang salah nangkep aneh banget. Tapi yaudah sepertinya itu memang resiko dari tweet yang relatable (dan (semoga) lucu).

Ada teman yang bilang “itu tuh mereka ngasih komen gak respectful gitu karena mereka gaktau lo siapa Non, makanya taroh dong itu semua credentials lo di bio biar mereka tahu mereka tu lagi ngomong sama siapa”. Credentials yang dimaksud di sini adalah: Oxford PhD student, dosen UI, geologist lulusan ITB, apa lagi, lulusan SMA8 Jakarta. Responku: “YAILAH, that defies the point of me being in the social media at all dong… kalau mau connect & interact sama Noni yang itu mah di Linkedin aja sekalian…” Aku tu suka banget socmed karena kita bisa jadi ANYONE despite everything, betul-betul bisa se-anonymous mungkin dan berinteraksi dengan banyak orang lain dengan anonimity itu.

Ku percaya kalau orangnya baik mah ya harusnya akan ngetreat orang lain dengan baik juga. Kenapa kita harus tau orang ini posisinya apa dan siapa untuk ngatur gimana cara kita ngomong ke orang lain ini? Kalau mau pake prinsip equality mah ya harusnya sama sopannya cara kita ngomong ke Presiden dan janitor… (WOW lihat idealis sekali wanita yang sedang hidup di negara dunia pertama ini).

Anyways, tapi iya… intinya diskriminasi dan treatment yang jadi berbeda ini kerasa banget kok, nggak perlu ke social media scene… Di kehidupan sehari-hari aja aku ngerasain saat ketemu orang pertama kali (terutama orang Indonesia ya), pas aku bilang aku “mahasiswa S3” aja vs saat kubilang later kalau aku “dosen di UI” juga. WHICH is weird. Really weird. Ku nggak yang berterima kasih atau gimana dengan status ini dan perbedaan sikap orang terhadapku karena pekerjaanku, tapi betulan yang “LAH emangnya kenapa kalau gw dosen atau bukan dosen dan kalau gw dosen di PTN bagus vs bukan di PTN???”. Hal ini terjadi juga di temanku seumuran yang udah jadi dokter spesialis btw. Treatment suster-suster ke dia di Rumah Sakit beda banget pas mereka belum tahu kalau temanku ini dokter spesialis vs sudah tahu.

Pernah aku lagi ke lapangan sebagai team leader (projek riset aku) di wilayah Citarum sama mahasiswa-mahasiswaku yang cowok semua (aku cewek sendiri), kami disamperin TNI. Terus tebak siapa orang pertama yang disamperin TNI ini buat nanya2? Mahasiswa-ku yang paling tinggi dan mukanya paling tua (HAHA). Terus aku baru intervensi bilang “OH saya dosennya, saya yang bertanggungjawab atas pengambilan data ini, ini surat ijinnya”. Si TNI-nya yang bingung gitu. Dia jelas-jelas nggak expect leader dari tim ini adalah ibu-ibu/mbak-mbak. Di menit itu juga statusku berubah dari “Cuma mbak-mbak (mungkin dia tukang nyatetnya di grup, karena cewek kan tugasnya menulis ye)” jadi “Dosen UI, ketua tim”. Cara Bapak TNI-nya ngomong juga langsung berubah ke aku. Betul-betul fenomena menarik.

Lah jadi ngebacot tentang ini di sini lol. Iya intinya mau bilang aja di Indonesia itu masih bergantung dengan “lu siapa” banget untuk bisa hidup nyaman. Ada salah satu reply yang bahas masalah “kenyamanan” juga di tweet viral kemarin. Aku bilang: “kalau kenyamanan ya jelas ke luar Indo dong”. Kenyamanan yang kumaksud di sini tentu saja melingkupi: akses pendidikan berkualitas yang terjangkau, fasilitas kesehatan, taman bermain untuk anak (dan untuk orang dewasa juga), alam, transportasi umum, TANPA MELIHAT kita ini kaya/miskin & koneksi kita siapa. Intinya ya kenyamanan untuk hidup sehari-hari aja.

