I wanted to share with everyone an entry I wrote on Nov. 8th on my own blog, please post your experiences as well!
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1 month in a blog - what did I get myself into?!

I started out working for the Jim Webb campaign back in October, it's been a month since then. It all began when I went to a film festival and met film director Eric Byler; just being the aspiring filmmaker wanted to make friends and meet people who actually were doing the stuff I've always dreamed of. First thing my brother and I thought was, it's raining, it's cold, the tickets are 15 bucks, and parking is freakin expensive. And then after pondering and talking, my brother said "you're probably going just say hi, and then they'll forget about you the next second." I thought to myself, that's probably true. Why'd he care to even talk to the little guy like myself?

Eventually we arrived at the DC APA Film Festival opening night program for Americanese, directed by Eric Byler. Really good movie I might add. After watching it, I was really excited to talk to the director to let him know he did a great job and give him my card hoping he'd take a look at the productions made by all the wonderful people of the Resilient Young Asian Network. So at the end of the showing, yes I saw him, my mind drew a blank, and I probably said something lame, and then I left.

That same evening, it was really strange because when I picked up my friend Winyan-reporter for Asian Fortune, for the after party (for the movie), she brought along someone by the name of Annabel she just met from the screening. It was surprising that she was friends with Eric and also was the sister of a fellow church friend. I couldn't believe it.

When we got to the club, my brother and I couldn't get in because we had tennis shoes, and Annabel being the strong person she was able to convince the bouncer to let us in. So we go into the club and Annabel said she'd introduce me to Eric - this time, I decided to just give him my card and say something brief about the projects. So he took the card, and went on with his own thing. Winyan asked me, so did you have a good talk with him? I was like nah, just gave him my card, probably won't even look at our stuff, but that's ok. My brother had a drink and we left.

Sometime during the middle of the week, I received a call, and I had no idea who it was. I answered it and I was really surprised-it was Eric Byler from the film festival! So he told me that Winyan gave him my phone number when she interviewed him and asked if I wanted to help Jim Webb. Being the ignorant person that I was, I had no idea about Webb. He then referred to the Macaca incident, which I did remember a little, but I didn't want to say I knew just in case I was recalling something else and mixing things up. So of course I said yes to helping him, I thought it'd be a good chance to make friends with a director. So that day after the call, I scrambled to find equipment I could bring to help him out, and also did a lot of youtube research on Jim.

I balanced out my schedule by taking a day off from my regular work/leaving early/and booking equipment from school for the campaign videos. I had no idea what to expect during the shoot, just took orders and hoped that I wouldn't screw up. But then things started to screw up over the month of doing the campaign, the tripod plate was missing, no batteries for the mic, light stands had missing screws, capturing/logging code breaks (when Eric was actually sitting there), leaving messages on forums about the new videos and getting banned and then re-registering (and sometimes banned again), lost emails, not being allowed to get off work earlier, etc. There were a few days I was staying up really late trying to get stuff to Eric over the internet since he was in Hawaii/LA, and I had to get footage from DC to him. Crashing computers, dropped connections, etc. etc. I was like thinking to myself, argh, what a bad impression I'm making.

While I originally decided to help with the campaign videos to learn, to get more experience, and to make friends with a cool director, half way through, I realized that the volunteering experience became much more to me than that. When my brother pointed out that I constantly mentioned Jim around him, it was then when I reflected on my feelings about volunteering. I really wanted to help Jim smash Allen in this election. As it was nearing election day I constantly told people to vote for Jim and told them to check out the videos for Webb.

I was looking forward to joining all the real virginians for webb at the victory party , but I got sick from the changing weather, working and doing all sorts of stuff all day and all night long and not getting enough sleep. I was really disappointed about that, because I wanted to be with the people who helped make a difference for our country, and of course to thank Eric and Annabel in person for giving me a chance to work with them, and a chance to make a difference in our country. So instead I stayed up supporting Jim with my TV.

Jim won the election yesterday 50% to 49%. Talk about a close one. Eric and Annabel deserve much of the credit for their hard work.

Ryan, I have to say, although our victory was sweet, the most rewarding thing about Real Virginians For Webb was seeing people like you become politically active for the first time-- and like it! I have been doing this for a few years, but this was the first time I really felt like I made a difference. It's a great feeling isn't it?

Most definitely. I was really moved by the people and the goals they were fighting for. It feels great to be part of something that made a difference for our country.

i was just telling annabel yesterday when she picked me up at the airport (i'm now at my parents' house in gainesville) -- when bush was reelected 2004, i said to myself, at least the people of this country have another four years to come to their senses. i imagined a series of events that would unmask the bush regime for what it is and has been, and another 4 years of tragic mistakes that would allow these blind idealouges to earn the legacy they deserve. our nation has come to regret allowing idealouges instead of statesmen to run our government. great politicians instead of great leaders. the truth about their lies will soon be common knowledge. in sum, everything i predicted has come true. but the one thing i never imagined back then, was that i could somehow have played a part in all of this. it's not even a dream come true because i never would have dared to dream it. democracy is more than just a word once you've become an active participant. if we can find a way to convey this to others, our nation will truly and permanently change for the better.