Thanksgivings come and gone..

...back to reality!

I've realized that I've had different Thanksgivings since I've transferred to Davis.

First year I was here: ditched all my classes on Wednesday, woke up at 3am and drove home with a other people.

Second year (which was 2010 Thanksgiving): Thanksgiving in Oaxaca eating nasty ramen and Dona Conchita's bomb tortas.

This year: Mom, bro, and my dog visits me in Davis.

I gotta say...BEST Thanksgiving this year!

WHY?

1. We roasted our own turkey SUCCESSFULLY! Meaning juicy, succulent, and flavorful. My brother is a good cook, and smart. He made his own marinade (granted he did get some of his ideas online..). He bought a flavor injector and injected the marinade into the turkey...He was the one that cleaned the turkey (organs and all)...I'm so proud =')

2. We made our own STUFFING. It was our first year with stuffing, and I basically used this site called Hungry Girl to get my recipes. Their recipes on there are a lot healthier/less fattening. The stuffing we made was a cranberry-apple stuffing with toasted bread and cornbread :) soooo nomnomnom!

3. We made our own apple pie! =) BEST apple pie in the world. Got my recipe from Hungry Girl too. It was so delicious!!!

4. Got to take my mom all over Davis and show her all the cool places like Farmer's Market, Davis Fall weather, Fuji's..etc. We even stopped at a cute dessert place called Ciocolat for dessert and tea =)

5. NAPA VALLEY. Probably one of the most beautiful places I've been to. So happy I was able to take my mom with me too!

6. Overall, thankful for my family! Thankful that they were willing to drive 8 hours to come and see me. Thankful for my friends, for God because He loves me despite how bad I am sometimes.

LASTLY, THANKFUL that I am done in 2 weeks because...I SO do not want to go back to school tomorrow =(

random update

If I had all the time in the world ...

in other words, if my 20s lasted forever..(which, by the way, is KNOWN to be the prime of our lives...and a fact that I whole heartedly believe..)

I would want to spend part of my life living in these places (in somewhat of a non specified order...)

1) Italy

2) Paris

3) London

4) New York

5) Spain

6) Boston

7) Taiwan

8) San Francisco

*Sigh. Was so close to living in SF though. It was the absolute perfect opportunity. My friend was gonna be able to get me into research lab dealing with Alzheimer's at UCSF. I was even talking to my friend Angela to get a place together if she got a job...alas, it wasn't meant to be. This whole my grandma dying biz just made it inconvenient to move to SF. Being the good daughter I am, I just couldn't bear the thought of leaving my mom and brother behind while I was gallavanting off. I mean, I know my mom wouldn't mind, and she'd be okay, but I guess I am just too tied to my family to leave them. So, I gave up that plan to move home after college. Plus, it would mean delaying med school for a year...or two, which ... is fine............

The thought of living in SF is so attractive to me though. I think I prefer the SF vibe way more than the LA vibe. SF has a younger, hipper vibe. I feel like it's less ghetto than LA...and there's just larger crowd of fresh outta college kids. I love the style of SF, and just the fact that SF is downright gorgeous. Sigh. I dunno...I'm kind of tired living in Norcal although I may just be sick of the Davis/Sac area. I'm sure Bay Area life is "hella" different.

Anyhow, definitely wasn't planning on a whole shpeal about SF...this weekend was Halloween weekend and I spent part of it studying, part of it shopping, and part of it very sick. I dunno if it's because I've been sleeping later and later each night or the fact that I'm working with kids or a combo of both, but my immune system has been killing me lately. This is the second time I've been sick this quarter...and we're ONLY starting the 6th week. I blame the kids. They're the cause of all my troubles. I'm jk. I actually enjoy my job.........when the bad kids are gone.......it's so bad because sometimes I look for excuses to give them referrals because they drive me absolutely NUTS.

On a random note, I registered for my MCATs last Wednesday. It feels like I'm signing my life away. To think that the test that will determine my life will occur on April 5th kind of feels like I'm announcing my own apocalypse or something. Okay. Maybe not THAAAT dramatic....but you get what I mean.

When God Touches Your Heart

...you cannot stay the same

One of the constant struggles I face in my Christian walk is my tendency to neglect my relationship with God during busy times. It's definitely something I need to work on.

A constant fear I have is not living out my faith in the face of my non-believing friends. I'ma always afraid of being too pushy with them because many have told me that they went to church at one point, but the people were too pushy, controlling, judgemental that they kind of gave up and left Christianity as a whole. My experience with Koinonia was kind of like that so I understand where they are coming from. Even I felt pressured and wanted to quit Christianity when I attended that fellowship. So now, my tactic is being understanding and being as non-judgemental as possible, which...many actually appreciate. But, I'm just afraid that it's not enough. I don't know.

On a more random note, been sleeping around 3am every night. Even missed church this morning because I couldn't wake up. This is definitely unhealthy for me and wreaking havoc on my face. =(

Be My Everything

One step forward and two steps back.

This song is my heartcry.

God, be my everything. Help me to overcome my weaknesses.

It's Friday night...

....and I'm home ATTEMPTING to write a paper.

Life of a college student...I should be out with a cocktail in hand laughing with a group of girlfriends...

or snuggled up in bed watching movies/catching up on shows...

and the busyness settles in...

So, I started work this week at Dingle Elementary as an after school tutor, and after the first week of work...I've learned that..

KIDS ARE MONSTERS.

Well, at least MY 6th grade class is. How is it that they can be so diabolical and cunning? It sucks even more that my co-worker and I are new. I think it will get better as time passes though...I hope.

This past week has been hectic. Frantically getting my things together to file for graduation, the sudden realization that my lower div science class doesn't count since I'm a science major, and on top of all this, midterms are coming up, work, and me getting sick.

My roommate is awesome though. She's so sweet. She made me soup and cooked me rice because I was feeling crappy and was KO-ed.

The highlight of my sick, busy, hectic week was the fact that I brought my housemate to Christ. All because I left my bible on the table. :) God draws men to Himself. That's for sure.

These days, I'm feeling extra lazy. I don't cook at all anymore. I don't really go out anymore. I should, but so lazy. Sigh..hope this laziness goes away.

8 more weeks before I graduate!

Fear of the Unknown

I've been thinking about my future a lot lately....

maybe it's because this quarter is my last quarter in Davis before I move home...I originally was planning on staying in SF to do research for a year on Alzheimer's. However, with the sudden death of my grandma, I really just want to go home as soon as possible to keep my mom and brother company. I know that research at UCSF would be such a great resume booster. I know going home would be such a waste of a great opportunity, but at this moment, my desire to be with my family trumps all.

