14 years ago my husband came home one day and said honey we’re moving to
day and said honey we’re moving to
day and said honey we’re moving to Oshkosh now we had been living in Miami
Oshkosh now we had been living in Miami
Oshkosh now we had been living in Miami sunny tropical Miami for the past ten
sunny tropical Miami for the past ten
sunny tropical Miami for the past ten years where we were raising our two
years where we were raising our two
years where we were raising our two young sons my first reaction of course
young sons my first reaction of course
young sons my first reaction of course being the supportive spouse was that’s
being the supportive spouse was that’s
being the supportive spouse was that’s terrific news honey
terrific news honey
terrific news honey no that’s a lie I’m sure I said
no that’s a lie I’m sure I said
no that’s a lie I’m sure I said something like where the heck is Oshkosh
so you know we were living in Miami and
so you know we were living in Miami and I was just thinking that
I was just thinking that
I was just thinking that Miami is full of diversity you know you
Miami is full of diversity you know you
Miami is full of diversity you know you can find diversity on every street there
can find diversity on every street there
can find diversity on every street there are enclaves of Jewish rights retirees
are enclaves of Jewish rights retirees
are enclaves of Jewish rights retirees and african-americans drivers and and
y’all enclaves a lot southern white
y’all enclaves a lot southern white communities but not so much in Oshkosh
communities but not so much in Oshkosh
communities but not so much in Oshkosh we’re then and now is full of white
we’re then and now is full of white
we’re then and now is full of white people more than 90% in fact that number
people more than 90% in fact that number
people more than 90% in fact that number somehow made me a little wary I worried
somehow made me a little wary I worried
somehow made me a little wary I worried for my sons who are half my husband
for my sons who are half my husband
for my sons who are half my husband white American and half me the daughter
white American and half me the daughter
white American and half me the daughter of immigrants from Taiwan I worried
of immigrants from Taiwan I worried
of immigrants from Taiwan I worried about their growing up in a place that
about their growing up in a place that
about their growing up in a place that seems and looks so so uniform somehow I
seems and looks so so uniform somehow I
seems and looks so so uniform somehow I equated the lack of racial diversity
equated the lack of racial diversity
equated the lack of racial diversity with lack of color in a community when
with lack of color in a community when
with lack of color in a community when my first encounters were local though
my first encounters were local though
my first encounters were local though they’re not really a swage my initial
they’re not really a swage my initial
they’re not really a swage my initial apprehension I was at the Oshkosh public
apprehension I was at the Oshkosh public
apprehension I was at the Oshkosh public library when I noticed an older
library when I noticed an older
library when I noticed an older gentleman who kept sneaking peeks at me
gentleman who kept sneaking peeks at me
gentleman who kept sneaking peeks at me I walked down an aisle he follow from
I walked down an aisle he follow from
I walked down an aisle he follow from afar after a couple minutes he finally
afar after a couple minutes he finally
afar after a couple minutes he finally approached this excuse me I smiled yes
approached this excuse me I smiled yes
approached this excuse me I smiled yes he said are you at the cashier I cooked
he said are you at the cashier I cooked
he said are you at the cashier I cooked rib eye
rib eye
rib eye no sorry sorry and scurried off and a
no sorry sorry and scurried off and a
no sorry sorry and scurried off and a couple minutes later came back and
couple minutes later came back and
couple minutes later came back and apologized again he said do you teach at
apologized again he said do you teach at
apologized again he said do you teach at the University I said yes he smiled
the University I said yes he smiled
the University I said yes he smiled broadly happy to finally place me he
broadly happy to finally place me he
broadly happy to finally place me he asked what do you teach I said
asked what do you teach I said
asked what do you teach I said journalism
journalism
journalism he looked shocked journalism why not
he looked shocked journalism why not
he looked shocked journalism why not Chinese I said because I I don’t speak
Chinese I said because I I don’t speak
Chinese I said because I I don’t speak Chinese he he looked shocked walked away
Chinese he he looked shocked walked away
Chinese he he looked shocked walked away muttering something about the imbalance
muttering something about the imbalance
muttering something about the imbalance of the of the universe and I was left
of the of the universe and I was left
of the of the universe and I was left thinking apparently there are two things
thinking apparently there are two things
thinking apparently there are two things that a asian-american woman a
that a asian-american woman a
that a asian-american woman a middle-aged woman could do here in
middle-aged woman could do here in
middle-aged woman could do here in oshkosh work a quick trip or teach
oshkosh work a quick trip or teach