Di Indonesia itu hidup baru “nyaman” kalau kita minimal masuk ke kelas ekonomi menengah (penghasilan kita di atas rata-rata, bagus kalau sampai 2x UMR) karena berarti kita bisa BAYAR untuk dapat akses ke pendidikan yang bagus, fasilitas kesehatan, dan hiburan (ke mall/nonton konser/ke luar kota/pulau/negeri untuk liburan sesekali). Dan uang banyak ini makin mantap kalau kita punya “jejaring” yang OK, kita “kenal” atau merupakan “kerabat” dari orang-orang tertentu yang merupakan key person/vital/Bahasa Indonesianya: “orang penting” yang bisa memberikan kita akses dan informasi yang OK. Koneksi ini bisa didapat dari mana? Tentu saja sekolah (alumni), pekerjaan, dan KELUARGA. Jadi… begitu ada orang yang pilih Indonesia untuk “KENYAMANAN”, sorry banget, tapi aku langsung “oh dia orang mampu”, lalu aku gak akan lanjutin argumennya, karena… ya hidup dia udah nyaman aja apparently di Indonesia. Orang-orang ini adalah orang-orang yang SAKING nyamannya dengan hidup mereka, mereka gaada rasa risih sedikitpun kayanya lihat uang pajak mereka dibuang-buang dan disalahgunakan.

JADI WORKED UP LAGI WKWKWK.

Yaudah tapi intinya gitu deh, banyak banget sebetulnya yang bisa dijadikan percakapan/latihan mikir dari tweet viral kemarin. Seru. Aku suka banget sesekali buat ngalamin viral gini, jadi belajar BANYAK BUANGET. Dari tipe-tipe orang, tipe komunikasi, cara orang mikir…

Dah itu dulu aja, kututup curhatan hari ini karena kayanya filemnya udah mau habis dan aku pegel juga rupanya ngetik sambil berdiri (karena layarnya tinggi banget).

Sekian. Selamat berakhir pekan teman-teman!

Cohen Quad 20:57 04/05/2024

[arintyas]

Bapak Ibu Adek.. dan segala kerinduan masa lalu.

Sepertinya belakangan saya sedang terperangkap masa lalu.

Masa lalu keadaan dirumah.

Dulu bangun pagi jam 5-5.30 untuk sholat subuh lanjut nonton TV (tidak tidur lagi) dan menunggu sarapan buatan ibu. Bapak menyemir sepatu setiap hari dan memanasi motor. Kadang setelah sholat aku lihat bapak olahraga tipis2 sambil nemani ibu di dapur, ya push up kadang sit up. Adek? Sama lah kita nonton kartun.

Sarapan jadi, kami makan sambil nonton dora, blues clues, dan kalo sudah mulai spongebob aku kadang nonton 1 sesi lanjut berangkat sekolah. Kalau sudah mulai chalkzone berarti aku terlambat

Segampang itu, aku jarang melihat jam. Karena patokanku acara tv.

Ke sekolah naik angkutan umum 15-20 menit

Pas 6.50 aku sampai sekolah

10 menit menunggu dan bersiap lalu mulai deh kelas

Jam9 istirahat ke kantin kadang beli popice kadang nasi bungkus atau sekedar keripik. Kalau mau siomay atau bakso harus kedepan, karena kantin ga sediakan siomay dan bakso.

Habis istirahat masuk lagi pelajaran. Kadang ngantuk, bosan ijin ke belakang agak lama karena sekalian jalan-jalan. Cari toilet yang jauh untuk menghilangkan kantuk.

Istirahat kedua biasanya ke perpus ditutup beli esteh.

Masuk lagi jam ke 3 ga lama pulang.

Pulang sekolah ramai, biasanya aku memilih angkot yang belakangan agar satu angkot cuma berdua sama yuni temanku.

Sampai rumah kadang tidur siang kadang nonton tv, baca buku atau main hp.

Ibu pulang, adek pulang. Rame ni rumah. Bapak pulang paling sore

Sore berangkat les. Ketemu temen2 yang beda dari temen di kelas. Asyik karena les menurutku adalah main (pantes aku les banyak tapi ga pinter-pinter wkwkw)

Pulang les masih jam5 bantu ibu dikit sapu halaman depan/nyuci piring sambil dengerin walkman berkaset big burger atau so7/merapikan cucian dari jemuran.

Malam selepas maghrib, lihat bapak baca koran/nonton tv/nunggu isya dari maghrib dengan wudhu yang ga putus. Adek? Adek paling mainan/nonton tv. Agak lupa aku. Ibu menyiapkan makan di belakang/sholat maghrib isya bareng bapak.

Mungkin bapak yang paling ku ingat. Karena aku merindukan bapak.

Rutinitas itu dilakukan berulang-ulang sampai menunggu waktu dewasa dan bersiap menggapai kemerdekaan mandiri setelah keluar rumah untuk pengembaraan kehidupan masing-masing.

