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| i really wonder what triggers me to write an entry in Xanga. I actually sometimes forget that I even have an account, but every so often, either when I'm super stressed and need to vent OR i'm super bored, something in me tells me to write in Xanga. I really love the fact that I can still look back at entries I wrote in high school so I really hope that either Xanga never goes offline or I never forget I have an account. I guess I have a huge fear my memory will disintegrate so badly that I forget the major events in my life or I forget to appreciate what I've been able to experience. In a way, i'm kinda writing a letter to my future self about what's going on right now. wierd.
So, a quick update on my life so far!
I graduated in May! Felt great knowing what I was gonna do the coming September, and at times i did feel kinda awkward talking to others who didn't get an internship, but I really wish everyone in my program the best since I know how competitive it all was. Anyways, the majority of my final exams were spent researching on my trip to Japan with Alice and Theresa. We went for 8 days (plus 2 days of travelling) and it was just SUPER FUN. We stayed in Asakusa and was really lucky that it was also the Sanja Matsuri festival, so we go to experience that whole side of Japanese culture. I'm so glad I went w/ foodies since we had marathon eating sessions, and less on the shopping (since the latest trend was sth I just can't see myself wearing!). Everyone we met there was super friendly, and some even went out of their way to help us out. Some highlights of our trip:
Tokyo - best sushi ever at Tsukiji Market; Uniqlo is cheap there!; do your research on using transit!
Osaka - everything is louder and more flavourful! need to check out huge underground mall next time!
Kyoto - a real blast from the past. so beautiful, with an abundence of temples. lots of great traditional food
Nara - only got to stay in a Ryoken there (which was SOO pretty, great service, and tranquil). I know there's a great park there, so next time I gotta rent a bike and ride around there!
Yokohama - ramen museum was a let down, but the harbour is actually pretty! there's some decent shopping there too!
So right after an amazing trip with my friends, I had 2 days to recover from my jet lag and I was off to Belgium and Paris with the parents. This time I had to organize and research the whole trip, so it was stressful but really good too. This was my more lux tour, since I was kinda like the hired tourguide leading a private tour that requested for a more laid back experience. I pretty much marked off all the stores and cafes I wanted to hit in Paris, and got a chance to discover things I never had the chance to in my previous, student-budget visit. But one thing that really struck me was the total change in attitude from Japan. I totally forgot about the snobbishness that Europeans can have! Some highlights of my Euro trip:
Brussels - I think we got to know the city really well by day 2. Having a fresh waffle while taking in the free Jazz concert in Grande Place during dusk was a v. memorable. Even tho there wasn't that many things to do, the Horta Museum was worth the entrance fee since I love Art Nouveau. The biggest lesson I learned was that it rains ALOT in Belgium, but they make up for that w/ their super YUM chocolate (heck, they have a whole city square of just high end chocolate shops!)
Bruges - so so pretty. bridges everywhere and narrow winding streets. suprisingly, a little crowded in the morning, so go in the afternoon! Explore not only the city centre, but walk around the residential area and check out the windmills at the outer edges.
Paris - I still had that moment of awe when I emerged from the metro and found myself on the busy streets of Paris the first day. Paris is seriously the prettiest city ever. Too bad there is way too many tourists around! I got to explore and found the best croissant ever, excellent boutiques, old galleries and my new fav., tourist free area - Canal Saint Martin. When I'm old, I really want to have that Parisian life of hanging out in cafes day and night.
After my kick ass weeks of travel, I came home and took a week to really just relax. I then started to look for a summer job. I wanted something related to the nutrition field, but I wasn't really excited to work in a long term care facility. Fortunately, I got hired by a supplement store. I went in thinking it wouldn't be too far off from my background since we often talk about supplementing vitamins into people's diet, but I was shocked to learn about the whole world of naturopathic and wholistic health that most of my co-workers came from. I have a new understanding and appreciation for their point of view, but I found myself constantly conflicted with what they believed in, what the store sold, and what I was taught. While my co-workers flaunt the fact that they only eat organic and wholistic (while stating gluten and dairy as the root of all evil), I find it ironic that they take so many supplements. Sure, they claim to be all natural supplements, but I truly believe taking such a concentrated source of a vitamin is not the answer. We are designed to take food - meaning complex items that contain MANY vitamins and nutrients, all which are needed TOGETHER for the body to utilize. Sure, people need supplements when they have conditions where they are lacking a vitamin or mineral, but I also can't help but think that we are also playing dangerously with the body's natural balance. In the end, I actually learned alot from this job - I had an intense 4 week training session where I learned alot about the world of supplements. To this day I still can't remember what everything does! From my co-workers, I've realized that I do want to incorporate a bit of that natural way of life, since I've always believed in eating in the most simple and natural way, but at the same time, I think it neglects a large part of the population which can not afford to do so. As much as I enjoy interacting with customers and being able to talk about health and nutrition all day, I can't wait til I'm done this job! I'm really excited and nervous about internship, but first, I gotta start reviewing all my notes and start on that 10 page assignment!!!!!!
