Archive for the 'day in the pants' Category

a day in his pants: the posh deluxe interview with steve benham

Published by
Sarah
July 18, 2008 in day in the pants. 2 Comments

while friday interviews are always a treat, today’s “in the pants” is even MORE deluxe than usual.

how, you may ask, is that possible?!

well, because i like to answer questions i have inferred from the audience, i’ll tell you!

for today’s interview, i’ve enlisted the intrepid reporting skills of one of my favorite rice folks, olivia, aka miss world traveler pants, in order to introduce you to another favorite owl of mine, stephen benham.

i know, i know, it’s gonna be great!!!!

but before i hand the reins over to the highly capable and lovely olivia, i want to give you a (brief) rundown of my friendship with steve.

this picture, taken at winston’s wedding, totally explains the charm of our friendship: me being hokey, steve putting up with me while pretending that he doesn’t have the biggest heart in the universe.

it’s obvious that steve and i were meant to be friends, simply because destiny threw us into the same freshman orientation group (along with a certain mr. joshua katz). my first impression of steve was that he was huge, and he sweated more than anyone i’d ever met in my life (sorry, steve, but you know it’s true). i chalked the latter up to the fact that his body was used to the minnesota winters and not, unfortunately for his shirt, acclimated to the scorching texas summer.

steve was, and still is, an extremely intelligent guy with a rare, charming mix of dry wit and the inclination towards ridiculously boisterous carousing. he’s the kind of person you can talk to about *anything*– the politics of south america, german culture, how his pursuit of girls compares to the patterns of desert animals. during our freshman year, steve would come to my room and listen to my conversations with amber, then psychoanalyze us both. i also had the unique pleasure of getting to know him via ballroom dance, which we both took for a PE credit. the key to a good dancing partner, in my opinion, isn’t about the swiftness of their feet but rather, the grace of their conversation. in other words, i loved dancing with steve.

there’s a lot more i could say, but it’s time for olivia’s entrance. and so, i will leave you with a link to steve’s blog, where you can learn even more about why i love this fantastic specimen of a human being and miss him terribly (he lives in germany, fyi).

take it away, olivia!

* * *

Twas the early days of blogging. I met Steve online, indirectly through Sarah. Namely, Sarah urged me repeatedly to blog, basically every week in our half-price-cake meetups, and I finally acquiesced in summer 2003. And then I was suddenly party to this whole group of amazing people and writers. Steve and I started emailing about Romania, and I immediately enjoyed our exchanges. How could I not, when he had such sympathetic and well-written answers and responses to my post-graduation funk, when I was wondering how Rice had let me out with such a limited amount of knowledge? He wrote: “At that point however, there was just this terrible disappointing nostalgia, knowing that it was over and wondering what the hell it was all about.” And so our friendship was born. We emailed all summer, but really started to talk a bit more when I started my research/fellowship in Central Asia. I would be at some random journalist organization in Kazakhstan, etc., and he would be an insomniac in New York. It worked out well. We’ve had some pretty intense and amazing conversations, ranging from life abroad to love to politics (those conversations can end up in arguments) to family, and I’ve always really valued this. Steve is one of the most amazing friends I’ve ever had, mixing openness and compassion and hilarity and intelligence flawlessly. Winston sings his praises as well in his interview.

Since then we’ve talked across numerous time zones on the internet, once or twice on the phone, and even in real life, and Steve’s become one of my best friends, although we didn’t actually meet until I moved to DC in the fall of 2005. We hung out lots in DC, but haven’t seen each other since I moved away, although we are planning to meet up soon. Anyway, on to the questions. To best simulate our usual talking style, Sarah’s allowed/encouraged us to hold this interview by chat. Steve’s joining from Germany.

[now we're live]

Steve: Hi Olivia. This would be more exciting if you were in the United States.

Olivia: Why is that?

Steve: Well we are only one hour apart, same continent technically, only a two hour flight. Besides, we used to do this stuff via a NYC/Kyrgyzstan connection. It feels a bit cheap don’t you think?

Olivia: Yes definitely. I think it is best if it’s at least 5 hours. But at least you are staying up appropriately late.

Steve: True, but given the obvious massive time differences and the trans-Atlantic logistics involved, Sarah had to turn to her champion interviewer and brought you aboard.

Olivia: It’s almost the middle of the night, just like old times.

Steve: Old times, yes, we spent many nights together didn’t we … virtual nights I mean, and not of virtual nights one might have with some women in Eastern Europe. Though speaking of Eastern Europe, Sarah did introduce me to you because I was living in Romania and you were in the US, but I guess it wasn’t until we switched hemispheres until we really started talking.

Olivia: Which brings me to my first question: Steve, I’m really happy you never sleep because it means I can talk to you. But really: why don’t you ever sleep?

Steve: Well, I do sleep, as demonstrated this morning when I overslept. The police arrested some crazy screaming man outside my balcony at six am which woke me up, so after a quick shower I decided to get a bit more of the sweet shut-eye. Next thing you know, its 10:34 and the blackberry is full of messages.

Olivia: Back in the day though, you were always online when I was up and even now I see you manning the google or AIM chat at strange hours for Germany.

Steve: True. I guess I don’t sleep when most people do, which became abundantly clear to me when I was assigned to live with a certain other interviewee of this blog my freshman year who was most definitely a diurnal type. Then I finally admitted my inability to conform to conventional circadian rhythms.

Olivia: Ooh, alliteration.

Steve: Exactly. In high school I tried to get a job at this Mobil station to work the third shift. Unfortunately the Medina Mobil wasn’t having me. Nor was the Subway sandwich shop right next door for that matter. But I did end up working nights at a warehouse for three summers and during Christmas before and during college. Excellent job.

Olivia: So is that what makes you a good lawyer?

Steve: The warehouse? No. Really, the Mobil station was just because it seemed cool and well the Subway, I think I screwed up the easy math answers on the back of the application. Couldn’t figure out the change for a twenty when the hypothetical customer ordered a six-inch cold cut with double meat. Maybe that’s a good thing, otherwise I could be a sandwich artist today.

Olivia: The not sleeping.

Steve: Ah, it makes me a lawyer who can work when others are asleep. Sometimes that is all you need. (low bar)

Olivia: Okay, but can you tell us a bit about your job? (I know you, like most of us, can’t talk much about work on the internets, but some little morsels of info are fine…)

Steve: I work in Frankfurt at a law firm. Law firms are their own bizarre subculture with blogs and rumors and knowing glances among those of us that went to law school. In a nutshell, I am a corporate lawyer, specializing in things like capital markets, finance and some m&a. In other words … the kind that can’t help my family members.

Olivia: But it’s interesting, right?

Steve: Interesting enough. I mean, I find it bores most people who aren’t lawyers and really people that aren’t corporate lawyers or otherwise involved in some sort of finance banking role. It bores me at times, but I have learned a ton and I am challenged on almost a daily basis, occasionally far beyond where my comfort zone lies.

Olivia: Okay, enough of that (jk): So how did you end up in Germany?

Steve: A complicated question that I have to answer all the time over here. This time, well, our German practice was desperate for people, I spoke the language and it came at the perfect instant where nothing was necessarily keeping me in DC at the time. I mean, I didn’t even do the kind of law that I do now.

steve and friends in copenhagen, october 2004.

Olivia: But you speak the language and have spent a lot of time there. What made you do that?

Steve: Really serendipity I guess. I picked it in seventh grade under the impression that I had some meager German ancestry like pretty much every white person in the US. In hindsight I should have picked Spanish, much more useful than German and my Januarys could be in Buenos Aires or Barcelona, slightly more awesome than Frankfurt. But seventh grade turned into eighth, into high school, then at Rice I had some time and I was like, well, might as well perfect this one than jump ship, which in the end was a good decision.

Olivia: And how did you end up deciding to go?

Steve: Well, I wanted to study abroad and thought anywhere that spoke English was a cop out. I wanted a big city and next thing you know I found myself in Berlin in ’99 where I could barely utter a word of German after I hit the ground. But a year later I had realized it was the best year of my life and kept going back.

Olivia: Berlin is a cool city, I hear.

Steve: Yes, and well it was 1999 and it was back before it was the coolest city ever, which by proxy makes me hip … oh wait, I’m a corporate lawyer. No, it is unbelievable. I still tell everyone to go, to see as much as they can, and soak it all in.

steve and fellow wiessman, hilary, in berlin, 1999.

Olivia: Why was it the best year of your life?

Steve: Well, 20 years old is often one of the best years of your life. And 24 was a pretty great year as was 17. So there are a lot of great years.

Olivia: But now you’re, what? 29?

Steve: Exactly and in Frankfurt, not exactly Berlin in 1999, but it has its charms. It gets maligned by some, and well, it is a city designed for bankers, lawyers and accountants. It is possibly the most convenient city in Germany, and well, also very easy to leave if you need to. Like to Manchester!

Olivia: Ha. Okay. So I know your family is important to you. Tell me about that. You’ve got a mom and dad and 2 brothers. Tell me something funny or inspiring about them.

Steve: My brothers are 28 and 27, and we are a year and 3 days and a year and 27 days apart. So there is very little time that I can imagine not having them around. We fought a lot, but we were three boys who all wrestled, so such things were expected, but you know, we always used to team up to be a fighting force in the neighborhood if any one of us was threatened. Very inspiring.

the benham men, looking totes adorable.