oshkosh work a quick trip or teach Chinese more than more than a decade
Chinese more than more than a decade
Chinese more than more than a decade later I sad to report I still don’t work
later I sad to report I still don’t work
later I sad to report I still don’t work at the convenience store and still don’t
at the convenience store and still don’t
at the convenience store and still don’t know Chinese however I am teaching
know Chinese however I am teaching
know Chinese however I am teaching college students from all disciplines
college students from all disciplines
college students from all disciplines about the power of storytelling how
about the power of storytelling how
about the power of storytelling how powerful their voices can be in telling
powerful their voices can be in telling
powerful their voices can be in telling stories of others and of themselves and
stories of others and of themselves and
stories of others and of themselves and how these stories connect us as people
how these stories connect us as people
how these stories connect us as people you know every semester I ask my student
you know every semester I ask my student
you know every semester I ask my student what is your story
what is your story
what is your story what is the story that you tell about
what is the story that you tell about
what is the story that you tell about yourself to your family your friends
yourself to your family your friends
yourself to your family your friends strangers what is that story that gives
strangers what is that story that gives
strangers what is that story that gives a glimpse into who you are and maybe
a glimpse into who you are and maybe
a glimpse into who you are and maybe into who we are for my class tell me
into who we are for my class tell me
into who we are for my class tell me stories for fun and profit and world
stories for fun and profit and world
stories for fun and profit and world peace I my students are charged with
peace I my students are charged with
peace I my students are charged with populating the humans of Oshkosh
populating the humans of Oshkosh
populating the humans of Oshkosh Facebook page which which is inspired by
Facebook page which which is inspired by
Facebook page which which is inspired by the humans of New York story blog I shew
the humans of New York story blog I shew
the humans of New York story blog I shew my students out of the classroom off
my students out of the classroom off
my students out of the classroom off campus go go talk to people and not just
campus go go talk to people and not just
campus go go talk to people and not just your friends you know left to their own
your friends you know left to their own
your friends you know left to their own devices they would come back with
devices they would come back with
devices they would come back with stories of just about their dorm mates
stories of just about their dorm mates
stories of just about their dorm mates most of whom are just as fresh based and
most of whom are just as fresh based and
most of whom are just as fresh based and able-bodied as they are yeah
able-bodied as they are yeah
able-bodied as they are yeah bottom line I want them to engage with
bottom line I want them to engage with
bottom line I want them to engage with strangers strangers of all shapes and
strangers strangers of all shapes and
strangers strangers of all shapes and colors and sizes I want them to engage
colors and sizes I want them to engage
colors and sizes I want them to engage with the old people on young people
with the old people on young people
with the old people on young people people in suits in uniforms people with
people in suits in uniforms people with
people in suits in uniforms people with challenges seen or unseen one of my
challenges seen or unseen one of my
challenges seen or unseen one of my students tried to get out of this this
students tried to get out of this this
students tried to get out of this this assignment this weekly assignment he
assignment this weekly assignment he
assignment this weekly assignment he said he can’t talk to people especially
said he can’t talk to people especially
said he can’t talk to people especially strangers he is incredibly shy it has a
strangers he is incredibly shy it has a
strangers he is incredibly shy it has a tendency to pass out apparently I didn’t
tendency to pass out apparently I didn’t
tendency to pass out apparently I didn’t qualify as people to him since he was an
qualify as people to him since he was an
qualify as people to him since he was an exhibiting any signs of physical
exhibiting any signs of physical
exhibiting any signs of physical distress so I shoot him out of my office
distress so I shoot him out of my office
distress so I shoot him out of my office and into the wilds of Oshkosh and beyond
and into the wilds of Oshkosh and beyond
and into the wilds of Oshkosh and beyond don’t worry the student learned to talk
don’t worry the student learned to talk
don’t worry the student learned to talk to people and it connect enough with
to people and it connect enough with
to people and it connect enough with them to finish every assignment in fact
them to finish every assignment in fact
them to finish every assignment in fact at the end of semester he you know asked
at the end of semester he you know asked
at the end of semester he you know asked for a letter of recommendation to study
for a letter of recommendation to study
