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| to know that summer is coming to a rapid close brings nostalgia, dread, and excitement together all at once, making my stomach do leaps and somersaults. looking back at everything that happened this summer, it now seems that my summer expanded from 3 months to 3 years. to think that my family reunion in vegas was merely 2.5 months ago and that my short but well-lived time with the parents in new zealand was only 1.5 months ago and my adventures in england was only ONE WEEK ago absolutely blows my mind. i guess you can say my summer thus far has been divided into three parts, the fourth component (i.e. making sure i'm not homeless during the school year) only now under way with approximately 3 weeks left until classes start. i think it would be an understatement to say that i learned a lot, saw a lot, and experienced a lot this summer. let's break it down, shall we?
(by the way, i don't expect anyone to actually read the following as it is insanely lengthy. it is more for me, so that i don't forget what happened this summer)
[family reunion in vegas]
i was invited to attend my step-dad's side of the family's family reunion. my mom and step-dad have only been married for 2 years and the last time i saw the majority of his family was at the wedding. and remember, this was also the first time i ever saw them, the whole ordeal being a brief encounter because all but one live in california and had to go back to their respective homes shortly after the wedding celebration. anyways. i was a little reluctant to go because i basically didn't know anyone besides my mom and step-dad. much to my surprise though, i actually had fun and really had an opportunity to get to know some of my new family. they had such a warmth and sincerity about them and couldn't care less that i was only related to them by marriage. my mom relayed back to me a conversation she and my new step-grandmother told her just before they parted ways: my mom thanked her for being so welcoming to me and for the allowance that she gave me that didn't need to be given. my grandmother replied back to her: you're part of our family now, i don't want you to think 'my family, your family' any more because we're all one family. when my mom told me this she had tears in her eyes and i was so incredibly thankful that God blessed my mom with good in-laws this time. when family is good, it makes life that much better.
[new zealand]
not much to say there except that it was a long-awaited and a very welcomed visit. towards finals i was just dying to be back in my own bed in untouched omaha, new zealand. i wanted the crisp clear nights where i can see the sky just dusted with stars. i wanted to open the door to my house and see my wooden ducks. i wanted fish and kumara chips at my favorite fish&chips place in Snells Beach (sadly, i found out that they changed ownership right before i got there and is no longer the fish&chips place i loved). i wanted to watch to eat fresh blueberry ice cream from Blue and watch a movie at the quaint little Matakana Cinemas. i wanted to go to the local farmers market and listen to the band of cute little grandpas playing their trombones, trumpets, and saxophones while buying fresh bread from the bakery's stand. i wanted to stand out on the balcony of my house and watch the blue waves and the sailboats out in sea. i wanted to enjoy a come-cooked meal with my parents sipping wine and exchanging stories about our day. and when i got there? i got all that and more. it was incredibly nice to just do nothing but relax and spend time with my mom, who i only get to see twice a year for a very limited amount of time. i can't wait to go back. next time it'll be their summer and absolutely gorgeous. only 3.5 months to go. time can't go any slower.
[england]
so it all starting approximately one year ago while i was in new zealand and trying to decide where i wanted to study abroad. there were, of course, many places i wanted to go but a lot of logistical issues that got in the way. to make a long story short, i decided to embark on an adventure with shakespeare to england with one of UCLA's Travel Study programs. it was unbelievably and unnecessarily expensive. however, in retrospect, it was all worth it--down to every pence used and every pre-trip problem i encountered. i couldn't possibly remember everything i did or everything i saw, but here:
-time with debbie-
luckily, the debbie gim was also in london and we were able to finally hang out (after 2 quarters of the occasional hello since she retreated into her cave, haha). we celebrated my first night in London at Sprado with some delicious italian food and pinot grigio. this was also the first time i realized just how weak the dollar was.. freakingg multiplying everything by 2 is insaaane. over the next couple of days we saw the greatness that is England via the London Eye, the biggest ferris wheel in the world. intense. but by far the most memorable night with Debbie was when we watched WE WILL ROCK YOU together. it. was. AMAJING. for all you QUEEN fans out there, this is a must see. i couldn't believe the extent of their talent, not to mention that the actual story line of the musical was witty and incredibly funny. would definitely watch it again. i mean it's Queen, who wouldn't?
-seven plays in 3.5 weeks-
i have a newfound respect for stage actors. i always found them to be more talented than tv & movie actors because for 3+ hours they perform on stage for a live audience without the opportunity to stop and do another take if they mess up. but after watching 7 plays and 7 casts do their thang on stage.. wow. the passion behind their performance and the level of professionalism that they display when a block of ice crashes a scene too early was way impressive. even if they tried to avoid you at the Dirty Duck after the play ended, they were still cool. one of the perks of being with UCLA and having professors that knew all the right people in the Royal Shakespeare Company.. we got many private Q&A sessions with actors, directors, costume managers, etc. and best of all? 20 blessed minutes talking with PATRICK STEWART after his performance as Claudius and the Ghost in Hamlet. who knew such an A-list actor (star trek and x-men) could be so down to earth?
