Join the Club
Where’d you get that?
I’M FROM HERE T-SHIRT - ASIAN AMERICAN GIRL CLUB
I’m no stranger to the “Where are you from” question; I’ve been fielding it my whole life. Living in southern California and attending a specialized middle/high school where the majority of the student body was Asian, I’m lucky in that I’ve never really experienced overt racism. But I’ve certainly been made to feel out of place, or that acceptance was conditional and hinged upon my successful assimilation, especially when navigating majority-white spaces such as my ballet studio or my classes at USC.
I chanced upon this T-shirt from Asian American Girl Club at a craft fair, and on a whim, I bought it. Believe me, I have my qualms about woke corporatism and the reduction of social movements to screen-printed slogans, but this felt different from a “The Future is Female” shirt — more personal, maybe, more loaded with meaning and history. Besides, I liked the color and the embroidery, and part of the proceeds go towards Period Movement, a youth-run organization that provides and celebrates menstrual health through service, education, and advocacy. Also, no one has asked me where I’m from when I’m wearing this shirt — a small win, but I’ll take it!
I’m obsessed with:
UV SUPER MOISTURE MILK - SKIN AQUA
I’ve spent enough time on r/skincareaddiction to know that if you ever step outside without first slathering on ten pounds of sunscreen from head to toe, you will look like a shriveled onion by age 30. The problem was (and I know I wasn’t alone in this), I just couldn’t find a sunscreen that I liked. Most were too thick, or too greasy, or gave me a ghostly pale cast. Or they were overwhelmingly pina colada scented — I’m not trying to smell like I’m tanning in Miami when I’m just going to class. Eventually, deliverance arrived in the form of UV Super Moisture Milk, from the Japanese brand Skin Aqua. Really, the name says it all; it’s milky and lightweight and soaks right into the skin. It’s also very hydrating and has a pleasant yet barely-detectable scent. Rain or shine, this sunscreen is a permanent fixture in my skincare routine.
On my wish list:
YouTube recommended me a video of newborn kittens, all hapless and mewling and stumbling around blind, and before I knew it I was looking up adoption centers in Los Angeles. January is when shelters need the most support, as parents begin to grasp the shortsighted foolishness of gifting a high-maintenance pet to irresponsible children. Sadly my living situation doesn’t permit animals, but if yours does, please consider adopting, or even fostering! It’s a great deal of work, but even greater reward.