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dandelionsresilience · 7 months ago

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Dandelion News - January 1-7

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles!

1. Homes built with clay, grass, plastic and glass: How a Caribbean island is shying away from concrete

“[… Clay] traps moisture which then evaporates and pulls heat from the surface as it goes. […] The roof is covered in old recycled advertising banners and piece of a water tank, the other half of which is used to house some of Rahaman-Noronha's fish [… and] multi-coloured glass bottles inset into walls provide an avenue for streams of light and colour.”

2. To Combat Phoenix’s Extreme Heat, a New Program Provides Sustainable Shade

“The neighborhood workshops allow residents to get a shade plan tailored to their community’s needs and identify the locations where officials can plant trees. Meanwhile, the workforce-development side of the program creates the jobs needed to keep the trees alive for generations[….]”

3. Conservation corridors provide hope for Latin America’s felines

“[… S]cience has shown that to maintain healthy populations there needs to be connection between individuals. [… A] protected area that is close to another has more species and more potential for their survival.”

4. Social program cuts tuberculosis cases among Brazil's poorest by more than half

“The decrease [“in TB cases and deaths”] was over 50% in extremely poor people and more than 60% among the Indigenous populations. […] "We know that the program improves access to food [… and healthcare…] and strengthens people's immune defenses as a result.””

5. Geothermal has vast potential to meet the world’s power needs

“New geothermal systems could technically provide as much as 600 terawatts of carbon-free power capacity by 2050[…. C]ountries could cost-effectively deploy over 800 GW of geothermal power capacity using technology that’s in development today[….]”

6. New D.C. Catholic archbishop is pro-LGBTQ+ and anti-Trump

“In 2018, he objected to the blaming of gay priests for the clergy sexual abuse crisis, “saying that such abuse was a matter of power, not sexual orientation[….]” “We must disrupt those who portray refugees as enemies [… and] seek to rob our medical care, especially from the poor.””

7. Chesapeake Bay Will Gain New Wildlife Refuge

“The Chesapeake Bay area will have a new wildlife refuge for the first time in a quarter century. […] “This new refuge offers an opportunity to halt and even reverse biodiversity loss in this important place, and in a way that fully integrates and respects the leadership and rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities.””

8. Inside Svalbard seed vault’s critical mission to stop our favourite fruit and veg from going extinct

“[… T]he world’s largest secure seed storage […] sits proudly in a massive former coal mine[….] Right now, there are over 1,331,458 samples of 6,297 crop species. […] “During 2024, 61 seed genebanks deposited 64,331 seed samples, including 21 from institutes that deposited seeds for the first time this year[….]””

9. Medical debt will be erased from credit reports for all Americans under new federal rule

“The rule will affect more than 15 million Americans, raising their credit scores by an estimated average of 20 points. [… S]tates and localities have already utilized American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to support the elimination of over $1 billion in medical debt for more than 700,000 Americans[….]”

10. 'Forgotten' water harvesting system transforms 'barren wasteland' into thriving farmland

“"The process started with the community-based participatory planning[….]” 10% to 15% of the water will actually soak into the ground to replenish the water table, creating a more sustainable agricultural process.”

December 22-28 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

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saywhat-politics · 4 months ago

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The Food and Drug Administration is finalizing plans to replace some of the employees it laid off with contractors, three FDA officials tell CBS News, after steep cuts to the agency's workforce disrupted drug and food safety inspections.

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wufflesvetinari · 6 months ago

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controversial, but as someone who's spent the last year tearing her hair out adjudicating student conduct cases involving AI misuse: i'm never going to be impressed by an anti-AI post that sounds like an abstinence-only educator wrote it

it goes without saying that AI as implemented has many problems.* it fills me with a low-level sense of dread! but some of you seem to think that if we teach the children to Just Say No, it will go away. which...maybe this is because i work with engineering students but that sounds about as likely as email going away (and that message is just about as likely to resonate with kids as The Internet Is Evil So Stay Off).

students are graduating into a workforce that requires them to use AI. it is, in certain contexts, an appropriate tool. so between an engineer who's never touched AI in their life and one who's had a thorough education in it--who knows what it can and can't do; what it can and can't be trusted with--i'd pick the latter every time.

like, they're going to build the airplanes for christ's sake. they're going to be handed AI, usually of higher quality than public-facing chatgpt but still. i don't want them graduating with the sense that AI is a Forbidden All-Knowing Cheating Machine instead of something they've spent time understanding the limitations of. i want them to understand which programs work for which tasks, and which don't work at all. and that requires active education on the tool, the same way you'd teach about internet safety or how to detect fake news

(this goes, imo, for people trying to make AI safer and more ethical as well. if you consider it unethical by definition to work on AI, the only people working on it will be the ones who don't care about ethics.)

