Well the time has come. I can't believe in a matter of hours I will be on a plane again, I actually really like flying and I'm really excited to be in VANCOUVER! Even if its for a short 6 hours, well at least I will be spending time there after experiencing Taiwan.
In a way I'm oober head over heels over these next three weeks but I'm also scared. I got reminded last night that I don't know how to speak or write or understand Mandarin except for counting 1-10, "I Love You", "I don't know" haha... it will definitely be a different trip. I do hope to learn lots though seeing that I will be immerse in Taiwan's culture, people, and language for three weeks! Hopefully I feel the pressure to absorb it, let it sink in, and come back with a new language under my belt... or weight since everyone is telling me the abundance of snacks and food they have.
I feel like there's a few things I should do before I go, like check what I'm not allowed to bring as carry on; I'm sure my mini swiss knife is still in my wallet xP
Gota fly, Bye!
P.S. For the record I actually like plane food, its all prepared and portioned and ready for you to devour it!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Addiction.
So one of the many duties of being a cashier is to sell Lottery and I utterly HATE IT. I feel like I'm indirectly feeding so and so's addiction to gambling. Some people win nothing, some win $2, $5, $20, the most I've seen is $50 in cash BUT majority is not HAPPY enough with their winnings, and decides to buy more lottery with the amount they just won.
WHY. I question this all the time. Why not work for your money? Why not save that few dollars, why not use your pay cheque towards something else more beneficial, more useful.
Once I had two different, unrelated guys buy $100.00 worth of lotto max tickets... like SERIOUSLY.. what are the chances of you winning? Today on shine FM.. I heard its like 1 in 28 million or something like that... secondly what if you don't win, that $100 bucks just went down the drain, when you could have done so much more with it!
So this got me thinking... say you DO win, that allowed you to not have to work so hard, or work at all. You've traveled the world a few times, maybe bought everything you needed: big house, sweet ride, and if he/she is compassionate, maybe they've donated some to a local charity or local disaster fund, then What?
Maybe this is why some celebrities resolve in drug use, plastic surgery, and all that ugly stuff... you've got so much money, you don't know what to do with it anymore. I even have customers tell me that if I gave them the winning ticket they would come back and buy me a car (eyes roll, yea right, you probably forget me right there and then)not like I feel obligated in getting something in return or that I doubt their chances of winning (actually, I do doubt) but just sensing their greediness drives me up the wall. Others say they're going to quit their job if they win, others get so mad at the cashiers if you give them a wrong ticket or you don't understand their lotto-lingo. Oh what I find ridiculous is that customers are WILLING to wait in a LONG line up that sells lottery, rather than go to a empty cashier just to pay for the rest of their goods and get out of the store.
SEE what people will do for a chance of BIG MONEY?!
Sigh* I wish I didn't understand lotto-lingo, but I'm starting to, and it just gets worse as Lotto Max raises the grand prize amount, but its just a job. JUST a job.
People should look to other things rather than money for happiness.
On a happier note, I was sewing a personal project today, and my auntie saw me turn down a lunch outing when my grandma had asked me to go, and she was like, "just let her sew, it can get addicting."
Well there's my personal addiction, and its not harming others, so maybe I shouldn't complain about those lotto-addicts but in the end, I hope you acknowledge where I'm going.
WHY. I question this all the time. Why not work for your money? Why not save that few dollars, why not use your pay cheque towards something else more beneficial, more useful.
Once I had two different, unrelated guys buy $100.00 worth of lotto max tickets... like SERIOUSLY.. what are the chances of you winning? Today on shine FM.. I heard its like 1 in 28 million or something like that... secondly what if you don't win, that $100 bucks just went down the drain, when you could have done so much more with it!
So this got me thinking... say you DO win, that allowed you to not have to work so hard, or work at all. You've traveled the world a few times, maybe bought everything you needed: big house, sweet ride, and if he/she is compassionate, maybe they've donated some to a local charity or local disaster fund, then What?
