A pre-band camp reflection:
I just got home from this year's Rookie Camp where we teach all of the 16 new freshmen how to march and play. I didn't go to Rookie Camp last summer because I was in China, so I am really glad that I am here for it this year.
We have really good freshmen this year -- not saying that any of the previous ones were bad, but just saying that this year's freshmen are really awesome. Definitely better than my freshman year. Their positive attitudes, willingness to stand at attention without moving, and open ears to constructive criticism makes up a lot for the lack of numbers. It's okay that we have 16 marchers, as long as they are strong and willing to work hard and have fun. That's really what our band should be about this year: building a constructive environment so that everyone in the program will want to work hard but are also relaxed enough to have fun.
Watching the freshmen march brings back pre-high school memories when I was really scared to talk to people and nervous at camp. Even last year it was really difficult for me to connect with people in the band. But at Rookie Camp these days, I've felt this ease that has never been around last year. I've changed so much in the past 4 years -- a mere 4 years and a person can become so different! Isn't that weird? Not saying I am completely outgoing now or anything, but at least now I am not afraid to go up to people I don't know in band and start talking to them. And compared to last year as a first year drum major, I definitely feel more comfortable getting in front of our band and fixing things that are wrong. I hope this isn't just a three day thing that goes away at band camp. I'm still a little nervous about going to camp again and seeing if I can be a better drum major this year and change some of the things from last year, but I was nervous about Rookie Camp and it's turned out great. So I say, keep up a positive attitidue and go for it.
The officers are doing pretty well too. Of course we aren't perfect and have issues we need to work out, but overall everyone is willing to help. Nobody is officious or overbearing. We all help the freshmen in stride but don't overwhelm them. I hope they aren't intimidated! I think we are going to be more responsible too this year as an officer group, but that's probably because I have this mindset that we are going to be, so I'm not sure if that really is the case. But from the first two days, it seems like to be the case. So... considering the officers can't spell and welcomed the freshmen with "Wecome to Parkview Band!" posters, I think we are doing pretty well. (Insert "d'oh!" here.)
--Emily
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Volunteen's Last Day
So I discovered a new band last night: The Last Goodnight. They sound somewhat like a cross between Maroon 5 and Relient K. Check them out! Unless your name is Han.
My mom dropped me off at Egleston's this morning. I made a comment in the car about how you feel really lonely going places in America but not in China. I said this was because everyone here drives cars, so there aren't that many people walking around and biking as opposed to in China where almost everyone walks and bikes. My mom disagreed and said that it was more likely because people in China are all Chinese so they have a close cultural tie that makes them feel less lonely on the streets. She didn't think it had anything to do with how we got around from place to place. A bit of a stretch, I think. But what is interesting is how you can see this gap between what I think and what she thinks. She's more worried about who we are and I'm thinking about why people are literally isolated. I guess this reflects in how we feel about being in America too. Can you say Cultural Gap or what?
Today was my last day of volunteering since I have band camp next Tuesday during Volunteen. I read to a few kids today with my partner. That was probably my favorite part about the whole program. I read a book about Tiger Woods to a little boy who was recovering very well from a serious disease. It's so sad to know that these children who are less than half of our age have gone through trials that are harder than anything we've ever been exposed to. I mean, think about all the teenagers (including definitely me) who worry about college applications, finding jobs, and practicing instruments. We complain like mad about all of this when we should take this as a privilege - to be able to be healthy enough to go after our dreams and achieve our goals. Wouldn't our worlds fall apart if we all of the sudden got some sort of disease that will take away a few years of our lives? So no matter how tough life becomes this upcoming semester, we should all suck it up and take on the challenge and chase our dreams because there are those out there who don't have that immediate opportunity. Not saying that everyone at Egleston's is deathly ill. In fact, most of them are doing pretty well. I'm just saying we can all afford to be a little more gracious for what we have no matter what the obstacles are.
Volunteering was also really sad because it was the last day I could see my childhood friend Amulya every week. It is ridiculous how small the world is. I remember meeting her in 3rd grade, the year I moved away. The last time I saw her was at the playground when she was wearing a blue top and playing with a hula-hoop. I remember waving goodbye to her feeling a little sad knowing that I would probably never see her again, but here, 8 years later we somehow meet up at a children's hospital partnered up for volunteer work. Talking to her just makes me feel like I've put one of my childhood memories on pause only to review it again a few years later. It's as if everything about that past life for me has stopped. Looking back, I really do miss those old elementary school days when cliques didn't exist, everyone was friends, and playground drama stayed on the playground. It's funny to think that I created the Beanie Babies Club in 3rd grade and was President of it until I left. I think we had 5 members, haha! :D But that was fun. We just drew Beanie Babies and talked about them. Pretty simple considering we were all about 9 years old.