I'm currently in the process of gathering my letter of recs before I leave. Taiwan in December and crack down studying for MCATs in January to take the test in March. Depending on how I do, applications in June. Scary to think about, yet exciting at the same time. I'm excited to go to medical school, but worried that I won't even make it in. I have the grades, but I don't know about my experiences. I know I went to Oaxaca...I know I did research and handled my own project....I have clinical experience...but how much is enough? How much is enough for me to stand out? Hearing stories of much more qualified individuals being rejected from ALL the med schools they applied to freaks the bejeezus out of me.

My hope is knowing that if this is what God wants me to do, then He will be responsible for getting me in.

Hebrews 11:1--Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

I think it's so true what the bible says about the human heart. It's an evil thing. I mean, think about all the negative things humanity has done for satisfying the desires of our heart: adultery, betrayal, murder, etc. Even I sometimes am appalled at my own thoughts towards others. Sometimes, I purposefully try to make someone feel bad out of spite. Sometimes, I am jealous of my friends' accomplishments. However, I know this applies to everyone because NO ONE is perfectly nice. No one is a saint. Everyone is a sinner--except Jesus Christ.

I think Greg Laurie's devotion today hit home.

Don't Trust Your Heart

	"For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander."

—Matthew 15:19

How often do we hear the word "heart"? It's a word that we seem to use constantly. If we are sad, we say that we are heartbroken. If someone is insensitive, we say they are heartless. If someone is very emotional and quick to express the way they feel, we might say they wear their heart on their sleeve.

When we speak of the heart, we are often referring to our emotional center. And we usually frame it along the lines of, "Well, my mind is telling me one thing, but my heart is telling me another."

Princes Diana once said, "Only do what your heart tells you."

Let me just say that you should not let your heart tell you what to do, because your heart can mislead you. A lot of crazy things have been done in the name of doing them from the heart. The heart wants what it wants, and many times, the heart wants the wrong things.

Here is what the Bible says about the heart: "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" (Jeremiah 17:9). And Jesus said, "For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander" (Matthew 15:19).

So instead of talking about our heart being broken or doing what our heart is telling us to do or wearing it on our sleeves, Jesus tells us to use our heart—as well as our mind and our soul—for what they were created for: "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).

So we should not focus on our hearts as much as we should focus our hearts on God

Tim Be Told - Analyze - (Official HD Music Video)

This song has been on repeat for the last hour or so. I'm loving the intro with the piano and the powerful entrance of the whole band. I love the lyrics, the voice of the lead singer, and the melody! The melody, along with the whole video/lyrics all resonate hope!

I also love how the majority of the band is Asian, especially the fact that the lead singer is! Go Asian Americans! =) We don't rule mainstream, but we sure do rule Youtube.

Family Above All

My two favorite pictures of the moment. This picture also documents my brother's first time wearing formal wear. I love this picture so much because it shows how adorable my family is. My brother is trying to look all tough and hard, my dad doesn't seem to know how to smile, and my mom tries to act cute with her thumbs up, oh and of course my dumb dog Wawa. Lol. I love the random laundry basket to the side as well.

Can't wait to see them soon!

EXHAUSTED to the CORE!

WHEW!

after a WHOLE DAY of NONSTOP busyness, i'm FINALLY back in Davis at my NEW apartment! kinda relieved, but stressed at the same time. stressed because my work wants me to start ASAP, but i still gotta turn in paperwork....which includes my social security card that i left in LA!

=( le sigh..

i gotta get it mailed to me and then head to woodland to turn everything in before i can even start. hope my work will be okay with it......dear God, help please.

other than that, i gotta unpack everything which is ALWAYS stressful and annoying. i never realized how much CRAP i have, AND worst yet, i think i brought back too much clothes! gah! :( sigh. it's okay though because it's my LAST quarter in Davis. i can FINALLY move back home. after this whole grandma dying suddenly incident, i've come to grow closer to my family ... hardships really bring people together. i think, experiencing life together strengthens relationships, which is why the Oaxaca group is so close. anyhow, i really miss my mom and my brother, and of course, wawa. i also miss my dad, but i've realized that he nags a LOT. for a person who visits for 2 weeks every 3 months or so, he nags a LOT! it drives my brother and i insane. i can't imagine people who live with nagging parents 24/7!

anyways, today, i woke up and finished packing. then i started cleaning my room so that my mom wouldn't have to do it since we are changing the floors while i'm in Davis. so i cleaned up as much as i could, then caught my flight. Liz was gracious enough to pick me up from the airport. it was so nice seeing her again after such a long time. i love just catching up with old friends! after i arrived at my apt, i immediately had to leave to pick up the rest of my stuff from my roommate's friend's place since we had to leave it there after our previous lease ended. we were in this limbo situation where we had no place to stay for 2 weeks. it was horrible. luckily we got a place with my friend Skye, but her cat ended up peeing on my pillow and blanket. after getting our stuff, i had to get water, but liz was hungry so we ended up eating first and then getting groceries. i came back after and organized a little...which resulted with me shattering two of my favorite cups on the floor =( ... sigh. AND, i realized that i lost or "misplaced" the plug for my water heater. so sad...that water heater was expensive too! dear God, please help me find it!!!

now i'm just exhausted. it's 2am and i don't know why the heck i'm blogging, but i am. i have class tomorrow too! hope all is well...i'm ready for you fall quarter!!!!!!! last quarter! let's do this!

It is Finished!

had a foot/head/and back massage for the first time with my family! it was the perfect way to end a hectic day..

recap:

grandma's funeral, rushed home due to my mom's sudden elevated blood pressure, missed my grandma's burial ceremony thing..whew.

anyhow, it's done. my grandma's officially buried. it's amazing how this all happened in a span of less than 2 weeks. my grandma's death, planning her funeral, then repainting our whole house ... time really flew. but now, it's all done.

now, after a relaxing .. and painful...massage, i'm ready to face the new quarter.