for a letter of recommendation to study abroad a place where I reminded him more
abroad a place where I reminded him more
abroad a place where I reminded him more people live when my students came back
people live when my students came back
people live when my students came back with I thought was a terrific human
with I thought was a terrific human
with I thought was a terrific human Sailaja Tosh story you know Simon was to
Sailaja Tosh story you know Simon was to
Sailaja Tosh story you know Simon was to engage with the older person she was a
engage with the older person she was a
engage with the older person she was a wedding so she came back with this she
wedding so she came back with this she
wedding so she came back with this she asked this lady what advice would you
asked this lady what advice would you
asked this lady what advice would you give this new couple based on your
give this new couple based on your
give this new couple based on your marriage the woman thought for a minute
marriage the woman thought for a minute
marriage the woman thought for a minute and said never go to sleep angry the
and said never go to sleep angry the
and said never go to sleep angry the work for me but there’s one time when my
work for me but there’s one time when my
work for me but there’s one time when my husband and I were awake for 74 days
I love this story I asked my students my
I love this story I asked my students my students who shared the story behind the
students who shared the story behind the
students who shared the story behind the story how she happened on this gem she
story how she happened on this gem she
story how she happened on this gem she said I looked for the oldest person in
said I looked for the oldest person in
said I looked for the oldest person in the room then I walked up to her and
the room then I walked up to her and
the room then I walked up to her and asked excuse me are you over the age of
asked excuse me are you over the age of
asked excuse me are you over the age of 70 thankfully this awesome human forgave
70 thankfully this awesome human forgave
70 thankfully this awesome human forgave my my students artless opening line and
my my students artless opening line and
my my students artless opening line and gave us a glimpse into what we imagined
gave us a glimpse into what we imagined
gave us a glimpse into what we imagined to be her laughter filled marriage since
to be her laughter filled marriage since
to be her laughter filled marriage since my my class began two years ago my
my my class began two years ago my
my my class began two years ago my students have um you know written more
students have um you know written more
students have um you know written more than a thousand humans of oshkosh
than a thousand humans of oshkosh
than a thousand humans of oshkosh stories they mustered enough courage to
stories they mustered enough courage to
stories they mustered enough courage to approach strangers and start a
approach strangers and start a
approach strangers and start a conversation they met this brother and
conversation they met this brother and
conversation they met this brother and sister on downtown Main Street you know
sister on downtown Main Street you know
sister on downtown Main Street you know the man shared that he was recently
the man shared that he was recently
the man shared that he was recently homeless in the recovering drug addict
homeless in the recovering drug addict
homeless in the recovering drug addict but he’s so thankful thankful for his
but he’s so thankful thankful for his
but he’s so thankful thankful for his sister from Minnesota who hasn’t given
sister from Minnesota who hasn’t given
sister from Minnesota who hasn’t given up on him and he said that he had just
up on him and he said that he had just
up on him and he said that he had just come back from a family session and that
come back from a family session and that
come back from a family session and that he is on the road to recovery
he is on the road to recovery
he is on the road to recovery they met you know this young woman and
they met you know this young woman and
they met you know this young woman and we were all inspired by her story this
we were all inspired by her story this
we were all inspired by her story this woman at age 16 had run away from home
woman at age 16 had run away from home
woman at age 16 had run away from home run away from a drug-addicted mother
run away from a drug-addicted mother
run away from a drug-addicted mother somehow she found her way to UW Oshkosh
somehow she found her way to UW Oshkosh
somehow she found her way to UW Oshkosh where she was at graduation this past
where she was at graduation this past
where she was at graduation this past May as the university’s first Latina
May as the university’s first Latina
May as the university’s first Latina class speaker from run away to class
class speaker from run away to class
class speaker from run away to class speaker my students met with so many
speaker my students met with so many
speaker my students met with so many people and collected too so many stories
people and collected too so many stories
people and collected too so many stories like one from this young man who loves
like one from this young man who loves
like one from this young man who loves to write poetry and this little human
to write poetry and this little human
to write poetry and this little human who tells us that her mommy’s her
who tells us that her mommy’s her