-weekend trip to Bath-
bath. sigh.. only spent 6 hours there but i know for a fact that if someone gave me the opportunity to live there i would drop everything and hop on a plane in a heartbeat. the cobblestone roads. the beautiful bath abbey. sally lunn's home-made buns. guildhall market. the random pigs everywhere. the little tea/coffee stand in the gorgeous park by the river. and most importantly, Mr. B's Emporium of Reading Delight: the winner of best independent bookstore in england for the year 2008. it is three stories of pure bliss for any booklover. to say it's like a barnes and noble or a borders would be totally stripping Mr. B's of it's loveliness and true love of the written word. they even made one of their floors into a "bibliotherapy room", where customers can come in to escape reality and get lost in another world for just an hour or so. the room's walls are lined with books (offering recommendations for different kinds of people) and there are two big comfy chairs in front of the fireplace with free water, coffee, tea, and biscuits- complimentary to enjoy while your read. and ALSO! there's a smaller closet sort of room called the "Reading Booth", where for only 3.50 quid (pounds)/30 minutes you can retreat into the booth that is equipped with a comfy one-person couch, an ipod with music, cookies, and refreshments. talk about a treat, right?
-stratford-
i'm going to live here one day. i will-- i MUST. one thing i confirmed about myself this trip was this: that i am a country girl. rather than spend days in central london like a city girl, i would much rather take a stroll in the english countryside town of stratford-upon-avon. since i was in england to learn about shakespeare, it was only appropriate that i stayed in his hometown for 2 weeks. and i'm so glad i did because it's exactly the kind of town i would love to live in someday. you can literally walk to the other end of the town in 20 minutes but it's still big enough for me. after studying all day i decided to take a break and just enjoy stratford and discovered big band music (my fav!) in the park by the avon river, a seemingly endless walking path lined on both sides by trees, a 50 pence ferry that takes you from one side of the mere 30 ft wide river to the other, the gorgeous graveyard adjacent to holy trinity church (where shakespeare currently resides), and much more that i cannot currently remember. oh stratford, how i miss thee.
-shakespeare-
i can honestly say i've never prepared so much nor studied so hard for a class before. since there were only 40 students in my class and since it was a short and intense program, you couldn't get away with not doing the reading or studying. but more than that, i actually enjoyed it. professor braunmuller was beyond brilliant and my TA, amazing. i could seriously listen to him talk all day and teach me new tidbits about shakespeare and life in elizabethan/jacobean times. i have a new profound love for shakespeare and his brilliancy--not to mention that he was so gangster (you can tell by his smirk and single gold earring in his portrait).
over the course of 3.5 weeks i've learned a lot about other people, about myself, and how to live with others with patience. i met some amazing people on the trip whom i will hopefully see again once school starts and shared some incredible memories with them. it's all been a whirlwind of experiences and i'm so glad i went on the trip, and also very thankful that i experienced no major problems during my stay in england. that was truly God's doing.
now that i'm back in old diamond bar, california i've been busy trying to find myself and my 3 apt mates a place to live for the next two years. we were left with minimal options, but finally decided on apt #217 in the rochester apts managed by the oh-so-lovely and responsible eric mccoy (i hope you caught the sarcasm). we haven't even signed the lease yet and i have already encountered many problems that usually ended up with me stressing over something i had to fix that was initially eric's fault. sigh. the next two years are going to be bliss.. i can already tell. now that i'm going through the trials of getting an apt, going through the paperwork process, and finding furniture and a means to transport it to our apt, i'm slightly wishing i just stayed in dorms for another (or two) years. who knew it would be such a headache and a hassle and STRESS. sigh. i just want to sign the lease already, and only then will i release a small sigh of relief.
while i was in england i had the luxury of putting my life on hold and forgetting about my responsibilities and such back here. but now, the realities and stresses of paying for my apt and tuition, figuring out loan repayment plans and whatnot, etc. are coming back to me like a wave. i just have to continue telling myself to let God handle it because i know i can't do it on my own. but for someone as calculating and self-reliant as me, it's hard to completely hand over something so pressing and important to someone else, relying on them to take care of it. but then again God isn't just someone else. and i should learn to trust that everything is under his control and in his hands.
school starts in ~3 weeks and i am so excited for what third year has in store for me. i know for a fact that i am going to be challenged due to the new commitments i have made for this year and the difficulty of my course and work load. but again, i'm trusting God to help me every step of the way.
here's to a year of living with three amazing friends, growing up, intellectual stimulation, spiritual growth, and priceless memories to add to that half-written chapter in my life called 'college'.
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| this hangs in the dining room of my omaha home:
Accept differences
Be kind
Count your blessings
Dream
Express thanks
Forgive
Give freely
Harm no one
Imagine more
Jettison anger
Keep confidences
Love truly
Master something
Nurture hope
Open your mind
Pack lightly
Quell rumors
Reciprocate
Seek wisdom
Tough hearts
Understand
value truth
Win graciously
Xeriscape
Yearn for peace
Zealously support a worthy cause
cheers from wayy down under--
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i have done absolutely NOTHING for the past 2 hours and 21 minutes but think of the things i am going to do once 2:31pm hits one week from today- the start of my SUMMER BREAK ;] can we say, excited?!? for the past couple of weeks now i have been making a very extensive "SUMMER TO-DO LIST" that i will now share with cyberspace in case someone is reading this list and wants to join me! holla back :D
(in no particular order, kinda.)