*i will say it. misinformation, algorithmic bias, disruptions for the labor force, shoving it into tasks it's not good at LET ME SCHEDULE MY OWN DAMN VET APPOINTMENT, unethical sourcing for datasets, environmental impact (the data center planner in my life is VERY skeptical of DeepSeek being more efficient but one hopes)

#or maybe i'm just seattle-pilled. always an option #the discourse

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mitchipedia · 3 months ago

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The Republican wrecking ball is already battering San Diego

Trump and his Republican cronies are already inflicting pain on San Diego County, damaging veterans, education, public health, business, the homeless, migrants and more.

I recently started bookmarking articles chronicling the damage that Trump and his Republican lackeys are doing to us and our neighbors here in the county. Not hypothetical damage, or harm done elsewhere in the U.S. — I was looking for concrete financial, physical and emotional damage that Trump and his Republican supporters are doing here and now.

I had no trouble finding examples. Very soon, I found myself with 50 open tabs, and my browser crashed.

This article compiles all the information I’ve been able to find. It is a looooooooong article. I’ve broken everything up into sections for easier reading. Even as long as this article is, I’m sure I missed a lot.

I originally planned to headline this article “The Trump wrecking ball…. " But this isn’t just about Trump. The entire Republican party is complicit in the damage being done to the U.S. Sadly, that includes your nice Republican city council candidate who comes to all the PTA meetings. The Republican Party has demonstrated universal obedience to Trump. Local Republicans may have been able to resist quietly, for now, in some matters, but if Trump is allowed to continue, local Republicans will soon be brought to heel.

How Republicans are hurting San Diego veterans

Local veterans, healthcare providers, and Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Mike Levin (Democrats) are speaking out against proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Nurses from the VA Medical Center in La Jolla, along with veterans, patients and other union members, rallied in April to protest cuts.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

“Every position is mission critical,” Andrea Johnson, a nurse there, told the crowd. “Eliminating housekeeping, dietary, transportation, respiratory therapists and lab technicians will lead to delays in admissions and delays in care, which can and will result in negative patient outcomes.”

Republicans plan to cut about 80,000 jobs, or about 15% of the VA workforce. The VA serves 15.8 million veterans, nearly 200,000 of whom are in San Diego.

San Diego veterans are afraid the cuts will hurt their care. “I didn’t think Trump would brutalize the government like he is. His efforts have surpassed my darkest images,” said David Cochran, who suffers from emphysema and traumatic brain injury resulting from his U.S. Army service. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is the former Army major’s sole health provider.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/2…

“It really seems like all of the things I was promised as a citizen of this fine country are very quickly either evaporating or intentionally being dismantled and taken apart,” said Ian Mooney, the president of the San Diego chapter of Veterans for Peace.

Republicans are singling out transgender veterans for punishment, which will lead to higher rates of depression and suicide. Levin said the move fits with the party’s attacks on transgender people.

“Anybody who puts on the uniform, who serves our nation voluntarily, who puts their lives at stake in order to defend our freedom and our institutions and our country — we should take care of them,” Levin told the U-T.

How Republicans are hurting San Diego education

Students, parents and educators are raising the alarm over funding cuts to schools and research. As of mid-April, about 40 grant awards have been impacted by disruption notices, including stop work orders, terminations and funding freezes, the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) told the San Diego Union-Tribune. The total value of these grants is $59 million.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

The cuts are already leading students to consider leaving research, and even leaving the U.S. “In the past couple of months, I have absolutely considered moving out of academia and looking for other options, even in other countries,” said Sutanay Bhattacharya, who is pursuing a PhD in mathematics. “This has been a devastating time for me.”

UCSD can’t guarantee the first-year grad students will get full stipends and tuition, leading to job insecurity.

Cuts will especially hurt special education and disadvantaged students, starving public schools that provide a leadership role supporting many students with disabilities. San Diego Unified schools have seen Title I funding, which supports high-poverty schools, delayed by over a month. Republicans are holding those funds hostage as part of their fight against diversity, equity and inclusion.