Brighter Days!

currently loving my new life! a lot more quality time spent with the family (aka: mom + dad since he's back)! a lot less stress that comes with the responsibilities of caretaking my grandma. now, i know my grandma barely died a little over a week ago, and it may seem morbid and heartless to the world that i am so happy now, but i guess as a Christian, it's just knowing that she is TRULY in a better place and having a better time that makes me free guiltless being so happy =) most importantly, the hope that someday, i will see her again. it's not goodbye...it's see you later!

my mom has also decided to revamp our house. it is currently being repainted. my room has been painted a lovely shade of mauve. i didn't choose it. i wish i chose my color, but i actually find it a nice classy color. the main color of the house is green--light green to be specific with pops of darker green on some walls to give it that 3D feel. it's amazing how a little paint can totally transform the ambiance of our house. it's feel so much warmer and so elegant. my brother said, "it feels like i'm white." hahaha. i guess it is true. asians don't usually repaint their house...or most of the ones i know. the younger, hipper ones are a different story. it is usually caucasians that repaint their walls. haha. my brother has opted to color his room a bright light blue. it makes me feel like i'm in a 5 year old's room. my mom says that it makes her feel like she's "unda tha sea." possible decor may include 1) a spongebob clock 2) glow in the dark fishes 3) drawn in seaweed.

i'm also loving the fact that i can catch up with so many old friends. i've recently met up with Jessica Cheng right before she embarked on her medical adventures in Zimbabwe! it's funny because one of my dreams is to go to Africa for a medical trip or something...funny that she's going. on a not very related, but kind of related note...i'm worried about medical school. i've heard so many people who are so much more qualified than i am not making it into ANY schools. what makes me think i can stand a chance against them if they have more research, more experience, better writing, and better grades? :\ sigh. prayer prayer prayer!

going back to school on Sunday! i'm sad, but it's my last quarter. gotta do my best. workout, lose 10lbs so i can fit into clothes better lol, study, work, pray! let's do this!

adapting

i still can't believe my grandma passed away yesterday. she's gone...forever...it's still such a shock to me. i'm not used to this quietness that's supposed to be filled with the deafening sound of her tv dramas. i'm not used to hearing her voice, and seeing her...definitely not used to the fact that we don't have to worry about her when we go out demonstrated by our dinner at Buca tonight. i dunno if that was appropriate, but my mom was hungry, and we saw that on the way.

perhaps the biggest difference from what i'm used to is the sudden enormous amount of free time we as a family have now. the biggest effect has been on my mom of course whose life was literally chained to my grandma's. she doesn't really know what to do next. i hope everything will be okay. this house we are living in right now is pretty big for just 3 people .. we do have tenants of course, but family-wise, it's just us 3 now. well, 2 when i leave for davis. i just hope my mom won't be too lonely. i hope my dog will be of use to her too. lol.

i'm mostly doing a whole lot better now. just sometimes, it hits me and i'll burst out crying, but i gotta stay strong. after all, my grandma is with Jesus now, and that's the best thing that can happen to her! my mom told me she saw a vision of her last night. she saw my grandma young and beautiful dressed in a pink dress. she was skipping and dancing, her face full of joy to a blurrier figure that seemed to be the Father. He was welcoming her home.

i just hate to think that i could have been a better granddaughter. i remember when she'd do number 2, i would be so annoyed and impatient with her when i had to clean/wipe her. if i was her, i'd be so hurt. first of all, exposing myself with no dignity and then treated that way by her own family. it just makes me feel terrible inside. i regret acting this way. but, i know, it's all too late for regrets now. there's absolutely no use for them anyways.

i wish i told her i love her. despite being annoyed of her most of the time, i did love her. or else, i wouldn't be this sad...i'm just happy that she's relieved now and she's having a good time. i hope she gets to eat whatever she wants because on earth, she wasn't able to. my grandma suffered a lot. she deserves a rest. i just hope i get used to this soon...i hate this empty feeling inside...i miss her. i miss her presence even though it stresses me out. i miss my grandma

Life is fleeting

today has been such a whirlwind...but, to get to the point...my grandma passed away. to be honest, i've been imagining this day for a long time...even hoping for it to come so that my family (mainly my mom) could enjoy life more, but, it still was difficult to accept. it just all came so sudden. some deaths are anticipated...the family knows it's coming, but others, like my grandma's come out of nowhere. those are the worst because it just leaves such a sense of regret and a lot of "if only.."

my grandma was completely fine this morning, according to my mom..i woke up late. when i woke up, the house was empty. i thought everything was fine...even walked my dog and anticipated a fun day with my friends. i called my mom to ask where they were and all she told me was that she was at the doctors for my grandma..which is typical, so i didn't think much. i called her again to tell her that i was going out with my friends, but she told me that i couldn't go because i had to take my brother to the dentist since my grandma was in the hospital. anyhow, i ended up going to eat anyways just because i figured the dentists had to eat lunch too. so after everything, i drove my brother and i to the hospital. my grandma had been admitted and transferred from the ER to a bed already. i saw her in great distress and pain vomiting up yellowish brown liquid. the doctor comes in to tell us that she has a small bowel obstruction, that she will need a tube inserted into her intestines to open up the passage. before he left, he told us that it wasn't a serious case.

my grandma was very crazy. she was in so much pain that she wasn't listening to anybody. she was very resistant to everyone and wanted nothing more than her pain meds. she continued to vomit a lot after the tube was inserted, but she was conscious. after we all ate, i went home to shower to switch shifts with my mom. i came back and saw my grandma asleep so i was using the computer. she seemed to toss and turn a lot in pain...so i made sure that her IV wouldn't move..but i dont know, maybe i wasn't paying close enough attn, but i didn't see that she had pulled part of her tube out already. the nurse came in and saw and i helped him re-insert it for her...during this whole time, she was still alive...i felt like she was half conscious though because throughout this whole time, her eyes were shut. during the re-insertion, she made a little gargle sound and then stopped resisting...she seemed to be asleep sitting up with her mouth opened...so i didn't think much. i just resumed using my computer, but i remember looking at her and thinking how scary and lifeless she looked. i believe at this time, she was gone already...

the nurse then comes in again and then attempts to take bp. i am not really paying attn at this time because i still think she's aslp. the nurse then calls her, "nai nai, nai nai.." and i see him trying to get a pulse everywhere...i STILL think she's asleep so i try to wake her..."nai nai!" i call continuously. there's no response..the charge nurse then runs out and i then realize that probably somethings wrong, but i never suspect death. i'm too scared to. the charge nurse comes in and they discuss and calls a code blue. at this point, i'm like "OH SHIT." all these nurses rush in and they all stare at me. i feel like they're judging me...like it's my fault. i tell them, "i thought she was asleep," but i feel like they're staring at me like i'm lying. they urge me to go outside, and at this point, i'm hyperventilating...i call my mom and i choke out that my grandma is being resuscitated. i see ekgs being ran and there is a signal, so i think she's alive...so i calm down a little. however, the charge nurse comes out and tells me that they tried everything...but she's gone....