Summer notes:
books:
Slaughter House Five; Kurt Vonnegut
Never Let Me Go; Kazuo Ishigiro
East of Eden; John Steinbeck
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push"; Sapphire
Midnight's Children; Salman Rushdie
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; Steig Larsson
misc. activities:
biking all over, cardio kick boxing classes (signed up for spin classes this coming Sept - Dec! Can't wait!), rock climbing (hello bruises!), BBQs (just add White wine Sangria and let the good times roll), Summerlicious at Auberge de Pommier (ties w/ Canoe as best place for -licious meals)
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| xwow. xanga is so dead. but for some reason I keep coming back! Maybe b/c there's no other way (and yes, I'm too lazy to set up Blogger) where I can actually go and write down my ideas (that go beyond 40 characters) so that I force myself work thru them by formulating/processing them through words. Notice how I only write in here when I finally have some downtown to take account of major-ish things that's occured in life - I guess I never really had the time to process through them and realize what I'm taking away from those experiences.
Anyways, after all that reasoning of why I still blog, here's my real entry:
I love spring. It's probably because I'm lucky enough to be sitting in my sunlit room, and be facing out a window that looks out onto a little playground. Yes, I moved to a new house, and though it's an adjustment to being back with the 'rents (um, getting tired at 11:30 these days ~what!?) I actually quite like the place! Sure, there isn't a Viva bus right at my doorstep, but there's still a bus I can take on the weekdays, plus theres one less person tying up the car now! Also, I don't have to be facing a constantly lit parking lot - though I do miss having a nice balcony! Oh, and I never realized how much I love hardwood floors versus carpet - so much easier in terms of keeping the place clean!
I must say that I'm feeling very fortunate these days! I have found myself wondering if everything is too good to be true, or if something bad is just waiting to pop up and ruin it all, but I've realized that its better to be appreciative of it all while I still can! I'm glad to know that I have an internship position this coming Sept - so at least no more worries about what the F' to do with my life! I'm also happy to see that I'm finally going to be done with being a undergrad! And boy, this last semester was STRESSFUL. The courses were all largely based on group work, some courses got suddenly harder, there was that course that was just speeches, and on top of it all, there was the whole internship application/interview chaos. I don't think I would of remained sane without the all the support systems I have around me! But I'm glad everything is winding down. One more assignment and a final exam, and then I get a week to plan/dream about my trips to Japan and Paris & Brussels! Now all that's left is finding a job to pay off the debts when I come back!!!!!!!!
Wishing everyone a great spring/summer! | | |
| I can't believe the 2000's are over!! I still remember all that hype about Y2K bug, hahahaha. But to realize it's been 10yrs already is just mind-boggling! It's definitely been a life defining 10yrs since 2 huge life stages has gone by. High school was surprisingly good since I was able to find and surround myself with good friends, some of which will probably be life-long friends. University was....a learning experience to say the least! It was then that I truly learned about achievements, limitations, and identity. It was the later part of the decade that I finally realized goals that I actually felt compelled to pursue, interests that aren't just fads, and realized and embraced my surprising need for independence. Some friends have come and gone, but they've definitely played a role in shaping my 2000's. Big thanks and love to family and friends who have stuck with me, and I look forward to 2010's! Now, where are those flying cars and impending Armageddon that was predicted by all those movies!??!
I think I need a quick re-cap of everything that's happened so far, just for my sake! I bet I'm gonna feel DAMN old at the end of this list:
-2000 - 2003 - oh, high school. hahaha. enough said. I'm glad I can look back at it with fond memories. Just don't show me pictures. God. what was I (and everyone else) wearing!?!?!?
-2004 - UofT - man. 1st yr! frustration, confusion, trying to keep the past but also trying to move fwd. great memories OUTSIDE of the classrooms.
-2005 - 2nd year was so much different. definitely my most memorable year of UT. IHOP! 1st overseas trip with friends in Taipei. Internship in HK - loved it, learned alot about not only the place, but myself and unspoken complexities about life and family. Just wished I was paid better!
-2006 -2007- confusion but finally realized what I really wanted in life. FINALLY became self-motivated!
-2008 - grad from UT. europe trip with friends. enrolled for more school at RyHigh
-2009 - finishing Ry. most productive summer ever - 2 jobs + 4 volunteer jobs. waiting in anticipation of what 2010 will bring!