Maybe this is why some celebrities resolve in drug use, plastic surgery, and all that ugly stuff... you've got so much money, you don't know what to do with it anymore. I even have customers tell me that if I gave them the winning ticket they would come back and buy me a car (eyes roll, yea right, you probably forget me right there and then)not like I feel obligated in getting something in return or that I doubt their chances of winning (actually, I do doubt) but just sensing their greediness drives me up the wall. Others say they're going to quit their job if they win, others get so mad at the cashiers if you give them a wrong ticket or you don't understand their lotto-lingo. Oh what I find ridiculous is that customers are WILLING to wait in a LONG line up that sells lottery, rather than go to a empty cashier just to pay for the rest of their goods and get out of the store.
SEE what people will do for a chance of BIG MONEY?!
Sigh* I wish I didn't understand lotto-lingo, but I'm starting to, and it just gets worse as Lotto Max raises the grand prize amount, but its just a job. JUST a job.
People should look to other things rather than money for happiness.
On a happier note, I was sewing a personal project today, and my auntie saw me turn down a lunch outing when my grandma had asked me to go, and she was like, "just let her sew, it can get addicting."
Well there's my personal addiction, and its not harming others, so maybe I shouldn't complain about those lotto-addicts but in the end, I hope you acknowledge where I'm going.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Catch Up Effect
How many times do I have to talk about how time flies? Five weeks ago I thought it be dreadful making myself take a spring course when I just finished my first year of University and should be savoring my FOUR months of legit summer or not holidays, and fast forward, I'm almost done, one more week to go; 5 classes.
I'm actually really happy I took this course, HECOL 254, a beginner sewing course I'm required to take for my Textile & Clothing program, and its only offered in the Spring time anyways. At times, I love what I am doing, like how I accomplished my skirt:
.JPG)
Other times... I just wanted to relieve myself of all the seam ripping & needle-prodding-in-finger chaos. Well lets think positive and aim for a well-done shirt as my final project for this course. As I journeyed through this course I just realize how much there is to learn beyond shopping and picking items off the walls. I also realize how God has opened so much doors for me all the while.
Before this spring course, before this school year, before last summer 2009, before the end of grade 12 I had wanted to brush up on my sewing skills and find a summer course for 2010 at a local company or school and voila, HECOL 254 opened up. Not only that, two years ago,my summer of grade 11, my friend had an opportunity to go study Mandarin in Taiwan for six weeks, and despite my mixed thoughts about going to MY open door now, I remembered how jealous and full of admiration I was about HER going and I be stupid to say No and shut this door when God has left it ajar for me.
So what can I say, maybe it is a pleasant thing that time flies, so when you look back on it, you realize just how much you and I have changed, how time has evolved, and experiences are opening up.
Lately, I have been enjoying my student-employment-faith life, taking this spring course was less hectic than I thought it be and despite working life, I'm earning a pay cheque and it feels good to earn money and even better to spend it. Its so hard to control my spending now, thinking back, it was way easier to be stingy and save when you are NOT employed and DON'T have a job. Now that I am employed, I feel as if I have a steady 'income' and am able to buy that shirt or that thing I want. Hopefully this mentality of mine ceases shortly so I can save for the long term plans I have. As for my social life, I feel like I'm back on task; I caught up with eight people last week! I'm so glad I just got to go grab a snack, bubble tea, yoga, shop, enjoy a meal, share a movie, or just sit around together. It was definitely cherished bonding time and I hope to continue this while I can. As for faith, not the best for last, I realized I haven't prayed as much as I use to, maybe I should attend a prayer meeting to pick up on that and there are prayer needs, but maybe because of all the things going on, I have been letting my prayers slide, so that is a TO DO must!
