I went to the eye doctor today. My eyes have been so ill treated that I have been wearing my glasses lately. But today I found out the good news that although my eyes are dry and irritated, it is well on its way to recovering! Though my vision is the same, I do have a slight change in astigmatism.. boo..
Overall, my eyes feel happy! My fingers, on the other hand, are sore.. I've been playing the guitar. I've been learning this song.. for the sake of "guiding" my sister so she can serenade it to Thomas. :)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Bumming it..
I can't really say that I did much this past week..
I'd like to say I was productive and that I got a lot of things done.. But honestly... I didn't do much. I have been reading a lot though.. Reading Purpose Driven Life and The Ragamuffin Gospel. I have been cooking a lot and I have been eating A LOT.
I've also played games a lot. Plant versus Zombies and Robot Unicorn Attack.
I took up the guitar again too.
Every morning, I wake up around 8 now. Waking up early makes the day seem longer.. so I pretty much fill my day with cooking, eating, playing, and more playing. Oh! I've been working on my resume too.. Still a working progress..
Can't wait for tomorrow! I get to hang out with Kevin. (:
I'd like to say I was productive and that I got a lot of things done.. But honestly... I didn't do much. I have been reading a lot though.. Reading Purpose Driven Life and The Ragamuffin Gospel. I have been cooking a lot and I have been eating A LOT.
I've also played games a lot. Plant versus Zombies and Robot Unicorn Attack.
Every morning, I wake up around 8 now. Waking up early makes the day seem longer.. so I pretty much fill my day with cooking, eating, playing, and more playing. Oh! I've been working on my resume too.. Still a working progress..
Can't wait for tomorrow! I get to hang out with Kevin. (:
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Bringing England back..
Today was the first day I actually woke up pretty late.. 8 o'clock. The day started out mundane, but it started to get productive after lunch.
My sister and I made scones!!! It's so easy to make and it tasted quite lovely with the Earl Grey tea we bought for my mom. I tried to look up how to make clotted cream, but it turns out that it's easier to just buy clotted cream rather than to make it. It basically takes 12 hours to make the clotted cream. In memory of the good times of afternoon tea, my sister and I had afternoon tea with scones! It was still lovely!
Earl Grey with milk and sugar.
Freshly baked scones with jam.
I don't know what clicked, but I became OCD after afternoon tea and I started cleaning a lot. I cleaned the fridge out, throwing all the expired and moldy food. I started to categorize the sauces and jams. I wiped down the counters and I washed so many dishes. I don't know what came over me though, I just couldn't stop cleaning! Actually, ever since I got home that's what I've been doing. I've already cleaned the my entire room and the closet pantry. Tomorrow will be the big garage. For dinner, I made Sambal Tempe, which is a spicy soybean Indonesian dish. I'm thankful for my mom because she taught me and raised me well. (:
I ended the night going to Marking Night. Every Thursday night in Redlands, there's a market night where vendors sell fruit, vegetables, artwork, etc. I'm glad that the Market Night is at night because it's way cooler than during the day. But even though it's night, tonight was still hot, 100 F. I started sweating just eating my Gyro! It was still that hot. But the market life brings back memories of England and it's market.
Yay! Market Night. I used to go here when I was in high school.
Brings back nostalgic feelings. (:
The animals are caramel apples on a stick.
Today was just a lovely day. (:
My sister and I made scones!!! It's so easy to make and it tasted quite lovely with the Earl Grey tea we bought for my mom. I tried to look up how to make clotted cream, but it turns out that it's easier to just buy clotted cream rather than to make it. It basically takes 12 hours to make the clotted cream. In memory of the good times of afternoon tea, my sister and I had afternoon tea with scones! It was still lovely!
Earl Grey with milk and sugar.
Freshly baked scones with jam.
I ended the night going to Marking Night. Every Thursday night in Redlands, there's a market night where vendors sell fruit, vegetables, artwork, etc. I'm glad that the Market Night is at night because it's way cooler than during the day. But even though it's night, tonight was still hot, 100 F. I started sweating just eating my Gyro! It was still that hot. But the market life brings back memories of England and it's market.
Yay! Market Night. I used to go here when I was in high school.
