When you take an inventory of your life, what is it that you hope for for the future? Some may look at their education and hope one thing. Some may look at their work experience and hope for another. Whether it be for wealth, fame, love or even immortality, every person looks at the footsteps of their past to form the hopes they have for the future.
I have wondered what it is that I crave for my future. As like many people, my hopes and dreams have grown as I have grown. When I was a kid, I wanted to move into a castle and live happily ever after. I was silly because we all know that castles are expensive pieces of real estate and in today’s housing market ... bleh. So I started growing up and channeling my hopes and dreams for higher education. Higher education meant better opportunities right? No child left behind! Working towards more education is a very self-rewarding process. You start to learn stuff and to show the marks of an educated (wo)man not gullible to false teachings. It’s a good feeling when you gain a little more knowledge that adds to your market value. So you get that degree and you get that job. You go about your life making sure that all the loose ends are all tucked in. You are comfortable and you are content. Physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, [___-ally], you are all okay. What else is there left to hope and dream for? You have enough.
Close your eyes and revert back again to that young child you once were. Play make believe in your backyard with whatever random trinkets you found around the house. Believe that by putting your arms through plastic grocery bags you could fly off the bench. Look up to your parents and see superheroes. Slide down the stairway in a laundry basket, or if one couldn’t be found, on a piece of cardboard. Build a fort out of the sofa cushions. Imagine once more that you were going to live happily ever after.
That’s my goal, hope and dream for my future. That I may live happily ever after. For me, it does not mean that I have to make millions or be a movie star. I do not need a castle or fairy godmother. Just take it as it is. Live a happy, comfortable and full life ... in whatever method that works best for me. This is what I now want to achieve.
Q: What’s your goal for your future?
A: To live happily ever after.
Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? I hope that you can also live happily ever after.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Explanation for the Lack of Posts
So China had blocked blogspot for a long time which meant that I could not update this blog. Ironically, livejournal's ban was uplifted a few weeks after blogspot went down. Unfortunately, while I did put some updates on LJ, I have been behind in my posting on everywhere. But, now I'm back in the USA so I will probably stick with LJ (as this is my "China" one).
:)
:)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Back Home
It has been a little over a week since I’ve been back home.
Home, as in “permanent address” home.
As in FTW home.
As in I <3 USA home.
As in no place like home.
As in home sweet home.
I’ve done absolutely nothing. Except to unpack and futile attempts at re-organizing my new bedroom. I got the bookcase and books set up today. Next task is the desk area. I’ve been to eat with cousins, family and family friends. Unfortunately, most of my friends are either busy or not in town so there hasn’t been much contact via Internet or in person. And my China friends are now in a different time zone. I did, however, beat the Nintendo DS game “Professor Layton and the Curious Village”, a charming little game where you have to solve puzzles/brainteasers to collect clues and the like. It’s like a mystery/puzzle/adventure game all in one! I also finished re-reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (book 7) because I just watched Half-Blood Prince in China before I left and am now anticipating the final movie.
Even though nothing big has happened, I quite like this easy pace of life. It’s a nice break. And while I have errands and chores to take care of, I am going at them one by one without having to worry about multitasking them in a hurry. Which might be a little bad because my room should have been ready by now, haha. I am just enjoying the time that I am back home. There are changes, but a lot of that “family-feeling” is still there. We still laugh, bicker and hang out like the old days. In many ways, being back in Cali feels like I’ve never been gone. It is true that it is always good to go back home.
Home, as in “permanent address” home.
As in FTW home.
As in I <3 USA home.
As in no place like home.
As in home sweet home.
I’ve done absolutely nothing. Except to unpack and futile attempts at re-organizing my new bedroom. I got the bookcase and books set up today. Next task is the desk area. I’ve been to eat with cousins, family and family friends. Unfortunately, most of my friends are either busy or not in town so there hasn’t been much contact via Internet or in person. And my China friends are now in a different time zone. I did, however, beat the Nintendo DS game “Professor Layton and the Curious Village”, a charming little game where you have to solve puzzles/brainteasers to collect clues and the like. It’s like a mystery/puzzle/adventure game all in one! I also finished re-reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (book 7) because I just watched Half-Blood Prince in China before I left and am now anticipating the final movie.