{God forgive me; I know you already have, so Thank You for your almightyness forever and always}
I'm actually really happy I took this course, HECOL 254, a beginner sewing course I'm required to take for my Textile & Clothing program, and its only offered in the Spring time anyways. At times, I love what I am doing, like how I accomplished my skirt:
.JPG)
Other times... I just wanted to relieve myself of all the seam ripping & needle-prodding-in-finger chaos. Well lets think positive and aim for a well-done shirt as my final project for this course. As I journeyed through this course I just realize how much there is to learn beyond shopping and picking items off the walls. I also realize how God has opened so much doors for me all the while.
Before this spring course, before this school year, before last summer 2009, before the end of grade 12 I had wanted to brush up on my sewing skills and find a summer course for 2010 at a local company or school and voila, HECOL 254 opened up. Not only that, two years ago,my summer of grade 11, my friend had an opportunity to go study Mandarin in Taiwan for six weeks, and despite my mixed thoughts about going to MY open door now, I remembered how jealous and full of admiration I was about HER going and I be stupid to say No and shut this door when God has left it ajar for me.
So what can I say, maybe it is a pleasant thing that time flies, so when you look back on it, you realize just how much you and I have changed, how time has evolved, and experiences are opening up.
Lately, I have been enjoying my student-employment-faith life, taking this spring course was less hectic than I thought it be and despite working life, I'm earning a pay cheque and it feels good to earn money and even better to spend it. Its so hard to control my spending now, thinking back, it was way easier to be stingy and save when you are NOT employed and DON'T have a job. Now that I am employed, I feel as if I have a steady 'income' and am able to buy that shirt or that thing I want. Hopefully this mentality of mine ceases shortly so I can save for the long term plans I have. As for my social life, I feel like I'm back on task; I caught up with eight people last week! I'm so glad I just got to go grab a snack, bubble tea, yoga, shop, enjoy a meal, share a movie, or just sit around together. It was definitely cherished bonding time and I hope to continue this while I can. As for faith, not the best for last, I realized I haven't prayed as much as I use to, maybe I should attend a prayer meeting to pick up on that and there are prayer needs, but maybe because of all the things going on, I have been letting my prayers slide, so that is a TO DO must!
{God forgive me; I know you already have, so Thank You for your almightyness forever and always}
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Aging Flashback
So this past Saturday I attended my friend's grade nine graduation. It was quite an experience and filled with enthusiasm. The girls were all in lovely dresses, hair & make up done, boys prim and proper, ties & suited up, even some parents were looking pretty good head to toe. Well I admit, I took this event as an opportunity to dress up too, I miss all the excitement of grad from last year.
As an attendee of someone's grade nine grad, I started pondering about my own grade nine grad four years ago. That just sounded like ages ago but wow, I realize how much I have grown emotionally and socially as a person. As I was there, it was easy to pick out those whom were likely to be the class-clowns of the graduating class since they acted similar to the class-clowns of my class four years ago), others whom were the silent type, etc. etc. I thought back to my grade 9 grad back in 2006 and wondered if we were like those students sitting happily and anticipated for our names to be called so we can have that ten seconds of glamor on stage from getting our certificates, and posing for a photo to be taken, - was I like that? did I ever act like that? Did my grad year scream and shout and do stupid crazy things to grab attention? Oh yes. The years of being a teenager, the puberty era, it seems like it was so far away, but at the same time I'm glad I've outgrown it.
I finally realize that I'm a young woman, and like I'm not a kid no more, I even felt "old" at one point being there with all those grade nines. But what is the definition of being old? Its just the opposite of not being young, but if you consider yourself young at your age, then your not old, because your starting a whole new whelm of experience being YOU at that particular age, and everything is fresh as it can be for a freshman heading into post secondary. I just found it a "reality-check" moment in a way and I just got to thank God for pulling me through those raging-attitude-drama-filled-friendships-fluttering hormone times or else I wouldn't be who I am today. Aren't you glad your reading words from the mouth of a legit eighteen year old and not a fourteen year old girl anticipating the arrival of high school because word of mouth has it that there are a lot of cute guys?!
