I felt like it was Chinese New Year in July!
My very caring close friend, sent me a list of travel medicine and packing tips for my trip. One of my big brothers in the lab gave me money for my trip. Another big brother taught me useful French phrases. Another good friend of mine, also gave me money for my trip. A very sweat friend of mine, lent me her waist wallet for my trip. My very cute friend, lent me her alarm and reminded me to contact my cell phone carrier to active international roaming. My dear advisor gave me contacts of one of her colleagues in Paris.
I felt like it was Chinese New Year and I was getting lucky money and cares from brothers and sisters.^_^.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
The Columbia River Gorge
I went to the Columbia River Gorge with two of my friends on the hottest weekend this summer. The temperture reached more than 100 F.
Third Hike of the Summer 2006--Mt. Dickerman
I like Mt. Dickerman so much that I came back this year again. Mt. Dickerman is considered as a strenuous hike with 3,900 feet elevation gained for 8.0 miles round trip. At the summit, you'll be rewarded with wonderful 360 degree views of the surroundings such as Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak, Big 4 Mountain, Forgotten, Twin Peaks, Devil's Peak, Devil's Thumb, Vesper Peak, and Sperry Peak.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Travel Tips from My Friends
As I am very excited about my trip, I have told that to many of my friends. A lot of my friends gave me travel tips. Here are some of them.
As I plan to stay in youth hostels, one friend suggested me to watch the movie "Hostel" before the trip.
As I want to go to Italy, one friend told me to watch out the con-men there: never help people carrying babies.
When I told them I have learned a phrase in French: "Je t'aime." They concluded that I would find a husband, carry a baby, and lose my wallet at the end of the three weeks......
As I plan to stay in youth hostels, one friend suggested me to watch the movie "Hostel" before the trip.
As I want to go to Italy, one friend told me to watch out the con-men there: never help people carrying babies.
When I told them I have learned a phrase in French: "Je t'aime." They concluded that I would find a husband, carry a baby, and lose my wallet at the end of the three weeks......
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Parenting
This year, quite a few of my friends will (already) have babies. Hence, some conversions involved parenting, and parents' expectations.
From my kindergarten to my high school, my parents "pushed" me to study hard, to get good grades...... Well, they might have pushed me, however, somehow their expectations also became my own expectations. I did study hard to get good grades. However, I don't remember other things my parents "pushed" me to do. They just let me do what I like, even supported me financially. For a few years, I was very into stamps. I collected all kinds of stamps by buying new and old ones. It was an expensive habit. Once, I bought a set of stamps which was worth more than half month of my father's salary.
Since I got into college, I hadn't felt my parents "push" any more. They didn't tell me what I should major in. They didn't ask mush about my study or grades. They even didn't ask me to go to the graduate school. I'm very grateful.
From my kindergarten to my high school, my parents "pushed" me to study hard, to get good grades...... Well, they might have pushed me, however, somehow their expectations also became my own expectations. I did study hard to get good grades. However, I don't remember other things my parents "pushed" me to do. They just let me do what I like, even supported me financially. For a few years, I was very into stamps. I collected all kinds of stamps by buying new and old ones. It was an expensive habit. Once, I bought a set of stamps which was worth more than half month of my father's salary.
Since I got into college, I hadn't felt my parents "push" any more. They didn't tell me what I should major in. They didn't ask mush about my study or grades. They even didn't ask me to go to the graduate school. I'm very grateful.
Travel
The world is too big to stay just at one place.
I love traveling. One of my dreams is to travel around the world. When I was an undergraduate student, I was thinking about getting a job that could travel a lot, such as a tour guide. However, after only being a part time tour guide for a short period of time, I realized I didn't like the job that much. I had to take care of people in my tour group. And, I couldn't enjoy the trips as much. Because the trips in general were quite short, I couldn't get to know the local people and their cultures either.
