My favorite designer of all time is hosting an exhibit of previous AIDS t-shirts with the fall/winter 2009 collection. If you’re in hong kong stop on by:0)

cr: hypebeast

TGIF!!!

So this past Wednesday was the day the class put on their project. We would like to say THANKS to everyone that participated. I’ll let the pictures do the talking:0)

our goodie bag that included condoms, etc

State Farm – our generous sponsor

one of the marketing ideas

some of the students

break dancer

more photos, check them out!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v210/houngie/RYA%20De%20Anza/

There are interesting things in Japan. As usual, I read my daily fashion blogs and love to read my favorite blogger bryanboy (www.bryanboy.com) and he blogged about men that prefer not to have sex and is ONLY interested in fashion. Most of these boys are in their 20’s to 30’s.

cnn article:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/06/05/japan.herbivore.men/index.html

love,

Huong

Sorry for the lack of updates but we’ve been pretty busy with this year’s education curriculum. First thing first, we’ve been very lucky to be part of the De Anza Community service learning class. We are gearing towards the education part of our organization. The students are great! The team is learning with the students and so far it is a great learning experience.

The students will be having their show on JUNE 10, 2009, WEDENSEDAY. Will keep everyone posted!

Thanks JACKIE AND MARY-JO for giving us the opportunity!

so on to art stuff:0) it is just as exciting for me as the de anza students:0)

for anyone who likes skateboarding. I can’t really skate since I fall on my face a lot but I enjoy it. I’ll let the video do the talking. Enjoy!

Girl Skateboards (RED) from We Love You So on Vimeo.

H&M is at it again. Celebrities designing their shirts to support HIV/AIDS.

check out one of my favorite fashion blogger for pictures:http://www.nitrolicious.com/blog/2009/05/05/hm-x-designers-against-aids-daa-for-fashion-against-aids/

love…

Huong

On Tuesday, December 2nd, I spoke on a panel at SJSU in the event of World AIDS Day. It was really great to connect with young people on HIV and STIs prevention, communication with friends and families, and the stigma or cultural taboo. Here is the article written by Rie Nakanishi from Spartan Daily.

Panelists promote HIV testing, communication with family to defend against virus

Tran, a Vietnamese-American, shared her experience of how topics such as AIDS, sex and sexuality were taboo growing up in her native culture.

She said she couldn’t talk to her parents, teachers or friends about sexual health when she first became sexually active. She said she researched and learned about it on her own.

Tran said becoming open to one’s parents and being able to talk to them about sex-related topics is a process.

She recommended that students talk to their parents by asking them about their dating scene and experience.

Melissa Wang, an open university student in the health science department and peer health education volunteer, said young people think that AIDS has nothing do with their lives.

“(Students) don’t think they’ll be affected by AIDS,” she said. “It’s always something other people have or whatever, so they might not take the precaution to protect themselves.”

Wang said she has been getting tested for HIV since she was 19 years old.

If students are sexually active, whether or not they are in a relationship, getting tested can help people “know where both of you stand,” she said.

All of the panelists emphasized the importance of breaking down the walls of communication and stressed the importance of getting tested for HIV.

“If you are sexually active, every six months, get tested,” said Smith, from the Health Trust. “Not only you are saving yourself, you could be saving some one you are with.”

As an HIV-positive individual, he said he doesn’t want anybody else to go through what he has gone through, having had to hear his diagnosis alone and tell his parents that he’s HIV positive.

“I have to live each day knowing that I have a disease that, as of today, is not curable but manageable,” Smith said. “(HIV/AIDS) happens to anyone, any place, any religion … You never want to go through that – I can’t express that enough.”

Viet Pham, a senior justice studies major, said he came to the panel because he became interested in AIDS awareness after taking a health class.

“What (the panelists) are trying to do is tell people to bring down the barriers,” he said. “It’s very understandable if you don’t know what you got.”

Although Pham said he has never been tested before, he realized how important it is to be educated about getting tested.

“Just go get tested. It’s not going to hurt you,” he said. “It just helps you. That’s what it is.”

The panelists said that if students are scared to go through testing alone, they encourage them to get tested with their friends or partners.

The Student Health Center offers free HIV testing for students.

To read the full article, please click here.

A couple of months ago, I enjoyed South Park’s satire regarding HIV/AIDS as a faded trend. I was laughing, but only because deep down in my mind I knew it was true. Kyle and Cartman were posing as HIV+ patients to get accommodations on a plane trip, but only special reservations were made for cancer patients. I personally do not take either illness lightly, but the topic expressed on the show so bluntly mirrors real life.

I have observed that there is more talk and public support for cancer-related events versus HIV/AIDS events, even though a person has a higher chance of getting infected w/ HIV/AIDS than being diagnosed w/ cancer. Even government funding has decreased for HIV/AIDS treatment services and research because they believe young people are not “at risk”, while the media, celebrities, and government have been big forces to create public support for cancer research and treatment. Cancer is the “it” disease of this generation, while HIV/AIDS was the disease of the 80s-90s.

However, I do see why people are so fearful of cancer, because cancer can easily become terminal while still on treatment and under close watch by professionals. HIV+ patients, on the other hand, are living longer and have a better chance of being AIDS-free if given the right treatment.

I believe that any type of illness should not be thought of as a trend. There are victims from these terrible illnesses and it affects their loved ones and friends. Cancer and HIV/AIDS hurt the diagnosed and the people around them. We are dealing w/ lives of human beings, which should be given equal focus and care.

So next time you hear of a local HIV/AIDS event, pay a visit, lend your suppot, have fun, and learn just like you would at a cancer event.

Peace & love, Burnette

Monday night I went to a book reading by a famous author. I know, I know, I’m a nerd to attend book readings for entertainment, but hey, knowledge is effin’ power! The reading material was mainly catered for the more mature audience, but the author noted he sometimes find teenagers lurking among his listeners. The writer himself is very humble and modest about his musings, so he didn’t understand why groups of people would actually be excited and willing to endure the “pain” of listening to him read passages describing his life, and he especially didn’t understand why a teen would endure the torture at all.

Anywhoo, after several readings, he decided to give out consolation prizes for his young readers, but he was at a loss for exactly what to give out. He wanted to get something light so that he could transport it during his travels, but something that would be beneficial to the receiver as well. At first he thought maybe painkillers to relieve their “pain”, but no, that wouldn’t do justice. Then, as he was walking through Costco, he spotted them…CONDOMS! Not just any condoms, but condoms in BULK! So he bought several boxes of them in bulk, handing them out to his young fans during his book tours.

I think he stole my heart when he described his need to give, but most importantly, his need to go and spread the wealth of condoms. That is definitely what I call “Rockin’ the Awareness.”

What are you passionate about and feel you need to “rock the awareness”? What have you done to spread the awareness?

Peace and love, Burnette

Hi Everyone! I hope everyone has being doing well and continue reading our blog:O)

One of my close friend, Christina is currently living and teaching English in Japan. I was chatting with her the other day and she said they have a store call Condomania. Its all over Japan telling people to have safe sex.

Here are some pictures.

their mascot

they even sell decorative ones call rubber dolls

happy sunday

Huong