who tells us that her mommy’s her favorite person in the whole world which
favorite person in the whole world which
favorite person in the whole world which gives us hope that maybe someday we
gives us hope that maybe someday we
gives us hope that maybe someday we could be somebody’s favorite person you
could be somebody’s favorite person you
could be somebody’s favorite person you know I actually did a few stories myself
know I actually did a few stories myself
know I actually did a few stories myself I was downtown when I saw this yes it is
I was downtown when I saw this yes it is
I was downtown when I saw this yes it is a man on the skateboard being pulled by
a man on the skateboard being pulled by
a man on the skateboard being pulled by a pitbull
a pitbull
a pitbull I thought I gotta get the story I call
I thought I gotta get the story I call
I thought I gotta get the story I call out after them excuse me I teach the man
out after them excuse me I teach the man
out after them excuse me I teach the man turned around and smiled he said grace
turned around and smiled he said grace
turned around and smiled he said grace humans of Oshkosh I’ve been waiting for
humans of Oshkosh I’ve been waiting for
humans of Oshkosh I’ve been waiting for this turns out this this awesome human
this turns out this this awesome human
this turns out this this awesome human and his four-legged sidekick were urban
and his four-legged sidekick were urban
and his four-legged sidekick were urban mushing urban mushing it is a thing here
mushing urban mushing it is a thing here
mushing urban mushing it is a thing here in Oshkosh in addition to the overall
in Oshkosh in addition to the overall
in Oshkosh in addition to the overall human sabasha Kosh my students take time
human sabasha Kosh my students take time
human sabasha Kosh my students take time to focus on a subset of the humans who
to focus on a subset of the humans who
to focus on a subset of the humans who live and work here one semester they
live and work here one semester they
live and work here one semester they focused on people who live in poverty
focused on people who live in poverty
focused on people who live in poverty and those who serve our community’s most
and those who serve our community’s most
and those who serve our community’s most needy that semester the very first day
needy that semester the very first day
needy that semester the very first day of class I asked my students what did
of class I asked my students what did
of class I asked my students what did this poor look like to you
this poor look like to you
this poor look like to you and the answers came back included
and the answers came back included
and the answers came back included uneducated unmotivated undisciplined
uneducated unmotivated undisciplined
uneducated unmotivated undisciplined unemployed dirty hair dirty skin dirty
through the humans of Oshkosh when the
through the humans of Oshkosh when the ends don’t need storytelling project it
ends don’t need storytelling project it
ends don’t need storytelling project it took my students to the Oshkosh Area
took my students to the Oshkosh Area
took my students to the Oshkosh Area Community pantry where they met
Community pantry where they met
Community pantry where they met college-educated customers who never
college-educated customers who never
college-educated customers who never thought they would ever find themselves
thought they would ever find themselves
thought they would ever find themselves at a food pantry they met this disabled
at a food pantry they met this disabled
at a food pantry they met this disabled dad at the day by day warming shelter
dad at the day by day warming shelter
dad at the day by day warming shelter who loves his young son so much that he
who loves his young son so much that he
who loves his young son so much that he saved his one remaining treasure in 1959
saved his one remaining treasure in 1959
saved his one remaining treasure in 1959 for Fairlane Galaxie 500 for him my
for Fairlane Galaxie 500 for him my
for Fairlane Galaxie 500 for him my students met with the people who who
students met with the people who who
students met with the people who who make these organizations work oftentimes
make these organizations work oftentimes
make these organizations work oftentimes a very small paid staff and a large army
a very small paid staff and a large army
a very small paid staff and a large army of volunteers all of them with giant
of volunteers all of them with giant
of volunteers all of them with giant hearts through this project my students
hearts through this project my students
hearts through this project my students met with a single mom
met with a single mom
met with a single mom who had health issues and a master’s
who had health issues and a master’s
who had health issues and a master’s degree and two part-time professional
degree and two part-time professional
degree and two part-time professional jobs she told us that for most of her
jobs she told us that for most of her
jobs she told us that for most of her adult life she’s been on food stamps she
adult life she’s been on food stamps she
adult life she’s been on food stamps she said my son has learned to never ask for
said my son has learned to never ask for
said my son has learned to never ask for anything because he knows we don’t have
anything because he knows we don’t have
anything because he knows we don’t have the money for it one Christmas when he
the money for it one Christmas when he