Self-centered as this is, I never thought how life goes on for the rest of the people when you move. Obviously this is the case. But do you ever stop to think about those things when you are 10? Well, I didn't. For me, the life of Briar Vista stopped 8 years ago, but it didn't for my friend. (Am I just rambling now? Possibly.) Catching up with Amulya and talking to her about 3rd grade and what happened afterwards to the school and the people was pretty intriguing. I must say many of the outcomes of my old peers and best friends have been surprising, but I guess people really do change a whole lot after they go into secondary education. Funny thing is, Amulya hasn't changed that much. She's still the nice, fun girl I knew in 3rd grade, and she said that I haven't changed that much either. We still get along really well. I guess by this whole changing I mean we haven't picked up drugs and become gangsters or anything. Haha, just kidding! I am really going to miss volunteering with her, and I am really happy fate put somehow put us in the same group and activity for this program.
On the schedule conflicts I was having: I talked to my band director and he was really sweet about me missing almost every bajillion thing (at least that's what I feel like I am missing) this week and next weekend. And on the other side, they were nice about letting me go late. I know most of you (whoever reads this, god knows... well, except Han and Timmy. Haha, I think I just tied up that competition score if you two are still going at it.) probably have no idea what I am talking about, but that's okay. I just want to say that everything is peachy and that it's all good. Except that I probably need to quit work soon since school is coming. Heh. :D
This week is going to be another crazy one, and I think they will continue to be so until school starts when they will get even crazier. Rookie Camp starts tomorrow, so I will be meeting the newest addition to the Parkview Panther Marching Band! I can't wait, I am so excited! I've already met 3 wonderful freshman, and I can't wait to meet the rest of the small but awesome 19 people! Yay.
--Emily
My mom dropped me off at Egleston's this morning. I made a comment in the car about how you feel really lonely going places in America but not in China. I said this was because everyone here drives cars, so there aren't that many people walking around and biking as opposed to in China where almost everyone walks and bikes. My mom disagreed and said that it was more likely because people in China are all Chinese so they have a close cultural tie that makes them feel less lonely on the streets. She didn't think it had anything to do with how we got around from place to place. A bit of a stretch, I think. But what is interesting is how you can see this gap between what I think and what she thinks. She's more worried about who we are and I'm thinking about why people are literally isolated. I guess this reflects in how we feel about being in America too. Can you say Cultural Gap or what?
Today was my last day of volunteering since I have band camp next Tuesday during Volunteen. I read to a few kids today with my partner. That was probably my favorite part about the whole program. I read a book about Tiger Woods to a little boy who was recovering very well from a serious disease. It's so sad to know that these children who are less than half of our age have gone through trials that are harder than anything we've ever been exposed to. I mean, think about all the teenagers (including definitely me) who worry about college applications, finding jobs, and practicing instruments. We complain like mad about all of this when we should take this as a privilege - to be able to be healthy enough to go after our dreams and achieve our goals. Wouldn't our worlds fall apart if we all of the sudden got some sort of disease that will take away a few years of our lives? So no matter how tough life becomes this upcoming semester, we should all suck it up and take on the challenge and chase our dreams because there are those out there who don't have that immediate opportunity. Not saying that everyone at Egleston's is deathly ill. In fact, most of them are doing pretty well. I'm just saying we can all afford to be a little more gracious for what we have no matter what the obstacles are.
Volunteering was also really sad because it was the last day I could see my childhood friend Amulya every week. It is ridiculous how small the world is. I remember meeting her in 3rd grade, the year I moved away. The last time I saw her was at the playground when she was wearing a blue top and playing with a hula-hoop. I remember waving goodbye to her feeling a little sad knowing that I would probably never see her again, but here, 8 years later we somehow meet up at a children's hospital partnered up for volunteer work. Talking to her just makes me feel like I've put one of my childhood memories on pause only to review it again a few years later. It's as if everything about that past life for me has stopped. Looking back, I really do miss those old elementary school days when cliques didn't exist, everyone was friends, and playground drama stayed on the playground. It's funny to think that I created the Beanie Babies Club in 3rd grade and was President of it until I left. I think we had 5 members, haha! :D But that was fun. We just drew Beanie Babies and talked about them. Pretty simple considering we were all about 9 years old.