Even though nothing big has happened, I quite like this easy pace of life. It’s a nice break. And while I have errands and chores to take care of, I am going at them one by one without having to worry about multitasking them in a hurry. Which might be a little bad because my room should have been ready by now, haha. I am just enjoying the time that I am back home. There are changes, but a lot of that “family-feeling” is still there. We still laugh, bicker and hang out like the old days. In many ways, being back in Cali feels like I’ve never been gone. It is true that it is always good to go back home.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Leaving 中国 (China) on a Jet Plane
In an hour and a half, my taxi will be picking me up from my apartment to take me to the Shanghai Pudong airport.
My flight then is scheduled to leave at 14:55. Hopefully no delays. And then in about 11-12 hours, I will be stepping onto the beautiful American soil again.
oh my gosh. This is all real. I can't believe that this particular chapter of my life is officially coming to a close. What an experience. What a life.
Nervous? Yeah. Excited? Yeah. Happy? Yeah. Gonna miss China? Yeah. Gonna love being home? Yeah!
My flight then is scheduled to leave at 14:55. Hopefully no delays. And then in about 11-12 hours, I will be stepping onto the beautiful American soil again.
oh my gosh. This is all real. I can't believe that this particular chapter of my life is officially coming to a close. What an experience. What a life.
Nervous? Yeah. Excited? Yeah. Happy? Yeah. Gonna miss China? Yeah. Gonna love being home? Yeah!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Half-Blood Prince Movie
**No spoilers**
HP&the Half-Blood Prince was ... AWESOME!!!!! Maybe I was just super excited to be watching a new HP movie, but this one might have been the best transfer from book to movie to date. The pacing was good, the important parts were highlighted and the people were gorgeous. Of course, being that it is a movie, some details were left out and some character development was missing. But for fans of the books who have read the books and know what is supposed to be happening and going on, you are able to fill it in yourself and see the results on the big screen.
It was a very dark movie, but it was perfectly balanced with its moments of humor and comedy. Very good. Very good.
And I guess one thing with being on the other side of the world, is that I am living a few hours ahead of when the movie premiers in America. So it's almost like I am getting a special sneak peek at the movie, but not really.
Happy. Happy.
A not too spoilery quote that I thought was funny:
Professor McGonagall: Why is it that whenever there is trouble, the three of you are involved?
Ron: We've been asking ourselves that same question for the last 6 years.
HP&the Half-Blood Prince was ... AWESOME!!!!! Maybe I was just super excited to be watching a new HP movie, but this one might have been the best transfer from book to movie to date. The pacing was good, the important parts were highlighted and the people were gorgeous. Of course, being that it is a movie, some details were left out and some character development was missing. But for fans of the books who have read the books and know what is supposed to be happening and going on, you are able to fill it in yourself and see the results on the big screen.
It was a very dark movie, but it was perfectly balanced with its moments of humor and comedy. Very good. Very good.
And I guess one thing with being on the other side of the world, is that I am living a few hours ahead of when the movie premiers in America. So it's almost like I am getting a special sneak peek at the movie, but not really.
Happy. Happy.
A not too spoilery quote that I thought was funny:
Professor McGonagall: Why is it that whenever there is trouble, the three of you are involved?
Ron: We've been asking ourselves that same question for the last 6 years.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Yay HP!
I will be going to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Shanghai!!!!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Ouch!
My body is falling apart.
Day 2 of arriving in Shanghai: I sprain my left ankle in a very serious way. As I walked down a set of non-moving escalators, I misstep and hear a loud pop! sound. Pain! Pain! Pain! I have to hold onto Ryan’s arm as I hobble down the rest of the stairs. Later that night, I wake up in the middle of my nap, feel my ankle throbbing and look down to see that it has swollen up. It is difficult to walk. I never get it checked out by a professional and to this day I do not know if it is permanently damaged or not. It doesn’t hurt anymore and rarely do I feel an ache. But I know it's probably still there.