i know this is a bit analytical...and impartial, but i'm just trying to get down everything i remember...i remember how impersonal the nurses were. "how were you related to the patient?" they ask. "PATIENT"? Excuse me, but my grandma just died. she's not just a "patient," she's a dead human being with a past. ugh. and stop staring at me like i should have known.

anyhow, the doctor suspect she probably died of heart failure, or some sort of pneumonia along with her small bowel obstruction.

i guess it's better for her to be with Jesus. i mean, i KNOW it's better. its just the fact that there was so much i could have said to her...and it was all so sudden. wtheck? it is better for her because she won't be suffering any more...my mom can enjoy herself, and i dont know...there is a sense of relief....yet, it's all so sudden, and i just feel really numb myself. i dont really know what to do or what's going to happen...

i'm just tired. i'm glad my dog is with me. she's eating lol...and it's 3:24 am...crazy little baby...

New Life in Christ!

this is definitely how i feel right now after my experience last night at PIHOP!!! i've been wanting to go to this place for so so long..i think since i found out about it last december...after i returned from Oaxaca, and after my breakup. i knew i needed it, but somehow, life sometimes comes in the way...anyhow, i totally should have gone earlier. could have saved me a lot of moping around, sulking in my own self-pity. but maybe, like everything else in my life, it was God's timing. perhaps, yesterday was the day that God wanted me to go to PIHOP. perhaps, He intended for me to go through this past year of heartache...i don't know, but whatever the case may be, i'm just really glad i went last night.

as i sat in the worship room, i prayed that it would be life-changing. i ALSO prayed that whatever God wanted to tell me wouldn't be obscure and hard to understand. my conversation with God was literally like so: "God, please don't be obscure. just try to make it plain and simple because you tend to do this thing where you say things .. and many people just go 'HUH?!'" hahaha. i wonder if He was offended...i don't think so. lol.

everything that was said last night related to my breakup . i know everything that was said was from God because it was so healing...it was so tender and loving. PLUS, i feel TOTALLY different today. i mentioned my ex to my brother today, and felt very...emotionless. i saw his name in a notebook I received from China mission trip (which is where we met) and felt completely nothing. it was AMAZING! usually, i would feel this annoying emotion known as "nostalgia." i'm a terribly nostalgic person, which can be annoying sometimes...

last night was also transforming for me because i finally understand HOW much God loves me. i know He does. it's a fact of Christianity. much like the fact that the sky is blue, the Earth is round sort of thing. Yes, Jesus loves me so much to die for me. i KNOW this. but, i think it's also the fact that it's become so familiar to me that it's HARD for me to really feel it. but last night, last night I felt it. I heard it. it was also my first time learning that God has a maternal side, and that maternal side wants to nurture me and protect me so much. protection was something that was emphasized last night. God wants to protect me like a mother protects her child. he wants to be so gentle with me. i'm like his little baby, his little garden. i guess, i've been seeking this physical feeling of protection from the world, from guys. god can provide that for me. my heart now feels whole again...it feels full..not empty anymore. before PIHOP, my heart felt like there was holes in it and everything was leaking. but now, it feels like my heart has been bandaged up..the injuries are just scabs now.

i feel so good now. God's amazing..just like the song says, "My chains are gone, I've been set free." i feel free now, free to run! time to focus on what's important! =) time to cultivate my faith and grow more and more!!! :D

on another note, my friend said that she might be able to get me into a research lab doing Alzheimer's research at the prestigious UCSF. i'm still not sure if i'm going to take the position, granted...she eventually gets around asking her friend for me...if i do take the position, i will move to the bay for a year and postpone mcats/med school apps for another year. somehow, after what happened last night, and after a chat with my mom, i have a feeling i will end up just moving home. i really want to stay and find a good church to go to, probably go to PIHOP more (worshipped for probably 3 hours straight last night! time flew by fast though. felt like it was only an hour!), and just spend time with my bro before he is off to wherever he plans on going. i'm really praying that God will do something in his last year at home...i am worried about him, more so than my mom actually...my mom wants me to spend time with him because my family claims he is different when i'm home, livelier. it's all in God's hands though. plus, if i do stay home, i get to see my adorable dog everyday!!!! i'm loving my time at home with her! she's so cute!!! i can definitely see the love she has for me in her eyes too...when i'm home, she follows me everywhere. when i leave the house to hangout with friends, she tries to find me. lol. so cute. way better than cats (my newfound hatred)..lol

alright. i'm tired. outs!

wonder

i wonder why heartache can last for this long. i wonder why random events can trigger these feelings still. it kind of sucks honestly. random songs, random daily activities can unearth this dull, yet evident physical pain in my chest. it's really pretty pathetic. i don't really understand what this all means...being the neurobio geek i am...i actually read an article about the science behind a heartbreak lolol. apparently a heartbreak actually changes the brain chemistry...particularly in the cingulate cortex, the area responsible for pain.

funny.

Random Thoughts

been thinking a lot about my future these few days...maybe it's because i'm taking UWP104f. despite the workload, i really do enjoy this class. i feel like i'm learning so much about healthcare and science from this class. i enjoy all the reading despite the amount. i love science so much. i love research. i love cell biology. i love physiology, genetic engineering, biotechnology. i probably have so many random thoughts because i just finished reading Emperor of All Maladies, a 470 biography of cancer. it was such a great read. Siddartha Muhkerjee is a fantastic writer. while reading this story, i really felt the struggle and race against cancer. we've really come a long way with cancer..from radical masectomies to new targeted specific therapeutic strategies. it's amazing to understand all that i've read because of my classes. while reading this book, i just remember all the things i've learned in bis104 about cancer, about Taxol, about cells, and it's just amazing. so intricate and so beautiful, yet so destructive and lifesaving at the same time. cancer is a disease of our genetic code. it's scary yet...mindblowing.

anyways, all this stuff i've learned from this book has really driven my desire to do research even more. my biggest regret coming to Davis is not getting myself into a research lab. if i am not good enough to apply to medical school come this June, then i really want to work for a research company...but it's so hard in SoCal. most biotech companies are located in norcal ... or in SD. either way, away from home =\. i want to do research in medical school...i'd love to do oncology research...or just anything with cell bio. clinical research would be cool too.

this summer has been so difficult...especially ss2. endocrinology + uwp104f...what was i thinking...+internship. how am i even managing good grades? i dont even know. i wonder how i did it while at mt. sac. 2 jobs...fulltime schooling + internship. i dunno...by the grace of God i suppose.

i thought i wasn't creative at all, but i think i am. medicine, i've learned, is an art. the art of communication... to patients about their conditions so that they understand...or their impending death.. which hopefully i wont need to do.. the art of surgery...the art of empathy...the art of stretching yourself for your patients...the art of distancing yourself from them enough to make a proper diagnosis..the art of treating them as a person not a set of symptoms...the art of deduction...

yet..i want to remain human as well...

