Cloud Port

'Tis been an adventurous and interesting week, to say the least.  Heads up to a long eventful entry.

I am SO glad that week 8 is overraahhhhhh suckkas.  I feel accomplished.  I am finally done with my leadership class for winter quarter.  I have been waiting for this moment forever (or more like since day 1 of winter quarter).  Nonetheless, this moment and feeling of being free and being able to start sketching on a blank canvas is so amazingly refreshing, I'm soaking it all in ... YES!

In celebration, I had the opportunity to go on "perfect date #4" with Miss Jo.  There is really nothing perfect per say about these dates other than the fact that we get to enjoy each others company while eating and seeing some of life's most beautiful and simplest pleasures; while of course chatting up a storm about our lives and unveiling who we really are.  No matter how close someone is to you, you will most definitely always be learning more about their basic mannerisms everyday.  If I were to define our perfect dates, I would describe them more as planned adventures that Jo, Ash, and I make sure to take time out of our schedules in order to create.  These trips are necessary because not only do we have time with each other and for ourselves, but we really get the chance to enjoy a simple day trip to different venues throughout Southern California.  We really missed Ash when we went on our most recent date, but lucky for her, Jo and I both have blogs!  This time, our trip was to none other than the great city of LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.  The true L.A. that I hold close to my heart, where there is an abundance of culture that has never been exposed to me when looking through the lenses with my parents.  As you may know... I had this recent crazy obsession with 500 Days of Summer, which lucky for me, was filmed in L.A.!  The objective of this trip - Angel's Knoll.

Our trip begins with me and my hour long phone interview in the car driving to L.A.  LaughOutLoudFunny!  There is a first for everything in life and that interview was definitely a first for me.  Who does that, have a phone interview while driving?!  Of course, only me.

Speaking of interviews, Jo and I finally get to the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) for Jo's JET interview.  I decide that I'm going to wait in the lobby of the building, but what happened during this waiting period emphasized how the American California education is full of shit.  Now why would I call something that I am the product of pure shit?  Well... I will tell you why.  My dad always asks me some random questions like, "Delia, do you know where Pakistan is located?" or "What is the capital of insert state name here?", and not surprisingly I know the answers to all these silly questions.  Whenever I ask my dad, why are you asking me this, he always has the same answer for me. While these questions may seem easy for you and me, a majority of American students do not know the answers to these questions.  These questions are more often than not related to current events, so how could students not know the answers?!  While waiting for Jo to finish her interview, I decide to catch up on some of my readings for my French 50 class.  However, in the middle of my reading, I get an interesting text from one of my friends, Irais; the text is about the UCSD events and how a noose was found hanging on the 7th floor of the Geisel Library.  What the eff is going on?!  A noose ... really?!

According to dictionary.com, a noose is defined as the following:
noose [noos] Show IPA noun, verb,noosed, noos·ing. –noun

1. a loop with a running knot, as in a snare, lasso, or hangman's halter, that tightens as the rope is pulled.  2. a tie or bond; snare.

If you could not understand from the definition, nooses are used to hang people.  So, let us connect the current happening within the University of California system, the noose is related to when black people were hung in the U.S. throughout the period of slavery.

Being an active student leader, I need people to learn and let the voice of the students' be heard, so my first instinct is to forward and mass text people who are still involved with UC.  I felt that it was my duty to spread the message of what is happening even within our domain in Southern California.  To my surprise, I received a number of texts like, "What is a noose?" or "What is going on in UCSD?"  Again, what the eff?!  UGH.  For students who I would consider the student leaders involved on the UC Irvine campus to NOT know or understand what is happening, this is what annoys and infuriates the shit out of me.  Educate yourselves damn it!

Fortunately for me and Jo, this event didn't stop us from smiling when we got to explore some of downtown L.A. in the car, enjoy a delicious fruit tart treat from Sweet Lady Jane's, and finally reaching our premiere destination - Angel's Knoll *cue the hallelujah music now.  When we reached Angel's Knoll my first initial reaction was wondering how the filmmakers of 500 Days of Summer even found a place such as Angel's Knoll in L.A.  I'm definitely glad to have had the opportunity of sharing this momentous occasion with Jo, she actually gave me the courage to approach the bench that Joe and Zooey shared their moments within the film.  Throughout the we spent at Angel's Knoll I was greeted with two different surprises: the amount of homeless people hanging around the knoll and two a little delightful gift Jo presented me - the soundtrack to 500 Days of Summer!  Umm... so I think I have one of the BEST roommates in the entire world!  Thanks Jo!  I don't think I can ever emphasize how I've been blessed with your presence, support, and just plain you being you.

  In the end, I'm not gonna lie, we are pretty gosh darn cute!  PWHAHAHA. 