China’s National Holiday (Golden Week): I am fine until the last few days of the Golden Week. Luckily I was on holiday and did not have to work. But, on the last few days of the Golden Week I suddenly fall ill. As in, seriously ill. I had come home early from a dinner with a slight headache. The next morning, it was a chore to walk the few steps over to Darleen’s apt for a homemade breakfast. I had to decline an invitation to the Science and Technology Museum because my whole body just felt sore and horrible. My body later rejected the breakfast and any other foods I would attempt to eat for the next few days. I could barely keep water down and managed to eat a few slices of bread. I lay in bed with a fever, chills and pounding headache for about 3 days. I had a big homework assignment due so I would alternate: write a paragraph and nap for an hour, repeat. No roommate Sina was still in America. I had no way of leaving my apt if I needed anything, but thankfully Darleen would check up on me when she could. I had never, in my life, been that sick before. To add to this, the hacking cough that I caught because of my low immunity would remain with me for about 2 months until I left winter in Shanghai for warmer temperatures in Southeast Asia during Spring Festival.
Sometime in March/April: I am teaching in class and bending down to write something on the lower half of the whiteboard. I stand up and all of a sudden something pops loudly behind my right knee. I cannot straighten out my right leg because the pain is so intense. But, the show must go on so I am kinda hopping and putting all my weight on my left leg as I continue to finish up the lesson. Luckily I was about to start bookwork which meant independent work for the students. I tenderly put some weight onto my right leg and it hurts to support it. For the next two weeks, I cannot kneel or bend the knee, but I would accidently re-pop whatever it was 3 more separate times, all while squatting or kneeling for something. It really hurt. From then on, I am cautious whenever I have to bend my right knee and actually try to avoid doing so.
Today: I am packing up my luggage when all of a sudden as I am on my knees and moving around, I hear and feel that grossly familiar pop behind my right knee again. I thought it had healed, but apparently not. I struggle and hop to stand up and sit on my bed. Ouch!
What else is going to break down? Not to mention the mysterious bruises that I sometimes find on my body.
Day 2 of arriving in Shanghai: I sprain my left ankle in a very serious way. As I walked down a set of non-moving escalators, I misstep and hear a loud pop! sound. Pain! Pain! Pain! I have to hold onto Ryan’s arm as I hobble down the rest of the stairs. Later that night, I wake up in the middle of my nap, feel my ankle throbbing and look down to see that it has swollen up. It is difficult to walk. I never get it checked out by a professional and to this day I do not know if it is permanently damaged or not. It doesn’t hurt anymore and rarely do I feel an ache. But I know it's probably still there.
China’s National Holiday (Golden Week): I am fine until the last few days of the Golden Week. Luckily I was on holiday and did not have to work. But, on the last few days of the Golden Week I suddenly fall ill. As in, seriously ill. I had come home early from a dinner with a slight headache. The next morning, it was a chore to walk the few steps over to Darleen’s apt for a homemade breakfast. I had to decline an invitation to the Science and Technology Museum because my whole body just felt sore and horrible. My body later rejected the breakfast and any other foods I would attempt to eat for the next few days. I could barely keep water down and managed to eat a few slices of bread. I lay in bed with a fever, chills and pounding headache for about 3 days. I had a big homework assignment due so I would alternate: write a paragraph and nap for an hour, repeat. No roommate Sina was still in America. I had no way of leaving my apt if I needed anything, but thankfully Darleen would check up on me when she could. I had never, in my life, been that sick before. To add to this, the hacking cough that I caught because of my low immunity would remain with me for about 2 months until I left winter in Shanghai for warmer temperatures in Southeast Asia during Spring Festival.