Kurang lebih 18 tahun rutinitas pagiku yang dulu kuanggap gitu gitu aja ternyata sekarang sangat kurindukan. 18 tahun kami bersama. Sampai entah kapan tepatnya tanggal berapa, hari terakhir sebelum aku merantau akhirnya ada sedikit berubah. Suasana pagiku dan harianku berubah saat ngekos sendiri. Manage waktu sendiri, cari sarapan sendiri, mau ngapin juga ditentukan diri sendiri. Entah kapan terakhir aku merasakan pagi nonton kartun dirumah sambil nunggu sarapan dari ibu dan melihat bapak manasi motor.

Sekarang sudah besar, bahasa jawanya wis omah omah dewe. Kebersamaan itu kadang aku rindukan.

Adek dengan cita-citanya.

Ibu dengan masa pensiunnya.

Dan bapak? Entah doaku membantu bapak atau tidak. Semoga ya pak…

Ternyata kebersamaan yang tidak bisa kembali atau bahkan terulang (dengan orang yang sama)

Lambat laun semakin dewasa aku menyadari, betapa waktu tidak pernah bisa dijeda.

Aku merindukan bapaku, ibuku dan adekku tapi aku juga tidak bisa meninggalkan suami dan anakku. Mengajak mereka untuk hidup bersamapun akan berbeda rasanya menurutku.

Jadi sebuah pelajaran yang berarti, aku tidak akan menyiakan waktu kerbersamaan dengan orang-orang yang kusayang mulai saat ini. Akan kuniknati segala rasa yang ada. Bismillah.

[putrikaguya]

Seminggu ini luar biasa diajarkan bahwa SEHAT ITU MAHAL. Berawal dari malam minggu seminggu lalu merasa idung dan mata gatel terus, kirain alergi kumat jadi beli obat alergi pas lagi jaga. Hari Minggu nya terasa kok tenggorokan gatel ya, udah mulai ga nafsu makan, aku ngide beli burger dan kentang goreng. Abis makan kentang goreng ya makin gatel, coba deh makan bakso afung tapi selera makanku sudah kandas.

Senin nya mulai lebih baik, tapi pas suami pulang kerja dia bilang demam. Jengjeng apalagi ini.. Selasa pagi kita ke dokter umum dan suami dsuruh cek widal dan lab klo demam udah lebih dr 2 hari. Karna ku pikir baru semalam demam, jadi mau liat nanti malam demam ga eh ternyata masih demam. Rabu pagi kita ke Prodia dan hasilnya jam 4 sore test widalnya menunjukkan parathypoid. Akhirnya suami dikasi AB dan rabu malamnya langsung mandi keringet dan perlahan turun demamnya.

Kamis pagi suami kerja dan aku juga kerja, aku merasa udah sehat banget bahkan jumat pagi aku dadakan operasi gigi bungsu sendiri tanpa perawat karna kebetulan pasiennya tetangga dan dia mau pergi ke bandara. Abis operasi gigi pasien, aku merasa tenagaku berkurang, tapi masi bisa praktek sampai sore. Sabtunya aku drop lagi, baru kali itu kepala kiri sakit banget ga mau makan apapun tapi cuma ingin muntah. Ku tahan tahan akhirnya ga kuat yaudah muntah isi air karna belum ada masuk makanan.

Hari ini cuma bisa bersyukur bisa lewati seminggu berat kemarin. Bahkan saking beratnya doaku yang biasanya minta diampuni dosa dan dijauhi dari pintu neraka otomatis berubah minta diangkat penyakitnya aja udah, gada mikirin akherat lagi hikss.

Buat yang sehat pliss jaga kesehatan yaa, ga enak banget sakit, mau makan ga bisa, istirahat juga ga bisa. Aku bersyukur juga masih punya ibu yang masih bisa bantu buatin jahe kunyit anget beberapa kali karna setiap minum itu aku merasa lebih baik (selain minum obat dr dokter juga yaa)

Yaa intinya gitu sehat itu mahal titik.