 

 When we asked this couple if they could take a picture of us, they gave us the most strange look and even asked if we were going to stand on the bench in order to take the picture. 

Thanks for the fantastic day Jo! 

The cherry on top to this amazing day was attending Newsong's Talent event in support of Haiti.  Let me tell you now... Priscilla, Jo, and Felicia are amazing!!!  I'm not being biased here, but out of all the acts I saw, they were definitely the best performance of the night.  After hearing their amazing talent, I felt that if I did not know both of them already, their sultry voices alone will tell you that you need to get to know them more because there is something deep, mysterious, and passionate behind both the voices of these amazing women.  Done deal, great job ladies! <3.

Condi was thrown into the mix as well.  Here I am freaking her out by carrying her around 2117.  I'm her favorite because I scare the shit out of her, but I feed her the most delicious carrots.  PWHAHAHA!

God bless.

 My condolences definitely go out to those affected by the 8.8 earthquake that hit Chile this past weekend.
Kudos to you if you made it to the end of this entry.  Thanks.

Done&done.

Today I was a rockstar ...

Well today was one for the history books because I, Delia Hong, had the opportunity to drive a 12 passenger van. LaughOutLoud!!!  At first, I was filled with nerves and some doubt, considering that I am at the worst stage of being sick right now, lovely yes?  Well before the day started, I got the chance to ask my awesome roommate, Jo, who is also a UCI Shuttle driver if she had any tips for a person who has been driving sedans the entire time she has had her license.  Words of wisdom were "use your mirrors", something I definitely did!  The streets of Irvine/Orange County and L.A. were dangerous for a total of 2 hours, BUT all my interns and my co-coord arrived back home safe and sound. 

The Administrative Internship Class had the opportunity to take a trip to L.A. to a company called Innovation Protocol started and owned by UCI's own Sasha Strauss.  We learned more about the company, its procedures, strategies, and basic behind the scenes operations.  The office is located in a hip art district in Los Angeles near Little Tokyo.  It was an aspect of Los Angeles that I had never been able to experience before, which is a little unfortunate considering that I have been an Angeleno my entire life.  Interesting no? 

 ByTheWay... the concept and description behind this brand is awesome!

Ciao bellas. 

P.S. I am sneezing every 10 minutes due to being sick.
It's such an awkward sneeze too. -_-.

Updates

What is going on in my life/world today...?

Signed up for my last set of classes at UCI.

Bittersweet near good-bye.  I am still dreading the idea that in about 4 months I will officially be considered an alumni of an institution that has provided me some of the best opportunities in my life.  College is definitely the period when people are able to build their own foundations and understand who they are; it is a time to empower and believe in oneself.  I was talking to my supervisor yesterday about how my position in Mesa is really like a final prolonged good-bye to my college experience.  I have been part of the Mesa Court student staff family for the past three years and lived there as a freshman.  Many of the memories I developed throughout my time in college has been related back to the people who I have developed relationships with while in Mesa Court.

Racists activities in UCSD.

"I stand in solidarity with Black students at UCSD and condemn the administration for not making pre-emptive institutional changes."

What is going on in our world...? The University of California is one of the top public institutions within the United States.   Today, within our federal government - the executive office position is held by a black man for the first time in U.S. history, yet we are still fighting issues of racism.  We can never run away from issues of diversity.  For minorities, people of color, colorblindness is not an option.  People need to understand how to accept the fact the the world is in the 21st century and moving in a forward direction.  Please read this article.  For me, this had one of the most powerful and impactful messages as a person who is a womyn of color and  considered a minority to the rest of the United States population.

Irvine 11.

I am actually not too sure how to respond to this incident.  I know many students advocate that UCI's administration is violating the protestors' 1st amendment rights, but what about the other side of the story?  What about the 1st amendment rights of those who were presenting the information i.e. the Israeli Ambassador, Michael Oren?  I'm really torn.  As with many students or people in general, when people don't have enough information (which is me right) they can't decide what they want to stand for, and end up being ambivalent and to some extent not caring about what is happening in their surrounding communities.  Time to care and do some research. 

Music to my ears.

For my entire life, I have had the fear of listening to my ipod while I walk around anywhere.  My ipod was only really used when I went to the gym, on airplanes, or long car rides.  But why?!  When I was younger I used to walk home a lot from the bus stop, and if I was listening to something with headphones in my ears I would not be able to hear if someone was coming from behind me to kidnap me.  I know that some people may think I am too paranoid, but this is reality, especially as a woman in socitey.   However, for the past few days I have had the biggest grins on my face as I listen to the music I love and adore.  What would my life become of without music?!

Totally sick with the cold -_-.

Damn it.

Fin. 

Cheerio darling.