Olivia: And something funny?

Steve: funny … well, there is my dad. And well, I love the guy, but as old men are wont to do, he is slowly turning into crazy old man.

Olivia: Yes! I love this part. Tell us more.

Steve: Well, my dad has retired and he is wired into the markets and the internet, watching CNBC, bloomberg and the like. And well, he talks about the collapse of the capital markets as we know it, downfall of western civilization, all while shooting off on average, two to three angry emails a day, be it to the White House, senators, federal agencies, tv stations. He used to cc me on them, but after I asked not to be put on his watch list, he just sends them to me after the fact.

Olivia: Do you have any examples of his work, or is that too personal?

Steve: Ah, well from a pure literary perspective, my favorite quote was an early one he wrote to Mitch McConnell.

“Today’s vote is one of those rare occurrences where patriotic principle dovetails with political common sense. It’s really a no-brainer! I implore you not to vote with the craven, anti-patriotic, greed-driven forces and the lamest of lame duck Presidents. If you do not heed my humble advice, I predict you will live to regret it. Even if you can swim, I believe you will go down along with the hopelessly sinking ship known as the Bush Presidency.”

Olivia: Truly dramatic.

Steve: They are getting a little more absurdist lately, and I think he has inspired his brother to do the same. But he enjoys it, and I tell him to back away from the computer once in a while, so what can you do. Sometimes I’m afraid I am heading there, you know, to crazy old man land.

Olivia: Isn’t that what we all hope for?

Steve: Ha, not completely sure, but you know, he is a pretty awesome dad, and frankly will do anything for us, including driving to North Carolina at the drop of a hat to pick up my marine brother if he gets even 72 hours of leave and then drive him back at the end which is incredible when you think about it.

Olivia: But it’s because he loves you, and that time is important to him. And your mom? I know you really look up to her.

Steve: I look down on them all as the tallest on all sides of the family, but she is pretty great too and as non-judgmental in comparison to my old man. I feel bad she had to raise three boys and really a fourth when you count my dad. By the way, interviews are strange beasts, you catch someone at the right moment, you never know what will come out.

look how tiny steve’s mom is!!!!

Olivia: Yeah, but that’s good

Steve: True, but not often fair. But I guess I’m not cutting off anyone’s nuts here.

Olivia: Ah, yes, an Obama fan. So, you travel more than I do, and I think you’ve got more countries than I have. Right?

Steve: Ha, doubtful. A certain person, who we will call Jen Bohnson, and I have a contest about our passport stamps and we try to get more “exotic” or “exciting” countries. We talk a lot of trash and have kind of decided the first person to Antartica wins. But the sad thing is Jen’s mom reads your blog and thinks that you have us both beat. It is humbling to try to compare travel stories with you.

Olivia: Ha, but I think it’s not true.

jen and steve on one of their many exotic, totally international adventures.

Steve: no, you have been to um … war zones. I’ve been to … Scandinavia! Exotic!

Olivia: Europe’s got a lot of small countries, though, and I haven’t been to, like, Paris.

Steve: Eh you can get Paris when you are old. Same with Stockholm.

Olivia: What’s your favorite city?

Steve: Other than Berlin, probably Cape Town [ed. note: check out Steve's blog about it]. Just heartbreaking beauty and terrible contrast combined with a wonderful people and great food. Oh, and the beach and incredible vistas and nature right near by. I want to go back, but I fear for South Africa these days. We will see what happens by 2010, but you had to be careful. The violence and how pervasive it was in South Africa was truly stunning. I just hope they can pull off the world cup. The truth is, FIFA is already out lining up alternates, which everyone always does, but rarely as publicly.

Olivia: So. Introduce us to Esteban. Can you explain to me – and more importantly the readers – who Esteban is? You knew this question was coming.

Steve: Ah, Esteban. Esteban was conceived back in the summer of 2003 when I lived in Bucharest [ed note: you can read more about the conception of esteban here]. One of my friends there thought my idea of a blog was mildly ridiculous, along with the picture that I posted on it. It was, I won’t deny that, but that was the conception, because well, a blog is exactly what Esteban would do.

Olivia: What else would Esteban do?

Steve: Well, Esteban is a combination of characteristics and attitudes of Americans who are abroad. My friend Jeremy and I discussed at length a this theoretical person, finding several characteristics, usually he is one of those American study-abroad types, who likely went to a smaller liberal arts college, he probably plays soccer or perhaps lacrosse and the guitar, fancies himself an intellectual and is almost always morally superior, can’t help but to constantly criticize the United States when abroad, could very well have a goatee, the type that travels all the time and is very much in danger of become the guy who is in the youth hostel when he probably shouldn’t be anymore, but also doesn’t want to get a real job to be able to pay for anything more upscale. Esteban dates women from other countries and often feels that he is getting a more authentic experience because of it, generally grew up in a very upper middle class to upper class home (think Westchester, Massapequa, Glen Ridge in NYC, McLain or much of Montgomery County in DC), believes he alone is blessed with a special insight, one that allows him to keenly observe and comment on cultures and peoples with a modicum of exposure, and he also thinks that he is going native, eschewing contact with other Americans and tourists, or at least eyeing them with distrust while assuming that there is something superior to his presence.

Olivia: I think that is a pretty good list of characteristics. Why the name Esteban?

Steve: oh, I could go on. The name is actually yet another trait of a classic Esteban. He is the type that never introduces himself by his American name, rather choosing the local translation instead. It’s not, Hi, I’m Stephen. Oh no … it is hola, yo soy Esteban, ich bin Stefan, il mio nome è Stefano or mon nom est Etienne. In other words, a total douchebag.

Olivia: Ha. I may have met an Esteban or two. Do you think you have ever been an Esteban?

Steve: I am sure you have, more likely dozens. We all have and you probably could name a few right now, but it is important also to remember, we all have a little Esteban in us. I know I do, and I have to remember to keep my inner Esteban in check, while embracing the things that makes living abroad and travel so wonderful.

i don’t actually know what inner part of himself steve was embracing in this photo.

Olivia: Excellent segue into my next question. Do you miss the US and do you want to go back?

Steve: I definitely do and I see myself getting back one of these days. A friend of mine Roger told me that I need to avoid becoming one of those old single guys who just ends up living abroad and starts to kind of well, go Esteban one might say. Right now I am on an extended assignment and will have the option to return in a year or two, and we will see what I feel like then. I took this job back in the day because I knew this would be an opportunity and then when it arose, and I was 27, I just started to think, well, it is not going to get any easier. It meant leaving family, friends who are hitting the lifetime milestone age, and that is hard sometimes to realize. But at the same time, your life moves on no matter what, and I feel grateful I have the opportunity and chance to grow and experience perhaps a somewhat different perspective than I might have had otherwise.

Olivia: A different perspective is one of those benefits I guess.

Steve: One of those things that is both incredible and frustrating about learning a language and at least from my perspective, learning a culture like I have here. You end up straddling the line between being a part of what is going on and still the outsider. This is incredible in the way that it affords one a freedom to not constantly be in conformity with society and the way it is.

Olivia: Can you give me an example of that?

Steve: Well, being a token American in an office full of Germans allows you almost to be freer to be yourself, hey I wear jeans, but that’s because he’s the American. In a country like this where a majority of people will wait for the crosswalk light to change at three am when there is nothing for miles, it makes things easier. But at the same time, you are still an outsider, with that outsider perspective. Maybe that does not completely make sense in an interview like this, but it is something I think about and consider a lot here. It can be psychologically stressful and there are often times when frankly I am Germaned out. But hey, I am going on vacation in a week, so what can you say.

Olivia: Where to?

Steve: five leg journey for three weeks, FRA – JFK – BUE – SCL – WAS – FRA, Frankfurt, NYC, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Washington and Frankfurt, should be awesome. Jen Bohnson might even join me on a leg or two.

i love this photo, cos it totally captures what happens when steve and ben, i mean, jen, get together.

Olivia: So finally, what will you miss about Germany?

Steve: of course the next question. The bread, the cheese, the trains, the Bauhaus tradition in furniture and the way they design their windows here (really, that would be one of the first things I would bring back to the states, the windows are incredible), the Christmas markets, Berlin (even though I haven’t been in years now, too much nostalgia), the news here, the beer and the ability to actually drink it in a park or in public, Altkönigstrasse, the main tower, the people I work with including the greatest secretary on earth and the sensation that you get almost every day that you have figured out how to live in a foreign country. After tangling with bureaucracy here, getting things like cable installed, finding an apartment, dealing with banks, 19% VAT, television tax and a language that has taken ages to master, I feel like I have accomplished something. Maybe it’s stupid, but well, it’s the simple pleasures in life.

Olivia: We have the television tax in Britain too, and it’s ridiculous considering I only get four channels. Now onto the important stuff - what is yr secret power?

Steve: Well I am blessed with a special insight, one that allows me to keenly observe and comment on cultures and peoples with a modicum of exposure, but unfortunately I can’t grow a goatee. For real though, indefatigability. I have no idea if that’s a word, but it works in light of your first question. Oh, and I can also sleep in strange positions in airports.

Olivia: Ha. do you sleep in jimjams? what kind?

