Grandmama Ba

In today's class discussion we loosely covered the role of women within some eastern religions. I thought it would be important to share my story and shed light on an interesting topic. In Theravada Buddhism, women have the opportunity to hold the title of "bhikkhuni," similar to a nun. They are very respected within the Buddhist community. These women shave their heads, dress in the traditional orange robes, do not own anything, and they live in monasteries. I grew up in a very Vietnamese household. Though I am mixed (Latina, Black, Native American, Scottish), my aunt (VERY Mexican and Black) married a Vietnamese immigrant around the time I was 2 years old. They lived with me and my ma until I was about 9. Our families became one and my new uncle James' mother became my babysitter while my mad worked. I called her Ba (like a sheep) it is Vietnamese for Grandmother. This woman knew a handful of English words but she managed to have the greatest impact on me. She was a buddhist nun and because they couldn't own property, her house was converted to a monastery. I actually lived there for a while and my everyday childhood life was surrounded by buddhist monks. I learned to pray and make spring rolls and ate hella banh bo. I must have looked ridiculous; this little brown girl referring to a Vietnamese monk as her grandmama and holding her hand while we walked around costco. She died of breast cancer when I was 10 but I learned so much from her. She didn't have any grandkids yet but she treated me like her own. As a child, I spoke very little Vietnamese but I was able to learn first hand about the principles of Buddhism and, even to this day, I still try to live my life based on the Buddhist teachings I learned from the dopest monk grandmama in the world. Learning about Buddhism in the textbook is rather interesting for me, as I am able to connect academia to some of my earliest childhood memories. When we were discussing the role of women in some Buddhist religions, I remembered my Grandmama Ba, but then I realized how little of a role women have in some other religions. What does the role of women mean in the bigger picture of religion? Just some thoughts.

Oil Prices down, But Gas Prices Are Scheduled to Skyrocket. China, that's why.

I...LIVE...IN..AMERICAAAAA

For the past few weeks, maybe even a month, I hear James Brown singing "Living in America" every time I fill up the tank on my Honda Civic for about $24. Yes, $24, this translates to about $50 bucks a month for my eco-friendly Honda compared to the 200 I was spending not that long ago. I think we have all been enjoying the low cost of gas and hoping that these prices are here to stay. I've seen a few articles expressing different viewpoints and explaining a loss of jobs or paycuts for folks who depend on the higher gas prices. Recently I found this article on my facebook, and though it is NOT referring to the price of oil, it is referring to the price of gas. The article I enclosed is about how the cost of a utility bill will increase at least $300.00 over the next couple years. I did the math. I have a three bedroom condo with VERY low utility usage. My PG&E bill is about $30 every month. Adding $300.00 annually translates to nearly doubling the cost (additional $25 each month; total $50).

In class we've began discussing Asian countries emerging as these powerhouses that could squish us if they so desired. This article explains how the cost of the gas we use to heat up our water and our homes will increase dramatically because China is willing to spend three and four times what we pay for it and our domestic market is shifting. "The bottom line is that gas prices are set to soar because the long-sheltered domestic market is being linked to global prices via exports." So, gas exports to Asia will drive up our prices. It's difficult for me to explain so I suggest reading the article at the bottom.

I found this interesting because it makes me wonder what this means on a greater scale? What else is going to be effected by this increase? What other domestic markets are going to be effected by global prices and exports? As we blindly and idealistically enjoy the low cost of oil, which may not even be here to stay, we have to acknowledge the cost of gas that will potentially skyrocket and the fact that China is making things a hell of a lot more competitive.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/local-gas-prices-set-to-soar-as-exports-to-asia-get-under-way-20150118-12rl6c.html