Brings back nostalgic feelings. (:
The animals are caramel apples on a stick.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Hollywood
It's weird to be a tourist in my own country.. I mean, I've lived in California all my life, but I've never really traveled in my own state. Being in Hollywood was different, but interesting. Being with Kevin the whole day was amazing. Being with Kevin felt really good. It's been too long since we've spent time with each other.
These are some of the places I went to and some of the things I saw in Hollywood.
Chinese Mann Theater, Kodak theater, The Hollywood sign
from afar. It's cool to see the famous stars and the
hand and feet footprints of famous people.
Artsy pictures-ish.
After Hollywood, we grabbed the best tacos from a place in LA and we went to Disneyland. haha. Yeah, Disneyland. I'd like to say I owned Kevin in Toy Story and in Astro blaster.. but let's just say I'm rusty. haha. No, Kevin is just that good.
At night, we headed to Crossroads Christian Church in Corona to attend to the young adult service. It was amazing how many young people came together to worship. The message was good too because they taught that the Body is a temple and we need to be stewards to keep it healthy. Although obesity is becoming a big issue in America, the number one issue that affects the health is actually sleep deprivation. It's because we lack sleep that our health and other areas of our life are affected. The message was really good. I want to go to Crossroads again. (:
Great day today because I got to hold, hug, and be with Kevin. (: <3
These are some of the places I went to and some of the things I saw in Hollywood.
Chinese Mann Theater, Kodak theater, The Hollywood sign
from afar. It's cool to see the famous stars and the
hand and feet footprints of famous people.
Artsy pictures-ish.
After Hollywood, we grabbed the best tacos from a place in LA and we went to Disneyland. haha. Yeah, Disneyland. I'd like to say I owned Kevin in Toy Story and in Astro blaster.. but let's just say I'm rusty. haha. No, Kevin is just that good.
At night, we headed to Crossroads Christian Church in Corona to attend to the young adult service. It was amazing how many young people came together to worship. The message was good too because they taught that the Body is a temple and we need to be stewards to keep it healthy. Although obesity is becoming a big issue in America, the number one issue that affects the health is actually sleep deprivation. It's because we lack sleep that our health and other areas of our life are affected. The message was really good. I want to go to Crossroads again. (:
Great day today because I got to hold, hug, and be with Kevin. (: <3
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Home sweet Home.. for reals!
Back in California!
I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue to blog after I got back.. I started to blog, thinking that I can always go back to rereading my blog if I ever go back to Europe. Writing down the things I saw or the things I ate at a specific restaurant can be very helpful someday. Maybe 7 years from now, I can reread my blog and go back to Food for Friends to get afternoon tea or go back to the markets I went to. I also started blogging so that when people ask me what I did, I can just refer them to my blog instead of repeating myself over and over again.. Lazy, but it's so convenient and better because there are pictures to back up my stories.. Now that I'm back.. I don't want to easily give up blogging. I don't know what my blogs will look like now that I'm back, but we'll just see as life progresses. (:
Trip back home
From campus to London Gatwick airport, I had to walk to the Falmer train station, transfer to a different train at Brighton Station and then finally arrive at the airport. Getting to my departure gate was another long process. But with all the lugging of the luggages and the check in processes, God was always watching over us by letting us travel with friends and by letting us meet nice people. 5 in the morning, God already helped my sister and I by letting us travel with guy friends to help us carry luggages. At the check in desk, God let us meet a nice lady who suggested that we carry our duffel bags so we can safe money and avoid fees. In the airplane, God used a dad sitting across my sister and I to help us put our duffel bags in the upper compartment. God is good! The flight seemed short, and it was enjoyable to play the games they had with my sister on the airplane.
Walking down the escalators to see a handsome figure with a bouquet of flowers and Thomas with his bouquet of flowers was a lovely site to see! Kevin and Thomas picked my sister and I up from LAX. Oh how we missed the guys sooooo much!
The beautiful bouquet the boys gave.
They are a keeper!
We got home to find my whole family at home, even my brother was home, Came home and found good food too! I'm blessed to have family to come home to and food to enjoy. I thank God for always protecting and watching over us abroad. I love God!
Salt and pepper shrimp my mommy made. yum!