Steve: um no. no jimjams, not since the footie pjs when I was a kid and well, they never designed those zippers right.

Olivia: what is yr #1 favorite food?

Steve: super easy, quiche lorraine! My mom makes the greatest, though I haven’t eaten it in years.

Olivia: what is yr top restaurant recommendation in yr town (or close by). what’s the best thing on the menu?

Steve: well Frankfurt is not known for constant culinary delights, but tops expensive – Knoblauch, a French place three streets away that does a Seeteufel mit Speckmantel! Um yea, Monkfish with Bacon Jacket! Seriously, who says no to that – a bacon jacket! Only a communist. I wish I had a bacon jacket. But cheap, that would be döner from köylü. Finest döner in Frankfurt. I challenge you to find me a tastier one in this cosmopolitan international banking center.

so when you go to frankfurt, look for this place. steve will most likely be siting right there.

Olivia: Yumm, I want a bacon jacket. Tell me about yr top area of expertise.

Steve: Then I don’t have to call you a communist. Expertise would be the pre Tunnel of Love albums of Bruce Springsteen. Ok, I know, a bit out of touch. But look, my dad is from Jersey and I sometimes call people a ‘class act’ when I am scolding them.

Olivia: Scolding, huh? what was yr favorite item of clothing as a child?

Steve: anything ocean pacific or Zubaz! Actually we got the knock-off Zubaz because the real ones were too expensive, much like real girbaud jeans and hypercolor t-shirts. I hope people know what Zubaz are because it might have been a Minnesota thing, now I feel the need to link them - http://www.zubaz.com/ - imagine the target knock-offs. The ladies in seventh grade loved Zubaz!

Olivia: I’ll have to check those out. what was yr favorite toy as a child? (the moody bonus question)

Steve: g.i. joes and castle greyskull.

Olivia: what do you plan on doing when you’re 80?

Steve: I have yet to plan Buenos Aires yet, give me some time.

Olivia: if you could assemble yr own ocean’s 11, who would you pick and why?

Steve: my brothers, the more benhams the better, winston because I will surely need a doctor before it’s done, Josh because there are never enough lawyers and well, maybe some germans? no, no germans, I’d rather go with five people.

Olivia: what is yr best karaoke song?

Steve: as you know because you have seen me do it - it is born to run - which I might add, I sang last Friday in a terrible bar. I went down, found it, picked it out, took it to the mildly retarded dj who was running the most popular karaoke bar in town and he gave me a quizzical look and said he didn’t know what that was. It was at that point I was afraid the art has passed me by.

Olivia: I was drunk that night so don’t remember “Born to Run” specifically.

Steve: That’s why it sounded so awesome.

steve, born to play the tambourine at a karaoke bar.

Olivia: I will take your word - do people ever tell you that you look like someone famous? who?

Steve: actually, no.

Olivia: tell me something scandalous!

Steve: [REDACTED FOR SECURITY REASONS]

Olivia: That will be censored.

Steve: Censorship! On poshdeluxe and being interviewed by such an intrepid journalist?! The infringement of our basic rights has finally entered the blogosphere, long thought to be the last refuge of freedom of speech, and by proxy true democracy. But yet it crumbles even here, as the forces of totalitarianism creep across the internet, choking out even the last gasp of the marketplace of ideas. The American public weeps today.

Olivia: I think you are turning into your father.

Steve: hmm, maybe I am.

yay! this interview was wonderful, which comes as no surprise, since it was the work of two wonderful people. many thanks to steve, who is awesome, and olivia, who is also awesome.

LINKS

i’ve been meaning to link to this all week– make sure you check out the latest masterpiece from joss whedon, dr. horrible. i could describe it but… joss made it. that’s all you need to know.

whoah, check out this totally badass grandma who fought off two robbers with a broom!

little emily is now equipped with the best “so, when i was a kid, i got to meet the president…” story, ever.

just in case you needed more evidence that slash’s mom is the coolest lady ever, here you go.

a day in her pants: the posh deluxe interview with selina keilani

Published by
Sarah
July 11, 2008 in day in the pants. 6 Comments

ladies and gentlemen, today i am extremely pleased to present to you an interview with the lovely selina keilani.

to regular readers of le blog, selina’s face is no doubt familiar to you, especially since i recently wrote about her ultra wonderful wedding at the beginning of june.

one might assume that i met selina through erica g., given the fact that they’ve been best friends since they attended UT together. but you know what happens when you AssUMe.

i actually met selina in 2005 through k.c., who suggested that selina talk to me about my graduate program at UT (she was considering it at the time). over lunch, i realized that we knew a lot of the same people, including henri; consequently, after that meeting, we started running into each other and then, eventually, we began planning to run into each other. she is now a regular fixture on the girlie night circuit, as well as one of my highly select Power Lunch Players, since we both work on campus.

although the word “multicultural” tends to be (in my opinion) overused by society, i can say, with utmost confidence and esteem, that selina is one of the most multicultural people i know. she speaks arabic, dances the samba, takes portuguese classes and practices islam, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS. this girl has a fierce case of global curiosity, and she pursues all of her interests with incredible passion. in fact, that’s probably the trait i admire most– her enthusiastic embrace of cultures. if more people in america were like selina, we’d totally get voted Most Popular by all of the other countries, as opposed to the way we’ve viewed now (uh, Most Conceited? Most Stupidest?). not to mention the fact that we’d all be trilingual, which would rule.

it’s been a pleasure to get to know selina over these past few years, not only because i gained a great friend but also because there’s so many *layers* to this girl. it’s not often that you find yrself in a conversation with a friend, saying, “oh, you and yr family fled kuwait during the gulf war? i see.” or “ok, so let me get this straight. while i spent most of my childhood summers at the public library, you were in… spain.”

i value different perspectives highly in friends, and selina adds something absolutely unprecedented to my mix… something invaluable, actually.

selina and me, forming a v. lonely (BUT DEFIANT AND STRONG) red rover team on field day, 2008.

so let’s get this interview started, then you can see what i mean!

p.s. selina, like jennifer, did an AMAZING job of putting together photos for me. you will THANK HER when you see some of these gems.

ok, let’s start by discussing your international (some might say superspy!) background. you are the only person i know who spent her childhood in kuwait. tell me what that was like! oh and describe yr family background, too.

Let’s start with my family. Both my parents are Palestinian. My parents met there and then moved around a few times before they ended up Kuwait (they lived in Utah where my dad went to grad school, he later worked at the World Bank, etc). I have 5 siblings, 2 sisters and 3 brothers! My sisters live in Austin which I love. My older sister has two adorable girls that I love hanging out with. My older sister and I have always been super close even though she is 9 years older than me. My younger sister and I have a lot in common and right now its super fun cuz we live in the same apartment complex! 2 of my brothers live in Dallas as do my parents. My oldest brother Samer has a really cute son and works with my dad. My brother Basil lives in Korea where he is teaching English. My dad is a super awesome business wiz who owns his company and he also loves to write poetry! My mom is an amazing cook and super bargain hunter.

now THIS is a family photo.

As a child, Kuwait was great for me. People are always surprised when I tell them I moved to the US when I was 11 and many ask “how come you don’t have an accent?” I went to the American School of Kuwait and spoke English better than Arabic. My school was great because it had students from all over the world and we got to do fun “American” things. For example, one of our favorite days was sports day, you know like field day. My fave was tug of war and my class always won which meant we got to eat icecream in class! We also did weird things like one day we dressed up all country and had a square dance. I used to love where we lived, it was a large apartment complex mostly made up of foreigners (ie not Kuwaitis) with a huge common play area and pools. I had so many great times playing with neighbors and swimming in the pool. On the last day of school, me and my friend Jessica would jump into the pool with our uniforms on!

little miss kuwait 1982 (she ruled the bathing suit competition with that number)

now that you’ve been in america for a long time, how do you think a childhood in kuwait compares to one in the states?

I think part of that depends on your family background, class, etc but for me personally there were some similarities to life in the US and lots of differences. Some examples of the differences: we always had maids in Kuwait (totally normal there) and we always spent the whole summer away from Kuwait. As you can imagine, it’s really hot there so anyone that could afford it would leave. My parents traveled to many different places when they were younger but by the time I could really remember things we mostly went to Turkey and then Spain. We only had two channels when I lived in Kuwait, one in Arabic and the other in English. I am thankful for the English channel because I can relate to the Cosby show, my little pony, etc. but we didn’t have as much TV as in the US. Although we got to watch American movies on TV, any sort of kiss or romantic scene on TV was edited out. We always thought anything American was cool so anytime a friend or relative would go to the US we would beg for things like Bubble Yum and Baby-sitter’s Club books. Another difference is that although it’s a small country, you interact more with people from different backgrounds. There are more serious issues in Kuwait that we had to deal with. For example, you can’t get citizenship or own property in Kuwait unless you are from there. They didn’t always treat foreigners, like Palestinians, very well. There are some things that I didn’t think about until living in the US like how there is rampant abuse of domestic and manual laborers in Kuwait.

selina, her mom, and what i’m sure was some v. v. tasty birthday cake (btw, those candles are huge).

you spent many summers in spain… tell me about THAT, cosmo pants!