Classic.

omfg... classic!

Thank you RegularJoe.


I freaken love this part in the movie.  These videos made my night.

 

Why are you so wonderful?  One word - admiration. 

P.S. Day 1 of Yoga.  Nice hot relaxing and sweaty. Sexy no?  LaughOutLoud.

One more video... had to add it.

Optimism & Strength

Recently, more than ever before, I feel like work has been stressing me out more than it should be, and I feel that I have been continuously whining or contemplating about this issue for the past week and a half.  This was the first time I believed that my strengths are and were to some degree hindering my performance and expectation to do well at work and in school.  I am NOT a quitter and I just need to refocus my energy on the positives and be optimistic about life.  I think that these emotions are a mixture of everything that I am experiencing right now in life - or entering my new life aka the real world.

Things that make me smile

500 Days of Summer

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Happy 29th Birthday JGL!

Photo by:  Dustin Beatty
“Celebrity is giving into the idea that certain people are better than others, and I say: fuck that, we’re all people." “We’re all beautiful. We all deserve attention.”  - Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Anthem Magazine
There is something about his man - his charm, sophistication, and ability to express his firm ideas and thoughts attracts me to him.  We went to the same high school and are both from the Valley.  PLUS, how can we forget his killer good looks and boyish/nerdy charm.  SWOON.

These amazing people. 

Mesa Court RAs 2008-2009

I felt really nostalgic after watching the amazing RA DVD that Boggy and Eman produced.  I had the same tears flowing thinking about the past year that we accomplished together as a team, and to know that we have all moved on from that experience into a more positive future.  We had that common bond, a title and position that forced us to really support and depend on one another, allowing us to all be on the same page with one another.  After watching the DVD, I had a somewhat new sense of what I wanted with my final year at UCI and how much I appreciated my experience with these 28 other amazing people.  Looking back at last year, it really made me focus on the positives that I have to look forward to for the rest of this year - focus on the positives again, get over this hump.

*Note: They are of course all invited to my wedding! LaughOutLoud!

Peace y'all.  Have a FANTASTIC week! 

L-O-V-E.

Thank goodness we have long weekends :) 

I hope that everyone had an amazing three day weekend.  I always do wish that we had one more day... or better yet one more week!  This desire/wishing always happens to me, and I always suggest that the UC quarter system start an earlier fall quarter and have longer winter and spring breaks.  Wouldn't this be fantastic?!  I feel like students would appreciate going back to school more.

So, focusing on the positives of this week... 

Jo and I baked and frosted delicious chocolate (with a hint of coffee) cupcakes for some of our beloved friends at UCI.  They had all been lovebombed...<3!

 

 

lovebombed! 

This week was actually filled with many ups and downs for me all which were pretty personal and hit close to home.  I usually don't come off as being a very religious person, but I do believe that there is a God and a higher being who watches over people.  I love the concept of praying, and usually enjoy the time I spend in peace while it is just me thinking and sending my prayers to my loved ones.  I send my best wishes to my family and friends who are handling the challenges that life creates, and want to let them know that I am here right besides them.

obsessed with...

I am definitely enjoying watching the 2010 Vancouver winter Olympics.  I seriously spent hours this weekend observing the various technical skills these athletes have and what they bring to the table after years of training.  I have been rooting for South Korea and the United States of course, this is a given.  I think it's funny how I prioritize which country to support; the U.S. comes first for most categories except for speed skating, I definitely vie for Korea wining medals in that sport.  I WANT TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS and see the real action live!

Again, thank goodness for this three day weekend.
Back in Porter Ranch to relax and chill with the FAMBAM.

Happy February

Lots to do... as always.

I believe that I have caught the bug.  My body is completely lethargic, but my brain keeps spitting at me or more like reminding me all the tasks I need to do for school and work.  I am actually a little disgusted to admit that I really do have senioritis.  Is it senioritis or it is the fact that I am definitely not 18 anymore with the same amount of energy and spunk compared to freshman year?  Probably a little bit of both.

  

Things that made me smile this week

 

Tori Mellot's Room

Courtesy of Cup of Jo

I love the colored stripes that go perfectly with the bold black frames.

 

I kind of want this cake for my 22nd birthday in 7 months. 

LaughOutLoud. PWHAHAHA!

Courtesy of Twitter, @dariusmonsef

 

And what's a party without balloons?!

This reminds me of the the Disney-Pixar Movie Up

Courtesy of We Heart It 

This week was UCI Career Center's Career Fest Kickoff week.  Jo was holding the balloons like the Carl in Up.  Caw Caw RAWR!  Completely Adorable.  Speaking of Jo, go check out her interview blog here.

Random... But I kind of what to go to a Circus.  

Fin.  Ciao bellas.