Like what was I thinking right? I've grown to maturity, and I'm happy where I'm at! Maybe four years from today I will have another reality-check and reflect on life as it was as an eighteen year old whose claiming she's a young lady.
Time will tell~
As an attendee of someone's grade nine grad, I started pondering about my own grade nine grad four years ago. That just sounded like ages ago but wow, I realize how much I have grown emotionally and socially as a person. As I was there, it was easy to pick out those whom were likely to be the class-clowns of the graduating class since they acted similar to the class-clowns of my class four years ago), others whom were the silent type, etc. etc. I thought back to my grade 9 grad back in 2006 and wondered if we were like those students sitting happily and anticipated for our names to be called so we can have that ten seconds of glamor on stage from getting our certificates, and posing for a photo to be taken, - was I like that? did I ever act like that? Did my grad year scream and shout and do stupid crazy things to grab attention? Oh yes. The years of being a teenager, the puberty era, it seems like it was so far away, but at the same time I'm glad I've outgrown it.
I finally realize that I'm a young woman, and like I'm not a kid no more, I even felt "old" at one point being there with all those grade nines. But what is the definition of being old? Its just the opposite of not being young, but if you consider yourself young at your age, then your not old, because your starting a whole new whelm of experience being YOU at that particular age, and everything is fresh as it can be for a freshman heading into post secondary. I just found it a "reality-check" moment in a way and I just got to thank God for pulling me through those raging-attitude-drama-filled-friendships-fluttering hormone times or else I wouldn't be who I am today. Aren't you glad your reading words from the mouth of a legit eighteen year old and not a fourteen year old girl anticipating the arrival of high school because word of mouth has it that there are a lot of cute guys?!
Like what was I thinking right? I've grown to maturity, and I'm happy where I'm at! Maybe four years from today I will have another reality-check and reflect on life as it was as an eighteen year old whose claiming she's a young lady.
Time will tell~
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Disbelief.
Well where shall I start? Back in February an opportunity came up for me to participate in this international summer exchange program to Taiwan. At first I was hesitant and I didn't really want to be gone for at least half of my summer (even though I always rant about my hometown not-so-home-sweet-DEADmonton). The catch was that this exchange thing was really cheap: I would only have to pay for airfare and $200CAD ish fee for a duration of three weeks in Taiwan including accommodation, food, transportation and all that jazz. But an even more unbelievable thing is that they only took twenty, yes TWENTY Canadian youths from age 17-25 from across Canada... while taking 100+ from Malaysia/Thailand,I know what your thinking, does Taiwan dislike Canadians? LOL But anyhow I decided to give it a try because I applied thinking I wouldn't make it, even though it was such a hassle to get a full body check up, urine & blood tests, and an chest x-ray done to prove that I'm in good health in order to apply. I dislike going to doctors, so to me it was inconvenient to the max.
So guess what I received in my email today?! I'M ACCEPTED?!?! a few weeks ago, I had received a "your on a waiting list" note and all of a sudden I'm in, and I have to send in my flight information by May 30? Like.. I didn't even expect to get in, and now I'm bombarded with admission information.
At the same time, it seems like so much is coming up this summer and the other day my family had got a call from California (family friends) inviting us to go down during the summer to attend their daughters' wedding and catch up. Also around the same time, I was planning to use my saved up air miles to visit a friend that had moved to Toronto this summer and I was looking into tourist attractions, flights, dates, etc, etc. So now this. I'm not in a dilemma, but ironically last night I was praying to God asking Him to help me decide what I should do this summer, Toronto vs. California with my family, and now a THIRD opportunity came up... not to mention my want to pay a visit to Vancouver and visit my camp kids from last summer.
If only I could have four summers all in one go eh? So I'm indecisive and I have to use some brain power to think things through and make A choice.
For once, I'm not gonna rant about Edmonton since the weather is lovely, sunny and HOT and I'm going to savor a fugdesicle!
