Giving Back....

The first two Saturdays of January I was very happy to be able to do some volunteer work with Planned Parenthood and Reading to Kids.

1. Planned Parenthood

I vounteered with Plan Parenthood's outreach program. I thought I would be going door to door, knocking on doors and trying to talk to people about Planned Parenthood. As nerve racking as this can be there was actually a more simplier method of outreach, however it still took me door to door.
The meeting area Saturday morning was the Santa Monica Library. It was very confusing finding the room that we were suppose to meet in, but luckily I was able to call the person in charge for information, and with a little more information from the librain my friend and I were able to find our way to the room full of volunteers.
PP was gracious enough to provide breakfast and after chowing down we started our introduction.
I was very pleased to see that the day was planned out to the tee, and we were given plenty of advice to take on our volunteer journey. Our task was pick a nieghbor on the maps we were given and go door to door putting door handling with the information about Parenthood's new clinic in Santa Monica. A very simple task, minus avoiding the houses with dogs guarding them. But PP taught us how to deal with those.
When we went out on our journey, we got a little lost, mostly because I'm not every good at reading maps, but we finally made it. Our goal, as mentioned in the introduction was about 100 flyers per volunteer.
I must say it was fun taking a tour down the streets of Santa Monica and enjoying all the unique houses. Definitely a simple and effect way to communicate.

2. Reading to Kids
Reading to kids takes place at several different elementary schools in the Los Angeles county. The school I volunteered at was Los Angeles Elementary school. As a first time volunteer I sat through a very welcoming introduction and was paired with a partner. Each pair a volunteers was given a book, the same book for each grade level, with the task of reading the book out loud to the children. After we were done reading the book the children would do a craft based on the story that was just read to them.
When we finally started, my partner and I had a very small group of four children. Eager but shy the children

listened attentively and were slow to answer the questions we asked about the story. After we finished the book the children started their craft. It was great seeing the children's creativity through the crafts. My favorite part of the experience was giving the children their very own book to take home. It warmed my heart to see one of the children trying to walk and read their book as we finished up the volunteer session.


For more on the organizations or to volunteer with them visit
www.plannedparenthood.org
www.readingtokids.org

3 new bars/clubs

okay so at the beginning of my winter break i started a winter break to do list. one of my task was to try out at least 3 new bars/clubs. I successful checked out 4. Here
1.wokocano's in Long Beach
We went on a slow night, needless to say it was the day after new years eve. SO when we got there it was pretty dead, but most likely because people were all partied out. But there were a few party goers who were still up for some fun, because around 11:30 people started to show up.
There are three things i look for when I go to a new place/
1.atmosphere ( space, bar, decor)
2. people ( including guest and hostess)
3. Music

1. Atmosphere: good size dance floor, wasn't to crowd because of the lack of people. But the bar was a good size, average drink prices, $8-10. however they didn't have all the ingredients for a scooby snack, was disappointed at first. but then found a mabliu and pineapple and was happy again. There was an upstairs place but it was due to lack of people. But its nice to know they have more space for people.

2. People: overall pretty friendly, Had the one overally drunk crowd but no one acted too cool to dance

3. regular top 40, a couple repeats, a few old school jams

Place: Moutain Bar
over all my favorite place.

1. Atmosphere: the definition of chill. and the chill vibe happens when you walk in the door. Because there is very strict security, pat downs and purse checks. but they don't hassle you about your attire and once your in everyone is relaxed.

2. PEOPLE: laid back. everyone is either conversing or dancing. very diverse crowd. a colorful sea of people.

3.music: probably the best part about mountain bar is that down stairs is all reggae, and the upstairs is all real/ underground hip hop. i'm talkin q-tip, lauryen hill, common, the real hip hop cats. none of the rap game.

place: Underground Pub/ Chelsae's
1. Atmosphere: dive bar on the bottom, dance floor on top.

2. People: a lot of mixed ages, but you can expect that from hermosa. but you had your chill people, the girls that want be on the center of the dance floor, then my friends, which were the coolest people in the place. hahah jk

3. top 40


place: on the rocks in redondo beach
1. atmosphere: nice set up. there is a sports bar section then a dance floor. hate it when bars try to cram in the bar, the sports section, the dance floor, and the bathroom all in one place.
2. people: pretty mixed group. the dance floor wasn't to packed when i went but still a good amount of people.
3. top 40, couple of old school and reggae jams.