I can't count the number of times I've been across the street, waiting for the green little man and see 281a turning...there is no way to catch the bus when this happens. Lol. Sigh
Another 20 mins before the next one comes. I guess it gives me time to do things like blog about how I'm waiting for the bus and it'd be great if I could drive myself instead. Hahahaha
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
The world did not open up and swallow me whole
I use this expression a lot when I think I can't possibly get through something terrible but then I do. Know what's funny? I'm a little surprised each time the world doesn't actually open up. Because that's how bad it feels at times. Haha.
Thanks to my really wonderful friends. They are incredibly generous with their time, among other things. I honestly have no words. I am really grateful to have awesome people in my life to lean on when I can't stand on my own. It really is true that God will never give us more than we can handle. I definitely have asked "why me" and wished for something different, but thank goodness God is in control. Even though there were some potholes along the way (okay, a huge crater), He has brought so many people into my life to help me through it all. Although I suppose we would never wish for bad things to happen in our lives, today I am grateful for every one of my potholes. Even the huge crater.
I have learned a lot about myself. Some good, some not so good. But that's for another day. Today, I am grateful.
Friday, January 4, 2013
13 questions for the new year
Something a girlfriend sent me a few days ago. The instructions were to just write down my first thoughts and not to think too hard about things. Hahahaha...that could be dangerous. How would you answer these?
1. Because I wanted to make 2013 count, I…
2. Because fear of failure was no longer a good enough reason to not do it, in 2013 I…
3. Because I listened to the whispers inside, in 2013 I…
4. Because the things that brought me joy in childhood still do, in 2013 I…
5. Because simple pleasures are so rich, in 2013 I…
6. Because my body has served me so beautifully all these years, in 2013 I…
7. Because the world needs my service, in 2013 I…
8. Because of the remarkable people who have loved me and made me who I am, in 2013 I…
9. Because I am willing to believe in the power of forgiveness, in 2013 I…
10. Because the silence has gone on long enough, in 2013 I….
11. Because I am so blessed, in 2013 I…
12. Because I vowed to be more radical, in 2013 I…
13. Because I wanted, in the last days of my life, to remember this year with tears of gratitude, in 2013 I…
1. Because I wanted to make 2013 count, I…
2. Because fear of failure was no longer a good enough reason to not do it, in 2013 I…
3. Because I listened to the whispers inside, in 2013 I…
4. Because the things that brought me joy in childhood still do, in 2013 I…
5. Because simple pleasures are so rich, in 2013 I…
6. Because my body has served me so beautifully all these years, in 2013 I…
7. Because the world needs my service, in 2013 I…
8. Because of the remarkable people who have loved me and made me who I am, in 2013 I…
9. Because I am willing to believe in the power of forgiveness, in 2013 I…
10. Because the silence has gone on long enough, in 2013 I….
11. Because I am so blessed, in 2013 I…
12. Because I vowed to be more radical, in 2013 I…
13. Because I wanted, in the last days of my life, to remember this year with tears of gratitude, in 2013 I…
Emory. Check.
Just when I'm pretty happy with my personal statement, I don't have any more schools to apply to. lol
I know it would be smarter to apply more widely, but I am just not mentally prepared to move back from HK to another new place to start school in August. I know plenty of people do these moves, but moving four times in four years is just too much for me. It is important to hit the ground running when I start school, and there is just no time to readjust to life in the States and the new environment and having to make new friends if I ended up in an unfamiliar city. I have decided that I really need to stop obsessing about how I don't have time to waste...blah blah blah. So what if I have to start in 2014 because I have to apply again? Now that I have a personal statement I'm pretty happy with, I can spend more time tightening my research focus and have time to retake the GRE if I want to...so I would have an arguably stronger application which might yield a better funding package. Job or school come August 2013, I will be just fine.
In the mean time, I hope to enjoy the rest of my time in HK. I have a bucket list!
The semester is about to start and I'm already feeling the, eh, for lack of a better word, dread. Hahaha. It's not all bad because I do enjoy teaching...I just don't like having to do the job of three people at the same time. The nice thing is that we will be basically teaching the same modules again, so I get to improve on my performance from last semester. I will also (hopefully) feel less stressed or out of my element now that I've done everything once before. I do think it'll be really busy because of the way the schedule is set up. But I suppose busy is good--I feel useful and productive.
