Remember...

"Our parents came here for the American Dream, for you, and for your children. But I doubt they wanted you to forget them or their parents or their parent's parents. A 2nd Gen Albanian friend once told me "Everyone becomes American" and there's truth to that. Still, he welcomed his 1st Gen Albanian friends with open arms and broken Albanian. I hope one day the 2nd+ Gen Asian American communities will one day have the same pride in their roots. Instead of trying to distance themselves from people that today are the the younger versions of their parents and grandparents, they will welcome new Asian Americans with open arms."

- David Hou
VP of DramaFever.com

Foward Motion

In the past month, I have accomplished many "life markers" - graduate college/get my bachelors degree, traveled to both coasts with great company, helped my brother get his head in the game to prep for college, try to get a better idea of what I want in my future for a career, be more certain of who I am and what I represent.  Technically, I am at a high point in my life because I will never again have an opportunity or period in my life to live carefree and not have any demanding responsibilities.

Let the job searching begin... (all over again.) 

Scared? Imaginative?

Went to bed at 5am after a few hours of battling with our stolen internet trying to watch The Ugly Truth and finding the jackpot of everything for hipsters/locals in New York.  After the recommendations of my friends Joanne and Melody, I decided to start logging my dreams because for once I'm beginning to remember what I dreamt about. Yay! :)

Today's featured dream... I went to get pie with Melody at some random "famous pie shop".  The shop actually reminded me of an old school Albertson's with a bakery in the front of the store.  Their pies were unlike any pie I had ever seen before - they were like cake pies?  Does that make any sense?  The pies were thick as cakes and you would cut the pie and get a 3 layered cake looking piece instead.  The outside of the cake pie was not covered in frosting, instead in pieces of graham cracker pie crust layered nicely on top of one another.  The inside of the cake pie was scrumptious - it was strawberry pie!

SWOOSH!  Next segment of my dream takes place in some clothing store with my Aunt, Mom, and some other female relative.  We were shopping for some outfit I had to where at an important function I was attending, but I had gotten in an argument with my mom because I didn't want to buy any of the clothes in the store as she was continuously trying on different clothes that she liked.  She ended up liking this one shimmery/glittery hearts splashed all over cardigan, the rest of this segment is history.

NEXT...  I ended up trying to go back to the cake pie shop, this time with my resident, Jeremy and my friend Esther C.  Turns out that the bakery was located in a ghetto part of whatever city I was traveling in and all I remember is being scared that something would happen to us.  For some reason Esther was driving my car and I remember distinctly saying, "Esther, thank goodness you have the exact same car as me."

Fin.

Replacements

The world does not revolve around you.  Ever hear that before?

I know that the world does NOT revolve around me, but I am definitely a type of person who is straightforward, recognize and respect different perspectives, and at times can be selfish.  I am both afraid and not afraid to admit my own flaws, but I know that confidence, something I'd like to think I possess greatly and closely to my heart, is a key factor on how someone decides to perceive others.

Everyone judges everyone.  People may be unbiased on certain issues, however first impressions really do matter

So dramatic, I know.

Mondays

Ode Joy.

What do you feel when each Monday comes around?
Usually for me, I dread Mondays - this day signifies that another week is starting and I still need to get through 4 days till the next weekend when I can really lounge and take care of myself to the utmost relaxing level ever.  This year and especially spring quarter, Mondays mean that I am yet another step closer to commencement.  However, today was something truly different.

For the past 3 quarters, every Monday I have an hour leadership team meeting scheduled with my supervisor and fellow team member, then a 30 minute one-on-one meeting with my supervisor right after.  I must say, I usually enjoy our meetings because it really is a time when all three of us know what is happening within the team as a whole and for us to know our tasks for that entire week in Mesa Court and our positions.  Don't get me wrong, we definitely have our stressful moments when there's a huge program and when it's crunch time, afterall an 8-week weekly course does not jump up and get accomplished by itself.

Today was unbelievable because I never could imagine this day to come.  Every week I constantly looked forward to accomplishing the MCLI class because it is work and essentially a required task.  Oh boy, I am finally done with MCLI forever.  Isn't that insane?!  I was looking through my previous posts, and I ran into a post about finishing my winter quarter MCLI class and the relief I have every quarter once this arduous task is completed.  But now what?  It's really all over, and a job well done I might add.


Kudos.

Which one is it?

Now more than ever, I have been trying to figure out what my passion or true calling in life really is...so now the real question, what is it?  I haven't been too sure for the past 6 months or so, and when I thought I knew what it was I wasn't sure if that was going to satisfy what I wanted to do with my life.  The time I have here left in this world is so valuable that I need to somehow strategically accept all my wants and I guess so of my needs mixing in with the different spontaneous actions and unexpected occurrences - oh wait... that's called LIFE.

So here are my options: 

Option 1: Travel 

Whether I like it or not, I am going to need an occupation/career that will either allow me to travel by giving me plenty of vacation time or is willing to pay me to travel for my expertise.  OR Travel while I'm young, not get paid, become broke, and experience amazing cultures before global warming destroys the world.  I like the second choice please.  Thanks!