Self-centered as this is, I never thought how life goes on for the rest of the people when you move. Obviously this is the case. But do you ever stop to think about those things when you are 10? Well, I didn't. For me, the life of Briar Vista stopped 8 years ago, but it didn't for my friend. (Am I just rambling now? Possibly.) Catching up with Amulya and talking to her about 3rd grade and what happened afterwards to the school and the people was pretty intriguing. I must say many of the outcomes of my old peers and best friends have been surprising, but I guess people really do change a whole lot after they go into secondary education. Funny thing is, Amulya hasn't changed that much. She's still the nice, fun girl I knew in 3rd grade, and she said that I haven't changed that much either. We still get along really well. I guess by this whole changing I mean we haven't picked up drugs and become gangsters or anything. Haha, just kidding! I am really going to miss volunteering with her, and I am really happy fate put somehow put us in the same group and activity for this program.
On the schedule conflicts I was having: I talked to my band director and he was really sweet about me missing almost every bajillion thing (at least that's what I feel like I am missing) this week and next weekend. And on the other side, they were nice about letting me go late. I know most of you (whoever reads this, god knows... well, except Han and Timmy. Haha, I think I just tied up that competition score if you two are still going at it.) probably have no idea what I am talking about, but that's okay. I just want to say that everything is peachy and that it's all good. Except that I probably need to quit work soon since school is coming. Heh. :D
This week is going to be another crazy one, and I think they will continue to be so until school starts when they will get even crazier. Rookie Camp starts tomorrow, so I will be meeting the newest addition to the Parkview Panther Marching Band! I can't wait, I am so excited! I've already met 3 wonderful freshman, and I can't wait to meet the rest of the small but awesome 19 people! Yay.
--Emily
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Home Sweet Home
Finally! After a 10 hour drive from St. Louis to Atlanta, I am home. And how good it feels to be back!
For our awesome 2008 summer vacation, we went to Nashville, TN and St. Louis, MO to visit the cities and see Vanderbilt and Washington University in St. Louis because my parents are too Asian like that -- can't go on a regular vacation without making it related to my future somehow. Haha, just kidding! I am really interested in those two schools anyway or at least the latter of the two.
My future college? Maybe so.
Write more later. Too tired to think.
But I'm lovin' being back at home again. :D
For our awesome 2008 summer vacation, we went to Nashville, TN and St. Louis, MO to visit the cities and see Vanderbilt and Washington University in St. Louis because my parents are too Asian like that -- can't go on a regular vacation without making it related to my future somehow. Haha, just kidding! I am really interested in those two schools anyway or at least the latter of the two.
My future college? Maybe so.
Write more later. Too tired to think.
But I'm lovin' being back at home again. :D
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Thoughts...
I'm feeling more than just a little ADD, and I can't straighten my brain out enough to do government, so I will write a few things to focus my mind and then start goving.
I volunteered before work today, so my dearest mother had to take off at 3 and drive me all the way from CDC/Emory to Gwinnett Place Mall, go home, and pick me back up at 9:30. To tell you the truth, I've never appreciated my parents so much. Ever since I was little, I always took it for granted that they would always be there for me -- emotionally, financially, mentally, whatever ways possible there existed to support someone. I remember my dad used to call my cell phone when I was in middle school just to ask if I had something to eat nearby or if I had taken an extra jacket in case it was cold. And how my mom always backseat drives whenever I'm at the wheel. It's hard to believe that these little things like driving me to work and calling me to check up on me used to (even just last week) annoy me more than anything. But now, I finally realize that I will miss all of the nagging and poking when I go off to college, no matter how far away or near I will be to home. Isn't it ironic how the more independent we become the more we appreciate our family? It's as if most of the time we are under the care of our parents we never really understand or take it for what it is until it is almost gone? I think I've learned that this last year, senior year, is not only going to be one where I must cherish those moments with my friends but also one where I must try harder than ever to give back to my parents and learn not to snap at them when they do something so full of love like backseat driving.
A cute little story about tonight:
I was driving home from work with my mom next to me (again, backseat driving). She was telling me how I jerk to a stop most of the times and that I really should be careful or my passengers would all get sick and die... well, maybe not that dramatic. I wasn't really annoyed at her this time because I started thinking about all that I wrote in the previous paragraph, so I just nodded and told her I wouldn't do it next time expecting her to stop her comments there. But she didn't. She went on to compare my stops to music. She said that when I brake the car I need to put my foot down gently and release a little before we actually stop. She said it was like in a piece of music when the symphony orchestra plays the last, morendo-ing (okay, so I'm ad-libbing vocabulary) note of a tune -- how it just fades away as oppose to chops off. Tapered. I just.. was pretty surprised as I was driving... and really touched at the same time that she would go to those limits to point something out to me. Thank you mom. I truly love you.
Well enough of my sappy thoughts. It's time for government.