Some of my best memories are of my summers in Spain. My parents have an apartment in Marbella which is in the south of Spain. It is right on the beach! We had such an amazing routine. We would spend the mornings at the beach, our mom would call us from the balcony (we could see her from the beach) for lunch, we would take a siesta, then go to the pool. In the evening we would go out to dinner and take a stroll. Many days we would get ice cream. Their ice cream was amazing and my favorite was green apple…YUM! 5 minutes from our apt. is this lovely promenade where there are no cars for miles. You get to people watch and enjoy the weather while eating at a fun restaurant.

There is this area that you would have loved, Sarah. It’s called Puerto Banus, and it’s where all the luxury yachts dock. It was the place where all the posh people went :). One of the best things about the apartment, is that we made lots of friends in Spain and had great times with different people. I even had my first romance there! There were also some crazy times that usually involved my dad trying to drive a stick in Spain. Some years we traveled to cities like Sevilla and Cordoba. One time, in spite of my protests, he drove us right into a pedestrian square! I was mortified! Unfortunately, I haven’t been in about 5 years. I really hope to go next summer. Here is an apartment in the same building (but this one is bigger).

when the gulf war began, you and yr family were in spain, and consequently you never returned home. i can’t imagine what that must have been like. were you scared? overwhelmed? unable to process? what was it like to be forced to leave all of yr friends and possessions, everything familiar, behind?

It was a very strange and scary experience. When it happened, my brother Basil was in the US. He called and told us and we didn’t believe him (my dad hung up on him) until we saw the news. It was totally crazy and unexpected. We didn’t return home because we were scared to since we were Palestinian (Kuwaitis were pissed at Palestinians since some outside Kuwait supported Saddam….complicated issue…ask me sometime). So we left all our things there! Imagine, we only had summer clothes for a vacation. My uncle who was there managed to save a few of our photos and some jewelry but not much else. I was very sad to leave my 6 Persian kittens, my friends, and my toys. It was also awful because the stress really affected my parents and they were bedridden for a month with back issues and it was just my parents me and my two younger siblings at the time. I was 10 and all of a sudden I had to take care of my little sister and my brother who was only 1. That was a big grow up moment for me. It’s still really sad to me that I will never have all my photos, my childhood toys, my parents prized possesions, etc.

selina and her brother, samer, posing in front of some of the precious toys she later had to leave behind.

at the time, what was yr perspective on the war? what was yr parents’ reaction?

We were totally shocked and obviously upset that Iraq was coming in like that. My parents were really devastated because all our financial assets were frozen and we had no money. My dad had to borrow a lot of money from friends and relatives. I think my parents were really in shock. My uncle took some photos of our house after people ransacked it and it was very sad to see things all over the floor, our piano ripped apart, etc. I think as kids we didn’t grasp it fully. In Denton, we were on the local news once and my younger sister Tanya said to the reporter “the Iraqi soldiers are playing with my barbies.” She was 5 at the time and after seeing that some strangers sent her barbies in the mail :).

selina and her dad, on vacation… somewhere exotic, i’m sure!

how did yr family end up in texas?

My parents threw around lots of ideas on where we were going to live. They even looked into a school in Spain for me (I kinda liked that idea :). Finally, we decided to go to Texas where my older brother and sister were attending the University of North Texas. My parents applied for political asylum and we got really lucky. My mom thought ahead and had my younger siblings in the US. I think their citizenship status helped us a bit.

BLESS YOU, selina, for actually sending me a picture from junior high.

what kind of culture shock did you experience, going from kuwait (and spain) to little old carrollton, texas? what sort of stereotypes did you encounter?

Well, the worst was going to the 5th grade in Denton at the end of October after the war. Not only was I the new girl that showed up after school had started but I was a weird foreigner from a country that was in the news. I got the usual things like “did you sleep in a tent?”, “did you ride a camel to school”, etc. Also, I went from being in an amazing private school to being in a run of the mill public school. That was hard because I was way ahead of everyone and well behaved so the teacher really liked me. Nobody wanted to be friends with me. This one boy was sweet and we talked until the class started a rumor that we liked each other and then he stopped talking to me too. We went from having money to not having anything for a while and we lived in a small apartment. My dad didn’t have a job and that was hard for him. I couldn’t buy new clothes for school (I would steal shirts from my older siblings and thought I was cool) which did not help my popularity. At times it was hard fitting in with the crowd since I felt different and my parents didn’t let me do things that other kids liked to do. Despite all that, I was kind of excited to be in America. I can’t imagine living anywhere else now.

selina’s v. v. american senior portrait. and again, i will thank her for providing this treasure trove of photos.

did you have to make a conscious decision to hold on to certain pieces (or all) of yr heritage? do you see yourself as more of a global citizen, a blend of cultures?

I think that some of it is a conscious decision because unless I make an effort to celebrate and participate in my culture and religion, it’s easy to ignore. For example, it will always “feel” Christmas here since a lot of people celebrate it but I have to really make an effort to make Eid feel present and special. I definitely feel like a blend of different cultures and experiences. When we were in Kuwait, we weren’t the same as our relatives in Jordan or Palestine. Now that we are in America, we are not American enough for some here and our relatives back home think of us as American. Being an Arab and a Muslim are big parts of who I am and I really cherish that. As I have gotten older, I appreciate it even more. For example, I am now taking Arabic classes at UT and make an effort to speak it more. I really hope to teach my kids Arabic and I hope they feel like it’s a part of them too. I love being an Arab and a Muslim but it doesn’t mean I agree with everyone’s interpretation of what that is…same for being American. I pick and choose the things that appeal to me about the cultures and traditions and that’s what’s great about having lots to choose from.

samba (and, well, dancing in general) is a huge part of yr life now. where and how did yr interest develop?

I have always loved dancing but never had formal dance training. It all started when I took Portuguese at UT and then took a samba class since I decided I loved Brazilian culture. After about a year of classes, I was approached to join the samba school and to help start the dance section. It started out about 5 years ago with only me and one other dancer and now we have about 9 regular dancers. I love dancing, performing, and sharing what I know with other dancers. Sometimes, it’s difficult leading and organizing a dance troupe but it feels great when we are dancing and the audience is loving it.

what has been yr favorite dance performance (costume included!) so far?

Well, our big gig every year is the annual Carnaval at Palmer Auditorium where there about 5,000 people. It’s fun cuz we work hard for it all year long and wear our most elaborate costumes. Last year we dressed up as butterflies which was pretty cute and the year before we were mermaids, every little girl’s dream.

looks like these beautiful butterflies bought hats that were definitely NOT mistakes (sorry, YGM reference).

ok TELL ME ABOUT THE TIME YOU WERE ON UNIVISION!

Univision wanted to do a piece on Carnaval a couple of days before the show this year and so they filmed our rehearsal. They also had me show the reporter how to samba. Hilarious!! Especially since she was wearing a see through top and stilletos.

i like asking this question to all of my married friends: you’re MARRIED! what’s it like?

I just got married June 1 so I don’t think I am an expert yet but so far it’s been good. I know it’s all mental but it feels great to be “official”. I feel like we are really a team now and that’s exciting.

tell me, have you ever seen a more gorgeous, multicultural couple? no, you haven’t.

one of the things i admire the most about yr relationship with tommy is that you work hard to understand each other’s backgrounds while sharing a passion for different cultures and languages. what sort of steps have you guys taken to embrace both yr differences as well as yr overlapping interests?

I really appreciate Tommy’s interest in other cultures and his ability to learn languages. He spoke Spanish and spent a year abroad in Spain so that was a common bond. After I took Portuguese, I convinced him to take it and then we were both obsessed. He even studies in Brazil for a summer. He is in a Brazilian band and does capoeira and I am in a samba school! So we definitely share those things and enjoy exploring them together. Now, Tommy is taking Arabic classes with me which means the world to me. I love that through learning the language he is learning more about me and where I come from and he can relate to my family better as well. I can’t tell you how much it has helped with his dealings with my parents. I love that he is willing to go that extra mile and that one day when I speak to my kids in Arabic he can join in! The other day Tommy was kinda kidding and asking, “would you take Gaelic(Irish) if they had it at UT” and I said that I would totally do that with him. I have always felt like I had some connection to Irish people (and not just because I loved the Cranberries ;). I think it has more to do with being a Palestinian and feeling like Irish people and Palestinians had something in common in terms of dealing with injustice…so maybe I can’t relate to their drinking but that’s something else :).

Of course its not all easy and we have had to make compromises. We have sought the advice of others and done things like gone to a counselor since it can be hard to resolve these kinds of differences but we have decided it’s worth it for us. I may have to spend Christmas with his family sometimes and he will go to Eid prayer with me but honestly I am just so lucky that Tommy is so easygoing and willing to go along with what is important to me. Although Tommy and I are very different when it comes to our personalities, I think we will always share a love of language and culture.

the couple that roller skaters together, stays together.

you and i both work at UT, which means we possess a v. informed grasp of “bureaucracy” (not to mention the ability to power lunch, holla). do you see yrself staying here? any future plans? no pressure, obvs. i hate it when people ask me this so you can tell me to suck it if you want to.

I have worked at UT for almost 6 years! I really do like working here for all the benefits…I get to take a free class during work hours every semester! That’s pretty sweet. It doesn’t sound very ambitious to me but honestly I wouldn’t mind working here forever. I think I will keep moving jobs (I am on my third) to keep things from getting too boring since sometimes the jobs and bureacracy can really suck. I love being on a lively campus, going to lectures, and taking classes. I am however not looking forward to the day when I can’t pass for a student anymore!

what is yr secret power?