“[San Diego Unified School Board President Cody Petterson] said that because California residents and businesses pay far more in federal taxes than they get in federal spending, Title I funding is California taxpayers’ money returning home,” the U-T reported.

UCSD is bracing for possible $500 million in annual cuts and shelving some building plans.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

Republican cuts are hitting research into HIV, domestic violence, and homicide against pregnant women and more. Research into an HIV vaccine has stopped, along with support for transgender people and autism research. The National Institutes of Health justifies the cuts with handwaving about equity.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/3…

As of mid-April, the Republican-led federal government had revoked visas for 35 international students at UC San Diego and one student at the University of San Diego. Faculty members at UCSD are concerned that international students could be discouraged from attending. The school has nearly 7,200 international students, many crucial to UCSD research, particularly in health, medicine and engineering. International students pay more than $40,000 annually in tuition and fees, about double the rate for California residents.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

Republican budget cuts threaten funding for San Diego museums, libraries and zoos.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

San Diego college faculty and students fear the Republican plan to investigate UC San Diego and other universities, deporting student activists and asserting control over academic programs.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/1…

“This is what fascist regimes do, and it’s kind of a code red for our universities,” said Adam Aron, a psychology professor at UC San Diego who is Jewish. “This is maybe the beginning if we don’t stand up and oppose this.”

Jewish faculty and students around the country, including in San Diego, Republicans are using antisemitism as a pretext to deport people for exercising their rights and crack down on academic freedom.

How Republicans are hurting San Diego’s public health

A nationwide clawback of federal public health funds is leading to the shutdown of the county’s wastewater testing system at the San Diego Epidemiology and Research for COVID Health program (SEARCH), jointly run by UCSD, Scripps Research Institute and the genomics program at Rady Children’s Hospital. The program started testing COVID-19 and expanded to include MPOX. Research is underway to detect influenza, hepatitis, measles and other pathogens.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

The cuts will make it harder to detect infectious diseases and jeopardize all of our health.

How Republicans are hurting San Diego businesses

San Diego and Baja California business leaders and elected officials went on a lobbying mission to Washington, D.C., this month to attempt to mitigate damage to the cross-border economy caused by tariffs. San Diego’s economy is closely linked to Mexico’s, and tariffs will hit us particularly hard.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

In one example, a San Diego small business owner is suing the Republican White House administration over a new financial reporting requirement that the administration claims is cracking down on money laundering by Mexican cartels. Esperanza Gomez Escobar, the owner and manager of Novedades y Servicios Plus, a money services business in San Diego’s Southcrest neighborhood, says the law will financially ruin businesses like hers, violate the Fourth Amendment, and do nothing to combat money laundering.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

These businesses provide check cashing, money transmitting, and foreign currency exchanges, and are already required to report transactions of $10,000 or more. The new rule requires those businesses in 30 targeted California and Texas ZIP codes, including seven in San Diego County, to report all transactions of $200 and over.

Business owners say that would essentially mean submitting costly reports for every transaction and requiring customers to turn over sensitive information such as their names and Social Security numbers, raising concerns that Republicans could use that information in their immigration crackdown.

And criminals will just go to another ZIP code.

“This is a family business … and we’ll have to close if this (order is enacted),” Gomez said.

Additionally, federal agents raided a family-owned business in unincorporated El Cajon, the San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings company, on allegations that the company knowingly employs undocumented immigrants. The company regularly contracts with the U.S. military.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/2…

How Republicans are hurting San Diego’s homeless

Father Joe’s Villages planned to break ground this year on affordable housing complexes downtown that would each hold more than 100 apartments, paid for in part by a multimillion-dollar federal grant. But now Father Joe’s is waiting until at least next year.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

As of late March, some $44 million in funding that local homeless service organizations had been promised had been frozen.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/3…

How Republicans are hurting migrants

As the border tightens, desperate migrants are turning to dangerous human smuggling by sea.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/0…

Migrant shelters around the county and in Tijuana are shutting their doors, following the cutoff in federal funds and immigration crackdowns.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/03/3…

And it’s not just migrants — Lucas Sielaff, a German national visiting Mexico from Las Vegas, was handcuffed and shackled and spent 16 days in a crowded detention center before being allowed to fly home to Germany. His fiancée, Lennon Tyler, an American citizen, was chained to a bench. Another German tourist, Jessica Brösche, spent over six weeks locked up, including over a week in solitary confinement. The incidents are part of an unprecedented crackdown that includes visitors from Western Europe and Canada, longtime U.S. allies.

timesofsandiego.com/crime/202…

Anecdotally, I’m hearing from friends and business associates in Europe who are canceling trips to the U.S. One friend who lives in the U.K., has visited the U.S. several times but now says he does not expect to visit again in his lifetime (my friend is 60), even though much of his income comes from U.S. business.