Now, I'm back home. My jetlag is not severe. I start to get sleepy around 8 o'clock, but I make myself sleep around 10 by not taking any naps and by being productive. I wake up around 7 in the mornings. It's not too bad, but I would like to make the habit of waking up early. Since I've been home, I've been able to spend time with my parents and spend time with my church friends. I've been eating a lot too! I lost about 3 pounds being abroad, but it will be easily gained back being here.
I'm so blessed and so grateful! It's good to be home. (:
I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue to blog after I got back.. I started to blog, thinking that I can always go back to rereading my blog if I ever go back to Europe. Writing down the things I saw or the things I ate at a specific restaurant can be very helpful someday. Maybe 7 years from now, I can reread my blog and go back to Food for Friends to get afternoon tea or go back to the markets I went to. I also started blogging so that when people ask me what I did, I can just refer them to my blog instead of repeating myself over and over again.. Lazy, but it's so convenient and better because there are pictures to back up my stories.. Now that I'm back.. I don't want to easily give up blogging. I don't know what my blogs will look like now that I'm back, but we'll just see as life progresses. (:
Trip back home
From campus to London Gatwick airport, I had to walk to the Falmer train station, transfer to a different train at Brighton Station and then finally arrive at the airport. Getting to my departure gate was another long process. But with all the lugging of the luggages and the check in processes, God was always watching over us by letting us travel with friends and by letting us meet nice people. 5 in the morning, God already helped my sister and I by letting us travel with guy friends to help us carry luggages. At the check in desk, God let us meet a nice lady who suggested that we carry our duffel bags so we can safe money and avoid fees. In the airplane, God used a dad sitting across my sister and I to help us put our duffel bags in the upper compartment. God is good! The flight seemed short, and it was enjoyable to play the games they had with my sister on the airplane.
Walking down the escalators to see a handsome figure with a bouquet of flowers and Thomas with his bouquet of flowers was a lovely site to see! Kevin and Thomas picked my sister and I up from LAX. Oh how we missed the guys sooooo much!
The beautiful bouquet the boys gave.
They are a keeper!
We got home to find my whole family at home, even my brother was home, Came home and found good food too! I'm blessed to have family to come home to and food to enjoy. I thank God for always protecting and watching over us abroad. I love God!
Salt and pepper shrimp my mommy made. yum!
I'm so blessed and so grateful! It's good to be home. (:
Friday, August 20, 2010
Last 48 hours!
Moving into another transition is always hard to keep up with the blogging schedule. This past 48 hours have been exciting, memorable, and relaxing.
Let's start with Thursday. Thursday was the day of the final. I came into the final thinking it would be a breeze just like the final in first session.. but I was wrong. It was hard, but fair. The test was trickier and harder because the concepts were a lot harder in the second session than in the first. Anyways with the test! It's over!
I celebrated by playing badminton to de-stress. I think I played for 3 hours. There were 5 of us who played and so there was always one left out. It was my turn to sit out when a group of 3 people asked me to play with them. Big mistake? No! It was really fun playing with the pros! You get better by playing with better people and, man oh man, these people were good. I'm just glad that they invited me to play with them. I was surprised that I actually kept up with them too.
Thursday night. There was a farewell gathering for the summer Sussex students. Free food and free drinks. Everyone was invited including the professor and the TAs. The food was alright.. I ate a lot though. Like 10 mini sausages, 5 mini sandwiches, fish and chips, and 3 ice cream cups. I'm always famished after a good match of badminton.
Thursday night night.. So.. I met a lot of people (mostly girls) that I normally would not hang out with. Let's say these are people who really like parties and their alcohol. I played beer pong with them. Don't worry. I didn't drink. I just played beer pong for the first time. It's fun and I was pretty good for a beginner, but it's something that I wouldn't do often. I just imagine it being like a carnival game, not a drinking game. But yeah, being in that environment makes me see in different perspectives. I think that it's interesting to hang out with people that are different from me because I feel like I can be in the world, but not of the world.. Idk if that makes sense.. Interacting with people that are different from me made me reflect everything that Dave Gibbons wrote in Monkey and the Fish about being third culture..
Friday! Last day!
Today was very chill. We (my sister, Phil, and new friend, Jason) went to town for the last time. To sum up the time in town, we went to Primark and shopped some more! We went to Food for Friends to get afternoon tea for the last time, and we walked around Brighton Pier. Even though it doesn't seem much, the places we went, we took our precious time. Today was a day to absorb Brighton and to etch it in our memories. Very peaceful.