Well, I speak alot of languages (Arabic, English, and some Spanish and Portuguese), have traveled, and I pride myself on knowing lots of random details about other cultures. This helps me relate to lots of people and makes life interesting.

do you sleep in jimjams? what kind?

Hmmm, should we save this for the “tell me something scandalous” question? ha ha. I either wear just underwear or underwear and a tank top. If I lived somewhere really cold, I would buy an adult version of those pjs with feet!

selina and erica in NYC… how cute are they? also, i love the guy on the right for some reason.

what is yr #1 favorite food?

I loooove food so its really hard for me to pick one. If I had to, I would pick Lasagna in Spain. Its not like your usual American Lasagna. It involves bechamel sauce, a creamy white sauce, and baking in a cute individual dish in a wood oven! Kinda like this.

what is yr top restaurant recommendation in austin? what’s the best thing on the menu?

That’s another tough one but I really love Eastside Cafe and their Wild Mushroom Crepes: “Two crepes filled with wild mushrooms, domestic mushrooms, walnuts, ricotta, and jack cheese. Topped with roasted tomato mushroom sauce.” Yum!!

i love the invisible steering wheel installed in this car (tommy and selina, at disneyworld visiting erica g.).

tell me about yr top area of expertise.

I would have to say my top area of expertise involves samba since I teach and lead a group of samba performers at the Austin Samba School. We perform at different events around Austin such as Carnaval, parades, New Year’s Eve parties, etc. I never had dance training as a kid but I always loved to dance so its wonderful having it in my life now. I have been performing with the school for over 4 years and my interest in samba all started when I took my first Portuguese class at UT and I haven’t stopped since. Lately I have been going to Brazil camp, a one week camp during the summer in the redwoods of N. California where we get to dance all day under a canopy of trees!

what was yr favorite item of clothing as a child?

I absolutely loved this outfit I had when I was about 7 years old. It was white shorts and a top that had splatter paint all over it in different colors! I wore it all the time. It got to point where it was getting too small on me and my mom hid it from me. Needless to say I found it and wore it again…tightness and all!

personally, i’m a fan of this little red and blue number. but seriously, selina, did you KNOW you were an anime character when you were a kid? cos you were.

what was yr favorite toy as a child? (the moody bonus question)

I was very girly and always loved my barbies. My problem was I thought I was a fashionista hairdresser and would give alot of them haircuts. When my mom would ask me why, I would explain that they didn’t want to be the same and didn’t this one look much cuter with a bob?

what do you plan on doing when you’re 80?

I would love to have lots of grandkids to play with and to be able to travel and chill at my beach house (I can dream can’t I?).

if you could assemble yr own ocean’s 11, who would you pick and why?

Tommy would be in the crew since he is my husband, speaks lots of languages, and is super friendly. He would disarm people with his chatter! Erica G. would be there to get things done and organized while we are all exhausted and sleeping. My older brother Samer would be there to be the financial wiz and rational one. Sarah would be there to supply us with cupcakes and brilliant plans. My friends Sonia and Natasha could be our fabulous legal team. My sisters would be there for moral support and to drive me crazy ;). Our officiant Elizabeth since she is a chef and we need yummy food. My nieces have to be there since no one can resist their cuteness!! What a crazy group!

selina, her sisters and those adorable (some might say LETHALLY ADORABLE) nieces.

what is yr best karaoke song?

My disclaimer is that I have a terrible voice and don’t sing much but I do enjoy karaoke. One of my favorites is “Lets Get Physical” by Olivia Newton John just because it’s so darn funny.

do people ever tell you that you look like someone famous? who?

I don’t get anyone consistently but I have gotten such random things as Natalie Portman, Claire Forlani, and Juliette Lewis (yuck!). I personally don’t think I look like any of them.

tell me something scandalous!

People who meet me now can’t believe that I used to love going to raves and would dance all night until 6am! Ok, so I also went to Foam Parties…call me crazy!

foam parties? well, ok. but RAVES? girl, you WERE crazy. then again, as evidenced by this picture, you’ve always been a little bit, uh, loony tunes.

thanks for being such a fabulous (and fascinating) interview subject, selina!

as always, readers, feel free to ask selina questions in the comments section.

LINKS

not only did selina allow me to interview her, she also sent me this amazing, stop motion animated film of “western” spaghetti. whimsical and fantastic!

vulture posted a HILARIOUS list of possible “spin-offs” based on characters from “hellboy 2″ (which, btw, is awesome and you NEED TO SEE IT). my vote goes for “welcome to camp, mr. wink!”

AAUUGHHH i just read about robert, the haunted doll. HEEBIE JEEBIES!!!!! DON’T TOUCH HIS HAT.

you guys, i’m not really a cat person but… i think i’m in love. with winston, who is feline but, as jezebel points out, not very, well, cat-like (friend winston, i still love you, too. but can you prance like this while sporting an amazing haircut? i’m sorry, but i doubt it). i mean OMGGG LOOK AT HIM IN A SANTA OUTFIT.

check out the awesome books becky’s students made at art camp (p.s. i wanna go to art camp!).

a day in her pants: the posh deluxe interview with jennifer taylor kunard

Published by
Sarah
June 27, 2008 in day in the pants and this post will conform to no category!. 13 Comments

happy friday, pants world!

today it is my absolute pleasure to present to you another fabulous pigbutt, jennifer taylor kunard.

one of jennifer’s gorgeous bridal portraits, taken by becky (rebecca root)

like many of the pigbutts, i met jennifer some time in the sixth grade, and i remember thinking that she could have been a model. she was tall, slender and beautiful, but she also had the *weirdest* sense of humor (which can be partially, but not fully, explained by our middle school immaturity). consequently, we became fast friends, although there was a brief period in sixth (or seventh?) grade when we had a falling out (memory fails on the source of our conflict, but i’m sure it was V. Serious).

jennifer was part of the “band nerd” faction in our friend group, but in spite of our differing activities (i was a drama geek, as you already know), i felt quite close to her in high school. we were involved in the same youth group, which meant countless weekend retreats together in mosquito-filled cabins and sunday school classes where i was thankful to have a recipient for my occasional eye rolls. jennifer was the kind of friend everyone really needs in high school; passionate and supremely loyal, she always took me seriously and yet never worried about making a fool out of herself. above all, jennifer was fearless, and that’s the quality i most admired about her (and still do). she sought out challenges and then rose to meet them, whether it was earning the position of drum major or joining ROTC in college. obstacles only served to make her stronger, and even when i was sitting across from her in the cy-creek cafeteria, i knew that this girl was going to blaze her own trail. rarely have i seen such drive and determination in a person, especially given that these traits are coupled with a warm, compassionate heart.

sure enough, jennifer made her own way, from studying at baylor to flourishing in the air force. after getting married last year to her wonderful husband, craig, she moved to atlanta, which is unfortunately not in texas (ahem). but i guess you can’t expect a trailblazer to stick to familiar territory, can you?

i have to give jen MAX PROPS for the photos she assembled to supplement this interview. i mean, we’re talking major gems. in fact, i’ll kick off the interview with my favorite, which features the previously mentioned “kevin schorp” ensemble i created in eighth grade with my dad’s clothes and my mom’s silver platter (in case you missed the story, kevin was briefly a kikker). but what i want to know is, what the heck were jennifer and christine?

this picture is so awesome, i can’t even think of a caption that could possibly… yeah.

so, jennifer, i’ve known you since sixth grade (i think?), but not everyone here on poshdeluxe has enjoyed that privilege. tell me a little bit about yr childhood history, yr family, you know, the real deal.

We may have known each other in 6th grade, your guess is as good as mine. My parents are still raising their kids…my older sister, Kristina, is 33, I am 29, my brother, Jeff, is 25 and Katie is 18. Yeah, big age gap between all of us so there was always multiple phases of life in our house. I was the first one to leave, go to college, move out of the state, etc. My parents are hard working, and my dad is probably the hardest working person I know. He’s humble and I look up to him in every possible way.

if i were to label people back in junior high, which, of course, is what junior high is all about, i would have labeled you as a band kid (er, nerd). where did yr passion for band begin, and how did it develop?

Yes, I am a band nerd and I even went to band camp (insert jokes here). My older sister was in band and I remember going to her concerts. I heard this one distinct sound and I told my parents I wanted to make that sound.The glorious sound was the clarinet, thus began my love for music that eventually turned into a degree.

one of the main reasons i was NOT interested in band was due to the whole “practicing in the school parking lot in the dead heat of summer” thing. but i’ve always wanted to know: how DO you guys march in those perfect formations?

Do you really want to know this??? It’s totally nerdy, but here goes…in a block formation there are 8 steps from yard line to yard line. You learn the distance between each step, use peripheral vision to stay between the people next to you. For other formations, each person is assigned a “dot” and you read the field charts to find your spot. Each person has a specific coordinate that eight step guide serves as the basis for finding your spot. We use everything on the field, hash marks, sidelines, yard lines, etc. to find our spots. There’s a little more to it, but that’s the gist. See, I told you it was nerdy!

it’s like playing battleship but with people! cool.

as all of us cy-creek cougars know, you were selected to be drum major our senior year, which is a huge honor. what was that like? did you ever get into any rumbles with other drum majors?

