It’s not everyday you get to meet the governor of your home state, less a chance to shake hands and share a few words. I was a nervous reck when I introduced myself, but she was very personable from the start and really made it feel like she was just ‘one of us’- a feeling that many of us in the room shared. I was able to make a connection with her right away because she was the governor of Michigan during my college years, and I remember very clearly many of the events she shares in her book. It’s pretty hard to imagine being governor of Michigan during one of its worst decades… and I only have the highest admiration for her and her family (especially after reading the book). Many of her key points to improving the U.S. economy seems to be right on as well. It’s easy for many economists and journalists, as observers, to make bold suggestions and predictions sine their words have no consequences. Having been through the trench and experiencing “the toughest job” according to President Obama, I can’t help but respect what she has to say.
Luckily, I was a less nervous talking to the Gov and Dan after the event, even cracking a joke while they signed several books for the Alumni Club that we had to start with the most important book, mine. We then took several pictures with the board, then some by myself. It felt like I was standing there for an hour, and I got really nervous again just standing between them for so long. I guess it showed in my face because one of my board members asked me to smile, so I replied, “I can’t because I’m super nervous right now.” They got a good kick out of that too. Best wishes to Gov Granholm and Dan, Go Blue!
12/11/2011: With the amazing Governor Granholm and her wonderful husband Dan Mulhern. Can you sense my uneasiness?
12/11/2011: Gov. Granholm kept on referring to me as Mr. President, and I would giggle every time.
I always thought it would be fun to have a little plot of land where I can grow various fruits & vegetables, maybe have a couple hens to lay me some breakfast eggs. I still think it would be fun, but I quickly learned today that farming is no joke. I volunteered with the Michigan Alumni at pie ranch, a community run farm down in Pescadero, CA. The majority of the work was pulling weeds from the raspberry farm, and cleaning up the strawberry farm in order to prepare the land for a fresh batch next year. It was only about 3 hours of work, but it was hard back-pain inducing work. Now that I’m reminiscing, it had some fun parts, and I wouldn’t mind going back for some more weed pulling.
Although I grew up a Wings fan all my life, especially during my elementary and middle school days when I lived in Michigan, I never got a chance to watch the Wings play live at Joe Louis Arena. It was tougher to buy tickets back then because sites like stubhub and craigslist didn’t exists to coordinate a second market of buyers & sellers like today.
1. i did not know you were supposed to fundraise for the aids walk, i thought you just walked to show support.
i finally got to revisit the 
i’m back in ann arbor, again! this time for an alumni leadership conference, where i’ll get the in’s and out’s of the best practices at other alumni clubs around the US. my good friend hak picked me up from the airport, and first order of business was sleep. after i woke up though, second order was ajishin!
my third and last trip of april was back to ann arbor to watch the last group of kids i went to school with graduate, and also to visit old college and high school friends. i usually visit AA twice a year, once for graduation and once in the fall for a football game. however, i skipped the fall visit last year due to a dismal football season. that made it the longest time i’ve been away from michigan since high school when i was living in korea.