San Diego’s tourism economy is at risk if the U.S. comes to be perceived as a dangerous place for non-Americans to visit.

Local Japanese-Americans warn that the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which Republicans are using to persecute migrants today, is the same law used to justify the U.S.’s shameful internment of Japanese-Americans — about two-thirds of whom were American citizens — during World War II.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

Kay Ochi, president of the Japanese-American Historical Society of San Diego, notes that her parents, then 21 and 22, were born in San Diego. They were forced to leave the county and taken to an incarceration camp in the desert of Poston, Arizona.

“That was three years of pure hell,” she said.

About 2,000 people of Japanese descent lived in San Diego County at the time, and San Diego authorities applauded the incarceration, with measures approved by the City Council, County Board of Supervisors, and Chamber of Commerce. The city council, led by then-Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, a Democrat, formally apologized in 2022 and revoked the resolution. Elo-Rivera is still a council member.

What can we do?

A lot. We can demonstrate, we can support Democrats locally and around the country, we can donate and volunteer to our favorite causes and build community ties.

Supervisor Terra-Lawson Remer, a Democrat, laid out an ambitious plan in her recent State of the County Address to bolster services for vulnerable residents and shield the county from looming federal cuts.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/1…

The county is scrambling to address a $40 million hit to public health programs. Funding for Medicaid — which helps the county expand its behavioral health and substance-use treatment services — is also at risk after Congressional Republicans proposed cutting $880 billion over the next 10 years.

Lawson-Remer proposes a local tax ballot measure to offset federal cuts and boost services.

“We can raise the money ourselves, right here at home,” she said, “not by waiting, or begging for D.C. to do its job, but by taking the wheel of our own destiny and steering our own San Diego County ship through this storm.”

But we won’t be able to cushion Republican blows against San Diego if Republicans win a majority of the county Board of Supervisors — and that’s a distinct possibility. The board is now split evenly, 2-2, between Republicans and Democrats, with one vacant seat, in District 1. A special election to fill that seat is scheduled for July 1, pitting a popular Republican against Democrat and Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre. If you live in District 1, please vote for Paloma to help build a firewall against Republican damage, and regardless of where you live, please support her candidacy and get the word out to your friends and family in District 1 to vote.

www.paloma-aguirre.com

Ongoing Republican-led policies are causing tangible harm to San Diego across multiple critical sectors — from veterans’ healthcare and education to public health, local businesses, homelessness, and migrant communities. These cuts and crackdowns are not abstract or distant issues; they actively undermine the well-being and stability of San Diego’s residents and institutions. By supporting local leadership committed to protecting vulnerable populations and advocating for equitable funding and humane policies, San Diegans can work to mitigate these damages and steer the community toward a more just and sustainable future. The stakes are high, but so is the potential for meaningful change if the community unites and acts decisively.

Mitch Wagner is a member at large of the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club Board. He lives in La Mesa, a short walk from Lake Murray, with his wife, dog and cats. Contact Mitch at [email protected] and find his social media links at mitchwagner.com.

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reasonsforhope · 11 months ago

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"Malaria once cast a long shadow over Lao PDR [Laos]. In 1997, an estimated 462,000 people were infected with significant economic and social impacts.

Education and employment were disrupted, and countless lives were lost. The disease's grip extended far beyond the initial illness, with long-term health consequences a heavy burden on communities.

However, a dramatic shift has occurred. Thanks to accelerated strategies implemented by the National Malaria Control and Elimination Program, Ministry of Health and its partners, including the World Health Organization and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), malaria cases have dropped by over 90 percent over the past decade, with just 809 cases in 2023. The nation is now on the brink of eliminating Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite, by the end of 2025.

While many unsung heroes play crucial roles behind the scenes, including at the community level, a key group is laboratory technicians (microscopists). These dedicated individuals are the eyes on the ground, detecting, tracking, and monitoring malaria cases in high-risk areas...