I was drum major my junior and senior year J I LOVED having 180 people in front of me blasting their instruments in my face, it was a rush, had momentum and fantastic to be front and center. I really loved it. I think it was well known that Allison Moseman and I didn’t exactly get along since she was my assistant. Ha ha - such drama, right?

she makes it look so easy.

ok but seriously, did you ever get tired of wearing that cowboy hat? or think about submitting alternate designs for yr costume? cos, i mean, you know. just look at it.

I thought I was totally cool in my uniform, I mean, really, totally cool. I didn’t exactly like the hat, but when you paired it up with my boots (with tassels), I totally sported it. And we actually got to design the tops – they were custom made each year from fabulous shiny lame and satin materials. When you think about it, at least I didn’t have to wear the HOT wool uniform everyone else had to wear.

ok, i admit, the silver fabric is winning me over.

since we went to junior high and high school together, it’s pretty much required that i ask you to share a story or two from that time in our lives, since i need to supplement (read: recreate) my memory.

I am actually the worst person to ask about memories because I need prodding to remember what happened last week. Here’s what I can remember. You had the most fabulous parties at your house. There was this one where we had a shaving cream fight in your backyard that really stands out to me. I also remember making movies at your place. Weren’t we super heroes once? I believe I used my fabulous drum major saluting skills to “morph” into my character. I also was the maid (with a limp) during one of our detective adventures. Do you still have these embarrassing videos??? Oh, and there was a party at Rachel Tittle’s house and her neighbor offered up his car for us to drive. None of us had a license, we must have been like 14 or 15 at the time. Looking back, he was probably some crazy guy trying to do something bad to a bunch of innocent girls. There was also the time when I tried to race Trey Townsend and I think Talena decided it would be a good idea to give me a “boost” at the start of the race. That little boost made me skid my knees on the pavement and Trey carried my bloodied, embarrassed self back to the house. I still have a scar.

you better believe i still have all of those videos! if only i had been recording that night trey had to carry you home… even *i* remember that, cos it was so awesome.

dressed up for talena’s halloween party our… freshman year? note: i still own that suit.

when you went off to college at baylor, you joined the air force ROTC. what was THAT like?!!!

ROTC was the best thing I could have done. I learned to appreciate the military and its past. I even got a scholarship, which is why I am debt-free from both my undergraduate and graduate degrees (I took advantage of the master’s programs while on active duty). But the money was secondary to the whole process – preparing for active duty, going to boot camp, learning discipline, true camaraderie and team work. It was difficult to balance ROTC and school, but it was totally worth it when I got my commission. I was less than eight months from entering the service when 9/11 happened and the Air Force I had anticipated on entering had changed in about an hour. It was at that moment that I knew I wanted to serve this amazing country, no matter what it was going to bring.

jennifer, receiving her commission and looking badass in the process.

in the air force, what was yr position? and by that i mean, what did you do?

I was a public affairs officer. Seriously good times. I figured out early on that a camera was like a ticket anywhere on base and I totally took advantage of it. I got to ride on a KC-135 (gas station in the sky) and watch it refuel the Thunderbirds. I took some amazing pictures that day! I would climb all over the aircraft’s scaffolding to get in the strangest places to “get the best shot” or “I need it for the magazine” or “I need to go on this mission so it’s properly documented…” Gratefully, I never got jacked up by the MP while taking pictures on the flight line.

I was also an assistant professor of aerospace studies (taught ROTC) for a year. Made for a very cool business card!

jennifer risked her life for this amazing photograph of a thunderbird refueling. everybody now: “hiiiighway to the DANGER ZONE.”

did you ever have a moment where you were like, “this is SO ‘top gun’”? cos that would be awesome.

I didn’t have a “top gun” moment, but I did have many “movie” moments. The biggest one that stands out was when I deployed. My office got notification that a public affairs officer in my unit (there were only two) needed to deploy with the 960th squadron on a POTUS (President of the United States) mission and that check in was at 3 a.m. – like 15 hours away. My boss, the only other officer, decided he was sick and told me to pack my bags (he was such a draft dodger, he pulled me aside and told me his deployment paperwork was not in order and that he didn’t want to get in trouble. Such a dork.). Anyway, the next 15 hours were filled with security processing, paperwork, deployment lines and a ton of other crazy stuff. Here’s the big movie moment: I went to OSI (the Air Force’s version of the FBI) and told them my coded mission.. I was locked inside a small room with no windows and two chairs, and told to read over the terrorist activity paperwork coded to the region I was deploying to. I was told that everything was confidential and could not be spoken about outside of the little room. I was given time to read it over and told to buzz the agent when I was finished. The agent returned and communicated other verbal instructions and answered any questions I had. I also could not tell people where I was going or how long I was going to be gone. I called my parents and told them to watch the news if they were curious where I could be, but that was all I could say. That particular mission ended up being one of the most exciting things I did while in the military. Everything I had trained for became an actual realization! I coordinated a LIVE press conference with foreign media on foreign soil. Everything from screening media through OSI, to securing the aircraft, to answering questions on live TV…It was a really cool experience. Plus, one of the engines on our E-3 AWACS broke on the way back so we had to divert in Germany…Awww, shucks!

DUDE!!! that is some serious jason bourne action!!!! talk about hard core. you were like, jennifer taylor by day, sydney bristow by night! i am totes impressed.

this is how hardcore super military agents take naps.

what would you say are the main lessons you learned in the air force? did it change you as a person?

Serving in the Air Force was a wonderful job and I would love to still be doing it. I have never worked with such devoted people as my fellow military members. Respect, dignity, taking care of each other, pride, ethics, hard work…I can’t think of enough great things to say. Being an officer, I was catapulted into leading people from the get go. In order to lead people, you must be the example to follow – and there is a delicate balance of being someone’s friend and their boss. It was a lot of fun, but there were the serious times, too. I was recalled at 2 a.m. once because there were reports of two Middle Eastern looking men with what appeared to be shoulder-launched missiles aimed at the flight line. Everyone just worked together and nothing serious happened. You can’t experience times like this without some change…So yes, I guess it did change me.

which is better: yr air force uniform or yr drum major uniform?

Military uniform. I totally got hit on in my uniform (I guess guys like a gal in uniform) and I got free stuff when I was in uniform: meals, tickets, someone even paid for my gas once. People liked to show their support of the military and there were many times I got my meal paid for without ever knowing who had done it…just because they appreciated service members.

do you keep yr band nerd roots alive? by that i mean, are you still playing the clarinet?

I really should play more, but I keep my nerdy music ways alive by playing my guitar a little every day.

so now you’re married and living in atlanta. is being married like what you thought it would be?

Marriage is the biggest blessing to me – it’s more wonderful than I thought it would be. I cannot say enough good things about my darling husband. I love him more every day.

jen and craig, totally in lurve (fabulous picture by becky (rebecca root))

i’ve never been to atlanta, so tell me about it. what are yr favorite/least favorite parts?

Favorite: weather is not nearly as bad as humid Texas (but I miss Texas), and there are hills and mountains! Downtown is really cool and so is the GA aquarium!

Not so favorite: Beware of the drivers!!! People here are MEAN on the roads and I get very scared sometimes.

if i come to visit you, will i have to sleep on an air mattress?

In the apartment, yes L. We have a cabin on the river in the north Georgia mountains in a little town called Ellijay. We have spare beds up there and you might even get to see deer or a fox! You are more than welcome to visit any time!

what is yr secret power?

I can read Craig’s mind about 90% of the time. It absolutely drives him nuts because he can’t read my mind at all. It’s actually become quite fun!

do you sleep in jimjams? what kind?

No, but I have to sleep in a tank top. Sleeves, of any length, drive me nuts when I am trying to sleep!

this picture was taken in our senior english class on the last day of school. and yes, i mean we were seniors IN HIGH SCHOOL.

what is yr #1 favorite food?

Hands-down, Tex-Mex. I could eat it everyday.

what is yr top restaurant recommendation in atlanta? what’s the best thing on the menu?

There is this circa 1800 house that’s been turned into a restaurant called Vinings Inn that is DIVINE. The have the best pecan crusted trout with butternut squash…OMG!

tell me about yr top area of expertise.

I am totally right-brained…music, crafts, etc. Because I’ve studied and performed music for more than 18 years, I also don’t hear one line of music at a time, even if there is only one line of music. I can see the melodies that don’t exist floating around in my head. It’s so much fun to me (and probably geeky to everyone else!). I am also addicted to making cards, it’s become more of an obsession than an expertise.

what was yr favorite item of clothing as a child?

My yellow and white Coca-Cola long sleeve T-shirt. My older sister got a red one and I had to be just like her so I get one for myself. I loved that T-shirt because I thought it made me cool.

WOW do i love this photo– becky and jennifer, posing before the eighth grade dance.

what was yr favorite toy as a child? (the moody bonus question)

The swing set in the back yard. My older sister and I would pretend the swing set was an airplane that wrecked on a deserted island. We basically turned it into our own Swiss Family Robinson dream world. There was a large magnolia tree that would drop leaves on our side of the yard and we would collect them and turn them into shoes and clothes – because we were wrecked and had no clothes. Our dog would turn into a wild animal that would eat us if we stayed on the ground too long. There was usually a volcano that spewed lava and swamp land with alligators and other swampy creatures. We spent hours playing shipwrecked.

what do you plan on doing when you’re 80?