So guess what I received in my email today?! I'M ACCEPTED?!?! a few weeks ago, I had received a "your on a waiting list" note and all of a sudden I'm in, and I have to send in my flight information by May 30? Like.. I didn't even expect to get in, and now I'm bombarded with admission information.
At the same time, it seems like so much is coming up this summer and the other day my family had got a call from California (family friends) inviting us to go down during the summer to attend their daughters' wedding and catch up. Also around the same time, I was planning to use my saved up air miles to visit a friend that had moved to Toronto this summer and I was looking into tourist attractions, flights, dates, etc, etc. So now this. I'm not in a dilemma, but ironically last night I was praying to God asking Him to help me decide what I should do this summer, Toronto vs. California with my family, and now a THIRD opportunity came up... not to mention my want to pay a visit to Vancouver and visit my camp kids from last summer.
If only I could have four summers all in one go eh? So I'm indecisive and I have to use some brain power to think things through and make A choice.
For once, I'm not gonna rant about Edmonton since the weather is lovely, sunny and HOT and I'm going to savor a fugdesicle!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Sundae on a Sunday
Its late at night, the sun has not set, and its my 50th blog, and we shall all agree that its a great day out for a sundae especially since tomorrow is a SUNDAY.
<3
I'm Happy.
<3
I'm Happy.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Never Ending
Well if you haven't heard me rant about my family's 2 vans, your definitely in for a joy ride. So for the past like three? months if its not my mom's van having problems, its my dad's van. It all started when... oh I can't even recall the first incident but my mom's van just kept dieing so easily and would be in need of a car boost (her vehicle is only five years old), so that happened quite a few times and it would be a pain. Then after my mom's van finally died for the last time because the battery actually ceased its living, and we got a new one, my dad's van started having car problems. Its a seven year old Kia and I guess like any other thing that gets old, it starts breaking down. I remember the first time it died, we couldn't fix it because the car fixing place we go to was actually going through renovations! Well eventually my dad's van was thought to be 'fixed', and parts were repaired and things were back to normal for the family, home sweet home right?
NOPE.
Not until last night was I driving home from church that I noticed the brake light didn't turn off and the battery light came on, and then the radio I was listening TURNED OFF ( this is sounding like a movie scenario, I know, it gets worst!!) then the lights in the car slowly started dimming, and right then I totally knew what was happening and I was praying to God that I could make it home before the battery would die... yet again. Luckily as this was happening I happen to be driving around the same speed as a close friend and her mom. We both stopped at the intersection parallel to each other (the one right before my house..oh SO CLOSE right.. but not close enough) and right then when I stopped and braked before the red light, all the lights died and I knew I was screwed. The lights turned green, my car wouldn't go, I got honked of course, I turned on the emergency signal, it came on, then went off, then came on with some squeaky noises, I call my dad and tell him what happened (and since this happened before, he thought it was the same problem as last time so I did what he told me to), I turned the car off, turned it back on, emergency lights were gone, this creepy noise from the engine started coming on.. eek ek ek ek ek.. my dad tells me he's on his way, and even though from my position to my house was a 10min walk ish... I was wondering how in the world my dad was going to reach me because he didn't have a car (my mom had gone to work with her van already)... so I just kept praying to God and hoping a miracle would happen and hoping I wouldn't die ( I know I'm exaggerating but in that moment it really felt like the end of the world).
As I was waiting (and since all the lights and the emergency lights were out) I decided I should get out of the car and signal to cars to switch lanes instead of them constantly honking themselves and realizing my car is dead plus I wanted to get out because the car was making all these weird noises and everything was dead in the car and I really felt like it may have exploded. Initially when I tried to unlock the doors it wouldn't work and I thought... crap maybe because the battery died nothing is working, I'm gonna die, would I have to kick the windows if, If, IF something worst happened? but I tried again (and maybe I was just overwhelmed by everything the first time) and this time it worked, and I stood there in the freezing cold waiting how in the world my dad was to reach me as I signaled cars off. WHY did this have to happen on a day where the weather was so unpleasant and beeping cold?!!?