In my junior year in college, studying abroad sounded very appealing to me. At that time, many of my classmates started preparing for graduate school. In China, to get into the graduate school, applicants have to take part in a national qualify exam. One of the required subjects of the qualify exam is the Politics of Chinese Communist Party. Even since I was in the middle school, I have known that I couldn't excel in the subject. In addition, it's very competitive, as each year there are much more applicants than admitted students. After finishing the comprehensive self-evaluation, I came to the conclusion that I couldn't get into the graduate schools in China. Studying abroad didn't require to take the exam on the Politics of Chinese Communist Party. I could not only travel, but also live in the foreign countries, which could be one step closer to my dream.
When I told my parents that I wanted to study abroad, there was a short silent. Then my mother first said: better make sure I was not day dreaming. I didn't remember what I said to them. I don't think I mentioned any about travel, or any ambition. I only heard my father say "Sounds good!" with some kind of excitement.
Until now, I have only traveled to a few places, and lived in two countries. I'm still working towards my dream.
I can't wait for my first trip to Europe in less than 2 weeks.
I love traveling. One of my dreams is to travel around the world. When I was an undergraduate student, I was thinking about getting a job that could travel a lot, such as a tour guide. However, after only being a part time tour guide for a short period of time, I realized I didn't like the job that much. I had to take care of people in my tour group. And, I couldn't enjoy the trips as much. Because the trips in general were quite short, I couldn't get to know the local people and their cultures either.
In my junior year in college, studying abroad sounded very appealing to me. At that time, many of my classmates started preparing for graduate school. In China, to get into the graduate school, applicants have to take part in a national qualify exam. One of the required subjects of the qualify exam is the Politics of Chinese Communist Party. Even since I was in the middle school, I have known that I couldn't excel in the subject. In addition, it's very competitive, as each year there are much more applicants than admitted students. After finishing the comprehensive self-evaluation, I came to the conclusion that I couldn't get into the graduate schools in China. Studying abroad didn't require to take the exam on the Politics of Chinese Communist Party. I could not only travel, but also live in the foreign countries, which could be one step closer to my dream.
When I told my parents that I wanted to study abroad, there was a short silent. Then my mother first said: better make sure I was not day dreaming. I didn't remember what I said to them. I don't think I mentioned any about travel, or any ambition. I only heard my father say "Sounds good!" with some kind of excitement.
Until now, I have only traveled to a few places, and lived in two countries. I'm still working towards my dream.
I can't wait for my first trip to Europe in less than 2 weeks.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Shooting Advertising
A crew of people is shooting "money tree" advertising outside of my department building. The whole block has been blocked from traffic since this morning. I can see them just from my window. However, I can’t tell what exactly they’re doing.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Shocking News
How many things can happen in 5 years? I don't have much to say about myself. However, there are quite a lot for my friends and people I know.
A friend of mine got married couple years ago and she's expecting a baby in September.
The TA I had a crush on 4 years ago is going to get married. Sadly, I'm not the bride.
A friend of mine got married couple years ago and she's expecting a baby in September.
The TA I had a crush on 4 years ago is going to get married. Sadly, I'm not the bride.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Grown Men Cry
People said soccer is a sport that can make grown men cry.
I went to an Italian restaurant at Fremont to watch the World Cup final with some friends yesterday. The game was very exciting, from headbutting to penalty shootouts. The Italians were celebrating after the game. The French were........
I went to an Italian restaurant at Fremont to watch the World Cup final with some friends yesterday. The game was very exciting, from headbutting to penalty shootouts. The Italians were celebrating after the game. The French were........
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Mars and Venus
Men are from Mars, and women are from Venus. To understand how people from Mars and Venus think, I read "Self-Made Man" by Norah Vincent.
It's quite interesting that the book concluded
Women wanted men to be in control, baroguely big and strong both in spirit and in body, but also tender and vulnerable at the same time, subservient to their whims and bunny soft. Women want someone to lean on and hold on to, to look up to and collapse beside, but someone who knew his reduced place in the postfeminist world nonetheless.
It's quite interesting that the book concluded
Women wanted men to be in control, baroguely big and strong both in spirit and in body, but also tender and vulnerable at the same time, subservient to their whims and bunny soft. Women want someone to lean on and hold on to, to look up to and collapse beside, but someone who knew his reduced place in the postfeminist world nonetheless.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Something about Travel
"there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." -Mark Twain
I can't agree more.
I can't agree more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