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| it's been awhile since I last updated. I'm not gonna lie, I probably have time to write in here, but after the hours of staring into a computer screen at work, i'm not totally jumping to stare at it somemore at home. Plus, Twitter is somehow taking over, although I tend not to really write in there much either. It's much more like a great aggregator of updates of blogs that I follow. So, what's been going on....I need to write this down for my sake before I start forgetting, so don't mind how it's written in point form and any form of grammar is thrown out the window. (I apologize to all my former English teachers.) Anyways, it's crazy how its mid-July already! May - 2 week intensive course for microbiology. Dealing with Staph Aureus in lab freaked me out and made me jump into the antibacterial-hand sanitizer-bandwagon. - Montreal - fresh bagels at 2 am are so good. Montreal is STILL the best patio city in Canada. Last time we get to crash at Eve's for the weekend trips! June -Barcelona: best city. Endless tappas and great seafood. crazy thick hot chocolate. New respect for architecture thanks to the genius of Gaudi - Europeans definitely embrace art WAY more then Asia and North America. brought back great candy from Papabubble. LOVED La Boqueria, delicious razorclams and other seafood, best restaurant was Le Quinz Nuits. Next time - much more shopping to do, and don't go on Sundays. -Naples: ruins of Pompeii was WAY bigger then I expected, but still really cool to walk around in - you definitely need a guided tour to get the best experience out of it. Unfortunately we got rained out, so didn't get to do any of the shopping its famous for, but did brave the wetness to get some famous pizza. Call me ignorant, but I still like Terroni's pizza better. I guess the thinner the crust the better- I'm not that fond of Naples' more chewy crusts. -Rome: crazy whirlwind walking tour thru Rome managed to hit the Coliseum, Trevi fountain, the Pantheon, Vatican City, and the round Castle of St.Angelo. too bad didn't have enough time to really explore everything, but somehow I don't have a crazy urge to return the city. hmmm. It was crazy how everywhere you turn, you spot a building/structure that looks important, but have no clue what idea what it is. - Florence: LOVE this place. So pretty and everything is so walkable! I think the Duomo beats even the Vatican in terms of looking the best. had really great Tiramisu. oh and go early to San Lorenzo Market in order to be able to haggle prices for leather goods. - Nice: very posh city. somewhat reminded me of Paris. definitely good for shopping since it has all the name brands here. interesting how there's a posh area, an old area, and modern/shopping strip. The pebble beach was okay -not that great as a beach cuz rocks kinda hurt to walk barefoot on, but the water was really nice and clear. oh, and definitely skip getting a Coke and get a glass of wine instead - it's half the price in comparison! - Monaco: um. can definitely skip. really small city! the Prince's palace was...not impressive at all. instead, the best was the little church that was located between 2 cliffs, and under 2 hwys, right under the entrance to the train station. The Monte Carlo casino was crawling with tourists, and had the token Ferrari, Maserati, etc. parked at the entrance. The gelato place beside the entrance was pretty good tho! -Marseille: still impressed how we walked all over the city - hiked up to the top of the Notre Dame de Garde where we got an AMAZING view of the city and the harbour, walked down and across the shopping boulevard, and walked thru the old part of town, and saw the other Cathedral. July - volunteering like crazy, but loving it (most of it at least, hehehe) and working 2 jobs, but always amazed and appreciative of how flexible it all is. - summerlicious at Canoe - realized how I have officially lost interest in this Toronto event. The meal was good, don't get me wrong, and the view was amazing. Maybe too amazing since we got the best table in the resto - the one at the corner with both the South and West windows beside us - but the $45 price tag doesn't really appeal to me no more. sigh. - gelato is sadly, another thing that's not as great as it used to be. Il Gelateria at Mount Pleasant & Eglington is still the best - the plum, and the kiwi are really good, and yea...the blueberry was too...grainy?? but I'm all about frozen yogurt now. especailly the blueberry frozen yogurt at Summer's ice cream down at Yorkville. - trying to bike more. too bad uptown drivers don't even expect there to be pedestrians, let along bikers, so...constant state of fear and muttering under my breath whenever I ride. August ..........we'll just wait and see. Hope everyone else is having a great one! | | |
| holy crap.
i've been at the library since 10am, researching for an assignment and I'm getting a MASSIVE headache. This library has virtually no ventilation, and the bright lights and heat generated by the dozens of computers in this room is NOT helping. There is no windows, except for the ones that look into the freaking hallway. The only upside is that I'm using the very sleek iMacs - such a nice big screen, and GOD, love that F3 Expose/Dashboard button - I love being able to see evth open all at once! Plus, it seems ppl are scared of the Macs, so even if there's a line-up for the desktops, there's always at least on Mac free! tehehehe. Omg. is Apple slowly converting me to the dark side?!?!?!
i can't believe reading week is coming up. I have a BILLION readings to catch up on (somehow I have way more to read then even back at UT) and gotta somehow schedule in some work too! This forward-thinking made me want to escape. I looked at courses at HKU and there's this one that's VERY appealing - it's continuing education, thus open to everyone and it get you a certificate on Chinese and Western dietary foods. Too bad it's 4 months AND $13,900HKD..... sigh. there goes my excuse to go to HK for the summer!
god. head pounding more then ever. I need fresh air. must...get.....out...... screw you, assignment! | | |
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