,Sometimes

Feeling very "emo" right now...I suspect my monthly gift is coming soon...anyhow, I'm feeling very homesick right now for some reason. I miss my family so much.....I don't really like coming home to a dark apartment. I miss coming home to my dog running to me with her silly smile. I miss my grandma's super loud Chinese dramas. I miss my mom's cooking and staying up late at night to talk to her. I miss my rebellious younger brother who, despite his teenage angst, makes me laugh the most. I miss always coming home to someone. I just really miss home...FORTUNATELY, I am flying home for Memorial Day weekend! Thank God for braces or else I'd probably spend it studying while all my other friends go home =(.

Today, I walked past this homeless girl begging for food. I looked her in the eye and kept thinking about giving her some money as I walked past her. Somehow, I forgot. When I had remembered, she was gone. As I am typing this, I am eating a delicious Chipotle burrito. I feel terrible because I am reminded of the verse with Jesus saying that he is that man on the streets, that person no one wants to care about, and I feel terrible. I feel so hypocritical because here I am, serving food to the homeless on Thursdays, yet outside of service days, I don't do much. As I sat here eating, I thought, "Why didn't I just buy her food?! She was sitting RIGHT outside of Chipotle! Why didn't I tell her about Chow Nights, or about Cesar Chavez nights?" The worst part is she was around my age. I pray that God will give me another chance. I want to make a difference. Here I am spending money on makeup, clothes, and stupid stuff when I could have used that money for something bigger than myself. I know that God is not mad and does not blame me, but I just feel so guilty. Next time I will do something.

By the way, my 5K was today, but ended up not running it...during my training, my shoe was too heavy and actually caused my hip/knees to start hurting...so I think I will wait until I get new shoes before I start to really get into running..I do enjoy it though =)

Training for My 5k

i'm actually very proud of myself this quarter. i try and make time to work out at least 4 times a week. i definitely find that working out helps me stay alert more. I feel great and confident! i love the way my body feels so good. i've been doing this all quarter usually doing 40-45 minutes of elliptical per workout on a resistance of 8-10. it may not be thaaat hard for some people, but for me, i'm very proud of myself :) sometimes i question how i survived grueling tennis days..=\ but those days are long gone...

anyhow, been trying to get into running so i've been actually incorporating that into my workouts more...but it's been hard...so to get me to run more, i've actually signed up for my first race! it's a measly IM 5k race, but hey, it's my first one! hopefully, i'll get into it more so that i can run run run run run :) i've been running around the park right outside our apartment and it does wonder for my stress level! i pop in my earbuds with a good song and just run! i love the scenic (sorta) routes with trees, the smell of dirt, and just the freshness of the air. love it!

anyhow, been training diligently this past week for my race! i'm nervous still..just hope i dont end up last or something..but even so, i'll be proud of myself! :D

Spring

FINALLY decided to blog after a lonnnggg hiatus! Spring quarter is here and I am SOO HAPPY because the sun is shining everyday! It's simply GORGEOUS .. or GOHGEOUS dahlings (british accent). Today is actually Picnic Day, the notorious day where students get up as early as 6am to get drunk! LAST year was horrible. My first Picnic Day was ruined by 1) heat, 2) bad food, 3) OBNOXIOUS profanity spewing frat/sorority/alcoholics/immature DRUNK college students. It was disgusting how people carried themselves around campus where little kids held hands with their grandparents. UGH. Top it all off, we couldn't get to see any events because it was all full =\ At any rate, I think it's pretty overrated. But, I'm still going to go just because .. well..it's a Davis tradition and it's my last Picnic Day! I am currently at home STUDYING though because I have two midterms and a quiz the following week!! I'm excited for tonight though! My friends and I are going to watch a dance competition called Davis Dance Revolution. Super stoked to see the Popping Club. They seriously have got some mad skills!

Anyhow, I wanted to do a post about cooking and some of the dishes I've been making this quarter, but I realized I hadn't uploaded the pics yet...so, I leave you with some of my cooking tips! The dishes I make are usually Chinese dishes. I come from a Taiwanese background so I introduce the flavors into my food as well. Taiwanese dishes have a very distinct flavor. They use a lot of garlic, onions, dried shallots, and seafood. I don't use seafood because it's too pricey.

Ingredients that will make ANY stir-fry dish amazing:

1) GARLIC--one can NEVER have too much garlic. Simply get two to three cloves and pound with a butcher knife to get skin off and throw it into a pan with heated oil. If I want my dish to be extra garlic flavored, I like to dice a LOT up and throw some into the heated oil and then use the rest after my dish is done and stir it into the food.

2) Onions--I use both green and white onions in my dishes. Simply chop, and throw some slivers of onion into the heated oil along with the garlic. If you want to have that fresh, spicy onion flavor in your dish, I suggest saving some onions toward the end to cook OR sprinkle onto the dish. YUMMO

3) Ground pork/beef--I like to use this in certain dishes such as stir fry cucumbers, stir fry bell peppers, etc. The meat makes a BIG difference in flavor. Throw the meat in after the garlic and onions. Then, stir fry a bit and some salt, sugar, soysauce, and some water. (I eyeball everything)

4) Salt/Sugar!!--SAY WHA? Sugar?! YES!!! TRUST ME. Add your desired amount of salt and ADD some sugar. It adds dynamics to the flavor of your dish! It HAS NEVER failed me. Delicious. All my friends can attest to this too. Don't be afraid of the sugar. Sounds weird.. I know :)

Now some people say, "Don't you need oyster sauce/soysauce for stir fry?" Nope. I can stir fry spinach other veggies with just salt/sugar and garlic. Also, I have NEVER used oyster sauce for my stir frys, only soysauce :)

Another great addition to all you Asian food cooks is Hondashi Fish Stock

Tastes 100xs better than chicken broth. SO. MUCH. FLAVOR. Put a little in your soups, stir frys, etc. MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. SO flavorful! It has a salty taste that doesn't taste super fishy. It just tastes good. Trust me.

