Today was my last day at the Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team, an organization that I'd been with for 15 years. A part of me doesn't believe that I'm going. It was a major part of who I am and provided me so much support in my creative endevours.Earlier this week, my colleagues through me a going away dinner. I wore a tux because I wanted to look my very best for the men and women who meant so much to me.
What's interesting is now that APAIT will become part of my past, it'll provide necessary distance for me to write about that time in my life.
Today, I took one last look at my surroundings, walked through the old rooms, the familiar hallway. I said my good-byes. There was a 21 year old Latino guy who cleans our offices. He speaks some English, but mostly Spanish. I had said hi and bye to him many times. As I left, I couldn't remember the Spanish word for good-bye. A co-worker had to remind me: adios. Ah yes, adios. Then I tried to remember how to say good bye in other languages. I know rudimentary French and Tagalog. My mind went blank. Good-bye can be a difficult word to remember. Hello is so much nicer.
I start a new job on Friday at MAKE ART/STOP AIDS at UCLA. Ola! Bonjour! Mabuhay!
11 comments:
WOO HOO!
Konnichiwa!
is Mabuhay! hello in tagalog ? I learnt a new word today ...
and yes, you do have an approachable face, which helps in the support groups I suppose.
Noel, Congratulations on your accomplishment and your future adventure. Hope this means you may teach some classes on campus and not always at Occidental. Bravo!
Very dapper! Good luck!
You know, Noel, I've always told you that it's important to know more Spanish words than just "blow me" and "stick it in there."
Peter, Jason, Kaliksamom, and Rich thanks for th shout outs!
Prince, you're obviously smoking crack again.
15 years! I can't imagine how you must feel... good luck in the new job. Sounds great.
That's very sweet of you to wear a tux for them. It's not easy to walk away from somewhere you've been so long, especially when you are walking away still liking them! Did you start last Friday or is it this Friday? Whenever it is/was, hope the first day was great.
After reading this, I had a dream about working at UCLA again. It was a good one. I'm so excited for you.
You never know, Sundry...dreams have a way about them.
ey, noel. kumusta? good luck with your new job. mabuhay ka, kaibigan! :)
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