Photo courtesy of my friend Taz, who is interning in freaking Geneva, Switzerland for the World Health Organization!  This my friends is a picture of Switzerland, is this country awesome or what?!  Not only is this country neutral but it has an amazing countryside with great weather.  When I was looking through Taz's pictures I feel like she experienced everything from the hills from Sound of Music to the sea to the snowy mountains!  I need to travel period, done deal.

Option 2: Photography?

Photography is more of a hobby, I love capturing all the different moments in my life and literally freezing present time.  I carry a camera around with me at all time, and when I forget my memory card in my laptop is when I get most upset. GAH. haha  This option reminds me that I need to take some specific pictures of places/things that remind me of UCI before I leave. 

Option 3: Wedding Planning

I don't think this dream is completely out of this picture just yet.  Although planning events is not my favorite things to do, I'm good at doing it and I'm pretty organized to plan huge beautiful this is my once in a lifetime event for other people.  Don't you think?  I would love to work with young couples, especially those who love to make cute quirky wedding invitations like the one above (courtesy of greenweddingshoes).  Also, I predict within the next 10 years a majority of my friends will be getting married, so I should have a major clientele base.  Sounds good so far yeah?  The icing on the cake is that this option incorporates both of my previously stated options.  Umm.. Awesome!

 Leadership is not an option, instead it is always something that will be incorporated into me - something systematically wired within me now, especially after my experiences at UCI.

Where do my options leave me?  I'm still in the process of answering that questions, but until then I have figured out the most legitimate and easiest way for me to leave the "bird's nest" and fly away to the east coast.  Go to grad school in the east!  So, my next plan is to stick with doing something productive that will guide me to what I want to do with my life and then bon voyage I am eastward bound!  I hope this doesn't mean that I automatically get a government job or some other office job that does not let me express my creativity of have color in my life.

I now leave you with this video.
I checked out some of her other videos and they are all equally cool.  While I was watching some of her videos, I also realized that the reason she would never end up on the radio is because her music doesn't necessarily fit into the crappy, club-popping shit they blast on the top radio stations.  Enjoy.

Adieu darlings. 

World. Everyone.

Hi.

I am sitting here trying to get rid of all my reading assignments, but I do decide to procrastinate and spend some time to reflect.  I recently had the opportunity to know more about the pasts of my fellow co-workers and share some of my own past in a very horrible soppy full of emotion type way.  This past weekend was very enlightening and to a certain degree eye-opening.  I had the time to really reflect and focus my energy in what I want in my life, and how I want to spend the rest of my life.  I am happy to know what direction I want to go, but now it is again up to me to figure out which journey in life will satisfy me to reach my destination. 

Other than focusing on my vision, I think one of the most rewarding parts of my weekend was the ability for this small group of staff members to share their life emphasizing both the good and the bad.  I always think to myself during this time of my life I was doing this... I wonder how other people are living their life right now.  It's hard to imagine how everyone whether they are your family, friends, acquaintances, or even strangers live their own life differently.  Your life is centered around you, but time is very subjective and it will never stop for anyone. 

After hearing some of the realities of what different people have experienced, I'm really praying for them and am constantly thinking about their challenges and hoping for the best.  I understand more than ever how the life that my parents and God has given me has been a blessing and privilege.  Thank you so much.


Gratitude. Appreciation. Hope.

Age of Primes

My last quarter at UCI started.  I'm taking 3 classes, and beginning my conclusion to this wonderful chapter in my life.  I'm never EVER going to have an experience like college ever again.  Everyone keeps asking about what I am doing after graduation.  Answer: Unknown.  I keep asking all my friends who are graduating what their plans are after graduation.  Response: We are in the same boat.  As I continue to enter this matter of the unknown right now, I keep telling myself that I am in my PRIME!  I have to live life to the maximummm!!!  I keep thinking about how I'm never going to get the time I spend mindlessly idling back ever again.  Oh revelations.

I keep wanting to have the super powers to stop time and teleport, so that I can get all the work I need to done, have free real time to play, and not need to waste any time getting to my final destination.  I drove back to Irvine today from L.A., and thought "Ugh, I'm wasting at least 2 hours of my life just driving to and from home!"  Driving is nice and soothing at times, but I could get this "soothing" experience elsewhere.  Wouldn't life be so boring if you were given all the answers all the time?

These next few weeks I will be giving at least 3 housing tours a week.  I feel disgusted to have to wear my freaken Mesa staff shirts or a shirt representing UCI for the whole day.  Don't get me wrong, I love UCI and Mesa Court, but having to wear these unappealing t-shirts make me feel somewhat disgusted.  However, something good did come out of these tours - the ability to wear my converse chucks again.  I had a shoe phase, and would only wear flats or shoes that really did not need socks.  Well... I'm back to my first true love baby - tennis shoes. hahaha.  If our first lady Michelle Obama can wear converse chucks, I definitely can wear them too!!! Afterall, I am in my prime. :)

Photo courtesy of Mrs. O
She is so cliche. <3