1. getty villa and brunch in malibu
2. taste of downtown fullerton tour (for those of you that don't know.. i absolutely LOVE downtown fullerton)
3. steamers jazz cafe (perfect place to listen to some good jazz while drinking your after-dinner cup of coffee)
4. visit Claremont and Some Crust Bakery.. the almond croissant is to die for
5. Huntington Library and Gardens
6. along with #5, play in pasadena
7. visit the Norton Simon museum for the umpteenth time and marvel at Degas' artistic talent
8. Jazz Bakery. june 22. kalil and the berkeley everett trio.
9. Da Poetry Lounge for some slam poetry!
10. watch "camille" at the silent movie theatre
11. kayaking
12. picnic at a park
13. a proper english tea party (there's a really nice one in downtown orange..)
14. mini roadtrip to san francisco and berkeley please!
wow. i must do all this in less than two weeks! eek! anyone want to accompany me on my adventures?
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| it seems like i'm always pensive and reflective when finals are right around the corner (probably because i am trying to occupy my time with something other than frantically thumbing through my dusted norton anthology). and especially now that the end of my SECOND YEAR of college is coming to an end, and i am sadly coming to terms with the fact that i will never be living in dorms again, i find myself thinking of the past year and everything that i have learned- things about myself, about life in general, useless things, and some very useful things:
1. if i could spend the rest of my life sitting in the corner of a sidewalk cafe reading a good book, i would.
2. i am deeply and easily affected by weather. nothing makes me happier than 70 degree weather- sun shining, slight breeze.
3. i really couldn't live without music. it helps me get through the day.
4. i have a bad reputation of always being asleep. people say i am doing either one of two things: writing a paper, or taking a nap. sadly, this is the truth. last night i tried to write a paper but ended up taking a very extended "nap" that began at 5 pm and ended at around 10:30 this morning. that's right, i slept for 17.5 hours straight. i am a beast.
5. i am a very fickle being. very, very fickle.
6. you are given only one body. treat it well.
7. god gives me a happiness that is truly unexplainable.
8. life isn't always fair; in fact, it sometimes outright screws you over. at these times, remember when you were undeservingly blessed.
9. the people i am the least patient with is my family. why is that?
10. i need to relax. i am way too young to take everything so seriously!
11. this education of mine is worth more than just $24,000 a year. i need to stop taking it for granted and realize how blessed i am for being here.
12. can anyone say discipline?
13. i love to make schedules and then completely disregard them.
14. being passive aggressive will probably be the death of me. i need to learn to talk things out!
15. i need to follow my own advice.
16. look at the grand scheme of things and all your stresses will seem so trivial (and most often than not, they are!).
17. there are other people out there.
18. hard work and determination really do pay off.
19. don't change yourself for others. if they cannot accept who you are, they are not worth your time.
20. let go of grudges and be a peacemaker.
21. i love LA.
22. the bathrooms in kaufman hall are great. so clean and always smells of cotton candy !
23. kids really do say the darndest things. just ask me what my 22 kindergarten/first-graders say on a daily basis.
24. i miss dancing.
25. i wish i could run through a field of flowers with an appropriate song magically playing in the background and the wind blowing my hair in all the right angles.
26. are you witty? let's have a conversation, please.
27. i think i like guys that are slightly awkward. slightly.
28. who has good taste in music, loves literature, witty, has an appreciation for art, loves adventure and spontaneity, and is a man of god.
29. until i meet him, i am quite content being single !
30. when i go back to diamond bar, i like to drive around the city and see how much it has changed and just.. reminisce. until i pass by a gas station that says "regular $4.20". and then i go home.
31. i can now see why jane austen is all the rage. northanger abbey is full of witty humor. go read it.
32. one day i am going to live in boston and own my own bookstore/cafe/flowershop. come visit.
33. i am an old, old soul. but i don't really mind.
34. i can be very pretentious at times. it's hard to stop.
35. if anything, there is only one thing in life everyone wants- to be loved.
36. the gym is not so bad.
37. languages fascinate me. i want to learn them all.
38. relationships are so important. invest your time in them and cherish them.
39. i don't want college to end. life after college looks a little hard.
40. "do not fear tomorrow, because god is already there."
41. i have a lot more to learn.
hopefully i have learned more than just 41 things this year, and hopefully this list is short only because subconsciously i am telling myself that i must now go shower and attempt to re-write my script before i go to bed. i can't say that i will go back and add on to this list, because #42! i tend not to finish things that i start (but this only applies when what i am doing is not so very significant! although i am sure xanga would be quite distressed if it learned that it is placed under the "insignificant things in my life" column. so to xanga, my deepest apologies!). and in response to #11, i will try real hard not to xanga/facebook/aim until i am done with finals. time to be studious!
and with that, i will say,
goodnight dear void
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