Sometime in March/April: I am teaching in class and bending down to write something on the lower half of the whiteboard. I stand up and all of a sudden something pops loudly behind my right knee. I cannot straighten out my right leg because the pain is so intense. But, the show must go on so I am kinda hopping and putting all my weight on my left leg as I continue to finish up the lesson. Luckily I was about to start bookwork which meant independent work for the students. I tenderly put some weight onto my right leg and it hurts to support it. For the next two weeks, I cannot kneel or bend the knee, but I would accidently re-pop whatever it was 3 more separate times, all while squatting or kneeling for something. It really hurt. From then on, I am cautious whenever I have to bend my right knee and actually try to avoid doing so.
Today: I am packing up my luggage when all of a sudden as I am on my knees and moving around, I hear and feel that grossly familiar pop behind my right knee again. I thought it had healed, but apparently not. I struggle and hop to stand up and sit on my bed. Ouch!
What else is going to break down? Not to mention the mysterious bruises that I sometimes find on my body.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
China's Net Nanny
I must document this or at least leave my mark somehow before the spread gets to this site soon!
China's Internet Nanny has gotten censorship and block happy recently and have blocked more websites. Youtube is still blocked. Google Gmail was blocked for a few days as well. LJ was blocked for a long time and recently in the past few weeks has been unblocked. Twitter was blocked and unblocked. Now, they have reblocked Twitter and get this, they have even blocked Facebook. As far as I know, this is the first time Facebook has ever been blocked (at least in my experience with the Great Firewall of China). I give it a few more days and then LJ might be blocked again~~
Supposedly the reason behind the recent blockings has to do with the ethnic uprisings in China's Xinjiang Province, home to the Uyghur people. I am sure you can google and wiki the information so that I do not have to get into a discussion here.
FACEBOOK!! With it blocked, what else am I supposed to do online? Work on my thesis?
China's Internet Nanny has gotten censorship and block happy recently and have blocked more websites. Youtube is still blocked. Google Gmail was blocked for a few days as well. LJ was blocked for a long time and recently in the past few weeks has been unblocked. Twitter was blocked and unblocked. Now, they have reblocked Twitter and get this, they have even blocked Facebook. As far as I know, this is the first time Facebook has ever been blocked (at least in my experience with the Great Firewall of China). I give it a few more days and then LJ might be blocked again~~
Supposedly the reason behind the recent blockings has to do with the ethnic uprisings in China's Xinjiang Province, home to the Uyghur people. I am sure you can google and wiki the information so that I do not have to get into a discussion here.
FACEBOOK!! With it blocked, what else am I supposed to do online? Work on my thesis?
Monday, July 6, 2009
Overheard in New York Website
Overheard in New York website:
Young woman to friend: And I was getting so fucking mad at my boss, so I reached into my bag and pulled out the emergency extra strength maxi-pad I always carry, and walked into his office and threw it at his face. And he looks at me calmly, picks it up, opens it up and sticks it to his desk, and then takes his bottle of water and starts pouring it onto the pad. So I scream, "what the fuck are you doing?" and he looks at me and says, "I want to see if the commercials are true."
--Downtown 1 Train
Young woman to friend: And I was getting so fucking mad at my boss, so I reached into my bag and pulled out the emergency extra strength maxi-pad I always carry, and walked into his office and threw it at his face. And he looks at me calmly, picks it up, opens it up and sticks it to his desk, and then takes his bottle of water and starts pouring it onto the pad. So I scream, "what the fuck are you doing?" and he looks at me and says, "I want to see if the commercials are true."
--Downtown 1 Train
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
"Amen" by Tank
I had my iTunes set on random today and this song started to play. I was attracted to the tune of it and then started to really listen to the lyrics. Because it's a Chinese song, I needed to look up the lyrics online so that I could follow along with it easier. I translated the lyrics and decided that I did indeed liked this song. So I wanted to share it with you guys. I apologize that a bit of the meaning has been lost in translation (as it usually happens with me, sorry). But the general gist of the song is about wanting life to be perfect, but realizing that life cannot be perfect. The trials and uncertainties in life are given to us to overcome, so that we can become stronger in our beliefs. Or at least that is how I'm interpreting the song. I'm not exactly 100% fluent in Mandarin. Regardless it is still a nice song.
You let me lose my way, so that I can find my true self
As long as I can see my own sincerity and self
That is when I can see you.