I also like to use this:

SO good and flavorful. GREAT addition to soups and stir fry as well. I LOVE putting this in my scrambled eggs! It's great in any dish :)

Alright. Well, those are my tips for now! I'll post some pictures of food next time :)

so much to update but so little time...

3 1/2 weeks left of this qtr!!!! how is this possible?!

i have so much to update on! i had a great weekend visiting the Farmer's Market for the first time and just an overall great time with my friend Liz! but with the whole weekend to play, i didn't have much time to study. now i'm really behind and i have midterms coming up again!

*sigh...never ending...

i would update tonight, but i have a spanish composition tmrw and STILL tons of podcasts to listen to for my human physio class...there's just too much distraction in that class ;)

speaking of which...yet another letter to the NPB guy.

Dear NPB guy,

why are you SUCH a nerd?! i thought that I was nerdy, but man you beat me. you beat me. i don't know if that's a good thing or not.....

some guys are just better with their mouth closed.

okay. back to work!

PS. went to a Women in Medicine panel thing. man, i love medicine. passion is what drives me to do well in school.

yes.

treat yourself better.


learning how to say NO is one of the hardest things for me.

Touching Ad

This ad totally captures the idea that I had in a couple of posts ago. I guess it's kind of different since I'm not EXACTLY overseas, but rather just 7 hours away, but I still can relate to this ad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzPzz9OLNDA&feature=player_embedded

it seriously made me tear up..especially when he is annoyed at the mama. It reminded me of so many times where I would sigh when my mom asked me to do things that were difficult for her but easy for me.

Mamas are the best. Family is the best. I'm glad I came to Davis...it's far from home, but it made me appreciate home that much more.

Quick Updates

1. identity theft is scary :(

2. the winds in Davis today feels like they're going to blow me AND my apartment away. *cue scene from Wizard of Oz with the tornado*

3. I sound like a total stalker but today, he wore WHITE. white never looked so good on someone. How can ANYONE be this handsome?! it should be against the law.

that is all.

Back to Reality

Hello my loyal blog readers...the few of you that do read my blog! :) I am now back in Davis (sadly =\ ) where the stress of schoolwork and other things are constant. Ah well...at least I got to go home! That was an amazing break from school especially after midterms! I guess now I should do an overall update on my fabulous weekend back in Socal to avoid doing my homework! Haha! I've realized that blogging is actually a de-stresser! :) So yes, I enjoy it!

I have lots of pictures today so be readY!

First off...
my cell phone was fixed!!! If you guys didn't know...I was clumsy enough to step on my touchscreen phone and crack it. Had to mail it back to the father in Taiwan for him to fix it since there were no companies in the US...actually, in North or South America to fix. So, had no choice but to send it back to my papa. This came in on Thursday which was PERFECT for my trip on Friday!

Since Chinese New Year's WAS last week, I did get my red envelope...except this year, it wasn't red..
it was a metallic gold envelope! Do I still call it a red envelope then?

From my last post, I had mentioned that I hung out with Angela! We went and grabbed boba at Little Bean. BEST boba hands down. Beats Half&Half anyday! Thanks to Angela for introducing my taste buds to this heavenly concoction.

Whereas Half and Half gives you only a pinch of boba, Little Bean is generous to fill half your cup with boba. Half and half my ass..Little Bean should be called Half and Half. Boba is so warm and soft and the milk tea is perfection. Perfectly sweet yet the taste of tea still peeks through. PERFECTION in a cup.



I love her! I look super gross and tired from my flight and midterm that day...-_- but at least Angela looks beautiful!

Most of my weekend was spent with my brother. He gives me headaches. Can't believe he's going to be 17 soon...MAN, it's scary because 17 didn't feel THAT long ago for ME! Anyhow, I love spending time with him because he cracks me up! We played monopoly until the wee hours in the morning. I am blessed to be able to have so much fun with my lame little brother because I know some of my friends who hardly talk to their siblings.

Funny guy. This is when I took him to Michael's while I went to Sally's Beauty Supply to purchase a new hair mask, which I LOVE! The mask I purchased was called Millenia Mud recommended by Angela and it made my hair feel like SILK. My ends were splitting like no other, but after using the mask, my ends feel so strong as if there were no split ends and I just can't stop running my fingers through my hair!! Hehe! I love new products that work well...

On Saturday, I went to PLC to find Felicia and Angie. I also saw Andrew who apparently has left for Florida today! It was nice to see him before he left...and in general since I hadn't seen him or many others for a long long time....

PC invited me back to PLC and quite honestly, I kind of want to. Of course I'm still going to pray about it...but after many years without a stable church...I'm kind of tired of searching. I miss my friends (though not many are still there..). But, still going to pray about it.

Anyways, afterwards, I got to hangout with my beef (bf) Felicia and my other sister Angie! Went to Phoenix for some dessert. Despite the many times I've been there, it was actually my first time ordering dessert there..

Me and my beautiful friends and our desserts!

my dessert was a Taro and Black Sticky Rice in Coconut Milk soup. Warm and sweet. Delish.

On Sunday, it was the most perfect weather outside. The sun was so warm to just bask under. I loved just sitting outside with my doggy and closing my eyes. Got some beautiful pictures of some blooming flowers in our backyard too!

Isn't it gorgeous?!?! Spring time is coming soonnnn ^___^


I'm glad I brought home an empty suitcase because my mom filled it with food when I got back. 40lbs of food to be exact!

Mama's love! Packed some food for me before me leaving. Thank you mama!

Overall, being home was such a nice break from Davis and school in general. Being so far away from home really makes me appreciate it so much more.

Can't wait for Spring break! woohoo!!

Family is Forever

After a grueling cell bio midterm along with getting sick this morning (my immune system REALLY sucks)...and sticking it out to get home..I'm finally HOME!

Ate so much already....OY...but just super happy to be back!! Home is definitely where my heart is! I am such a "homey" girl/family type of person. Hehe, so I'm just so happy to be home...I love living on my own so far away because I feel a lot more independent, but...at the same time, it makes me miss home especially since I am super close with my family. I realized that you don't really cherish your home and your family until you really live on your own.