While rapid tests are valuable tools, Somphan emphasizes the importance of microscopic examination – considered by WHO to be the “gold standard” for malaria diagnosis, and an important skill for every country’s health workforce to maintain for malaria elimination, and broader health security efforts.

Positively - her efforts, and the efforts of healthcare workers and health educators, are paying off.

"People are now more aware of malaria and its dangers," Somphan says. "They have come to understand the seriousness of malaria and the importance of early diagnosis and proper treatment. They now recognize that avoiding hospitalization could lead to prolonged illness and greater disruption to their lives…they are more likely to seek medical attention, even for mild symptoms."

The increasing number of patients coming for testing – sometimes up to 40 per day – is a testament to increased capacity and awareness in the community. But, she notes – they more increasingly have quiet days – a reflection of progress towards eliminating the disease."

-via USAID, August 20, 2024

#malaria #laos #public health #disease #southeast asia #microscope #microbiology #good news #hope

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globalnewscollective · 5 months ago

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The U.S. Department of Education Is Collapsing—Here’s What That Means for You

If you're in high school, college, grad school, or you owe student loans. Listen to this. It concerns you. This isn't a drill, and I want you to stick around to the end. I'll tell you exactly how it's going to impact you.

The U.S. Department of Education is going to lay off half of its more than 4,000 employees today, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Earlier today, the department told staff that DC offices would be closed on Wednesday and they would reopen on Thursday for security reasons. Employees were told to take their laptops home with them and to work remotely on Wednesday. They were also told that they would not be permitted in any education department facility on Wednesday for any reason.

Now combine this with the news that Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order directing the Secretary of Education to take steps to close the department. Maybe you think that it's not going to matter to you, but it does.

The Department of Education allocates billions of dollars in aid to colleges, to universities and to public schools at the K through 12 level. It also issues about $100 billion in student loans and more than $30 billion in Pell grants every single year. Cutting 50% of the staff makes it more likely that colleges, universities, and K through 12 schools won't receive their institutional aid. Pell grants may not be issued. Student loans may not be funded. FAFSA information may not be sent to your school, which means that other aid may also be held up. Without that money, millions of students won't be able to start next semester on time, or maybe not at all. Colleges may not have the funds necessary to remain operational. Student loan repayment plans will expire. Forgiveness applications won't be processed. The entire system is collapsing in real time, and nobody knows what happens next.

What’s Happening?

The U.S. Department of Education is experiencing massive cuts, leading to fears of widespread disruptions in student aid, school funding, and loan services. This move comes as part of a broader effort by conservatives to dismantle federal oversight in education, pushing responsibilities to individual states. With over 2,000 employees being laid off and the department’s ability to operate severely weakened, the ripple effects will be felt nationwide.

How This Affects You

Student Loans & Financial Aid: The Department of Education is responsible for distributing federal student aid, including Pell Grants, subsidized loans, and debt forgiveness programs. With half the workforce gone, these processes will slow to a crawl, leaving students unsure if they’ll receive their expected financial support.

Public School Funding: Many K-12 schools rely on federal funds to support special education programs, free and reduced lunch initiatives, and low-income student services. The disruption of these funds could devastate public school districts already struggling with tight budgets.

FAFSA & College Admissions: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a crucial step for students seeking tuition assistance. Without proper staffing, FAFSA applications may be delayed, and students could face uncertainty about their tuition costs.

School Closures & Higher Tuition: Colleges and universities that depend on federal funding to operate may be forced to raise tuition, cut programs, or even shut down entirely. Students at risk of losing their financial aid may drop out or delay their education indefinitely.

Why Is This Happening?

Trump and his allies have long pushed for the elimination of the Department of Education, arguing that education should be handled at the state level without federal oversight. This latest move to slash the department’s workforce is a step toward that goal. Trump’s expected executive order would accelerate this process, stripping the agency of its power to distribute funds, regulate schools, and enforce civil rights protections for students.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just a bureaucratic reshuffle—it’s an attack on the foundations of accessible education in America. The Department of Education exists to ensure that all students, regardless of income or background, have access to quality education. Its dismantling would disproportionately harm marginalized communities, lower-income students, and those relying on federal aid to pursue their education.

What Can You Do?

Stay informed and share this information with those affected.

Call your representatives and demand action to prevent further cuts.

Support organizations that advocate for student rights and education funding.

Vote in upcoming elections to hold policymakers accountable.