--Emily
P.S. I will be going to WashU and Vanderbilt tomorrow afternoon, so if I do not post for 5 days, then you (whoever actually reads) will know why. And just for you Timmy, I don't and won't have music on this for a while. =P
I volunteered before work today, so my dearest mother had to take off at 3 and drive me all the way from CDC/Emory to Gwinnett Place Mall, go home, and pick me back up at 9:30. To tell you the truth, I've never appreciated my parents so much. Ever since I was little, I always took it for granted that they would always be there for me -- emotionally, financially, mentally, whatever ways possible there existed to support someone. I remember my dad used to call my cell phone when I was in middle school just to ask if I had something to eat nearby or if I had taken an extra jacket in case it was cold. And how my mom always backseat drives whenever I'm at the wheel. It's hard to believe that these little things like driving me to work and calling me to check up on me used to (even just last week) annoy me more than anything. But now, I finally realize that I will miss all of the nagging and poking when I go off to college, no matter how far away or near I will be to home. Isn't it ironic how the more independent we become the more we appreciate our family? It's as if most of the time we are under the care of our parents we never really understand or take it for what it is until it is almost gone? I think I've learned that this last year, senior year, is not only going to be one where I must cherish those moments with my friends but also one where I must try harder than ever to give back to my parents and learn not to snap at them when they do something so full of love like backseat driving.
A cute little story about tonight:
I was driving home from work with my mom next to me (again, backseat driving). She was telling me how I jerk to a stop most of the times and that I really should be careful or my passengers would all get sick and die... well, maybe not that dramatic. I wasn't really annoyed at her this time because I started thinking about all that I wrote in the previous paragraph, so I just nodded and told her I wouldn't do it next time expecting her to stop her comments there. But she didn't. She went on to compare my stops to music. She said that when I brake the car I need to put my foot down gently and release a little before we actually stop. She said it was like in a piece of music when the symphony orchestra plays the last, morendo-ing (okay, so I'm ad-libbing vocabulary) note of a tune -- how it just fades away as oppose to chops off. Tapered. I just.. was pretty surprised as I was driving... and really touched at the same time that she would go to those limits to point something out to me. Thank you mom. I truly love you.
Well enough of my sappy thoughts. It's time for government.
--Emily
P.S. I will be going to WashU and Vanderbilt tomorrow afternoon, so if I do not post for 5 days, then you (whoever actually reads) will know why. And just for you Timmy, I don't and won't have music on this for a while. =P
Monday, July 14, 2008
Feeling Better
I just realized that I haven't been bored in a while as a result of my getting a job. This summer has been the most event-filled summer I have ever experienced, and I'm definitely loving it. It has its ups and downs, though.
Ups:
1. I am never bored.
2. I'm getting paid! -- even though this is minimum wage, I'm still pretty excited! :-P
3. Everyday is pretty much productive.
Downs:
1. I feel tired and stressed a lot, mostly as a direct result of not being able to work on government at a normal time and having to work on it in the wee hours of the night like school has already started or something. But then again, I still manage to update this blog. Go figure.
2. Clarinet practicing is not very regular since work schedules sometimes come right after volunteer/camp schedules.
3. Not much time to hang out with friends. But I do manage to get around this by cutting back from my gov homework time (hee hee..) which actually ends this Friday, so I really got to get on studying for the finals.
Gosh. Notice how verbose the downs are compared to the ups. I swear the glass is half full.
~*~
But, speaking of hanging out with friends, I actually cut back 4 hours or so from gov studying/quizzing to hang with Hope and Timmy today (heh heh, for shame). It was really awesome, and I definitely appreciate them coming over! It cured me of my miserable feelings on Sunday. Here are my favorite pictures from the day:
Ehh.. so the picture uploader isn't working for me tonight. I'll put up the captions and fill the pictures later. =P
The Fried Rice: looks good, huh? Basic eggs, carrots, peas.. and of course, rice.
And here's the best candid shot ever, even though they were posing: Hope eating perfectly while Timmy sticks out his tounge. Priceless! :D
Oh, and Timmy you are quite awesome. (Direct response to talking to you on G-Talk.)
~*~
Ahh, well I hope everyone has a nice day. Don't worry too much about AP scores and what not. It will be alright in the end. =)
I'll be volunteering at Egleston's tomorrow and then heading off to work again, so it's going to be another one of those days. I'll write about the stuff I mentioned in my previous post 'to write or not to write' or whatever.
I can't believe it's almost 1! I gotta get to sleep! Goodnight.
--Emily
Ups:
1. I am never bored.
2. I'm getting paid! -- even though this is minimum wage, I'm still pretty excited! :-P
3. Everyday is pretty much productive.
Downs:
1. I feel tired and stressed a lot, mostly as a direct result of not being able to work on government at a normal time and having to work on it in the wee hours of the night like school has already started or something. But then again, I still manage to update this blog. Go figure.