As cheesy as it sounds, going to bed and waking up next to my husband. Waking up next to him starts my days out wonderfully and if I can still be doing that in 51 years, then I’ll be happy.

if you could assemble yr own ocean’s 11, who would you pick and why?

Well, my brother, Jeff because he’s the funniest person I know and would entertain everyone else. My sister Katie, because she reads more than anyone I know and is very smart. Craig because he’s got such an engineering mind that it would come in handy. Se, because the BFF has to come along (and she’s also smart, as in PhD smart). And since it’s a fictitious question, I’d also bring along Wonder Woman (aka: my child hero). I know it’s not 11, but seeing as Wonder Woman is part of the team, I don’t think we’d need 11.

jen and one of her oceans 11 crew, se, at her wedding.

what is yr best karaoke song?

I don’t really karaoke, but I do sing in the shower…somehow TV theme songs (with and without lyrics) pop in my head.

do people ever tell you that you look like someone famous? who?

When I was younger, people said I looked like Drew Barrymore. I never saw it, but maybe it was because it took forever for me to grow out of my fat face. I did go as the fire starter one year for Halloween because it was cold outside and I wanted to layer up. I ended up sticking matches through the button holes in my jacket and that was my costume.

tell me something scandalous!

My older sister and I literally tore the towel bar out of the wall while playing – sheetrock and all. We’d swing from the countertop to the bathtub and using the bar as our hinge. We placed the bar back and covered it with a towel and got away with it for like a year. Then, my mom went to the bathroom to collect towels and she thought SHE broke the towel bar. It wasn’t until a few years ago that my sister and I came clean on the whole thing. It was really, really funny when we told her.

me and jennifer at a church xmas party in 2001 (i think).

thanks for letting me interview you, jennifer! i’ve really enjoyed reminding myself why i like to keep you around– because you’re truly, truly amazing.

not to mention the fact that you’re an excellent source for pictures.

p.s. don’t forget, guys, you can ask jen questions in the comments!

a day in her pants: the posh deluxe interview with erica greenhouse

Published by
Sarah
June 20, 2008 in day in the pants. 9 Comments
today, it is my UTMOST pleasure to present you with one of my favorite austinites, not to mention the biggest hoss i know, erica greenhouse.
yeah, that’s erica, eating pizza and drinking a beer right after she COMPLETED A TRIATHLON. BECAUSE SHE IS THAT AMAZING.
i first met erica when she and her sister, meredith, were in town from NYC to visit old college friends, including henri. i liked erica *immediately*, and if you know her, i’m sure you felt the same way– it’s impossible NOT to like her. she’s friendly, good-natured and exudes a warm, sunny vibe that feels like a sweet, comfy hug.
when i found out erica was moving to austin, i was ECSTATIC, not only because she seemed so genuine and nice, but ALSO cos she was Always Up For Fun. since i’m such a planner pants, this is one of my TOP qualities in a friend. i can call erica up, days in advance or minutes in advance, and ask, “hey, do you want to do dinner?” or “hi, wanna come to a sing-along?” or “are you interested in checking out this club that will probably be terrible but hilarious?” or “yo yo YO we’re doing karaoke tonight and i know you hate it but you HAVE TO COME!” and invariably, even if it’s 10 PM and she has to get up for work at 4 AM, she will say, with boundless enthusiasm, “SURE!”
let me put it this way: if you’re throwing a party, you MUST have erica there. her dance party madness and incredible endurance will insure that even the lamest of parties will be a massive success.
after knowing erica for a few years (two?), i feel incredibly blessed to count her as a friend. she’s not just a super fun party pants, she’s also a loyal and true kindred spirit, a comrade who is always ready to lend a helping hand (or a bottle of wine). truly, my austin would be a dreary, dispirited place without her.
and so, without further ado, let’s begin!
so erica, as members of pants world already know, i recently spent a week with yr family in mexico. i LOVED hearing about all of yr traditions and inside jokes and jewish christmas deodorant. tell me a little bit about yr experiences growing up in jersey and some of yr favorite traditions.
Well, people can make fun of Jersey as much as they want and I will take it. To me it was the greatest place to grow up.
1) I am from Bruce Springsteen’s home town (enough said).
2) 45 minutes from New York City or Philadelphia, and my parents were not afraid to take us there. Every single year my parents would take us kids out of school for a day near Christmas time to go into the city. We would get super bundled up, cause it is cold, and then go to see the tree and ice skate, go to FAO Schwartz to play with toys, and hang out in Macy’s to see Santa. It was perfect. We would go many other times of the year, but that was always my favorite. My dad is a HUGE Hockey fan so we had season tickets to the Rangers and the Devils so we would go to games all the time. Every year, before they started winning Stanley Cups, the Devils would have a skate with the team day, so we used to ice skate with them and get pictures. My parents would also take us to Philadelphia Phillies baseball games, especially on give a way days, my favorite was bat day.
3) Six Flags - 15 minutes away. That was what I did every summer. I can’t tell you how many time the music group the Monkee’s played there I would go. That was great!!
4) The beach. Also 15 minutes away. On Sundays in the summer we used to go to Seaside Heights and get $1 pizza and soda at the SawMill and play skee ball all night long. My dad loves a good bargain.
erica, her nephew leo and the special christmas deodorant.
dude, i am so spending next christmas with you guys. esp. if yr parents take me to FAO schwarz.
so, you are the baby in the family (well, you were before yr nephew and niece came along). what was that like? did yr siblings torture you?
A little torture, but not too much. I would say EXTRA love. I was always pretty easy going as a kid so I just hung out with whoever was around. I would play catch with my brother, hang out with both my big sisters, anything went. I did get a lot of hand me downs, but overall I think I was treated super well being the baby. At times I felt my parents were over the parenting thing, but that worked to my advantage :) I guess the only times it was sad was when all my older siblings would be doing something I wasn’t old enough to do yet. That sucked.
tell me about yr dad’s obsession with bruce springsteen concerts, cos it’s the most awesome thing ever.
Yes, it is pretty awesome, I must admit. To set the record a little straight, he is obsessed with concerts in general, just most specialized in Bruce. HE LOVES HIM!! My dad has been taking us to concerts since I could crawl. But he will travel all over to see this guy and if he is playing 10 shows in Jersey, my dad will go to at least half of them. Here is an example. So Bruce was playing in Dallas, so my dad was gonna come to Austin for the weekend and we would drive together to go to the show and then he would leave from Dallas. Well, all of a sudden my dad calls me and says, “Bon Jovi is playing in Las Vegas (where my parents own a condo) on Sat night, so I am thinking maybe you should drive to Dallas alone of Friday, leave your car there, fly to Vegas we will meet there then go to the show Sat. Fly back to Dallas on Sunday to catch the Bruce show and then you can drive back Monday what do you think.” This is not the normal talk of a 62 year old man. We got lucky cause Bon Jovi announced a show in Dallas for Monday night, so we could catch a double header in the same city. To prove my dad knows these Jersey performers so well, on the walk to Bruce he announced that he bets Bon Jovi gets on stage to sing a song with Bruce, I wasn’t sure, but he was right. Bruce and Bon Jovi did a song together. A jersey girl’s dream come true :)