[kurthorton-moving]

okay, it’s father’s day in the states so here’s a Big Post about kurt and his father. very much bullet points because it is 2am and i have a Lot of thoughts but they’re not very coherent. tws for all kinds of abuse, a little bit of mentions of homophobia and eating disorders but not super in depth.

kurt exclusively calls his father by formal terms. to his face it is always ALWAYS “sir” it is never ever “dad”. when talking to other people it’s “my father” it’s never ever “my dad”. the relationship does not have the familial bond that it should, there isn’t the closeness that is needed to call him dad. kurt tries to get close to him, but it’s never enough. “dad” was ignored from a young age, always with claims that kurt needed to be more “respectful” of his elders. so his parents are sir and ma’am to their faces, though his mother gets the benefit of being called “mom” to other people. this is entirely for the benefit of the relationship appearing better than it is, “mom” is encouraged because that relationship is more volatile than the one with his father and thus they need to put some padding on the way he speaks about her to ensure nothing bad comes out.

the name conrad is a. difficult point for kurt. it’s his legal name, it’s what he’s called in gymnastics competitions, it’s the name his parents use. in formal situations it’s the only name allowed, he’ll be in trouble for calling himself kurt at the wrong kind of event for that. his parents haven’t called him that in years, if ever. they may have indulged it as a kid once or twice, but especially once he became a teenager it was Heavily Discouraged because it was just seen as a form of teenage rebellion that could not stand. it was him stepping away from the very detailed exact path in life that his parents had carved for him and they would not allow that. he Hates being called conrad and has ended up in physical fights with people over it, which of course only gets him in more trouble because a kid like him shouldn’t be publicly getting into fights and be covered in bruises, though it’s also used as a way to cover the abuse inflicted on him. it’s a useful tool for his parents and yet he’s chastised for it. they have a very contradictory view on him getting into fights.

kurt’s father does encourage his fighting, though. he always tells kurt he needs to toughen up, that he’s not manly enough, that he has to prove dominance somehow — especially if/when shadysiders are involved. a large part of kurt’s relationship with his father is this constant battle of living up to the name he was given. he shares his father’s name, meaning that everything he does is compared to his father tenfold. his father was an olympian, so he has to be one too. his father won a certain amount of competitions, if kurt can’t do that then he’s failed the name and he’s a disappointment and he’s punished “appropriately”.

that said, there’s also the very intense aspect of jealousy that conrad senior feels towards kurt. mr horton was wiped out after an injury, leaving him unable to do gymnastics anymore and forced to live vicariously through his son. he is constantly pushing kurt to live up to his legacy, but the second that kurt goes even slightly beyond what his father did there’s hell to pay. if kurt is better than his father he has to pay for it, even though he knows that that’s what he is expected to do. he does as he is told and he is punished for it. this is the curse that kurt is fated to for his entire life.

kurt’s father control’s kurts diet far more than his mother does. they both enforce it, but kurt’s father is the one in charge. not that the diet ever changes, it’s always the same bland rice and chicken and vegetable type of shit. bland as hell and barely enough to keep kurt going. protein powders and drinks throughout the day. there’s all kinds of hell to pay if kurt’s father finds out he had a burger or some kind of treat.

conrad senior is capable of being loud. he doesn’t yell as much as kurt’s mom does, but when he does it rattles the house. it can be heard down the street. when conrad senior is mad the entire world knows. it hits kurt far harder than his mother yelling does, though both absolutely ruin him. similarly, conrad isn’t as violent towards kurt as his mother is, but when he is it’s far more painful. they have very different kinds of violence, both overlapping in the simplest of forms but having their own distinct styles. melissa will often try to conceal what is done, will do things that won’t leave a mark or where the mark isn’t easily seen/is easily hidden, whereas once conrad has turned to violence it no longer matters whether or not people find out. it’s not his problem to deal with, and the burden of a cover story is dropped onto kurt — a child who is hurt and terrified and in no way capable of coming up with a good lie. where i tend to default to kurt’s mom being the perpetrator of violence, his father is just as capable and a thousand times more scary. he’s got the benefit of size, much taller than kurt and built like a brick wall. he’s like those pixar dads that just have huge upper bodies. he’s Scary. when conrad senior is the one committing violence, especially when there is rage behind it, these are the times that kurt ends up barely making it out, desperately needing medical attention that he won’t get unless he really has to. kurt’s mom taught kurt how to patch himself up, but kurt’s dad is the one who makes sure kurt never forgets.

conrad is. he doesn’t care as much about if people see what he does. where kurt’s mom is subtle where possible, conrad will punch kurt in front of an audience without much care. he’s powerful, both physically and socially, and he knows that it’s highly highly unlikely anyone willl stand up to him. plus, he has a strong relationship with the cops/lawyers and the goode’s (or he thinks he does, nick absolutely despises him and wants him dead but he doesnt know or care about that) and he thinks hes pretty much invincible. in the threads where kurt actually takes action against his family, conrad is left confused and astounded at every turn when legal action is actually taken against him.

