This is my column for the Collegian this week.
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Some of my Filipino friends back home have asked me about how clean Americans are inside the house. I could not answer straight to the point, because the term “clean” is relative: cleanliness in the Filipino perspective could be a far cry from the American viewpoint. If cleanliness is the absence of dirt or offensive odor, then based on the number of American homes I have been into since 2006, Americans do maintain a clean surrounding.

Franzine Cole “Zee” Salas is a joy in the family. She is the daughter of my older brother. From the moment she started talking, we knew she has gotten the singing genes of the Salas clan.

My mom used to tag along with her the title “songbird” of Argao (our town) because she managed to defend her championship title for 12 consecutive weeks in a singing competition during her teenage years. When she had us, her four children, mom made certain all of us could sing. No wonder we had our share of fame too — either from home-based singing contests or from out-of-town gigs.

It has been a while since the racial slur occurred. Yet the incident still continues to torment my days. There are times that I find myself staring blankly at the PC monitor and thinking about the racial discrimination I got because I ordered coffee mocha.

Forgetting is not easy since the incident happened in a place that I am starting to call home. The incident in New York, about two years ago, was easy to let go, since I only stayed there for a week and it is very unlikely that I’d be seeing the place again. But this one in Brookings may take months to heal.

I watched Sen. Ted Kennedy’s funeral service today live on CNN. Among all eulogies, it was Ted Kennedy Jr.’s eulogy that moved me. I’ve heard the best words that a son could say to a father!

Ted Kennedy Jr. made me teary-eyed! I posted the videos below, in two parts.

Edward Kennedy Funeral Mass – Ted Kennedy, Jr. (Part 1)

I was stabbed right into the heart!

When a racist strikes, it weakens you right at that moment of attack. You lose your guard and you think of right words to say. You don’t want to talk back in hopes that the racist will realize ‘her’ mistake, unring the bell and apologize. She never did!

Cottonwood Coffee is the best coffee shop in Brookings, South Dakota. No wonder I kept coming back after I tasted and loved a serving of its coffee and enjoyed its customer service. Not to mention, the owners are very friendly to their customers. If I have to list the best coffee shops I have been into so far, in all my travels, I will include Cottonwood in it. That is how I love the place and their coffee concoctions.

The McCrory Gardens in Brookings, South Dakota offers not just a vast space for group picnics (I saw a group of ladies comfortably squatting and eating on the greens today) but a variety of colors to see and behold. I visit the park every summer and every summer there is always something new introduced to the area. This year the garden layout has changed and more colorful flowers lined the sides.

Below are few pictures I took. Enjoy the colors of McCrory Gardens 2009!

Lots of photos after the jump.

I have a very beautiful niece. Her name is Leanna Erika. Isn’t she so adorable?

The South Dakota State University (SDSU) website has undergone a huge makeover. From the previous scary pictures that welcomes you on its homepage to a newer, much feel-good design now. I really love the look of the new site with the nice blending of the colors gold and blue. The site navigation has improved a lot as well. No more “where’s the f%$*@ng link?”

Did I mention that the SDSU site has a banner that talks? LOL.