This isn’t a drill. The dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education is happening in real-time, and its consequences will be felt for years to come. If we don’t take action now, an entire generation’s access to education could be at risk.

#president trump #trump is a threat to democracy #us politics #white house #usa news #donald trump #trump administration #trump #america #us education #education #usa politics #politics

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recoveringsoulsposts · 5 months ago

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The Disappearance of Men

If men disappeared, global crime rates would drop significantly. Women and girls would be safer and truly free to live their lives. Racism, sexism, and homophobia would be far less prevalent. There would be no terrorism, no religious extremism, no oppression, and vile porn sites would shut down. Human trafficking rings would be eradicated. No genocides, no pedophilia, no sexual crimes, no wars—no need for hierarchical oppressive systems. Society would be free from the depravity and sickness that poison every facet of our lives which are predominately caused by men.

The disappearance of Men will cause temporary disruption in regards to the workforce, other than that the world would be a lot more of a safe, peaceful and far more of an ethical society to live under.

The disappearance of men would be truly achieving the idealistic vision we currently have of world peace.

#radical feminism #4b movement #feminism #recoveringsoul28 #radical feminist community #4b #women's rights #radical feminist safe #women #free afghan women #recoveringsoulessays

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wonnieluv · 7 months ago

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I met you in the dark… you lit me up - p.js

Summary: The small cafe down the street became your safe haven from the busy life you’ve thrusted yourself into after moving to Seattle this past summer. It’s quiet, calm, warm… everything you could want until one day a cute guy with his guitar disrupts your peace and quiet

stranger!Jay x fem!reader,

warnings: none! mentions of loneliness but that’s about it

masterlist

June 2024 — you aren’t quite sure how everything happened… one morning you were chatting with your parents as they make you breakfast as they always did… the next thing you know you’re on a plane moving halfway across the country to a city you have quite literally never been to. You were never the adventurous type. Not in high school, definitely not in college, and, until now, not after college either.

Y/N L/N. In school, you weren’t the valedictorian, you weren’t even salutatorian. But you were smart. Just smart enough to pass under everyone’s radars in high school but get on the radars of some of the best schools in the country. After finally graduating with your masters, you’re now in your way to Seattle to start your first big job out of college at a major tech company. You were excited for the job but moving to a new city where you knew no one… it’s not an easy thing.

♡♡︎♡︎♡︎

November, 2024 — it’s been 5 months since your life was put into high gear. After you settled into your apartment you immediately started up wanted to get acclimated to your job as quick as possible. Your coworkers are nice and your boss is nice enough but the workload… it’s nothing you can’t do. In fact it’s actually pretty easy. So why are you so burnt out?

The real reason is you’ve been going on autopilot, working deadline to deadline. It felt robotic really but you don’t want to admit you’d fallen victim to the capitalist tech workforce. You brushed it off, it’ll go away eventually… right? (Spoiler alert it did not)

One random Sunday you decided you needed to stop spending your days off rotting in bed when the sun is actually shining (a rarity for Seattle in the winter you’ve come to discover). You found the quaintest little cafe down the street from your apartment. Entering the space, you hear the chime of the bell above the door and you’re overcome by the aroma. It’s coffee, of course it’s coffee, but it’s coffee and something else. It’s coffee with the perfect amount of cream and sugar and it’s so welcoming. The space isn’t very busy surprisingly so you head to the counter to make your order.

Ever since that day you began to come to the cafe every Sunday. You’d sit at your spot by the window next to the fireplace. Bathing in the aroma of the cafe and shamelessly watching the people as they pass the on the street and as November turned to December, you started spending more time there. It was always peaceful and never crowded, nice and quiet. A good contrast to the noise that seemed to always be populating your mind.

♡♡︎♡︎♡︎

December 15th, 2024 — You did it! You survived to the holidays, well… almost. Next Thursday you’d be flying home to spend Christmas and New Years with your family getting a nice break from work. This fast approaching break definitely reflected on your mood. You had an extra pep in your step and a smile on your face as you walked into the cafe for the last Sunday before you return home.

As you settle into your comfy seat by the window, you begin to hear light strumming on a guitar. You try to ignore it as it’s not super loud at this point and you prefer to just watch people outside with little to no noise from elsewhere. I mean… that’s what drew you to this quiet cafe anyways.

