Growing Up F.O.B (Fresh Off the Boat)

     This morning I had a feeling of nostalgia perhaps it’s the cool crisp fall air that takes me back to the very first day I set foot on American soil twenty-four years ago.  I remember my first glimpse of the White House from the plane as we descend to Washington Dulles’ airport and it was cold.   It was the first time I caught sight of my breath in smoke and it was also a defining moment that I would grow up F.O.B.

Here are some of my recollections in no particular order:

    - There were no designated spaces for cleaning products and hair products so one day, I accidentally sprayed myself Lysol thinking it was hairspray.  I told my mother what had happen and she said I would be O.K. It will prevent me from getting lice at school.

-         The very first time I heard the phrase “Shot gun!” I actually ducked.

-         I wore Gitanoe corduroy to school purchased from Bradlees.

-         My friends labeled my house “The Embassy”.

-         There was endless supply of Tang and Spam in my house.

-         My mom constantly rubbed baby oil on my hair giving me the perpetual greasy look and kids at school constantly asked me “Why is your hair wet all the time?”

-         In High School, my dad once rigged my Corolla’s tail pipe with aluminum soda cans.

-         We had bathroom rugs as “area rugs”.  Our décor resembled the pre-American crack house motif, which now everyone is copying.

-         We had Christmas decoration on our lawn ALL YEAR LONG.

-         When I spoke English it was all in plural form.

-         The only music genre I know of was Tango.

-         We had condiments from McDonald’s and our napkins were from McDonald’s oh yeah straws too.

-         We had catalogs from Fingerhut.

-         I was constantly accused by my parents of ‘Gallivanting!’  I remember coming home and they said, “ Why you home 12:30 midnight!  Are you gala-ban-ting?!”  then I looked at the faux grandfather clock it was only 7:30pm.

-         I was reprimanded by taking a pen to school because apparently when it turns upside down the innocent nurse turns into a naked nurse.  I used my “No English” to my advantage and got off free.

     In retrospect, these are hilarious moments.  I tell my kids my FOBulous moments and they laugh.  They want to hear more.   I wholeheartedly admit how uncool I was and they love me for that.

 

Mix Tape

When I was young,  I had the biggest secret crush with a boy.  This kind of crush caused me to record songs from the radio and I created a mix tape for him.   It was so much better than writing a note.  It would convey my feelings.  The mix tape will profess my undying love.  This was my compilation:

Side A:

1:  Call Me by Blondie

2:  Secret Lovers by Atlantic Starr

3:  Crazy for you by Madonna

4:  I wanna be your boyfriend by The Ramones

5:  Lost in love by New Edition

6:  All Through The Night by Cindy Lauper

7:  We Belong by Pat Benatar

8:  Venus by Bananarama

9:  French Kissin’ in the USA by Deborah Harry

10:  St. Elmo’s fire theme song

Side B:

1:  Shattered Dreams by Johnnie Hates Jazz

2:  Owner of a lonely heart by Yes

3:  Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler

4:  I’ll get over you by Toto

5:  Don’t You Want Me by Human League

6:  Do You Really Want To Hurt Me by Culture Club

7:  How Soon Is Now by The Smiths

8:  Love Is A Battlefield by Pat Benatar

9:  Blue Monday by New Order

10:  Separate Lives by Phil Collins

These songs we’re carefully hand picked and tailored with a purpose.  Side A’s theme  my feeling and Side B’s message comprised of rejection.  I have better taste in music now and I never gave my mix tape to my crush.  I recently discovered my mix tape and no doubt revived a memory of how nerdy I was once and I like that part of me.  I know this was a piece of object that we all once made or received at one point in our youthful days.