2. Clarinet practicing is not very regular since work schedules sometimes come right after volunteer/camp schedules.
3. Not much time to hang out with friends. But I do manage to get around this by cutting back from my gov homework time (hee hee..) which actually ends this Friday, so I really got to get on studying for the finals.
Gosh. Notice how verbose the downs are compared to the ups. I swear the glass is half full.
~*~
But, speaking of hanging out with friends, I actually cut back 4 hours or so from gov studying/quizzing to hang with Hope and Timmy today (heh heh, for shame). It was really awesome, and I definitely appreciate them coming over! It cured me of my miserable feelings on Sunday. Here are my favorite pictures from the day:
Ehh.. so the picture uploader isn't working for me tonight. I'll put up the captions and fill the pictures later. =P
The Fried Rice: looks good, huh? Basic eggs, carrots, peas.. and of course, rice.
And here's the best candid shot ever, even though they were posing: Hope eating perfectly while Timmy sticks out his tounge. Priceless! :D
Oh, and Timmy you are quite awesome. (Direct response to talking to you on G-Talk.)
~*~
Ahh, well I hope everyone has a nice day. Don't worry too much about AP scores and what not. It will be alright in the end. =)
I'll be volunteering at Egleston's tomorrow and then heading off to work again, so it's going to be another one of those days. I'll write about the stuff I mentioned in my previous post 'to write or not to write' or whatever.
I can't believe it's almost 1! I gotta get to sleep! Goodnight.
--Emily
Sunday, July 13, 2008
To write... or not to write?
This week, probably the most hectic week of my summer so far, apart from drum major camp, is finally over.... Which a) means that we only have 4 or so weeks until school starts and b) I don't have an excuse not to do my homework anymore. On a happier note, I have more time to play clarinet, veg, and sleep. Awesome. =)
There's been a few incidents that have bothered me these past few days, but I don't know if I want to write about them. I mean, do we honestly want to remind ourselves of the things that troubled us in life? Maybe. It would make us stronger and possibly teach us something. But, what if I just want to remember things in a bubble of happiness? What if I don't feel like recalling the not so great moments that have happened? I'm not sure.
Today, on the other hand, has been pretty uneventful. Compared to my productive Saturday, today has been a totaly failure. Yesterday, I woke up at 8am, worked on Calculus, finished some Gov homework, took a shower, ate lunch, went to work, came home, practiced clarinet, ate dinner, went to a pool party, and came home at 9:30. Today... I woke up at 10:30 and have been on the computer doing nothing ever since.
Ah... maybe I'll write more later.
--Emily
There's been a few incidents that have bothered me these past few days, but I don't know if I want to write about them. I mean, do we honestly want to remind ourselves of the things that troubled us in life? Maybe. It would make us stronger and possibly teach us something. But, what if I just want to remember things in a bubble of happiness? What if I don't feel like recalling the not so great moments that have happened? I'm not sure.
Today, on the other hand, has been pretty uneventful. Compared to my productive Saturday, today has been a totaly failure. Yesterday, I woke up at 8am, worked on Calculus, finished some Gov homework, took a shower, ate lunch, went to work, came home, practiced clarinet, ate dinner, went to a pool party, and came home at 9:30. Today... I woke up at 10:30 and have been on the computer doing nothing ever since.
Ah... maybe I'll write more later.
--Emily
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
a much needed rant
So this week has been going pretty roughly...
I passed out at CDC (what the heck) on Tuesday and was sent to the docotor's office with my mom to see if everything was alright. Apparently, I just had some sort of emotional/temporary claustrophobic/tiredness or stress breakdown... so everything's okay. Work is going as usual -- still earning minimum wage and doing night shifts. I'm off the rest of this week starting tonight, so that should be good for the whole tired and stressed out situation. I've got to finish all of my gov including the end of the unit with the finals by next Tuesday if I am going to go to Wash U, and I really got to get that Chemistry/Calculus/Lit work done before band camp starts. Oh, and Deegan and I are going to go check out the color guard practice tomorrow night which should be pretty fun and a good break from all this craziness. Hopefully, I'll make it through all of this, and I'm really glad I have this blog to rant about these issues.
