Cooking Korean food
Last weekend my Mom came to visit and taught me how to cook 멸치 볶음 (myulchi bokkeum), which is anchovies lightly friend in sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar and a small bit of maple syrup. I’m getting more into cooking and hope my mom will teach me how to create more Korean dishes.
Digging out from the snowstorm
Washington DC is finally starting to dig out from back-to-back snowstorms – and I’m finally getting out and about again. Last night around 6:30 pm, after almost three full days cooped up inside, I just had to get out. I bundled up, called my friend Allison and told her I was walking over to her house. The first thing I saw when I walked outside was a man shoveling snow off his car by standing on his car (picture above).
Today I worked out of my office for the first time all week. I actually ran to work because 1) I figured it would be faster than the Metro, which is running trains few and far between and 2) I wanted to see what the city looks like. Washington DC looks beautiful! Like a white maze. In the afternoon I trekked to our roof to take a picture of the intersection of 16th St. and K St. (picture below). You can see the White House and the Washington Monument in the distance.
Women Photojournalists of Washington
My dear friend Abby at the Women Photojournalists of Washington exhibit opening at Honfleur Gallery in early November (I know – this post is way overdue!)
Miss Allison, photographer extraordinaire and super running buddy!
After the gallery opening, Jenna, Amanda and I took off to photograph as part of FOTOweek DC’s late-night photo contest. A few dozen Native Americans from across the United States set up teepees on the Mall to bring attention to their request for a Native American veterans day.
Crawling through the grass for a shot.
Amanda in “The Blair Witch Photo Project,” as Jenna said.
Warming up with jazz at Columbia Station in Adams Morgan.
Jenna’s happy with her late-night Jumbo Slice (which later fueled dancing at Madam’s Organ.)
Family history: Dad
Last month my parents cleaned out my grandpa’s house in Missouri and found a few sets of my Dad’s childhood clothing in perfect condition. What a dapper kid!
I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll still not be able to blow your (solar) house down
BeauSoleil, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s entry into the Solar Decathlon competition in Washington DC
Imagine a completely self-sufficient house strong enough to withstand another Hurricane Katrina. Students at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette did imagine it — and then built it with locally-available materials and solar technology. This year their house — named BeauSoleil, “sunshine” in Cajun French — is part of the Solar Decathlon competition in Washington DC, where it is on display with 19 other 100% solar-run homes built by university students from around the world.
According to a recent survey commissioned by the Solar Energy Industries Association, 92% of Americans think it’s important for the United States to develop solar technologies. About half are currently thinking of adding solar options to their homes or businesses. This means homes like the BeauSoleil potentially have a market in the U.S.
Gretchen Lacombe-Vanicor, the BeauSoleil team project manager, told a crowd waiting to tour the home that every student who helped design BeauSoleil felt a strong, personal attachment to the project: they’re all Louisiana natives and many experienced Katrina. Building a home that would still be standing after a Category 5 hurricane was of tantamount importance to them, she said. Also important? Using locally-available materials, such as cypress wood, running the home on solar power (39 solar panels, to be exact) and creating a home design that reflected Cajun culture’s emphasis on family, friends and food (gumbo, to be exact.)
I visited the BeauSoleil with a friend on Saturday, and while the building and design are beautiful, I wonder how feasible the house is as a mass-produced home. The BeauSoleil website says this home would cost between $120,00o to $150,000. That’s not bad but the house is small at under 800 square feet (per Solar Decathlon rules) and felt even smaller due to inefficient use of space. Despite several windows that faced south, the BeauSoleil was not bright. Even if a potential consumer were incredibly motivated to buy a 100% solar-powered home, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette team would likely have to make a few changes to the house for it to be marketable.
The BeauSoleil and other Solar Decathlon homes will be open for free tours again from Oct. 15-18.
Inside the BeauSoleil
People touring the BeauSoleil look up at the ceiling. My friend Bobbie DiPasquale is in the center of the picture.
Cajun welcome mat
Small flower and herb garden built into the BeauSoleil’s siding
The BeauSoleil reflected in a pool of plants indigenous to Louisiana
Note: A slightly different version of this post also appears on the Planet Forward-George Washington University blog page.
Dancing somewhere between Jingpohu and Yanji, China
Everyone jostled their way out of the bus and spread out in an empty dirt parking lot in the waning twilight. The bus driver cranked up a CD of dance music. I suddenly realized all the Yaemi Hanbok employees were going to dance. And this after a four-hour bus ride to Jingpohu (a national park in Heilongjiang province) that started at 4am and 10 hours spent walking and hiking and wandering and eating and playing. Even Yaemi Hanbok founder Ryu Sung-ok in her pink company t-shirt joined the dance. I thought this was some spontaneous exertion but Johanna found out the factory workers start their work day with 30 minutes of dancing whenever possible, led by the girl above wearing white. Although I’m sure something like this wouldn’t fly in the US, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Certainly, it was an interesting way to end a company picnic.
Vivi and Giovanni in National Airport
There I was, about to eat a fig bar before catching my flight to Boston at Reagan National Airport in DC, when a couple asked me to photograph them with their iPhone. Giovanni was heading to Miami. Maybe Vivi was going with him? I don’t remember. I do remember their lovely meeting story (I collect them, after all) but I won’t share it here because I don’t have permission. Vivi and Giovanni exuded happiness and playfulness and love and optimism. They were just so fun to photograph! I’m glad we crossed paths for a few minutes on Friday. Bonus realization from this impromptu shoot: National Airport is a fantastic location for engagement and wedding pictures.