the money for it one Christmas when he was about seven or eight I learned to
was about seven or eight I learned to
was about seven or eight I learned to crochet and made him a scarf what kid
crochet and made him a scarf what kid
crochet and made him a scarf what kid gets excited about the crocheted scarf
gets excited about the crocheted scarf
gets excited about the crocheted scarf for Christmas my kid a couple months
for Christmas my kid a couple months
for Christmas my kid a couple months into the semester one of my students
into the semester one of my students
into the semester one of my students namely ray came to my office and she
namely ray came to my office and she
namely ray came to my office and she said you know you know all those stories
said you know you know all those stories
said you know you know all those stories that we’ve been doing I said yes she
that we’ve been doing I said yes she
that we’ve been doing I said yes she said they’re about my mom and me she
said they’re about my mom and me she
said they’re about my mom and me she proceeded to tell me about her mother a
proceeded to tell me about her mother a
proceeded to tell me about her mother a single mom raising two kids and how they
single mom raising two kids and how they
single mom raising two kids and how they had to rely on food stamps and emergency
had to rely on food stamps and emergency
had to rely on food stamps and emergency assistance programs to avoid eviction
assistance programs to avoid eviction
assistance programs to avoid eviction she talked about how she watched her mom
she talked about how she watched her mom
she talked about how she watched her mom bury her older brother who died at age
bury her older brother who died at age
bury her older brother who died at age 17 while waiting for a new heart she
17 while waiting for a new heart she
17 while waiting for a new heart she asked if she could feature her mother in
asked if she could feature her mother in
asked if she could feature her mother in this project I said you know does your
this project I said you know does your
this project I said you know does your mom understand that her stories are
mom understand that her stories are
mom understand that her stories are gonna be on the facebook that they’re
gonna be on the facebook that they’re
gonna be on the facebook that they’re gonna be in a book
gonna be in a book
gonna be in a book an exhibit name we said my mom is a good
an exhibit name we said my mom is a good
an exhibit name we said my mom is a good mom I’ve seen her struggle to make ends
mom I’ve seen her struggle to make ends
mom I’ve seen her struggle to make ends meet
meet
meet these are her stories but they’re mine
these are her stories but they’re mine
these are her stories but they’re mine till later I asked my student to present
till later I asked my student to present
till later I asked my student to present her story to an audience and this is
her story to an audience and this is
her story to an audience and this is what she said what does poor look like
what she said what does poor look like
what she said what does poor look like to you well here it is this is what poor
to you well here it is this is what poor
to you well here it is this is what poor looks like poor looks like me
we as humans tend to be fearful of what
we as humans tend to be fearful of what is new and different so we seek out
is new and different so we seek out
is new and different so we seek out people who think like us talk like us
people who think like us talk like us
people who think like us talk like us look like us we stop we seek out the
look like us we stop we seek out the
look like us we stop we seek out the familiar because frankly the unfamiliar
familiar because frankly the unfamiliar
familiar because frankly the unfamiliar is strange and we’ve been taught as kids
is strange and we’ve been taught as kids
is strange and we’ve been taught as kids to never talk to strangers
to never talk to strangers
to never talk to strangers but it’s not good we could never unlearn
but it’s not good we could never unlearn
but it’s not good we could never unlearn that directive a while back I was
that directive a while back I was
that directive a while back I was hanging out with my two best friends
hanging out with my two best friends
hanging out with my two best friends here in Oshkosh and I said to them you
here in Oshkosh and I said to them you
here in Oshkosh and I said to them you know we should add a little color a
know we should add a little color a
know we should add a little color a little diversity to our group that’s
little diversity to our group that’s
little diversity to our group that’s Heidi a nurse and Jen a math professor
Heidi a nurse and Jen a math professor
Heidi a nurse and Jen a math professor they looked at each other then they
they looked at each other then they
they looked at each other then they looked at me then they said well we did
looked at me then they said well we did
looked at me then they said well we did our part my friends were right they did
our part my friends were right they did
our part my friends were right they did through their part and it turns out I
through their part and it turns out I
through their part and it turns out I did mine when I first arrived to Oshkosh
did mine when I first arrived to Oshkosh
did mine when I first arrived to Oshkosh a stranger in the strange land
a stranger in the strange land
a stranger in the strange land I was resigned to the fact that I was