Friday night. Nothing to do. Everything is packed. The room is empty. The hallways are empty. When will I ever have a sink it my room again? It's a bitter sweet ending that it's the end of a great adventure, but a sweet beginning of reunion with our loved ones. We (My sister, phil, new friend, Jason, and the girls I meet the night before) spent the last night watching a movie called Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and looking at funny youtube videos. The movie was interesting, the crowd was interesting. I'm glad to go home to familiarity and my love, Kevin. (:
Goodbye Brighton. Hello California.
Let's start with Thursday. Thursday was the day of the final. I came into the final thinking it would be a breeze just like the final in first session.. but I was wrong. It was hard, but fair. The test was trickier and harder because the concepts were a lot harder in the second session than in the first. Anyways with the test! It's over!
I celebrated by playing badminton to de-stress. I think I played for 3 hours. There were 5 of us who played and so there was always one left out. It was my turn to sit out when a group of 3 people asked me to play with them. Big mistake? No! It was really fun playing with the pros! You get better by playing with better people and, man oh man, these people were good. I'm just glad that they invited me to play with them. I was surprised that I actually kept up with them too.
Thursday night. There was a farewell gathering for the summer Sussex students. Free food and free drinks. Everyone was invited including the professor and the TAs. The food was alright.. I ate a lot though. Like 10 mini sausages, 5 mini sandwiches, fish and chips, and 3 ice cream cups. I'm always famished after a good match of badminton.
Thursday night night.. So.. I met a lot of people (mostly girls) that I normally would not hang out with. Let's say these are people who really like parties and their alcohol. I played beer pong with them. Don't worry. I didn't drink. I just played beer pong for the first time. It's fun and I was pretty good for a beginner, but it's something that I wouldn't do often. I just imagine it being like a carnival game, not a drinking game. But yeah, being in that environment makes me see in different perspectives. I think that it's interesting to hang out with people that are different from me because I feel like I can be in the world, but not of the world.. Idk if that makes sense.. Interacting with people that are different from me made me reflect everything that Dave Gibbons wrote in Monkey and the Fish about being third culture..
Friday! Last day!
Today was very chill. We (my sister, Phil, and new friend, Jason) went to town for the last time. To sum up the time in town, we went to Primark and shopped some more! We went to Food for Friends to get afternoon tea for the last time, and we walked around Brighton Pier. Even though it doesn't seem much, the places we went, we took our precious time. Today was a day to absorb Brighton and to etch it in our memories. Very peaceful.
Friday night. Nothing to do. Everything is packed. The room is empty. The hallways are empty. When will I ever have a sink it my room again? It's a bitter sweet ending that it's the end of a great adventure, but a sweet beginning of reunion with our loved ones. We (My sister, phil, new friend, Jason, and the girls I meet the night before) spent the last night watching a movie called Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and looking at funny youtube videos. The movie was interesting, the crowd was interesting. I'm glad to go home to familiarity and my love, Kevin. (:
Goodbye Brighton. Hello California.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Studying..
Tomorrow is my Physics final. Tomorrow marks the end of summer session 2. Man..I can't wait for it to be tomorrow.. That is.. I can't wait until my final is over and I can play!
What did I do today?.. I studied a lot. OH, my sister and I made our final run to the grocery store. It's back to frozen food and instant noodles.
Random pictures of the day.. These are some of the things I'm going to miss from the UK.
Easy Transportation to anywhere. I going to miss
the independence that comes along with it too.
The markets. I like the creative and unique things
they sell. So cool to just walk around and be in
the culture.
I'm going to miss traveling and trying different cuisines.
I'm going to, especially, miss the people I've spent these past 8 weeks with.
Thanks for the memorable times! (:
What did I do today?.. I studied a lot. OH, my sister and I made our final run to the grocery store. It's back to frozen food and instant noodles.
Random pictures of the day.. These are some of the things I'm going to miss from the UK.
Easy Transportation to anywhere. I going to miss
the independence that comes along with it too.
The markets. I like the creative and unique things
they sell. So cool to just walk around and be in
the culture.