You were pretty successful in your attempts to tune out the guitar until the most honey-like voice drifted into your ears. Soft and warm, with a slight rasp to it. You couldn’t help but turn your head to face the voice.

The second you did your eyes were met with the face you weren’t expecting but you were entranced. You’d never seen this man in the cafe before. He had a strong jawline with fierce eyes that held a soft light to them that matched the words he was singing. There were maybe 3 other people in the little cafe besides you, but it felt like he was staring into your soul as he sang the song. You couldn’t pull yourself to look away.

As his song needed his eyes lingered in a prolonged eye-contact with you before he looks away

“Thank you” he says into the microphone before beginning his next song.

For the first time since you entered the cafe you didn’t stare at the window the entire time you were there. You kept your focus on the beautiful man playing his guitar with his beautiful voice. Without your knowledge, an hour had passed until he finally put his guitar down and got up. Him accepting a coffee and talking with the workers. You saw this as your cue to leave and get on with your Sunday.

As you pass their table to head for the door you try to eavesdrop on their conversation. Any clues to hopefully tell you more about this singer. You didn’t know why you wanted to know but you just had to figure out something.

“I was surprised to hear you were coming Sunday, the Wednesday night crowd wasn’t enough anymore?” You hear the owner chuckle as you pass

“Well you know how it is…” His response gets lost as you exit the cafe head full of thoughts

Wednesday nights huh?

♡♡︎♡︎♡︎

December 18th, 2024 — You were never the adventurous type. Not in high school, definitely not in college, and, until now, not after college either. You liked routines, you liked schedules. Knowing where you had to be and when. It was easy to plan your life around a schedule. Wednesdays were your nights where you’d get takeout and watch some shitty romcom in the solitude of your apartment as a celebration for getting halfway through the week.

So why were you standing outside the entrance of the cafe hoping a certain brown haired boy the chiseled jaw and beautiful honey voice would be inside?

You couldn’t even answer the question yourself…

As you entered the cafe, you’re shocked by the amount of people inside. The normally empty cafe was bustling. It wasn’t completely full but almost every table had an occupant with everyone chattering amongst themselves.

You forgo your coffee this evening and decide to plop down and the open table you saw. It’s towards the back, not your usual spot by the window but it’s in that general area.

Just as you settle into the atmosphere the crowd dies down a bit as you see the cafe owner head onstage with his microphone

“Welcome everyone! I’m so glad you could all make it out this evening” As he rambled on about the bad weather and the holiday spirit, you’re eyes wandered looking for the specific boy you sacrificed your romcoms for.

“Without further ado, the guy you all came here for, please welcome Jay”

Jay, So that’s this name…

You think to yourself as he walks onto the makeshift stage with his guitar in hand.

“Good evening everyone…” he begins softly.

“I know I’m here every week but it’s still touching to see how many people show up.”

All these people… are here for him…?

It’s almost mind boggling to you that that many people would gather in this quiet coffee shop to hear him sing but at the same time you understand it. He’s irresistible.

You’re brought out of your thoughts as he begins strumming his guitar. It’s not the same as any of the songs he played last Sunday. You zero in on him wanting to fully focus on him but to yourself surprise… you’re eyes meet his as he begins to sing

I met you in the dark, you lit me up

You can’t look away. He’s mesmerizing. His beautiful dark eyes are pulling you in

You made me feel as though, I was enough

You’re memorizing his facial features as if this is the last moment you’ll see him. His voice is so soft, it’s as if he’ll disappear at any moment

We danced the night away, we drank too much

I held your hair back when, you were throwing up

You look away for a moment needing to catch your breath. You’ve never met this man so why is he staring you down as if you’ve known him your whole life? Like he can see write through you. Like he can read your thoughts…

I knew I loved you then, but you’d never know

As his voice continued you opt to close your eyes and lightly sway in your seat

Darling your love is more than worth its weight in gold

You’ve never been at peace like this. His voice was like a ray of sunshine streaming through the window in the evening as the sky is the mist beautiful shades of orange and pink.

Just say you won’t let go, oh just say you won’t let go

As he finished the last few lines, the guitar begins to fade out you open your eyes again to clap with the rest of the crowd. You look around at all the warm smiles gracing peoples faces. You look back at him in awe. But to your surprise he’s already looking at you with a warm smile on his face. As your gazes meet he holds your gaze for a long second before looking around the rest of the crowd

“Thank you…” he says

The next 30 minutes continue with him gracing the audience with his beautiful voice. The small crowd cooped up in the little coffee shop shielded from the cold and rain of Seattle in the winter. Every now and then looking in your direction for a couple seconds but not like he did during the first song.