I had a crazy craving for Zaxby's chicken fingers (haha, I know right?) this afternoon, so my mom took me there and we had dinner. It was soooo good! But, then she started talking to me about how I should be regretting taking band because it prevented me from taking a full 4 years, which apparently is what Harvard or what not is looking for, of foreign language. Which.. wasn't as good as the chicken; I would rather just eat in silence than discuss how bad band is. But honestly, I've delt with my parents and their anti-band opinions for 6 years. It's always been quit band, quit band, quit band. And this constant nagging that band is evil and I'm wasting my time and I should be more Asian and quit so I can take another math class like Deep is just getting on my nerves. I really don't think that I should give up something that I love and that I'm passionate about for a class that really just doesn't teach me anything (French). I know most colleges would like to see 3 or more years of a language, but I already have Chinese. Plus, it's not like I dropped French -- it just didn't fit in my schedule. Anyways, I thought this rant would come out more fluently, but I just got so jumbled up in fits of anger that my parents activity try to bash who I am that I can't really dictate my reasoning and feelings about this coherently. At least not right now...
Hm, okay. I think I'm feeling a little better about this week and about government. I'm going to start posting other things on my blog like interesting news articles that I find as opposed to just my deranged feelings. Or maybe cool recipes.. tips.. anything. We can all learn something useful once in a while.
--Emily
I passed out at CDC (what the heck) on Tuesday and was sent to the docotor's office with my mom to see if everything was alright. Apparently, I just had some sort of emotional/temporary claustrophobic/tiredness or stress breakdown... so everything's okay. Work is going as usual -- still earning minimum wage and doing night shifts. I'm off the rest of this week starting tonight, so that should be good for the whole tired and stressed out situation. I've got to finish all of my gov including the end of the unit with the finals by next Tuesday if I am going to go to Wash U, and I really got to get that Chemistry/Calculus/Lit work done before band camp starts. Oh, and Deegan and I are going to go check out the color guard practice tomorrow night which should be pretty fun and a good break from all this craziness. Hopefully, I'll make it through all of this, and I'm really glad I have this blog to rant about these issues.
I had a crazy craving for Zaxby's chicken fingers (haha, I know right?) this afternoon, so my mom took me there and we had dinner. It was soooo good! But, then she started talking to me about how I should be regretting taking band because it prevented me from taking a full 4 years, which apparently is what Harvard or what not is looking for, of foreign language. Which.. wasn't as good as the chicken; I would rather just eat in silence than discuss how bad band is. But honestly, I've delt with my parents and their anti-band opinions for 6 years. It's always been quit band, quit band, quit band. And this constant nagging that band is evil and I'm wasting my time and I should be more Asian and quit so I can take another math class like Deep is just getting on my nerves. I really don't think that I should give up something that I love and that I'm passionate about for a class that really just doesn't teach me anything (French). I know most colleges would like to see 3 or more years of a language, but I already have Chinese. Plus, it's not like I dropped French -- it just didn't fit in my schedule. Anyways, I thought this rant would come out more fluently, but I just got so jumbled up in fits of anger that my parents activity try to bash who I am that I can't really dictate my reasoning and feelings about this coherently. At least not right now...
Hm, okay. I think I'm feeling a little better about this week and about government. I'm going to start posting other things on my blog like interesting news articles that I find as opposed to just my deranged feelings. Or maybe cool recipes.. tips.. anything. We can all learn something useful once in a while.
--Emily
Monday, July 7, 2008
busy, busy, busy
Hello everyone.
It's been a long day. I woke up at 7:30, went to CDC disease detectives camp from 9am-4pm and then to work from 5pm-9:30pm. Now, I am eating dinner and thinking about working on government homework after posting this blog (which... may or may not get done tonight =D heh).
Disease camp was pretty fun. I met a whole bunch of new people today, who, by the way, are pretty awesome. There was one guy who was named after the brand name clothing line Armani Exchange, which I thought was pretty cool. And Dominique and Jennifer from school were there. I've never talked to Jennifer before, although I knew who she was, but we finally talked today and she was like, "yeah i know you.... everyone knows you!" I said, "What?!" Then she said, "nothing! =D". Weird. Getting down to the reason for the camp, we learned about how to crack a health case and how to interview people who have been exposed to a disease (which we did.. 40 of them for our little activity). I really am starting to think about majoring in epidemiology or the likes of public health. It's like forensics, but only the science part of it without the yucky social studies. How perfect.
We also had to fill out these "name game cards" where we put three interesting facts about ourselves and one or two "never have I ever..."'s. So here it goes.
Three "Interesting" Facts about Emily:
1. I love cilantro. Cilantro leaves, cilantro sauce, cilantro dressing, cilantro whatever -- the list goes on.
2. I conduct our high school marching band. Simple enough.
3. Crap. I forgot this one.
Never have I ever....
learned to roller skate, had a pet, or liked white chocolate
Work was better today than it was the first day. I can run fitting rooms better. But I messed up and tagged some tops at the wrong spot. My manager came back and told me I did them wrong but made my co-worker fix them. I learned how to fix it from her, but she did the rest. After work I made up for this little slip up by mopping the floors well. Anyways, the manager was pretty cool with me being retarded and happy about the floors, so life is good.