I have to revise the manuscript (sigh) and there is another paper to work on already. Yay? Haha. This time I will really have to roll up my sleeves to deal with the data. Nowhere to run and hide now...might as well embrace my destiny. If I am to pursue a career in health services research, there is just no way I can run away from modeling and econometric studies. Even saying that makes me break out in hives. But I will not be deterred by fear. Heh. It will be a great learning experience. Heh. I love a good challenge. Heh. Heh.
Something about pressing the submit button today really brought a sense of calm. It's like everything stopped for a few seconds to allow me to just enjoy the stillness and breathe.
I know it would be smarter to apply more widely, but I am just not mentally prepared to move back from HK to another new place to start school in August. I know plenty of people do these moves, but moving four times in four years is just too much for me. It is important to hit the ground running when I start school, and there is just no time to readjust to life in the States and the new environment and having to make new friends if I ended up in an unfamiliar city. I have decided that I really need to stop obsessing about how I don't have time to waste...blah blah blah. So what if I have to start in 2014 because I have to apply again? Now that I have a personal statement I'm pretty happy with, I can spend more time tightening my research focus and have time to retake the GRE if I want to...so I would have an arguably stronger application which might yield a better funding package. Job or school come August 2013, I will be just fine.
In the mean time, I hope to enjoy the rest of my time in HK. I have a bucket list!
The semester is about to start and I'm already feeling the, eh, for lack of a better word, dread. Hahaha. It's not all bad because I do enjoy teaching...I just don't like having to do the job of three people at the same time. The nice thing is that we will be basically teaching the same modules again, so I get to improve on my performance from last semester. I will also (hopefully) feel less stressed or out of my element now that I've done everything once before. I do think it'll be really busy because of the way the schedule is set up. But I suppose busy is good--I feel useful and productive.
I have to revise the manuscript (sigh) and there is another paper to work on already. Yay? Haha. This time I will really have to roll up my sleeves to deal with the data. Nowhere to run and hide now...might as well embrace my destiny. If I am to pursue a career in health services research, there is just no way I can run away from modeling and econometric studies. Even saying that makes me break out in hives. But I will not be deterred by fear. Heh. It will be a great learning experience. Heh. I love a good challenge. Heh. Heh.
Something about pressing the submit button today really brought a sense of calm. It's like everything stopped for a few seconds to allow me to just enjoy the stillness and breathe.
7-11
What happens when the canteen is closed and you can't cook in your kitchen because you don't have a stove (or any pots anyway) and you're too tired to walk 5 minutes to get takeout? 7-11!
Siu mai (pork dumpling), har gow (shrimp dumpling), curry fish balls, drumstick in swiss sauce = about US$7
There are special microwaves to heat the packaged foods. Just follow the instructions..."4 + 4" means press 4 first and then 4 again. (I guess the company realized it might be confusing to drunk people at 2am to press 4 - 0 for 40 seconds, let it beep, and press 4 - 0 again.)
Siu mai (pork dumpling), har gow (shrimp dumpling), curry fish balls, drumstick in swiss sauce = about US$7
There are special microwaves to heat the packaged foods. Just follow the instructions..."4 + 4" means press 4 first and then 4 again. (I guess the company realized it might be confusing to drunk people at 2am to press 4 - 0 for 40 seconds, let it beep, and press 4 - 0 again.)
The stuff was actually not bad. I would say that these items are better than the dim sum served in the token "Asian" restaurant in some small US towns (I didn't say Chinese restaurant because these restaurants serve multiple types of Asian cuisines just to cover their basis...you know what I'm talking about).
These are just some of the Christmas trees inside the malls/hotels in HK
I miss decorating the tree and ended up taking photos of Christmas tress everywhere I went this holiday season. I decided to spend Christmas in HK because I remembered how pretty it was--with lights and decorations everywhere. I have to say that I'm a little disappointed. There were just a lot a lot A LOT of people everywhere. And not a whole lot of Christmas spirit.
I miss baking cookies and making treats. I may just make a batch of caramel popcorn in March when I'm home. Hahaha. I miss wrapping presents. I miss writing cards. I've already told my friends in HK we are re-doing Christmas some time in January with Secret Santa and cookies and holiday music!
I miss baking cookies and making treats. I may just make a batch of caramel popcorn in March when I'm home. Hahaha. I miss wrapping presents. I miss writing cards. I've already told my friends in HK we are re-doing Christmas some time in January with Secret Santa and cookies and holiday music!
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