請賜給我一顆不會 熄滅的星
請賜給我一朵不被 淋濕的雲
請告訴我的眼睛 再等一下就是黎明
請別笑我 每天都要 跟你談心
請賜給我一顆不會 受傷的心
請賜給我永遠用不完的勇氣
如果還能說下去 請讓我在這黑夜裡
相信明天 一覺醒來 是個好天氣
Chorus:
**我不要飛來的運氣 也不用比別人榮幸
只求當我在谷底 還有力氣 疼痛和哭泣
荊棘中還能辨認來時的腳印
我不求變成個奇跡 也不用開創天或地
只求我最迷茫時 還能找到 最初的自己
如果我痛到必須要閉上眼睛 就看見你**
原來每一顆星熄滅 才會再亮
原來每一朵雲濕透 天才放晴
原來一顆心受傷 是爲了要更有勇氣
原來勇氣 因為失去 才有了意義
Repeat Chorus
流過的淚留下運氣 受過的傷都很榮幸
下一次跌落谷底 就該知道 躺下看山頂
何不替眼睛謝謝所有的風景
我存在就是個奇跡 你為我創造天與地
你讓我不斷迷路 直到找到 真正的自己
原來只要我能看見我的真心
就看見你
English Translation: Amen
Composer: Tank
Please bestow upon me a star that can’t be extinguished
Please bestow upon me a cloud that will not rain
Please tell my eyes to wait just awhile more for daybreak
Please don’t laugh at me because I want to speak with you everyday
Please bestow upon me a heart that won’t be wounded
Please bestow upon me never-ending courage
If I could also say, please leave me in this dark night
So that I can trust that I will awaken tomorrow to a good day
Chorus:
**I don’t need to be given luck and I don’t need to be compared to others for honor
I only ask that when I am in the valley, I still have strength, aches and tears
So that from behind the thorns I can still identify your timely footprints
I don’t seek to become a miracle, or to create the sky or earth
I only ask that when I am most confused, I can still find who I really am
So that if pain causes me to close my eyes, I can clearly see you**
But,
It turns out that every star needs to be extinguished to be bright again
It turns out that every cloud needs to rain so that the sky can be clear
It turns out that a heart needs to be wounded in order to gain courage
It turns out that courage has to be lost for courage to have meaning
Repeat Chorus
Tears flow and leave behind luck, the wounds that were suffered are all honorable
The next time I fall into the valley, I should know to lay down and watch the hilltop
Why not close my eyes and give thanks to the scenery
You let me lose my way, so that I can find my true self
As long as I can see my own sincerity and self
That is when I can see you.
MS & QY Grade 3 Graduation
These little Chinese kids are amazing. Granted the routines are not rocket science, but to have a 7 year old with the patience to pay attention and understand what it means to get the steps right, well I can’t say that I am not impressed.
MS and QY Kindergarten’s grade 3 students had their graduation ceremony at the Noble Center in Minhang District of Shanghai. They will be starting primary school in the fall. The ceremony had each grade 3 class performing a class routine, involving dancing and props. The kids had to remember formations and the beat of the music. In addition, there were also performances from various groups of kids, like the “dance class” kids, the deaf kids, and my grade 3 class even did a special Wushu performance. The teachers performed as well, ranging from singing to a military/artsy dance about war (?) and drumming. All in all, it was a nice ceremony to send those little grade 3 rascals off to primary school.
I’ll miss them.
MS and QY Kindergarten’s grade 3 students had their graduation ceremony at the Noble Center in Minhang District of Shanghai. They will be starting primary school in the fall. The ceremony had each grade 3 class performing a class routine, involving dancing and props. The kids had to remember formations and the beat of the music. In addition, there were also performances from various groups of kids, like the “dance class” kids, the deaf kids, and my grade 3 class even did a special Wushu performance. The teachers performed as well, ranging from singing to a military/artsy dance about war (?) and drumming. All in all, it was a nice ceremony to send those little grade 3 rascals off to primary school.
I’ll miss them.
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