i had to put another xmas picture in this interview cos I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS AWESOMENESS.
you are SO jersey, but only in the good ways. like, yr hair isn’t huge.
it seems to me like you had the “cool parents” in high school. what is the secret, in yr opinion, to being a cool parent?
Well, besides the fact that they actually are cool people (good taste in music, love to travel, etc.) the most important thing about being a cool parent is Trust! My parents trusted all of us to make our own decisions and to do what was best for us, and we all turned out great. We didn’t have a drug addict or high school dropout, but it was by choice cause they never forced anything down our throat, so that made us want to do good. They set such great examples, it was easy to model after. They were also extremely realistic. For instance, they were very aware that 18 year old people will occasionally have some drinks (ok maybe younger too, but don’t want to reveal too much) so if it was a special occasion we could drink in the house as long as all of my friends spent the night there, so there would be no drinking and driving. Very sensible parents I must say.
you left jersey far behind to attend college at UT, where you met a 19 year old henri. tell me about THAT!
Oh yes, the time of leaving Jersey to meet Austin. Yes, there was a young Henri. How I remember him well. He was pretty similar except a little smaller. The very first time I met Henri was actually when I was in high school. My sister Meredith had gone to school at UT as well, and I was visiting her. So I meet this 18 year old guy who I am videotaping and he walks up to my camera and licks it. I really did not know what to say. My mouth dropped and I tried to keep taping, but it looked funny from his saliva. We then went to Maccaroni grill for his birthday and he waved the napkins above his head while we sang. Oh the memories. Two years later I actually moved to Austin and it felt like moving to a new country. I was always lucky to have Henri around as my ‘council’. Being that he was older and wiser I would go to him about the crazy stuff that went on with my friends, and there were lots of those times, and he would tell me about his times and I would feel better. Then he would make Selina mad with his silly arguments and we would have to leave :) So glad the times have changed :) But I do miss the times at the south mall just wasting the days away with chicken fried rice and cherry lemonade.
henri? making silly arguments? really?
henri and erica– a little older, a little wiser…?
after college, you spent some time working at disneyworld. i’ve heard some crayzee things about that place– can you spill any secrets or will walt disney hunt you down?
I can’t believe you even asked me this. You could be killed just for asking me about the secrets of Disney. Hehe. Well, that was definitely a unique experience working at Disney. I went right from college for an internship. This is a program where a bunch of college kids leave together in apartments that are dorm style in the way they are issued, and work easy jobs while they just party all the time and do not have to worry about consequences cause they won’t ever have to see these people again after the internship is over. But besides that party aspect, Disney itself if a crazy place. You have some true Disney people, who live, breathe, sleep and eat Mickey Mouse. It is awesome. They definitely remind you several times (i think this is the PC way to say it) of how great Disney is and what a great place it is to work for and how great it is. But with all the crazyness of it I must admit, I wanted to go into hospitality, and they taught me well, they are pretty good at that stuff. Plus I got to see the real Disney….
minnie to erica, “if you ever so much as THINK about spilling my secrets… keep smiling… i will cut you.”
now you’re the front desk manager at a v. posh hotel in austin. inquiring minds want to know: WHERE DO YOU FIND THE PATIENCE?
Sometimes I wonder that same thing. First I must admit, BACK OF HOUSE areas save everyone. Right after to talk to someone totally cray, go in the back and make fun of them till you feel better. It works like a charm. You know it is just about not taking yourself or others too seriously. There are some CRAZY things I have seen and dealt with, and I just enjoy them all. Those that are mean and angry and try to get stuff for free..well I just feel bad for them cause it must be hard to be like that all the time, I am lucky that I am not. But if anyone in pants world wants to know how to get free stuff from hotels…I am the girl to ask.
or at the v. least, you can always give us a free breakfast (i.e. how erica deals with people who complain).
tell me a story (or two) about “interesting” customers you’ve dealt with in the past.
Hmmm. Interesting in a good way or in a bad. Tough call. I will say the meanest anyone has ever been. I was at Disney and this dad was yelling at me about not have a magic kingdom view, blah blah. Then all of a sudden his kids come down and he picks them up (2 kids maybe like 3 and 5) and says “Let me introduce you to the girl that is ruining your vacation, let me introduce to the person that is destroying your dreams.” My response of course was “Hi”. Then he put them down and while I continued to apologize profusely to him and explained that there actually guests inside all of those rooms and I could move him tomorrow, he would tell me to look over his shoulder at his kids and remember how much I am ruining their dreams. I know I didn’t do anything wrong, but man I felt bad for those kids. That has got to be a tough dad to have. Let’s see, another person insisted that since their movie cut out in the middle of the movie I have to give them a free room. But there are also the fun crazies..and the stories could go on and on. I don’t want to put it out on the net, but the famous people stories I could tell. Spike Lee, Obama, Eddie Murphy, Flava Fav etc. Hospitality is a great business.
even though i already know it, please tell everyone about the time you checked in ice cube. because that was awesome.

Two words: Mr. Cube Yes I am a BIG dork, and he came to check in. He started asking me about the two suite options and which one he should stay in and I said “Well Mr. Cube I think….” I couldn’t believe I called him Mr. Cube. He has a real hard core look, but he totally snuck a smile in there cause it was ridiculous, but really what should I have called him. Ice? Mr. Ice? Senor Cube? I don’t know what would have sounded right. His stay went great by the way.

gah i love that story. seriously, i want to meet ice cube now just so i can call him “mr. cube.”
in spite of yr demanding hotel schedule, you find time to do stuff like, oh you know, marathons… two triathlons… in a row… how do you do it?!!! how do you tap into yr inner hoss?
I think challenging yourself whether it be physically or mentally is what keeps us young, confident and alive. So yes I do work an INSANE amount of hours, like never less than 10 hours a day usually like 12, but I have been much better at leaving lately, but that can’t control who I am right? RIGHT!! So I make sure i do everything I want to do. Let’s see, first I traveled across Europe by myself, which was definitely a HUGE accomplishment. Then Sky Diving, then I got into the sports things. The marathon I still don’t believe I did that, but I have pics to prove it. That was the hardest thing I ever did, but after that and after all the other things I have done I then have that feeling of, “Well if I did that then I can do anything”…and that is a great feeling to have. The Triathalons were tough, mainly cause of the timing of it all. Time has not been on my side lately..my weekends have been…wedding, triathlon, wedding, triathlon, wedding in mexico. So I have been a busy girl. But everyone can tap into that inner hoss..you just have to believe (the disney in me always comes out.)
erica’s awesome family celebrates their little pooh after finishing her big race.
now that you’ve done a marathon and a triathlon (not to mention a hip hop class holla!!!), what’s next on yr hoss list?
I have been thinking of this lately. Now that the weddings are over I guess I gotta come up with something. Hmm. I might get into cycling, or more dancing, or learning another language, or photography, or martial arts (did boxing, but maybe like karate or something), or scuba diving…the choices are endless and I am taking suggestions, so if you got any pants world send them my way.
you’ve been to almost as many alamo sing-alongs as i have. which one is yr favorite and why?
This might be the hardest question of them all. How on earth can you pick just one favorite when they are all sooo amazing for soo many reasons. Sing a longs are like my favorite thing to do. I mean singing (but no one is paying attention) ,themes, drinking, dancing, confetti, drinking, all of my favorite things. Hmm. Michael Jackson is definately in the top hands down. I have always felt the need to dance when Michael comes on. Other tops..Jiggy Krunk 90’s one hit (for the memories), Now that is what I call a Sing a long, Ladies of the 80’s and of course Justin….but I might have missed one of my favs cause there is too much awesomeness to think of at one time.

you are, hands down, one of the most *positive* people i’ve ever met. how do you maintain yr high energy and optimistic outlook? how come you’re so much fun to be around? what’s yr secret so i can turn it into a bestseller?

Well thank you for saying that about me, I appreciate it. I really don’t see the point in not having fun to be honest with you. I mean everything is as fun as you make it, and I prefer mine SUPER FUN!! I guess I know that I work so much, so when I am free why not enjoy it. It is boring being a pessimist. I mean things will only be as great as you want them to be and believe they are. I also don’t take my self very seriously. I mean I know everyone is gonna laugh at me (not with me) so I mind as well jump in on that fun! All I can say is that there is too much fun out there to be had, so no point to waste time being angry. Also I drink A Lot. So, sometimes the high energy can be mistaken for drunkenness :)
erica, doing what she does best: dancing the night away (at selina’s wedding) and loving every second.

what is yr secret power?

Stamina (especially for fun). I just am always ready for anything. Oh I worked 12 hours but there is a dance party till 4 am. I AM IN!! Oh in order to get to the lake house this weekend I have to get off of a plane from a week of partying in Mexico to go straight home, shower work till 11:30 pm, get up to be at work at 7 am, while only having like 5 hours sleep. I AM IN!!! This one secret power is what let’s me maximize the fun possibility in my life, and I love it.

do you sleep in jimjams? what kind?

I love PJs. The ones with funny designs. I have pants and shorts depending on the season. This christmas I gave my entire family matching pajama pants, so I am pretty fond of those.

what is yr #1 favorite food?

Growing up my favorite food was always baked ziti from Vinnie’s Pizzeria in Freehold, New Jersey. My mom was so nice, whenever I would come home from college if they were closed at the time I would get back she would buy one and have it waiting in the oven for me when I got there. So for old time’s sake I will have to stick with baked ziti..plus it is tasty. But I do have a lot more favorites now…sushi, chocolate lava cake, mac and cheese (especially parkside)..

what is yr top restaurant recommendation in austin? what’s the best thing on the menu?

Your questions are so hard. I could say the obvious of Uchi, but we all know that is amazing. It might be a toss up here. I love love love Clay Pit, amazing food. If I could just have cheese naan and mussels I would be a happy girl and I have a hard time saying no to that tastiness. My favorite food in college in Austin was a burrito from Freebirds. I swear they put something addictive in that Bad Ass Bar B Que sauce.

one of my favorite pictures of erica– sporting my pink hat on the houseboat last summer.

tell me about yr top area of expertise.

Top area of expertise huh…well I find myself spread out across many things so a top is hard to say. Well I do work in Hospitality, so that is a given. I am also an expert in romantic comedies..I know they are bad, but how can I resist them. I am pretty good at organizing parities (especially ones with themes) I find this a skill we share, Posh. Nothing better than organizing something great..and then ENJOYING it!!

what was yr favorite item of clothing as a child?

So I had this bathing suit that I just loved and all my friends were jealous of. I will never forget- Grace Strom, my childhood best friend, used to try to steal it from me at the YMCA all the time. It was a two piece sort of thing. The top was just a hot pink tube top type thing that was big enough to cover my chest. Then the bottom was black and it had suspender like straps that were connected. Oh if I had a picture with me the entire pants world would want it.

what was yr favorite toy as a child? (the moody bonus question)

This would be a 3 way tie, listed in no particular order. 1. My jelly belly doll. It was this doll that had a plastic face and the body was all one piece (nothing moved) and she wore all blue with a li