I'm going to miss traveling and trying different cuisines.
I'm going to, especially, miss the people I've spent these past 8 weeks with.
Thanks for the memorable times! (:
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Last day of class!
Oh my gosh! Time flies so fast. I can't believe that 8 weeks have already flown by! All those fears of traveling are gone because of this trip! I'm so blessed to have had this opportunity and I'm so thankful for my parents!
Today was boring because I did lab and studied the whole day. Oh, if you're wondering what happened to KD, my sister and I finished the whole "You're beautiful" KD within a week and half. Would that be considered obsessed? lol. I hope not.
Random picture of the day.. Remember I mentioned about the police cars and the ambulance cars having their labels backwards? I actually took a picture as proof.
It's funny to see cars with backward
labels on them, especially high authority ones
who everyone gets out of the way for.
Today was boring because I did lab and studied the whole day. Oh, if you're wondering what happened to KD, my sister and I finished the whole "You're beautiful" KD within a week and half. Would that be considered obsessed? lol. I hope not.
Random picture of the day.. Remember I mentioned about the police cars and the ambulance cars having their labels backwards? I actually took a picture as proof.
It's funny to see cars with backward
labels on them, especially high authority ones
who everyone gets out of the way for.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Second to last day of class!
What a productive day! I did a lot of problem sets.. three problem sets in one day.. that's my fastest record! I hope I did them right, though. I studied a bunch too. Besides the physics aspect, my sister and I went to town to run errands. We exchanged the leftover euros to pounds and bought a lot of digestive biscuits to bring back to the states. That's basically it today.
Here's a video from the Chichester day trip.
Chichester is a town of old people. The oldies music in the background
suits the town. Cute!
Here's a video from the Chichester day trip.
Chichester is a town of old people. The oldies music in the background
suits the town. Cute!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
7 sisters Hike!
Amazing day today! I hiked the 7 sisters hike in Eastbourne, UK. So, 7 sisters are white cliffs that trail along an ocean view. Each cliff is called a sister; hence the name 7 sisters because there are 7 total... I think there are actually 9 in total.. but I don't know why it's called 7 then.. Anyways, The hike was 22km, which equals 13.7 miles. I walked 13.7 miles today.. So far!
Pictures cannot grasp how high the cliffs were!
This place is notoriously known for suicidal deaths..
Really sad..
Pictures cannot grasp how high the cliffs were!
This place is notoriously known for suicidal deaths..
Really sad..
A retarded picture of my sister and me trying to jump.
I think that was my officially first jumping picture.
The second picture is an artsy one my sister took.
It's supposed to look blurry.
I think that was my officially first jumping picture.
The second picture is an artsy one my sister took.
It's supposed to look blurry.
After the long hike, there was an award! I got to try my first Sunday roast! I got the roasted lamb. SOO good, especially after 13.7 miles of walking!
That pretty much sums up the whole day. Tomorrow it's back to class. Last week and counting.. til home. (:
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Chichester Cathedral and Arundel Castle
One day trip to see the west side of Sussex! Today was very chill, literally and figuratively. We had so much time to ourselves and it rained on and off.
Chichester is a small, but peaceful town where old people reside. There were a lot of old people and there was oldies music in the background. The cathedral, itself, was beautiful on the inside because there were stain glasses everywhere.
Chichester is a small, but peaceful town where old people reside. There were a lot of old people and there was oldies music in the background. The cathedral, itself, was beautiful on the inside because there were stain glasses everywhere.
After Chichester, Arundel Castle was the next and last stop. The castle was fortress-y.. When my sister asked me if I'd rather live in a palace or a castle, I chose castle. For some reason, a castle feels more homey because of the grand library with a fireplace to curl next to. The curtains and the wooden decors .. It feels like a huge cottage.
The garden was BEAUTIFUL! Remember I mentioned something about wanting to see crop circles? Well I kind of saw one!.. Not really.. but it can look like one!
There were so many exotic flowers too. I would definitely choose a homey castle with a landscaped backyard over a overly grand palace.
It was fun playing in the mini forest too.
Today was fun and aesthetically pleasing. God is amazing for inventing castles and beautiful flowers! I thank God too for the rain and its timing. It always rained when I was indoors. GOD IS GOOD!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)