He finishes his last song with an applause from the audience. It’s now going on 9PM and you know realistically you should get going home but you can’t get yourself to move from your seat at the back of the cafe. You watch as the people begin to leave the cafe exchanging their goodbyes with friends as they part their separate ways. It almost brings a sense of loneliness.

You haven’t really connected with anyone since coming to Seattle. Your coworkers are nice but you can’t see that much of a friendship stemming from the business relationship you’ve got at the moment.

Maybe that’s why you’ve enjoyed the cafe so much. You’re around people again but you don’t have to worry about talking to them past the cashiers taking your order.

You’re so lost in your thoughts you don’t notice a presence next to you.

“Excuse me ma’am. We’re going to close up now” you turn to see the barista smiling at you. You take a second to look around seeing as you’re the only person left besides the workers and Jay

“Oh of course! I apologize. Have a good evening” you smile at the barista as you collect your things and head for the door.

You spare one final look at the man packing up his guitar before stepping out into the rain.

Did I say rain? Oh sorry. I meant thunderstorm. It seems in the quiet hour you spent within the cozy walls of the cafe, a thunderstorm had rolled in despite the fact that there was no rain practically all day.

You sigh as you put your arms up in a futile attempt to cover yourself from the never ending rain. Your apartment is maybe a 10 minute walk from the cafe so you aren’t worried. More annoyed than anything.

You step out from the overhang as you begin your walk home but for some reason, you feel no rain. Your hands are dry above your head, you don’t feel any droplets fall on you.

With a confused expression you look up to see yourself covered by an umbrella. As you look down at the hand holding it, you trace your eyes to meet the face of the owner and before you know it you’re eyes are locked onto those deep eyes that had you mesmerized just moments ago

“I- ummm. Thank you..?” It almost comes out as a question. Internally face palming yourself for letting your nervousness show

You hear a chuckle in response “Why are you trying to walk without an umbrella in this weather?”

“I forgot mine at home I guess…” you respond a little embarrassed

“You aren’t from here are you”

“That obvious?” You playfully ask

“Almost…” he starts “I also think I would’ve remembered a face like yours if I’d seen it here before”

You’re eyes shoot back up to his face in surprise but once you lock eyes again you look away in embarrassment

“Let me walk you home…” he asks softly. “The rain won’t be letting up soon and you’ll get sick without an umbrella”

“You don’t even know my name” you counter his offer

“Well that can be changed can’t it” he holds out his other hand that’s not holding the umbrella for a handshake

“Jongseong Park. But everyone calls me Jay”

“Y/N…” you shake his hand as you look into his eyes

“Well then… lead the way Y/N” You nod. Hesitate to turn away from his face and let go of his hand but you do anyways

The short walk to your apartment consists of you telling Jay your story and why you live in Seattle now and your plans to go got for the holidays and him telling you his story. He was born and raised in Seattle and currently works with his father but likes to sing on the side. It’s only 10 minutes but if felt like half and hour as you couldn’t stop smiling in his presence.

You stop outside of your apartment complex backing out from under the umbrella to stand under the overhang.

“Thank you… for sharing your umbrella and walking me back” you smile sheepishly at him

“No problem” he offers a soft smile

The two of you stand there for a moment neither wanting to walk away

“Give me your phone” you blurt

“Why…?” He hesitantly asks but pulls his phone out nonetheless

“I need to repay you for letting me use your umbrella but I can’t reach you without your phone number now can I” you reason. Trying your very hardest to play it cool but inside you’re dying as you hand his phone back.

“You make a point but I have to warn you” he begins “I drive a pretty high price” he teases.

“Well then… I guess I’ve got my work cut out for me” you tease back

You fall into another comfortable silence the two of you glance into each others eyes.

“I’ll see you around Jay…” you say softly

“See you around Y/N…” he responds with a soft smile as he watches you enter your building before heading on his way home.

As you enter your apartment you giggle to yourself feeling giddy about this new character you’ve just brought into your life.

Jay…

You say his name to yourself with a smile on your face. The rapid beat of your heart tells you that the boy who entranced you at the small local cafe may become something a lot bigger in your life soon.

And all of the sudden, you want to take the risk…

Part 2 is now up! Read here :)

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