Today was the first "official" day of the Democratic National Convention.  It’s going to be hard to put the entire exhilarating yet exhausting experience into words, so I’ll try to keep my comments brief and let my photos do most of the talking.

There were quite a number of AAPI events today, beginning with the AAPI Caucus meeting this morning at 10 AM.  Numerous AAPI leaders, candidates, and elected officials came and spoke to the importance of AAPI political participation and why electing Sen. Obama is critical for our community, including Congressman Mike Honda, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, DNC AAPI Caucus Chair Bel Leong-Hong, California State Controller John Chiang, Illinois Veterans Affairs Secretary Tammy Duckworth, Minnesota State Senator Mee Moua, Connecticut State Assembly Member Bill Tong, New York City Council Member John Liu, and many, many more.  DNC Chair Howard Dean dropped by to say a few words, as well as Convention Secretary Alice Germond, who noted the record estimated 264 AAPI delegates at this year’s convention, a 20% increase over 2004.

DNC Chair Howard Dean speaks to the AAPI Caucus

I also had the opportunity to sit on a panel on grassroots organizing and engaging AAPI youth along with Hrishi Karthikeyan, co-founder of South Asians for Obama, and S.R. Siddarth, also known as "macaca" thank to a certain former Senator from Virginia.  Survivor winner Yul Kwon moderated the panel.  We discussed our approach to organizing youth and the grassroots, bridging the generational gap in the AAPI community, and the challenges of engaging youth in politics at the local level.

After the AAPI Caucus, I had a short break before heading over to the Marriot City Center hotel for the Asian American Action Fund’s APA Power Hour.  I had a chance to talk to AAPIs from all over the country at the event.  Congressman Honda kicked it off by introducing Ashwin Madia, a 30 year old Marine JAG and Iraq vet running for Congress in Minnesota.  Like Sen. Obama, Ashwin’s story is an inspiring one of working his way through school and excelling and using his talents and training to serve others.

Next, I attended the Indian American Leadership Initiative’s event at the Denver Athletic Club.  I got to see Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, former California State Controller Steve Westly, and Congressman Brad Sherman.  I also took the opportunity to snap a quick photo with Ashwin Madia.  It was particularly exciting to see Kansas State Rep. Raj Goyle, for whom I have many fond memories of when he traveled to Texas to campaign for Sen. Obama before our primary/caucus.  Some of you may remember him from our posts during the Texas campaign.

Minnesota Congressional Candidate Ashwin Madia and Me

Governor Tim Kaine

Kansas State Rep. Raj Goyle and Me

Obama Supporter and Fellow Texan Christina Wang, Me, and S.R. "Macaca" Sidarth

After IALI, it was time for the main event, and I headed to the Pepsi Center for official convention business.  An incredibly long bus ride through traffic later, we walked through heavy security to the packed convention center.  As I walked to the Texas delegation’s seats, I noticed a sudden commotion around me.  I turned to discover that walking right behind me through the halls was New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson!  People began crowding around, and for a brief moment, I could pretend I had my own entourage.  But all things must end, and so I arrived at my delegation.

In Front of the Pepsi Center

The evening’s speeches were an amazing experience.  There was as a theme for each speaker, and volunteers ran up and down the aisles handing us appropriate signs to wave.  There was a terrific video from President Jimmy Carter on the value of service, and everyone rose to their feet when he made a surprise appearance on stage (he was not on the original schedule).

Of course, one of the most hotly anticipated speeches for me was Maya Soetoro-Ng’s.  I won’t go into too many details since others have blogged about her speech already, but it was exactly what I expected - a moving tribute to the values and experiences of her and Barack’s family - the compassion, curiosity, and adventurousness of their mother, the steadfastness and perseverance of their grandparents.

Maya Speaking to the Convention

One of the highlights of the evening was a moving video tribute to Sen. Ted Kennedy’s lifetime of fighting for regular Americans on issues ranging from education to health care.  Despite his recent brain surgery, he came on stage and gave as rousing and passionate a speech as ever.  He challenged us to achieve universal health care coverage as his brother had challenged America to go to the moon - "not because it is easy, but because it is hard."  He also pledged to be on the floor of the Senate in January 2009 when President Barack Obama takes office so he can be an ally in the fight for justice and prosperity for all Americans.

The first day of convention ended with Michelle Obama’s speech.  I had the pleasure of seeing her speak before at the University of Texas campus campaign office, and she moved me to tears on that occasion.  Tonight, all of American experienced Michelle’s amazing ability to connect with people on a fundamental level on the most intimate of issues - our dreams, our hopes, and our aspirations, both for ourselves and for our children.  America got to know the real Michelle and the real Barack better, and more of us understood that the distorted pictures painted by John McCain’s negative attacks bear no relationship to the real Obamas, who chose to give up high salaries for serving others, even while trying to pay off student loans and raise two daughters.  I cannot do her speech justice by blogging about it, so I encourage you to check it out for yourself here.

During the speeches, I exercised one of my official delegate duties by signing the petition to officially nominate Sen. Obama for President of the United States.  As I signed my name, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly lucky and proud to play my small part in making history.

After the convention adjourned for the day, the challenge was getting out of the building.  Our slow progress through the crowd slowed even more when Sen. Joe Biden happened to walk by, followed by the folks from the Daily Show.  My friend Rick managed to snap a quick picture.

We ended the day by heading to the Texas Delegation Gala.  Musicians from my home town of Austin played, and we enjoyed some tasty food.  I chatted with a few of our intrepid political reporters from our various state newspapers and caught up with my friends who I hadn’t seen all day.

I’m back at the Red Lion Southeast now, getting ready to get my three hours of sleep before having to wake up bright and early tomorrow morning for yet another day of this incredible experience.