Yearly Archives: 2010

Why Taiwan?

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When I tell my co-workers and friends that I’m going to Taiwan for vacation. A lot of them reply with, “Again? Didn’t you JUST go?” I find Taiwan extremely relaxing. I can hang out with my family and one Taiwanese friend. It’s somewhat comforting to be the majority instead of a minority. Although, almost everyone knows just by seeing me that I’m not really “Taiwanese” and that I’m a foreigner. I guess my American accented Mandarin/Taiwanese gives myself away as well as my big stature (I’m HUGE in Taiwanese terms). The past two visits to Taiwan hasn’t been purely for pleasure (carb bingeing), but to see my grandparents. They seem to be aging so much more quickly. In fact, when I saw my grandpa this year, I was shocked to see that he was bedridden and unable to walk independently. It broke my heart to remember how he used to have at least one daily walk a day. I guess this is what happens when you’re 90+ years old. It makes me happy that he can recognize me and smile even for a brief moment. Meanwhile, my grandma is going strong still. She is always thinking and ready to talk. She has an extremely good memory and knows all the foods I like or dislike. It’s pretty amazing.

Besides seeing my family, I introduced my boyfriend to Taiwan. Hopefully, I did not scare him off! I definitely understand if our next vacation is NOT in an Asian country. ) He will get to pick our next vacation spot. I do hope he enjoyed all the temples we visited. Who knew Taiwan/Taipei had so many temples? Also, he finally got to experience the Taiwanese buffet. It is just SO MUCH BETTER! Yum. I definitely will miss all the delightful food. There’s always a bubble tea shop within a few steps away. It’s just so convenient. I’ll live it up for my last few days. I will be sure to have a mango icy for the boy!

Summer’s over

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It’s the first full week of September and it already feels like Fall. It’s kind of depressing to think that just a week ago I was wearing sleeveless tops and skirts without a jacket. Today I’m wearing a half length sleeved top along with a jacket! I want my summer back. Before I know it it’ll be winter yet again and I’ll be back to my boring winter clothes where everything is gray, black or brown.

I do have something to look forward to in the midst of all this sadness. My boyfriend will be arriving in NYC in less than a week. We will go to ALL his favorite places to celebrate his birthday! There will be sushi, pizza, cupcakes, shabu shabu, falafel, etc. Of course we will watch at least one movie, specifically “The Town” starring Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm (from “Mad Men”) and Jeremy Renner (from “The Hurt Locker”). I’m really excited to see it! Ben has been picking much better movies to direct or act in. Also, in less than a month, we’ll be traveling to Taiwan together for the first time. I’ll be going on a diet before my trip so I can eat all my favorite foods without feeling too guilty. Plus, maybe this will prevent my family friends from commenting on how “fat” I am. I’ve learned to accept that I’m considered obese in Taipei. I do love coming back to America (Land of the Fatties) after a trip to Asia. I feel tiny next to these mammoth Americans. ) I guess it helps with my self-confidence after being told I’m a XL or even XXL in Taiwan. -)

End of Summer 2010

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Wow, I can’t believe it’ll be September in a week. I didn’t take vacation this summer, yet it flew by. I’ve been a bit busy with trying to figure out what I’m doing with my life. It seems that the majority of my close college friends have left NYC and I feel like I’m the only one left. I do still have some friends that I made while living in NYC, but it’s not the same. I have known my college friends for ten years and we shared so many good memories together. It’s so weird to think about our experiences together and realize that they happened almost ten years ago. I enjoyed my college experience at Carnegie Mellon; I have no regrets. I just wish I had used my time more wisely. I can’t believe that I’ve been in the real world for almost six years. Life feels like a blur after looking back at what I have accomplished. I feel that my career has been stagnant. It seems that everyone’s life/career is moving forward except for me. I hope that in the next year, things will be different for me. I’m going to work hard in changing my life the way I want it to be. I don’t want to sound “emo”, but this totally reminds me of Keane’s song, “Everybody’s Changing“.

You say you wander your own land
But when I think about it
I don’t see how you can
You’re aching, you’re breaking
And I can see the pain in your eyes
Says everybody’s changing
And I don’t know why

So little time
Try to understand that I’m
Trying to make a move to stay in the game
I try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody’s changing
And I don’t feel the same

You’re gone from here
And soon you will disappear
Cause everybody’s changing
And I don’t feel right

So little time
Try to understand that I’m
Trying to make a move to stay in the game
I try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody’s changing
And I don’t feel the same

So little time
Try to understand that I’m
Trying to make a move to stay in the game
I try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody’s changing
And I don’t feel the same