Finally my dad came, and I saw a car off to the side that had driven him here, and I assumed it was my neighbors' but it was my friend and her mom whom had driven and stopped at the intersection beside me. They noticed I wasn't following behind them and driven home to get my dad! It was God's grace, and I felt it despite all the things going through my head. I also felt the love of Canadians, two different African American drivers and had stopped to offer to boost our car and the one whom tried boosting, our car didn't budge at all. We had to call in a family friend (whom probably been called by the Phos' constantly in these past three months) and he brought another battery... but it seemed like it wasn't really working, but at least it got the car home where we found out some other internal organ in the car was dead and yadda yadda car talk.
So what is my point over this big rant from the last night? I don't know really, but first I'm sick of car problems, secondly I really felt God answer my prayers in a moment I thought the car may explode, and lastly, I pray to God and hope that in all his power, that this may be the last car incident. Sigh* if only.
On a happier note, I got a job! Thank God for that =))
NOPE.
Not until last night was I driving home from church that I noticed the brake light didn't turn off and the battery light came on, and then the radio I was listening TURNED OFF ( this is sounding like a movie scenario, I know, it gets worst!!) then the lights in the car slowly started dimming, and right then I totally knew what was happening and I was praying to God that I could make it home before the battery would die... yet again. Luckily as this was happening I happen to be driving around the same speed as a close friend and her mom. We both stopped at the intersection parallel to each other (the one right before my house..oh SO CLOSE right.. but not close enough) and right then when I stopped and braked before the red light, all the lights died and I knew I was screwed. The lights turned green, my car wouldn't go, I got honked of course, I turned on the emergency signal, it came on, then went off, then came on with some squeaky noises, I call my dad and tell him what happened (and since this happened before, he thought it was the same problem as last time so I did what he told me to), I turned the car off, turned it back on, emergency lights were gone, this creepy noise from the engine started coming on.. eek ek ek ek ek.. my dad tells me he's on his way, and even though from my position to my house was a 10min walk ish... I was wondering how in the world my dad was going to reach me because he didn't have a car (my mom had gone to work with her van already)... so I just kept praying to God and hoping a miracle would happen and hoping I wouldn't die ( I know I'm exaggerating but in that moment it really felt like the end of the world).
As I was waiting (and since all the lights and the emergency lights were out) I decided I should get out of the car and signal to cars to switch lanes instead of them constantly honking themselves and realizing my car is dead plus I wanted to get out because the car was making all these weird noises and everything was dead in the car and I really felt like it may have exploded. Initially when I tried to unlock the doors it wouldn't work and I thought... crap maybe because the battery died nothing is working, I'm gonna die, would I have to kick the windows if, If, IF something worst happened? but I tried again (and maybe I was just overwhelmed by everything the first time) and this time it worked, and I stood there in the freezing cold waiting how in the world my dad was to reach me as I signaled cars off. WHY did this have to happen on a day where the weather was so unpleasant and beeping cold?!!?
Finally my dad came, and I saw a car off to the side that had driven him here, and I assumed it was my neighbors' but it was my friend and her mom whom had driven and stopped at the intersection beside me. They noticed I wasn't following behind them and driven home to get my dad! It was God's grace, and I felt it despite all the things going through my head. I also felt the love of Canadians, two different African American drivers and had stopped to offer to boost our car and the one whom tried boosting, our car didn't budge at all. We had to call in a family friend (whom probably been called by the Phos' constantly in these past three months) and he brought another battery... but it seemed like it wasn't really working, but at least it got the car home where we found out some other internal organ in the car was dead and yadda yadda car talk.
So what is my point over this big rant from the last night? I don't know really, but first I'm sick of car problems, secondly I really felt God answer my prayers in a moment I thought the car may explode, and lastly, I pray to God and hope that in all his power, that this may be the last car incident. Sigh* if only.
On a happier note, I got a job! Thank God for that =))
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