But honestly, I am so glad today is over. I felt like some kind of single mom who never finished high school and has to take on a 14 hour day to make a living (ok so honestly, this will never happen but you know what I mean in relating). I couldn't even begin to imagine how hard life must be for those people who balance 2 or more part time jobs to raise a family. I mean, everyday working from sun up to sun down and only earning minimum wage? That's harsh. I hope all of us work really hard and put all our dedication, motivation, and passion into what we love to do so we don't end up working at retail stores as minimum-wage sales associates for the rest of our lives.
But then... there are always those people who make you smile.
For example, when I got home tonight, I got a facebook message:
"this may be short but it needed to be said: EMILY PENG, love you! you RoCk! thanks for the update on stuff"
Kristen G.
:) What a sweetie. Love you K-Grav! Even though you don't read this... :-P
----
And now to the night:
Vegging, chocolate-covered cherries, peaceful music (what the crap, where is the background music on this blog? don't think you've won, timmy! i've yet to get it back), and lots of gov reading. I love summer.
--Emily
It's been a long day. I woke up at 7:30, went to CDC disease detectives camp from 9am-4pm and then to work from 5pm-9:30pm. Now, I am eating dinner and thinking about working on government homework after posting this blog (which... may or may not get done tonight =D heh).
Disease camp was pretty fun. I met a whole bunch of new people today, who, by the way, are pretty awesome. There was one guy who was named after the brand name clothing line Armani Exchange, which I thought was pretty cool. And Dominique and Jennifer from school were there. I've never talked to Jennifer before, although I knew who she was, but we finally talked today and she was like, "yeah i know you.... everyone knows you!" I said, "What?!" Then she said, "nothing! =D". Weird. Getting down to the reason for the camp, we learned about how to crack a health case and how to interview people who have been exposed to a disease (which we did.. 40 of them for our little activity). I really am starting to think about majoring in epidemiology or the likes of public health. It's like forensics, but only the science part of it without the yucky social studies. How perfect.
We also had to fill out these "name game cards" where we put three interesting facts about ourselves and one or two "never have I ever..."'s. So here it goes.
Three "Interesting" Facts about Emily:
1. I love cilantro. Cilantro leaves, cilantro sauce, cilantro dressing, cilantro whatever -- the list goes on.
2. I conduct our high school marching band. Simple enough.
3. Crap. I forgot this one.
Never have I ever....
learned to roller skate, had a pet, or liked white chocolate
Work was better today than it was the first day. I can run fitting rooms better. But I messed up and tagged some tops at the wrong spot. My manager came back and told me I did them wrong but made my co-worker fix them. I learned how to fix it from her, but she did the rest. After work I made up for this little slip up by mopping the floors well. Anyways, the manager was pretty cool with me being retarded and happy about the floors, so life is good.
But honestly, I am so glad today is over. I felt like some kind of single mom who never finished high school and has to take on a 14 hour day to make a living (ok so honestly, this will never happen but you know what I mean in relating). I couldn't even begin to imagine how hard life must be for those people who balance 2 or more part time jobs to raise a family. I mean, everyday working from sun up to sun down and only earning minimum wage? That's harsh. I hope all of us work really hard and put all our dedication, motivation, and passion into what we love to do so we don't end up working at retail stores as minimum-wage sales associates for the rest of our lives.
But then... there are always those people who make you smile.
For example, when I got home tonight, I got a facebook message:
"this may be short but it needed to be said: EMILY PENG, love you! you RoCk! thanks for the update on stuff"
Kristen G.
:) What a sweetie. Love you K-Grav! Even though you don't read this... :-P
----
And now to the night:
Vegging, chocolate-covered cherries, peaceful music (what the crap, where is the background music on this blog? don't think you've won, timmy! i've yet to get it back), and lots of gov reading. I love summer.
--Emily
Sunday, July 6, 2008
changes
Hi everybody!... or should I say hello myself.
(I wonder who actually takes the time to read blogs anymore.) --
It's been years since I've written a blog or even read a blog that I don't quite remember what kinds of joy I derived from such boredom in middle school... or why I even thought this was fun anyway. But, after a few years of not writing down some of the things that has happened in daily life, I realized that maybe we do need a concrete reminder of our past life. And so, I've started this.