I was resigned to the fact that I was
I was resigned to the fact that I was never gonna find my people my tribe here
never gonna find my people my tribe here
never gonna find my people my tribe here how was I a Taiwanese of Americans
how was I a Taiwanese of Americans
how was I a Taiwanese of Americans supposed to find anyone like me here a
supposed to find anyone like me here a
supposed to find anyone like me here a place so homogeneous my eyes were wide
place so homogeneous my eyes were wide
place so homogeneous my eyes were wide open but I was blind to what was in
open but I was blind to what was in
open but I was blind to what was in front of me the enormous wealth of human
front of me the enormous wealth of human
front of me the enormous wealth of human experience that we all go through
experience that we all go through
experience that we all go through together the hopes and dreams that we
together the hopes and dreams that we
together the hopes and dreams that we carry for ourselves our loved ones and
carry for ourselves our loved ones and
carry for ourselves our loved ones and then part our world we don’t see it
then part our world we don’t see it
then part our world we don’t see it because we can’t see past what we do see
the blond hair the blue eyes brown skin
the blond hair the blue eyes brown skin baby fat burkas hoodies
baby fat burkas hoodies
baby fat burkas hoodies wrinkles tattoos we place quick
wrinkles tattoos we place quick
wrinkles tattoos we place quick judgments because it is so easy to do it
judgments because it is so easy to do it
judgments because it is so easy to do it from afar through the hemas of Oshkosh
from afar through the hemas of Oshkosh
from afar through the hemas of Oshkosh stories I’ve learned that my people but
stories I’ve learned that my people but
stories I’ve learned that my people but the tribal might people transcends race
the tribal might people transcends race
the tribal might people transcends race gender politics and social standing
gender politics and social standing
gender politics and social standing among my people is this homeless dad who
among my people is this homeless dad who
among my people is this homeless dad who carries as much loved photo of son in
carries as much loved photo of son in
carries as much loved photo of son in his wallet and another dad who works
his wallet and another dad who works
his wallet and another dad who works three jobs so his children could have a
three jobs so his children could have a
three jobs so his children could have a better life and this grandmother who
better life and this grandmother who
better life and this grandmother who claims a great day any day that she can
claims a great day any day that she can
claims a great day any day that she can breathe well and when the Packers win
breathe well and when the Packers win
breathe well and when the Packers win and this teacher who found the note and
and this teacher who found the note and
and this teacher who found the note and flowers by her door from a student who
flowers by her door from a student who
flowers by her door from a student who failed her class but yet calls her the
failed her class but yet calls her the
failed her class but yet calls her the greatest teacher he’s ever had and this
greatest teacher he’s ever had and this
greatest teacher he’s ever had and this little boy who if given the power to
little boy who if given the power to
little boy who if given the power to make a rule for everyone to follow he
make a rule for everyone to follow he
make a rule for everyone to follow he make a no-smoking rule because smoking
make a no-smoking rule because smoking
make a no-smoking rule because smoking gives you hours and then you die you and
gives you hours and then you die you and
gives you hours and then you die you and I belong to this tribe we are surrounded
I belong to this tribe we are surrounded
I belong to this tribe we are surrounded by people who celebrate people who
by people who celebrate people who
by people who celebrate people who struggle who grieve who dream people
struggle who grieve who dream people
struggle who grieve who dream people would with stories to tell
would with stories to tell
would with stories to tell as an instructor I wish that when
as an instructor I wish that when
as an instructor I wish that when students are somewhat transformed by
students are somewhat transformed by
students are somewhat transformed by their educational journey by the that
their educational journey by the that
their educational journey by the that they are touched by the people they meet
they are touched by the people they meet
they are touched by the people they meet and the stories they share sure we all
and the stories they share sure we all
and the stories they share sure we all start off as strangers we see things in
start off as strangers we see things in
start off as strangers we see things in black and white but give enough courage
black and white but give enough courage
black and white but give enough courage to take that first step toward an
to take that first step toward an
to take that first step toward an unfamiliar with our minds and hearts
unfamiliar with our minds and hearts
unfamiliar with our minds and hearts open we can see the colour all around us
open we can see the colour all around us
open we can see the colour all around us thank you
thank you
thank you you
”
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