kurt’s father is very. he has a very toxic masculinity approach to the world and its. he takes it out on kurt a Lot. kurts mother imparts the need to look perfect and appear perfect at all times, but his father is constantly belittling him and abusing him for being “too feminine” or putting too much work into his appearance and things like that. his father encompasses a lot of the absolute worst parts of frat hazing horror stories. hes constantly trying to harm and humiliate his son, especially when kurt starts to gain a success that’s more impressive and impactful than his own had been.

while kurt’s mother is undoubtedly terrible when kurt dates boys, it’s his father that is by far the worst about it. especially in his canon timeline where it’s the 70s, but in modern day as well. he’s just not at all accepting of kurt and firmly holds the belief that kurt being with a boy would be bad for his image. he would be absolutely horrified to find out the ins and outs of kurts sex life (absolute bottom, biggest sub you’ve ever seen) and i have no doubts he’d be just as awful if he found out kurt’s girlfriends pegged him because he’s just. he’s homophobic as shit he’s awful. very much one of those men that’s all “i cant be affectionate towards my son because that’s a boy and thats gay”

[na-uvi-nuu]

Ta Niku'u Mayu/Cuando Mama se Enfermo

Mamá me cuenta sobre la primera vez que llego a los Estados Unidos. “Ñuuyo titsi ra vatsi/Te cargué en mi vientre y vine,” empieza. Se acuerda haberse sentado en un Burger King en Nogales, Arizona para disimular apenas haber cruzado, “Así nos dijeron los coyotes.” Desde ahí la recogieron a ella y a Papá unos desconocidos que los llevaron a Santa María, California. Tío Enrique y Tía Gisela habían cruzado con ellos, pero ambos se dirigieron por lugares separados. Recuerda sus primeros días trabajando en el campo piscando fresas y probando comida que nunca había comido, “Era muy duro el trabajo en el campo. No aguantaba. Nikuniyu ntanchiko/Me quería regresar. No sabía nada sobre pizzas o hamburguesas. Me tuve que acostumbrar a eso.” Ella no sabía como cruzar las calles porque en su pueblo no hay semáforos. Su primera vez en un elevador y escalador fue en el centro comercial de Santa María donde las subidas y bajadas le daban mucho miedo. “Yu’u nchu’a/Tenia mucho miedo,” repite según al contar su historia. 

A pocos meses de haber cruzado empezó a sentir comezón en todo su cuerpo que por miedo y por no hablar español no menciono sus síntomas a los doctores durante su parto. “In yoo ta nikakú ra ntukuaan ntuchinuu/Un mes desde que naciste se me amarillaron los ojos. Yu’u nchu’a ku’unyu nu to’o stata tsa ña ntsiniyu a kutunininayu/Tenia mucho miedo ir al doctor porque no sabía si me comprenderían. Kue ni tsituniniyu ña ka’anna ta nikakuku/No entendía lo que hablaban cuando naciste,” me dice mientras un nudo se me forma en mi garganta. Papá dice algo que hace que el nudo se agrande, “Nikaan maku ña ku nkui/Tu mama pensó que se iba morir. ‘Kotova’a se’eko,’ kachá/’Cuida a nuestro hijo,’ dijo ella. Ntsiníkue nchi ku saakue/No sabíamos que íbamos hacer.” Papá perdió el sentido de oír en el lado izquierdo cuando era niño que le hizo difícil aprender y comprender español. Ambos asistieron a la primaria en sus respectivos pueblos, pero por tener que trabajar o ayudar a cuidar los animales de sus familias no completaron todos sus estudios. En mi ini, mi ser interno donde nosotros los Na Ñuu Savi/Gente del Lugar de la Lluvia guardamos nuestros pensamientos y emociones siento enojo y tristeza al pensar sobre los pocos recursos que mis padres tuvieron al llegar al Norte desde Oaxaca, México donde sintieron que se tenían que ir para sobrevivir la pobreza. Desde mi niñez he visto como los migrantes del municipio de San Juan Mixtepec comparten entre ellos consejos, sugerencias y recursos para poder salir de sus dificultades por la barrera lingüística y cultural que enfrentan fuera de su lugar de origen. 