Lots of things have changed in the past four years. I used to be the little awkward nerdy Asian girl (still am, I guess) who built websites, read too much but studied too little, played piano hardcore, didn't talk to people (especially boys), and wasted too much time on AIM. Now... I'm still most of those things except piano's been replaced with clarinet, websites with instruments and SciOly stuff, and I actually talk now (whoa). At least now I have a summer job (sales associate at the Pink), a car & license, and am running band camp (woot!).
But... reading my middle school xanga still makes me laugh =)
i.e. (www.xanga.com/xX_ermilay_Xx) --
It's quite hilarious if I do say so myself. =)
Yesterday I went to work for the first time in my life. It was a 6 hour shift at the mall from 3 to 9pm. I had to manage the fitting rooms by getting people tags, chasing out guys who sometimes walk in to make comments on outfits, and checking in shopping bags. On the side I had to tag and sensor two racks of clothing and deal with customers' requests. Working in retail is just about as fun as working in food service, I'd assume. Either way, they are both really good experiences for learning how to work with people, fight minimum wage, and deal with long shifts. Sadly, I was closing up the store with my co-workers last night and I was told to mop the floors. I did it, but I felt horrible. I mean, I don't even mop the floors at home, and here I am moping it for random strangers that I've only known for half a day?? Ridiculous. I plan on fixing this laziness of mine and helping my mom out a lot more at home and then doing that stuff for the store. What a life lesson.
In the meantime, I have a butt load of summer homework to do, i.e. Calculus Assignment, Chemistry reading/assignment, online gov, and AP Lit reading/essays. I am planning on getting all this done before the 16th when we are going up to St. Louis/Nashville for a trip to WashU and Vandy. And tomorrow I am going to the first day of CDC Disease Detectives Camp. Can't wait!
That's all for now. I gotta go clean my room and be productive.
--Emily
(I wonder who actually takes the time to read blogs anymore.) --
It's been years since I've written a blog or even read a blog that I don't quite remember what kinds of joy I derived from such boredom in middle school... or why I even thought this was fun anyway. But, after a few years of not writing down some of the things that has happened in daily life, I realized that maybe we do need a concrete reminder of our past life. And so, I've started this.
Lots of things have changed in the past four years. I used to be the little awkward nerdy Asian girl (still am, I guess) who built websites, read too much but studied too little, played piano hardcore, didn't talk to people (especially boys), and wasted too much time on AIM. Now... I'm still most of those things except piano's been replaced with clarinet, websites with instruments and SciOly stuff, and I actually talk now (whoa). At least now I have a summer job (sales associate at the Pink), a car & license, and am running band camp (woot!).
But... reading my middle school xanga still makes me laugh =)
i.e. (www.xanga.com/xX_ermilay_Xx) --
Monday, February 20, 2006 (Wow! 2006!)
haha, i get bored with layouts way too easily..
two crazy things happened today~~
1. i woke up one hour and twenty minutes late, got to school at 7:30,
but didnt get stamped! 
the lady wasnt even giving stamps.
2. we got AP World History forms (YOU PEOPLE HAD BETTER
TRY OUT! - as I say every year, according to Anqi Yu)
so now i have to write an AP essay on top of everything else. 
great....
<3
em
side~note: have you ever noticed how people say cool (put strange fruit/food here)???
me: cool beans
Josh: tight papayas!
me: nifty coconut
Josh: radical starfruits!
me: saweet rootabegas!
me: saweet rootabegas!
Josh: peachy durian!
me: neat turnips!
Josh: funky radishes!
me: neat turnips!
Josh: funky radishes!
It's quite hilarious if I do say so myself. =)
Yesterday I went to work for the first time in my life. It was a 6 hour shift at the mall from 3 to 9pm. I had to manage the fitting rooms by getting people tags, chasing out guys who sometimes walk in to make comments on outfits, and checking in shopping bags. On the side I had to tag and sensor two racks of clothing and deal with customers' requests. Working in retail is just about as fun as working in food service, I'd assume. Either way, they are both really good experiences for learning how to work with people, fight minimum wage, and deal with long shifts. Sadly, I was closing up the store with my co-workers last night and I was told to mop the floors. I did it, but I felt horrible. I mean, I don't even mop the floors at home, and here I am moping it for random strangers that I've only known for half a day?? Ridiculous. I plan on fixing this laziness of mine and helping my mom out a lot more at home and then doing that stuff for the store. What a life lesson.
In the meantime, I have a butt load of summer homework to do, i.e. Calculus Assignment, Chemistry reading/assignment, online gov, and AP Lit reading/essays. I am planning on getting all this done before the 16th when we are going up to St. Louis/Nashville for a trip to WashU and Vandy. And tomorrow I am going to the first day of CDC Disease Detectives Camp. Can't wait!
That's all for now. I gotta go clean my room and be productive.
--Emily
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