Definitely feel loved being back! Mom immediately began making hotpot for me. My grandma was beaming and just commented how good it was that I was home. My dog, as usual everytime I come home, was just running around and shaking with excitement, and my bro...well, we just hangout a lot. =) I love it. I feel super blessed to have such a warm family to come home to. I'm thankful to God for that.

Tonight, I also got to hang out with one of my closest friends Angela. It was the last time I could see her before she left for China to study abroad so I am very happy that we met up. I'm really lucky to have such a great friend despite us being so far apart so much. We are so similar in personality, but moreover, she is one of those people who I admire and inspire me. She has such an independent, strong mind of her own, and she is so comfortable in her own skin, which is something I need to work on! She never lets other people's opinions define her, and I love that about her! Angela, I love you!! You will be great where ever you are! I definitely cherish our many years of friendship and I'm blessed to have a friend like you! :)

Tomorrow, planning on just eating more, tightening my braces...and hanging out with Felicia, another one of my closest friends. It's funny because a couple of days ago, I had a kind of panic attack. I felt like throughout my whole college career (which is ending soon..), I didn't really meet many people! But after talking to Angela, she made me realize that a few close friends is enough. I'm proud to say that the friends that I DID make in college are going to be my lifelong friends just like how Angela and Felicia are going to be my lifelong friends.

Close friends and family is really better than a bazillion acquintances :).

Daydreaming

Dear cute guy from NPB,

Please stop being so handsome. Goodness!! O___O You are definitely a distraction to my studies AND my social life. Case in point, was talking to Stacia when I saw you smile from my periphery, totally zoned out of my convo. Incident 2: Stacia waving bye to me...no response from me because I was staring at you.

Lol. Pathetic right?

Anyhow, senioritis is definitely upon me. I can't believe last year I was like "I think I wanna stay an extra year to gain research experience because after Oaxaca, I'll only have 2 quarters left! My college career is over!" But now, ALL I think about is graduating...and TRAVELING. Okay..mainly traveling. NOT looking forward to MCATs/medical school applications though.

I'm definitely traveling to Europe and Taiwan after I graduate! I think I'm more excited for TW than for Europe...or...I guess not MORE excited, but excited in a different way because I definitely identify myself as Taiwanese and, I guess it would be kind of visiting my "roots"? Haha. Whatevs. Also cause I haven't been back for 10 years practically!

Crajeeness.

Anyhow, just traveling in general. Spanish class is DEFINITELY NOT helping because we're looking at pictures of Spain.

This is obviously not Spain.

Moment of Realization

Today, I found out through a crepe, that...

I am lactose intolerant.

...which shouldn't be surprising because I absolutely LOATHE cheese, milk, and other dairy products (excluding yogurt, ice cream!). It's just weird because I had cheese before and it was fine....but not today...


not today...

Heavy and Light

So, first off, I guess I wanna talk about a heavy subject...which is what is going on in Egypt! I've actually been keeping track somewhat and it's kind of scary to me. Imagine what it must be like for people living there! If you didn't know (and you should!), there have been violent protests in Egypt against the government and the president of 30 years. Apparently, they want him to resign. Believe it or not, though Egypt is considered a democracy, it is actually the least democratic out of all! The people have been using facebook and twitter as a means of organizing these protests so as a response, the government, has for the first time in history, blocked the internet and cellular phone access. Basically people are living there with no access to world info right now. It's scary. I was talking to my housemate and we both commented how it's pretty crazy how these types of things are already documented in the bible. I was reminded of how fast Jesus must be coming and how I should prepare myself for Him.

Other than that, things have been pretty productive today! :) I was able to finish listening to all the podcasts of my bio class and I even called my grandma in Taiwan to wish her a happy Chinese New Year! I'm taking a break now and looking at some great shoes from Zara. I'm definitely learning more about fashion since my breakup...don't know why that happened, but it did. Anyhow, I'm definitely going to try to invest in key pieces rather than buying a ton of stuff. That is just NOT smart. I realized that I actually LACK a lot of key pieces in my closet! For instance, heels! I can honestly say that I DON'T have any heels besides business pumps. The next thing I'm going to treat myself too after I finish this quarter is strappy sandal heels. I think nude/brown, and black would be two great colors to start off with just because they are very versatile colors to work with. Also, at my age of 21, I think heels ARE a necessity. Actually, before this past summer, I actually had NO dresses. I can proudly say that I own 2 LBDs! Now the LBD, aka little black dress, is DEFINITELY a staple in a girl's closet.

Anyhow, kind of a random post no? I guess I'll post this pic of LA that I jacked from my friend. I miss home...


Week 5 starts tomorrow! Fight on! I'll be home in a few days! YAY!!

Have a fabulous week everybody!

Lazy Saturday

*Sigh, today was another typical Davis winter day...gloomy, wet, and cold. It made it especially hard to wake up early for volunteer. I usually volunteer for this small organization called Coalition of Concerned Medical Professionals that's located in Del Paso Heights, a small poor town in Sacramento. The fact that I had NO passion/motivation for this position made it even harder to drag my lazy ass out of the warm den I made out of my bed. You see, when I STARTED volunteering for this organization a year ago, I was very into it. I loved how they were fighting for universal health care and how they found ways to provide medical services for free to those who needed it. HOWEVER, that was ALL before Oaxaca. Oaxaca made me realize that well, though the idea of medicine for all is nice, it will never really be achieved to the extent that some countries have just because we ARE a capitalist society. Health care will always be viewed as a profit-making business because, HEY, as sad as it sounds, it makes BANK for the government and that's the truth. ANYHOW, the only reason why I'm doing this now is because I need something continuous for my med school apps. As a transfer student, a lot of my experiences are choppy because it's hard to continue something when you're not there you know..so I'm determined to keep this until I leave Davis. I just found out today that I can't ask for a LOR from the people OR from the doctors they work with...though I suppose I can if I'm quiet enough about it.

ANYHOW, point is, it was cold and boring. Good thing though is I get to practice my Spanish since there are SO many Latinos! :)

One thing that does help me in the morning is my breakfast!! I've been eating cereal+ soymilk+bananas EVERY morning since it's so easy and so filling! Well yesterday, found out Safeway has blueberries for 99cents per box! It was a definitely a treat for my morning!

mmm...gettin my fair share of anti-oxidants ;) haha. It was DELISH! The first picture looks like a picture on a cereal box or something HA!