Esa red les dio hospedaje y fue así como llegaron a vivir con una prima de Papá. Desde esa red de apoyo Indigena migrante fue que Mamá finalmente fue al doctor. La Tía al ver los ojos de Mamá dijo, “Yu’u nchu’a nchee ntuchinuuku/Me da mucho miedo ver tus ojos. Kutsi nchi ntuu/Quien sabe que te pasa. Tsiniñuu ko’on nu doctor/Necesitamos que ir al doctor. ‘Comezón’ ku ña ‘kata’ ra na ntantuko nixika kacho takua na kuncheenayo/’Comezón’ es lo mismo que ‘kata’ y vamos a ver que más podemos decir para que te vean.” Fueron a una clínica donde entre Mamá, Tía y una enfermera que habla español lograron hacerle entender al doctor que habla inglés que le hicieran un ultrasonido a Mamá. “Solo me acuerdo de que dijeron que algo mal estaba pasando con mi hígado. Necesitaba ir a un hospital. Me preguntaron si conocía a alguien con carro para ir inmediatamente. La enfermera que me ayudo comunicar con el doctor me llevo al hospital después de decirme que nosotros como mujeres somos los principiantes cuidadores de nuestros hijos y que necesitaba que mejorarme para cuidarte a ti. Ntsintu ñá tsiu ncha ta nikee ra ntasiañáyu ve’e/Ella se sentó contigo hasta que salí del hospital y me llevo a casa,” me dice. Le recomendaron que no amamantara y le recetaron medicinas para tomar por siete a ocho meses. 

“No puedo creer que me dejaste con una extraña,” le digo en broma. Mamá ríe y contesta, “Pues sí. No tenía de otra. Va’a nchu’a iniñá/El ser interno de ella fue muy bueno. Nunca supe que fue lo que me paso. No entendí lo que dijeron los doctores y no pregunte más, aunque me siguió pasando cuando nacieron tus hermanos. ¿Qué voy a preguntar? ¿Qué voy a decir? ¿Como voy a responder? Fueron cosas que yo estaba pensando y pues no dije nada.” Ella recuerda el largo camino que ha enfrentado desde que llego a los Estados Unidos, “Ahora puedo comunicar. Ahora estoy acostumbrada al campo. Lo trato como un deporte. Corro, levanto, así hago mis cajas.” La historia de Mama no es única y aunque han pasado 30 años desde que llego a los Estados Unidos con miedo a no ser entendida la situación en los hospitales ha mejorado, pero todavía hay mucho trabajo que hacer. ¿Cuántas otras personas han pasado y siguen pasando lo mismo o peor por la falta de interpretación? ¿Por el miedo de no recibir apoyo en el idioma que entienden mejor? ¿Cuántos han podido contar con el apoyo similar que la enfermera en la clínica le dio a Mamá? Después de haber trabajado en una organización que aboga por los derechos lingüísticos de comunidades Indigenas (Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo) mi esperanza está en que las instituciones busquen a los lideres de estas comunidades para llegar a entendernos y nuestras necesidades mejor para que algún dia todos recibamos el apoyo que como seres humanos merecemos. 

[peachmuses]

@sociieties asked: [ handful ] sender peppers the receiver's cheek with multiple, playful kisses // kikuro

kise is like a puppy, kagami explains to him, one night over shakes and burgers, after kagami had learned that he and the other were dating. tetsuya snorts over his milkshake -- he knows ryota better than kagami; knows that his boyfriend, has an inferiority complex just as much as he has an superiority complex; knows that his boyfriend is multi-faceted / explains so to kagami without telling him too much about ryota. his boyfriends business is his boyfriends business to defend / and tetsuya doesn't have to defend himself. he likes ryota. end all / be all, so he's going to date him. they're on the couch, and ryota is pressing kisses against his cheeks. it starts out simple enough; a push, and a shove; tetsuya pressing hot hands against the other's sides in retaliation, and ryota using his height to shift the two of them so tetsuya's back hits the arm and kise ducks his head to start pressing kisses against cheeks and kuroko tries not to laugh - or wiggle - and fails at both. ( he thinks briefly, about a long forgotten conversation about dogs and kise, before it's out of his mind against when hair tickles face. ) tetsuya tries not to laugh - except within the first three kisses, lips are breaking to smile, and then softly he starts to laugh, as he tries to push boyfriend off of him ( and fails. ) " sto- stop, ryota-ku--sto-- " laughter though interrupts him as he tries to defend himself. ( and while, he does have the arm strength / and muscle strength / to where he could shove off ryota if he was truly offended, he doesn't truly mind. ) he shifts under boyfriend, blinking sky blue up at him, when the other pauses, and tetsuya grins, before he's pulling boyfriend's face down, and pulling a page out of kise's book, to press kisses against cheeks / nose / jawline / back to cheeks. payback, ryota.