Came home afterwards and napped like a madwoman. Then for dinner, I ate fairly light. But it was SO good too! Wish I shot a pic of it, but I was talking with my housemate Flor so didn't want to be rude to get my camera in the middle of the convo ya know ;D. But, Flor was making this South American style Chicken Soup with celery, tomatoes, onions and cilantro + pasta, and I got a bowl. It was SO delicious especially with lemon juice! Reminded me of Mexico soups where they ALWAYS had lemon + chili powder over EVERYTHING! So good on a cold winter night!! I also made a PB + banana sandwich on toasted wheat bread to go along with my soup. PERFECT COMBO while talking to Flor about family and boys. HAH! Definitely gotta learn from HER about boys! :) Seriously though, I'm pretty lucky! I love all my housemates! Flor is a great cook and Sara bakes often!! Can't starve me here!

Anyhow, been trying to study ALL DAY, but no progress has been made :(. I just feel SO lazy! Story of my life everyday actually. Feeling sleepy again so I had a Dried Medjool Date. Those things are so delicious! SO SO SWEET! Definitely satisfies my sweet tooth! I just finished my pack of Dried Mangoes from Trader Joe's and now working on these for study nights. I'm hoping the calories and sugars in this baby will keep me up (though I had chocolate before this too.. I know..totally against my goals >< )

Here's to happy studying!!

TGIF!!!

Thank God it's Friday!!!!!!!! Whew, after a long and tiring week of battling school work, it's good to finally get a break! I had my physiology midterm yesterday so I was basically busy the whole week studying for it! Next up is cell biology next Friday! Yikes!! However, I am definitely looking forward to next WEEKEND BECAUSE...next weekend, I'll be HOME! :) It's great because it's right near Chinese New Year's which is on the 3rd! So yea. Hopefully I'll get some nice cashhh 8) Haha! But of course, I'm just happy and thankful that I can go home that I don't really care if I get money or not :P Basically, I'm flying home to tighten my braces... it just so happened to be around New Year's AND after my midterms! Talk about perfect coincidence.

So recently, I've been really inspired by this girl's blog: keepingupwithkatie.com

She's basically this girl who used to be fat but lost it all! Now she's really into keeping herself healthy by exercising and eating healthy! Reading her blogs really makes me want to keep myself healthy by eating right and exercising! So today, right after class, I went to the gym and worked out! Somehow, I find it a lot easier to work out than before. I realize that I just need to keep the mentality that I'm doing something good for my body. HOWEVER, I did notice something bad about myself in that, when I am hungry, I go for instant gratification. Example: I was STARVING right when I got home so I quickly grabbed a banana, which is fine...but right after, I grabbed a 190 cal granola bar...which made me NOT hungry at all anymore. But, I still eat. I also realized that after I eat my bowl of rice, I NEED something else to chew on whether it be fruit, or another bowl of rice. Not good. So, what am I going to do? My goal for next week will be to work out 2-3x at the gym, don't snack big if I'm cooking right after (patience is key!), try to eat a fruit after my meal instead of another bowl of rice, cookies, or candy. Also, try not to eat past 8pm..unless it's fruit! :) I also had this GIANT PB cookie after my first class in the morning. I guess it's from the stress. Just want something to reward myself I suppose...which is fine. So, I guess, my next goal would be to cut down unnecessary sweets, and chips to once a week (ie. cookies, candy, wheat thins..lol!).

Other than that, today has been relatively slow. The fact that I finished a midterm yesterday AND the fact that it's Friday made me super lazy at school. I'm glad I have this time to myself despite it being a Friday night! My friends are all busy so I just decided to spend some ME time! I feel that, especially for me, it's so NECESSARY. After a busy week, all I want to do is retreat into my comfort haven, my ME time. Anyways, spent the day/night cooking delicious food. Hey, I gotta admit, I'm a pretty good cook...OR...my mom's recipes are just so simple...but I'd rather stick with the former HA!

Today, for lunch, I made Stir Fried Snow Peas with Ground Pork. It's one of my FAVORITE dishes by my mom. Super simple too! I don't know why people don't cook! It really doesn't take that long...

yum!!!

Then at night, I made some delicious Braised Chicken Drumsticks! YUMM!! As much as I LOVE my veggies, I need my meat from time to time..

in the process...soaking in the juices! The marinade was a cinch too! Just basically, soysauce, salt, sugar, and lemon juice/vinegar, and onions. It would have been nice to have rice wine and ginger as well...but you do what you can :P As you can tell, I am SUPER Asian. I LOVE Asian food. I think the flavors are the best! Also, it's practically the only style of food I cook. So yea..

Voila!! Zee Dinner! Okay, so it's not as pretty as before because I stirred it up, but it sure tasted DELICIOUS. Chicken was delicious! Hehe! I definitely LOVE cooking!! ^^

Bon Apetit!

Ended up eating dinner and laughing hysterically while watching the last two eps of The Office! It's still by far my FAVORITE show! Modern Family and HIMYM are good, but man, The Office was my first love! Glad to know that after so many seasons, this show STiLL makes me laugh like a madwoman. Love this Friday night! :)

Anyhow, I'll update more next time! Hope you all enjoyed!

PS. THIS POST took SO long ... I have so many pictures I still wanna show, but alas, my netbook screen is too tiny...and it sucks that I have to keep sliding the pics slowly down....BAH! Somehow, you can't just copy and paste the photos either...weird...but no fear, I think these pictures will suffice for now. :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

New Blog!

New blog yay!!!

Recently, I've really been into blogs...not MY blog per say, but reading others' blogs! I've been reading/looking at many fashion blogs, workout blogs, etc etc, and it's so interesting! Usually, I'm the type who's just a tad bit too lazy to update my blog on a regular basis besides the whole 'xanga' fad in high school...hah. Even when I was abroad, I was super lazy to update my blog. I mean, I KNOW I should document my once-in-a-lifetime experience there, but man...in the end, what really kept me going was the fact that my blog entries was actually an assignment for my class!

Anyhow, what prompted me to make this one was the fact that my friend Angela just made a blog to document HER experiences abroad in China! She kept insisting that I keep a blog too...and I thought about it...and Voila! Here I AM! Haha. I'll probably be updating not everyday, but probably when something interests me, or perhaps, I may just showcase some of the food I cook ;)

Anyways...I guess I'll update more later! Got class soon! Ciao!

BTW. Those who are interested in looking at my travel abroad blog, here it is:

journeyinoaxaca.blogspot.com